Latest from Japan

NZ disappointed at Japan whaling

New Zealand 'disappointed' at Japan's latest whaling foray into the Southern Ocean.

Family of hut fire victim travel to NZ to visit site

New Zealand Police have helped a grieving Japanese family to visit the Te Urewera site where their relative died in a fire nine years

Japanese whalers 'caught' in sanctuary

Conservation group Sea Shepherd have photographed a Japanese whaling ship with a dead whale in protected waters.

Which country has the worse problem?

The baying of young males on the wind, and the distant, delighted squeals of young girls on the pull, told me the New Year was imminent

Race to build the world's fastest lift

China's growth is slowing, but its cities still battle over tall towers and speed records.

Hubby's silent treatment lasts 20 years

A Japanese man engaged in an epic sulk and refused to talk to his wife for 20 years after she upset him despite still living together.

Death shines light on Japan's work culture

The head of Japan's largest advertising agency has said he will resign following the "death by overwork" of a young employee who put in hundreds of hours in overtime.

Toshiba shares plunge in record fall

Toshiba Corp. plunged by the most on record as the once heralded US nuclear renaissance turns into a nightmare for the Japanese company.

Careful effort to ease tensions may not last

Shinzo Abe's historic visit to Pearl Harbour with Obama punctuates the Obama's multi-year effort to prod Japan and its neighbours to decrease tensions.

Japan: Hope you like ramen, too

Linda Lombardi savours oodles of noodles at museums devoted to Japanese obsession.

NZ pupils below average in maths

New Zealand students are performing below the international average when it comes to maths, a new study shows.

'Spamusement' park goes viral

WATCH: If you've ever dreamed of combining a heart-racing roller coaster ride with a relaxing soak in a hot spring, Japan's latest theme park idea could be right up your alley.

The world's most macabre business idea?

A Japanese amusement park billed it as not only a unique game-changing tourist attraction for Japan, but "undeniably a world-first".

'Biocarts' slash wait time at airports

The time inspection officers take to process foreign visitors at the desks at the Japanese airports was cut by 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

NZ earthquake early-warning system: Is it possible?

Scientists say it's not beyond the realms of possibility that New Zealand could have a sophisticated earthquake early warning (EEW) system - alerting people seconds before a big disaster hits.

Ice cream for breakfast makes you smarter, claims scientist

Thanks to this research, there has never been a better excuse to eat ice cream for breakfast.

Man chokes to death at eating contest

A participant at a speed-eating contest has choked to death.

Quake brings back horror for survivors

Yesterday's earthquake off the coast of Japan brought back memories of the 2011 disaster for many locals.