Home

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]

At Tokyo summit, India and Japan outline path forward for the coming decade

Japan and India agreed Friday to significantly ramp up cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, security and people exchanges, as the special strategic partners draw closer amid growing international concern over unilateral U.S. trade tariffs.
In a press…[Read more]

South Korea criticises Japanese officials’ visit to Tokyo war shrine

The South Korean government expressed “deep disappointment and regret” over Japanese officials visiting a Tokyo war shrine on Friday and said future relations must be built on Japan showing remorse for past wrongs, its foreign ministry said.
Japan marked the 80th anniversary of…[Read more]

Memories of two survivors of Japanese PoW boat

The families of two men who survived the sinking of a Japanese prisoner of war ship during World War Two have told their stories to mark 80 years since VJ Day.

There were 1,800 prisoners aboard Lisbon Maru when it sank in the South China Sea on 2 October 1942, including Sgt Cyril Mace from…[Read more]

Sixth University Student Arrested in Expo Mascot Goods Theft Case

A university student in Tokyo has been arrested in connection with the theft of goods from the official store at the Expo site, bringing the total number of suspects in the case to six.

According to police, Akihiro Kono, 20, a resident of Tokyo’s Kita Ward, is accused of s…[Read more]

Passengers Evacuated From Smoking Tokaido Shinkansen

The Tokaido Shinkansen Kodama was halted and partially suspended on Friday night after white smoke began pouring out from under the train’s carriage between Maibara and Gifu-Hashima.

According to police and Central Japan Railway (JR Tokai), at around 9:45 p.m., the conductor of the upbound…[Read more]

Japan’s deepening political woes cloud budget, rate hike timing

Japan’s deepening political uncertainty risks prolonging policy paralysis that could affect the drafting of next year’s budget and the timing of the central bank’s next interest rate hike, analysts say, clouding the outlook for the fragile economy.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is…[Read more]