Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering increasing the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen starting in fiscal 2026, informed sources said Wednesday. The additional revenue will be used

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan’s territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Wednesday. Chinese official ships sailed in the Japanese waters around the East China Sea islands for

Sapporo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Wednesday announced his approval for the restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear power plant in the northernmost Japan prefecture. Suzuki made the announcement at a meeting

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s fiscal 2025 draft supplementary budget is now certain to be enacted during the ongoing extraordinary session of the Diet, or parliament, which ends Dec. 17, as two opposition parties are set to support it. “We’ll

Okayama, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Nippon Foundation said Wednesday that a regular passenger ferry using autonomous navigation technology will begin commercial operations by the end of next March at the earliest. According to the foundation, it will be the first time in

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday that she hopes to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump “as soon as possible” amid growing pressure from China. She made the remark at a House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Upholding lower court rulings, Japan’s Supreme Court has ordered advertising giant Dentsu Group Inc. to pay a fine of 300 million yen over bid-rigging related to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics in 2021. The top court also backed

(Adnkronos) – Foreign minister Antonio Tajani on Wednesday hailed the addition of Italian cooking to a Unesco heritage list as “a truly great success for Italy” and “recognition of the whole of Mediterranean cuisine”.  “This is a truly a great success for

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s government and ruling coalition are considering introducing a system to revise up the minimum taxable income level every two years according to price increases in order to help reduce people’s tax burdens, it was learned Wednesday. The

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–An increasing number of Japanese companies are reducing performance-linked bonuses and reallocating those funds to regular salaries, aiming to attract talented workers with more stable higher monthly pay. But it is unclear whether the trend will spread further,

Osaka, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Female shogi champion Kana Fukuma on Wednesday called on the Japan Shogi Association to review its rules, which currently make it difficult for pregnant women to participate in major title matches. At a press conference in the western

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Four Chinese coast guard ships entered Japan’s territorial waters off the Senkaku Islands in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa on Wednesday. Chinese official ships sailed in the Japanese waters around the East China Sea islands for

(Adnkronos) – Over 500,000 people have been displaced in Thailand and Cambodia due to what appears to be a new escalation on the border between the two countries, who were protagonists of a truce agreement signed in October. According to the Cambodian

(Adnkronos) – Foreign minister Antoino Tajani on Wednesday led applause after a Unesco panel in New Delhi awarded Italian cooking formal recognition as a cultural treasure.  “Italian cuisine is considered inclusive, as it transcends cultural and generational barriers,” said a foreign ministry

(Adnkronos) – Strategic partners Italy and India “are sending a strong message of peace to the world”, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in New Delhi on Wednesday at the start of a three-day visit to the country aimed at deepening political and

Aomori, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–East Japan Railway Co. has suspended all services on the Hachinohe line in the northeastern prefectures of Aomori and Iwate as a powerful quake Monday night inflicted damage to elevated bridges. The company has not said when it

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Chinese and Russian bombers have conducted their first joint flight off the Shikoku region in western Japan, according to the Defense Ministry’s Joint Staff Office. “It should be taken as a coercive action against Japan,” Chief Cabinet Secretary

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The dollar was firmer above 156.50 yen in Tokyo trading on Wednesday ahead of a policy decision by the U.S. Federal Reserve the same day local time. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at 156.65-65 yen, up from

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–A panel of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday drew up a set of proposals to address crimes by foreigners. The package, among other things, calls on the National Police Agency to secure a list of interpreters

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese national public servants received winter bonuses Wednesday, with the average amount, excluding for those in managerial posts, coming to 702,200 yen. The figure for the workers with an average age of 32.9, including performance-based allowances, fell about

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s fiscal 2025 supplementary budget bill is now set to be enacted during the ongoing extraordinary Diet session, which ends on Dec. 17, as two opposition parties are expected to support it. “We’ll vote in favor

Minamisoma, Fukushima Pref., Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese startup Eams Robotics Co. tested a delivery service using a drone that flew over a railroad track in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on Tuesday. It was the first drone flight above a railroad track out of

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Wednesday that China did not provide the Japanese side with any specific prior notice regarding the training of aircraft deployed on the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, during which Japanese fighter jets were

Stockholm, Dec. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Nobel Prize Museum on Tuesday showcased chairs signed by past Japanese laureates, along with items donated by prize winners, ahead of the Nobel Prize award ceremony Wednesday evening. The museum, which opened in 2001, invites Nobel laureates

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The mother of a 10-year-old killed in a hit-and-run incident near Tokyo in 2009 submitted a petition with about 190,000 signatures on Tuesday calling for the abolition of the statute of limitations for the offense. Yoriko Koseki, whose

Sapporo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki on Wednesday announced his approval for the restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear power plant in the northernmost Japan prefecture. Suzuki made the announcement at a meeting

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Asahi Breweries Ltd. said Wednesday that its sales fell at a faster pace in November than in the previous month, as shipments were delayed following a computer system failure due to a cyberattack on its parent company in

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, at a parliamentary meeting Wednesday, avoided answering a question about an opposition-sponsored bill to toughen rules on donations to political parties from companies and organizations. At the House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting,

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government and ruling coalition are considering capping tax-free holdings at 6 million yen for a new investment program planned to be launched for minors under the country’s new Nippon Individual Savings Account tax exemption framework, according

Tokyo, Dec. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning is now capable of operating around Japan for some one month, as a replenishment ship joined the flattop battle group on Monday, according to Japan’s Defense Agency. The supply vessel became part of