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Natsuko Fukue

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Nintendo lifts annual profit forecasts on strong game sales

by Natsuko Fukue - November 9, 2023 - 11:30am

Japanese gaming giant Nintendo raised its annual forecasts on Tuesday after strong first-half sales of its new "Zelda" and "Mario" franchise games for the ageing Switch console.

Japan slams China harassment over Fukushima water release

by Natsuko Fukue - August 29, 2023 - 6:57pm

Tokyo demanded Tuesday that China ensure the safety of Japanese citizens as it reported a brick being thrown at its embassy in Beijing in an escalating row over the release of Fukushima water.

Japan to release water from stricken Fukushima nuclear plant

by Natsuko Fukue - August 23, 2023 - 10:28am

Japan will release water from the stricken Fukushima power plant into the Pacific Ocean from Thursday, 12 years after one of the world's worst nuclear disasters.

Japanese turn to wearable tech to beat the heat

by Natsuko Fukue - August 18, 2023 - 3:02pm

Selling jackets with built-in fans, neck coolers and T-shirts that feel cold, Japanese firms are tapping into a growing market for products to help people handle the summer heat.

'Must-have' Japanese whisky turns 100 as demand soars

by Natsuko Fukue - July 19, 2023 - 12:55pm

The famed Yamazaki distillery marks its 100th anniversary this year with plenty to celebrate, as Japan's acclaimed aged whiskies command increasingly eye-watering prices thanks to growing demand and longstanding...

'Can't keep up': Pandemic cooking boom sharpens Japan knife sales

by Natsuko Fukue - January 9, 2023 - 11:09am

Seki's renowned blade expertise dates back to the 14th century, when the city became a major producer of swords thanks to its rich natural environment.

Born this way: Rats move to beat of Lady Gaga, study says

by Natsuko Fukue - November 15, 2022 - 6:53pm

Nodding along to catchy music is not just a human habit, according to Japanese scientists who have discovered that rats also move to the beat of songs by stars like Lady Gaga.

Japan slams borders shut as world races to stem new Covid variant

by Natsuko Fukue - November 29, 2021 - 4:34pm

Japan announced plans Monday to bar all new foreign travellers over the Omicron variant of Covid-19, joining a growing list of countries trying to erect virtual fortresses against the heavily mutated new strain...

Japan's Princess Mako to marry after years of controversy

by Natsuko Fukue - October 26, 2021 - 7:33am

Emperor Naruhito's niece Mako, who turned 30 over the weekend, will lose her royal title when she and Komuro register their marriage.

Japan starts vaccine rollout with healthcare workers

by Natsuko Fukue - February 17, 2021 - 2:08pm

Japan began vaccinating healthcare workers against the coronavirus on Wednesday, rolling out a cautious inoculation program with just over five months until the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

A hole new world: Japan city lights up sewer covers

by Natsuko Fukue - August 21, 2020 - 2:48pm

The humble manhole cover might not seem like much of a blank canvas, but one Japanese city is reimagining the possibilities with illuminated versions featuring anime characters.

Japan emperor completes enthronement in ritual-bound ceremony

by Natsuko Fukue - October 22, 2019 - 1:23pm

"I hereby declare my enthronement at home and abroad," Naruhito said from inside an elaborately adorned structure housing his throne, with his wife Empress Masako alongside him standing before her own throne.

Rescue efforts underway as Typhoon Hagibis kills 11 in Japan

by Natsuko Fukue - October 13, 2019 - 9:46pm

Serious flooding was reported in central Japan's Nagano, where a burst levee sent swollen waters from the Chikuma river gushing into residential neighborhoods, flooding homes up to the second floor.

Can global matcha craze save Japan's tea industry?

by Natsuko Fukue - August 31, 2019 - 3:44pm

From matcha ice cream to cake and chocolate, producers of traditional Japanese green tea are capitalizing on growing global interest in its flavour -- even as demand for the drink declines at home.

Skin deep: Japan's 'washi' paper torn by modern life

by Natsuko Fukue - July 1, 2019 - 2:19pm

Once an indispensable part of daily life in Japan, ultra-thin washi paper was used for everything from writing and painting to lampshades, umbrellas, and sliding doors, but demand has plunged as lifestyles have become...

Getting to zero: the Japan town trying to recycle all its waste

by Natsuko Fukue - June 16, 2019 - 6:17pm

Plastic, paper, metal? In Japan's Kamikatsu, sorting rubbish isn't that simple. Residents face a mind-boggling 45 separate categories for their garbage as the town aims to be "zero-waste" by 2020.

Valley of the dolls: scarecrows outnumber people in Japan village

by Natsuko Fukue - April 17, 2019 - 5:10pm

Nagoro, around 550 kilometers (400 miles) southwest of Tokyo, has become known as the valley of dolls after local resident Tsukimi Ayano began placing scarecrows on the street to inject some life into her depopulated...

Japan abdication stirs female succession debate

by Natsuko Fukue - April 8, 2019 - 11:46am

Japanese Emperor Akihito's historic abdication later this month has reignited concerns over the future of what is believed to be one of the world's oldest royal families, given its hereditary, male-only succession...

The art and science of Japan's cherry blossom forecast

by Natsuko Fukue - February 11, 2019 - 12:25pm

As spring approaches in Japan, the country's weather forecasters face one of their biggest missions of the year: predicting exactly when the famed cherry blossoms will bloom.

Race to find survivors after deadly Japan quake, landslides

by Natsuko Fukue - September 7, 2018 - 12:00am

Rescuers scrabbled through mud for survivors yesterday after a powerful earthquake sent hillsides crashing down onto homes in Japan, killing at least 11 people and leaving dozens missing.

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