Latest Tokyo News

Nissan, Honda announce plans to merge, creating world's No. 3 automaker

Dec. 23, 2024 04:18 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger, forming the world’s third-largest automaker by sales as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed a...

Today in History: December 23, Franco Harris makes the ‘Immaculate Reception’

Dec. 23, 2024 00:01 AM EST

Today is Monday, Dec. 23, the 358th day of 2024. There are eight days left in the year. Today in history: On Dec. 23, 1972, in an NFL playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders, Steelers running back Franco Harris scored a game-winning...

Japanese newspaper boss who influenced the nation's postwar politics died at 98

Dec. 19, 2024 00:20 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Tsuneo Watanabe, the powerful head of Japan's largest newspaper who had close ties with the country's powerful conservative leaders, has died, his company said Thursday. He was 98. Watanabe, the editor-in-chief of the Yomiuri Shimbun for over 30 years, died of...

What a merger between Nissan and Honda could mean for the automakers and the industry

Dec. 18, 2024 11:30 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. confirmed Wednesday that they are discussing closer collaboration but denied reports they have decided on a merger. Nissan’s share price soared nearly 24% in Tokyo after reports citing unnamed sources said...

Japanese space startup aborts 2nd satellite launch attempt minutes after liftoff

Dec. 18, 2024 03:12 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese space startup said its second attempt to launch a rocket carrying satellites into orbit had been aborted minutes after liftoff Wednesday and destroyed itself again, nine months after the company's first launch attempt ended in an explosion. Space One's...

Lydia Ko had doubts about her game. She never felt more proud of her climb back to the top

Dec. 17, 2024 09:01 AM EST

Lydia Ko had the Olympic gold medal virtually wrapped up when she had a conversation with herself walking up the 18th fairway at Le Golf National that surprised her. “The thing I told myself walking down the 18th was, ‘I’m so proud of myself.' And I never say that to me," Ko...

Why is tech giant SoftBank investing over $100 billion in the US?

Dec. 17, 2024 05:50 AM EST

BANGKOK (AP) — Japanese tycoon Masayoshi Son and President-elect Donald Trump have announced plans for technology and telecoms giant SoftBank Group to invest $100 billion in projects in the United States over the coming four years. Trump said the investments in building artificial...

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich expresses desire to return to bench in first comments since stroke

Dec. 16, 2024 18:01 PM EST

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich intends to return to coaching, he said Monday in his first public comments since suffering a stroke in early November. Popovich, the NBA's career coaching wins leader, released a statement through the Spurs expressing...

Japan's largest bank apologizes over theft of millions of dollars from safe deposit boxes

Dec. 16, 2024 06:26 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s biggest bank apologized Monday for the alleged theft by an employee of more than 1 billion yen ($6.6 million) from customers’ safe deposit boxes. The bank, formally known as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., said Monday that it was investigating and...

Once taboo, more Japanese women are brewing sake

Dec. 13, 2024 21:27 PM EST

OKAYA, Japan (AP) — Not long after dawn, Japanese sake brewer Mie Takahashi checks the temperature of the mixture fermenting at her family’s 150-year-old sake brewery, Koten, nestled in the foothills of the Japanese Alps. She stands on an uneven narrow wooden platform over a...