May 04, 2013
UNITED NATIONS--Killer robots that can attack targets without any human input “should not have the power of life and death over human beings,” a new draft U.N. report says.
May 03, 2013
Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose said he will try to learn from the recent uproar caused when he criticized rival cities hoping to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
May 03, 2013
A Japan-based group of scientists has successfully reproduced the pathology of a severe form of epilepsy by using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells derived from a patient's skin, bringing the global medical community a step closer to understanding the neurological condition and how to treat it.
May 03, 2013
Sacrificing their holidays in the name of duty, two quarantine dogs are busy patrolling the tourist-packed Narita International Airport to keep Japan safe from infectious diseases, including bird flu.
May 03, 2013
KAGAMINO, Okayama Prefecture--A rookie won the annual “onna zumo” (women’s sumo) tournament here on May 1 following a series of fierce battles among competitors ranging from junior high school students to veterans in their 60s.
May 02, 2013
For much of her life, a 29-year-old woman had been filled with the stress of trying to conceal a part of her identity. Despondent, she moved to Tokyo three months ago largely to escape the narrow-mindedness of her hometown on a remote island in the Kyushu region.
May 02, 2013
Japan's first egg bank, which will provide egg cells to infertile women, is expected to open its doors soon.
May 02, 2013
The Tokyo metropolitan government office has been inundated with phone calls and e-mails criticizing Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose's remarks about Istanbul, one of Tokyo's rivals to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
May 02, 2013
MINAMATA, Kumamoto Prefecture--Jitsuko Tanaka lies silently on the futon bedding in her home with a view of Minamata Bay, where a factory of chemical company Chisso Corp. discharged wastewater containing methyl mercury long ago, poisoning her and her family.
May 02, 2013
KYOTO--Mother Nature was at her best for the opening day of the “noryo yuka” season on May 1. Patrons enjoying the cool breezes along the Kamogawa river were treated to a large multicolored rainbow arcing across the horizon after a light springtime shower.
May 02, 2013
With her mate and other members of the troop looking on, Momoko, a 29-year-old western lowland gorilla, gave birth to a daughter on April 24 at Tokyo's Ueno Zoological Gardens in Taito Ward.
May 01, 2013
Majestic Mount Fuji, the iconic peak that has inspired artists over the centuries, is set to gain UNESCO World Heritage status in June following a recommendation from a key advisory panel.
May 01, 2013
The Cool Japan phenomenon that has taken the world by storm ought to be big business. But for some reason, its potential has been largely overlooked.
May 01, 2013
AMSTERDAM--Allaying concerns about her health, Crown Princess Masako made her first official overseas trip in 11 years, accompanied by her husband, Crown Prince Naruhito.
May 01, 2013
OGA, Akita Prefecture—A baby polar bear born in December delighted visitors during her first public appearance at Oga Aquarium GAO on May 1.
April 30, 2013
A sidewalk in Tokyo’s Ginza district was crowded with people waving Hinomaru rising-sun flags and jockeying for the best position to yell their insults and curses.
April 30, 2013
Tokyo Governor Naoki Inose has been forced to backpedal and apologize after The New York Times quoted him as describing Islamic countries as "fighting with each other" in reference to Istanbul, one of Tokyo's rivals to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
April 30, 2013
The sounds of crying babies rang out at Sensoji temple on April 29 as the 23rd annual “Naki Sumo” baby cry-off got under its wailing way.
April 30, 2013
Standing out among the assemblage of designers from long-established fashion houses and popular brands at Paris Fashion Week is a growing number of ethnic-Chinese designers.
April 30, 2013
A genome analysis of the turtle has ended a long-running dispute over the creature's evolutionary origin.