Madagascar, Ivory Coast and Nigeria were first on the itinerary for Tokyo’s top diplomat this week, as she also sought to push Japan’s Indo-Pacific strategy in Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Academics said his use of the term was unfair given Japan’s unique cultural and historical context.

A cheaper Japanese yen is too appealing to pass up for many of China’s outbound holidaymakers, and tourism in South Korea is taking a hit.

US defence chief Lloyd Austin said the grouping would look at undertaking more maritime drills, as well as providing greater security assistance to Manila.

Japan is a critical US ally, while India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, is a vital partner in the Indo-Pacific despite differences on human rights

Analysts say China’s central bank, with an eye on the yuan’s stability, could let it weaken gradually, but such a move ‘could backfire to some degree’.

In a first, legal action has been launched in China to hold Tokyo accountable for war crimes, lawyer says.

A return of Chinese travellers, who spent almost US$248 billion on trips abroad in 2019 before the pandemic, is key to filling a big hole in the global travel industry.

The 55-year-old reportedly took pictures of the student using his smartphone at a bathhouse in Tokyo’s Minato ward in February.

Struggling US-China ties, a human rights shock and a student in big trouble: these are the highlights from the SCMP’s overseas correspondents from April 2024.

Kagoshima, on the Japanese island of Kyushu, is a nature and food lover’s paradise. We recommend 6 things to try there, from the unique geothermal sand baths to some of Japan’s best wagyu beef.

South Korea is the latest country to explore the possibility of working with Aukus, after both Japan and New Zealand flagged their interest in recent months.

More than 60 per cent of respondents to a survey said they supported granting more visas to skilled workers, compared to 44 per cent in a 2018 poll.

Locals say foreign visitors are littering, ignoring traffic rules and trespassing, as they flood the area searching for the perfect shot of the iconic mountain.

G7 ministers said on Tuesday that efforts to raise money to help poorer countries adapt to climate change should include countries “capable of contributing”, in a message aimed at China.

Beijing’s latest confrontations with Tokyo and Manila over contested islands come as they strengthen maritime coalition with Washington.

The airline’s decision to cancel the flight stemmed from the need to assess the captain’s physical and mental well-being, according to reports.

Observers say Japan’s prime minister is going to need a political miracle to remain in office after his Liberal Democratic Party suffered an electoral drubbing over the weekend.

With Japanese ramen growing in popularity around the world, overseas visitors to Tokyo join a tour to sample regional versions of the wheat noodle dish and learn about customs and ramen’s Chinese roots.

The yen has been steadily sliding for more than three years and has lost more than one-third of its value since the start of 2021.

Japan’s ambition to send its first astronaut to the moon by 2028 is seen as a move to prevent China from scoring a propaganda coup, analysts say.

The Liberal Democratic Party’s loss is considered a voter punishment for its links to a years-long corruption saga that erupted last year and has undermined Fumio Kishida’s leadership.