National Jan 10, 2021
Motorists stranded and trains delayed as winter weather pummels Japan
Heavy snowfall was mainly seen in areas facing the Sea of Japan, registering record highs in some parts.
National Jan 8, 2021
Sections of the Hokuriku Expressway were closed between Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures in the wake of the backup until Friday morning.
National | FOCUS Jan 5, 2021
Japan and U.S. to boost defense ties with Europe in Indo-Pacific
by Ko Hirano
In 2021, the U.K. will deploy an aircraft carrier and its strike group to East Asia, France will dispatch a naval vessel to Japan and Germany will send a frigate to the Indian Ocean.
National Dec 28, 2020
Kawasaki Heavy hack may have targeted defense-linked information
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. said Monday that some data may have been breached as a result of unauthorized access to a server in Japan. The hack may have targeted defense-related information held by Kawasaki Heavy, which produces aircraft and submarines for the Defense Ministry. Kawasaki Heavy ...
National Dec 22, 2020
MSDF's two top officers among eight senior officials with COVID-19
Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura and Vice Chief of Staff Naruto Nishi will work remotely under quarantine, along with six other officials who worked with them at the Defense Ministry.
National Dec 21, 2020
Japan approves record defense budget for fiscal 2021 amid China threats
by Reito Kaneko
The draft budget, up 0.5% from the previous year, includes funding to introduce new standoff missiles capable of attacking enemy vessels from outside their firing range.
National Dec 19, 2020
Japan may equip Aegis ships with long-range standoff missiles
The government may install the missiles on two ships that were recently approved for development in the face of China's growing naval assertiveness.
National Dec 19, 2020
Snowbound line of cars that stretched up to 16.5 kilometers at one point Thursday finally removed after two days on expressway.
National Dec 18, 2020
Japan will work with Lockheed Martin on new fighter jet, Defense Ministry says
The Defense Ministry weighed the American aerospace giant's experience in delivering the U.S. military's mainstay F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters when narrowing down potential partners.
National | FOCUS Dec 18, 2020
Japan's additional Aegis ships could encourage further arms buildup
by Reito Kaneko and Munehisa Tokunaga
The proposed deployment could allow China and Russia to justify further military expansion, experts say.
Commentary / Japan Dec 17, 2020
Bringing the MSDF to Ishigaki Island amid China’s ramped-up territorial ambitions
by Robert Eldridge
Ishigaki Island voters have a keen awareness of national security needs. This is especially true in recent years as China’s territorial ambitions toward the Senkaku Islands
National Dec 16, 2020
Japan's 2021 defense budget to be record high of ¥5.34 trillion
As for tax revenue, the government predicts it to be below ¥60 trillion for fiscal 2021, given the expected fallout from the pandemic on corporate earnings, the sources said.