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July 05, 2025
 

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ABDUCTIONS

JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 6, 2020
Shigeru Yokota’s death a reminder that time is running out on abduction issue
Yokota's death is a blow to the families fighting to get their loved ones back, and the 'top priority' issue might now be treated as a mere distraction amid the pandemic.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 18, 2019
Abe used Cabinet reshuffle to renew focus on North Korea abductions, but resolution remains out of reach
In last week's Cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe replaced some of the key personnel responsible for handling the issue of North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals — again demonstrating his determination to resolve the decadeslong problem.
JAPAN
Aug 7, 2019
Police find Japanese man feared abducted by North Korea
An elderly Japanese man feared to have been abducted by North Korea has been found in Japan, Miyazaki Prefectural Police said Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 20, 2019
High-profile defector says Kim has shown 'great interest' in meeting Abe, but summit will come at a cost
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has shown "great interest" in meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — with a major caveat — one of the highest-ranking North Korean diplomats to defect in years told a news conference Thursday in Tokyo.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2019
Father of Japanese girl abducted from London to North Korea in 1983 receives letter from Trump
Akihiro Arimoto, whose daughter Keiko Arimoto was abducted to North Korea at the age of 23 while studying English in London in 1983, said Sunday he has received a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2019
Trump pledges to help bring home Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea
Families of the victims meet with the U.S. president.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 23, 2019
Desperate families of Japanese abducted by North Korea pin hopes on help from Trump
Takuya Yokota chokes up as he talks about a photograph of his older sister, Megumi, whom he has not seen since she was abducted from a beach by North Korean agents one winter evening 41 years ago.
JAPAN
May 20, 2019
Kin of Japanese abductees held in North Korea seek swift return of their loved ones
Family members of Japanese nationals who were abducted by North Korea decades ago on Sunday called for progress in bilateral negotiations to bring home their loved ones at an early date.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 12, 2019
North Korea warns U.S. human rights criticism pushing it in a direction Washington 'does not want to see'
North Korea has lashed out at the United States for criticizing it over human rights abuses, with the country's Foreign Ministry warning such moves were pushing Pyongyang in "a direction where the U.S. does not want to see."
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 9, 2019
The market is open for Japan and North Korea
After years of being shut out from direct dealings with Pyongyang, it appears there is finally a window of opportunity for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to make contact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
EDITORIALS
May 8, 2019
Abe's welcome reversal on talks with Kim
The prime minister has indicated his readiness to be bold and creative in pursuit of better relations with Pyongyang.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 1, 2019
For Japan, 'no deal' at Kim-Trump summit beats a bad deal with concessions to nuclear North Korea
At a glance, this week's Kim-Trump summit meeting in Hanoi, held to foster progress toward the denuclearization of North Korea, generated few tangible victories — despite U.S. President Donald Trump's boasts of the "tremendous" achievements he had expected.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jan 16, 2019
With Pyongyang summit nowhere in sight, pessimism grows in Tokyo over North Korean abductions issue
With no possibility of a Japan-North Korea summit anywhere in sight, and hopes fading that South Korea could pave the way for such a meeting amid deteriorating ties between Tokyo and Seoul, pessimism seems to be growing in Japan over whether the issue of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals...
JAPAN / CABINET INTERVIEW 2018
Oct 26, 2018
Tasked with bringing North Korea abduction issue to a close, Suga vows to do all in his power
As the government's new point man on the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korean agents, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said he will do all in his power to bring the issue to a close and secure the safe return of all who were kidnapped.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 8, 2018
Trump hopes for second summit with North Korea's Kim after 'good' Mike Pompeo meeting in Pyongyang
President Donald Trump says he hopes to see North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "in the near future" after his top diplomat reported progress Sunday at a meeting with Kim in Pyongyang held to resolve details over a potential second summit.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 26, 2018
Japan's Foreign Ministry to create new division dedicated solely to North Korea
To cope with the growing number of diplomatic tasks concerning the Korean Peninsula, the Foreign Ministry plans to split its Northeast Asia Division into two sections on July 1 to create a new division dedicated solely to North Korean affairs, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference...
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 24, 2018
Despite hype, Japan's envoys skeptical an Abe-Kim summit would be productive
Despite growing media hype, key Japanese bureaucrats and politicians warn against expecting any big breakthroughs if Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 12, 2018
Abductees' relatives hope Trump-Kim summit will lead to return of loved ones
As they watched footage of the historic summit between leaders of the United States and North Korea on Tuesday, relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago expressed hope that the landmark meeting in Singapore will lead to the return of their loved ones.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 12, 2018
Is Tokyo's commitment to abduction issue a diplomatic stumbling block?
As the world waited for Trump and Kim to emerge from their summit, Japan looked for signs that the two had addressed its top priority: abductees.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 11, 2018
Abe repeats desire to hold summit with North Korea on abduction issue
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reiterated his desire to hold a bilateral summit with North Korea to resolve the abduction issue.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake jars Tokara Islands amid flurry of seismic activity
A strong quake struck off the Tokara Islands on Thursday afternoon, with the island chain having recorded around 1,000 earthquakes since a burst of seismic activity first began on June 21.
Japan to require flight passengers to keep power banks within sight
The transport ministry has announced new regulations requiring flight passengers to keep power banks within sight to mitigate fire risks while on board planes.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

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