Asia, Japan | featured news

Police say 10 climbers have died on two mountains in northern Japan.

North Korea threatened Saturday to shoot down any Japanese planes that intrude into its airspace, accusing Tokyo of spying near one of its missile launch sites.

Why Go: I confess that I sent this airfare to two Japanese friends before I shared it with you because it’s an amazingly low fare at this time of year. Book by June 30 for travel starting anytime between now and then. What You Get: Roundtrip airfare for $620 ($784, really, with taxes and fees)

Japan's economy recorded its steepest contraction on record in the first quarter, sliding 4%.

The increasing number of swine flu cases in Japan raises the likelihood that the World Health Organization will soon have to raise its pandemic alert level to 6.

Swine flu sickened 21 more students in Japan and Turkey reported its first case of the potentially pandemic virus that's spread to about 40 countries.

North Korea is preparing to launch a close- to mid-range ballistic missile separately from the long-range missile that Pyongyang has said it will launch next month, the Sankei Japanese daily reported on Sunday.

Japan says it will intercept and destroy any parts of a North Korean rocket that might fall on its territory.

Tourists are known for acting silly sometimes. You have to cut them some slack. But licking the tuna?