News - Page 12

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Most Bank of Japan policymakers cited receding risks of a significant economic downturn at the June 15-16 policy meeting, in which the central bank decided an interest rate hike, according to minutes of the meeting released by the

Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Pref., Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The manager of Kinparo expressed both resolve and worries after last week’s major earthquake severely damaged the century-old “ryokan” Japanese-style inn in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan. Founded in the Hinagu hot spring resort in Yatsushiro in

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to make a decision Wednesday afternoon on a plan to lower the consumption tax rate on food from 8 pct to 1 pct for two years from next April as a measure to cushion

Hiroshima, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The parents of an Iranian boy killed by an airstrike, now on a visit to Hiroshima, are set to attend Thursday’s annual ceremony to honor the victims of the Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. atomic bombing of the western

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese companies agreed to raise monthly wages by an average of 5.37 pct through pay scale hikes and regular raises in the 2026 “shunto” spring labor-management wage negotiations, the Japan Business Federation, or Keidanren, has said. According

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has expressed support for a world without nuclear weapons after his proposal for debates without any taboos on nuclear policy sparked controversy, including among hibakusha atomic bombing survivors. “I strongly sympathize with the

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to make a decision Wednesday afternoon on a plan to lower the consumption tax rate on food from 8 pct to 1 pct for two years from next April as an anti-inflation measure. The

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The number of people rushed to hospitals for heatstroke in earthquake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in the week through Sunday totaled 309, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. The figure was up 89 from the previous

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass will not attend this year’s peace ceremonies in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to honor the victims of the 1945 atomic bombings of the cities, the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo has said. Aaron Snipe,

Chiba, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Right-hander Naoya Masuda of the Chiba Lotte Marines has become the fifth player in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, or NPB, to record 250 career saves. Masuda, 36, notched his second save of the season in Tuesday’s home