Japan Chain Stores Association April 23 Change from Prev Year Total 12,852,835 M. Yen Up 2.1 pct Foodstuffs 9,050,711 Up 2.8 Clothing 584,327 Down 2.9 Sundries 1,166,861 Up 2.5 Furniture and Interior Goods 732,780 Down 3.1 Home Electric Appliances 33,257 Up 1.9

Japan Chain Stores Association April 23 Yr/Yr Change Total 1,091,394 M. Yen Down 1.7 pct Foodstuffs 761,834 Up 1.0 Clothing 48,539 Down 6.7 Sundries 103,633 Up 6.3 Furniture and Interior Goods 69,348 Down 7.4 Home Electric Appliances 2,696 Up 23.4 Note: Year-on-year

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police took action against 143 people over malicious practices involving “host clubs,” where male companions entertain women, in 2025, a decrease of 64 from the previous year, the National Police Agency said Thursday. The number of administrative

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to establish a national intelligence council designed to strengthen the government’s intelligence capabilities. At a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of the Diet, or parliament, the bill was

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police arrested or took other enforcement actions against 317 people for their suspected involvement in online gambling in 2025, highest on record since 2018, National Police Agency data showed Thursday. The annual total increased by 38 from

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s internal affairs ministry has asked a panel of experts to discuss whether the country should introduce age restrictions for social media use. In its draft proposals presented at a meeting Wednesday, the ministry also included a plan

New York, April 22 (Jiji Press)–A district attorney in the U.S. state of Wisconsin has indicted a Japanese researcher for adding chemicals to a co-worker’s water bottle, according to U.S. media reports. Makoto Kuroda, 41, a staff scientist at the Influenza Research

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Justice Ministry plans to ban prosecutors from appealing court orders to grant retrials “in principle” while allowing them to do so in cases where there are sufficient grounds to overturn such orders as exceptions, government and ruling

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose further to exceed 60,000 for the first time ever, albeit momentarily, on Thursday morning, boosted by an advance of U.S. equities overnight. At 9:06 a.m., the index of 225 selected issues

By Toshifumi Sekitsuka Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Twelve rotors hummed into the sea breeze as SkyDrive Inc.’s flying car lifted itself straight up from land and out over Tokyo Bay, marking another moment the new mode of air mobility came a step

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–False information, including claims of an “artificial earthquake,” has spread on social media following a quake on Monday that registered up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, in northeastern Japan. Immediately after

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Employees on loan to Toyota Motor Corp. from three major Japanese nonlife insurance companies have taken out information from the automaker without permission, it was learned. The insurers are Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Mitsui Sumitomo

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rose further to exceed 60,000 for the first time ever Thursday morning, boosted by an advance of U.S. high-tech equities overnight. At 9:06 a.m., the index of 225 selected issues listed on

Beijing, April 23 (Jiji Press)–A flotilla of Chinese warships has conducted naval drills in the western Pacific, apparently in a move countering a Japanese destroyer’s recent passage through the Taiwan Strait. A spokesperson for the Chinese military’s Eastern Theater Command, which is

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has expressed support for Montenegro’s accession to the European Union. At a meeting with Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic at the prime minister’s office in Tokyo on Wednesday, Takaichi described the European country as

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–The impact of the ongoing Middle East crisis on Japan’s trade balance is expected to become visible in earnest in data for April onward. The country’s preliminary customs-cleared trade statistics for March, announced by the Finance Ministry on

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s deputy foreign minister Edmondo Cirielli and health minister Orazio Schillaci wrapped up a visit to Mauritania which focused on exploring new economic and development aid cooperation and on the country’s strategic role in regional stability and managing migration to

(Adnkronos) – After blocking the transfer program to the United States for Afghans who worked for the American military, the Trump administration is working to send about 1100 of them to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This is what Shawn VanDriver, president

(Adnkronos) – Signs of declining approval for United States President Donald Trump continue, fueling concerns among Republicans ahead of the November midterm elections. According to a series of polls conducted by Reuters-Ipsos, Ap-Norc, and Nbc News, the president’s approval rating is between

(Adnkronos) – Russia has confirmed the interruption starting from May 1st of the flow of Kazakh oil to Germany. The news of the suspension was confirmed by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, who spoke with journalists at the Kremlin: “Starting from

(Adnkronos) – The second European Convoy to Cuba, promoted by Aicec – Agency for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba – as part of the “Let Cuba Breathe” campaign, has arrived in Cuba. After departing yesterday from Milan, Rome, and Madrid, the

(Adnkronos) – US authorities have asked their citizens still in Iran to leave the country after the partial reopening of airspace. “As of April 21, Iranian airspace has been partially reopened. US citizens must leave Iran now, follow local media for updates,

(Adnkronos) – Tel Aviv, April 22. (Adnkronos) – Dozens of Israeli activists, supporters of the settlers, crossed the border into Syria, only to be escorted out of the country by the army. The activists, who call themselves “Pioneers of Bashan”, claim to

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday instructed relevant ministers to accelerate efforts to review systems related to working hours, including the discretionary labor system. The instruction was given during the day’s meeting of the Japan Growth Strategy

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–At least 40 billion yen in deposits and savings have been secured during the liquidation process of the Unification Church in Japan, it was learned Wednesday. According to a report submitted by the liquidator, lawyer Hisashi Ito, to

(Adnkronos) – Italy on Wednesday marked the anniversary of Israel’s independence in 1948 after the World War II Nazi Holocaust in which some six million Jews perished and a United Nations vote to partition Palestine.   “Born from the ashes of the

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Asian Development Bank President Masato Kanda on Wednesday announced his candidacy in the bank’s presidential election to be held in November, in line with the expiration of his current term. “If re-elected, my foremost priority will be urgent

Susono, Shizuoka Pref., April 22 (Jiji Press)–Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday unveiled a new research and development hub for new mobility products and services in its experimental Woven City in Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan. The Inventor Garage facility is designed to foster

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Prudential Life Insurance Co. said Wednesday that it will extend its voluntary suspension of sales activities for new contracts by 180 days until Nov. 5, following a fraud scandal involving its employees. The suspension was originally scheduled for

(Adnkronos) – Italy and Poland, two countries “of importance to Europe” have a “shared vision” on key international issue including the defence of war-battered Ukraine, foreign minister Antonio Tajani told reporters in Rome on Wednesday.  “There is a shared vision regarding the