Japan
Nuclear crisis turns Japan ex-PM Kan into energy apostle
TOKYO - Nearly a year after Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster, then-premier Naoto Kan is haunted by the spectre of an even bigger crisis forcing tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo and threatening the nation's existence.
Recent Japan News
Japan, China to promote yen-yuan currency exchange -Nikkei
TOKYO, Feb 17 - China and Japan will begin work this month to promote the direct exchange of their currencies as trade between their two countries grows, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.
Factbox: Japan's hidden nightmare scenario for Fukushima
TOKYO - Nearly a year after a huge quake and tsunami sparked Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis, then-premier Naoto Kan is haunted by the specter of an even bigger disaster forcing tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo and threatening the nation's existence.
BRIEF: Moody's assigns Aa3 to Japan Expressway Holding & Debt Repayment Agency's bonds
Feb 17 - Japan Expressway Holding & Debt Repayment Agency:
BRIEF: Moody's will not apply finance company methodology for JTCs
* Moody's will not apply finance company methodology for JTCs
Factbox - Japan's hidden nightmare scenario for Fukushima
TOKYO - Nearly a year after a huge quake and tsunami sparked Japan's Fukushima nuclear crisis, then-premier Naoto Kan is haunted by the spectre of an even bigger disaster forcing tens of millions of people to flee Tokyo and threatening the nation's existence.
Special reports
The nuclear industry's trillion dollar question
Before Fukushima, more than 300 nuclear reactors were planned worldwide, mostly in developing economies. While parts of the developed world may reduce their use of nuclear, China, India, the Middle East and Eastern Europe look set continue their nuclear drive. Full Article
Quake reveals cracks in insurance system
The sophisticated modeling systems the insurance industry uses to predict where disasters will happen and how much they will cost never factored in an earthquake the size of the one that hit northeast Japan. Full Article
Japan engineers knew tsunami could overrun plant
A review of Tokyo Electric Power and regulatory records shows that Japan and its largest utility repeatedly downplayed dangers and ignored warnings -- including a 2007 tsunami study from TEPCO's senior safety engineer. Full Article
Fuel storage, safety issues vexed Japan plant
Tokyo Electric and regulators are certain to face scrutiny on the decision to store most of the Fukushima plant's spent fuel rods inside the reactor buildings rather than invest in other potentially safer storage options. Full Article
Disasters show flaws in just-in-time production
In a globalized economy where manufacturers have moved ever more toward lean inventories, the weakest link in the supply chain is what Japan is best known for: high-end, highly technical parts. Full Article
Radiation fears may be greatly exaggerated
As workers struggle to contain the fallout from a crippled Japanese nuclear plant, people as far away as Illinois are calling public health officials in a state of panic. But the truth is anxiety is largely disproportionate to the actual danger. Full Article
Mistakes, misfortune, meltdown: Japan's quake
An examination of Japan's effort to contain its escalating nuclear disaster reveals a series of missteps, bad luck and desperate improvisation. What also emerges is a country that has begun to question some of its oldest values. Full Article
Why Japan will avert a fiscal meltdown
In these dark hours, Japan would do well to heed former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's memorable maxim that you never want a serious crisis to go to waste. Full Article
Can Japan find "New Deal" after triple whammy?
The nuclear crisis was a triple whammy for Japan, coming on top of the earthquake -- the fifth strongest ever recorded -- and one of the most powerful tsunami in history, which caused scenes of unimaginable destruction in northeast Japan. Full Article | Related Story
In Chernobyl, a disaster persists
As Japan battles to prevent a meltdown at its earthquake-hit Fukushima Daini nuclear plant, the people of Ukraine are preparing to mark the 25th anniversary of the world's worst nuclear accident. Full Article | Related Story
An interactive guide to how the disaster unfolded. Timeline
Scenes From Japan
Japan disaster: How you can help
If you want to help but are unsure of where to turn here is a comprehensive list of relief organizations that are scrambling to provide aid. Full Article
Fukushima has a hole, leading to leakage
One of the reactors at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant has a hole in its main vessel following a meltdown of fuel rods, leading to a leakage of radioactive water, its operator said. Video | Full Article
Key external resources
Helpful links to other sites
The story on the devastation throughout Japan is extremely complex and changing by the minute. Here are some external resources that our readers have found useful, starting off with NHK World News. Learn More