An earthquake of magnitude of 6.7 hit the Tokyo area of Japan cutting off power to more than 2,000 homes and causing light injuries, Japan's news agencies and AFP report.

Japan and China have agreed to hold annual leaders' meetings in another sign of improving relations between the Asian neighbors.

President Hu Jintao on Tuesday started the first visit by a Chinese leader to Japan in 10 years as the Asian powers eased decades of tension, but hundreds took to the streets to protest over Tibet.

Relations between U.S. military personnel and Japanese communities that host military bases are growing emotional following a spate of crimes committed by U.S. servicemen. The incidents have prompted calls by Japan's opposition party for a re-evaluation of defense pacts, and have led U.S. commanders to clamp down on their troops.

Japanese stocks fell the most in a month on concern fallout from the U.S. mortgage market crisis is spreading to Japan's consumer lenders and a U.S. recession will extend the dollar's decline against the yen.

The U.S. military says it took a Marine into custody Friday who was being held by Japanese authorities on charges of raping a teenager on the southern island of Okinawa.

Japan 's health authorities have approved Roche's cancer drug Herceptin for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer.

Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda met with visiting Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan on Thursday at his official residence.

In February, Washington's Kennedy Center celebrated Japanese culture, arts and technology during its "Japan! Culture and Hyper Culture" festival.

A study published by Wiley-Blackwell in the Pacific Economic Review predicts that China will win at least 14% more medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – in comparison to the 144 medals won in 2004 – and narrow its medal-tally gap with the USA significantly.

There is no strong empirical evidence that inflation in China has a significant impact on inflation in the US and Japan. According to a study in China and World Economy published by Wiley-Blackwell, the recent rise in Chinese prices is unlikely to affect Japan or the US. Conversely, there is evidence that the inflation in the US has had some impact on Chinese inflation.

China has again called for the establishment of a long-term bilateral cooperation mechanism with Japan for food safety.