Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan will invite young and mid-level defense officials from Pacific island countries starting in fiscal 2026, Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Monday. Koizumi unveiled the initiative in a lecture he delivered at a meeting with defense ministers

(Adnkronos) – 24 hours before its start, Sanremo 2026 is preparing for an edition that has the flavor of a review and a celebration. Carlo Conti “high-fives”: his fifth Festival, announced as his last, presents itself with a cast and a production

Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Members of the general public visited the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo on Monday for an event to celebrate Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s 66th birthday on the day. “I am truly grateful for your kind congratulations,” the Emperor told

Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police on Monday arrested the producer of the seven-member vocal group XG and three other men on suspicion of possessing cocaine at a hotel in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, according to investigative sources. Those arrested alongside the

Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Members of the general public visited the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo on Monday for an event to celebrate Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s 66th birthday on the day. “I am truly grateful for your kind congratulations,” the Emperor told

Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Twenty people were rescued in the early hours of Monday after being trapped in an elevator of the Tokyo Skytree tower in the Japanese capital’s Sumida Ward for about six hours, with no reported injuries or health issues.

Verona, Italy, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japan earned a record number of Winter Olympics medals, at 24, at the 17-day Milan-Cortina Games that came to an end Sunday. The Asian country clinched five golds, seven silvers and 12 bronzes, with the overall total

Tokyo, Feb. 23 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s Emperor Naruhito turned 66 on Monday, ahead of the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March and the 10th anniversary of the Kumamoto earthquakes in April. “Even now, remembering the disasters pains my heart,”

Kamoenai, Hokkaido, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–The incumbent mayor of Kamoenai, Hokkaido, who is positive about a survey for selecting a nuclear waste disposal site, secured re-election in Sunday’s mayoral poll in the northern Japan village. Masayuki Takahashi, 75, fended off two challengers

Matsue, Shimane Pref., Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–The prefectural government of Shimane, western Japan, and others held an annual ceremony Sunday to mark Takeshima Day, stipulated by a prefectural ordinance to assert Japan’s sovereignty over the Sea of Japan islets called Takeshima in

Tokyo, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–The recovery of domestic tourism among Japanese people is stalling as consumers are becoming more thrifty amid rising prices. In 2025, the number of Japanese tourists at home increased 2.5 pct from the previous year to 553.66 million,

Toyama, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–A memorial ceremony was held at Toyama College of Foreign Languages in the central Japan city of Toyama on Sunday to mark 15 years since the February 2011 earthquake in New Zealand, which killed 12 students from the

Berlin, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese director Yusuke Iwasaki’s “AnyMart” won the FIPRESCI Jury Prize in the Forum section at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday. The Japanese animated film “A New Dawn” by Yoshitoshi Shinomiya missed a prize in the

Washington, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and U.S. governments held working-level talks this week on China’s alleged secret nuclear test and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, it was learned Saturday. The meeting, which has been regularly held since 2010 to discuss

Tokyo, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–Despite the U.S. Supreme Court finding President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs unconstitutional, Japan is expected to maintain its 550-billion-dollar investment and loan pledge to the United States under their bilateral tariff agreement. The Japanese government is closely monitoring

Tokyo, Feb. 22 (Jiji Press)–Despite the U.S. Supreme Court finding President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs unconstitutional, Japan is expected to maintain its 550-billion-dollar investment and loan pledge to the United States under their bilateral tariff agreement. The Japanese government is closely monitoring

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Ukraine may expect the administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to play a role in peace negotiations over Russia’s invasion of the country, former Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda has suggested. Matsuda, 66, served as ambassador

Suita, Osaka Pref., Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–A ceremony was held on Saturday to mark the relocation of two statues of Myaku-Myaku, the official mascot of the 2025 World Exposition, near the Tower of the Sun monument, the symbol of the 1970 Expo.

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese national security adviser Keiichi Ichikawa and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, have met in Washington, as part of preparations for a bilateral summit scheduled for March 19. At their

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party will propose considering a system similar to the foreign agent registration systems of other countries including the United States and Britain, which oblige foreign agents to report their activities, Jiji Press learned Saturday.

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japanese opposition parties are becoming increasingly cautious about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plan to set up a “national council” to discuss a proposed consumption tax cut and a refundable tax credit system. Some in the opposition suspect that

Morioka, Iwate Pref., Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–The prefectural government of Iwate, northeastern Japan, said Saturday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the town of Kanegasaki. This is the 20th outbreak of avian

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Nippon Steel Corp. now expects United States Steel Corp. to begin contributing to its profits in the first half of fiscal 2026, Nippon Steel Chief Financial Officer Takahiko Iwai has suggested. “In the next fiscal year, we’ll be

New York, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–The United Nations’ current serious financial difficulties, caused in part by the United States’ failure to make some contribution payments, also present a good opportunity for U.N. reform, Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Japan’s ambassador to the world body, has

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s transport ministry plans to cover half of the cost for domestic airlines and local governments managing airports to purchase snowplows and other snow removal equipment. The move is part of the ministry’s efforts to ensure stable flight

Tokyo, Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police on Friday arrested three individuals, including a company executive who ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic Party for the People candidate in the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, for allegedly violating the public offices election law,

Tsu, Mie Pref., Feb. 21 (Jiji Press)–A cargo ship collided with a leisure fishing boat off Toba, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on Friday, leaving two men aboard the fishing boat dead. Among those aboard the 16-ton fishing boat, Kokichi Taniguchi, 84, and

(The second paragraph should have read, “…Matsusaka…,” and the final paragraph should have read, “…Japan Transport Safety Board…,” instead of as sent. A substitute story follows.) 2 Dead in Ship Collision off Mie Pref. Tsu, Mie Pref., Feb. 20 (Jiji Press)–A cargo

Tokyo, Feb. 20 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo police on Friday arrested three individuals, including a company executive who ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic Party for the People candidate in the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election, for allegedly paying campaign workers, investigative sources told

(Adnkronos) – Italy and Germany are committed to reconstruction and humanitarian aid in Gaza, stabilising the Middle East and bolstering the European Union’s competitiveness, foreign minister Antonio Tajani wrote Friday on X after talks in Stuttgart with German counterpart Johann Wadephul.  “At