Latest News

8 Febbraio 2026

Japan Ruling Bloc Seen Wnning Two-Thirds Majority in Lower House

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, are seen winning at least 310 seats in Sunday’s House of Representatives election, occupying two-thirds of the 465 seats in the lower chamber of parliament.
8 Febbraio 2026

2026020601042.xml

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Following is a party-by-party breakdown of seats won in Sunday’s election for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Japan’s parliament, as of 11 p.m., with figures in parentheses showing the number of seats won in single-seat
8 Febbraio 2026

World Bank Economist Seeks Cooperation from Japan on AI

By Adriana Reinecke Washington, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill has expressed hopes for Japan’s cooperation in addressing global economic disparities that may widen due to the uneven adoption of artificial intelligence technology. In a recent interview, Gill said
8 Febbraio 2026

Noda Hints at Resigning as Centrist Reform Alliance Co-Head

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Centrist Reform Alliance co-chief Yoshihiko Noda suggested Sunday that he may step down from the leadership post following the party’s poor result in the general election held the same day. In a program by public broadcaster Japan Broadcasting
8 Febbraio 2026

LDP Wins Mandate for Takaichi’s Policies: Suzuki

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party has won a mandate for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s policy goals in Sunday’s general election, Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki said as the LDP was seen winning a standalone majority in the House of Representatives. “We’ve
8 Febbraio 2026

Osaka Governor Yoshimura, Mayor Yokoyama Secure Re-Election

Osaka, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and Osaka Mayor Hideyuki Yokoyama secured re-election in Sunday’s polls in the western Japan prefecture and its capital. The races were timed to coincide with the country’s general election, after Yoshimura, 50, and Yokoyama,
8 Febbraio 2026

Centrists’ Exec Rules Out Split-Up after Lower House Poll

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Centrist Reform Alliance co-secretary-general Hiromasa Nakano on Sunday ruled out the possibility of the newly formed opposition party splitting up following the House of Representatives election, held the same day. Speaking in a Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Inc. radio
8 Febbraio 2026

Japan’s Prince Hisahito Attends Biotope Competition Event

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Prince Hisahito on Sunday attended a presentation event of a national competition for biotopes at schools and child care facilities, held at the Tokyo National Museum, with his father, Crown Prince Akishino. It was the second time
8 Febbraio 2026

Record 27.01 M. People Vote Early in Japan General Election

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–A record 27,017,098 people cast early votes for single-seat constituencies in Sunday’s House of Representatives election in Japan, according to the internal affairs ministry. The figure, up 1.29-fold from the previous Lower House race in 2024, was the
8 Febbraio 2026

Snowboarder Kimura Wins Japan’s 1st Milan-Cortina Gold

Milan, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–Snowboarder Kira Kimura won the men’s big air final at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Saturday, gaining the first gold medal for Japan in the quadrennial winter sports event that opened the previous day. Kimura, 21, earned 179.50 points,
8 Febbraio 2026

Voting Starts in General Election in Japan

Tokyo, Feb. 8 (Jiji Press)–Voting started across Japan in Sunday’s House of Representatives election, in which Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks a public mandate after her Liberal Democratic Party switched its coalition partner. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. as many parts
7 Febbraio 2026

British Museum Holding “Samurai” Exhibition

London, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–The British Museum in London is holding an exhibition on “samurai,” exploring the reality of the Japanese feudal-era warriors through furnishings, works of art and video images. The exhibition, set to run until May 4, showcases some 280
7 Febbraio 2026

2026 POLLS: Party Leaders Make Final Appeals to Voters

Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japanese party leaders made their final appeals to voters Saturday, the last day of the official campaign period for Sunday’s House of Representatives election. The general election for the all-important lower chamber of parliament is the first national
7 Febbraio 2026

2026 POLLS: No Deep Debate on Espionage Prevention Law

Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–There was no deep debate during campaigns for Sunday’s general election on measures to enhance intelligence capabilities, such as an espionage prevention law, although the Liberal Democratic Party and others proposed such steps in their election pledges. Prime
7 Febbraio 2026

Japan to Invest in Thermal Power, Diamonds, Ports in U.S.

Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan is seen selecting gas-fired power generation, synthetic diamonds and ports as the first round of 550-billion-dollar investments and loans it agreed to make in the United States, it was learned Saturday. The Japanese and U.S. governments will
7 Febbraio 2026

Diver Dies in Underwater Mine Survey in Japan

Yamaguchi, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–A male diver died Saturday after falling ill during a survey to search for the remains of victims of the 1942 underwater coal mine disaster off Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan. Around noon, there was an emergency call
7 Febbraio 2026

Memorial Held for 1942 Underwater Mine Disaster in Japan

Ube, Yamaguchi Pref., Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Saturday to mark the 1942 underwater coal mine disaster in the western Japan prefecture that left 183 people dead. The event took place near the former
7 Febbraio 2026

JETRO Promotes Japanese Pop Culture in Cairo

Cairo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–The Japan External Trade Organization, or JETRO, has opened an event to promote Japanese pop culture in Cairo, the capital of Egypt. The two-day event from Friday is designed to showcase the charm of Japanese anime, manga and
7 Febbraio 2026

Gas Container Using Nobel Winner’s Technology Draw Attention

Jakarta, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–A gas container using a technology developed by Japanese Nobel Prize winner Susumu Kitagawa is drawing attention, with demonstration tests underway. The container, seen as a promising new means of transporting gas, uses metal-organic frameworks, for which Kitagawa
7 Febbraio 2026

Japan’s Sake Exports Up 5.5 Pct in 2025

Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s exports of sake rose 5.5 pct from the previous year to 45.88 billion yen in 2025, led by brisk shipments to China, the top export destination, industry data have shown. However, this figure was short of the
7 Febbraio 2026

Japan, Bangladesh Sign Economic Partnership Deal

Tokyo, Feb. 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan and Bangladesh have signed an economic partnership agreement for better market access for goods and services and development of related rules. The EPA, the first such deal for Bangladesh, will take effect once domestic procedures are completed
6 Febbraio 2026

Epstein case, police search Mandelson’s homes

(Adnkronos) – British police have conducted searches at two of Peter Mandelson’s homes, as part of an investigation into irregularities in the exercise of a public function by the former ambassador to the USA, who was engulfed by the scandal caused by
1 2 3 236