News - Page 12

Nago, Okinawa Pref., Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Incumbent candidate Taketoyo Toguchi, supported by advocates of a controversial U.S. base relocation project, is certain to win Sunday’s mayoral election in Nago in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa. This will deal a major blow

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito, co-leaders of the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, said in a joint interview on Sunday that their party will aim to secure more seats than its pre-election strength in Japan’s House of Representatives.

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–As Japan’s ruling bloc and the opposition Centrist Reform Alliance both advocate for lowering the consumption tax on food to zero ahead of the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, smaller political parties have also announced policy pledges

(The third paragraph from the bottom should have read, “…Samizo,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) People Bid Farewell to Ueno Zoo Pandas on Final Viewing Day Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Ahead of Tuesday’s departure for China of the only

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Communist Party leader Tomoko Tamura has said that a consumption tax reduction, a proposal in the party’s policy pledges for the upcoming general election, should be implemented together with financing measures such as a tax hike on

Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Audiences showed varied reactions to stump speeches throughout Japan by prospective candidates of the Centrist Reform Alliance, created by former rival parties just before Friday’s dissolution of the House of Representatives for a snap election. On the day

(The lead should have read, “…Liberal Democratic…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) Takaichi Says to Aim for Zero Consumption Tax on Food within FY ’26 Tokyo, Jan. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, also president of the ruling

Washington, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Elbridge Colby, U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy, will soon visit Japan and South Korea, the Defense Department said Saturday. The No. 3 Pentagon official will hold talks with senior government officials in both countries. The department said

Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday denied the possibility of newly issuing deficit-covering government bonds to realize a zero consumption tax rate on food items. “If it (the tax cut) is limited to two years, we can

(The third paragraph should have read, “…Japan Innovation Party…,” and the final paragraph should have read, “…Shinsengumi,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) (Update) Japan Parties Gear Up for Election in 1st Weekend since Dissolution Tokyo, Jan. 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese