Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency said Saturday that its sample Somei-Yoshino cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward has reached full bloom. The announcement came three days earlier than average and two days earlier than last year.

Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)–One month after the United States and Israel began attacking Iran, concerns are growing in Japan that soaring crude oil prices could lead to even higher food and other prices, putting additional strain on businesses and households. Iran’s

Shizuoka, March 28 (Jiji Press)–Shizuoka Prefecture’s special committee has approved environmental conservation measures for a section in the central Japan prefecture of the planned Chuo Shinkansen high-speed magnetic levitation train line. The committee approved all 28 measures proposed by Central Japan Railway

Tokyo, March 28 (Jiji Press)–East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, on Saturday fully opened Takanawa Gateway City, a large-scale redevelopment district in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. Three new facilities, including a cultural facility and luxury rental housing, were opened in the district.

London, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The 12 member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and the European Union said in a joint statement on Friday that they will lead efforts to reform the World Trade Organization. The joint statement

Cernay-la-Ville, France, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major countries adopted a joint statement at their two-day meeting near Paris, France, through Friday, calling for safe ship navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. “We reiterated the absolute

New York, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The dollar climbed to top 160 yen for the first time in about 20 months in New York foreign exchange trading Friday. The U.S. currency rose to around 160.20 yen temporarily, attracting safe-haven buying amid growing concerns

New York, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The dollar climbed to top 160 yen for the first time in about 20 months in New York foreign exchange trading Friday. The U.S. currency attracted safe-haven buying amid growing uncertainty over the Middle East situation, market

Cernay-la-Ville, France, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major countries agreed Friday to aim for an early resolution of the situation over Iran, which is in conflict with the United States and Israel, while maintaining close communication. On

Tokyo/Kyoto, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Rohm Co., Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. have agreed in principle to start discussions on integrating their power semiconductor operations, the three Japanese firms said Friday. They intend to survive intensifying global competition by unifying their technologies

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese technology investor SoftBank Group Corp. said Friday that it has concluded a bridge loan contract of up to 40 billion dollars with five banks to finance its additional investment in U.S. artificial intelligence developer OpenAI. The unsecured

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Prominent Japanese manga artist Yoshiharu Tsuge, best known for “Nejishiki,” which was published in 1968, died of aspiration pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo on March 3. He was 88. Born in Tokyo’s Katsushika Ward, Tsuge worked at

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Shizuoka Financial Group Inc., the parent of Shizuoka Bank, and Bank of Nagoya said Friday that they have reached a basic agreement to merge operations in April 2028. Shizuoka Financial will take full control of Bank of Nagoya

Kobe, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Kobe District Public Prosecutors Office on Friday decided not to indict Hyogo Governor Motohiko Saito and two others in connection with the leaking of the private information of a whistleblower who died in July 2024. The other two

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The Supreme Court on Friday backed a hunter seeking to cancel the revocation of his gun license that was decided after he shot a bear at the request of a municipality in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan. The Japanese top

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industry ministry decided Friday to raise the operating rate of coal-fired thermal power plants for one year from April, amid uncertainty over liquefied natural gas procurement due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. At a

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The number of foreign residents in Japan as of the end of 2025 rose 9.5 pct from a year earlier to a record 4,125,395, exceeding 4 million for the first time, the Immigration Services Agency said Friday. The

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The dollar briefly rose to 159.98 yen in Tokyo foreign exchange trading Friday, hitting the highest level since mid-July 2024 reflecting investor worries over the Middle East situation. At 5 p.m., the U.S. currency stood at 159.94-95 yen,

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government adopted Friday a new basic plan for science and technology policy, which for the first time calls for promoting research and development activities on technologies for military-civilian dual-use goods. The policy direction reflects the fact

Seoul, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima said in a lecture in Seoul on Friday that the two countries maintain good relations “based on the strong trust between their leaders.” Mizushima stressed that the two countries’ “shuttle diplomacy,”

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday highlighted the need to closely monitor the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, while attention should be given to the effects

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The yield on the most recent issue of 10-year Japanese government bonds hit a 27-year high of 2.385 pct, in Tokyo trading Friday, after a rise in U.S. long-term interest rates amid inflation concerns. The key 10-year JGB

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Rohm Co., Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. have agreed in principle to start discussions on integrating their power semiconductor operations, the three Japanese firms said Friday. They intend to survive intensifying global competition by unifying their technologies

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Friday highlighted the need to closely monitor the economic impact of the conflict in the Middle East. “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, while attention should be given to the effects

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–The Supreme Court on Friday backed a hunter seeking to cancel the revocation of his gun license that had been decided after he shot a bear at the request of a municipality in Hokkaido, northernmost Japan. The court

Osaka, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. rejected Friday management reform proposals by the top shareholder in the Osaka-based producer of health problem-causing supplements containing “beni koji” red fermented rice. At the day’s general shareholders meeting in the western Japan city, Hong

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Atra, an investment firm linked to Japanese activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami, has proposed together with others to acquire Fuji Media Holdings Inc.’s real estate business for 350 billion yen, it was learned Friday. Fuji Media is currently considering

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Shizuoka Financial Group Inc., the parent of Shizuoka Bank, and Bank of Nagoya said Friday that they have reached a basic agreement to merge operations in April 2028. Shizuoka Financial will take full control of Bank of Nagoya

Tokyo, March 27 (Jiji Press)–Iranian Ambassador to Japan Peyman Saadat urged Tokyo on Thursday to play a leading role in helping end the U.S.-Iran conflict. “Japan is a friend of Iran. We trust Japan,” Saadat told reporters after a meeting with a

Cernay-la-Ville, France, March 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Thursday agreed with his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, to enhance bilateral relations in a wide range of fields, including security and economic security. At a meeting in Cernay-la-Ville near Paris that