Blossoms are expected to reach full bloom at a pace similar to or slightly faster than average years in western and eastern Japan.

In western Tokyo, they were used on three occasions ... Oita in 1992 and 1994, Hyuga in Miyazaki Prefecture in 1967, 1972 and 1975 and Kirishima in Kagoshima Prefecture in 1996.

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply in many parts of Japan on Monday after a spell of unusually warm weather at the weekend.

Japan's top court finalized Wednesday a decision denying a retrial for a 97-year-old woman who served 10 years in prison for the murd