London, June 30 (Jiji Press)–“Karakuri ningyo,” traditional Japanese mechanical puppets, were demonstrated at a recent event at Japan House London, which promotes Japanese culture. The event on Friday featured a performance by 72-year-old karakuri ningyo craftsman Tamaya Shobei IX, who also explained

Tokyo, July 1 (Jiji Press)–Rohm Co., Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. are moving ahead with negotiations on a possible integration of their power semiconductor businesses. If realized, the alliance would create the world’s second-largest power semiconductor group, behind Germany’s Infineon Technologies

Tokyo, July 1 (Jiji Press)–Rohm Co., Toshiba Corp. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp. are moving ahead with negotiations on a possible integration of their power semiconductor businesses. If realized, the alliance would create the world’s second-largest power semiconductor group, behind Germany’s Infineon Technologies

Tokyo, July 1 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average temporarily gained more than 1,900 points in early trading Wednesday. Semiconductor-related stocks attracted purchases after U.S. high-tech shares rose on Tuesday. At 9:45 a.m., the index of 225 major issues on the

Tokyo, July 1 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average temporarily gained more than 1,900 points in early trading Wednesday. Semiconductor-related stocks attracted purchases after U.S. high-tech shares rose on Tuesday. At 9:45 a.m., the index of 225 major issues on the

Tokyo, July 1 (Jiji Press)–Business sentiment among large manufacturers in Japan improved for the fifth straight quarter, the Bank of Japan’s “tankan” survey for June showed Wednesday. The headline diffusion index for large manufacturers’ current business conditions rose to plus 22 from

(Adnkronos) – The president of Paraguay, Santiago Pena, has proclaimed a national holiday the day after the historic victory against Germany in the round of sixteen of the FIFA World Cup. “Today an entire country celebrates,” the leader wrote on X. “We

(Adnkronos) – South Africa is on high alert on the day of the symbolic deadline set by anti-immigration movements for the expulsion of all undocumented foreigners, an explosive crisis that has already driven over 25,000 people to flee to neighboring countries and

(Adnkronos) – French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called the 10,000 deaths caused by the heatwave, reported by the Greens of Les Écologistes, “scandalous” and “false”. During a heated parliamentary debate with the leader of the environmentalist party, Cyrielle Chatelain, the prime

(Adnkronos) – Germany is facing increasing threats from hostile foreign powers, particularly Russia, and a polarized domestic policy on both the far-right and far-left. Warning in its annual report of a growing risk represented, among other things, by saboteurs recruited by Moscow,

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party-Japan Innovation Party coalition is pushing ahead with bills to establish a secondary capital in Japan and reduce the number of seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, amid

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government urged on Tuesday the Bank of Japan to work closely with it in a draft of its new Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform. Some financial market participants see the move as

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will aim to consistently achieve economic growth of more than 3 pct in nominal gross domestic product and more than 1 pct in real GDP at an early date, according to a draft of its

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Aflac Life Insurance Japan Ltd. said Tuesday that unauthorized access to its customer portal site and other systems resulted in the leak of personal information of about 4.38 million customers, including their names, addresses, and phone numbers. For

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Meiji Co.’s “Hello Panda” chocolate snack became available at Costco Wholesale stores in Japan on Tuesday, some 40 years after the original product was discontinued due to lackluster sales. The product is currently popular in overseas markets, prompting

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Fans applauded the fight put up by the Japanese men’s national soccer team, nicknamed Samurai Blue, after its exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday. After advancing to the knockout stage by finishing second in its

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan Airlines has fraudulently received subsidies for a state project on next-generation air mobility, such as drones and so-called flying cars, by falsifying labor costs, it was learned Tuesday. The major Japanese airline plans to return the subsidies,

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan will cut passport issuance fees on Wednesday, lowering the cost of a 10-year passport for adults obtained through online application to 8,900 yen from 15,900 yen. The five-year passport for adults will be abolished. Minors will be

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–A Tokyo court on Tuesday convicted a section chief at Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of stalking a female subordinate and illegally entering her home, sentencing him to two years in prison, suspended for five years.

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday adopted a bill to revise the Imperial House Law to secure an adequate number of Imperial Family members and submitted it to the House of Representatives. It would be the first substantial revision

Yokohama, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The U.S. military returned its 43-hectare Negishi residential site in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, to Japan on Tuesday, based on an agreement the two countries signed in 2004. “We are very glad that our long-held desire

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan will send emergency relief supplies to Venezuela, recently struck by major earthquakes, in response to a request from the Venezuelan government, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Tuesday. Japan will provide water containers, portable water purifiers and other

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The dollar rose above 162 yen in Tokyo trading on Tuesday, hitting the highest level since December 1986. At 5 p.m., the dollar stood at 162.24-25 yen, up from 161.81-82 yen at 5 p.m. Monday. The dollar carried

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, passed a bill to criminalize the act of damaging the national flag by a majority vote on Tuesday. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday adopted a bill to revise the Imperial House Law to secure an adequate number of Imperial Family members. It would be the first substantial revision of the Imperial House Law, which was established

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Tuesday kept its basic economic assessment unchanged in June while staying on guard against the fallout from the Middle East conflict. “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, while attention should be given

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–Major food and beverage makers in Japan plan to raise prices for 2,566 items in July, driven by rising costs linked to tensions in the Middle East, research firm Teikoku Databank Ltd. said Tuesday. Higher crude oil and

(Adnkronos) –  

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The estimated amount of food wasted by households and food-linked businesses in Japan in fiscal 2024 fell to the lowest level since data collection started in fiscal 2012, government data showed on Tuesday. The food waste amount dropped

Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will aim to consistently achieve economic growth of more than 3 pct in nominal gross domestic product and more than 1 pct in real GDP at an early date, according to a draft outline. For