Latest News

24 Aprile 2026

Japan Passport Fees Going Down to 9,000 Yen in July

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Starting July, Japan will lower application fees for 10-year passports to around 9,000 yen. At a plenary session Friday, the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country’s parliament, passed into law a bill to
24 Aprile 2026

Japan Core Consumer Prices Rise 1.8 Pct in March

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s core consumer price index in March rose 1.8 pct from a year earlier, marking the 55th straight month of increase, the internal affairs ministry said Friday. The core CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at
24 Aprile 2026

Karst Plateau in Western Japan Named UNESCO Global Geopark

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Mine-Akiyoshidai, a karst plateau in western Japan, has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark. The designation, decided by the executive board of the specialized U.N. agency, was announced by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and
24 Aprile 2026

Honda to Cease Automobile Sales in S. Korea at End of 2026

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Honda Motor Co. has said it will terminate its automobile sales in South Korea at the end of this year. The Japanese company, which made the announcement Thursday, aims to concentrate its business resources on projects to enhance
24 Aprile 2026

France Welcomes Japan’s Lifting of Weapons Export Ban

Paris, April 23 (Jiji Press)–The French Foreign Ministry on Thursday welcomed Japan’s lifting of its ban on exports of lethal weapons earlier this week. The move by Japan will contribute to the safety of people and the maintenance of sovereignty in Europe
24 Aprile 2026

Nonlife Insurers Take Data Out of Toyota Dating Back to 2016

Nagoya, April 24 (Jiji Press)–Employees of three major Japanese nonlife insurers seconded to Toyota Motor Corp. improperly took internal data out of the automaker from around 2016 to 2025, Toyota has said. Among the internal data were organizational charts and meeting summaries
24 Aprile 2026

Sister of Ex-Inmate Denounces Japan Govt over Retrial Review

Tokyo, April 24 (Jiji Press)–The older sister of former Japanese death-row inmate Iwao Hakamata has reiterated her criticism of the government over a planned revamping of the country’s retrial system. A draft of the Justice Ministry’s bill to amend the criminal procedure
24 Aprile 2026

Mexico to Export 1 M. Barrels of Crude Oil to Japan

Sao Paulo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Thursday that she has agreed with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to export 1 million barrels of Mexican crude oil to Japan. The move is expected to help Japan, which relies on
23 Aprile 2026

India Welcomes Japan’s Lifting of Arms Export Ban

New Delhi, April 23 (Jiji Press)–The Indian government on Thursday welcomed Japan’s decision to revise the operational guidelines for its three principles on defense equipment transfer to allow the export of lethal arms. “Defense and security cooperation forms an important pillar of
23 Aprile 2026

Japan Supermarket Sales Up for 6th Year in FY 2025

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Supermarket sales in Japan in fiscal 2025 rose 2.1 pct from the previous year on a same-store basis, up for the sixth consecutive year, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday. Sales at all stores in the year
23 Aprile 2026

Japan Supermarket Sales Up for 6th Year in FY 2025

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Supermarket sales in Japan in fiscal 2025 rose 2.1 pct from the previous year on a same-store basis, up for the sixth consecutive year, the Japan Chain Stores Association said Thursday. Sales at all stores in the year
23 Aprile 2026

Italy govt not afraid of ‘dissent’ from Israel

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government keeps up “frank and direct” dialogue with Israel and is not afraid to disagree with the Jewish state, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday, describing the war-razed Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza as “an open wound” and “a
23 Aprile 2026

Italy govt not afraid of ‘dissent’ from Israel

(Adnkronos) – Italy’s government keeps up “frank and direct” dialogue with Israel and is not afraid to disagree with the Jewish state, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday, describing the war-razed Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza as “an open wound” and “a
23 Aprile 2026

Ukraine, written procedure for loan and sanctions extended

(Adnkronos) – The written procedure launched yesterday by Coreper to agree on the amendment to the MFF 2021-27 regulation, necessary for the 90 billion loan to Ukraine, and for the twentieth package of sanctions against Russia for the war against its neighbor
23 Aprile 2026

Iran, Pahlavi hit in Berlin with red liquid

(Adnkronos) – The son of the last shah, Reza Pahlavi, was hit by an unspecified red liquid upon leaving a press conference in Berlin. According to Sky News, an unknown person threw a red substance at him, described by witnesses as tomato
23 Aprile 2026

Japan Eyes Drastic Cut in Medical School Enrollment

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Finance Ministry on Thursday proposed a drastic reduction in medical school enrollment, considering an expected surplus of doctors due to the country’s declining population. At a meeting of the Fiscal System Council, an advisory panel to the
23 Aprile 2026

Japan Lower House OKs Intelligence Council Bill

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill to establish a national intelligence council designed to strengthen the government’s intelligence capabilities. At a plenary meeting of the lower chamber of the Diet, or the country’s parliament, the
23 Aprile 2026

Yasukuni Shrine Ends Spring Festival with No Visit by PM Takaichi

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi did not visit Tokyo’s war-related Yasukuni Shrine during its three-day spring festival, which ended Thursday. Economic growth strategy Minoru Kiuchi was the only cabinet member confirmed to have visited the Shinto shrine during
23 Aprile 2026

EXCLUSIVE: Daito Trust Mulls Entering Postpartum Care Biz

Tokyo, April 23 (Jiji Press)–Daito Trust Construction Co. is considering entering the accommodation-type postpartum care business by utilizing condominiums managed by its group, Jiji Press learned Thursday. Daito Trust will begin a trial in May, in collaboration with With Midwife Inc., which