Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance, a new Japanese political party, was formally launched Thursday with some 170 House of Representatives lawmakers from the two founding opposition forces–the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a former ally of the

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. will begin work to stop the No. 6 reactor at its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Thursday night, the company said. The stoppage comes after TEPCO suspended

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese supermarket sales in 2025 rose 2.2 pct from the previous year on a same-store basis, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday. All-store sales reached 12,867.5 billion yen. Although consumers

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Federation of Aviation Industry Unions said Thursday that its member unions will request a pay scale hike of at least 12,000 yen, or 4 pct, per month in the 2026 “shunto” spring wage negotiations. The umbrella

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Thursday sentenced an 82-year-old former chairman of major publisher Kadokawa Corp. to two and a half years in prison, suspended for four years, in a high-profile bribery case related to the Tokyo Olympics and

(Adnkronos) – A “fair” settlement to end Russia’s almost four-year invasion of Ukraine “will take time” and the European Union will oppose any attempt to defeat the former Soviet Republic, Italy said ahead of talks in Moscow on Thursday between top US

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Former Japanese shogi master Hifumi Kato died of pneumonia at a hospital in Tokyo on Thursday. He was 86. The native of Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, was the first junior high school student to become a professional shogi

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will officially endorse 37 candidates involved in its high-profile slush fund scandal in the Feb. 8 general election. The individuals are included in the party’s initial list of official candidates for the House

Osaka, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–UA Zensen, which represents workers in a number of industries including textiles and food in Japan, decided Thursday to seek a 6 pct pay increase, including a 4 pct base pay rise, in this year’s “shunto” spring wage

Osaka, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–The man sentenced to life in prison over the fatal shooting of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to decide next week whether to appeal, a professor said after meeting with him Thursday. Defendant Tetsuya Yamagami, 45,

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government kept its economic assessment unchanged in a monthly report released Thursday. “The Japanese economy is recovering at a moderate pace, while the effects caused from the U.S. trade policies are seen mainly in the automotive

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, may meet in Japan on Jan. 30, Japanese government sources said Thursday. Tokyo and Seoul are working to arrange Ahn’s visit to Japan late this month,

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Crude steel production in Japan in 2025 fell to its lowest level in 57 years because of sluggish domestic construction demand and falling prices, the Japan Iron and Steel Federation said Thursday. Annual output fell for the fourth

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. said Thursday it has suspended the removal of control rods from the No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power station in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, after an alarm sounded during the

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Thursday sentenced an 82-year-old former chairman of major publisher Kadokawa Corp. to two and a half years in prison, suspended for four years, in a high-profile bribery case related to the Tokyo Olympics and

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, has indicated that he will carefully assess developments surrounding a new party formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, also opposition parties, before deciding

Kyoto, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Conventional chemotherapy and radiation therapy eradicated esophageal cancer in about 70 pct of patients when combined with immunotherapy in a clinical trial, Kyoto University Hospital said. Very few patients developed serious side effects, the hospital in Kyoto, a

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average rallied on Thursday, reflecting eased concerns about tensions between the United States and Europe regarding Greenland. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section closed up

Nara, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese court ruling that sentenced the man who fatally shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life in prison denies that the man’s ill-fated family background was a key factor that drove him to commit the act.

Japan Chain Stores Association Jan. 22 Yr/Yr Change Total 1,268,815 M. Yen 0.0 pct Foodstuffs 882,195 Up 1.2 Clothing 54,485 Down 6.9 Sundries 123,387 Up 3.6 Furniture and Interior Goods 77,136 Down 9.3 Home Electric Appliances 3,721 Up 0.3 Note: Year-on-year changes

Japan Chain Stores Association Jan. 22 Change from Prev Year Total 12,867,512 M. Yen Up 2.2 pct Foodstuffs 9,086,436 Up 3.5 Clothing 597,499 Down 1.8 Sundries 1,155,239 Up 2.1 Furniture and Interior Goods 710,386 Down 3.8 Home Electric Appliances 33,163 Down 1.3

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan posted a customs-cleared trade deficit of 2,650.7 billion yen in 2025, marking the fifth consecutive year of red ink, preliminary data from the Finance Ministry showed Thursday. Still, the deficit plunged 52.9 pct from the previous year.

Osaka, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–The official campaign period for the Feb. 8 Osaka gubernatorial election began on Thursday, following the resignation of the previous governor, Hirofumi Yoshimura, in an attempt to revive the so-called Osaka metropolis plan. Yoshimura, leader of the Japan

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industry minister Ryosei Akazawa and European Commission executive vice-president for prosperity and industrial strategy Stephane Sejourne have reaffirmed their cooperation to ensure stable supplies of critical minerals, such as rare earths. At a press conference following his

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average climbed over 1,000 points at one point in Thursday morning, reflecting eased concerns about tensions between the United States and Europe regarding Greenland. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the

Tokyo, Jan. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned the government’s responsibility in her meeting with victims of forced sterilization conducted under the country’s now-defunct eugenics law. “The government’s responsibility is extremely grave,” Takaichi said when she met with the victims

(Adnkronos) – Foreign minister Antonio Tajani will address celebrations in Anzio and Nettuno on Thursday to mark the 82nd anniversary of the Allied landings on Lazio’s coast – which began on 22 January, 1944 – the foreign ministry said in a statement. 

(Adnkronos) – Sport is “a foreign policy tool, from industry to science,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Wednesday at press conference to present the Olympic accreditation of the national sports medicine federation’s anti-doping laboratory.  “Sport is a tool of foreign policy,

(Adnkronos) – The President of the United States, Donald Trump, evoked sending the National Guard to California in his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos. “If I were governor of California, I would call Trump and say: ‘I need you.’

(Adnkronos) – In Davos, on the sidelines of the Wef, Donald Trump will meet the leaders of Poland, Belgium and Egypt and NATO Secretary General Marc Rutte. This was announced by White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, confirming for tomorrow morning the event