While America retains a gold standard for airline safety, there are stresses on the US air travel system that have been apparent in a series of near tragedies in recent years. Aviation experts have warned that some safety margins have been squeezed by a shortage of air traffic controllers and congestion in the airspace over many major cities.

China said on Friday Japan's plans for export controls on chips, among other things, could damage business relations.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will hold talks with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son on Monday, the Japanese government said on Friday.

Japan is expected to report its first year-on-year increase in household spending in five months, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, although the rise appears to be marginal, indicating that consumers remain reluctant to loosen their purse strings.

A sinkhole that suddenly opened up on a road just northeast of Tokyo and swallowed a truck has captured national attention as the rescue operation of the driver has dragged on for days.

Funami-zaka is a steep slope in the harbour city of Otaru in Northern Japan. It’s famed for being featured in the 1995 Japanese film, Love Letter, and for it’s stunning views across the sea. But it’s now become so crowded that city officials have been forced to hire security guards to manage the chaos.

Wales will play Test matches against Japan in Kitakyushu and Kobe this summer. The first Test, at Kitakyushu's Mikuni World Stadium, will take place on 5 July. The second Test will be played at Kobe's Noevir Stadium – which features a retractable roof – seven days later.

The driver was able to talk with rescuers but they retreated after the area around the hole became unstable, a spokesperson said.

The Japanese network Fuji Television and its parent company say its president and chairperson are resigning immediately to take responsibility for a widening sex assault scandal linked to one of Japan’s top TV celebrities.

Tourism, climate goals, and animal rights concerns are sparking a plant-based renaissance in a country famous for sushi and pork ramen.

Tokyo may include such a commitment among other concessions to reduce the $56 billion bilateral trade deficit and stave off the threat of tariffs.