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The national government's envisioned disaster management agency is a signature project of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba,
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 16, 2025

Many regions eager to host branches of upcoming disaster agency

A total of 28 entities representing prefectures, municipal government and other bodies have expressed their interest.
Shion Tsurubo, a member of boy band JO1, allegedly engaged in illegal gambling on an online casino website.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 16, 2025

Boy band member referred to prosecutors over illegal gambling

Shion Tsurubo, a member of JO1, allegedly engaged in illegal gambling on an online casino website.
Shingo Kato, assistant manager at Homechigiru Driving School in Ise, Mie Prefecture, rides in a training vehicle with a smartphone equipped with the school’s translation app.
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jun 30, 2025

Translation apps help break language barriers at Chubu driving schools

Some driving schools have refused enrollment of foreign nationals with limited Japanese skills, sources have said.
A staff member at the Osaka Expo wears clothing featuring a cooling fan powered by electricity generated by perovskite solar cells.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2025

Wearable perovskite solar cells tested at Osaka Expo

The cells, jointly developed by Toyoda Gosei and a startup company, weigh just 10 grams each.
Nihonbashi bridge, long overshadowed — literally — by an elevated expressway, is at the center of a multidecade project to relocate the highway underground in hopes of restoring the scenery around the historically significant bridge.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2025

Tokyo moves to restore open skies over historic Nihonbashi bridge

The elevated expressway is set to be completely removed in fiscal 2040 under a project expected to cost ¥320 billion ($2.2 billion).
The Bank of Japan is shifting its strategy on bond purchasing to help stabilize yields on longer-dated securities.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 17, 2025

Bank of Japan holds rates steady and signals shift in bond purchases

The central bank is leaning dovish as U.S. tariffs threaten economic growth.
Ippei Mizuhara, a former interpreter for Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani, in February in California
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2025

Ohtani's ex-interpreter Mizuhara begins prison sentence

Mizuhara, 40, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison on charges of bank and tax fraud in a high-profile theft case.
Agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2025

Farm ministry says farmers 'misunderstand' rice statistics

The farm ministry's position lacks accountability, an expert from the University of Tokyo has said.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, hold talks on Monday in Kananaskis, Canada.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2025

Japanese and Canadian leaders agree to enhance security ties

The prime ministers confirmed that their countries will sign early an agreement to share classified information.
Lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai and the Democratic Party for the People submit a motion to dismiss the chairman of the House of Representatives' Financial Affairs Committee, on Tuesday at parliament.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 17, 2025

Opposition parties submit motion to dismiss Lower House panel chief

The motion to dismiss comes amid the panel chairman's refusal to hold deliberations on a bill to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate.
Shogakukan's office in Tokyo. The Fair Trade Commission issued a warning to Shogakukan and Kobunsha for failing to clearly indicate terms and conditions for freelancers they outsource work to.
JAPAN
Jun 18, 2025

Japan's FTC gives first warning over freelance law breaches

Shogakukan and Kobunsha, both based in Tokyo, were urged to take preventive measures under the law, which came into effect in November 2024.
Gold medalist Shiho Tanaka after winning the women's under-70 kilogram event at the Judo World Championships in Budapest on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Judo
Jun 18, 2025

Tanaka and Murao strike more gold for Japan at judo worlds

Japan has won six of the 10 titles already attributed after five days of competition in Budapest.
Mitsubishi Motors is raising prices on some of its models, including the gasoline version of Outlander Sport sold in the U.S. market.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 18, 2025

Mitsubishi Motors raises U.S. prices as tariffs roil carmakers

The new prices will affect vehicles delivered after Wednesday and won’t be applied to cars currently on display in showrooms.
Eight banks have entered into an agreement with the National Police Agency to share information on suspicious accounts as part of efforts to combat special fraud schemes.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 18, 2025

Major banks team up with police to combat special fraud

Under a new agreement, the banks will send information on suspicious accounts directly to the police instead of channeling it through the Financial Services Agency.
Tatsunori Ibayashi, a Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who was removed from his post as Lower House finance committee chair, reacts after a motion of dismissal against him cleared the chamber on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 18, 2025

In a first, Lower House opposition parties unite to dismiss finance committee chair

Yukihiko Akutsu, a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, was chosen hours later to replace the chair in an election in the Lower House.
A pirated DVD of the 1954 film "Godzilla", colorized and illegally sold without permission, on Tuesday in the city of Toyonaka, Osaka Prefecture
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 19, 2025

