Menu
Search
 
November 30, 2023
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access

JAPAN

Politics

Politics
Crime & Legal
Science & Health
Society
Explainer
History
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is arranging to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, sources have said.
JAPAN / Politics
Kishida to possibly meet Israeli president on Friday
If realized, it would be the first time for the prime minister to hold talks with an Israeli political leader since the Gaza conflict began.
JAPAN / Politics
Despite low approval ratings, Kishida likely to keep top job
While the situation around the government warrants no optimism, experts agree the prime minister has no reason to fret.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan envoy meets citizen detained in China over spying for first time
This was the eighth instance of access granted to the man, with only Japanese Embassy staff having been allowed to see him before Tuesday's meeting.
Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida arrive for a document exchange ceremony and joint news conference after their meeting in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 28, 2023
With eye on China, Japan and Vietnam take ties to ‘new heights’
By Gabriel Dominguez
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong agreed to elevate the relationship to a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Yoko Kamikawa
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2023
Kamikawa conveys ‘comfort women’ stance to South Korean envoy
By Jesse Johnson
Kamikawa urged Seoul to "immediately take appropriate measures" to rectify the situation.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (center) and Chinese top diplomat Wang Yi pose for a photo ahead of trilateral talks in Busan, South Korea, on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 26, 2023
Japan, South Korea and China seek leaders' summit at 'earliest' time
By Jesse Johnson
The talks were seen as a steppingstone toward reviving the three-way summit, but progress on hammering out a specific date appeared elusive.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa shakes hands with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during bilateral talks in Busan, South Korea, on Saturday evening.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 25, 2023
Japanese and Chinese top envoys eye more talks on Fukushima row
By Jesse Johnson
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa met with China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, on Saturday in Busan, South Korea, ahead of a trilateral summit.
A U.S. service member passes in front of an MQ-9 Reaper drone in 2018. The U.S. military in Japan has relocated its reconnaissance drone operations unit to Okinawa, despite local objection.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 25, 2023
U.S. spy drones relocated to Okinawa despite local objection
The shift is part of moves to strengthen surveillance of Chinese activities in nearby waters following a temporary deployment to the Kyushu region.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa speaks during a news conference after a Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Tokyo on Nov. 8.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 25, 2023
Japan, South Korea and U.S. envoys seek united front on North Korea
By Jesse Johnson
The three countries' top diplomats strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of a military spy satellite and vowed to boost trilateral security cooperation.
The Diet building in Tokyo. Japan is not considering penalties for noncompliant businesses in its planned guidelines on the development and use of generative artificial intelligence.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 24, 2023
Japan's generative AI guidelines to carry no penalties
The government aims to accelerate the development and use of generative AI under the guidelines that it expects to compile later this year.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Masahiko Shibayama discusses a bill during a Lower House Judicial Affairs Committee session in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 24, 2023
Japan's parliament debates relief for Unification Church victims
By Kathleen Benoza
The two separate bills being discussed are in part aimed at safeguarding and preventing the transfer of the church’s assets.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 24, 2023
Japan says North Korean ‘object’ orbiting Earth after launch
By Jesse Johnson
"We need to continue to carefully analyze the details, including whether the satellite is orbiting the Earth as intended," the defense minister said.
A North Korean rocket carrying a military spy satellite is launched in this undated photo released Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 22, 2023
North Korea calls spy satellite launch a success, but questions linger
By Jesse Johnson
A rocket carrying the payload passed over the Japanese archipelago late Tuesday, but Tokyo said it had not confirmed the veracity of Pyongyang's claims.
A Komeito delegation, including party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi, is visiting Beijing in a bid to improve China-Japan ties.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 22, 2023
Komeito delegation visits China to bolster frayed ties
A group led by Natsuo Yamaguchi has met with Cai Qi, head of the powerful Secretariat of the Communist Party of China Central Committee.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a Budget Committee session in the Lower House in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 22, 2023
LDP faces scrutiny in parliament over underreporting of funds
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Sizable omissions in political funding reports by the ruling party took center stage in parliamentary debate as the opposition questioned the government.
Newly elected Yawata Mayor Shoko Kawata (right) receives flowers at city hall on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 22, 2023
LDP and CDP join forces against Nippon Ishin in local elections
By Eric Johnston
While such coordination isn't uncommon, in the past it has generally been aimed at beating candidates from the Japanese Communist Party.
A man walks past a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing a space rocket, at the main railway station in Seoul in August.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2023
North Korea says it could launch satellite as early as Wednesday
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s office said it had "strongly demanded" that North Korea halt preparations for the launch.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara speaks with reporters at the Defense Ministry on Monday evening after holding a teleconference with his British and Italian counterparts.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2023
Japan joint fighter development group planned for fiscal '24
By Jesse Johnson
The 'control tower' will oversee the countries’ requirements for the joint development of the fighter by 2035.
Kiyoto Tsuji, a state minister for foreign affairs (center), and Kazuchika Iwata, a state minister of economy, trade and industry (right), talk to Ukrainian officials during their visit to Kyiv on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 21, 2023
Japan state ministers visit Ukraine to examine recovery needs
The delegation included representatives from Japanese firms such as JFE Engineering and IHI, and agricultural machinery maker Kubota.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 20, 2023
Kishida’s support rate hits new lows in three major polls
By Jon Herskovitz
Polls by three major newspapers — the Yomiuri, Asahi and Mainichi — showed Kishida’s support rate at 24%, 25% and 21%, respectively.
A cook prepares sashimi in China's Shandong Province in August.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 19, 2023
China's imports of Japanese fishery products down 99% in October
China fully banning imports of fishery products from Japan from Aug. 24 when the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant water discharge started.
U.S. Marines stand by a transfer case during a repatriation ceremony for the possible remains of unidentified service members lost in the Battle of Tarawa during World War Two in the Republic of Kiribati, July 18, 2019.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 19, 2023
The bloody, 76-hour battle on a tiny atoll that helped end World War II
By Natasha Frost
The Battle of Tarawa, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, took a heavy toll on American forces and led to outrage at home.
A Ground Self-Defense Force marine takes part in a landing drill as a part of the country's nationwide 05JX military exercises on the island of Tokunoshima, in Kagoshima Prefecture, on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 19, 2023
Japanese marines drill on island seen as vulnerable to China
By Tim Kelly
The joint exercises were meant to show the readiness of ground, sea and air forces to defend Japan's territory and infrastructure.

