News

Otsu, Shiga Pref., Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–A 36-year-old Japanese man on Tuesday admitted to murdering a “hogoshi” private-sector volunteer probation officer in charge of him in 2024, while the defense for him argued that he is not mentally competent to bear responsibility

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Renesas Electronics Corp. said Tuesday it will broaden its strategic partnership with U.S. contract chipmaker GlobalFoundries Inc. to reinforce international supply chains and respond to customer demand with agility. The Japanese chip designer will harness cutting-edge fabrication technologies

(In the story “‘Kokuho’ Earns 20 B. Yen at Japan Box Office,” moved on Monday, the second paragraph should have read, “…all-time…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) “Kokuho” Earns 20 B. Yen at Japan Box Office Tokyo, Feb. 16

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s major opposition Centrist Reform Alliance on Tuesday recommended Keiichi Ishii as vice speaker of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament. Ishii, 67, is expected to be chosen as Lower House

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–An increasing number of profit-making large companies in Japan are trimming their workforces, including through voluntary retirement programs. Although cutting jobs has been a traditional tactic to boost the finances of loss-making firms, it is now being used

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Yamanashi and eight other Japanese prefectures have formed a framework aimed at deepening exchanges with India, whose economy continues growing rapidly. The prefectures, also including Iwate, Miyagi, Toyama, Nagano, Shizuoka, Aichi, Tottori and Kagawa, hope to strengthen cooperation

(The final paragraph should have read, “…its first-round record…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Japan Ties Record Winter Games Medals with Figure Skating Pairs Gold Milan, Feb. 16 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara secured gold in figure

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan suffers an estimated annual economic loss of around 1 trillion yen due to the “social jet lag” mismatch between people’s sleep patterns on weekdays and holidays. The estimate comes from a University of Tsukuba research group that

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Former Sega Corp. President Hideki Sato, who helped develop the firm’s flagship gaming consoles, including the Mega Drive, died at 75 on Friday, the company said on its official X account Monday. A native of the northernmost prefecture

Tokyo, Feb. 17 (Jiji Press)–Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura, also governor of Osaka Prefecture, has indicated the possibility of considering returning to national politics. Yoshimura told a meeting of JIP executives in the city of Osaka, the capital of the western