Japan
Follow the latest Japan news, videos, and analysis from ABC News.
3 hours ago

Man who attacked Japan's ex-PM Kishida convicted, sentenced to 10 years in prison

A Japanese court has convicted a man who threw a homemade pipe bomb at Japan's former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a 2023 campaign event, sentencing him to 10 years in prison
3 hours ago
People queue up to get a ticket for a seat to observe a court's ruling on an attempted murder trial for Ryuji Kimura, who threw a homemade pipe bomb at former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a 2023 campaign event, outside Wakayama District Court in Wakayama, western Japan Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (Shohei Miyano/Kyodo News via AP)
February 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM

Senior Afghan Taliban officials in Japan for talks with Japanese officials

Japanese officials say senior Afghan Taliban officials are in Japan for talks, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to help Afghanistan build a more inclusive political system and protect human rights
February 18, 2025 at 7:41 AM
FILE - Taliban fighters hold their flag as they celebrate one year since they seized the Afghan capital, Kabul, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)
February 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM

Trump says Japan has agreed to invest heavily in US Steel

President Trump announced Japan would be investing in U.S. Steel instead of owning it entirely.
February 7, 2025 at 9:17 PM
President Trump announced Japan would be investing in U.S. Steel instead of owning it entirely.
February 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM

Trump meets with Japanese prime minister as tariff threat looms large

Donald Trump is meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in a high-stakes visit for a key ally that depends on the United States for security and trade.
February 7, 2025 at 6:36 PM
President Donald Trump waves as he greets Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba upon arrival outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, Feb. 7, 2025.
February 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM

Trump meets with Japanese prime minister amid tariff threat

ABC News’ Karen Travers and Politico’s Rachel Bade report on what’s at stake in the meeting, as well as where the House Republican budgets talks stand.
February 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
VIDEO: Trump meets with Japanese prime minister amid tariff threat
February 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM

Court upholds conviction of American who helped fugitive former Nissan chief hide pay

A Japanese appeals court upheld the conviction of a former American Nissan executive for helping fugitive former Chairman Carlos Ghosn hide income, while rejecting prosecutors’ bid to overturn his acquitals on other counts
February 4, 2025 at 9:43 AM
FILE - Former Nissan Motor Co. executive Greg Kelly speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Tokyo, Aug. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
January 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM

Sinkhole swallows truck in Japan, trapping driver inside

Authorities say the driver, a man, was inside the cab and is in communication with firefighters.
January 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Firefighters work to rescue a truck driver after his vehicle was swallowed up by a sinkhole at a prefectural road intersection, in the city of Yashio, Saitama Prefecture on Jan. 28, 2025.
1 month ago

Tsunami advisory lifted after strong earthquake hits Japanese coast

The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s preliminary magnitude at 6.8.
1 month ago
Miyazaki city daytime aerial view from airplane
1 month ago

Lawsuit alleges Biden blocked US Steel-Nippon Steel merger for political reasons

The Biden administration blocked the deal over alleged national security concerns.
1 month ago
Signage for Nippon Steel Corp. outside the Marunouchi Park Building, which houses the company's headquarters, in Tokyo, March 25, 2024.
2 months ago

US Steel acquisition by Japan’s Nippon blocked

Domestic steel production is essential to U.S. security, Biden said.
2 months ago
Steelworkers Pat Cole, Jason Murphy and Ray Terza, rally outside the company's headquarters in Pittsburgh, supporting the takeover by Japan's Nippon Steel, on Sept. 4, 2024.
4 months ago

Why there still isn't any snow on Japan's Mount Fuji

One of the most iconic active volcanoes in the world is missing a major aspect of its famous view: snow.
4 months ago
The Fuji mountain at the Six Hours of Fuji in Gotemba, Japan, Sept, 13, 2024.
4 months ago

Japan’s Mount Fuji breaks 130-year record for no snow in October

Typically, snow begins forming on Mount Fuji around Oct. 2, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
4 months ago
Typically, snow begins forming on Mount Fuji around Oct. 2, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
5 months ago

US WWII bomb explodes at Japanese airport

A U.S. bombshell, likely dropped during WWII, exploded near a runway at a Japanese airport, causing nearly 90 flight cancellations.
5 months ago
5 months ago

Japan flexes in Taiwan Strait, sending warship through disputed waters

A Japanese destroyer passed through the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday, marking the first time a modern Japanese warship has navigated this strategically sensitive waterway.
5 months ago
Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida speaks during the High-Level Meeting to Launch the Friends of Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty at UN headquarters in New York City, Sept. 23, 2024.
6 months ago

Radio station shakes during Japan earthquake

A local radio station's office could be seen vigorously shaking in footage captured during a strong earthquake that rocked the coast of southern Japan on Thursday.
6 months ago
VIDEO: Radio station shakes during Japan earthquake
6 months ago

7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes coast of Japan

A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1 has rocked the coast of southern Japan.
6 months ago
Police officers stand guard near a building damaged following an earthquake in Miyazaki, southwestern Japan, August 8, 2024, in this photo taken by Kyodo.
10 months ago

