Osaka Police Officers Demonstrate Safe E-scooter Riding to Promote Proper Use

To promote safe and proper use of electric scooters, Osaka prefectural police officers wearing helmets have been demonstrating correct riding methods for passersby. The police explained that “people will notice when uniformed officers ride them” and have encouraged res…[Read more]

Influenza cases in Japan surge 50% week on week

Health authorities in Japan are urging people to take precautions against influenza. They say cases nationwide have surged by about 50 percent in the space of a week.

The Japan Institute for Health Security and others say there were 9,074 cases reported by more than 3,000 medical institutions…[Read more]

University of Tokyo Plans Deep Tech, Computing Faculties; Seeks to Promote Next Generation of Innovation, Entrepreneurs

The University of Tokyo is planning to establish two new undergraduate faculties aimed at developing entrepreneurs in the field of cutting-edge technology known as “deep tech,” including artificial intelligence and space dev…[Read more]

Tamaki Rules Out Alliance With CDP

The Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki reaffirmed on October 11 that his party will not cooperate with the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) in unifying opposition candidates for the upcoming prime minister designation vote in the next extraordinary Diet session.

Tamaki said,…[Read more]

Documentary Film Challenges Media Assumptions About Justice

The documentary film ‘Yusaburareru Seigi’ (Shaken Justice) is prompting fresh debate over how the media approaches sensitive legal cases, as it explores the assumptions and consequences of press reporting on so-called “shaken baby syndrome.”

The film’s director, Daisuke Ueda, a former l…[Read more]

University of Osaka celebrates Sakaguchi’s Nobel Prize

Students and staff at the University of Osaka have celebrated the awarding of the Nobel Prize to scientist Sakaguchi Shimon, who serves there as a specially appointed professor.

Sakaguchi and two American scientists were named winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine on…[Read more]

Yen, euro extend slide against dollar on fiscal concerns

Concerns about more fiscal spending in Japan and political uncertainty in France drove the Japanese yen and euro lower against the U.S. dollar on Tuesday, with traders also focused on any signs of when the U.S. federal government will reopen.
The yen fell to a six-month low after Sanae…[Read more]

Takaichi’s leadership lineup favors Aso and his allies while shutting out rivals

Newly elected Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi announced her party leadership lineup Tuesday, entrusting members of a faction led by former Prime Minister Taro Aso with key positions, while excluding her election rival farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi…[Read more]

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

Tokyo
—
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]

EU leaders discuss drone defence and assistance for Ukraine

Against the backdrop of recent airspace violations by Russian fighter jets and kamikaze drones, EU heads of state and government are today discussing joint efforts to improve deterrence and defence. Plans are already on the table for a “drone wall” that would detect, track and int…[Read more]

Germany arrests suspected Hamas members accused of procuring weapons to target Jewish or Israeli institutions

German police arrested three suspected Hamas members who were allegedly procuring weapons “for assassinations targeting Israeli or Jewish institutions,” German prosecutors said in a statement Wednesday.

The three accused, who police onl…[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]

Merz wants to use Russian assets for Ukraine loan

Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants to make almost 140 billion euros available to Ukraine in the form of an interest-free loan, financed with the Russian Central Bank’s assets frozen in Europe. “This loan would not be repaid until Russia has compensated Ukraine for the damage it has cau…[Read more]

Germany’s Merz says Europe still far too dependent on software from US

Germany still depends far too much on software from the United States, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday, calling for Europe to focus more on digital sovereignty and its own data centers.

“I want us in Europe, not just us in Germany, but we in Europe as a whole, to bec…[Read more]

Which German cities are the most expensive for international students?

Authorities probe suspected surveillance operations in northern state of Schleswig-Holstein after similar incidents in neighboring Denmark

Multiple drones were spotted over Germany’s northern state of Schleswig-Holstein overnight, prompting an investigation into possible…[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]