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Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Wednesday approved 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 the impact of inflation. The plan

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Companies are expanding relief efforts in earthquake-hit Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, rushing to supply cooling equipment, emergency power and necessities to evacuees. Addressing the heat wave is a top priority at a time when temperatures have topped 40

Tokyo, Aug. 5 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Ministry of Finance upgraded its economic assessments of the Kanto eastern and Tokai central regions in a quarterly report for July released Wednesday. The ministry, however, deferred its assessment of the Kyushu southwestern region following an earthquake

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