Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to include a proposal encouraging the use of rice coupons in its upcoming comprehensive economic measures, to cushion the impact of high rice prices, government sources said Monday. The plan, originally proposed by agriculture

(Adnkronos) – Italy can help Western Balkan countries “overcome the conflicts and tensions” still destabilising the region and attain peace and prosperity founded on “European Union values”, president Sergio Mattarella wrote on Monday.  ‘Italy’s contribution to making the Balkans a land of

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday declined to withdraw her remark last week about a so-called survival-threatening situation linked to a potential contingency over Taiwan. “I made the remark in line with the government’s conventional position, so

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The outstanding balance of Japanese government debt hit a record high of 1,333,591.4 billion yen as of the end of September, the Finance Ministry said Monday. The combined balance of Japanese government bonds, borrowings and financing bills grew

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese officials are likely to start discussions on possessing nuclear-powered submarines, whose ability to undertake long military operations secretly will help strengthen deterrence against China’s maritime assertiveness. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese health ministry is beginning full-scale discussions on a proposal to review the public health insurance coverage of prescription medicines whose ingredients and effects are similar to over-the-counter drugs. The move comes after suggestions that the increase

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Princess Aiko visited the mausoleums of Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, and his wife Empress Kojun, in a western Tokyo suburb Monday ahead of her first official visit abroad. Dressed in grey, Princess Aiko, the

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Mizuho Bank said Monday it will raise its long-term prime lending rate for November to 2.45 pct from the current 2.40 pct, effective Tuesday. The decision reflects higher bond yields and other factors. It will be the Japanese

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Monday that it has lodged a protest with Beijing against social media posts by the Chinese consul-general in Osaka that blasted Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her remark on Taiwan. “We can’t help but

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Justice Ministry is assessing through an expert panel the impact of tougher penalties for the crime of insult three years after their enforcement through a Penal Code revision. The ministry has released information about 173 cases with

By Toshifumi Sekitsuka Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–At the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the country’s auto industry displayed a tendency to take advantage of the reviving popularity of cars that made Japanese youngsters’ hearts race decades ago by incorporating memories of those

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday declined to withdraw her remark made last week over a so-called survival-threatening situation regarding a potential contingency over Taiwan. “I made the remark in line with the government’s conventional position, so

Seoul, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Note Inc. is aiming to deliver Japanese content globally in a partnership with Naver Corp., a South Korean technology company, Sadaaki Kato, founder and CEO of the Japanese content-sharing platform operator, said in a recent interview. Note’s platform

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The Tokyo metropolitan government is making final preparations to host the Deaflympics, known as the Olympics for people with hearing difficulties, from Saturday, such as conducting sign language lessons for its staff. It aims to facilitate the management

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Several policymakers of the Bank of Japan at its Oct. 29-30 policy-setting meeting expressed the view that the central bank should positively consider raising its policy interest rate, according to a summary of opinions at the meeting released

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese department stores will sell “fukubukuro” lucky bags for their New Year’s sale next year that offer a wide variety of experiences and items themed on horses as 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–More than 1 million people visited the Japan Mobility Show 2025, which showcased not only mobility solutions evolving toward the future but the legacies of the Japanese auto industry. Taking place at the Tokyo Big Sight convention center

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Tsunami waves up to 20 centimeters high reached the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Sunday afternoon following an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.9. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 16 kilometers

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan’s policy chief Satoshi Honjo has criticized Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to scrap the government’s policy of designating a specific target fiscal year for turning around the country’s primary budget

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–Public hospitals operated by local governments across Japan are facing increasingly severe financial pressure. Fiscal 2024 results compiled by the internal affairs ministry show a record combined ordinary loss of 395.2 billion yen, squeezed by higher personnel costs

Takarazuka, Hyogo Pref., Nov. 10 (Jiji Press)–West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, has said a facility to preserve its train that crashed in 2005 and killed more than 100 passengers will be completed in mid-December. The company informed bereaved relatives and

Hiroshima, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Mika Yokota, a former deputy governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, won Sunday’s gubernatorial election, becoming the first female governor of the western Japan prefecture. Yokota, 54, ran in the election as an independent candidate endorsed by the Liberal Democratic

Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Tsunami waves up to 20 centimeters high reached the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan on Sunday afternoon following an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.9. The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10

Shima/Minamiise, Mie Pref., Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the 44th National Convention for the Development of an Abundantly Productive Sea in the city of Shima, Mie Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday. In his speech, the Emperor reminisced about

Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory for the Pacific coast of Iwate Prefecture in the Tohoku northeastern region following an earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 6.7 on Sunday afternoon. The earthquake occurred at a depth

Niigata, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Niigata prefectural government said Sunday that an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at a poultry farm in the city of Tainai. This is the fourth outbreak of avian influenza at a poultry farm

Kobe, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Police in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday arrested Takashi Tachibana, head of a political group that criticizes NHK, also known as Japan Broadcasting Corp., in a libel case in which the victim, a former Hyogo prefectural assembly

Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Shunichi Suzuki, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that it seems difficult to reach an agreement among all parties on a cut in the number of House of Representatives seats by the Dec. 17 end

Taipei/Bangkok, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–The mother of a Thai girl believed to have been forced into sex work at a massage parlor in Tokyo has been detained in Taiwan, it has been learned. According to Taiwan’s immigration authorities, the mother arrived in

Kobe, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Police in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Sunday arrested Takashi Tachibana, head of a political group that criticizes NHK, also known as Japan Broadcasting Corp., in a libel case in which the victim, a former Hyogo prefectural assembly