Japan

TOKYO (AP) — Blue-roofed huts, a raised slab of concrete and some raked gravel are all that separate the rival Koreas at Panmunjom, a rare point of close contact along the most heavily armed border in the world.

People have stepped across that thin dividing line, but only under very special circumstances, passing between two nations that are still technically at war.

TOKYO (AP) — Shares were mostly lower Tuesday in Asia as optimism over a Wall Street rally was countered by worries about the Chinese economy.

Shares rose in Tokyo but fell in most other regional markets. Hong Kong’s benchmark lost nearly 2% as it reopened after a weather related closure on Monday.

TOKYO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Monday continued to issue heatstroke alerts with near-record high temperatures boiling many parts of the country.

As temperatures soared to nearly 40 degrees Celsius in many regions including Tokyo, heatstroke alerts were issued for both Monday and Tuesday on about 20 of the country's 47 prefectures, mainly in the east and southwest, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).

Of 914 places where temperatures were recorded across the country, 157 measured daily highs of at least 35 degrees Celsius on Sunday, JMA's data showed.

TOKYO, July 14 (Reuters) - Japan called on China to approach the release of radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in a "scientific manner" at a meeting held between Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi on Friday.

TOKYO (AP) — The highest-ranking U.S. military officer on Friday encouraged Japan’s commitment to doubling its defense spending over the next five years, calling Tokyo’s controversial push for a stronger military crucial to confront rising threats from North Korea and China.

TOKYO, July 12 (Xinhua) -- A Tokyo court on Wednesday sentenced the former president of Japanese advertising company ADK to a suspended prison term over bribery charges associated with sponsorship of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Tokyo District Court sentenced Shinichi Ueno, 69, to two years in prison, suspended for four years, after he was accused of paying around 14 million yen (100,000 U.S. dollars) to former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive Haruyuki Takahashi for favors over sponsor selection.

TOKYO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Tokyo stocks closed mixed on Tuesday with the benchmark Nikkei index up marginally after five straight sessions of losses, as the market was lifted by investors scooping up chip-related stocks.

The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average rose 13.84 points, or 0.04 percent, from Monday to finish at 32,203.57.

The broader Topix index, meanwhile, closed 6.93 points, or 0.31 percent, lower at 2,236.40.

TOKYO, July 11 (Xinhua) -- Fisheries associations in Fukushima Prefecture said Tuesday they remain opposed to releasing radioactive water from the crippled nuclear power plant into the sea despite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s safety assurance on the plan, local media reported.

TOKYO (AP) — Torrential rain pounded southwestern Japan, triggering floods and mudslides and leaving two people dead and at least six others missing, officials said Monday.

Rain falling in the regions of Kyushu and Chugoku since the weekend caused flooding along many rivers, triggered mudslides, closed roads, disrupted trains and cut the water supply in some areas.

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s industry minister visited the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Monday to see equipment that is to be used to release treated radioactive water into the Pacific Ocean to ensure the safety of the contentious plan, while demonstrators, including many from South Korea, rallied against it.