Japan

Japan finance minister Naoto Kan: sharp-tongued and battle-ready

Newly appointed Japan finance minister Naoto Kan faces the tough task of stimulating a struggling economy while keeping public debt under control. His role as deputy prime minister was to wrench policy powers away from bureaucrats.

For China, Japan sets aside royal protocols

Japan's Imperial Household initally balked at a 'last minute' request by China's visiting vice president to meet with the Emperor Akihito.

Fearing recession redux, Japan announces $81 billion stimulus package

Japan unveiled a fresh $81 billion stimulus package Tuesday, as a rising yen hurts exports and domestic demand remains low.

Obama meets Japan's Hatoyama, stressing equal partnership

Obama, in first stop of his Asia trip, addressed the thorny issue of a US military base in Okinawa. Despite recent tensions, Obamamania is still strong in Japan.

Newly assertive Japan to test Obama

As China rises and the dollar falls, the US ally seeks more independence, but not less security, from America. Tokyo is the first stop on the president's Asia tour.

Obama's two-part message on his week-long trip to Asia

Obama will say that Asia is crucial to answering the world's major challenges – although the US intends to remain a leader across Asia. The president visits Japan, Singapore, China, and South Korea starting Friday.

Australia, Japan float rival plans for EU-style Asian bloc

But questions over a US role in any economic grouping and rivalry between China and Japan may thwart a rapid rollout of either plan.

How Japan plans to have more babies

The new government of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has vowed to boost financial support for parents in an effort to increase its birthrate, one of the lowest in the world.

Japan's economic downturn pushes more onto streets

Homelessness has doubled over the past year, say some, as once-vaunted community and company support has frayed. Many people sleep in parks or 24-hour Internet cafes.

Soccer skills – and a little media savvy – get one man off Japan's streets

Yutaro Gomikawa used his small-time fame on the national homeless soccer team to get government aid usually unavailable to young people.

Japan's opposition crushes LDP in landmark victory

Exit polls on Sunday gave the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) more than 300 seats in Japan's 480-seat Diet (parliament), ending more than 54 years of nearly unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

Japan's opposition touts fresh faces in bid for election victory

The Democratic Party of Japan has promoted women and younger candidates who have not risen through traditional routes to power.

Rural Japan warms to opposition as election looms

Long a ruling-party stronghold, small towns and farming communities are disillusioned by their waning political influence – and are willing to try new leaders.

Japan ready to vote in major shift in leadership?

National polls Sunday could oust the long-ruling Liberal Democrats. Voter participation is expected to be high.

Typhoons' destructive wake tests Taiwan, China, Japan

Two earthquakes – in Japan and the Indian Ocean – added to the punishing weather striking East Asia.

Japan's embattled ruling party sets date for election

The Aug. 30 vote could end its nearly uninterrupted half century in power.

Japan and China making historic amends, one humdrum trip at a time

Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso ended a two-day trip to Beijing Thursday. Both countries affirmed their desire to cooperate but avoided troublesome topics.

Japan prepares to blast North Korean missile out of the sky

The missile launch is believed to be a military test, though Pyongyang insists it is launching a satellite.

Clinton to Japan: You're our 'cornerstone'

Why Japan joins anti-piracy mission off Somalia

Japan quietly seeks global leadership niches

The island nation seeks to carve out a bigger role in world affairs as a 'soft power.'

Japan as ground zero for no-waste lifestyle

Three environmental models: Toyota's Prius factory, an electronics recycler, and a village that recycles 80 percent of its trash.

Japan cracking US pop culture hegemony

Japan is quietly emerging as a global trendsetter in pop culture, as well as in green technology and environmental practices.

Mieko Kawakami: From blogger to global novelist

Her latest novel won Japan's top prize for new fiction writers. Kawakami is one of an emerging group of young Japanese women writers.

Japan's $1 trillion to the rescue?

Ahead of the G-20 summit on the financial crisis, many are eyeing Japan's huge foreign reserves. But Tokyo is reluctant to use them on struggling nations.