Feb 15 Japan approves its first COVID-19 vaccine By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Japan formally approved its first COVID-19 vaccine and said it would start nationwide inoculations within days, but months behind the U.S. and many other countries. Continue reading
Feb 13 Strong quake hits Japan's northeast coast; no tsunami alert By Yuri Kageyama, Associated Press A strong earthquake hit off the coast of northeastern Japan late Saturday, shaking Fukushima, Miyagi and other areas, but there was no threat of a tsunami, officials said. Continue reading
Dec 14 Japan space agency confirms asteroid soil inside landed capsule By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press The pan-shaped capsule was dropped by Hayabusa2 from space into the sparsely populated Australian desert. It arrived in Japan last week for research that will hopefully provide insights into the origins of the solar system and life on Earth. Continue reading
Dec 04 Japan prime minister pledges $19 billion to promote ecological businesses By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Suga, who took office in mid-September, set climate change as one of his main policy goals along with promoting a digital transformation of Japanese society — issues which were left behind by his predecessor. Continue reading
Nov 27 Japan spacecraft carrying asteroid soil samples nears home By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press A Japanese spacecraft is nearing Earth after a yearlong journey home from a distant asteroid with soil samples and data that could provide clues to the origins of the solar system. Continue reading
Nov 27 Tokyo Olympic organizers will host 18 test events By Associated Press Local organizers on Friday announced a series of 18 test events set to begin in March and run into May. Continue reading
Sep 16 Watch 6:24 News Wrap: Wildfires still burning across California, Pacific Northwest In our news wrap Wednesday, dozens of wildfires are still burning across the Pacific Northwest and California. President Trump declared a federal disaster in Oregon, where several small towns have been razed. But improved weather is helping fire crews, some… Continue watching
Sep 16 Yoshihide Suga named Japan's prime minister, succeeding Abe By Associated Press Japan's Parliament elected Yoshihide Suga as prime minister Wednesday, replacing long-serving leader Shinzo Abe with his right-hand man. Continue reading
Sep 03 Livestock ship carrying 42 crew members sinks off Japan's coast By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Japanese rescuers were searching Thursday for a livestock ship carrying 42 crew members that a survivor said sank during rough weather a day earlier off a southern Japanese island, the coast guard said. Continue reading
Sep 02 WATCH: National WWII Museum commemorates 75 year anniversary of war's end By Associated Press Wednesday is the anniversary of the formal Sept. 2, 1945, surrender of Japan to the United States, when documents were signed officially ending years of bloody fighting in a ceremony aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. Continue reading