Murakami's new book unveiled in Japan
Haruki Murakami's first collection of short stories in nine years hit the shelves in Japan on Friday with some excited fans queuing for the midnight launch.
Sony's PlayStation 4 sales top seven million
Sony says it has sold seven million PlayStation 4 worldwide since its launch last year and admitted it can't make them fast enough, in a welcome change of fortune for the Japanese consumer electronics giant.
Japan virtual star Hatsune to join Lady Gaga tour
Hatsune Miku, a computer-generated Japanese pop star who performs as a hologram, is to support some of Lady Gaga's tour of North America next month, the US songstress has announced on Twitter.
Honda's new ASIMO robot, more human-like than ever
It walks and runs, even up and down stairs. It can open a bottle and serve a drink, and politely tries to shake hands with a stranger. Meet the latest ASIMO, Honda's humanoid robot.
Only 1 in 7 Japanese scientists are women: study
Just a seventh of scientists in Japan are female, government figures show -- the lowest rate of any developed nation, despite being a record high for the country.
Japan culls 112,000 chickens after bird flu outbreak
Japan has finished slaughtering 112,000 chickens after confirming its first bird flu infections for three years, with authorities stepping up efforts to swiftly contain the latest outbreak, officials said Tuesday.
Taiwanese tourists hurt in Japan deer rampage
Visitors to one of usually-safe Japan's most celebrated spots are being warned to be on the lookout, after two Taiwanese tourists were injured in a rampage by a wild deer.
Japan says no decision on 2015-16 whaling
Japan on Monday insisted it had made no decision on whether to resume whaling in the Southern Ocean next year, after a militant environmental group said Tokyo intended to evade an international court ruling.
'Cherry tree from space' mystery baffles Japan
A cosmic mystery is uniting monks and scientists in Japan after a cherry tree grown from a seed that orbited the Earth for eight months bloomed years earlier than expected -- and with very surprising flowers.
Pair of Japanese mangoes fetch $3,000 at auction
A pair of mangoes grown in southern Japan sold Thursday for a whopping 300,000 yen ($3,000), a record price for the fruit's first auction of the season, Kyodo News reported.
Japan kills 251 minke whales in final Antarctic hunt
Japan killed 251 minke whales during the 2014 Antarctic hunt, in what is expected to be the last "research whaling" mission in the Southern Ocean after an international court ruling.
Denis Ten skates at Japanese Skating Exhibition
Bronze winner of the Sochi Olympics in figure skating Denis Ten from Kazakhstan is participating in the Osaka World Figure Skating Exhibition 2014 alongside Yuzuru Hanyu, the Olympic champion, and Canadian silver medalist Patrick Chan.
Japan lawmaker resigns over $8 mn loan scandal
A senior Japanese politician has announced he is resigning as his party's leader, despite insisting that he spent an undeclared $8 million loan not on politics but on personal items -- including an ornamental rake.
Spring in Japan: beautiful blossoms and hayfever misery
Spring in Japan brings explosions of pink and white cherry blossoms that provide a beautiful backdrop for picnics across this nature-loving country.
Novartis replaces top Japan executives over drug trial scandal
Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis said Thursday it was replacing the top executives at its Japanese unit over allegations the division hid serious potential side effects of leukaemia treatments from regulators.
Japan cancels next Antarctic whaling hunt after ICJ ruling
Japan said Thursday it was cancelling its annual Antarctic whaling hunt for the first time in more than a quarter of a century in line with a UN court ruling that the programme was a commercial activity disguised as science.
Minor tsunami hits Japan after Chile quake
Small tsunami waves hit northern Japan early Thursday following a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake thousands of kilometres away across the Pacific Ocean in Chile after officials issued an evacuation advisory for certain areas.
Japan shoppers see first sales tax rise in 17 years
Prices rose across Japan Tuesday as a controversial sales tax rise came into effect, with everything from beer to washing machines costing more, sparking fears a drop in consumer spending will derail a nascent economic recovery.
Japan lifts own blanket arms export ban
Japan on Tuesday lifted a self-imposed ban on weapons exports, introducing new rules covering the arms trade in a move supporters say will boost Tokyo's global role, but which could unnerve China.
Whaling ban applauded despite fears of Japan sidestep
Australia and New Zealand on Tuesday hailed a landmark court decision that Japan must halt an annual Antarctic whale hunt, despite fears it may try to sidestep the order.