An extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line connecting Kanazawa and Tsuruga in central Japan opened on Saturday, establishing bullet train services in Fukui Prefecture for the first time and carrying hopes for a tourism boost in areas hit by the New Year’s Day earthquake.The new section shortens travel time between Tokyo and the city of..

Hayao Miyazaki, the visionary director behind Studio Ghibli’s enchanting films, received a well-deserved Oscar win for “The Boy and the Heron,” . Meanwhile, the animation industry mourned the loss of Akira Toriyama, creator of the globally influential manga series “Dragon Ball.” Miyazaki, known for weaving fantastical creatures like Totoro’s iconic Catbus into his narratives, has..