Japan's key Nikkei index goes under 20,000 for the first time in 15 months.

Preparing these Kagami-mochi rice cake is not a piece of cake.

Santas and a reindeer hit the slopes in Gunma Prefecture bringing joy to people at a ski resort.

Employees of Japan Airlines bring some Christmas spirit to Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Christmas Eve.

Emperor Akihito turns 85 and more than 80,000 well-wishers descend on the Imperial Palace for the final birthday address...

An end-of-the-year market in a local temple in Kyoto attracts thousands of tourists.

Japan's cabinet approves a record budget on defense and social welfare.

Japan's Self Defense Force cleans up Himeji Castle, and museum staff dust off dinosaur fossils.

The number of foreigners and foreign workers is set to keep growing and various services are emerging to meet their need...

Japan's ruling party sets a target for the nation to receive about 345,000 new foreign workers in the next five years.