Kyoto, Japan News

President Barack Obama's first trip to Asia as head of state began with a warm welcome Friday in the highly guarded Japanese capital, where excitement over the president persists despite recent tensions over the two nations' security alliance - in particular the presence of United States military bases in the Japan.

The visit comes against the backdrop of a newly assertive Japanese government, led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and his Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), which in August ended a half-century of nearly unbroken rule by the Liberal Democratic Party.

I enjoy new places and things, and went through a week packed to the brim with both.

Designed by fumie shibata of design studio s , with her team, she defined the elements necessary for a 'minimal transit space' in big cities in japan.

Aiful Corp. , the Japanese consumer lender seeking to defer loan repayments with creditors, reported a record first-half loss on reserves to refund customers for overcharged interest.

The University of Oklahoma is partnering with Kyoto University to present the International Symposium on Radar and Modeling Studies of the Atmosphere in Kyoto, Japan.

Who says packing-in like a sardine can't be swank? Japan's getting yet another capsule hotel, but this one aims to provide something unprecedented: Luxury.

PARIS: He turned his back on the music business in the 1970s to practice Zen Buddhism, but a very special stone lured renowned Japanese percussionist Stomu Yamashta back into melody-making. Today he is one of the rare musicians in the world playing the enchanting sanukite stone, which he first discovered in 1985 through the study of ancient texts.

Protein Research Group, Genomic Sciences Center, Yokohama Institute, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Japan ICORP, ATP Synthesis Regulation Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, ...

On this field trip, my fourteen year old son has met the mayor of our sister city, Hikone , toured a 400 year old castle , and paraded in an authentic Samurai costume complete with real swords.

Warner Japan has announced the production of "The Last Chushingura" , a period drama for the Japanese market based on a famous true tale of samurai revenge.

Viewing cherry blossoms in the spring and the colorful autumn leaves in the fall are deeply rooted traditions in Japan where it is celebrated with viewing events in parks, gardens, and temples, along with "sake" parties and a sumptuous feast.

The powerful robotic arm that Sigourney Weaver's character used in the cult science-fiction film Aliens has become reality.

The Stars and Stripes, the Japanese flag and myriad banners are flying over the municipal buildings.

In the hushed, private tatami rooms of a gracious, old wooden building in Japan's cultural capital of Kyoto lies an exclusive and arcane world of elite gastronomy: kaiseki ryori , or Japanese haute cuisine.

Brandname Japanese technology companies, including Nintendo, reported dismal earnings Thursday with Sharp emerging an exception in doubling profits on brisk sales of flat-panel TVs in China, Japan and the U.S. Nintendo's first-half profit plunged as sales of its blockbuster Wii home console lost momentum in a saturated market.

Nintendo 's first-half profit plunged as sales of its hit Wii home console fizzled, forcing the maker of Super Mario and Pokemon games to forecast annual earnings would fall for the first time in six years.

Stopping into the Misawa bookstore for a fun book to read as I prepared to travel for another 10 days, I spotted T.C. Boyle's newest book, The Women.

An exhibition of photographs taken by diplomats and their families in Japan will open Tuesday in Tokyo, showcasing works imbued with the Japanese concepts of wabi and sabi .

Kyoto is my favourite Japanese city because it's all about tradition, gardens and food.

Seventeen World Heritage Sites are sprinkled throughout the city. Many other sites not recognized by the UN are equally stunning.