Japan's Fumio Kishida stresses Ukraine aid, US world role in speech to Congress

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addressed Congress, praising U.S. leadership on the world stage as "indispensable" amid threats from Russia and China.
10 months ago
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida addresses a joint meeting of Congress at the U.S. Capitol, April 11, 2024, in Washington.
10 months ago

Biden and Japanese PM hold press conference ahead of state dinner

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed a range of topics during their bilat including defense partnerships, economic cooperation and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
10 months ago
VIDEO: Biden and Japanese PM hold press conference ahead of state dinner
10 months ago

Maui 808: Lahaina students find hope in Japan

ABC News’ Becky Worley follows 11 Lahaina students impacted by the Maui wildfires as they travel to Japan and learn how a community there recovered from their own life-changing disaster.
10 months ago
VIDEO: Maui 808: Lahaina students find hope in Japan
10 months ago

US, Japan to make 'historic' announcements at summit: Official

President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hold talks on Wednesday.
10 months ago
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shakes hands with President Joe Biden during a joint press conference at Camp David, August 18, 2023.
1 year ago

Trapped pod of orcas off Japan appears to have escaped sea ice

A pod of killer whales, which appeared to be trapped in drift ice off the coast of Japan, has seemingly escaped, a local official told ABC News.
1 year ago
In this Jan 6, 2024, photo shared by a local Japanese wildlife organization, Wildlife Pro LLC, shows a pod of at least 10 killer whales struggling in a small gap between ice flows off the coast of Japan.
1 year ago

Killer whales trapped by sea ice in Japan have seemingly escaped

A pod of orcas, which appeared to be trapped in drift ice off the coast of Japan, has seemingly escaped, a local official told ABC News.
1 year ago
A pod of orcas, which appeared to be trapped in drift ice off the coast of Japan, has seemingly escaped, a local official told ABC News.
1 year ago

Challenging the norm: The fight against racial profiling in Japan’s policing

Japan’s justice system, known for pre-trial detentions and forced confessions, is facing a pivotal lawsuit against racial profiling spearheaded by a naturalized citizen.
1 year ago
Syed Zain, left, and other plaintiffs of a lawsuit filed in Tokyo District Court stand together in front of the Tokyo District Courthouse in Tokyo Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. A civil lawsuit filed Monday in the Japanese court is demanding an end to what it calls racial profiling by police.
1 year ago

Lawsuit alleges racial profiling by Japan police

The suit against the National Police Agency and local governments in Tokyo and Aichi seeks monetary damages and legal recognition that racial profiling violates Japanese law.
1 year ago
The suit against the National Police Agency and local governments in Tokyo and Aichi seeks monetary damages and legal recognition that racial profiling violates Japanese law.
1 year ago

2 passenger planes collide at Japanese airport

Two passenger planes have collided in Hokkaido, Japan, according to Japanese media reports.
1 year ago
A Korean Air plane, left, and Cathay Pacific aircraft, right, are seen after a collision at northern Japan's New Chitose Airport in Sapporo, Jan. 16, 2024.
1 year ago

2 planes collide at Japanese airport

Two passenger planes collided at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, in the northern part of the country, at approximately 5:30 p.m. local time, according to Japanese media reports.
1 year ago
VIDEO: 2 planes collide at Japanese airport
1 year ago

North Korea tests ballistic missile, Japan and South Korea say

The launch appeared to have been a shorter-range ballistic missile based on its flight time, officials said.
1 year ago
People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on Jan. 14, 2024.
1 year ago

Warning lights were not working on runway during plane crash in Japan: Officials

It is unclear if that contributed to the crash at Haneda Airport when a Japan Airlines plane struck a Coast Guard aircraft.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Warning lights were not working on runway during plane crash in Japan: Officials
1 year ago

Investigation underway into deadly crash at Tokyo airport

A passenger plane burst into flames after colliding with a small plane on the runway.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Investigation underway into deadly crash at Tokyo airport
1 year ago

Runway warning lights were broken at time of Japan Airlines plane fire: Report

The warning lights telling pilots if a runway is clear were not working at the Haneda Airport the night a Japan Airlines plane caught fire, according to aviation data.
1 year ago
An aerial view shows burnt Japan Airlines' Airbus A350 plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan January 3, 2024.
1 year ago

Investigation underway in deadly plane collision in Tokyo

Japan Airlines Flight 516 carrying 379 people collided with a Japanese coast guard plane on Tuesday, killing five on the coast guard jet.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Investigation underway in deadly plane collision in Tokyo
1 year ago

Japan Airlines plane bursts into flames with 379 people on board

A Japan Airlines plane landed while on fire at Haneda Airport on Tuesday.
1 year ago
Japan Airlines' A350 airplane is on fire at Haneda international airport in Tokyo, Japan Jan. 2, 2024.
1 year ago

After fiery collision at Tokyo airport, experts warn runway incursions are rising

A commercial flight with hundreds on board erupted in flames after it struck a small plane at Haneda Airport the day after a strong earthquake struck the country.
1 year ago
VIDEO:  After fiery collision at Tokyo airport, experts warn runway incursions are rising
1 year ago

