Mari Yamaguchi

Read the latest stories and analysis from Mari Yamaguchi.

A group of Japanese lawmakers follow a Shinto priest to pay respect for the war dead at Yasukuni Shrine during an annual autumn festival in Tokyo, Friday, Oct. 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko).

Japan PM sends offerings to war shrine

Mari Yamaguchi · October 17, 2014 7:31 pm

This June 2013 photo shows No. 1, right, and No. 2 at Sendai nuclear power station in Sendai, Kagoshima prefecture, southwestern Japan. A prominent volcanologist disputed Japanese regulators' conclusion that two nuclear reactors were safe from a volcanic eruption in the next few decades, saying Friday, Oct. 17, 2014 that such a prediction was impossible. A cauldron eruption at one of several volcanos surrounding the Sendai nuclear power plant could not only hit the reactors but could cause a nationwide disaster, said Toshitsugu Fujii, head of a government-commissioned panel on volcanic eruption prediction. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY

Japan reactor near active volcanos called unsafe

Mari Yamaguchi · October 17, 2014 1:41 pm

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2014 file photo, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, and his newly appointed Trade Minister Yuko Obuchi chat prior to a group photo session following the first Cabinet meeting at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo. Obuchi was peppered with questions in parliament Thursday, Oct. 16 over her political spending in the latest scandal involving female members in Abe's Cabinet. Three other female ministers have been questioned over campaign giveaways, gaffes or alleged links to racist groups. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Japan trade minister questioned on political funds

Mari Yamaguchi · October 16, 2014 2:13 pm

Japanese governor says too soon for nuke restarts

Japanese governor says too soon for nuke restarts

Mari Yamaguchi · October 15, 2014 1:36 pm

Typhoon heads to Tokyo after killing US airman

Typhoon heads to Tokyo after killing US airman

Mari Yamaguchi · October 5, 2014 5:22 pm

FILE - In this Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014 file photo found in a camera possessed by 59-year-old hiker Izumi Noguchi, a construction worker, who fell victim to the eruption of Mount Ontake, and was offered to Kyodo News by his wife, Hiromi, Friday, Oct. 3, Noguchi poses on the summit of Mount Ontake shortly before the eruption of the volcanic mountain in central Japan. Noguchi was climbing alone, as his usual hiking companion, his wife Hiromi, had to work, she told Japanese broadcaster NHK and other TV stations. His compact camera was banged up, but the memory chip inside was undamaged. She printed all 100 shots. The last one is of an enormous plume billowing from the crater behind a mountaintop lodge. (AP Photo/Kyodo News, File) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

Japan volcano victims leave photos of last moments

Mari Yamaguchi · October 5, 2014 12:52 pm

Rescuers conduct a search operation near the peak of ash-covered Mount Ontake in central Japan, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2014. Saturday's eruption on Mount Ontake was the worst fatal eruption in postwar history in Japan. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

Japan police: Volcanic rocks killed most victims

Mari Yamaguchi · October 3, 2014 2:49 am

In this Sept. 28, 2014 photo, Nagoya city firefighters uses a gas analyzer to check toxic volcanic fumes next to a Buddha statue on the Mount Ontake in central Japan. Increased seismic activity raised concern Tuesday about the possibility of another eruption at a Japanese volcano where dozens of people were killed, forcing rescuers to suspend plans to try to recover at least two dozen bodies still near the summit. (AP Photo/Nagoya City Fire Dept.) EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Luck, instinct determined fates of volcano hikers

Mari Yamaguchi · October 1, 2014 1:42 am

Japan steps up Russia sanctions over Ukraine

Japan steps up Russia sanctions over Ukraine

Mari Yamaguchi · September 24, 2014 10:45 am

Japanese Minister in charge of abductions Eriko Yamatani speaks during an interview with journalists at her office in Tokyo Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014. Yamatani urged North Korea to quickly release the results of a new investigation into the fate of dozens, possibly hundreds, of Japanese believed to have been abducted by the North's agents in the 1970s and '80s. Yamatani said it is extremely regrettable that North Korea hasn't informed Japan of the timing or other details of its expected announcement. Japanese on the posters read: "Abduction, we are sure to take them back." (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

Japan wants North Korea abductions report soon

Mari Yamaguchi · September 17, 2014 1:52 pm

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Japanese nuclear plant clears safety hurdle

Mari Yamaguchi · September 10, 2014 12:46 pm

Kei Nishikori, of Japan, flips his racket in the air during a practice session in preparation for Monday's final match against Marin Cilic, of Croatia, the 2014 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

Tennis star Nishikori mania hits Japan

Mari Yamaguchi · September 8, 2014 4:00 pm