U.S. Asks Japan to Clarify Roles in Possible Taiwan Contingency: FT
Saturday, July 12,2025,22:00
Washington, July 12 (Jiji Press)--The U.S. Defense Department has called on Japan and Australia to clarify what roles they would play in the event of China's military aggression against Taiwan, the Financial Times reported in its online edition Saturday. The Pentagon has made the request in working-level talks with the two allies, according to the British paper. The U.S. side is apparent... .. read more..
Trump Tariff Letters: See the Latest Rates and Countries Affected
Saturday, July 12,2025,18:05
President Trump has told more than two dozen countries that they will face tariffs of at least 20 percent on Aug. 1 if they don’t reach agreements by then. .. read more..
Man Arrested for Alleged Murder in Kawasaki Woman's Case
Saturday, July 12,2025,12:17
Yokohama, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japanese police arrested a man on Saturday for allegedly murdering his former girlfriend, whose body was found at his house in the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, adjacent to Tokyo, in late April. The Kanagawa prefectural police department suspects that Hideyuki Shirai, 28, killed Asahi Okazaki, a 20-year-old part-timer, in or around the prefecture on ... .. read more..
Mother of 3 Kids Killed by Drunken Driver Gives 1st Lecture
Saturday, July 12,2025,11:10
Fukuoka, July 12 (Jiji Press)--The mother of three young children who were killed in a drunken driving accident in Japan in 2006 has given a lecture for the first time on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. In the lecture at Hakata High School in the southwestern city of Fukuoka on Friday, Kaori Ogami, 48, told its students, "I hope you will become adults who can choose b... .. read more..
Osaka Police Crack Down on "Tokuryu" Ring over Underage Prostitution
Saturday, July 12,2025,10:21
Osaka, July 12 (Jiji Press)--The police department of Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, has cracked down on a "tokuryu" loosely organized crime ring comprised of anonymous members for allegedly forcing about 130 underage girls into prostitution around the country under harsh conditions. The group, made up of roughly 70 members, are suspected of recruiting minor girls for prostitution through... .. read more..
Japan's Emperor, Empress Watch Mongolian Horse Race
Saturday, July 12,2025,09:33
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako watched a horse race in Mongolia held as part of the country's traditional Naadam festival on Saturday morning. At the Khui Doloon Khudag horse race venue approximately 40 kilometers west of the city center of Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, the Japanese Imperial couple were welcomed by Mongolian ... .. read more..
Tsuruho to Quit as Diet Committee Chief over Quake Gaffe
Saturday, July 12,2025,09:03
Tokyo, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling party lawmaker Yosuke Tsuruho plans to resign as chairman of a parliamentary committee to take responsibility for a gaffe about a powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan last year, it was learned Saturday. According to a senior official of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Tsuruho is poised to step down from the pos... .. read more..
Flash Floods Are the ‘Hardest Kind’ of Disaster to Prevent, Experts Say
Saturday, July 12,2025,09:01
Scholars and designers of early warning systems say that there are still huge gaps in our ability to predict flash floods and warn those at risk. .. read more..
Japan Local Govts Leverage Osaka Expo to Lure Tourists
Saturday, July 12,2025,08:33
Osaka, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Local governments in Japan have been enhancing tourism promotion at the ongoing World Exposition in the city of Osaka in western Japan as three months will have passed as of Sunday since the six-month event began on April 13. Officials of local governments are generally confident in their promotion activities, with some events to introduce local food and culture... .. read more..
Ishiba Remark on Reducing Dependence on U.S. Not Problem: Rubio
Saturday, July 12,2025,04:17
Kuala Lumpur, July 12 (Jiji Press)--U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that he does not take issue with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's recent remark citing the need for his country to make efforts to reduce its dependence on the United States. "I don't think that that's a negative comment per se," Rubio told reporters in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. "We obviously have very st... .. read more..
Noto Assemblies Urge Tsuruho to Step Down over Quake Gaffe
Saturday, July 12,2025,03:44
Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref., July 12 (Jiji Press)--The assemblies of four municipalities on the Noto Peninsula have demanded that ruling party lawmaker Yosuke Tsuruho step down from "a key post" over his gaffe about a powerful earthquake that struck the central Japan region last year. The assembly speakers from the cities of Wajima and Suzu as well as the towns of Anamizu and Noto, all located... .. read more..
Japan MSDF, U.S., Australian Navies to Enhance Logistics Cooperation
Saturday, July 12,2025,03:00
Sydney, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the U.S. and Australian navies have agreed to strengthen their cooperation for underway replenishment. The agreement features cooperation in missile reloading on warships and refueling at sea. At a time when China is stepping up military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, the MSDF and the navies of the United State... .. read more..
Interior of New Cruise Ship Asuka III Shown to Press
Saturday, July 12,2025,02:22
Yokohama, July 12 (Jiji Press)--Japan's NYK Cruises Co. showed the interior of the Asuka III, its first newly built cruise ship in 34 years, to the press for the first time Friday. The Asuka III, which is set to go into service July 20, has a smaller passenger capacity than the existing Asuka II cruise ship as NYK Cruises aims to offer higher-quality services. The ship features six resta... .. read more..
Rubio and China’s Top Envoy Vie for Influence in Asia Over Trump’s Tariffs
Friday, July 11,2025,15:51
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wants to bolster ties with Asia to counter Beijing’s power, but President Trump’s tariff threats have nations asking why they should align with Washington. .. read more..
Nissan Eyes Supplying Vehicles to Honda in U.S.
Friday, July 11,2025,15:06
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Nissan Motor Co. is considering supplying vehicles produced at its U.S. factory to Honda Motor Co., in an effort to improve profitability and plant utilization for a turnaround, informed sources said Friday. The two Japanese automakers are planning for Nissan to manufacture pickup trucks, which are popular in the United States, and for Honda to sell them under it... .. read more..
Japan, Others Seek Ceasefire in Gaza Strip
Friday, July 11,2025,13:45
Kuala Lumpur, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan, Malaysia, and Palestine released a statement calling for a halt to the fighting in the Gaza Strip on Friday, after co-chairing a ministerial meeting of the Conference on Cooperation among East Asian Countries for Palestinian Development, or CEAPAD, in Kuala Lumpur the same day. In the statement, the three said that all violence must stop to ensure ... .. read more..
Japan, U.S., S. Korea Top Uniformed Officers Vow Cooperation
Friday, July 11,2025,13:37
Seoul, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Top uniformed officers from Japan's Self-Defense Forces, the U.S. military and the South Korean military on Friday agreed to continue their trilateral security cooperation, condemning North Korea's nuclear and missile development. The agreement was included in a joint statement released following a meeting in Seoul between Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff ... .. read more..
Over 120 Countries, Regions to Attend Hiroshima Peace Ceremony
Friday, July 11,2025,13:16
Hiroshima, July 11 (Jiji Press)--A total of 124 countries and regions, as well as the European Union, are currently scheduled to attend the Aug. 6 peace memorial ceremony in Hiroshima this year, the western Japan city said Friday. The number of attending countries and regions is set to surpass the record high of 111, set in 2023. Among the nuclear powers, Britain, France, India and Israe... .. read more..
China to Resume Japanese Beef Imports
Friday, July 11,2025,12:49
Osaka, July 11 (Jiji Press)--A Japan-China agreement needed for China's resumption of Japanese beef imports took effect on Friday, the Japanese government said Friday. China suspended Japanese beef imports in 2001, following an outbreak of mad cow disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, in Japan. In 2019, the two governments signed the animal health and quarantine... .. read more..
Japan's Emperor, Empress Attend Mongolian Festival Event
Friday, July 11,2025,12:08
Ulaanbaatar, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Friday attended the opening ceremony for Naadam, a traditional festival of Mongolia, at the national stadium in its capital Ulaanbaatar, with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and his wife. Naadam, which means festival in the Mongolian language, is a national competition for the three traditional games of ... .. read more..
China Registers 3 Japanese Fishery Firms for Exports
Friday, July 11,2025,11:37
Beijing, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Chinese customs authorities have registered three Japanese fishery processing firms as companies allowed to export products to China, it was learned Friday. The move paved the way for China to resume fishery imports from Japan after nearly two years. China halted imports of Japanese fishery products in August 2023, following Japan's release of tritium-conta... .. read more..
Japan, U.S., S. Korea Affirm Cooperation over N. Korea
Friday, July 11,2025,11:28
Kuala Lumpur, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Senior diplomats of Japan, the United States and South Korea on Friday affirmed that the three countries will continue to work closely in dealing with North Korea, which is deepening its military cooperation with Russia. They also agreed to strengthen their unity in an increasingly severe security environment, including China's hegemonic moves in the East... .. read more..
2025 POLLS: Foreign Worker Policies in Spotlight
Friday, July 11,2025,11:25
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Whether Japan should continue to accept more foreign workers or curb its foreign labor intake has become a key issue in the July 20 House of Councillors election amid concerns among the public over crimes and other incidents caused by some foreigners. The number of foreign residents in the country topped 3.7 million by the end of last year, marking a record high... .. read more..
Japan Starts FY 2025 Minimum Wage Talks
Friday, July 11,2025,10:56
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's labor ministry held an advisory panel meeting on Friday to kick off talks to draw up guidelines for each prefecture to raise its minimum wage for fiscal 2025. Currently, the country's average minimum hourly wage is 1,055 yen, following a record increase of 51 yen, or 2.1 pct, in fiscal 2024. Amid rising food and other prices, a focal point is whether eve... .. read more..
2025 POLLS: Komeito, JCP Struggle to Keep Once-Stable Support
Friday, July 11,2025,10:56
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--After decades of being backed by their unwavering supporter organizations and dedicated party members, Komeito and the Japanese Communist Party are struggling to secure support in the upcoming House of Councillors election. With their support bases aging, the two traditional parties lost seats in last month's Tokyo assembly as new forces emerged and votes were d... .. read more..
2025 POLLS: De Facto Married Couple Seek Early Introduction of Dual Surnames
Friday, July 11,2025,10:31
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--One of the main topics in the July 20 House of Councillors election in Japan is the proposed introduction of a selective dual surname system for married couples. A couple who chose de facto marriage to avoid changing their surnames are calling for the system's early introduction in the country. The Legislative Council, an advisory panel to the justice minister, p... .. read more..
Chinese Vice Premier Mentions Potential for Cooperation with Japan
Friday, July 11,2025,10:26
Osaka, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said Friday that his country's relationship with Japan is at an important time for improvement and development, and that the two countries have the potential to cooperate in a wide range of areas. He made the remarks in a speech at an event marking China's "national day" at the 2025 World Exposition in the western Japan city of Osa... .. read more..
Japan Summer Vacation Budget Hits Record High
Friday, July 11,2025,09:01
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--The average summer vacation budget in Japan this year rose 26.4 pct from the year before to a record 104,901 yen, according to an annual Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Co. survey. The average grew for the fourth straight year, with 18.5 pct of respondents increasing planned spending, up from 16.0 pct in the previous survey. Of the budget-boosting respondents, 74... .. read more..
Rubio and Chinese Diplomat Vie for Influence in Asia Over Trump’s Tariffs
Friday, July 11,2025,08:46
Marco Rubio wants to bolster ties with Asia to counter China’s sway, but President Trump’s tariff threats have nations asking why they should align with Washington. .. read more..
Japan Crown Prince, His Family Visit Hiroshima A-Bomb Exhibition
Friday, July 11,2025,08:18
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and his family on Friday visited a photo exhibition on the U.S. atomic bombing of the western Japan city of Hiroshima 80 years ago. The event, hosted by five media organizations including Chugoku Shimbun, a newspaper publisher in Hiroshima Prefecture, is being held at the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum in Meguro Ward of Japan's capit... .. read more..
