Search - cabinet

 
 
The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sails in waters off Taiwan on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 1, 2025

China conducts joint military exercises aimed at blockading Taiwan

The Chinese drills were practicing closing in on the island, with Beijing also warning that efforts toward Taiwan independence meant “war.”
People fleeing Rafah arrive in Khan Younis city following new Israeli evacuation orders, in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
WORLD
Apr 1, 2025

Israel tells Gazans to leave south before ‘intense fight’

The notification on Monday covered Rafah, a city near the border with Egypt, as well as surrounding areas.
Democratic-backed Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Susan Crawford gestures to supporters after voters elected her to the state Supreme Court, at her election night headquarters in Madison, Wisconsin, on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 2, 2025

Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election in setback for Trump and Musk

The election was widely seen as an early referendum on Trump's presidency, and the campaign easily became the most expensive judicial contest in U.S. history.
A collapsed building in Mandalay, Myanmar, following Friday's quake.
JAPAN
Apr 2, 2025

One Japanese injured in Bangkok after Myanmar quake

This person, as well as the two Japanese nationals in Myanmar who have been confirmed injured, is not in a life-threatening condition.
Ruling and opposition parties are discussing strengthening parliamentary oversight of government activities under a planned active cyberdefense law.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2025

Japan eyes stricter Diet oversight of active cyberdefense

If the ruling and opposition sides agree, a revised bill on the issue will be submitted as early as Friday.
New students of the University of Tokyo attend an entrance ceremony at the Budokan Hall in Tokyo in April 2023.
JAPAN
Apr 3, 2025

Half of college students in Japan worry about living costs

Some students have said they refrain from buying things more often than they have previously.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks and signs tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House, in Washington, on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 3, 2025

With Trump’s tariffs, the chasm between allies and the U.S. widens

Trump’s plan, which he unveiled on Wednesday and is calling "reciprocal,” would impose a wave of tariffs on dozens of countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order after delivering remarks on reciprocal tariffs during an event titled "Make America Wealthy Again" at the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Apr 4, 2025

‘Liberation Day’ will weigh heavily on the world

While some nations will fight U.S. tariffs, Japan is among those more likely to make a deal.
Fuji Television Network President Kenji Shimizu (center) visits the communications ministry in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Apr 4, 2025

Japan's government warns Fuji TV over handling of scandal

Dalton Investments, a major shareholder in Fuji Media, said Thursday that it has demanded the resignation of executives at the media group over the scandal.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 5, 2025

Ishiba says he plans to speak to Trump about tariffs in coming days

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that these talks could see Japan offer a fresh investment package, though he ruled out a small, piecemeal deal.
Kids view the area from a lookout point over cranes and containers at the Port of Keelung, Taiwan, on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Apr 7, 2025

Taiwan eyes zero tariffs with U.S. and pledges more investment

The U.S. is Taiwan's most important international backer and main source of arms, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.
A Fuchu expressway entrance in western Tokyo is closed Sunday due to a glitch in the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2025

Tollbooths now operational after ETC malfunction causes mass confusion

It was the first time such a large-scale problem involving the ETC system has occurred since Japanese expressways were privatized in 2005.
Kwai Chung container ports in Hong Kong earlier this month
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 7, 2025

East Asia tries a mix of measures to counter U.S. tariffs as markets suffer

U.S. President Donald Trump last week announced a raft of tariffs, with almost every country affected.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Feb. 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 7, 2025

Japan responds to Trump's tariffs with a polite phone call and request

The call was the first interaction between the two leaders since the U.S. president rolled out new tariffs targeting almost every country on the planet.
Nippon Steel’s proposal to buy U.S. Steel is being given a second national security review by U.S. President Donald Trump.
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 8, 2025

Nippon Steel’s purchase of U.S. Steel to get new national security review

The order for a second review came after a call between Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba over the tariffs.
A screen displays rising share prices outside a securities firm in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 8, 2025

