![Tokyo stocks plunge](/englishnews/user_images/1225nikkei.jpg)
Tokyo stocks plunge
Japan's key Nikkei index goes under 20,000 for the first time in 15 months.
read more![Temple prepares New Year's rice cake](/englishnews/user_images/s3conv_img_2748.jpg)
Temple prepares New Year's rice cake
Preparing these Kagami-mochi rice cake is not a piece of cake.
read more![Skiing Santas bring Christmas fun](/englishnews/user_images/skisanta.jpg)
Skiing Santas bring Christmas fun
Santas and a reindeer hit the slopes in Gunma Prefecture bringing joy to people at a ski resort.
read more![JAL employees bring Christmas mood to Haneda](/englishnews/user_images/jalhandbellpfn.jpg)
JAL employees bring Christmas mood to Haneda
Employees of Japan Airlines bring some Christmas spirit to Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Christmas Eve.
read more![Emperor celebrates final birthday on throne](/englishnews/user_images/emstillone.jpg)
Emperor celebrates final birthday on throne
Emperor Akihito turns 85 and more than 80,000 well-wishers descend on the Imperial Palace for the final birthday address...
read more![Christmas shopping in a temple?](/englishnews/user_images/1221kyoto.jpg)
Christmas shopping in a temple?
An end-of-the-year market in a local temple in Kyoto attracts thousands of tourists.
read more![Japan's cabinet approves record FY2019 budget](/englishnews/user_images/1221budget.jpg)
Japan's cabinet approves record FY2019 budget
Japan's cabinet approves a record budget on defense and social welfare.
read more![Year-end cleanings in Japan](/englishnews/user_images/1221cleanup.jpg)
Year-end cleanings in Japan
Japan's Self Defense Force cleans up Himeji Castle, and museum staff dust off dinosaur fossils.
read more![Working to cope in Japan](/englishnews/user_images/1221.jpg)
Working to cope in Japan
The number of foreigners and foreign workers is set to keep growing and various services are emerging to meet their need...
read more![LDP targets 345k foreign workers](/englishnews/user_images/s3conv_img_2749.png)
LDP targets 345k foreign workers
Japan's ruling party sets a target for the nation to receive about 345,000 new foreign workers in the next five years.
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