Japan

24 Dead, 8 Missing in Japanese Floods

Flooding in Japan has killed at least 24 as troops airlifted supplies to keep thousands of others alive.

Japanese Culture Caused Fukushima Disaster

Japan's parliament releases report on the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, says it was 'man-made,' born of Japan's culture.

Park Parks The Treaty

Intelligence Sharing With Japanese Too Sensitive For Korea

The painful wounds of the past and the election campaign of the present have temporarily sidetracked a Japanese-South Korean treaty.

Japan Returns to Nuclear Power

Japan is returning to nuclear power, with reactivation of the first nuclear plant since all reactors were shut down earlier this year.

Noda Shows Political Courage

Noda Pushes Controversial Policies Even With Risk Of Party Split

Yoshihiko Noda, on issues from the sales tax to nuclear power, is willing to do the unpopular.

Shangri-La & Chinese Budget

Japan & India Assail Non-Transparency In China Defense Spending

The US could sit back and let others question the meaning of the Chinese military budget.

Japan Reinstates Nuke Reactors

Expected Power Shortages Force Retreat From Nuclear Power Ban

The realities of power shortages have forced Japan to backtrack from abandoning nuclear power.

Japan Joins Growing List of Countries Expelling Syria Diplomats

Japan says it will expel Syria's ambassador – joining numerous other nations – over last week's massacre in the central city of Houla.

Japan and S.Korea Team Up

Japanese Rocket Carries South Korean Satellite Spacewards

While billed as a civilian venture, the satellite launch by Japan and South Korea has military implications.

Rare Tornado Storms Past Tokyo, Kills 1

A 14-year-old was killed Sunday when a rare tornado raced through Tsukuba city, some 40 miles (60 km) northeast of Tokyo.

Last Active Nuclear Reactor in Japan Turned Off

Japan's final active nuclear plant was switched off on Saturday with fanfare, banner-waving and celebration by marchers in Tokyo.

Ozawa Return Splits Ruling DPJ

Prime Minister Noda's Position Imperiled After Rival Exonerated

Ichiro Ozawa's exoneration spells trouble for Prime Minister Yushohiko Noda and his tax hike proposal.

The Yiddish Language Alive in... Japan

A Japanese linguist, who compiled the world's first Yiddish-Japanese dictionary, proves one doesn't have to be Jewish to love Yiddish.

Japan Shuts Down Second-to-Last Nuclear Reactor

Japan has taken its second-to-last nuclear reactor off line, and the last will be shut down in May, creating a possible power shortage.

US Exempting Japan, 10 EU Countries on Iran

US president Barack Obama will exempt Japan and 10 EU states from banking sanctions, allowing trade with Iran.

Japanese PM to Barak: Don't Attack Iran

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda meets Defense Minister Ehud Barak, warns against attacking Iran.

Japan's Economy Creaks

Japanese Economy Reels Due to Strong Yen and Aging Population

While external factors and national disasters hurt Japan's economy, the graying population is Japan's fault.

Japanese Cabinet Reshuffled

Noda Reaches Out to Liberal Democrats with Cabinet Reshuffle

Japanese PM Yoshihiko Noda has sought to placate the opposition and revive public support by a cabinet shuffle.

Japan to Test Mother's Milk for Radiation

Japan may add testing for radiation in mother's milk to the health checks in Fukushima Prefecture.

Lawmakers Claim Disputed Point

Japanese Local Lawmakers Celebrate Senkaku Day Angering China

While Japanese Prime Minister Noda wants to dampen down the boundary disputes with China, some local politicians want to force the issue.

Noda-Singh Summit Boosts Ties

China Is More Concerned Than It Reveals on Japan-India Ties

Japan and India boosted naval ties in a move seen as directed against China. China officially downplayed this but is really concerned.

Japan Relaxes Arms Export Bar

Economic and Strategic Reasons Compel Japan to Relax Arms Ban

A party that was once identified with pacifism has abandoned Japan's limits on defense exports.

US Seeks to Assure Japan

Following Kim Jong Il's Death US Assures Jittery Japan

Following the death of Kim Jong Il the US is trying to assure the neighbor of the nuclear dictatorship ha all will be well.

No Yakuza But Accounting Fraud

Olympus Admits: Inexplicable Expenses Used to Cover Up Losses

Japan's Olympus Corporation has come clean, admitting that it used crazy consultancy fees to cover up two decades of losses.

Evidence of Fission Found at Fukushima No 2 Nuclear Reactor

Evidence of fission has been found in one of the reactors at the tsunami-struck Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant in Japan.

Descent from Olympus

Scandal in Blue Chip Japanese Company is Salt to Economic Wounds

After firing CEO who questioned inexplicable payments to financial advisers, Olympus is target of probes.

Thai Floods Sink Japanese Cars

Japan Car Makers Trim Output Due to Lack of Thai Parts

The floods in Thailand and a rising yen have delivered a one two punch to the Japanese motor industry.

Miracles in Turkey's Disaster Zone

The temperature in eastern Turkey is falling. Search and rescue is becoming recovery, but there have been miracles in the earthquake zone.

Earthquake Strikes Japan's Fukushima Prefecture

A moderate earthquake has struck northeastern Japan's Fukushima prefecture, home to the Dai-ichi nuclear complex damaged in a March tsunami.

