Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan may raise interest rates in March at the earliest if the yen weakens further, although a rate hike in April appears to be the main scenario, Ryutaro Kono, chief economist at BNP Paribas Securities

(Adnkronos) – The Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 are “a unique opportunity” to show the world that Italy is “an architect of peace, growth and international cooperation,” foreign minister Antonio stated on Friday – the opening day of the Games.  “Milan-Cortina 2026 represents

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will promote Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon to president and chief executive officer, replacing Koji Sato, who will step aside to become vice chairman. This is the leading Japanese automaker’s first leadership

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund said Friday that it posted an investment profit of 16,187.8 billion yen for October-December, with a rate of return of 5.84 pct. The result reflects rising Japanese and overseas stock prices, as well

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s composite index of coincident economic indicators for December 2025 dipped 0.4 point from the previous month, worsening for the second consecutive month, the Cabinet Office said Friday. The coincident index, which reflects current economic conditions, stood at

Nagoya, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that its consolidated sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to reach 50 trillion yen for the first time thanks chiefly to strong sales of hybrid vehicles in North America and at home.

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Friday acquitted a former department chief at the National Cancer Center Japan, ruling that no intent on his part could be established in an alleged medical device bribery case. Defendant Yusuke Hashimoto, 49, former

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Taro Aso, vice president of the Liberal Democratic Party, has been vigorously delivering campaign speeches for LDP candidates in Sunday’s general election with a view to further enhancing his influence within the Japanese ruling party as the main

(Adnkronos) – The negative peak in transatlantic relations is confirmed in a YouGov poll according to which Europeans’ opinion of the United States and the relationship between the two blocs is at its lowest level since these surveys began ten years ago.

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Fuji Media Holdings Inc. said Friday that Toho Co. is expected to become its largest shareholder as the Japanese company bought back its shares from a group including investment funds linked to activist investor Yoshiaki Murakami. The Japanese

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–The labor unions of Japanese heavy machinery makers and other businesses Friday submitted demands for pay scale increases to management, marking the start of this year’s “shunto” spring wage negotiations at major companies. Unions at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–MCJ Co., the parent of Tokyo-based personal computer manufacturer MouseComputer Co., has said it will go private through a management buyout scheme in cooperation with U.S. investment fund Bain Capital. The MBO will cost up to some 200

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Momentum for political reform in Japan is faltering, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sidesteps the topic in her campaigning for Sunday’s House of Representatives election, which will decide control of the powerful lower chamber of the Diet, the

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese comedian Nana Takamatsu has held a class at a junior high school in Tokyo to teach students the importance of elections and democracy. The visiting class, held on Wednesday, was led by the 32-year-old social entrepreneur and

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday it will promote Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon to president and chief executive officer, replacing Koji Sato, who will step aside to become vice chairman and take the new post of chief industry

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that its consolidated sales for fiscal 2025 are expected to reach 50 trillion yen for the first time, up from the previous projection of 49 trillion yen. The upward revision for the

Kariwa, Niigata Pref., Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. announced Friday that it will restart the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday. TEPCO restarted the reactor on Jan. 21 for

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Kirin Holdings Co. said Friday that it will sell Four Roses Distillery LLC to U.S. winemaker E. & J. Gallo Winery for up to 775 million dollars. The decision by the Japanese beverage maker to sell the Kentucky-based

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese household spending in 2025 rose 0.9 pct from the previous year after adjustment for inflation, marking the first increase in three years, Japan’s internal affairs ministry said Friday. The average monthly spending at households with two or

Washington, Feb. 5 (Jiji Press)–U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on March 19. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump gave his “complete

(Typo in 6th para corrected) Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi decided to skip a television debate two days ahead of the NHK program on Sunday, according to the Shukan Bunshun magazine. It was initially reported that Takaichi, also

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors Corp. has reported a group net loss for April-December 2025 mainly due to the U.S. tariff policy while maintaining its profit estimate for the year ending next month. According to its business results released Thursday,

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. announced Friday that it will restart the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Monday. TEPCO restarted the reactor on Jan. 21 for the first

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Nippon Steel Corp. said Thursday that it projects a larger net loss than previously expected for the fiscal year through next month due partly to a fire that broke out at a plant in Muroran, Hokkaido, northernmost Japan,

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–The Nipah virus is unlikely to spread in Japan, the Japan Institute for Health Security said, following the confirmation of recent cases in India. The virus has an incubation period of four to 14 days, and symptoms include

(In the story “TEPCO to Restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Reactor as Early as Mon.” moved on Thursday, the third paragraph should have read, “…shutdown on Jan. 23,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) TEPCO to Restart Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Reactor as Early as Mon.

Washington, Feb. 5 (Jiji Press)–U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on March 19. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump gave his “complete

Milan, Feb. 5 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Olympic Committee unveiled to the press Thursday the Team Japan House, a facility that will support Japanese athletes during the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The facility, located in Milan, will also serve as a public relations hub

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–Since the campaign period for Sunday’s House of Representatives began on Jan. 27, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has shied away from the topics of a proposed consumption tax cut and her alleged ties to the controversial religious

Tokyo, Feb. 6 (Jiji Press)–The campaign for Sunday’s general election in Japan has lacked active discussions on a possible dual surname system for married couples. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has rarely touched on the