A new wave of Chinese elites is flocking to Japan
Toyosu, a reclaimed area and former industrial zone in the Tokyo Bay area, has become popular with a new wave of Chinese immigrants for its breathtaking views of the Tokyo skyline.
Japan is enticing for digital nomads, but visa hurdles remain
Akina Shu has visited around 50 countries as a speaker and ambassador on the digital nomad lifestyle since 2020.
Reluctant CEO becomes billionaire at Netflix rival in Japan
Yasuhide Uno, Usen-Next Holdings CEO, has transformed his father’s company into Netflix’s biggest competitor in Japan.
Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses submit report detailing sexual abuse
Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policies. A group of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses have submitted a report to the Child and Family Agency detailing sexual abuse.
Wasabi effective in improving memory of elderly: study
A research has found that hexaraphane — a component found in wasabi — helps improve the episodic and working memories of elderly people.
Children of Jehovah’s Witnesses submit report detailing sexual abuse
Ayuko Kato, minister in charge of child policies. A group of children of Jehovah’s Witnesses have submitted a report to the Child and Family Agency detailing sexual abuse.
Japan is enticing for digital nomads, but visa hurdles remain
Akina Shu has visited around 50 countries as a speaker and ambassador on the digital nomad lifestyle since 2020.
Nature-focused theme park to open in Okinawa in 2025
A rendering of the new Junglia theme park scheduled to open in Okinawa in 2025
Japan to start trial of over-the-counter sales of morning-after pills
Customers look at products on display outside a drug store in Tokyo on Friday. As part of a trial, 145 stores nationwide will be allowed to sell morning-after pills until the end of March.
Bedbugs are spreading in South Korea and China. Is Japan next?
A bed bug in Paris in September

Podcast

An official shot for this year’s lineup for NHK’s annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”
Things get warmer with Xi; Johnny’s get the cold shoulder

Longform

Yoshiko Koide sits in a classroom at Nagoya College where she teaches a Japanese-language observation seminar.
How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku
By Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Ajinomoto helps people, planet with amino acids
Ajinomoto helps people, planet with amino acids

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Latest News

Toyota halts production lines at plant again
10 hours ago
'Point of no return': Why Kyiv won't sit down with the Kremlin
11 hours ago
Kishida to possibly meet Israeli president on Friday
Man found dead after U.S. military Osprey crashes into sea
Nomura eyes extra $100 million wholesale banking cost cuts