3+ day, 23+ hour ago   (352+ words) Cate Blanchett at the National Theatre in London on April 22. (©Sankei/Mao Suzuki) Australian actor and producer Cate Blanchett has been named a laureate of the 37th Praemium Imperiale, an international award honoring outstanding artists. Announced by the Japan Art Association…...

6+ day, 2+ hour ago   (1248+ words) A series of break-ins at stores selling smartphones and other high-value goods has highlighted the growing threat posed by anonymous and fluid criminal groups, known in Japan as "tokuryu." In one case, a store was targeted three times in six…...

6+ day, 6+ hour ago   (443+ words) Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, on August 13 in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture. (Courtesy of the Imperial Household Agency) Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino (Fumihito) and Crown Princess Kiko, turned 20 on September…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago   (560+ words) His Majesty Emperor Naruhito carried out official duties on August 25, reviewing documents related to matters to be discussed at Cabinet meetings and signing and affixing his seal to them. Princess Aiko, the daughter of Their Majesties Emperor Naruhito and Empress…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago   (1590+ words) Hikers climb a rocky section of hardened lava near the seventh station of the Yoshida Trail on Mount Fuji on July 15. (©Sankei/Noriyuki Ishige) A ¥4,000 (about $25) climbing fee was introduced on Mount Fuji's Yoshida Trail last year. But have conditions…...

2+ week, 6+ day ago   (570+ words) Tokyo Fire Department firefighters respond to a burst water pipe in Koto Ward, Tokyo, in the early hours of August 23. (©Sankei/Ryu Kajiwara) Around 2 AM on August 23, a magnitude-5.9 earthquake struck Ibaraki, Saitama, Chiba and Tokyo. The Japan Meteorological Agency…...