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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena meet at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN
May 22, 2025

Japan and Paraguay to upgrade ties to strategic partnership

The leaders of the two countries also confirmed that their nations have reached an agreement on an investment pact.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has reached an agreement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to strengthen security cooperation.
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2025

Japan and Italy agree to advance security cooperation

The cooperation includes a project between Japan, Italy and Britain to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Icelandic President Halla Tomasdottir at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
May 28, 2025

Ishiba and Tomasdottir agree to deepen cooperation between Japan and Iceland

The Icelandic president said Japan is Iceland's most important partner in Asia, and expressed her eagerness to collaborate on geothermal energy and gender equality.
Parliament has passed a bill making communication skills training mandatory for all pilots working at busy airports.
JAPAN / Politics
May 30, 2025

Japan revises aviation law after 2024 Haneda collision

The revision makes communication skills training mandatory for all pilots operating at busy airports, including private and Japan Coast Guard aircraft.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani (second from right) and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro (second from left) attend a meeting in Singapore on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 2, 2025

Japan and Philippines agree to strengthen defense cooperation

The two ministers confirmed expanding joint exercises after signing a reciprocal access agreement to ease military visits between their countries.
The joint venture in the United Kingdom will be responsible for overseeing the design, manufacturing and delivery of the aircraft.
JAPAN
Jun 3, 2025

EU approves fighter jet joint venture between Japan, U.K. and Italy

The joint venture in Britain will be responsible for overseeing the design, manufacturing and delivery of the aircraft.
Former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono (left) speaks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 4, 2025

Chinese Premier Li Qiang urges Japan to stand with China against Trump's tariffs

A Japanese delegation of around 100 members headed by former House of Representatives Speaker Yohei Kono is visiting China for seven days until Sunday.
Yasuhiko Morine (left), Esperanza Morine (center left), Lydia Morine (center right) and Naoaki Morine on the island of Linapacan in the western Philippines on May 25
JAPAN
Jun 4, 2025

Some descendants of Japanese in Philippines still without Japan nationality

As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the government is strengthening support for those seeking Japanese nationality based on their ancestry.
The government plans to develop a shelter strategy for foreign armed attacks by the end of fiscal 2025, according to sources.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 5, 2025

Japan to decide plans for shelters from armed attacks within fiscal 2025

The government will also compile basic guidelines for evacuating residents in Okinawa Prefecture's Sakishima Islands, apparently with a possible Taiwan contingency in mind.
Under the new law, the Science Council of Japan will be positioned as a "representative organization for Japanese scientists at home and abroad," and the government will provide necessary financial support.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2025

Japan enacts law to turn Science Council into special entity

The new law for the council, which represents the country's scientific community, will come into effect in October 2026.
Princess Kako pays a courtesy call to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday in Brasilia.
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2025

Princess Kako helps mark 130 years of Japan-Brazil ties on official visit

The princess expressed gratitude to Brazil, home to the world's largest community of Japanese immigrants and their descendants.
Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning. It crossed what is known as the second island chain, which links the Ogasawara Islands and the U.S. territory of Guam, on June 7.
JAPAN
Jun 16, 2025

Japan suspects Chinese aircraft carriers conducted drills against U.S.

The two flattops may have conducted exercises for countering U.S. forces, with one playing the role of a U.S. aircraft carrier and the other practicing intercepting it.
South Korea's F-15K fighters were involved in a joint aerial exercise with Japanese and U.S. fighters off South Korea's Jeju island Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2025

Japan, U.S. and South Korea conduct joint aerial drill

It was the first three-way joint training since the administration of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung was inaugurated on June 4.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a speech at a reception hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2025

Ishiba calls for expanding Japan-South Korea exchanges

The prime minister said he had very good discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung when they met in Canada on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung shake hands in Canada last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 22, 2025

Japan and South Korea mark 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties

The future of the bilateral relationship now appears to depend on Japan policies chosen by new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung.
Japan has already told the EU that the Japanese eel is at no risk of extinction due to international trade.
JAPAN
Jun 24, 2025

