Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, said Thursday it plans to demand pay increases of 5 pct or more in “shunto” annual spring wage negotiations for the third straight year next year. The umbrella body for labor

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Shipbuilders’ Association of Japan said Thursday that it plans to invest 350 billion yen in capital expenditures in a bid to double ship building output by 2035. The association, comprising 17 Japanese shipbuilders, also aims to prepare

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–U.S. military police will conduct a patrol in Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture, in the early hours of Nov. 1, in an effort to prevent a recurrence of sexual assault cases involving U.S. military personnel

Sapporo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Police searched locations linked to a now-closed zoo in Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Thursday over allegations of unauthorized land development. The North Safari Sapporo, operated by Success-Kanko Corp., opened in July 2005. The zoo

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Supermarket sales across Japan in April-September rose 1.6 pct from a year earlier on an all-store basis, the first increase in two years for the first half of a fiscal year, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday.

(Adnkronos) – New commercial partnership opportunities and bilateral economic ties were the focus of the Italy-Iraq Business Council’s launch event in Baghdad on Thursday, the Italian embassy wrote on X.  “Inspiring discussions on bilateral economic bonds and emerging opportunities for commercial partnerships

(Adnkronos) – The ‘excellent’ relations between Italy and Iraq and November parliamentary elections were the focus of talks in Baghdad Thursday between ambassador Niccolo Fontana and interior minister Abdul Amir al-Shammari, the embassy wrote on X.  “Always a pleasure receiving interior minister

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday that it has strengthened collaboration with Nippon Steel Corp. in vehicle development and materials procurement, aiming to cut costs while securing vehicles’ safety performance. The step came as Mazda sought to make its

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Jera Co., Japan’s largest power generation company, said Thursday that it will finalize a deal worth about 1.5 billion dollars with U.S. energy companies to acquire their rights in shale gas development and production in Louisiana. Jera is

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Total costs to raise a first child in Japan soar when the child enters junior or senior high school, a study by the National Center for Child Health and Development showed. The total cost to raise a child

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese Trade Union Confederation, or Rengo, said Thursday it plans to demand pay increases of 5 pct or more in “shunto” annual spring wage negotiations for the third straight year next year. The umbrella body for labor

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday met with the families of Japanese citizens abducted to North Korea decades ago and vowed to seek support from U.S. President Donald Trump to resolve the abduction issue. Takaichi, who

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese stocks dropped in Tokyo trading on Thursday as investors became risk-averse amid concerns over a possible escalation in U.S.-China trade tensions. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average fell 666.18 points, or 1.35 pct, from Wednesday to close

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday it has strengthened collaboration with Nippon Steel Corp. in vehicle development and materials procurement, aiming to cut costs while securing vehicles’ safety performance. The step came as Mazda sought to make its supply

Japan Chain Stores Association Oct. 23 Yr/Yr Change Total 1,006,027 M. Yen Up 2.4 pct Foodstuffs 721,322 Up 1.6 Clothing 38,436 Down 7.4 Sundries 92,175 Up 0.9 Furniture and Interior Goods 54,812 Up 5.4 Home Electric Appliances 2,281 Up 1.5 Note: Year-on-year

Osaka, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s University of Osaka has awarded the title of distinguished honorary professor to Shimon Sakaguchi, specially appointed professor at the university who is one of the three winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Sakaguchi,

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The steering committee of Japan’s House of Representatives decided Thursday that new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver a policy address at the lower chamber of parliament Friday. The decision was made at a meeting of executives of

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Thursday expressed its understanding of the United States’ decision to impose new sanctions on major Russian oil companies. “We recognize that the sanctions are intended to get Russia to stop its invasion of Ukraine

(In the story “Man Gets 8 Years for Sexual Assault of Daughter,” moved on Wednesday, the fourth paragraph from the last should have read, “…her father’s…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Toyama, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese court sentenced

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s planned supplementary budget will secure sufficient funding to implement necessary projects, new Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on Wednesday. “A sufficient scale is necessary to accomplish objectives, and it doesn’t matter whether it is large

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The steering committee of Japan’s House of Representatives decided Thursday that new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will deliver a policy address at the lower chamber of parliament on Friday. The decision was made at a meeting of executives

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese agriculture ministry plans to resume purchases of rice for the government’s stockpiling, starting with next year’s harvest, following a pause prompted by the shortage of rice in the country since summer 2024, people familiar with the

Seoul, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–North Korea “successfully tested” hypersonic missiles Wednesday, the country’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday. The “important weapon system” was tested by North Korea’s Missile Administration, the KCNA said, adding that the missiles hit the targets set

Washington, Oct. 22 (Jiji Press)–U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday issued a statement welcoming the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, saying he hopes for even stronger bilateral relations. “We look forward to working with her government to further

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to amend the law on the protection of personal information to introduce administrative fines for business operators that repeatedly commit serious violations. During the ordinary session of parliament earlier this year, the government held

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–New Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has voiced his eagerness to ease the country’s rules on defense equipment exports. At his first press conference as defense minister Wednesday, Koizumi said he is willing to revise the three principles

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average tumbled more than 900 points briefly Thursday morning. At 9:06 a.m., the Nikkei stood at 48,399.05, down 908.74 points, or 1.84 pct, from Wednesday. Amid concerns over rekindled trade friction between the

Tokyo, Oct. 23 (Jiji Press)–Concerns over a surge in egg prices are increasing in Japan as this season’s first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the country was confirmed Wednesday. Egg prices are coming close to a

(Adnkronos) – With a resolution adopted with 458 votes in favour, 18 against and 84 abstentions, MEPs meeting in plenary called for support for the EU’s commitment to Belarus, firmly condemning the repression carried out by the regime of Alexander Lukashenko and

(Adnkronos) – New immigration tragedy off the coast of Tunisia. According to what an AFP spokesperson for the Mahdia city prosecutor’s office reported, 40 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa – including some minors – died in the shipwreck of the boat they were