Tokyo, June 30 (Jiji Press)–The dollar surged above 162 yen in Tokyo trading on Tuesday, hitting the highest level since December 1986. At 10:00 a.m., the dollar stood at 162.13-14 yen, up from 161.81-82 yen at 5 p.m. Monday. The dollar carried

Houston, Texas, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japan was eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after losing to Brazil 2-1 in Houston, Texas, on Monday. The Japanese men’s national soccer team, nicknamed Samurai Blue, fell short in its fifth attempt to secure its

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese and Indian governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperating in the domestic development of artificial intelligence, Jiji Press learned Monday. The memorandum was signed by the Japanese industry ministry and the Indian Ministry of

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The administration of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering extending the current Diet session by 60 days to enact key bills, it was learned Monday. The move comes as it is uncertain whether bills to establish a

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Japanese government on Monday held the first meeting of the Japan Foreign Investment Committee, or JFIC, which will conduct cross-ministerial reviews of foreign investments in Japanese companies, with the aim of preventing leaks of technology and information

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese ruling party lawmaker Hirofumi Nakasone on Monday expressed regret over his controversial remark that it is impossible for Princess Aiko, the daughter of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, to ascend to the Imperial throne. Speaking to reporters,

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Kazuya Kamenashi, a former member of the Japanese boy band KAT-TUN, and Minami Tanaka, a Japanese freelance announcer and actor, announced Monday that they are going to get married. According to the announcement published on their respective official

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–The Yodobashi-Ikebukuro commercial complex at the east exit of Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo was unveiled to the press on Monday, ahead of its opening on Tuesday. The building, which previously housed Sogo & Seibu Co.’s flagship Seibu Ikebukuro

Tokyo, June 29 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Monday that Tokyo has conveyed serious concerns to China and Russia via diplomatic channels over recent joint flights by Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan. The flights were “clearly intended as

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)–The Japanese government lodged a protest with China on Monday after Beijing announced an expanded export ban on dual-use items, including rare earths, targeting Japan. The export ban on goods that can be used both for civilian purposes

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