Latest News

9 Marzo 2026

Nikkei Dives More Than 3,600 Points in Early Trading

(Corrects the dateline. A substitute story follows.) Tokyo, March 9 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo stocks plummeted in early trading Monday amid growing Middle East tensions, with the key Nikkei 225 average losing more than 3,600 points. At 9:25 a.m., the Nikkei stood at 51,983.84,
9 Marzo 2026

TOKYO REPORT: Tokyo Govt. Builds Infrastructure to Expand Use of Generative AI

Tokyo, March 9 (Jiji Press)–The Tokyo metropolitan government and municipal governments throughout the Japanese capital are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence in their administrative operations. To support this trend, the metropolitan government, in cooperation with GovTech Tokyo, an affiliated organization that promotes
8 Marzo 2026

Cross-Mentoring Initiatives Aim to Develop Female Execs in Japan

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese companies are increasingly adopting so-called cross-mentoring programs to develop future female corporate leaders, in which potential female executives are mentored by senior officials from other companies and gain insights into career development. Firms that have introduced such
8 Marzo 2026

Yamano Elected Ishikawa Governor for 1st Time

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref., March 8 (Jiji Press)–Yukiyoshi Yamano, an independent and a former mayor of the city of Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, won the central Japan prefecture’s gubernatorial election for the first time on Sunday, defeating incumbent Hiroshi Hase and
8 Marzo 2026

Japan Emperor’s Family Watches WBC Game against Australia

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, watched the Japan-Australia game in the first round of the World Baseball Classic at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. The Emperor and Empress also watched WBC games at the
8 Marzo 2026

EXCLUSIVE: China Protests Taiwanese Premier’s Visit to Japan

Beijing, March 8 (Jiji Press)–China has protested Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai’s latest visit to Japan, informed sources told Jiji Press Sunday. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong telephoned Japanese Ambassador to China Kenji Kanasugi on Saturday night to lodge the protest. In
8 Marzo 2026

International Women’s Day March Held in Tokyo’s Shibuya

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–“Women’s March Tokyo,” a protest march against sexual violence and discrimination toward women, was held in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward on International Women’s Day on Sunday. Participants paraded around Shibuya Station with placards and banners opposing sex discrimination. Similar
8 Marzo 2026

Japan Toy Makers Recast Childhood Play through Diversity Lens

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Some Japanese toy makers are redesigning their products to reflect diversity and reduce gender stereotypes, aiming to broaden the world children see through play as gender roles become less rigid. Toys, often encountered in early childhood and influential
8 Marzo 2026

Takaichi Pushes Women’s Active Participation for Japan’s Growth

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a message on International Women’s Day on Sunday, emphasizing the need for women’s active participation to foster growth in Japan. Expressing her intention to promote a gender-equal society and address women’s health
8 Marzo 2026

U.N. Panel Member Urges Japan to Create Gender Equality Bodies

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Hiroko Akizuki, a member of the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, called on Japan to create dedicated parliamentary and government bodies to confront its entrenched gender inequality. “Japanese people should face reality,” Akizuki said
8 Marzo 2026

188 Japanese, Their Family Members Evacuated in Middle East

Tokyo, March 8 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that 188 Japanese nationals and their family members with foreign nationality were evacuated from Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East. They traveled by
7 Marzo 2026

Taiwanese Premier Visits Japan for WBC

Tokyo, March 7 (Jiji Press)–Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai visited Japan on Saturday to watch the Taiwan-Czech Republic game of the World Baseball Classic held at Tokyo Dome the same day, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported. This is believed to be the first
7 Marzo 2026

Japan’s New Resupply Craft HTV-X Separated from ISS

Tokyo, March 7 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s newly developed HTV-X resupply vehicle, which had been docked with the International Space Station, was detached from the station on Saturday, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency said the same day. The unit will fly around Earth on
7 Marzo 2026

Middle East Tensions Disrupt Maritime Transport to Japan

Tokyo, March 7 (Jiji Press)–The U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran have paralyzed maritime shipping between the Middle East and Japan, disrupting both imports to and exports from the Asian country. Ocean Network Express, a container shipping company jointly owned by Japan’s Nippon Yusen
7 Marzo 2026

Vice Gov. Leading Women’s Empowerment in Scandal-Mired Fukui

Fukui, March 7 (Jiji Press)–Mio Washizu, deputy governor of Fukui Prefecture, is leading efforts to promote women’s participation in society as the central Japan prefecture seeks to reform itself in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal involving the former governor. Washizu,
7 Marzo 2026

Nintendo Sues U.S. Govt over Reciprocal Tariffs

Washington, March 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese game giant Nintendo Co.’s U.S. subsidiary filed a lawsuit with the U.S. Court of International Trade on Friday, seeking a refund of duties paid under the U.S. government’s reciprocal tariff policy, which was struck down by the
7 Marzo 2026

Akazawa Urges U.S. to Exempt Japan from Blanket Tariff Hike

Washington, March 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa on Friday urged the United States to exempt Japanese firms from a planned increase in tariffs imposed worldwide from 10 pct to 15 pct. In a roughly two-hour meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary
7 Marzo 2026

More Husbands Follow Working Wives Abroad

Tokyo, March 7 (Jiji Press)–With more and more women, including those working as diplomats and trading company employees, taking posts outside their home countries, many of their husbands are opting to move abroad with their spouses. Johanna Lindquist, 49, minister counsellor at
7 Marzo 2026

Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics Kicks Off

Verona, Italy, March 6 (Jiji Press)–The Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympic Games kicked off Friday with an opening ceremony at an amphitheater in Verona, a UNESCO world heritage city in northern Italy. Over 600 athletes from a record 55 countries and regions will vie
6 Marzo 2026

Dollar Briefly Tops 158 Yen in London

London/New York, March 6 (Jiji Press)–The dollar briefly rose above 158 yen in London on Friday, hitting the highest level since Jan. 23. At 12:30 p.m., the U.S. currency stood at 157.92-158.02 yen, up 0.37 yen from 4 p.m. Thursday. The greenback
6 Marzo 2026

Japan’s Motegi Voices Serious Concern over Iran Situation

Tokyo, March 6 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi on Friday informed his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, of Tokyo’s serious concern over the situation in Iran following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on the country. In their phone talks, Motegi also urged Sa’ar to