Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–A nationwide survey by the health ministry showed Wednesday that about 23 pct of some 13,000 sauna facilities across Japan do not have emergency buttons. In a notice dated Tuesday, the ministry asked local governments to strengthen their

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese economic growth strategy minister Minoru Kiuchi visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Wednesday, during the Shinto shrine’s three-day spring festival that started the previous day. It is the first time that a member of Prime Minister Sanae

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan logged a trade surplus of 667 billion yen in March, up a sharp 25.9 pct from a year earlier, the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report Wednesday. The country saw a positive goods trade balance for

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Ministry of Finance kept its economic assessments unchanged for all of the country’s 11 regions in a quarterly report released Wednesday amid brisk private consumption and production activity. The ministry kept its overall assessment of the Japanese

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–The average budget for this year’s Golden Week holiday period in Japan stands at 27,660 yen, down 5.4 pct from a year earlier, according to a survey by research company Intage Inc. The fall in the budget for

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–All Nippon Airways is considering introducing fuel surcharges for domestic flights in fiscal 2027, it was learned Wednesday. Aviation fuel prices are surging amid escalating turmoil in the Middle East, making it increasingly difficult for the airline to

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese opposition Democratic Party for the People has decided to vote for a bill to establish a national intelligence council, making it likely to clear parliament during the current session ending in July. The DPFP decision on

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average notched a record intraday high on Wednesday morning thanks to rising technology issues. The index of 225 issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime top-tier section finished the morning at 59,653.56,

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–The number of measles cases in Japan since January has reached 299, according to a recent preliminary report by the Japan Institute for Health Security. The total as of early April already surpassed the 265 cases recorded for

Tokyo, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Prudential Life Insurance Co. said Wednesday that it will extend its voluntary suspension of sales activities for new contracts by 180 days, following a fraud scandal involving its employees. The suspension was originally scheduled for 90 days

Osaka, April 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese-made skis dominated the freestyle skiing moguls events at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in February. All 12 medalists in the men’s and women’s moguls and dual moguls competitions used “ID one” skis, produced by Material Sports Inc., a

(Adnkronos) – The two American embassy officials in Mexico City who died in a car accident in the state of Chihuahua on Sunday were actually two CIA agents who were returning, along with two Mexican officials, also killed in the crash, from

(Adnkronos) – China has vowed to resist what it called Japan’s “reckless militarization” after Tokyo eased decades-old arms export rules in an attempt to enter the international arms market.  “The international community, including China, will remain extremely vigilant on this issue and

(Adnkronos) – A 17-year-old boy has been indicted for an arson attack on Saturday at the Kenton United synagogue in Harrow, northwest London. This was announced by the Metropolitan Police following an investigation conducted by the counter-terrorism unit. The boy, a British

(Adnkronos) – Only 12 ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours. Marine Traffic states this, emphasizing how limited transit through the strait still is. Four of the 12 vessels were flying the Iranian flag, and most of

(Adnkronos) – The 2021 Hungarian law prohibiting the dissemination of Lgbt+ content violates EU law on multiple levels. This is the verdict of the European Court of Justice, which found the first violation of Article 2 of the Treaty on the EU,

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Six months after taking office last October, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tuesday that she is feeling difficulty with diplomacy. “The situation in the Middle East changes day by day,” Takaichi told reporters. “We are working hard

(Adnkronos) – Futuristic skyscrapers, popular bubble tea shops, and vibrant night markets.   But that’s not all: the southern city of Chiayi, Taiwan – Jiji Press reports – which hosted the Lantern Festival this year, boasts many fascinating but relatively unknown historical

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Prudential Life Insurance Co. is considering extending its self-imposed suspension of sales of new insurance policies beyond the currently planned end on May 9, it was learned on Tuesday. The company believes that it needs more time to

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, in telephone talks on Tuesday, agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation over energy and other fields. Of all liquefied natural gas imported to Japan, 5.3

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–A 24-year-old worker died on Tuesday after being caught in an amusement park attraction in Tokyo during inspection, according to the Metropolitan Police Department and other sources. An emergency call was made at around 11:55 a.m. that a

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese home appliance retailer Nojima Corp. said Tuesday that it will acquire Hitachi Ltd.’s household appliance business for about 110.1 billion yen. Nojima plans to complete the deal, the largest acquisition for the company, in fiscal 2026, which

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government is set to conduct a literature survey on the feasibility of constructing a final disposal facility for highly radioactive waste on Minamitorishima, one of Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said Tuesday. Akazawa told

Silicon Valley, April 20 (Jiji Press)–A consortium of 12 Japanese and U.S. semiconductor-related companies held an opening ceremony for its development base in Silicon Valley on Monday. The consortium’s Japanese members include Resonac Corp., a subsidiary of Resonac Holdings Corp., formerly Showa

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–As Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked six months in office on Tuesday, opposition parties criticized her handling of Diet affairs as heavy-handed. Takeshi Shina, secretary-general of the Centrist Reform Alliance, told reporters that Takaichi’s push to shorten

New Delhi, April 21 (Jiji Press)–The government-backed Japan International Cooperation Agency is working on introducing the country’s maternal and child health handbooks in Nepal. By utilizing such handbooks, which keep track of health checkup results of mothers during their pre- and post-partum

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Three Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force members died in an accident Tuesday during a live-fire drill at the Hijudai training area in the southwestern prefecture of Oita. At around 8:40 a.m., a shell exploded inside a state-of-the-art Type 10

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Sony Honda Mobility Inc. said Tuesday that it will scale down operations, following its decision to cancel its plans to develop and sell electric vehicles. The joint venture between Sony Group Corp. and Honda Motor Co. will

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese home appliance retailer Nojima Corp. said Tuesday that it will acquire Hitachi Ltd.’s household appliance business for about 110.1 billion yen. Nojima plans to complete the deal, the largest acquisition for the company, in fiscal 2026, which

Tokyo, April 21 (Jiji Press)–Major Japanese meat packer NH Foods Ltd. plans to launch more bacon substitutes to address a shortage of pork belly, a raw material for bacon, triggered by a ban on imports of Spanish pork caused by an African