Tokyo’s benchmark stock index plunged in the morning session on Thursday after steep declines in New York. The Nikkei Average briefly fell more than 800 points.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making an official visit to China on Thursday. He is the first Japanese leader to do so in 7 years.
Japanese freelance journalist Jumpei Yasuda is on his way home after being held captive by militants in Syria for more than 3 years.