BBC NEWS
 
The leaders of South Korea and Japan have met in an attempt to improve ties after a difficult period in their countries' bilateral relationship.
President Moon Jae-in and PM Shinzo Abe held talks as part of a group summit with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the Chinese city of Chengdu.
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NPR
 
Japan has been trying to increase its birth rate for years, hoping that a youthful boost could offset an otherwise rapidly aging population. It's not working.
The country's health ministry announced Tuesday that the number of babies born in 2019 fell by an estimated 5.9% this year, to 864,0...

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THE NEW YORK TIMES
 
The water from the Fukushima disaster is more radioactive than the authorities have previously publicized, raising doubts about government assurances that it will be made safe.
IWAKI, Japan — The overpowering earthquake and tsunami that ripped through northern Japan in March ...

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THE GUARDIAN
 
Utsunomiya’s culinary obsession with dumplings dates back to the end of the war, but the city has a new rival
Gyoza are venerated in Japan, where two cities are vying to become the dumpling capital Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
Pan-fried, deep-fried or simmered in boiling ...

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CNN
 
 (CNN)A Japanese court ruling in favor of a freelance journalist who publicly accused a high-profile broadcaster of raping her has been hailed as a victory by human rights campaigners -- but they say the country still has a long way to go on fighting sexual assault.
Shiori Ito became a symb...

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KYODO NEWS
 
The government said Monday it will bestow a decoration on Tetsu Nakamura, the Japanese aid worker who was killed in a shooting earlier this month in Afghanistan.
The 73-year-old physician will be awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yos...

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SORA NEWS
 
Ever wondered what a virtual idol smells like? Now you can find out!
This is Kizuna Ai. You may have heard of her; she’s the most popular virtual idol on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/S8dmq5YIUoc
Kizuna Ai has a lot of things to boast about, despite not even really existing in physical fo...

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THE JAPAN NEWS
 
KUMAMOTO (Jiji Press) — Japan is slow in setting legislation to deal with isolated childbirth, an issue highlighted by the recent launch of a confidential birth program by a hospital in Kumamoto.
Jikei Hospital this month started the program allowing women to give birth while kee...

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JAPAN TODAY
 
TOKYO - Creative glass and cup designer Goodglas Japan has found a lot of success with their 3D-Art glassware lineup, which uses handmade blown double glass walls to create bubbly cat and shiba inu glasses.
The transparent but rounded nature of each glass allows you to "fill out" yo...

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INVESTOR CHRONICLE
 
Japan’s ‘Brave Blossoms’ delighted rugby union aficionados this summer with their pacey, attractive style of play. The plucky underdogs were knocked out in the quarter-finals of their own World Cup, but the host nation nevertheless won hearts and minds around the world with i...

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