A M-5.1 earthquake shakes Kumamoto Prefecture, but leaves only minor damage.

The Nikkei 225 closes at 19,561.96 i nits first trading session of the year.

100 people don armor and wield weapons to reenact the Battle of Kawanakajima, a legendary feudal Japanese fight.

A moderately strong earthquake of six minus on Japan's intensity scale shook southwest Kumamoto at 6:10 pm Thursday.

Crowds of men in only sumo belts scramble for a ball in an ancient New Year's tradition in southwest Japan.