Maebashi, Gunma Pref., Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Mayor Akira Ogawa of the city of Maebashi, the capital of Gunma Prefecture in eastern Japan, plans to step down following a scandal involving her “love hotel” visits with a married male city employee, it was

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–A second person has died in Monday’s hit-and-run incident involving a stolen car in Tokyo’s Adachi Ward, it was learned Tuesday. According to the Japanese capital’s Metropolitan Police Department, Gladys Grace Rotaquio Testado, a 28-year-old company worker of

Tokyo/Beijing, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government indicated Tuesday that it will not change its conventional position regarding a so-called existential crisis situation under Japan’s national security legislation, following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remark on a possible contingency around Taiwan. The

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit southwestern Japan on Tuesday, measuring up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the country’s 10-point seismic intensity scale, in Kumamoto Prefecture. The temblor with an estimated magnitude of 5.8 occurred at a depth

Nara, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Tetsuya Yamagami, on trial for the 2022 murder of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said in court Tuesday that he felt despair and a sense of crisis over Abe’s video message in 2021 to a group affiliated

(Adnkronos) – In Australia, the far-right senator Pauline Hanson, who entered the chamber yesterday wearing a burqa, has been sanctioned. Seven days of suspension, local media report, for the leader of the One Nation party, who is not Muslim and advocates for

(Adnkronos) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today appealed to the Nigerian authorities, urging them “to take all necessary legal measures” to end mass kidnappings in the country. “We urge the Nigerian authorities at all levels to take all

(Adnkronos) – The Moldovan government reported that six drones entered its airspace today during Russian attacks against Ukraine. The first drone to violate Moldova’s airspace was detected near Vulcanesti, close to the borders with Ukraine and Romania, as explained by Chisinau authorities.

(Adnkronos) – Saudi Arabia “is a key partner for Italy in the Gulf” and the two countries are working together to boost regional security and economic growth, the foreign ministry wrote Tuesday on X.  “Together, Rome and Riyadh are working to promote

Sapporo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki will announce his intention at a prefectural assembly meeting on Friday to accept the restart of the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear plant in the northern Japan prefecture, it

Seoul, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok is hoping to visit Japan in January or February next year, South Korean government officials said Tuesday. Kim conveyed his wish to visit Japan in a meeting in Seoul on Monday with

(Adnkronos) – Italy and Saudi Arabia are working for peace, stability, trade and economic development in the Middle East through their “comprehensive, long-lasting and forward-looking” strategic partnership, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday.  “Our strategic partnership is comprehensive, long-lasting and forward-looking,”

Los Angeles, Nov. 24 (Jiji Press)–Shohei Ohtani announced Monday that he will participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic as a member of Japan’s national team, nicknamed Samurai Japan. The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar wrote on Instagram in Japanese that he

(Adnkronos) – Iran has publicly hanged a man after finding him guilty of raping two women in the northern province of Semnan. Tehran’s judiciary stated that the execution took place in the city of Bastam after the Supreme Court upheld the sentence.

(Adnkronos) – At least nine children and one woman were killed in a raid conducted by Pakistani armed forces against the home of a local resident in Afghanistan’s Khost province. This was stated by the spokesman for the Afghan Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid,

(Adnkronos) – The Prime Minister of Taiwan, Cho Jung-tai, has stated that for the 23 million citizens of his country, a “return” to China is not an option. His statements follow those of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who told US President Donald

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit southwestern Japan on Tuesday, measuring up to upper 5, the fourth-highest level on the country’s 10-point seismic intensity scale, in Kumamoto Prefecture. The temblor with an estimated magnitude of 5.7 struck around 6:01 p.m.,

Hiroshima, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Hiroshima High Court ruled on Tuesday that the July election for Japan’s House of Councillors was held in a state of unconstitutionality, the last in a series of judgments in 16 lawsuits filed by two groups of lawyers

Washington, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi does not need to “back off” despite heightened tensions between Japan and China following her recent remarks about a potential contingency over Taiwan. In a recent interview with Jiji Press, Kenneth Weinstein, Japan

(Adnkronos) – Grand finale, last night, in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana, for ‘Silk Way Star’, the first major Asian vocal competition. The singing competition, which could be called the Asian Eurovision, was won by Mongolian singer Michelle Joseph, as reported by

Fukui, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Tatsuji Sugimoto, governor of the central Japan prefecture of Fukui, said Tuesday that he will step down following sexual harassment allegations against him. A Fukui government employee informed the prefectural government that the person had received inappropriate messages

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–“Kokuho” has become Japan’s highest-grossing live-action film, earning box office revenue of 17,377.39 million yen by Monday, according to Toho Co. Directed by Lee Sang-il, the film adaptation of Shuichi Yoshida’s same-name novel has broken the record set

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese court on Monday ordered publisher Kodansha Ltd. and the chief editor of its weekly magazine Friday to pay 2.2 million yen in damages to a comedian over defamatory reporting. The comedian, Sense Watanabe, had sued Kodansha

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese government survey showed Tuesday that 3.0 pct of people who bought new condominiums in Tokyo between January and June this year were overseas residents. The survey, conducted by the land ministry, also found that 8.5 pct

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Tuesday rejected China’s claim over Tokyo’s plan to deploy missile troops on Yonaguni Island in the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa. Troops to be deployed on the island will be “tasked with air

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Tuesday said that it has set up a new office to review tax breaks and subsidies for businesses to reduce wasteful spending, a Japanese version of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency, led by

New York, Nov. 24 (Jiji Press)–Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations, on Monday sent U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a letter rebutting China’s claim over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency. China’s assertions shown in

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–U.S.-originated Black Friday sales campaigns are heating up in Japan, with retailers offering discounts ahead of the main event on Friday. Supermarkets and other retailers are waging the campaigns in hopes of attracting consumers, who have turned thrifty

Tokyo, Nov. 25 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held telephone talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, with topics including relations between the United States and China. Trump explained recent developments in his country’s relations with China, such as his

Japan Department Stores Association Nov. 25 Yr/Yr Change Total 466,875 M. Yen Up 4.3 pct Clothing 133,738 Up 3.0 Personal Articles 79,787 Up 2.3 Sundry Goods 104,028 Up 10.6 Household Goods 14,641 Up 2.2 Foodstuffs 107,982 Up 2.1 Note: Year-on-year changes are