‘Babel’ director Inarritu heads Tokyo film festival jury

TOKYO — “Babel” director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is back in Japan, a nation he says has long fascinated him — this time, as head of the jury of the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Tokyo film festival opens with ‘green’ carpet made of recycled bottles

TOKYO — The Tokyo International Film Festival opened with stars including Hollywood actress Sigourney Weaver strolling a “green” carpet made of recycled plastic bottles.

New ‘Amazing Race’ teams include pro poker players, Harlem Globetrotters

LOS ANGELES — One team will have a leg up on the competition in the upcoming season of “The Amazing Race.”

Sony to sell main North America TV plant to Taiwan company, to outsource manufacturing

TOKYO — Sony Corp. has agreed to sell its main television factory in North America to a Taiwanese company, the Japanese electronics maker said Tuesday, as it struggles to cut costs and stem massive losses.

Panasonic teams with James Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ movie to promote 3-D home TVs

TOKYO — “Titanic” director James Cameron has signed on with Panasonic Corp. to promote new 3-D TVs.

Panasonic ties up with Cameron’s ‘Avatar’ movie to go 3-D, promote home TVs

TOKYO — Panasonic Corp. has signed on “Titanic” director James Cameron and his upcoming film in an advertising blitz for its TVs equipped with 3-D technology, both sides said Friday.

Hildegard Behrens, renowned Wagner soprano, dies in Tokyo at age 72

TOKYO — Soprano Hildegard Behrens, one of the finest Wagnerian performers of her generation, has died while traveling in Japan. She was 72.

Mexico’s Inarritu to head jury at Tokyo International Film Festival

HONG KONG — “Babel” director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will head the competition jury at the Tokyo International Film Festival in October.

Hildegard Behrens, renowned Wagner soprano, dies in Tokyo

TOKYO — Soprano Hildegard Behrens, one of the finest Wagnerian performers of her generation, has died while traveling in Japan. She was 72.

Japan says arrival of Uighur activist won’t affect ties with China

TOKYO — The visit to Japan of an exiled Uighur activist who China blames for this month’s ethnic riots will not affect relations between Tokyo and Beijing because its approval was not politically motivated, the government said Tuesday.

IMAX taking its big screens to Asia as part of aggressive global expansion

TOKYO — Megascreen theater company IMAX Corp. is hoping Harry Potter’s magic touch will help catapult the company itself into a global smash hit.

Sharp to boost TV panel production in Japan to meet growing global demand

TOKYO — Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. said Thursday it will raise production of panels for TVs to meet improving global demand.

Richard Gere sees dog, not himself, as lead in movie based on Japanese tale

Richard Gere: Dog is hero in film about Japan tale

Michael Jackson, international King of Pop, mourned around globe by fans watching LA service

International idol, Jackson mourned around globe

Michael Jackson’s international fans mourn idol as Los Angeles memorial begins

LONDON — Fans in Asia stayed up into the wee hours, bars across Europe held Michael Jackson theme nights and television stations from Sydney to Paris cleared their schedules Tuesday to broadcast the King of Pop’s star-studded memorial service live from Los Angeles.

Michael Jackson’s international fans mourn idol before Los Angeles memorial

LONDON — Fans in Asia stayed up into the wee hours, bars across Europe were holding Michael Jackson theme nights and television stations from Sydney to Paris cleared their schedules Tuesday to broadcast the King of Pop’s star-studded memorial service live from Los Angeles.

Japan’s royal couple head to Canada, Hawaii to reach out to Japanese immigrants

TOKYO — Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hope to reach out to Americans and Canadians of Japanese ancestry during a two-week tour that began Friday, but they won’t be going to Pearl Harbor.

Overseas fans still in mourning for Michael Jackson, await news of a global tribute

PARIS — Mourning Michael Jackson fans lauded his talent, moonwalked in his honor, sang his lyrics and awaited word Monday on the possibility of a global memorial to the King of Pop.

Overseas fans still in mourning for Michael Jackson, saying his talent outshone scandals

TOKYO — Mourning Michael Jackson fans around the world awaited word Monday on the possibility of a global memorial to the King of Pop.

Michael Jackson found loyal, generous fans in Japan

TOKYO — Despite years of child molestation accusations and deep financial difficulties, Michael Jackson could always count on one nation for unquestioning fan loyalty and lucrative advertising deals — Japan.

Sony shareholders approve new management, including founder son, to fight downturn

TOKYO — Sony shareholders approved a new management setup at the Japanese electronics and entertainment company on Friday that will center power around Chief Executive Howard Stringer and a team of younger executives.

Tokyo 2016 invites Japan’s crown prince to Copenhagen for Oct. 2 vote on Olympic site

LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Officials of Tokyo’s bid for the 2016 Olympics have invited Japan’s crown prince to travel to Copenhagen for the IOC vote on Oct. 2.

Now in semifinals, blind pianist from Japan wows audiences at prestigious Cliburn contest

FORT WORTH, Texas — With a dramatic bow of pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii’s head, rich sounds of the piano, violins, cello and viola broke the concert hall silence as he and a string quartet played Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44.

Trackers find the trail of US poet who went missing on remote Japanese island

TOKYO — A team of American trackers found the footprints Wednesday of an award-winning U.S. poet who went missing on a remote Japanese island while hiking up a volcano.

Hollywood star Tom Hanks throws out first pitch at baseball game in Tokyo

TOKYO — Hollywood star Tom Hanks was in a league of his own Friday when he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Japanese professional baseball game.

Search for missing US poet on remote Japan island to be scaled down

TOKYO — A team of American trackers picked up the trail of an award-winning U.S. poet who went missing on a remote Japanese island while hiking up a volcano, his sister-in-law said Wednesday.

Japanese authorities make final search for US poet missing on remote island

TOKYO — The weeklong search for an award-winning U.S. poet who disappeared while hiking up a volcano on a remote Japanese island has yielded no clues and will end after a final day of searching, a police official said Tuesday.