Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government’s regulatory reform panel Monday called for easing building standards for data centers amid the rapid development of artificial intelligence. In response, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized that the government will promote reforms of regulations and

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Global vehicle sales by eight major Japanese automakers fell 2.6 pct from a year earlier to 1,966,434 units in May amid fierce competition in China and the conflict in the Middle East, data from the companies showed Monday.

Kyoto, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese prosecutors on Monday sought a life sentence for a gang member over the 2013 murder of the president of “gyoza” dumpling restaurant chain Ohsho Food Service Corp., at the 11th hearing of the trial at Kyoto District

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Chinese coast guard ships have repeatedly entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone south of Yonaguni, the country’s westernmost island in the East China Sea, asserting Beijing’s maritime rights, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday. Such acts are

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s international tourist tax, also known as the departure tax, will be raised to 3,000 yen per person from 1,000 yen, starting on Wednesday. The Japanese government decided to raise the departure tax in light of congestion and

Bangkok, June 29 (Jiji Press)–A Thai criminal court on Monday sentenced a woman to seven and a half years in prison for trafficking her daughter into sexual services at a massage parlor in Tokyo. The mother entered Japan with her then 12-year-old

Kyoto, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese prosecutors on Monday sought a life sentence for a gang member over the 2013 murder of the president of “gyoza” dumpling restaurant chain Ohsho Food Service Corp., at the 11th hearing of the trial at Kyoto District

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government indicated Monday that it will fight a lawsuit claiming that rulings by 37 judges to deny bail for a former adviser to machinery maker Ohkawara Kakohki Co., who died of cancer while facing wrongful charges,

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government will revise its Arctic policy in fiscal 2027, which starts next April, amid the growing importance of the region, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated on Monday. “The significance (of the Arctic) is increasing in light

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Chinese coast guard ships have repeatedly entered Japan’s exclusive economic zone south of Yonaguni, the country’s westernmost island in the East China Sea, asserting Beijing’s maritime rights, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday. Such acts are

New Delhi, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan and India share key principles and goals in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, Ashok Kumar Chawla, a former adviser on Japan at India’s External Affairs Ministry, said in an interview. India has rolled out a

Beijing, June 29 (Jiji Press)–China’s Commerce Ministry said Monday that it has added 20 more Japanese companies and organizations to its list barring exports of dual-use products including rare earths. Amid political tensions between Tokyo and Beijing, China has further increased pressure

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese regional banks have begun offering loans secured by companies’ growth potential and other intangible assets, rather than relying on real estate or personal guarantees from management, as part of efforts to revitalize regional economies. The loan system,

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese biotechnology startup PorMedTec Co. said Monday that it will conduct Japan’s first clinical trials of pig-to-human kidney transplantation at two hospitals in the country as early as 2028. The two hospitals are Hokkaido University Hospital in the

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government plans to stop putting too much focus on cost effectiveness when assessing the feasibility of public works projects, Jiji Press learned Monday. The government will shift its focus to an overall assessment that places an

Kyoto, June 29 (Jiji Press)–A train derailed at Kintetsu Railway Co.’s Kyoto Station, western Japan, around 5:15 a.m. on Monday, but none of the 30 passengers were injured. The second and third cars of the four-car train appear to have derailed at

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government has drawn up draft guidelines for municipalities to enhance preparedness for large-scale earthquakes in a bid to improve the effectiveness of local disaster countermeasures, informed sources said Monday. The draft guidelines specify methods for estimating

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–A majority of respondents to an annual Jiji Press public opinion survey on Japan’s Constitution said they support amending the supreme law, with 53.2 pct in favor of revision. Support was strongest among people in their 40s to

Natori, Miyagi Pref., June 29 (Jiji Press)–The chief of the operator of Sendai International Airport in Miyagi Prefecture, which was privatized a decade ago, has expressed confidence in making economic contributions to the Tohoku northeastern Japan region, including Miyagi. “I think we

Seoul, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, affirmed Sunday that they will work to strengthen communication and efforts for the development of stable and future-oriented defense cooperation and exchanges between their countries. At

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Chinese and Russian bombers jointly flew around Japan twice Saturday, Japan’s Defense Ministry has said. It was the first time since last December that bombers from China and Russia were confirmed to have conducted joint flights around Japan.

Seoul, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, affirmed Sunday that they will work to strengthen communication and efforts for the development of stable and future-oriented defense cooperation and exchanges between their countries. At

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and Indian governments are considering a plan to establish a joint task force for cooperation in stockpiling liquefied natural gas in light of lingering tensions in the Middle East, it was learned Sunday. The two sides

Seoul, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his South Korean counterpart, Ahn Gyu-back, affirmed Sunday that they will work to strengthen communication and efforts for stable and future-oriented defense cooperation and exchanges between their countries. At their meeting in

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese singer Akihiro Miwa, known for “Yoitomake no Uta” and other songs, died of old age on June 20, his talent agency said on its website Sunday. He was 91. Miwa, whose real name was Akihiro Maruyama, also

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese singer Akihiro Miwa, known for “Yoitomake no Uta” and other songs, died of old age on June 20, his talent agency said on its website Sunday. He was 91. Miwa, whose real name was Akihiro Maruyama, also

Washington, June 27 (Jiji Press)–Japan, the United States and South Korea held a two-day diplomatic working group meeting in Washington through Friday to “coordinate responses” to cryptocurrency theft, laundering and other cyber activities by North Korea, the U.S. Department of State said

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese singer Akihiro Miwa, known for “Yoitomake no Uta” and other songs, died of old age on June 20, his talent agency said Sunday. He was 91. Miwa, whose real name was Akihiro Maruyama, also worked as an

Tokyo, June 28 (Jiji Press)–A strong earthquake hit northeastern Japan on Sunday morning, measuring up to lower 5, the fifth-highest level on the country’s seismic intensity scale. Lower 5 was recorded in the city of Hachinohe in Aomori Prefecture and the village

Paris, June 27 (Jiji Press)–“A New Dawn,” directed by Japan’s Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, won the jury award in the Contrechamp division at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France on Saturday. The Contrechamp division targets works featuring new expressions. A New Dawn,