Generally regarded as one of Japan’s most important living writers, Yoko Ogawa has, over a 25-year career, produced a stellar body of work and won all of her country’s major literary honours.

A charred body found in the wreckage of a car attacked in Iraq last week has been identified by family members and doctors as Japanese journalist Shinsuke Hashida.

FORMER Doomsday cult guru Shoko Asahara was sentenced to death today for masterminding the deadly 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway and a string of other attacks that killed 27 people.

Former doomsday cult leader Shoko Asahara was convicted and sentenced to death today for masterminding the 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo tube network and other murders.

The doomsday cult guru accused of ordering the 1995 nerve gas attack on the Tokyo tube network and a string of other killings was awaiting a verdict today in a court session that began with the judge rejecting his claims of innocence.