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20 Maggio 2026

Visitors to Japan Down 5.5 Pct in April

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–The estimated number of foreign visitors to Japan in April fell 5.5 pct from a year before to 3,692,200, down for the first time in three months, the Japan National Tourism Organization said Wednesday. Visitors from eight Middle
20 Maggio 2026

Japan to Survey Bear Habitats in Tohoku, Niigata

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Environment Ministry has said it will start surveys in late June on bear habitats and populations in the Tohoku northeastern region and some areas in nearby Niigata Prefecture. The government surveys, announced Tuesday, will cover the six
20 Maggio 2026

Kukai-Linked Sacred Hall on Miyajima Burns Down

Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Pref., May 20 (Jiji Press)–A hall linked to Buddhist saint Kukai on Miyajima Island burned to the ground on Wednesday, local police and firefighters in the city of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, said the same day. According to the authorities, firefighters
20 Maggio 2026

Nikkei Index Ends Below 60,000 for 1st Time since May 1

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japanese stocks fell in Tokyo trading Wednesday, driven lower by rising interest rates globally, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average ending below 60,000 for the first time since May 1. The Nikkei index closed at 59,804.41, down
20 Maggio 2026

Strong Quake Jolts Southwestern Japan Islands

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Wednesday, measuring upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, on an island in Kagoshima Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The temblor with an estimated magnitude
20 Maggio 2026

Japanese Garden Designer Wins Silver-Gilt at British Flower Show

London, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese garden designer Kazuyuki Ishihara won a silver-gilt medal at the Chelsea Flower Show starting in London on Tuesday. “Tokonoma Garden,” by Ishihara, a native of Nagasaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, was awarded the second-highest honor in the main
20 Maggio 2026

Japan Calls for Punishment on Shanghai Attack

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has called on China to strictly punish the suspect after two Japanese nationals were injured in an attack at a restaurant in Shanghai on Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Wednesday. Japan also urged
20 Maggio 2026

Unification Church Liquidator Begins Accepting Victim Claims

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–The liquidator of the Unification Church, a controversial religious group ordered to disband, on Wednesday began accepting claims from victims who were forced to make large donations to the group. The claims of losses will be accepted online
20 Maggio 2026

Strong Quake Jolts Southwestern Japan Islands

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Wednesday, measuring upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, on an island in Kagoshima Prefecture, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The temblor with an estimated magnitude
20 Maggio 2026

List of Hiroshima A-Bomb Victims Given Airing

Hiroshima, May 20 (Jiji Press)–A register of people who died from the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 was aired at a memorial park in the western Japan city on Wednesday for its upkeep. City officials took the books out of
20 Maggio 2026

Japan Action on Currency Wins G7 Understanding: Katayama

Paris, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tuesday that her Group of Seven counterparts showed their understanding on Japan’s recent yen-buying, dollar-selling market intervention. At the just-ended meeting in Paris of the finance ministers and central bank governors of
20 Maggio 2026

Philippine Pres. Marcos to Give Diet Speech on May 28

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will deliver a speech to the Diet, the Japanese parliament, on May 28, it was learned Wednesday. Executives of the steering committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet,
20 Maggio 2026

Japan’s LDP Calls for Mandatory Acquisition of My Number Cards

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party has called on the government to consider making My Number personal identification card ownership mandatory. There would be no penalty for noncompliance, according to the proposal compiled Tuesday by the LDP’s Headquarters for
20 Maggio 2026

Nikkei Average Plunges Over 1,200 Points in Early Trade

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average briefly gave up over 1,200 points in early trading Wednesday, slipping below 60,000 for the first time in about three weeks, as investor sentiment was battered by rising global interest rates. At
20 Maggio 2026

Nikkei Average Plunges Over 1,200 Points in Early Trade

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average briefly gave up over 1,200 points in early trading Wednesday, slipping below 60,000 for the first time in about three weeks. At 9:23 a.m., the Nikkei index of 225 selected issues listed
20 Maggio 2026

FOCUS: Osaka Expo Resources Find New Life across Japan

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–More than six months after the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka closed, buildings, artworks, construction materials and equipment from the western Japan city venue are being repurposed in communities across the country. The Japan Association for the 2025
20 Maggio 2026

INTERVIEW: DBJ to Strengthen Investment Operations

Tokyo, May 20 (Jiji Press)–The Development Bank of Japan will strengthen its investment operations as part of corporate culture reform, President and CEO Seiji Jige has indicated. “We will transform our corporate culture to conduct long-term lending operations with the mindset of
20 Maggio 2026

FOCUS: Japan, S. Korea Leaders Promote Ties thru Hometown Visits

Andong, South Korea, May 20 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung have highlighted through their trips to each other’s hometown improved bilateral ties amid the challenging security environment. On Tuesday, Takaichi visited the city of Andong
19 Maggio 2026

Trump Buys Shares in U.S. Unit of Japan’s Kura Sushi

Washington, May 19 (Jiji Press)–U.S. President Donald Trump has purchased shares in Kura Sushi USA Inc., a unit of Japanese conveyor belt sushi restaurant chain Kura Sushi Inc., for 1 million to 5 million dollars, it was learned Tuesday. His share transaction
19 Maggio 2026

G7 Finance Chiefs Worried over Impacts of Middle East Crisis

Paris, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Finance ministers and top central bankers from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations expressed their concerns Tuesday over the impacts of the prolonged Middle East crisis. “We acknowledge that global economic uncertainty has heightened risks to growth
19 Maggio 2026

G7 Finance Chiefs Worried over Impacts of Middle East Crisis

Paris, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Finance ministers and top central bankers from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations expressed their concerns Tuesday over the impacts of the prolonged Middle East crisis. “We acknowledge that global economic uncertainty has heightened risks to growth
19 Maggio 2026

Bessent Says Excess Forex Volatility Undesirable

Washington, May 19 (Jiji Press)–U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post Tuesday that excess volatility in foreign exchange rates is “undesirable.” In the post on X, formerly Twitter, Bessent said that he held talks with Bank of Japan
19 Maggio 2026

Iran: Beijing, ‘clear and unequivocal support for Tehran’

(Adnkronos) – The Chinese ambassador in Tehran reiterated Beijing’s “clear and unequivocal” support for Iran. The Isna agency reports that Zhong Peiwu stated that, “under these circumstances,” it is difficult to distinguish which countries are truly friends of China, adding that “we
19 Maggio 2026

2 Japanese Attacked with Knife at Shanghai Restaurant

Shanghai, May 19 (Jiji Press)–A man carrying a fruit knife attacked three people around noon on Tuesday at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai World Financial Center, a Japanese-developed office building in the financial district of the Chinese city. According to a senior
19 Maggio 2026

2 Japanese Attacked with Knife at Shanghai Restaurant

Shanghai, May 19 (Jiji Press)–A man with a fruit knife attacked three people around noon on Tuesday at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai World Financial Center, a Japanese-developed office building in the financial district of the Chinese city. According to a senior
19 Maggio 2026

LDP to Propose Public-Private Panel to Promote Investment in Key Areas

Tokyo, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose establishing a public-private council to promote investment and lending in 17 strategic fields including artificial intelligence and semiconductors, it was learned Tuesday. The proposal was included in a set of recommendations
19 Maggio 2026

G7 Worried over Middle East Crisis Impact on Growth, Inflation

Paris, May 19 (Jiji Press)–Finance ministers and top central bankers from the Group of Seven major industrialized nations expressed their concerns Tuesday that global economic uncertainty is increasing risks to growth and inflation amid the continuing turmoil in the Middle East. Free
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