Japan's Nikkei 225 slid 0.7%, while the Topix declined 0.52%. South Korea's Kospi fell 0.41%, while the small-cap Kosdaq traded flat. Yields on Japan's 40-year government bond rose to 4% for the first time.

All giant pandas raised in Japan are on loan from China for breeding research purposes, with ownership remaining with China, including for pandas born in Japan.

Food-related stocks surged in Japan on speculation of a temporary tax break while government bonds slumped because of the strain this would put on the nation’s finances.

Japan and the Philippines have signed a defense pact that will allow the tax-free provision of ammunition, fuel, food and other necessities when their forces stage joint training to boost deterrence a

Scotland announce friendlies against fellow World Cup finalists Japan and Curacao as final home warm-up matches for this summer's tournament in the Americas.

Most Japanese households expect prices to keep rising for the next few years, a central bank survey showed on Monday, reinforcing expectations the country was seeing conditions fall into place for further increases in still-low interest rates.

Geologists from Heriot-Watt are part of an international research team that has confirmed why the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake off northeast Japan behaved in such an extreme and destructive way.