Mari Yamaguchi

Read the latest stories and analysis from Mari Yamaguchi.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife Akie Abe speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014. Akie said on Thursday that her husband gives her time for a wide range of activities, from raising organic rice to appearing in a gay pride parade. Despite her husband's conservative image, she says he does chores when he can. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan’s first lady says husband helps with chores

Mari Yamaguchi · September 5, 2014 1:24 am

FILE - In this Jan. 5, 2014 file photo released by Sea Shepherd Australia, three dead minke whales lie on the deck of the Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru as it travels through the Southern Ocean. Japan is seeking to resume Antarctic whaling next year under a revised research program that would involve fewer killings and only minke whale, following the U.N. top court's rejection to an earlier program, fisheries officials said Wednesday, Sept. 4. (AP Photo/Tim Watters, Sea Shepherd Australia, File) EDITORIAL USE ONLY, NO SALES

Japan seeks to resume Antarctic whaling next year

Mari Yamaguchi · September 4, 2014 2:40 am

Satoshi Kurosaki, an industry executive who is leading the toilet pear campaign, shows the emergency stock toilet paper at Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry during an event marking Mondayâs national disaster prevention day in Tokyo, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. On national disaster prevention day, Japanâs government is urging people to stock up on toilet paper, because more than 40 percent of the nation's supply comes from a high-risk earthquake zone. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

Japan rolls out campaign to stockpile toilet paper

Mari Yamaguchi · September 1, 2014 7:51 am

It’s not just Hello Kitty: Japan’s character craze

Mari Yamaguchi · August 31, 2014 2:47 pm

It’s not just Hello Kitty: Japan’s character craze

Mari Yamaguchi · August 31, 2014 5:49 am

Stone-carved guardian dogs sit at the entrance of a memorial compound honoring World War II-era war criminals in Koyasan Okuno-in temple in Koya town, Wakayama prefecture, central Japan, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga acknowledged Wednesday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 29 sent a note to the Koyasan temple's ceremony honoring hundreds of war criminals that praised their contributions to the country. Suga said that Abe sent the note to the ceremony, but in his capacity as head of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, not as prime minister. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY

China calls on Japan to break with militarism

Mari Yamaguchi · August 28, 2014 4:59 am

In this undated photo released by Fujifilm Holdings Corp., anti-influenza tablets fabipiravir are shown. Japan said Monday, Aug. 25, 2014 it is ready to provide a Japanese-developed anti-influenza drug as potential treatment to fight the rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak. The drug, developed by a Fujifilm subsidiary Toyama Chemical Co. to treat novel and re-emerging influenza viruses, was approved by the Japanese health ministry in March. Fujifilm is in talks with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on clinical testing of the drug in treating Ebola, company spokesman Takao Aoki said. The label reads: fabipiravir. (AP Photo/Fujifilm Holdings Corp.)

Japan ready to offer flu drug for Ebola treatment

Mari Yamaguchi · August 25, 2014 3:23 pm

Japan Ground Self Defense Force personnel search for missing residents in a mud-ridden residential area following a massive landslide in Hiroshima, western Japan, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014. Rain-sodden slopes collapsed in torrents of mud, rock and debris Wednesday on the outskirts of Hiroshima city, killing more than 30 people and leaving a several missing, Japanese police said. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT

39 dead, dozens missing after Japan landslides

Mari Yamaguchi · August 21, 2014 11:55 am

$@ Â¢Å E Ã ââÃ®âÃâj Â«âÃâÂµâÃÆMÆlÆX EÆ [Æâ¹Æh EÆÅÆR [ÆYÅ½ÃâÂ©âÃ§âFâÃ¨ ÃâÃ°Å½Ã³âÂ¯Å½Ã¦âÃ©âPâPâP ÃâÃâ¢SËÃ¤ Â·âÂ³âÃ± âQâOâÃºÅÃâO AâÅâ¹Å¾âsâÃ iâÃ£â¢\Å½Bâ°e j$ News

111-year-old from Japan recognized as oldest man

Mari Yamaguchi · August 20, 2014 9:11 am

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-89 armored combat vehicles flare up a smoke screen during an annual live firing exercise at Higashi Fuji range in Gotemba, southwest of Tokyo, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Japan military holds drill as its role expands

Mari Yamaguchi · August 19, 2014 10:34 am

A worker takes a driftwood away from a road flooded by a swollen river in Shingu, western Japan, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014. A tropical storm was moving out into the Sea of Japan on Sunday after lashing the country with rain and winds, leaving one person dead, more than 50 injured and prompting evacuation alerts for about 1.2 million residents near swollen rivers.(AP Photo/Kumano Shimbun via Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT

Storm drenches Japan; 1 dead, dozens hurt

Mari Yamaguchi · August 10, 2014 10:02 am

Weakened typhoon lashes Japan; 1 dead, 33 hurt

Mari Yamaguchi · August 10, 2014 3:23 am