The Latest Breaking News from The Japan News/Yomiuri

Experts on Friday will deliberate whether to approve for the first time in Japan an oral, two-drug combination to induce an abortion, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has announced.

The pine trees of Kanazawa's Kenrokuen, which is regarded as one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens, were bathed in gold after being lit up for an annual winter event on Saturday.

A marine creature believed to be a whale over five meters long was sighted in the waters near Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line's man-made island Kaze no To (tower of wind). The Yokohama Coast Guard is calling on vessels navigating Tokyo Bay to take precautions against colliding with the creature.

SAPPORO -- Hoshino Resorts has opened the doors of its Ice Hotel for the season in Shimukappu, Hokkaido.

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata performed the first spacewalk of his long career on Friday evening, leaving the confines of the International Space Station for a mission to attach a solar panel frame to the vessel's exterior.

Japan's government debt has been exceptionally high among major industrialized countries for over two decades. The risks posed by this massive debt must be properly analyzed and managed.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the nod Friday for the classification of COVID-19 to be lowered in spring to Category V, which includes seasonal influenza.

Arrangements are being made for the leaders of the Group of Seven nations to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum when they visit Hiroshima for the G7 summit on May 19-21, several government sources said.

A 90-year-old woman was found dead Thursday in her house in Komae, Tokyo, in a suspected robbery-homicide.