Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–Japan Railways Group companies are set to continue talks on the fate of loss-making local lines with regional communities concerned. While the number of users of those unprofitable local lines is unlikely to recover amid falling populations in

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–A Japanese business leader has called on the government to take measures to support small companies, which face an increasingly tough business environment. In an interview with media organizations including Jiji Press, Ken Kobayashi, head of the Japan

Wajima, Ishikawa Pref., Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–A facility serving as a cafeteria and supermarket is supporting the livelihoods of people affected by a powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan two years ago. Sumika Shibata, 60, one of those

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–Top Japanese business leader Yoshinobu Tsutsui has sounded cautious about the yen’s depreciation against other major currencies while expecting Japan’s economy to follow “a moderate upward trajectory” this year. “Exchange rates reflect the strength of a nation,” Tsutsui,

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–The Japan Innovation Party is bound to face a real test this year as to whether it can produce results as a member of the country’s ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party. The JIP replaced Komeito

Beijing, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–A spokesperson at China’s Ministry of National Defense has issued a statement rebutting concerns shown by Japan, the United States and other countries over Beijing’s recent large-scale military drills conducted around Taiwan. The Chinese military is ready to

Beijing, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to maintain its hard-line stance toward Japan this year, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark over Taiwan last November. Also concerned over Tokyo’s security policy, China will unlikely

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–The main focus of Japanese politics in 2026 will be whether Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will dissolve the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet, for a general election to stabilize her administration. The Liberal

Tokyo, Jan. 3 (Jiji Press)–The major focus in Japan’s diplomacy this year is whether the country can improve its relations with China, which have been strained due to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remark over a possible Taiwan contingency. As part of

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed Friday that their governments will specifically coordinate Takaichi’s visit to the United States this spring. During their phone talks, Takaichi and Trump exchanged their views on the

(Adnkronos) – Russian authorities announced that they have intercepted and shot down seven drones launched by the Ukrainian army towards Moscow in the last few hours. “Emergency teams – said the capital’s mayor Sergei Sobyanin – are working at the impact site

(Adnkronos) – Twenty-seven people were killed in an attack reported by Russian authorities and attributed to Ukrainian forces against a hotel and a venue in the Khorly area, in the Russian-controlled part of Ukraine’s Kherson region. This was announced by the spokeswoman

(Adnkronos) – The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was discharged from the hospital yesterday, after spending several days under observation following three surgical procedures. He has already left the medical center and has been transferred back to the Federal Police headquarters in

(Adnkronos) – More than 40 dead, over 100 injured. It’s a massacre of young people in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, where the New Year’s Eve party turned into a fiery inferno in the devastating fire inside the Le Constellation bar.   While authorities have

(Adnkronos) – Will Smith has been sued by violinist Brian King Joseph, who participated in his ‘Based on a True Story: 2025 Tour’. The musician accuses the actor and rapper of sexual harassment. As reported by ‘Variety’, which examined the document filed

(Adnkronos) – Victoria Jones, daughter of Oscar-winning actor Tommy Lee Jones, was found dead on New Year’s Eve in a luxury hotel in San Francisco, California. She was 34 years old. The Hollywood gossip site Tmz reports this, citing law enforcement sources. 

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–After staying on a moderate recovery path in recent years, the Japanese economy is expected to test its further growth in 2026. The current phase of economic expansion began after the economy bottomed out in May 2020. If

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other Imperial Family members appeared before visitors from the general public for New Year’s greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday. Imperial Family members, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess

Seoul, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–The Unification Church backed 290 lawmakers of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the 2021 House of Representatives election, according to South Korean media reports citing internal documents of the religious group. The figure compares with the LDP’s

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and other Imperial Family members appeared before visitors from the general public for New Year’s greetings at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday. Imperial Family members, including Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–Major department stores in Japan started their New Year sales on Friday, the day after 2026 kicked off, offering varieties of “lucky bag” product packages to stimulate buying interest as much as possible amid inflation. Sogo & Seibu

Tokyo, Jan. 2 (Jiji Press)–In a model project by Japan’s internal affairs ministry, municipalities in the countryside are collaborating with university students from urban areas, in order to leverage young people’s ideas for regional revitalization. The project is aimed at securing human

Wajima, Ishikawa Pref., Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony for the victims of the Jan. 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan was held in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the disaster’s second anniversary on Thursday. The ceremony was

Wajima, Ishikawa Pref., Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony for the victims of the Jan. 1, 2024, Noto Peninsula earthquake in central Japan was held in the city of Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on the disaster’s second anniversary on Thursday. The ceremony was

Tokyo, Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–The New Year’s Greetings ceremony was held at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Thursday, the first day of 2026, with Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako receiving greetings from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and others. In the morning,

Beijing, Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–China appears to be approaching South Korea to form a joint diplomatic front against Japan amid bilateral tensions triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a Taiwan contingency. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor

Tokyo, Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–In her New Year’s message on Thursday, the first day of 2026, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said that she will press ahead with necessary reforms, without fearing change. Noting that the new year marks the 100th anniversary

Kamakura, Kanagawa Pref., Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–Natsuko Nakatani creates “kamishibai” picture shows that bring to life stories drawn from myths and the experiences of people in areas devastated by the major earthquake that struck Japan’s Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day 2024.

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref., Jan. 1 (Jiji Press)–More than 900 applications needed to close family graves have been filed in the Okunoto area of central Japan since it was hit by the January 2024 Noto Peninsula earthquake. The pace of applications is 2.5