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.

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.

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.

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.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz is in Tokyo this weekend for German-Japanese intergovernmental consultations. The two countries have recognized that they share economic and strategic interests. DW's Nina Haase reports from Tokyo.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo. The two leaders have attempted to form a unified front amid regional tensions.

More than 35% of Japanese people say they have no intention of traveling abroad again. Many have been deterred from overseas travel by heightened security and health fears and a falling yen.

The Japanese government said it intends to purchase 400 Tomahawk missiles from the US. Tokyo recently updated its largely pacifist security policy, citing the challenges posed by China.

Restaurants serving Japan's most famous dish are pushing ahead with prosecutions against people seen interfering with meals for social media likes.

The two island nations have taken a first step in what could become a wide-ranging defensive cooperation. It comes amid rising tensions and Chinese influence in the region.

Police are trying to confirm the identities and nationalities of the two men. They were caught in an avalanche in the Nagano region.