Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese tourism ministry plans to strengthen financial support for town development efforts by municipalities that utilize historical tourism resources in fiscal 2026, which starts in April. The ministry intends to provide subsidies to a wide range of

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s hand injury would pose no problem in carrying out her official duties, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said Monday. Takaichi injured her hand on the campaign trail for next Sunday’s election for

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average closed lower on Monday after erasing early gains, dragged down by losses in semiconductor-related stocks. The index of 225 selected issues listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange’s Prime section closed down 667.67

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–As a snap election looms, various private-sector groups are stepping up efforts, both online and offline, to push up youth voter turnout. Ahead of Sunday’s election for the House of Representatives, the all-important lower chamber of the Diet,

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japan has successfully retrieved rare earth-rich sediment from the deep seabed, marking a step toward a potential domestic supply of rare earths, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said Monday. In a test project that began on Jan.

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office’s special investigation squad has arrested a former Mita Securities Co. executive and four other individuals on suspicion of insider trading linked to a tender offer. The special squad has not disclosed whether

Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association Feb. 2 Yr/Yr Change Total 138,916 units Up 1.1 pct Passenger Cars 107,791 Down 3.4 Trucks 31,125 Up 20.6 -Brand- Suzuki 44,990 Down 7.5 Daihatsu 43,063 Up 11.1 Mitsubishi 6,037 Up 4.4 Subaru 1,532 Up

Japan Automobile Dealers Association Feb. 2 Yr/Yr Change Total 228,832 units Down 4.2 pct Over-2,000-c.c. Cars 130,318 Down 12.0 Smaller Cars 69,729 Up 1.7 Trucks 28,089 Up 30.4 Buses 696 – Unchanged -Brand- Daihatsu 2,188 Up 0.8 Honda 27,138 Down 4.5 Lexus

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–There was a call for the Bank of Japan to raise interest rates “in a timely and appropriate manner” at its Jan. 22-23 policy-setting meeting, a summary of opinions at the meeting showed Monday. The summary also included

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Global progress in eliminating gender inequality has been “precarious,” while Japan can play a meaningful role in advancing equality, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous has said in a recent written interview with Jiji Press. “We see real

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–The dollar rose above 155 yen in Tokyo trading on Monday, after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi mentioned the benefits of the yen’s current weakness in a campaign speech over the weekend. At noon, the dollar stood at

London, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Japanese outdoor apparel company Goldwin Inc. has opened a directly run flagship store in central London as part of its efforts to expand its operations into high-growth overseas markets. The London outlet, opened Saturday, is the company’s second

Nagoya, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Kazuhiro Haraguchi, co-chief of the recently established Tax Cuts Japan & Patriotic Alliance, has called for the abolition of the consumption tax, arguing that ensuing revenue drops could be covered by issuing government bonds and establishing a sovereign

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–International journalist and media personality Morley Robertson died of esophageal cancer Thursday, his talent agency said Sunday. He was 63. The U.S. native spent part of his childhood in Hiroshima Prefecture, western Japan. After dropping out of the

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–Regional banks in Japan are increasingly pinning their hopes on ship financing, in which funds are provided for building new vessels and purchasing secondhand ships. Japan’s shipbuilding industry, which once played a central role in supporting regional economies

Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Jiji Press)–How to deal with deteriorating Japan-China ties and U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which is increasingly taking a “peace through strength” approach, are major diplomatic issues in Sunday’s general election in Japan. At a time when the international

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese journalist and author Nobuhiko Ochiai, known for “The Truth of the Year 2039” and many other books, died of old age on Sunday. He was 84. A native of Tokyo, Ochiai studied international politics at institutions including

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Voters in Japan on Sunday listened attentively to campaign speeches by candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives general election while expressing hopes for a range of policy measures as the country grapples with many challenges including soaring

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese political party heads and others beefed up their campaign activities Sunday, a week ahead of a closely watched general election for the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament. On the only Sunday during the

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi canceled her appearance in a television debate program Sunday morning as she injured her hand during the campaign trail for the Feb. 8 general election. In the program of Japan Broadcasting Corp., or

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese political party heads and others beefed up their campaign activities Sunday, a week ahead of a closely watched general election for the House of Representatives, the powerful lower chamber of parliament. On the only Sunday during the

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responded Sunday after her remarks the previous day were interpreted as suggesting her tolerance of the yen’s current weakness. In a stump speech on Saturday in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, eastern Japan, for the

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Over-the-counter sales of an emergency contraceptive pill, aimed at preventing unwanted pregnancy, are set to start in Japan on Monday. The pill, Norlevo from Daiichi Sankyo Healthcare Co., has a suggested retail price of 7,480 yen per tablet.

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Centrist Reform Alliance co-head Tetsuo Saito on Sunday pledged the major Japanese opposition party’s participation in a suprapartisan national conference proposed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “We will actively join” the envisioned conference after the upcoming general election,

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Centrist Reform Alliance co-head Tetsuo Saito on Sunday pledged the major Japanese opposition party’s participation in a suprapartisan national conference proposed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. “We will actively join” the envisioned conference after the upcoming general election,

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi canceled her appearance in a television debate program Sunday morning due to a hand injury. In the program of Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK, Takaichi, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, was

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi canceled her appearance in a television debate program Sunday morning as she is receiving treatment for her arm injury. In the program of Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK, Takaichi, who heads the ruling

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Many political parties in Japan are re-evaluating nuclear power generation nearly 15 years after the country’s worst nuclear accident. Still, energy policies are seen as a major issue in the Feb. 8 election for the House of Representatives,

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Both labor and management are hoping to achieve wage hikes exceeding inflation as this year’s “shunto” spring wage talks have fully started in Japan, with large companies, many of which enjoy strong earnings, particularly positive about continuing to