Apr 25 Tokyo private company loses contact with moon lander moments before touchdown By Marcia Dunn, Associated Press A Japanese company tried to land its own spacecraft on the moon early Wednesday, but its fate was unknown as flight controllers lost contact with it moments before the planned touchdown. Continue reading
Apr 16 Attack on Japan’s prime minister raises questions about security for public figures By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The fishermen who tackled the man suspected of the second attack on a Japanese politician in less than a year said Sunday that they were surprised by the lack of security for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Continue reading
Apr 15 Police investigate explosion at Japanese prime minister’s campaign event By Mari Yamaguchi, Foster Klug, Associated Press Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was evacuated unharmed Saturday after someone threw an explosive device in his direction while he was campaigning at a fishing port in western Japan, officials said. Continue reading
Apr 13 North Korea launches new type of missile, sparks evacuation confusion in Japan By Hyung-Jin Kim, Kim Tong-Hyung, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press A South Korean defense official said the military believes the test was of a new type of missile, possibly using solid fuel. It would be the first, if so. Continue reading
Apr 06 8 things you didn’t know about Super Mario Bros. By Kenichi Serino Generations have sent him bopping along under sunny skies, shimmying down pipes and eating very large mushrooms, but Mario has rarely crossed over into television or film. Continue reading
Apr 06 Japanese military searching for crashed helicopter carrying 10 crew By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The head of the Ground Self Defense Force, Yasunori Morishita, says the Black Hawk helicopter disappeared from radar on Thursday afternoon while on a reconnaissance mission north of Miyako island. Continue reading
Apr 02 Ryuichi Sakamoto, world-renowned composer and musician, dies at 71 By Yuri Kageyama, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Ryuichi Sakamoto, a world-renowned Japanese musician and actor who composed for Hollywood hits such as “The Last Emperor” and “The Revenant,” has died. He was 71. Continue reading
Mar 21 Japan’s prime minister offers Ukraine support as China’s president backs Russia By Karl Ritter, Associated Press Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made a surprise visit to Kyiv, stealing some of the global attention from Asian rival President Xi Jinping of China. Continue reading
Mar 18 Leaders of Japan, Germany agree to increase economic, defense cooperation By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday held the first round of government consultations in Tokyo and agreed to strengthen economic and defense ties to better cope with China's growing influence and global security concerns. Continue reading
Mar 13 Nobel-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe dead at 88 By Mary Yamaguchi, Associated Press The Swedish Academy cited the author in 1994 for his works of fiction, in which “poetic force creates an imagined world where life and myth condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today.”… Continue reading