Latest News

25 Marzo 2026

Takaichi Asks IEA for Additional Oil Reserve Releases

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday asked the International Energy Agency for additional joint releases of oil reserves amid soaring crude oil prices. Takaichi made the request to IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in their meeting at
25 Marzo 2026

Sumo Wrestler Kirishima Clinches Ozeki Return

Sakai, Osaka Pref., March 25 (Jiji Press)–Sumo wrestler Kirishima will regain his ozeki status, the sport’s second highest rank, after capturing his third championship in the March grand tournament that ended Sunday, the Japan Sumo Association decided on Wednesday. The decision was
25 Marzo 2026

Tokyo Stocks Jump amid Hopes for Iran Ceasefire

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo stocks jumped on Wednesday amid growing expectations for a ceasefire agreement between the U.S.-Israeli side and Iran. The Nikkei 225 stock average surged1,497.34 points, or 2.87 pct, from the previous day to close at 53,749.62. The broader
25 Marzo 2026

Ex-Governor Higashikokubaru May Run in Miyazaki Poll

Miyazaki, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Former Miyazaki Governor Hideo Higashikokubaru plans to run in the gubernatorial election in the southwestern Japan prefecture to be held ahead of the January 2027 expiration of the incumbent’s four-year term, sources familiar with the matter said Wednesday.
25 Marzo 2026

Japan Govt Budget Passage by Fiscal Year-End Unlikely

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–There appears to be only a slim chance that the Japanese government’s fiscal 2026 regular budget will be enacted before fiscal 2025 ends on Tuesday, despite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s strong push to meet the deadline. The draft
25 Marzo 2026

Sogo & Seibu to Close Shibuya Store in Sept.

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Sogo & Seibu Co. will close its Seibu department store in Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward at the end of September, company officials said Wednesday. The closure comes as the company failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension
25 Marzo 2026

Ex-Tokyo Police Officer Guilty over Info Leak to Scout Group

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Wednesday found a former Tokyo police inspector guilty of leaking investigative information to a scouting group believed to have illegally brokered the placements of women to sex parlors and hostess bars. Judge Makoto Terao
25 Marzo 2026

Takaichi Avoids Discussing Possible SDF Hormuz Dispatch

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday avoided discussing the possibility of deploying the Self-Defense Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed because of the war in Iran. “The situation in Iran is changing every
25 Marzo 2026

Japan’s Chain Store Sales in Feb.:

Japan Chain Stores Association March 25 Yr/Yr Change Total 9,661,531 M. Yen Up 1.0 pct Foodstuffs 697,226 Up 0.2 Clothing 36,284 Down 9.3 Sundries 89,235 Up 2.2 Furniture and Interior Goods 45,844 Down 1.3 Home Electric Appliances 2,360 Up 10.7 Note: Year-on-year
25 Marzo 2026

BOJ Member Warned against Missing Rate Hike Chance: Minutes

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–A Bank of Japan policymaker warned against missing an opportunity to raise interest rates at a monetary policy meeting in January, according to the minutes of the meeting released Wednesday. After its decision to raise the policy rate
25 Marzo 2026

Tokyo Police Open Website about “Tokuryu” Criminal Groups

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police have opened a website about “tokuryu” anonymous and transient criminal groups, which are involved in “yami baito” illegal jobs and online and other scams classified as special fraud in Japan. The website, launched Tuesday by the
25 Marzo 2026

Japan Govt Budget Passage by Fiscal Year-End Unlikely

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–There appears to be only a slim chance that the Japanese government’s fiscal 2026 regular budget will be enacted before fiscal 2025 ends on Tuesday, despite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s strong push to do so. The draft budget
25 Marzo 2026

Research Team Confirms Safety of Alzheimer’s Drug Lecanemab

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–More than 90 pct of patients receiving Lecanemab, an Alzheimer’s drug, in hospitals across Japan have been able to continue treatment without strong side effects, a group of researchers in the country said. Lecanemab, developed by Eisai Co.
25 Marzo 2026

FOCUS: Japan’s Work-Style Reform Faces Concerns over Backsliding

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–The administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has started discussing a possible easing of working-hour regulations, raising concerns among labor officials that work-style reforms introduced in recent years could be rolled back, with employees forced to work
25 Marzo 2026

Nikkei Average Jumps over 1,700 Points in Morning

Tokyo, March 25 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s key Nikkei 225 stock average briefly gained over 1,700 points on Wednesday morning, as excessive concerns about the Middle East situation receded. Investor sentiment improved amid growing expectations for a ceasefire agreement between the U.S.-Israel side and
24 Marzo 2026

Japan, SE Asian Leaders Affirm Cooperation over Middle East

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi agreed with leaders of Malaysia and the Philippines on Tuesday to cooperate in easing tensions in the Middle East. Takaichi reached the agreement in separate phone talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
24 Marzo 2026

Iran, 25 days of Internet blackout

(Adnkronos) – It’s still ‘digital darkness’ in Iran. NetBlocks, an internet observatory, reports that “the internet blackout in Iran has entered its 25th day after 576 hours” without connection. On X, NetBlocks denounces how the Iranian public opinion “is isolated” from the
24 Marzo 2026

Japan to Release State Oil Reserves Thurs.

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government said Tuesday that it will start releasing national oil reserves equivalent to 30 days of domestic consumption, or about 8.5 million kiloliters, in stages from Thursday. The government also decided to additionally allocate 800.7 billion
24 Marzo 2026

3 Japan Opposition Parties to Join National Council Wed.

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–The Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, all opposition parties, agreed Tuesday to join on Wednesday a recently launched suprapartisan forum to discuss consumption tax reductions and measures related to social security. The
24 Marzo 2026

Japan Govt Starts Discussions on Punishing Sex Buyers

Tokyo, March 24 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Justice Ministry held the first meeting of its expert panel on prostitution control Tuesday, with participants discussing making it a crime to pay for sex. The panel will talk about the introduction of punishments against those who