Japan’s embattled PM had a cruel summer – it ended with his exit

It’s been a cruel summer for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
A series of scandals that implicated the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Mr Kishida’s closest allies within it and even his family had put his job on the line.
That this happened as living costs shot up and…[Read more]

Nikkei closes up 10.23% after Monday’s record fall; dollar trading at ¥145.94

Tokyo’s key Nikkei index closed more than 10 percent higher Tuesday, bouncing back from a record selloff the previous day on worries over the U.S. economy and a stronger yen.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index jumped 10.23 percent, or 3,217.04 points, to end at 34,675.46,…[Read more]

Hiroshima marks 79th anniversary of atomic bombing

Hiroshima marked the 79th anniversary on Tuesday of its atomic bombing by the United States, with its mayor urging people to unite in prompting world leaders to shift away from nuclear deterrence amid global conflicts including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war in the Middle…[Read more]

Japanese stocks rebound from worst crash since 1987 while global markets are mixed

Japanese shares soared Tuesday, clawing back some of their record losses from the previous day and underpinning a patchy recovery on global markets.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 index finished 10% higher and the broader Topix closed around 9% up. Elsewhere in Asia,…[Read more]

Why is Japan cracking down on rideable motorised suitcases?

A growing number of airports are imposing restrictions on these electric suitcases over safety concerns.

Rideable motorised suitcases, which emerged almost 10 years ago as something futuristically novel as well as functional, have increasingly become popular among travellers.

But the…[Read more]

Hackers Race to Win Millions in Contest to Thwart Cyberattacks with AI

The front line in the battle to protect U.S. critical infrastructure ran this month through a rental house in Orange County.

More than a dozen hackers from Arizona State University, the University of California-Santa Barbara and Purdue University tapped on laptops spread…[Read more]

Junior high school boy drowns in Tama River in Tokyo

A junior high school boy drowned after being swept away by a river current in the Tama River in Hamura City, Tokyo, on Sunday morning.

According to police, the boy was swimming with three friends at around 5:30 a.m. when he was swept away, Kyodo News reported. The boy’s friends alerted a p…[Read more]

Blinken arrives in Japan for 2+2 security talks, Quad

Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats will meet in Tokyo on Sunday for talks aimed at further bolstering their military cooperation, including by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production in Japan, amid a rising threat…[Read more]

The simple Japanese method for a tidier and less wasteful fridge

To help people clear cluttered fridges and reduce food waste, researchers in Tokyo are testing simple organisational techniques – and all you need to get started is some tape and a few stickers.

Have you ever opened your refrigerator and felt a surge of anxiety? Perhaps you s…[Read more]

Anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson arrested in Greenland. He faces possible extradition to Japan

Greenland police said they apprehended veteran environmental activist and anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson on an international arrest warrant issued by Japan.

Watson, a 73-year-old Canadian-American citizen, is a former head of the Sea Shepherd…[Read more]

Israel’s invitation to this year’s atomic bomb commemorations in Japan has sparked a controversy over double standards

Hiroshima, the Japanese city devastated by a US atomic bomb in 1945, is at the center of a growing controversy after local officials dismissed calls to disinvite Israel from its annual ceremony promoting world peace as war rag…[Read more]

Japan asks young people why they are not marrying amid population crisis

Consultation launched as surveys show people have little chance to meet partners and worry about high cost of living

The Japanese government has begun to consult young people about their interest in marriage – or lack thereof – as Japan continues to struggle with a dem…[Read more]

German investor morale falls sharply in July, ZEW says

German investor morale deteriorated more than expected in July, registering its first fall in a year and suggesting the recovery in the euro zone’s largest economy will be bumpy.
The economic sentiment index fell to 41.8 points from 47.5 points in June, the ZEW economic research institute…[Read more]

NATO launches Ukraine command centre in Germany

The centre in Wiesbaden will plan and coordinate security assistance for Kyiv as it continues to fight against Moscow’s war of aggression.

The southern German town of Wiesbaden, known for spas and hot springs, will now serve as a site of NATO’s efforts to support the Ukrainian military.

There,…[Read more]

Japan and Germany agree to boost security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region

Both sides said their countries would create an economic security framework amid fears about what they view as China’s overproduction of electric vehicles and other key products using massive subsidies.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio…[Read more]

Germany’s economic sentiment slips more than expected: Is recovery at risk?

Germany’s ZEW Economic Sentiment Index fell from 47.5 to 41.8 in July, missing forecasts and ending an eight-month of consecutive increases. Factors such as declining exports, political uncertainty in France, and unclear ECB monetary policy contributed to the…[Read more]

Missing woman rescued near Tokyo after 36 hours adrift at sea

A woman was rescued from the sea off Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo, on Wednesday morning after drifting some 80 kilometers over about 36 hours, a local coast guard office said.

The 21-year-old Chinese woman, who was on a swim ring, was found dehydrated but conscious, according to the…[Read more]

Japan PM leaves for U.S., Germany for summits amid security concerns

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida left for Washington on Wednesday to attend a NATO summit to confirm cooperation with the alliance in addressing the increasingly severe security challenges posed by Russia and China.

During his five-day overseas trip through Sunday, Kishida…[Read more]

Leaders of South Korea, Japan share concerns over Russia-North Korea ties

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shared concerns over growing ties between Russia and North Korea and agreed to continue their security cooperation, a statement from Yoon’s office said on Thursday.

The two leaders, who are…[Read more]

Japan’s stock records lack punch of yen’s fall

Japanese stocks hit new highs on Thursday with a whimper rather than a bang, greatly contrasting the noise around the yen’s recent fall to a 38-year low.
Analysts contacted on Friday about the rise of the 225-issue Nikkei average to an all-time record above 40,000 dispensed with celebratory remar…[Read more]