Japan

Japan PM says country on the brink over falling birth rate

Fumio Kishida said it was a case of "now or never."

Japan - population 125 million - is estimated to have had fewer than 800,000 births last year. In the 1970s, that figure was more than two million.

Birth rates are slowing in many countries, including Japan's neighbours.

But the issue is particularly acute in Japan as life expectancy has risen in recent decades, meaning there are a growing number of older people, and a declining numbers of workers to support them.

Pacific Island Forum could sideline Japan over nuclear waste plan

Japan is due to start dumping one million tonnes of nuclear waste from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean in only a few months.

According to Japan's government, the wastewater is to be treated by an Advanced Liquid Processing System, which will remove nuclides from the water.

It says the water to be discharged into the ocean is not contaminated.

Last year, the Pacific Islands Forum demanded Japan share pivotal information about the plan.

Ngani Laumape continues to shine in Japan

In his second appearance for the club against Hanazono Kintetsu Liners the 29-year-old bulldozed his way to a hat-trick of tries to announce his arrival in Japan with a man-of-the-match showing.

His first of the day against the Liners was a typical piece of power running from Laumape, taking a direct carry off the scrum and powering through multiple defenders before reaching out to score.

The Kintetsu Liners struggled to contain the former All Black as his destructive running laid the platform for a 58-36 win for the two-time Japan League champions.

Folau scores hat-trick of tries in Japan

In his second season in Japan, 73-Test veteran Folau bagged his three tries in the space of 11 minutes before being substituted midway through the second half.

His Urasayu D-Rocks team continued their unbeaten season start in second division with a 68-17 thrashing of Shimizu Kotu Blue Sharks.

A successor to Folau as Wallabies fullback, Tom Banks scored his first try in Japanese club rugby as his MIE Honda demolished Kamaishi Seawaves 75-15 in another second division match.

Richie Mo'unga, Shannon Frizell to join Japanese club from 2024

The two All Blacks will then join Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, who are coached by ex-New Zealand captain Todd Blackadder, the Japanese club said today.

Under New Zealand Rugby rules, Mo'unga and Frizell, both 28, will not be eligible to play for the All Blacks while in Japan. The duo are set to join the club after next year's Rugby World Cup in France.

Frizell has made 25 appearances for the All Blacks since making his debut in 2018. He has also played 57 games for the Highlanders.

Tonga announces Japan-backed plan recovery from volcanic eruption

Tsunami waves of up to 15 meters hit the South Pacific island nation following the eruption, destroying many buildings. The damage to undersea cables hampered telephone and internet connections. Drinking water was tainted with volcanic ash.

The Tongan government made the announcement at an online seminar on Wednesday. The plan was drawn up with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, or JICA.

The plan includes relocating houses to avoid damage from tsunami and installing evacuation towers near hotels in coastal areas.

Tonga Government signs three Grand Aid Projects with Japan

Members of government organisations that are recipients of the Grant, the event formalised funding agreements for:

Dolphin bite swimmers in Japan

According to local media, at least one man was taken to hospital on Thursday after encountering the sea mammal.

Japanese officials believe the same dolphin is responsible for at least six related attacks so far this summer.

While dolphins are not usually aggressive to humans, hostility towards swimmers is not unheard of.

Japan executes Akihabara mass murderer, say reports

Tomohiro Kato committed one of the most shocking mass murders in the country's recent history.

He was 25 when he drove a truck into a lunch-time crowd of pedestrians at Akihabara shopping district, killing three people.

He then stabbed passers-by with a dagger, killing four and wounding eight.

He was apprehended by police at the scene and later admitted his crimes in his trial, saying he had been angered by online bullying.

Shockwave caused by Tonga underwater eruption may help scientists predict future tsunami

Their findings may lead to speedier predictions of these giant waves.

Every minute is crucial when warning people caught in the path of a tsunami. After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, a tsunami in Indonesia reached Sri Lanka in less than two hours. Eight hours later, it arrived on the coast of Kenya. If there had been a way to notify people about the dangers of a tsunami in those faraway areas, it may have been possible to save at least some of the 230,000 victims.