Japan stocks rebound on hopes of Trump tariff deal and weaker yen

Major shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange ended Tuesday's session at 33,012.58, up 1,876 points, or 6.02%, from Monday, when it suffered its third-biggest daily point loss.
A television station broadcasts U.S. President Donald Trump speaking during a Rose Garden event, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Markets / FOCUS
Apr 8, 2025

Frustrated world leaders wonder if Trump even wants a deal

U.S. President Donald Trump has set a high bar, telling reporters that any agreements would need to eliminate bilateral trade deficits.
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa enters the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 8, 2025

Japan and U.S. appoint tariff negotiators after Ishiba-Trump phone call

Ryosei Akazawa, minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy, will spearhead talks with the U.S.
Toyota is considering transferring some production in the key Tokai region, which is expected to be hit hard in a Nankai Trough earthquake, to the Tohoku and Kyushu regions.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Apr 8, 2025

Japanese makers rush to mitigate possible Nankai Trough earthquake damage

The government is calling on manufacturers to diversify their production bases and suppliers to mitigate the risks.
The 2025 Diplomatic Bluebook says that Tokyo will communicate closely with Washington over various issues facing the international community.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2025

Japan foreign policy report highlights importance of building ties with Trump

The 2025 Diplomatic Bluebook said that Tokyo will communicate closely with Washington over various issues facing the international community.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a news conference on Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office. Hayashi has cited Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile development programs as well as its abduction of Japanese nationals as reasons for Japan's extension of sanctions on North Korea.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2025

Japan to extend sanctions against North Korea for two years

Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and missile development programs, and its abduction of Japanese nationals were cited as reasons.
The House of Representatives passed an active cyber defense bill on Tuesday in the Diet.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 8, 2025

Japan's Lower House passes active cyber defense bill

The bill is expected to be enacted by the end of the current ordinary Diet session, with the government planning to fully introduce an active cyber defense system in 2027.
George Glass, U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to be ambassador to Japan, attends a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on March 13.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 9, 2025

Japan gets a new U.S. ambassador — and he has his work cut out for him

The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm George Glass, whose top agenda items include resolving the tariff row and getting Tokyo to spend more on defense.
A man walks past an electronic board showing the numbers of the Nikkei stock average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the Japanese capital on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 9, 2025

Japan's Nikkei down nearly 4% at close

The Nikkei 255 index of shares ended the day down 3.93% at 31,714.03. The yen came off earlier highs to trade at ¥145.27 per dollar, up 0.7%.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington on Tuesday. Trump allowed new tariffs — including a 24% levy on Japan — to go into effect as scheduled on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 9, 2025

Trump's tariff gambit leaves Asia stunned and scrambling

Tariffs take time to actually affect prices and trade flows, but financial markets are already responding to the possibility of severe economic dislocation.
Stockpiled rice at a rice-polishing factory in Saitama Prefecture in March
JAPAN
Apr 9, 2025

Japan to release stockpiled rice monthly amid record high prices

The move comes after two previous releases appeared to have had little effect in stabilizing prices.
U.S. President Donald Trump looks on after signing an executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday in Washington.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 10, 2025

Tokyo cheers Trump’s tariff U-turn with second-biggest market gain ever

The news of Trump’s 90-day pause on “reciprocal tariffs”was welcomed by Japan and its markets, with the 225-issue Nikkei stock average up more than 9% on Thursday.
This 1-meter "wajima-nuri" lacquerware globe from Ishikawa Prefecture will be one of the specialty products to be displayed by Japan's local governments at the Osaka Expo.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 2025

Local governments to showcase products at Osaka Expo

Eye-catching items include a 1-meter lacquerware globe from Ishikawa Prefecture that escaped damage after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba raises his hand to answer a question about the U.S. tariff measures during a parliamentary committee session in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 10, 2025

Government considers fresh economic package to tackle impact of U.S. tariffs

Consensus is growing within the LDP-Komeito coalition over the need for intervention, though opinions are mixed on how to do it.
A trader works during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 11, 2025

Trump trade war with China revives recession and bear market fears

While announcing a 90-day tariff pause on dozens of countries, Trump ratcheted up tariffs on Chinese imports, raising them effectively to 145%.

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?