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

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–The Liberal Democratic Party is expected to face an uphill battle in the No. 2 constituency in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the upcoming general election as the governing party can no longer count on votes from supporters

Tokyo, Feb. 1 (Jiji Press)–Victims of an attempted robbery case that happened at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Friday had about 95 million yen in foreign currency stolen in a different incident in the past, investigative sources told Jiji Press on Sunday. Last

Fort Lee, New Jersey, Jan. 30 (Jiji Press)–An event was held in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on Friday to honor Fred Korematsu, a Japanese-American civil rights activist, who fought against forced detention in the United States during World War II. At a

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her visiting British counterpart, Keir Starmer, agreed Saturday to strategically promote their countries’ cooperation in the field of cyberdefense. They also confirmed that Japan and Britain will hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting

Hong Kong, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–Police in Hong Kong on Saturday arrested six people, including three Japanese, for their alleged roles in a case in which a Japanese man in his 50s was robbed of more than 50 million yen in cash

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her visiting British counterpart, Keir Starmer, agreed Saturday to strategically promote their countries’ cooperation in the field of cyberdefense. They also confirmed that Japan and Britain will hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–Leaders of both Japan’s ruling and opposition parties called for voters’ support Saturday, the first weekend since the official campaign period for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election kicked off Tuesday. In the city of Numazu, Shizuoka

Tokyo, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–A team of four people who attempted cash robbery at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport early Friday is believed to have used fake license plates for its vehicle, Jiji Press learned Saturday. Around 12:10 a.m. Friday, the four individuals in

New Delhi, Jan. 31 (Jiji Press)–The Afghan Embassy in Japan is set to halt all operations, including consular services, on Sunday. The Afghan embassy, located in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, has been operated by officials appointed by the country’s democratic government, which collapsed