Business | FOCUS Mar 9, 2018

Trump's steel tariffs seen putting U.S. further away from TPP free trade deal

Washington is pulling farther away from the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, but the new deal signed by the TPP 11 leaves the door open.

Business Nov 12, 2017

Despite TPP agreement, Japan under pressure to make free trade deal with U.S.

By remaining a champion of the TPP free trade deal after the U.S. pulled out, Japan hopes Washington will soften its demands in future trade negotiations.

National / Politics Oct 20, 2017

Despite growing presence, foreign residents' needs treated as accidental election issue

Despite the growing influx of foreign workers and residents in Japan, their perspectives have been largely ignored ahead of Sunday's Lower House election, according to the director of a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant children and youths in the country. Iki Tanaka, whose youth support ...

National / Politics | FOCUS Sep 8, 2017

For Abe, North Korea a welcome distraction from isle row at 19th summit with Putin

Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin diverged in their approaches to reining in North Korea's nuclear ambitions at their summit Thursday, it wasn't all bad news for the Japanese leader. For Abe, the urgency of addressing North Korea provided a welcome ...

National / Politics | FOCUS Sep 5, 2017

North Korea crisis to dominate Abe-Putin summit, pushing isles row aside

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok on Thursday, with a territorial row usually at the center of such talks likely sidelined by tensions over North Korea. Abe hopes to win Moscow's support in strengthening pressure on North Korea ...

Food & Drink Sep 2, 2017

'Almost seafood' products a hit with Japanese palates

One innovative Japanese company has found a way to deliver its customers a taste of the sea, but with imitations it touts to be "almost like the genuine article." Fish paste products, known as surimi, have a long history in Asia and have even seen ...

National / Politics | FOCUS Mar 21, 2017

Japan-Russia security talks seen symbolic, may only benefit Moscow

Japan and Russia resumed on Monday a ministerial security dialogue for the first time in over three years. But the talks are seen as a symbolic development rather than substantial, and may have only served Moscow's interest in showing its improved ties with a ...

National / Politics | FOCUS Jan 28, 2017

Japan should push for Asian cooperation in absence of effort by Trump, expert says

With U.S. President Donald Trump apparently paying little attention to regional order in Asia, Japan should push for cooperation with its neighbors to foster long-term coexistence with a rising China, according to a Japanese expert on international relations. Trump's apparent indifference to Asia has triggered ...

National / Politics Dec 28, 2016

Russian military buildup on disputed isles clouds resolution of row with Tokyo

Even though Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed their recent agreement on joint economic activities on four disputed islands off Hokkaido is a step toward resolving the territorial row, the islands' strategic importance for Russia is likely to continue complicating ...