Download Known as the ”heartbeat drummers ”, the Japanese  group Kodo has been taking the world by storm.

Their performance is a dazzling exhibition of energy and skill.

They tour for nine months every year – and this year, their ”One Earth” world tour marks the group’s 30th anniversary.

Ric Wassserman caught their show in Sweden.

Download More than ten months on from the meltdowns at Fukushima, Japan is now confronting more fallout from the nuclear crisis.

The country's tourism sector is still struggling to convince foreigners that Japan is safe. Some of the hardest hit areas are the ski fields 300 kilometres from Fukushima.

Mark Willacy, of Radio Australia reports.

Download Documents have revealed the lengths being taken to keep work at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant secret and to stop workers there from talking to the media.

And one former worker at the plant alleges they were given sub-standard protective gear after the accidents.

The plant's operator, TEPCO, says it's improved conditions at the plant, but admits it doesn't know how much its sub-contractors are paying staff. 

Mark Willacy of Radio Australia reports.

Download It was one story that was swallowed up earlier this year, by the horrific events of Japan's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdowns.

But for music lovers in Japan, March the 11th will be remembered as the day the earthquake almost destroyed the home of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.

The magnitude-nine quake caused tens of millions of dollars in damage to the orchestra's state-of-the-art venue, leading to cancelled performances and forcing the TSO to practise at makeshift venues.

But the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra is vowing to rise again.

Mark Willacy has the report.