Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering adopting a proposal to reduce the consumption tax rate on food to 1 pct for two years from April next year as a provisional measure, informed sources said Tuesday. The tax

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–A panel of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday compiled a report proposing a system that would allow administrative agencies to intercept private communications without a court warrant for security purposes. The report also called for establishing

(Adnkronos) – The photographic exhibition “Embracing the Infinite. The Eternal Quest of Giuseppe Tucci”, dedicated to the figure of the great orientalist, explorer, and Tibetologist, was inaugurated on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the prestigious Chinggis Khaan National Museum, in the presence

Kumamoto, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Tuesday’s massive earthquake that recorded a seismic intensity of up to 7 in Kumamoto Prefecture frightened local residents, many of whom recalled the 2016 quake disaster that hit the southwestern Japan prefecture. The day’s temblor, which happened around

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Eiji Bando, a former pitcher for the Chunichi Dragons of Japan’s Central League who also went on to build a successful career in television, died Wednesday of chronic heart failure. He was 86. He was born in Japanese-controlled

(Adnkronos) – As of July 1st, 410 people in Germany were classified by the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bka) as potential Islamist threats. This was reported today by the Rnd media group, cited by Dpa.   These are individuals linked to

(Adnkronos) – Haiti’s electoral authorities announced on Monday that presidential and legislative elections will be held at the end of the year, provided that “an acceptable security climate is established”: a daunting task for the Caribbean nation, devastated by gang violence. The

Ishikari, Hokkaido, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Eleven Japanese companies, including telecommunications giant NTT East Inc., said Tuesday that they have established a data center consortium in the city of Ishikari, Hokkaido, together with the city government. The consortium aims to revitalize the local

Kumamoto, July 28 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, measuring up to 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, in the city of Uki and the town of Hikawa.

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, measuring up to 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale, in the city of Uki and the town of Hikawa.

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will hire 226 more employees to bolster its operations amid an increase in foreign residents in the country, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said Tuesday. Through the addition of 176 immigration inspectors and 50 immigration

New York, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Bank of Japan needs to raise its policy interest rate from the current 1.0 pct to 1.5 pct to fight inflation reflecting higher import prices amid the yen’s weakness, economist Paul Sheard has said. The BOJ

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius in the Shikoku region of western Japan on Tuesday, marking the first “kokushobi,” or cruelly hot day, there this year. The town of Kuroshio, Kochi Prefecture, observed 40.7 degrees shortly past 2:30 p.m.,

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday conducted an on-site inspection of over 20 firms on suspicion of rigging bids for condominium repair projects in Aichi, Gifu and Mie prefectures in central Japan, people familiar with the matter

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–A powerful earthquake hit Kumamoto Prefecture in southwestern Japan at around 4:27 p.m. on Tuesday, measuring up to 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale. The quake struck at a depth of about 10 kilometers

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s key Nikkei 225 stock average slumped again on Tuesday as heavy selling hit artificial intelligence- and semiconductor-related stocks. The index of 225 major issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section closed at 62,364.92, down 2,566.27

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The amount of domestic rice consumed as a staple food in Japan in the year from July 2025 hit a record low of 6.83 million tons on a preliminary basis in terms of brown rice, it was learned

Sapporo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Public prosecutors have sought a 30-year prison sentence for a teenager in a high-profile group assault case in which a 20-year-old university student died in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, in 2024. During Monday’s hearing at Sapporo District Court in the

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Immigration Services Agency will hire 226 more employees to bolster its operations amid an increase in foreign residents in the country, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said Tuesday. Through the addition of 176 immigration inspectors and 50 immigration

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government released human resources reform plans Tuesday, including expansion of the reduced working hours program for national public servants. Specifically, the government will consider allowing its regular employees to cut working hours for health reasons and

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Chinese automaker BYD Co. on Tuesday released its first electric minivehicle designed exclusively for the Japanese market. The new model, named Racco, starts at 2,145,000 yen. This means that the vehicle is available at as low as 1,995,000

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has decided to present the People’s Honor Award to retired speedskating star Miho Takagi at the prime minister’s office on Aug. 4, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Tuesday. During a press conference, Kihara emphasized

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency said Tuesday that it has certified four food banks, which collect surplus food from companies and others for free supply to organizations working to support people in need. It is the first time that

Naha, Okinawa Pref., July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Coast Guard searched Doshisha International Senior High School on Saturday following the fatal capsizing of two small boats used in a school study trip in Okinawa Prefecture, the school operator said Tuesday. The JCG’s

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government Tuesday drew up a package of emergency measures for crime prevention, including a proposal to consider attaching GPS equipment to stalkers to prevent them from approaching victims. Authorities such as the National Police Agency aim

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday emphasized her readiness to decide on the proposed two-year consumption tax cut for food items. “I will make a decision when I have to,” Takaichi, also president of the ruling Liberal

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Consultations by victims of sextortion are rising in Japan. A portmanteau of “sex” and “extortion,” sextortion describes a situation in which individuals experience physical and emotional control or face financial demands by perpetrators weaponizing sexual images taken without

Osaka, July 28 (Jiji Press)–International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane has asked Japan for cooperation to counter the pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration for ICC member countries to withdraw from the court based in The Hague, the Netherlands. “Japan is

Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese stocks came under heavy selling pressure on Tuesday morning, with the benchmark Nikkei average briefly losing more than 3,000 points. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section finished the morning

Fukushima, July 28 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.’s new chairman, Keisuke Yokoo, has emphasized the firm’s determination to continue supporting Fukushima Prefecture more than 15 years after an unprecedented triple meltdown at its tsunami-stricken nuclear plant in the northeastern Japan