Japan not planning to send senior officials to Beijing Olympics
In an attempt to strike a diplomatic balance in its relationships with both the U.S. and China, only Olympic officials will represent Japan at the Winter Games.
Japan's defense budget for 2022 hits record for eighth year
The draft budget, including outlays for hosting U.S. military bases, rose 1.1% from the current fiscal year ending in March as Japan ramps up its defense capabilities.
Poll suggests Kishida failed to impress voters with voucher plan
Nearly 80% of households prefer all-cash handouts, a Kyodo News poll showed, as confusion over the plan pushed Kishida's Cabinet approval rating down slightly to 60%.
Freedom needed for commerce to flourish, says Japan's new economic security minister
To succeed, Takayuki Kobayashi says, Japan must seek a balance between allowing companies and research institutions to work together across borders while mitigating any potential risk to national security.
Japan's new economic stimulus package expected to exceed ¥40 trillion
Some policy measures will be funded by a budget for the next fiscal year starting in April. Additional fiscal spending could further dent the government's fiscal soundness.
Kishida's picks for top diplomat and rights adviser hint at striking balance on China
After just over a month in office, some experts say Kishida may be looking to moderate an increasingly hawkish approach to Tokyo's relationship with Beijing.
Former Japan defense chief Gen Nakatani tapped for new human rights post
Nakatani's appointment as special adviser on human rights issues will address China's treatment of Uyghur Muslims in its far-western Xinjiang region and pro-democracy advocates in Hong Kong.
Mayumi Moriyama, Japan's first female chief Cabinet secretary, dies at 93
Moriyama made headlines in 1990 when she tried to present a trophy to a sumo champion in the ring — traditionally off-limits to women — and was stopped by the Japan Sumo Association.
Kishida to respect expert panel talks on imperial succession, new top government spokesman says
In a wide-ranging interview, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno also said the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea would top the Kishida administration's agenda.
Will mixed expectations on Kishida affect economic security?
Kishida’s approval ratings seem to reflect the current mood of the nation’s pandemic-frustrated public.
