Japan

World News

Japanese World War II Battleship Musashi Found, Billionaire Paul Allen Says

10:13am March 05, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

The Microsoft co-founder says his team found the ship's wreckage in the Sibuyan Sea off the Philippines. The vessel was sunk during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in 1944.

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Misao Okawa, the world's oldest living person, poses for a photo with her son Hiroshi Okawa, 92, (left) and other family members and friends on her 117th birthday celebration at Kurenai Nursing Home in Osaka, Japan.

World News

Born In 1898: World's Oldest Living Person Celebrates Birthday

4:58pm March 04, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Misao Okawa of Japan is now 117. She has reigned as the world's oldest living person since 2013, when Guinness World Records certified that she was 115.

Like dragon eggs stuffed with fiery peppers: KISS steamed buns will hit convenience store shelve in Japan next week. The buns are seen here in a news release from the Circle K Sunkus chain.

Hot KISS Buns Are Headed For Store Shelves In Japan

11:18am February 19, 2015

by Bill Chappell

They're dark and intense — and starting next week, a limited number of them will be sold in stores in Japan. Official name? Spicy Chili Tomatoman.

After designing a soy sauce bottle for Kikkoman in 1961, Kenji Ekuan went on to design everything from motorcycles to a bullet train.

From Soy Sauce To Bullet Trains: Famed Japanese Designer Dies At 85

11:24am February 09, 2015

by Bill Chappell

Decades after Kenji Ekuan created Kikkoman's iconic soy sauce bottles with their red caps, he designed Japan's bullet train, in a career driven by a desire to make good design accessible to everyone.

World News

Video Purports To Show Beheaded Japanese Hostage

5:02pm January 24, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The unconfirmed video was released after a deadline to pay a $200 million ransom for the lives of Kenji Goto and Haruna Yakawa passed. It appears to change the Islamic State kidnappers' demands.

World News

Fate Of Japanese Hostages Unclear After Islamic State's Deadline Lapses

1:23pm January 23, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

A video purportedly by the militants says "the countdown has begun." Japan says it's still trying to secure Haruna Yukawa and Kenji Goto's release. The Islamists want $200 million for their release.

A photo from a video clip posted on YouTube shows a man with a knife threatening two captives identified as Haruna Yukawa (right) and Kenji Goto Jogo. The Islamic State says it wants $200 million for their release.

World News

Islamic State, In Video, Threatens To Kill 2 Japanese Hostages

12:12pm January 20, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

In a message to Japan's prime minister, the group said it will kill the men unless it gets $200 million — equivalent to Japan's pledge in nonmilitary aid to countries facing threats from the group.

World News

Japanese Tourist Allegedly Kidnapped, Repeatedly Raped In India

12:56pm January 03, 2015

by Scott Neuman

The 20-something student was allegedly abducted at the sacred Buddhist site of Bodh Gaya by an organized gang. After being held for weeks, she managed to escape her captors.

Japanese babies â the number born last year was a new low.

World News

Japan's Population Declined In 2014 As Births Fell To A New Low

1:34pm January 01, 2015

by Krishnadev Calamur

The country's aging and shrinking population has been an issue of concern and could have severe economic consequences.

Japanese artist Megumi Igarashi, seen here in July, has been indicted on obscenity charges stemming from her genital-inspired artworks.

World News

Japanese Artist Indicted For 'Vagina Kayak'

4:13pm December 24, 2014

by Bill Chappell

Provocative artist Megumi Igarashi has been arrested twice in Japan this year for distributing data that lets people make a 3-D printed kayak that incorporates a model of her genitals.