Experts say the drop in oxygen levels in the water after the recent floods receded likely caused the mass death, as well as hot temperatures due to climate change.

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.

At 87 years old, Iwao Hakamada is on the verge of finding true freedom, more than 50 years after being sentenced to death for murders he says he did not commit. Tokyo's high court ordered a retrial this month, acknowledging that key evidence that led to his conviction had likely been fabricated by investigators.

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.

Lined by magnificent French castles frozen in time, the Loire is nicknamed the royal river, with its breathtaking views of these jewels of Renaissance architecture. But the river is also a place to escape, to get back to nature and to discover a lesser-known heritage. In Chaumont-sur-Loire, an association is bringing traditional flat-bottomed boats back to life, in order to offer tourists an exceptional view of the region's castles.

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.

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.

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.