Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–Calls to speed up interest rate hikes were expressed at the Bank of Japan’s July 30-31 policy-setting meeting amid rising inflation risks, minutes showed on Monday. According to the minutes, a BOJ Policy Board member said that the

Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–About 30 pct of children in low-income households took part in no out-of-school activities such as lessons or trips over the past year, a survey showed on Monday. The survey by Chance for Children, a Tokyo-based public interest

Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan’s “tankan” quarterly survey for September, due out Thursday, is expected to show an improvement in business sentiment among major Japanese manufacturers, according to forecasts by private think tanks. Many think tanks, including Daiichi Life

Tokyo, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s parliament enacted a revised law in June aimed at preventing illegally obtained bank accounts from being used to launder criminal proceeds, including money from special fraud such as social media-based swindles. The revision to the law on

Kumamoto, Sept. 28 (Jiji Press)–More than 1,500 people are still staying in evacuation centers two months after the July 28 earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, that killed 38 people including those who died from suspected indirect causes. Meanwhile, some progress has

Nagoya, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Mako Fukube won the gold medal in the women’s 100-meter hurdles at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Sunday, finishing in 12.74 seconds, while Hayato Katsuki claimed gold in the men’s marathon race walk. On the ninth day

Yokohama, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–Former Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, who resigned earlier in September over a harassment scandal, plans to run for re-election, sources said Sunday. Yamanaka, 54, is expected to announce his candidacy at a press conference as early as Monday.

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–A Chinese marine research ship was spotted within Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Okinawa Prefecture on Sunday, the Japan Coast Guard said. The research ship Kexue was seen dropping what appeared to be a wire into

Tokyo, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and Turkish governments will open Turkish-Japanese Science and Technology University, or TJU, in Ankara in October to train experts who can play core roles in fields such as artificial intelligence and earthquake disasters. Japan aims to

Otaki, Nagano Pref., Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held Sunday in the village of Otaki, Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, for the victims of the eruption of Mount Ontake that occurred 12 years ago, leaving 58 people dead and five missing.

Paris, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–Japanese novelist Maha Harada’s “Muyou no Hito” (In My Father’s Room) has received the International Federation of Film Critics Award during a film festival in northern Spain. The first film directed by Harada missed the top prize at

Tokyo, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–Fins may be the best-known part of a shark to food lovers, but Japanese companies are trying to make the widely consumed, little-known meat more visible and put its skin to new uses. In Japan, sharks have been

Tokyo, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–A project to raise honeybees in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district has marked the 20th anniversary this year, with the annual honey harvest soaring to 2.8 tons from the initial 150 kilograms. Designed to foster harmony between cities and

Tokyo, Sept. 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party is worried that fresh attention may be directed to the issue of money and politics in the extraordinary parliamentary session beginning on Oct. 5. Behind the worry are Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial appointments

Washington, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–The U.S. White House has released a fact sheet on the results of Thursday’s summit with China, calling the Asian country a World War II ally in line with a recent remark by President Donald Trump. “The two

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that their countries will continue working together to address China-related issues including economic security and defense. In a 20-minute telephone conversation, Takaichi received a direct

Nagoya, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese runner Ichitaka Yamashita won the men’s marathon gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, while 11-year-old Yuki Kurihara, Japan’s youngest delegation member, topped an esports event. Yamashita clocked 2 hours, 10 minutes, 49 seconds to claim

Narita, Chiba Pref., Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Heavy rain from Typhoon Dujuan, the 25th typhoon of the year, has caused breaches of embankments at Inbanuma, a major lake in Chiba Prefecture, which neighbors Tokyo, severely damaging fish farms and warehouses for agricultural produce.

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Defense Ministry plans to introduce a new contract system to support startups in developing unmanned aerial vehicles and other products to tap their advanced technologies. Under the system, the ministry will examine participating companies at each stage,

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japan will provide Mongolia with about 150 billion yen in soft loans to expand Chinggis Khaan International Airport in Ulaanbaatar, Jiji Press learned Saturday. The loans are expected to be agreed on between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese mobile phone carrier NTT Docomo Inc. will increase monthly fees for over 50 rate plans by 110 to 550 yen starting Dec. 1, affecting over 30 million subscribers, or about 75 pct of its total. Higher electricity

Nagoya, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Japanese runner Ichitaka Yamashita won the gold medal in the men’s marathon event at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Saturday, finishing with a time of 2 hours, 10 minutes, 49 seconds. Mikuni Yada, also representing Japan, earned the

Washington, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said Friday that it has asked the Mexican government to investigate alleged labor rights violations at a Yokohama Rubber Co. tire plant in Coahuila. The USTR’s office said a Mexican labor

Naha, Okinawa Pref., Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–The parent company of the operator of the Junglia Okinawa theme park in Okinawa Prefecture has reported a net loss of 17.3 billion yen for its first business year since the park opened in July 2025.

Washington, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that he and Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama discussed the desirability of a strong yen in online talks. “We discussed the desirability of a strong yen that reflects Japan’s strong economic

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–Mongolian Prime Minister Nyam-Osor Uchral will make a four-day visit to Japan from Sunday and meet with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, the Japanese government has said. The two leaders will exchange views on the situation surrounding

Tokyo, Sept. 26 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government is seeking clarity on Thursday’s U.S.-China summit after U.S. President Donald Trump referred to China as an ally during World War II. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering calling Trump for a direct briefing

New York, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–The dollar briefly tumbled below 157 yen in New York on Friday morning, pushed down by concerns over the possibility of Japan and the United States conducting a joint yen-buying intervention again. At 9:40 a.m., the greenback

Nagoya, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese skateboarders Mizuho Hasegawa and Izuru Nagahara, both 15, won gold in the women’s and men’s park events, respectively, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Friday. In swimming, Kodai Nishiono, 23, won the gold medal in the men’s

Tokyo, Sept. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Friday she and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed at their online meeting the same day that “the undervaluation of the yen is problematic.” Katayama revealed this in talks with reporters after