TOKYO – Across Japan, Catholic faithful, government leaders, and survivors of wartime atomic bombings are mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away April 21 at 88 from a stroke and heart failure.

MANILA – The Philippines joined the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis, the beloved head of the Roman Catholic Church, who died peacefully on Easter Monday, April 21, at the Vatican. He was 88.

Fuchu Prison, the largest all-male penitentiary in Japan, houses the country’s highest number of foreign inmates, including several Filipinos. Once lured to the Land of the Rising Sun by dreams of a better life, these individuals now face the stark realities of incarceration.

TOKYO – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has launched a two-week campaign, starting Thursday, to choose a successor to outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Nine candidates are in the running, each aiming to restore public confidence following a political funds scandal.