Tokyo, Nov. 29 (Jiji Press)–Market participants are increasingly speculating that the Bank of Japan could raise its policy interest rate in December, in light of recent remarks by senior BOJ officials indicating the central bank’s willingness to revise its monetary policy soon.

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Friday that the remains of five Ainu people will be returned from the Natural History Museum in Britain to Japan. In early fiscal 2026, which begins next April, officials from the Japanese government and

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese government panel on Friday chose “kagura,” Japanese traditional performing art, and “onsen” hot spring culture as candidates for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage designation. The choice was formally decided at a conference of related ministries and agencies

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police arrested two Chinese nationals on Friday over a series of cases in which accounts at online securities firms were hijacked and used to manipulate stock prices. It is not known whether the suspects, aged 38 and

Sapporo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Friday announced his support for the planned restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear plant in the northern Japan prefecture. “The use of nuclear power is a

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling bloc regained its majority in the House of Representatives as three independent lawmakers agreed Friday to join the Liberal Democratic Party’s parliamentary group in the lower chamber. The deal was reached at a meeting between the

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo High Court ruled Friday that Japan’s Civil Code and other provisions that do not recognize same-sex marriage are constitutional. Presiding Judge Ayumi Higashi said that the current legal provisions and the absence of a same-sex marriage system

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government adopted on Friday a fiscal 2025 draft supplementary budget with 18,303.4 billion yen in general-account spending to finance an economic package centered on aid for household finances and growth investments. It is the first draft

Kobe, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office on Friday indicted Takashi Tachibana, leader of a political group criticizing Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK, for defaming a former Hyogo prefectural assembly member who apparently committed suicide. Tachibana, 58, was arrested

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–A record 76 pct of people in Japan see it important to promote relations with South Korea, preliminary results from a survey by the Cabinet Office showed on Friday. The improvement apparently reflected efforts by the two countries’

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s agricultural management entities totaled 828,000 in 2025, falling below 1 million for the first time, agriculture ministry data said Friday. The 2025 Census of Agriculture and Forestry report showed that the total decreased 23.0 pct from the

Shanghai, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–An experience-oriented event featuring popular Japanese anime such as “One Piece” and “Mobile Suit Gundam” kicked off in Shanghai on Friday, amid heightening tensions between the Japanese and Chinese governments. Chinese anime fans lined up at the venue

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of the 2024 House of Representatives election in Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party issued a total of 130 million yen for so-called policy activity expenses, according to political funds reports released by the internal affairs ministry

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese political parties are boosting spending on online outreach, with upstart Sanseito marking a 14-fold jump in expenditures for Google advertisements in 2024, political fund reports published by the internal affairs ministry showed Friday. Sanseito, which significantly expanded

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of the 2024 House of Representatives election in Japan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party issued a total of 130 million yen in so-called policy activity expenses, according to political funds reports released by the internal affairs ministry

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday approved the departure of Yasushi Masaki as its ambassador to Indonesia without deciding his successor, creating a highly unusual vacancy for an important diplomatic position for reasons other than illness. The government had

Urayasu, Chiba Pref., Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, formally adopted a plan Friday to demand a pay increase of 5 pct or more in “shunto” annual spring wage negotiations next year. The umbrella body for labor unions

Kobe, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office on Friday indicted Takashi Tachibana, leader of a political group criticizing Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK, for defaming a former Hyogo prefectural assembly member who apparently committed suicide. Tachibana, 58, was arrested

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo High Court ruled Friday that Japan’s Civil Code and other provisions that do not recognize same-sex marriage are constitutional. Presiding Judge Ayumi Higashi said that the current legal provisions and the absence of a same-sex marriage system

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref., Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese high court branch on Friday rejected injunctions by local residents seeking to halt the operations of aging nuclear power reactors run by Kansai Electric Power Co. in the central prefecture of Fukui. The plaintiffs

Urayasu, Chiba Pref., Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, formally adopted a plan Friday to demand a pay increase of 5 pct or more in “shunto” annual spring wage negotiations next year. The umbrella body for labor unions

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Friday adopted a fiscal 2025 draft supplementary budget with 18,303.4 billion yen in general-account spending to finance an economic package centered on aid for household finances and growth investments. It is the first draft budget

Sapporo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Friday announced his support for a planned restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear plant in the northern Japan prefecture. “The use of nuclear power is a

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan enacted Friday legislation to scrap the provisional tax surcharges for gasoline and diesel fuel in an effort to curb inflation, without specifying alternative sources for government funding. The add-on tax abolition bill passed through the Diet, the

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The share of eligible full-time noncareer-track national public servants in Japan who took paternity leave in fiscal 2024 rose by 5.0 percentage points from the previous year to a record high of 85.9 pct, the National Personnel Authority

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industrial production in October increased 1.4 pct from a month earlier, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Friday. The result came against the median forecast of a 0.6 pct fall in a Jiji Press poll

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s seasonally adjusted job availability ratio fell 0.02 point to 1.18 in October from the previous month as companies curbed new hires ahead of rises in minimum wages, the labor ministry said Friday. The number of effective job

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–The core consumer price index for Tokyo’s 23 special wards in November rose 2.8 pct from a year before, up for the 51st consecutive month, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The core index, excluding volatile fresh food

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan will set the amount of legally mandated post-divorce child support at 20,000 yen per child per month, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said Friday. After adopting a ministerial ordinance by the end of this year, the government will

Tokyo, Nov. 28 (Jiji Press)–Revelations that convenience store chain Ministop Co. falsified expiration dates on fresh foods have left its in-store prepared items, most notably its signature handmade “onigiri” rice balls, at a critical juncture. The company has introduced safeguards to prevent