Rugby World Cup visitors can find their favourite snacks around town.

The number of people aged 100 or older in rapidly greying Japan has hit a record high for the 41st consecutive year.

Tuition fees at New Zealand universities are among the highest in the world, according to a new report. New Zealand had the seventh-most expensive tuition fees for universities, with entrants paying more than $3600 a year.

Japan's economy shrank an annualised 1.3 per cent in the latest quarter, beating market expectations of a 2.7-per cent contraction.

From bonfire celebrations to dance displays, summer in Japan sees the staging of some unusual festivals.

The NZ stock exchange has fallen 2.5 per cent on opening, following a big slump on world markets overnight. The NZX 50 Index shed 80.89 points to 3297.86, the lowest level since December.