Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday that the central bank will examine how higher crude oil prices would put downward pressure on the domestic economy. The BOJ “placed importance on a newly emerged risk scenario stemming

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–A 30 pct jump in fuel costs amid surging oil prices could force 24.6 pct of transport companies in Japan to suffer operating losses, according to a survey by Teikoku Databank Ltd. If regular gasoline prices rise from

(Adnkronos) – Some 30 tonnes of essential items for over 1,500 families forced to flee their homes in war-hit Lebanon, including kitchen sets, blankets, hygiene kits and jerry cans, arrived at Beirut airport aboard a flight from the United Nations logistics hub

(Adnkronos) – The Iranian army has threatened to destroy the region’s energy infrastructure, fearing that its facilities will be attacked again by the United States and Israel. “We warn the enemy that it has made a serious mistake by attacking the energy

(Adnkronos) – The Gulf States are calling for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council following Iranian attacks against civilians and energy infrastructure across the Middle East. Ynet News reports this, citing documents seen by Reuters, in which drone

(Adnkronos) – Israeli airline Israir has canceled scheduled flights until the end of March, due to airspace restrictions imposed by the war and limited operations at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Due to the security situation and directives from the Home

(Adnkronos) – Three explosions were heard in Tel Aviv after an Iranian missile alert. The Israeli army had announced shortly before that it had “identified missiles launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel” and added that the anti-aircraft

(Adnkronos) – The United Nations World Food Programme is keeping up crucial aid to the neediest of over a million people left homeless in Lebanon during the Eid-al Fitr holiday by Israel’s escalating strikes against Hezbollah in retaliation for attacks by the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The government approved Thursday a bill aimed at creating a new scheme to provide financial support to Japanese companies’ overseas projects deemed critical to Japan’s economic security. The bill to revise the economic security promotion law is intended

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Jun Matsumoto, a former Liberal Democratic Party member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament, who served as chairman of the National Public Safety Commission, died on Thursday at the age of 75. He

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday that its sample cherry tree at Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo has begun blooming this season. The announcement came five days earlier than average and than last year. Earlier this week, the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Four major Japanese mobile phone carriers have announced a plan to launch a new service called “Japan Roaming” that will allow users to connect to available lines of other companies if communication failures occur due to large-scale disasters

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said Thursday that the central bank will examine how higher crude oil prices would put downward pressure on the domestic economy. The governor made the comment in a press conference held after

Tokyo/Berlin, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told a press conference Thursday that he will hold a meeting with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in the city of Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo, on Sunday. They are expected to

Washington, March 18 (Jiji Press)–Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty has welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark that her country will do everything possible under its Constitution to ensure safe navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently under

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average briefly shed over 2,000 points Thursday as concerns spread among investors over persistently high crude oil prices amid rising tensions in the Middle East. The index of 225 selected issues listed on

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police received 98,289 requests for consultations over domestic violence in 2025, up 3.5 pct year on year and hitting the highest level since the 2001 entry into force of the law for preventing such acts, National Police

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s seasonally adjusted core machinery orders in January fell 5.5 pct from the previous month, after a spike driven by large-scale orders the previous month, Cabinet Office data showed Thursday. The private-sector orders excluding those for ships and

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The number of stalking cases handled by police in Japan in 2025 hit the highest level since the antistalking law took effect in 2000, National Police Agency data showed Thursday. The figure rose by 205 from the previous

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday approved two academics regarded as reflationists as new members of the Bank of Japan’s Policy Board. At the day’s plenary meeting, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, confirmed the

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan decided to keep its monetary policy unchanged at a two-day Policy Board meeting that ended Thursday. The board voted eight to one to maintain the policy of guiding the unsecured overnight call rate, Japan’s

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The benchmark Dubai crude oil futures contract for August delivery on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, or TOCOM, briefly reached 90,000 yen per kiloliter Thursday, hitting the highest level since July 2008 on an intraday basis. Supply-related concerns rose

Hansalpur, India, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Suzuki Motor Corp. is set to raise annual automobile production capacity at its plant in western India by 250,000 units to one million units with the addition of a new line now under construction. The company

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan decided to keep its monetary policy unchanged Thursday. At its two-day policy-setting meeting through the day, the BOJ’s Policy Board voted eight to one to maintain the policy of guiding the unsecured overnight call

Washington, March 18 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived in the United States on Wednesday night, ahead of her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump the following day. The prime minister flew to the U.S. Air Force’s Joint Base Andrews near

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average gave up over 1,600 points briefly in Tokyo trading Thursday morning, following overnight falls in key U.S. stock indexes. At 10:13 a.m., the index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo

By Nobutoshi Kobayashi Commentary Writer Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Asked where she considers home, 32-year-old Juri Afuso paused for a moment. “Japan,” she said firmly. “That’s where I come back to.” Afuso was born and raised in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, to Brazilian

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Foreign Ministry has raised its travel alert to the highest Level 4 for the whole of Iraq, urging Japanese nationals in the country to leave it immediately. The move reflects the deteriorating situation in Iraq, where pro-Iran

Tokyo, March 19 (Jiji Press)–Escalating tensions over Iran following U.S. and Israeli strikes on the country are beginning to affect foreigners’ travel to Japan. A number of flights have been canceled as airports in Middle East countries and airspace over the region