Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will hold a second day of talks, with the Russian leader expressing his willingness to discuss China's proposals on the conflict.

Japan and South Korea both said North Korea had launched two suspected ballistic missiles. It's the latest in a flurry of tests that Pyongyang claims are a response to joint US-South Korean military exercises.

Remote islands in Japan's Okinawa prefecture have begun evacuation drills amid worries that China could attack Taiwan. But experts say the task may be much harder than it appears.

Jake Adelstein, the author of Tokyo Vice and the creator of its television series, has released a new book that delves deeper into his experiences in Japan. Tokyo Detective follows Adelstein's life as a private detective in the country, investigating the mafia who have evolved into legitimate businessmen.

In the wake of the recent Nashville primary school shooting in the US, the debate over gun violence has resurfaced. Today's focus takes us to Japan, a country known for its low murder rates.

Japan's foreign minister met his Chinese counterpart in Beijing and openly talked about disputes between their countries. The two Asian powers are seeking common ground amid rising tensions in the region.

Butchers and cattle transporters are being targeted by "cow vigilantes." This is part of a wider Hindu nationalist campaign against India's Muslim minority to cripple the community economically.

Japanese analysts say the French president's suggestion that a Chinese attack on Taiwan would not be a crisis requiring European involvement undermines Japan's diplomatic efforts to preserve security in the Indo-Pacific.

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Thursday.⁣

With Japan backing fossil fuels over renewables in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, its climate credentials will be tested as it chairs a G7 climate powwow in Sapporo.

Sales of manga comic books are booming, both in Japan and the United States, thanks to innovative story lines that appeal across age groups, eye-catching graphics and the growing availability of titles online.

Tokyo has expressed its displeasure after finding out that the Myanmar military used Japanese-funded civilian ships for military purposes.