Japan's best result in the World Cup is a Round of 16 (2002, 2010, 2018, 2022) finish and enters the 2026 tournament ranked No. 18 in the latest FIFA World Rankings. Group play begins for Japan on June 14 against Netherlands in Arlington, Texas.

No end in sight to spat between Japan and China over Taiwan, as neither Tokyo nor Beijing shows signs of backing down.

The Japanese entertainment industry has become increasingly reliant on China in recent years. China is the world’s second-largest market for anime, with fantasy films like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — The Movie: Infinity Castle,” which was released last month, rising to the top of the Chinese box office.

For Taniai, protecting the Juhyo means passing their legacy to the next generation. "They are called snow monsters because nothing else looks like them," she says. "I want the world to see them, and to feel how special Japan's nature is."

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has won the catchphrase of the year for her pledge to “work, work, work, work and work” for the country.

Last month Takaichi Sanae, Japan’s prime minister, said that an invasion of Taiwan could cross the threshold that requires a military response by Japan. That triggered an uproar from China, which cut some direct flights to Japan,

Tokyo asks US to be more vocal in its support after Beijing reacted furiously to prime minister’s comments about Taiwan

China and Japan are two of Asia’s most powerful nations and the region’s biggest trading partners. Yet centuries of intense rivalry mean their economic embrace can never be taken for granted.