Japan opposes EU moves toward eel trade regulation under CITES

Japan plans to collaborate with countries including China and South Korea to urge signatories to reject the proposal.
Eels for sale in Tokyo in 2018. In Japan, eels are a prized food.
JAPAN
Jun 28, 2025

EU proposes eel trade restriction despite opposition from Japan

The proposal is aimed at putting fry, full-grown eels and processed eel products of all 18 species under regulation.
During his expected visit to Japan in July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to visit Japan in July

Rubio is likely to visit Japan and South Korea before or after he attends a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia in July.
An event to promote Japan-India cooperation on supply chains for minerals was held at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2025

New Delhi event highlights Japan's bid to deepen India ties on critical minerals

The event brought together a total of some 70 companies from both countries, including members of the Battery Association for Supply Chain, a Japanese industry group.
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (left) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during bilateral talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 10, 2025

Japan voices strong concern over Chinese military and rare earth moves

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, met for talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related gatherings.
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine speaks during a trilateral defense meeting with Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, the chief of staff of the Self-Defense Forces’ Joint Staff, and South Korean Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo at the Defense Ministry in Seoul on Friday.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2025

South Korea, Japan and U.S. conduct air drill as defense chiefs meet

The three countries' defense chiefs also held an annual meeting in Seoul on Friday, where they recognized the importance of close trilateral cooperation.
Residential buildings in Cairo. The Japan Foundation will begin distributing Japanese movies online for free in all 54 countries in Africa on Tuesday, with many users in north African countries such as Egypt.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2025

Japan Foundation to distribute Japanese movies in Africa

The move comes ahead of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, or TICAD 9, to be held in the city of Yokohama Aug. 20-22.
Emperor Naruhito plays the viola at a banquet hosted by the Mongolian first couple on July 8 in Ulaanbaatar.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 13, 2025

Japan's emperor and empress deepen ties with Mongolia

At the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII, the Emperor and Empress paid tribute to Japanese who died in Mongolia during the aftermath of the war.
Moomin characters take part in a ceremony for Finland’s National Day event at the World Expo in Osaka last month.
JAPAN
Jul 13, 2025

Moomins enjoy enduring popularity in Japan on their 80th anniversary

The charming characters along with their diverse cast of companions from the series have captivated Japanese audiences for generations.
Researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say a new type of gut bacteria named YB328 could help unlock the potential of cancer immunotherapy.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jul 15, 2025

Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs

The discovery may help raise the success rate of a type of cancer treatment that currently works for only 20% of patients who receive it.
Visitors crowd Nakamise shopping street in the Asakusa district of Tokyo on June 22.
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2025

Japan tourism growth slowed as quake rumor deterred Hong Kongers

Fears of an earthquake on or around July 5 originated from a manga by Ryo Tatsuki, whom some claim to have foreseen Japan’s disastrous 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
A think tank researcher said anti-government propaganda by Russian bot accounts was what has made the small far-right party Sanseito so popular leading up to the Upper House election.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2025

Concerns grow in Japan over possible Russian interference in Sunday’s election

A blog post from a member of the Japan Institute of Law and Information Systems went viral for stating Russian bots were interfering in the upcoming Upper House election.
In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Jul 21, 2025

The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan

AI chatbots are becoming stand-ins for pets and partners — offering comfort, connection and raising new concerns.
Former residents of Russian-held islands claimed by Japan hold a memorial service aboard the exchange ship Etopirika, which arrived off Kunashiri, part of the Northern Territories, on Sunday.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2025

Ex-residents of Japan-claimed isles hold memorial at sea

Former Japanese residents of the Russian-held islands cannot return to their hometowns because exchange programs between the two countries have been suspended.
Takeshi Ishikawa, commissioner of the Japanese Defense Ministry's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, speaks at a briefing for Australian political and business leaders on an upgraded version of a Mogami-class frigate that Tokyo aims to export to Australia, held in Canberra on Monday.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2025

Japan briefs Australia on frigate for export

Australia plans to build 11 frigates and is expected to choose between the upgraded Mogami-class frigate and a German frigate by year-end.

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight