While horse racing grapples with an uncertain future in many parts of the U.S., the sport is thriving in Japan with millions of dollars being poured into everything from breeding to training.

Scenes of Japanese soccer fans sweeping stadiums and picking up trash after a match first drew public attention in France in 1998 — Japan’s first appearance in the World Cup.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami tied a Major League Baseball rookie record by homering in his fifth straight game, crushing a 451-foot shot to right-center field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his 10th homer of the season.

The PGA Tour is bidding aloha to Hawaii on its schedule.

Japan has issued an advisory for northern coastal areas for an increased risk of a possible mega-quake following a 7.7-magnitude quake earlier Monday.

7-Eleven expects to close hundreds of its convenience stores this year.

A viral photo of snow-capped Mount Fuji, a red pagoda and cherry blossoms has brought many tourists to a peaceful Japanese town.

Nuclear power is getting a second look across Southeast Asia to prepare for surging demand for power for artificial intelligence-focused data centers.

Previously unreleased photos show astronaut Neil Armstrong in the aftermath of a space mission that almost took his life.

Japan has won the Women’s Asian Cup title with a 1-0 win over Australia.

Baseball is changing at a dizzying speed in 2026 with the arrival of robot umpires, the return home of the Tampa Bay Rays and an alphabet soup of networks televising the games in perhaps the last season before a labor shutdown.

A video taken by tiny drones sent into one of three damaged reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant shows a gaping hole in the thick-walled steel container of the core, with lumps of likely fuel debris hanging from it, in a first sighting of a pressure vessel bottom since the meltdown 15 years ago.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Shohei Ohtani reached back for the heater and found it, blazing a 99-mph fastball past Willy Adames for his first strikeout of the afternoon on Wednesday.

Wilyer Abreu hit a go-ahead, three-run homer after Maikel Garcia sparked the comeback with a two-run shot, and Venezuela beat Shohei Ohtani and defending champion Japan 8-5 in the World Baseball Classic to advance to the semifinals.

Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. got the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal off to a pulsating start, combining for the first WBC game with two leadoff homers.

An American military refueling plane taking part in the operation against Iran has crashed in Iraq and rescue efforts are underway.

Japan is marking the 15th anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster on its northeastern coast as the government pushes for atomic energy use.

Defending champion Japan became the first nation to clinch a quarterfinal berth in the World Baseball Classic, then rallied on Masataka Yoshida's two-run homer in the seventh inning to beat Australia 4-3 at Tokyo Dome and assure first place in its first-round group.

Shohei Ohtani homered for the second consecutive day, Seiya Suzuki went deep twice and defending champion Japan beat South Korea 8-6 in Tokyo to improve to 2-0 at the World Baseball Classic.

The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics is the first global sports event since the war in the Middle East began last week and athletes have been trying to block out the news of the conflicts and focus on their preparations for the Games that officially start on Friday.

Aaron Judge will captain a loaded U.S. roster at the World Baseball Classic.

Jeeno Thitikul wins the LPGA Thailand by one shot and earns her first victory at her home event.

Japan has reported its exports surged nearly 17% in January from a year earlier, on strong shipments to China and other Asian markets.

Japan has upstaged the United States in the short program of the women's figure skating competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Ryo Hisatsune is the leader at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a 62 at Pebble Beach.

Hideki Matsuyama shot a 3-under 68 despite some missed opportunities down the stretch to take a one-shot lead in the third round of the Phoenix Open.

Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa are not on Puerto Rico's roster for the World Baseball Classic due to insurance issues.

The start of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy is days away.

Naomi Osaka has toned down her walk-on outfit and turned up the heat in a second-round win over Sorana Cirstea at the Australian Open.

Naomi Osaka has made a fashion statement and quite an entrance to the Australian Open.

Norwich head coach Philippe Clement says U.S. international Josh Sargent refused to play in Sunday's FA Cup match against Walsall.

Two people familiar with the negotiations tell The Associated Press that infielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a $60 million, four-year contract.

Four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka is feeling under the weather at the United Cup at Perth.

Jumbo Ozaki has died after a battle with colon cancer.

The Chicago White Sox have added Munetaka Murakami to their lineup, agreeing to a $34 million, two-year contract with the Japanese slugger.

Haruki Murakami recently received two honors in New York for his contributions to literature and cultural exchange.

Shohei Ohtani has won The Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year for the fourth time, tying with Lance Armstrong, LeBron James and Tiger Woods for most among male honorees.

Valuable eels are in decline all over the world, leading to a new push for restrictions on trade to try to help stave off extinction.

Japan’s global exports gained 3.7% in October from a year ago, while imports from the world edged up 0.6%, according to government data.

Japanese infielder Munetaka Murakami is entering Major League Baseball's posting system.

Japan has deployed troops to help contain a surge of bear attacks that have terrorized residents in the northern prefecture of Akita.

President Donald Trump is returning to “60 Minutes” for an interview for the first time after settling a lawsuit this summer over the newsmagazine's interview with rival Kamala Harris.

Japan’s new foreign minister said Wednesday his country plans to show its determination to further build up its defense power to rapidly adapt to changing warfare and growing tension in the region when U.S. President Donald Trump visits Tokyo next week.

Sei Young Kim has claimed her 13th career title at the BMW Ladies Championship.

China has called for the U.S. to withdraw a new threat of a 100% tariff and other export control measures.

The head of Japan’s Komeito says it is leaving the ruling coalition headed by the Liberal Democratic Party due to concerns over corruption.

Japan's ruling party has chosen Sanae Takaichi as its new leader.

In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the new president of Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democrats is one of the most conservative members of the male-dominated party seen as an obstacle to women’s advancement.

Akie Iwai fought through gusting wind Friday at Hoakalei Country Club to take the third-round lead in the LOTTE Championship, with eight players a stroke back and Nelly Korda two behind.

U.S. technology company Nvidia and Fujitsu, a Japanese telecommunications and computer maker, have agreed to work together on artificial intelligence to deliver smart robots and a variety of other innovations.

Akie Iwai shot an 8-under 64 in calm morning conditions Wednesday at Hoakalei Country Club to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s LOTTE Championship.

Japan’s long-governing Liberal Democratic Party will choose a new leader Saturday to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.

In the 16 years since Usain Bolt posted his world records in the 100 and 200 meters, nobody has really come close to toppling them.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has hosted a military parade in Beijing to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

China has showcased its military power in a parade marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Japan says it plans to deploy its domestically developed long-range missiles earlier than scheduled.

Naomi Osaka is back in the third round of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2021, the year after she won her second championship at Flushing Meadows.

The U.S. Open is starting a day earlier than usual.

American lawmakers are using a trip to South Korea and Japan to explore how the United States can tap those allies’ shipbuilding expertise and capacity to help boost its own capabilities.

Akie Iwai of Japan eagled the fifth hole and birdied the other three par 5s at Columbia Edgewater, shooting an 8-under 64 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in The Standard Portland Classic.

President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is set for a military base in Alaska that was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the height of Cold War and still plays a role today.

Fast-food chain McDonald’s Japan has canceled a Happy Meal campaign that came with coveted Pokemon cards.

SpaceX has delivered a new crew to the International Space Station in just 15 hours.

It’s a last-minute weather scrub for SpaceX’s latest crew launch for NASA.

Fears of a devastating tsunami across the Pacific were fading after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck off a sparsely populated Russian peninsula, but communities along South America’s Pacific coast carried out evacuations and closed beaches.

Barcelona will now play a preseason game in Japan that it had previously said was canceled after resolving a contractual dispute with the promoter.

U.S. automakers worry that President Donald Trump’s agreement to tariff Japanese vehicles at 15% would put them at a competitive disadvantage, saying they will face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors, saying they'll face steeper import taxes on steel, aluminum and parts than their competitors.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has again denied reports that he plans to resign after his party's historic election defeat.

It was just a year ago when Marta left the Olympic final with tears in her eyes, emotionally marking the end of a storied career with the Brazilian national soccer team.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a tough test in an upper house election this month as his minority government struggles after its major defeat in last year’s snap election.

Japan has launched a satellite to monitor greenhouse gas emissions using its H-2A rocket.

On the rural islands of Nagasaki a handful of believers practice a version of Christianity that has direct links to a time of samurai, shoguns and martyred missionaries and believers.

Mao Saigo already won her first major title this year.

Marta is back.

Japan plans to use some of the slightly radioactive soil removed from across Fukushima prefecture on flower beds outside Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s office.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka has lost in the French Open’s first round to 10th-seeded Paula Badosa 6-7 (1), 6-1, 6-4.

Chisato Iwai is a winner on the LPGA Tour, and it wasn't even close.

Japan’s top automaker Toyota is reporting record sales for the fiscal year through March, but its profit for the latest quarter faltered partly because of a certification scandal.

A private lunar lander from Japan is now orbiting the moon, with just another month to go before it attempts a touchdown.

President Donald Trump's trade war isn't just about tariffs.

Four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has claimed her first WTA title since triumphing at the 2021 Australian Open and on her seemingly worst surface.

Japan’s top automaker Toyota has announced a partnership with U.S. autonomous driving technology company Waymo.

Police in Japan say that climber who was airlifted with altitude sickness from near the peak of Japan’s Mount Fuji last week returned to the slope and was rescued for a second time just four days later.

China's leaders have shrugged off the potential impact from U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, saying they have the tools needed to protect jobs and limit damage from higher tariffs on Chinese exports.

Akie Iwai shot an 8-under 64 playing alongside her twin sister Saturday for a share of the third-round lead in the JM Eagle LA Championship with Lauren Coughlin and Ingrid Lindblad.

Organizers for the Milan-Cortina Olympics have unveiled a sleek and minimalistic metallic design for the torches that will be used in the traditional relay ahead of next year’s Winter Games.

The Expo 2025 has opened in Osaka with more than 10,000 people singing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to celebrate the start of the six-month event.

Jesse Schiller and Rachel Evans are likely the only business owners on Australia's Norfolk Island to be affected by the Trump administration's tariffs, as the island exports nothing to the United States.

The Pentagon’s acting inspector general has announced that he will review Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the Signal messaging app to convey plans for a military strike against Houthi militants in Yemen.

The Defense Department is going to offer a new round of voluntary resignations and retirements to the civilian workforce, but details are slim.

American robotics companies are pushing for a national robotics strategy, including a central government robotics office, to promote the industry at a time that Beijing is making intelligent robots a top national priority.

The U.S. has added dozens of companies to its export control, including more than 50 based in China that it says sought advanced knowhow in supercomputing, artificial intelligence and quantum technology for military purposes.

Baseball's next big star could be part of this year's rookie class in the major leagues.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was scratched from the starting lineup with left rib discomfort before the season opener against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at the Tokyo Dome.

Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness.

Canada’s Alimentation Couche-Tard has reiterated its determination to acquire Seven & i Holdings, although the operator of Japan’s top convenience store chain has rejected its offer.

Nissan Motor Corp. recently showcased its driverless technology on city streets in Yokohama.

Toko Koga scored early in the second half and Japan held on to beat the United States 2-1 on Wednesday night for the SheBelieves Cup title.

After opening in Aspen, Colorado, next week, Shaun White’s new halfpipe league will travel to the mountain in China where he closed out his career at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

It turns out 44-year-old Venus Williams will not be playing at the BNP Paribas Open.