Sydney - Australian submarines typically get into the news for a variety of reasons, some credible and some not so credible. Our very expensive but very interesting new French-made submarines are getting their share of flak already.

Kitakata - The man accused of murdering 19 disabled people at a Japanese care home in one of the country's worst mass killings pleaded not guilty Wednesday as his trial began.

Are we equally forgetful at any point during the day? New research suggests there is a time-connection to how well we might recall some information and when we are most likely to forget a vital fact.

The Japanese firm Takeda, working with the biotech company Enzyre, has developed the first diagnostic test for hemophilia patients to use at home. The test enables people to measure their coagulation status accurately with a straightforward test kit.

Japanese rocker Yoshiki has a major reason to be proud. Forbes Asia has named him as of its "30 Heroes of Philanthropy" for the year 2019.

Yokogawa - Survivors of the nuclear attack on Hiroshima told Pope Francis on Sunday of the "scene of hell" after the bombing, as the pontiff hit out against the use of the weapons.

Nagasaki - Pope Francis Sunday described the use of nuclear bombs as "a crime", as he took his appeal for an end to atomic weapons to Hiroshima in an emotional meeting with survivors.

Nagasaki - Kenji Hayashida thought about committing suicide in the years after an atomic bomb was dropped on his hometown of Nagasaki.On Sunday he will hear Pope Francis call there for a world without nuclear weapons, a message 81-year-old supports passionately.

Nagoya - Japan and South Korean foreign ministers agreed Saturday to arrange a summit between their leaders next month, seeking to build on a lowering of tensions after Seoul stuck to a key military pact.

Kitakata - England and South Africa will collide in a Rugby World Cup final between the two most powerful teams around on Saturday as they bid to become the first side to lift the Webb Ellis Cup in Asia.

Suzuka - Valtteri Bottas jumped from third to first with an electric start to win the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday ahead of Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Kitakata - Crisis-hit Japanese automaker Nissan on Tuesday named Makoto Uchida as new chief executive, elevating the insider currently heading the firm's China unit as it overhauls its leadership after the Carlos Ghosn scandal.

Saitama - Chinese basketball chief Yao Ming is "extremely hot" over the controversy sparked by a Houston Rockets executive's pro-democracy tweet, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday, adding that he hoped to work with him to cool the escalating dispute.

Cairns - The arrival of the truly dangerous Asian fungus in Australia is in many ways just another problem for Australia’s endless biohazards war. The problem is that this is a fungus, and fungi can spread fast.

Kitakata - Nissan's CEO said Monday he will step down next week, deepening the crisis at the Japanese car giant still reeling from the arrest and ouster of former chief Carlos Ghosn's over alleged financial misconduct.

Kitakata - An express train travelling at around 120 kilometres per hour smashed into a truck at a crossing south of Tokyo Thursday, sparking a blaze and killing the truck's driver with around 30 others injured.

Kitakata - Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to meet Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in New York next month as Tokyo continues to seek a leading role in attempts to defuse rising tension in the Middle East.

Kitakata - The fires tearing through the Amazon represent a "tipping point" for the health of the rainforest, the head of a top global forestry management body said Wednesday, urging the world to do more to save the trees.

Fujieda - From matcha ice cream to cake and chocolate, producers of traditional Japanese green tea are capitalising on growing global interest in its flavour -- even as demand for the drink declines at home.

Tokyo - Next year both the Olympics and Paralympics are being held in Tokyo. Toyota is the official fleet provider for both events. The company is planning a massive deployment of both battery-electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles.