Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–As Japan’s ruling bloc and the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance both advocate for lowering the consumption tax on food to zero ahead of the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, smaller political parties have also announced policy pledges

(The third paragraph from the bottom should have read, “…Samizo,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) People Bid Farewell to Ueno Zoo Pandas on Final Viewing Day Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of Tuesday’s departure for China of the only

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura has said that a consumption tax reduction, a proposal in the party’s policy pledges for the upcoming general election, should be implemented together with financing measures such as a tax hike on

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Audiences showed varied reactions to stump speeches throughout Japan by prospective candidates of the Centrist Reform Alliance, created by former rival parties just before Friday’s dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election. On the day

(The lead should have read, “…Liberal Democratic…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Takaichi Says to Aim for Zero Consumption Tax on Food within FY ’26 Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also president of the ruling

Washington, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, will soon visit Japan and South Korea, the Defense Department said Saturday. The No. 3 Pentagon official will hold talks with senior government officials in both countries. The department said

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday denied the possibility of newly issuing deficit-covering government bonds to realize a zero consumption tax rate on food items. “If it (the tax cut) is limited to two years, we can

(The third paragraph should have read, “…Japan Innovation Party…,” and the final paragraph should have read, “…Shinsengumi,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) (Update) Japan Parties Gear Up for Election in 1st Weekend since Dissolution Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police on Saturday arrested a 62-year-old professor at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Medicine on suspicion of accepting bribes related to a joint research project. Shinichi Sato, from Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward, was arrested by Tokyo’s

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese political parties began gearing up in earnest for the upcoming House of Representatives election on Saturday, the first weekend since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, the day before.

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–LY Corp., the operator of internet portal Yahoo! Japan, has announced a ban on the resale of new “Gunpla” and other popular snap-together plastic model kits at prices exceeding retail prices for a certain period on its flea

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese political parties began gearing up in earnest for the upcoming House of Representatives election on Saturday, the first weekend since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, the day before.

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s health ministry will designate eight drug ingredients as having abuse potential under law in response to rising concerns about the overdose of over-the-counter drugs among young people, it has been learned. The ministry will publicly notify the

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry is considering raising the leasing fees paid by Japan Railways group companies for some Shinkansen bullet train line facilities. The ministry is looking to use the higher revenue for new construction projects based on Shinkansen

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Leaders of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, are expected to deliver their first campaign speeches for the upcoming House of Representatives election jointly in Tokyo on Tuesday, according to informed

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Election-related businesses in Japan are scrambling to prepare for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, which is set to be held just 16 days after the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, was dissolved. The

New York, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)–The dollar plunged below 156 yen to hit one-month lows in New York trading on Friday as traders grew wary of a possible market intervention aimed at curbing the Japanese currency’s slide. At 5 p.m., the dollar

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–New forms of subscription services have expanded beyond the realm of entertainment in Japan, branching into industries such as gaming, hotels and cars amid a shift in consumer attitudes. The business model, in which subscribers pay a monthly

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese consumers have expressed worries about rising prices of goods ahead of the Feb. 8 general election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament. A 31-year-old company worker who visited

(Adnkronos) – The United States has announced further sanctions against the Iranian regime in an attempt to deprive Tehran of the resources needed to oppress its people. According to a note from the US Treasury Department, the sanctions have been imposed on

(Adnkronos) – Kosovo prosecutors announced that over 100 election officials have been arrested on charges of “falsifying election results” in a direct attempt to “subvert” last month’s vote. “We are talking about an organization and a direct intention to subvert the results

(Adnkronos) – The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to extend the ‘Fact-Finding Mission’ on Iran, established due to the repression of protests that erupted in the country. The decision was adopted with the approval of a resolution that extends the

(Adnkronos) – Luigi Vignali is Italy’s new ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, the foreign ministry wrote Friday on X, congratulating the diplomat on his appointment.  Italy will play a key role in promoting

Tokyo, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is banking on the personal popularity of its leader, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, for the Feb. 8 election for the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, the Centrist Reform Alliance, a new party formed by

(Adnkronos) – Italy and Germany on Friday underscored their support for embattled Ukraine and for war-devastated Gaza and agreed to hold regular dialogue “on international and security issues of common interest,” according a strategic cooperation document signed in Rome by Italy’s premier

Tokyo, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)–A total of about 1,230 people are planning to run in the Feb. 8 election for Japan’s House of Representatives, fewer than the 1,334 candidates in the previous 2024 Lower House election, a Jiji Press survey showed Friday.

(Adnkronos) – Iraqi Prime Minister Shia al-Sudani told Emmanuel Macron that European countries must repatriate ISIS detainees who have been transferred from Syria to Iraq as part of a United States operation. In a phone call with the French president, Sudani “stressed

(Adnkronos) – Israeli forces have demolished three Palestinian structures that, according to what was declared, had been built illegally on the outskirts of the village of Shuqba, in the central West Bank. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reports this, explaining that the Civil

(Adnkronos) – Today, Minnesota is striking against Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant police campaign. It’s called “Day of Truth and Freedom,” the day of truth and truth, the general strike called by unions and other groups, to invite workers to abstain from work and

Osaka, Jan. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Osaka prefectural police department punished a total of 35 personnel Friday over suspected assault on targets of investigation during a site search. The police of the western Japan prefecture took disciplinary measures, such as dismissals, against 12