Osaka man arrested for selling colorized 'Godzilla' film from 1954

Ippei Miyamoto, a part-time worker in the Osaka city of Toyonaka, has admitted to the allegation.
A Disaster Medical Assistance Team commander (Shun Oguri, right) and a health ministry official (Tori Matsuzaka) work together to respond to Japan’s first brush with COVID-19 in “Frontline — Yokohama Bay.”
CULTURE / Film
Jun 19, 2025

‘Frontline — Yokohama Bay’ revisits nation’s first pandemic struggles

Part docudrama, part recognition of unsung crisis responders, “Frontline — Yokohama Bay” looks back at the ship that warned a nation: COVID-19 is here.
Social activists and artists remove graffiti from the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles on June 10, after days of protests against federal immigration sweeps.
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2025

Japanese American museum criticizes Trump order

U.S. authorities issued orders to put up notices for exhibitions, movies and others that are deemed to disparage U.S. history.
According to the National Police Agency, Japan recorded 2,946 mountain-related accidents last year involving 3,357 individuals.
JAPAN
Jun 19, 2025

Police agency records 3,357 people in mountain accidents last year

The number of fatalities and missing persons in 2024 stood at 300, a decrease of 35 from the previous year.
Nippon Steel Chairman and CEO Eiji Hashimoto leaves a news conference, at which he discussed the acquisition of United States Steel, on Thursday
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 19, 2025

Nippon Steel completes U.S. Steel acquisition after 18-month slog

The firm now owns all the stock of the American steel-maker, other than a "golden share" that gives the U.S. government a degree of control
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko visit the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum in Itoman on June 4.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 19, 2025

Parties are still arguing about the rules on imperial succession

Allowing female members to remain royalty after marriage, starting a maternal lineage, adoptions — there are a slew of ideas but a shortage of answers.
The public approval rate for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet in June was up 6.1 percentage points from the previous month, likely reflecting measures that were taken to combat soaring rice prices under new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2025

Ishiba Cabinet approval rate improves to 27%, poll shows

The increase likely reflects measures that were taken to combat soaring rice prices under new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Yoshihiko Noda, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said there should not be a political vacuum amid ongoing tariff negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2025

Main opposition CDP decides against no-confidence motion for Ishiba

CDP chief Yoshihiko Noda said that there should not be a political vacuum amid ongoing tariff negotiations between the Japanese and U.S. governments.
The Liberal Democratic Party’s pledges ahead of the Upper House election are in sharp contrast to those of the opposition parties, which have all promised tax cuts in various degrees.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 19, 2025

LDP pledges cash handouts and a better economy ahead of Upper House vote

“Driving Japan forward, enriching lives” will be the ruling party’s campaign slogan as it prepares for the upcoming Upper House election.
The government aims to promote a drastic review of its rice policy by understanding farmers' medium- and long-term plans on planting areas and others.
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2025

Japan to survey farmers on rice production intentions

By understanding farmers' medium- and long-term plans on planting areas and others, the government aims to promote a drastic review of its rice policy.
Nippon Steel Chairman and CEO Eiji Hashimoto (left) and Nippon Steel Vice Chairman and Executive Vice President Takahiro Mori. The Japanese company is still undecided about a civil suit filed against a U.S. competitor.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 20, 2025

Nippon Steel drops lawsuit against U.S. government after acquiring U.S. Steel

The Japanese company had challenged the legality of U.S. President Joe Biden's rejection of the acquisition.
The Upper House during a plenary session in Tokyo on Wednesday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jun 20, 2025

Ishiba handles minority government well over the six-month session

With parliamentary business concluding, all eyes are on next month’s Upper House election.
A teacher at the Honkawa day care center in the city of Hiroshima puts away disposable diapers delivered by a subscription service provider.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Jul 7, 2025

Use of diaper subscription expands at Hiroshima public day care centers

The service saves parents from having to put their child's name on each diaper and bring them to the day care center.
At Mount Zine’s gallery in Komazawa, Setagaya Ward, one wall is for exhibiting, while another is for zines for sale.
CULTURE / Books
Jun 21, 2025

A buzzing zine scene across Japan packs passion in multiple formats

In a world now dominated by digital media, small handmade books are a return to analog media and offline connection.
Former Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi addresses a meeting of the party's lawmakers held in the Diet building on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2025

Former Komeito head Natsuo Yamaguchi to retire from politics

Yamaguchi served as Komeito chief for eight terms, or 15 years, through last September.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo