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Japan’s ruling party is in crisis as voters swing to right-wing rivals. Can a new leader save it?

Tokyo
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Japan’s ruling party is in trouble, and it knows it.

The country is rife with political instability, having cycled through four prime ministers in the last five years – all members of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

And while the LDP…[Read more]

Trump to Visit Japan on October 27th

Former US President Donald Trump is arranging a three-day visit to Japan starting on October 27th, marking his first trip to the country in six years.

According to government sources, Trump is scheduled to hold a summit meeting with Japan’s new prime minister, who succeeded Ishiba, and also attend a dinner e…[Read more]

Bones Found in Kochi Mountains Linked to Crime Syndicate Victim

A man in his twenties who was abducted in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, in June and later killed has been confirmed dead after his remains were found as bones in the mountains of Kochi Prefecture.

Police arrested Kohei Mitani, a 27-year-old member of the Akamatsu-gumi under the…[Read more]

Trump’s 100% pharmaceutical tariffs won’t apply to Japan and EU

U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports will not apply to countries with negotiated agreements with the U.S. that contain provisions on drugs, according to a White House official, delivering promised relief to economies including the European Union and J…[Read more]

In Prime Minister Election, JIP Leader Rules out Cooperation with CDPJ, Lowering Risk of Loss for LDP

Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura effectively denied on Friday that his party would cooperate with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan in a prime minister election.

“It would be difficult to name a CDPJ representative i…[Read more]

Ukrainian YouTuber arrested in Japan over Fukushima livestream

A Ukrainian YouTuber with more than 6.5 million subscribers has been arrested in Japan after livestreaming himself trespassing in a house in the Fukushima nuclear exclusion zone, police and media said Friday.
The arrest, which reportedly occurred in an area declared a no-go zone after…[Read more]

Japan Postpones Recognition of Palestinian State

Japan decided not to recognize Palestine as a state during a high-level meeting in New York aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even as about 10 other countries declared recognition.

The conference, held alongside the United Nations General Assembly, sought to promote a two-state…[Read more]

Japan Urges Iran to Resolve Nuclear Issue through Dialogue

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya on Tuesday conveyed to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, Tokyo’s strong hope that the issue of Iran’s nuclear development will be resolved through dialogue.

In their meeting in New York, the two ministers also exchanged views on the tense…[Read more]

Japan PM Shigeru Ishiba: Palestine state recognition ‘when not if’

Japan’s prime minister told the United Nations on Tuesday that Tokyo’s recognition of the State of Palestine was only a question of time, saying he was “indignant” at recent comments by Israeli officials.

Nearly 80 percent of UN members recognize the State of Palestine,…[Read more]

Event Marking 1 Year Until 2026 Asian Games Held in Nagoya as Prefecture Prepares to Host

An event marking one year until the opening of the 2026 Asian Games took place on Saturday in Nagoya.

“We want as many people as possible to watch Asian countries compete in what will be a festival of peace,” said Hideaki Omura, Aichi Prefecture gov…[Read more]

40 Years After Plaza Accord, U.S.-Japan Exchange Rate Risks Remain

Monday marks the 40th anniversary of the Plaza Accord, under which the Group of Five countries — Japan, the United States, Britan, France and then West Germany — decided to correct the excessive appreciation of the dollar through currency adjustments.

The accord was led by the…[Read more]

Osaka High Court Upholds Don Juan of Kishu’s Will

A will left by Kosuke Nozaki, the wealthy businessman known as the ‘Don Juan of Kishu,’ declaring that his entire estate of about 1.3 billion yen be donated to Tanabe City has again been recognized as valid, with the Osaka High Court upholding the earlier ruling against claims by his relatives…[Read more]

LDP’s Kobayashi announces he will run in the party leadership race

Former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi said Thursday he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election, days after former LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi threw his hat into the ring.
This will be Kobayashi’s second presidential attempt after…[Read more]

Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture Warned of Record-Breaking Short-Duration Precipitation, Meguro Ward Logs 134 Millimeters for an Hour

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a record-breaking short-duration heavy rain advisory for Tokyo and Kanagawa Prefecture around 2:51 p.m. on Thursday.

Meguro Ward in Tokyo recorded 134 millimeters of rainfall for…[Read more]

Japan-Philippines visiting-forces pact comes into force as defense ties blossom

Japan and the Philippines are set to intensify joint military activities after a bilateral visiting-forces agreement entered into force on Thursday — a move that could potentially also pave the way for rotational deployments by Self-Defense Force personnel to the S…[Read more]

Chinese Destroyer Circumnavigates Japan

A Chinese Navy destroyer and supply ship have completed a near circumnavigation of the Japanese archipelago before returning to the East China Sea.

According to the Ministry of Defense, the vessels sailed between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on August 31st, heading toward the East China Sea. T…[Read more]

Kuwaiti FM meets Japanese counterpart on sidelines of Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Al-Yahya met his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, in Kuwait to discuss bilateral ties.

Iwaya led the Japanese delegation to participate in the second Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, which was held on…[Read more]

Japan and South Korea record hottest summers in history

Record temperatures come amid scientists’ warnings that climate change is causing more frequent extreme weather events.

Japan and South Korea have sweated through their hottest summers since records began.

Japan’s average temperature this summer was 2.36 degrees Celsius (4.24 degrees Fah…[Read more]

Japan, U.K. Defense Ministers Issue Joint Statement on Cooperation; Nations Will Work Together to Counter China in Indo-Pacific

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey, after meeting at the Defense Ministry on Thursday, issued a joint statement pledging to expand security cooperation between their two countries.

This…[Read more]

Japan releases AI-generated Mount Fuji eruption video to encourage Tokyo residents to be prepared

Large clouds of smoke billow from Japan’s most famous mountain.

In no time, volcanic ash spreads to the heavily populated capital of Tokyo, fogging up the air and blanketing buildings and vehicles.

This is all from an AI-generated video released b…[Read more]