Nissan Secures 860 B. Yen through Bond Issuance
Friday, July 11,2025,08:10
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Nissan Motor Co. said Friday that it has secured some 860 billion yen in proceeds from corporate bond sales. The struggling automaker plans to use the funds for the redemption of bonds maturing in fiscal 2025 and the development of electric vehicles. Of the total amount, about 200 billion yen will be raised from convertible bonds to be issued later this month,... .. read more..
Sun Umbrella-Sharing Service Launched in Tokyo
Friday, July 11,2025,07:30
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Nine Japanese railway companies said they have launched a sun-umbrella rental service at major stations in Tokyo, in collaboration with a startup. The railway firms, including Tokyo Metro Co. and East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, aim to encourage people to use such protection, which can be used in rain or as a parasol, to counter heatstroke. Operated in coll... .. read more..
Japan Firm Pays Record 1.5 B. Yen for Original Birkin Bag
Friday, July 11,2025,06:28
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--The prototype Hermes Birkin bag was sold for about 1.47 billion yen to a Japanese company at a recent auction. At Sotheby's in Paris on Thursday, Tokyo-based Valuence Japan Inc. beat eight rivals in some 10 minutes. The auction firm said the bag, actually used by the late actor Jane Birkin, became the highest-priced handbag ever put up for auction. Accordi... .. read more..
SBI Shinsei Bank Applies for Relisting on TSE
Friday, July 11,2025,05:49
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--SBI Shinsei Bank, a unit of major Japanese online financial service group SBI Holdings Inc., on Friday applied for its relisting on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The bank, formerly Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan, which went bankrupted in 1998, plans to repay all of its remaining public funds worth about 230 billion yen to the government at the end of this month. The... .. read more..
LDP Moriyama, Chinese Vice Premier Apparently Discuss Beef Trade
Friday, July 11,2025,05:20
Osaka, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling party executive Hiroshi Moriyama and visiting Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held talks in the western Japan city of Osaka on Friday, apparently focusing on beef trade. Moriyama, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party and also head of a suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers promoting Japan-China friendship, is believed to have been ... .. read more..
Season's 1st Batch of Saury Sold for 300,000 Yen per kg at Toyosu
Friday, July 11,2025,04:52
Tokyo, July 11 (Jiji Press)--This season's first batch of saury was sold for 300,000 yen per kilogram for some large fish at the Toyosu wholesale market in Tokyo on Friday morning. The arrival of the season's first saury was more than a month earlier than last year. The first batch, which arrived at the market after being landed at Kushiro Port in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hok... .. read more..
Japan SDF Chief Visits S. Korea for 1st Time since 2010
Friday, July 11,2025,04:46
Seoul, July 11 (Jiji Press)--Gen. Yoshihide Yoshida, chief of staff at the Japanese Defense Ministry's Joint Staff, has become the first top uniformed officer of the Self-Defense Forces to visit South Korea since 2010. On Thursday, Yoshida held talks with Adm. Kim Myung-soo, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, to discuss regional security issues including North Korea and measur... .. read more..
Japan, U.S., Philippines Oppose Maritime Coercion
Friday, July 11,2025,01:06
Kuala Lumpur, July 11 (Jiji Press)--The foreign chiefs of Japan, the United States and the Philippines have voiced opposition to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion. Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro shared the view as they discussed the situation in the East Chin... .. read more..
China Court to Issue Ruling on Japanese Businessman on Wed.
Friday, July 11,2025,00:17
Beijing, July 11 (Jiji Press)--A district court in Beijing will hand down a ruling Wednesday on a Japanese employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., who has been charged with espionage in China, sources familiar with Japan-China relations have said. Earlier this week, the court informed the Japanese Embassy in Beijing of the date of the sentencing hearing, and arrangements are being made for an emb... .. read more..
Chinese Military Jet Abnormally Approaches SDF Plane Again
Thursday, July 10,2025,15:09
Tokyo, July 10 (Jiji Press)--A Chinese military jet approached a Japanese Air Self-Defense Force reconnaissance plane as close as about 30 meters over the East China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, Japan's Defense Ministry said Thursday. There was no damage to the ASDF plane or its crew. Over the incidents, the Japanese government conveyed grave concern to the Chinese side through diplomatic... .. read more..