Noda Aquino Conclude Summit

Phillippines and Japan Announce Coast Guard Cooperation

An overbearing China is triggering regional responses. The entente between Manila and Japan is the latest.

Typhoon 'Roke' Smashes Into Japan, Heads for Nuclear Plant

At least 4 people died in a typhoon of 130 mph winds that smashed into Tokyo, heading for the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Noda Next Japanese PM

New PM Noda, the Farm Boy, Tries to Unify Party and Steer Japan

In a rebuff to 'kingmaker' Ichiro Ozawa, the Democratic Party of Japan has selected Hiyohiko Noda to be Japan's next prime minister.

"Shadow Shogun" Dominates Vote

Japanese PM Candidate Choice Based on "Shadow Shogun"'s Status

The dominant personality of Ichiro Ozawa rather than policy is the major factor in selecting the Japanese PM, despite major problems.

Maehara Joins the Race for PM

Japan's Former Foreign Minister Declares His Candidacy for PM

Seiji Maehara, the former Japanese Foreign Minister, is now the favorite to win the August 29 balloting to succeed Naoto Kan.

Kan on the Way Out in Japan

As Kan Sets to Depart Succession Struggle Is Under Way

Naoto Kan with his anemic 15% popularity will soon be history and Japan's ruling party will be picking a successor.

Japan Parties Reach a Deal

With Ratings Companies Circling, Japan Parties Reach Compromise

Japan's government and the main Liberal Democratic Party opposition in control of the upper house have agreed to a compromise.

66th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima

Sixty-six years ago this weekend, the USA unleashed a nuclear weapon of mass destruction against Japan.

Japan Wary of China's Navy

Japan Says It Reads Chinese Naval Buildup as Looming Threat

Japan, an Island Nation, believes an overbearing China will soon have a naval force that will pose a threat to her.

Kan Unpopular Stance Popular

Japanese Embrace Anti Nuclear Position But Don't Embrace Kan

However unpopular he may be, most Japanese agree with their prime minister on phasing out nuclear energy.

Reconstruction Czar's Arrogance Deconstructs Kan

The resignation of Ryu Matsumoto has further undermined the position of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan

Kan Is Going Going but not Gone

As the problems continue to pile up, the Japanese Prime Minister is still vague about his resignation plans.

Japan Rattled by 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake

Northeast Japan was rattled early Thursday by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake.

Nato Kan's Indefinite Resignation Spurs Grand Coalition Talk

The DPJ has failed to usher in a new politics and is resembling the LDP that it ousted. The impasse has fueled talk of a grand coalition.

The Sharks Are Circling around Naoto Kan

Japan's Naoto Kan confronts both the opposition and a grudge match within his own party.

Japanese Disaster Provides a Path for Asian Rapprochement

The Japanese natural disasters helped bring China, South Korea and Japan together, but the split over North Korea remains.

Japanese High Court Rejects Hassidic Appeal

Tokyo High Court affirms harsh verdict of six years at hard labor against a Hassidic youth accused of drug smuggling - but deducts “time served.”

Kan's High Disapproval Ratings Menace Destiny

As the crisis recedes in Japan we are back to where we were before it. Pressure on Naoto Kan to resign have resumed.

Tōhoku Recovery Could Take a Decade

Japan's Reconstruction Design Council says recovery from the devastating March 11 Tōhoku tsunami-earthquake double-header could take a decade.

IDF Japan Delegation Returning Home

Over the past two weeks, IDF medical personnel treated around 220 patients at Minami-Sanriko. They are leaving behind medical equipment.

New Quake Shakes Up Japan

A huge 6.6 quake shakes Japan Monday as officials expand the nuclear radiation evacuation zone. Landslides buried cars, trapping several people.

7.1 Magnitude Aftershock Shakes Japan

Less than a month after the massive quake-tsunami, a strong aftershock rocks Japan; panic, but little damage.

Video: IDF on the Job in Japan

The IDF has set up a medical clinic in Japan that has already treated hundreds of people - and has helped provide much needed fun to local kids.

First Photos: Israel ZAKA Volunteers in Japan - with Iranians

ZAKA volunteers in Japan work side by side with Iranian rescue crews.

Israel, Iran Work Together in Japan

Search teams from Israel and Iran come together in the devastated Japanese town of Kamashi.

Chabad in Tokyo: Hands Out Sweet Potatoes to Residents

Chabad is working tirelessly in the disaster-stricken areas of Japan, handing out free hot food and raising funds for victims.

Israel Flag Flies Over Japanese Ghost Town

The IDF medical team has set up a field infirmary at Minami-Sanrikucho, which was completely wiped out by the tsunami.

Video: Israeli Teams Fly to Help To Rehabilitate Japan

Fifty Home Front Command and IDF Medical Corps personnel flew to Japan Saturday night to help the stricken country’s rehabilitation efforts.

First Members of IDF Medical Team Land in Japan

Small Homefront Command team arrived Monday in Japan, ahead of a full-scale medical delegation and thousands of necessary items.

The Deadly Japanese Tsunami, the Biblical Flood – and Purim

New videos of the Japanese tsunami conjure up images of the Biblical Flood. INN asked a US-born rabbi: Divine Message or a natural catastrophe?

Israeli Medical Team Heads for Japan

A team of doctors left Israel Saturday night, headed for Japan in response to an official request by the Tokyo government for aid from Jerusalem.