Japan’s prime minister has inaugurated a panel tasked with reviewing her country’s security and defense policies as tensions with China, North Korea and Russia escalate in the region.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 7.4 struck off Japan's northern coast, prompting a temporary tsunami alert across the region.

A worn-out Pikachu plushie, tired teddy bear or stained stuffed animal can all get a new lease on life at a Japanese laundry service making beloved toys squeaky clean again.

April 27 (Reuters) - China denounced remarks ⁠by ⁠Japan and the European Union about ⁠the South China Sea at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday and ​accused Tokyo of provocative behavior in the Taiwan Strait and planning military expansion.

Authorities urged residents to stay away from coastal areas where tsunami waves of up to 10 feet were possible.

Hughes explained the aim is to have as few Australianized changes as possible, because that “would delay the delivery of the ship.”

Japan is witnessing a sharp rise in bear sightings as animals emerge from their winter hibernation, with authorities warning of increased danger ahead of upcoming national holidays. In recent years, bears have been spotted in urban areas across northeastern Japan,

If the bill also clears the House of Councilors, the new immigration fees would be implemented within this fiscal year, which ends next March.