Aftershocks rattle Japan as death toll rises after powerful earthquake

At least 55 people are dead after a massive earthquake struck the west coast Monday, according to The Associated Press.
1 year ago
A firefighter looks up the rubble and wreckage of a burnt-out marketplace following earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024.
1 year ago

Japan Airlines plane collides with airliner on runway

A desperate search is underway after a powerful earthquake rocked the western region of Japan. ABC News’ Matt Gutman reports from Tokyo.
1 year ago
VIDEO: 5 Japanese Coast Guard members dead after Tokyo runway collision
1 year ago

7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan's coast

The race for survivors is underway as the death toll reaches 48.
1 year ago
VIDEO: 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan's coast
1 year ago

5 Japan Coast Guard crew members are dead after airport crash

Japan Airlines says 379 passengers got out safely after their plane collided with a Coast Guard plane on a runway and burst into flames.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Five Japanese coastguard crew members are dead after airport crash
1 year ago

At least 8 dead after powerful earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning

At least eight people have died after a powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.5 struck Japan on Monday, officials said.
1 year ago
A house is damaged by an earthquake in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
1 year ago

Japan Airlines plane bursts into flames with 379 people on board, all escape

The flight, JL516, which was travelling from Chitose, Hokkaido, may have struck a Japan Coast Guard plane as it was landing, officials told Japanese broadcaster NHK.
1 year ago
The flight, JL516, which was travelling from Chitose, Hokkaido, may have struck a Japan Coast Guard plane as it was landing, officials told Japanese broadcaster NHK, saying it was a preliminary assessment.
1 year ago

Massive earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning

The magnitude 7.5 quake hit on New Year's Day, with tens of thousands facing power outages in the cold.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Massive earthquake strikes Japan, triggering tsunami warning
1 year ago

Eyewitness captures quake chaos at Japan train station

An eyewitness captured scenes of panic in a train station in Kanazawa city after a massive earthquake hit central Japan.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Eyewitness captures quake chaos at Japan train station
1 year ago

Panic, destruction seen after powerful earthquake strikes western Japan

Footage showed buildings shaking, a massive fire and crowds panicking after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck Japan.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Panic, destruction seen after powerful earthquake strikes western Japan
1 year ago

Osprey aircraft grounded by US military after last week's deadly crash

The U.S. military is grounding all of its Osprey V-22 aircraft in the wake of last week’s deadly U.S. Air Force crash off the coast of Japan that left eight dead.
1 year ago
In this July 16, 2020, file photo, a USAF Boeing Bell CV-22 Osprey 12-0065 'KNIFE 71' takes off for an evening training sortie from  RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, England.
1 year ago

Wreckage found in search for crashed Osprey in Japan, US Air Force says

The CV-22 Osprey crashed near Yakushima Island, Japan, on Nov. 29, U.S. officials said.
1 year ago
The members of Japanese Coast Guard carry the debris which are believed to be from the crashed U.S. military Osprey aircraft, at a port in Yakushima, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023
1 year ago

Deadly US Air Force special operations Osprey crash off the coast of Japan

According to witnesses, the plane inverted before an engine caught fire and the aircraft plunged into the sea.
1 year ago
VIDEO: Deadly US Air Force special operations Osprey crash off the coast of Japan
1 year ago

Electronic wolves with glowing red eyes watch over Japanese landscapes

Monster Wolf, bearing lifelike proportions and glowing red LED eyes, stands as a guardian against wildlife, sitting at the crossroads of technology and tradition.
1 year ago
A Monster Wolf, a scarecrow-like deterrent for wildlife, is seen in an undated image in Japan supplied by Ohta Seiki.
1 year ago

Japan launches moon probe, hopes to be 5th country to land on lunar surface

Japan launched a rocket Wednesday night, carrying a moon probe that it hopes to land on the lunar surface and would make Japan the fifth country to reach the moon.
1 year ago
A H-IIA rocket carrying a small lunar surface probe and other objects lifting off from the Tanegashima Space Centre on Tanegashima island, Kagoshima prefecture, Sept. 7, 2023.
1 year ago

Japan launches moon probe in hopes to be fifth country to land on the lunar surface

Japan launched a rocket Wednesday night, carrying a moon probe that it hopes to land on the lunar surface and will make Japan the fifth country to reach the moon.
1 year ago
Japan launched a rocket Wednesday night, carrying a moon probe that it hopes to land on the lunar surface and will make Japan the fifth country to reach the moon.
1 year ago

UN nuclear watchdog greenlights Fukushima water release plan

The United Nation's nuclear watchdog has approved plans by Japan to release water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday.
1 year ago
Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s (Tepco) Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, rear, in Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, July 3, 2023.
1 year ago

Japan readies Fukushima water for Pacific release on Thursday

Japan plans to begin a decades-long process of releasing treated wastewater from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown into the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.
1 year ago
Fisherman Haruo Ono stands on one of his fishing boats at Tsurishihama Fishing Port, Shinchi-machi of Fukushima Prefecture, some 60 kms north of the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant on August 21, 2023, ahead of a government's plan to begin releasing treated water from the plant into the Pacific Ocean.