Japan

Japan has five women in new govt line-up but still misses G7 average

By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a fresh cabinet line-up on Wednesday that features five women, but falls short of female representation…

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UK, Japanese, Italian partners agree next steps for fighter jet

Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy's Leonardo have agreed the next steps to deliver the concept phase of a next-generation combat aircraft, BAE Systems said on Tuesday.…

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Japan may seek to dissolve Moonies church in wake of Shinzo Abe killing

Japan’s government may ask courts to order the dissolution of the Unification church following the assassination in July last year of the former prime minister Shinzo Abe, according to multiple…

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Whew! Japan had hottest summer on record

TOKYO, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Japan recorded its highest average temperature this summer in 125 years, the nation's weather agency said on Friday. Based on measurements at 15 locations around…

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Japan says seawater radioactivity below limits near Fukushima

TOKYO, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Tests of seawater near Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant have not detected any radioactivity, the environment ministry said on Sunday, days after authorities began discharging…

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China condemns release of Fukushima water into the Pacific Ocean

China again voiced strong opposition and condemned Japan's decision to start releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean, the Chinese foreign ministry said on…

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Japan to release Fukushima treated radioactive water into ocean

Japan said on Tuesday it will start releasing more than 1 million metric tonnes of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24, putting into motion a…

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Biden hopes to tighten S. Korean, Japanese bond at Camp David

When Yoon Suk Yeol this week commemorated his country's 1945 independence from Japan, the South Korean president didn't dwell on the brutal 35-year occupation his people endured under their neighbour.…

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Typhoon Khanun lashes southern Japan, South Korea; another storm looms

TOKYO/SEOUL, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Flights were cancelled and trains halted on Wednesday as heavy rain from Typhoon Khanun pounded southern regions of Japan and South Korea, just as another storm approached…

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Hiroshima marks a-bomb anniversary, calls nuclear deterrence “folly”

By Kiyoshi Takenaka TOKYO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Japan on Sunday marked the 78th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing on Hiroshima, where its mayor urged the abolition of nuclear…

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Typhoon Khanun kills one man, knocks out power to one-third of Japan’s Okinawa homes

By Kantaro Komiya TOKYO, Aug 2 (Reuters) - High winds hit power lines in Japan's popular tourist destination Okinawa, knocking out electricity to more than 200,000 households on Wednesday morning,…

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Japan’s population falls while foreign residents rise to record

By Satoshi Sugiyama TOKYO, (Reuters) - The number of Japanese people has decreased at the fastest pace ever while the number of foreign residents has risen to a record of…

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Japan needs computing power surge to stay in AI race

By Tim Kelly and Sam Nussey TOKYO, July 19 (Reuters) - Japan needs to rapidly expand computing power as it vies to become a global leader in artificial intelligence, said…

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Japan says Russian warships spotted near Taiwan, Okinawa islands

TOKYO, July 1 (Reuters) - Japan's defence ministry said late on Friday it had spotted two Russian Navy ships in the waters near Taiwan and Japan's Okinawa islands in the…

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Japan would welcome EU lifting restrictions on food

TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) - Japan would welcome the European Union's lifting of restrictions on food imports imposed after a 2011 nuclear accident triggered by a major earthquake and tsunami,…

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Photo Story: Japan reports first fatal case of Oz virus in human

An undated handout photo made available by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) shows an electron micrograph of the Oz virus (issued 23 June 2023). Japan’s Ministry of Health,…

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Japan protests Chinese navy ship entering Japanese waters

TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japan has conveyed "strong concern" and lodged a protest against China after the Chinese Navy entered Japan's waters near Yakushima Island on Thursday, Chief Cabinet…

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Japan’s growing military strength not a threat – minister

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - Japan will not use its growing military strength to threaten other countries, its defence minister said on Saturday, while affirming its aim to prioritise diplomatic…

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UPDATED: Japan puts missile defences on alert as North Korea warns of satellite launch

By Hyunsu Yim and Nobuhiro Kubo TOKYO/SEOUL, May 29 (Reuters) - Japan put its ballistic missile defences on alert on Monday, vowing to shoot down any projectile that threatened its…

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UPDATED: Earthquake jolts eastern Japan, no tsunami warning

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - A strong earthquake shook eastern Japan on Friday evening, but there was no tsunami warning, according to public broadcaster NHK. The temblor struck at 1003…

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Four dead, suspect arrested in rare shooting in Japan

TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - Japanese authorities said on Friday they arrested a 31-year-old man in a rural area for suspected murder after four people were killed in a rare…

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China says NATO’s plan for Japan office not welcomed in Asia-Pacific

BEIJING, May 24 (Reuters) - The Asia-Pacific region does not welcome NATO's plan to open a liaison office in Japan, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press…

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UN chief says it’s time to reform Security Council, Bretton Woods

By Sakura Murakami HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with…

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Photo Story: US President Biden meets Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni on the sidelines of the G7 Summit

A handout picture made available by the Chigi Palace (Palazzo Chigi) Press Office shows US President Joe Biden (R) with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (L) in Hiroshima, 20 May…

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UPDATED: France’s Macron: Zelenskiy’s Japan visit a ‘game changer’

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's visit to Japan for the Group of Seven (G7) summit a "game changer," as the…

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G7 leaders agree to new initiative to fight economic coercion

TOKYO, May 20 (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven agreed on Saturday to establish a new initiative to counter economic coercion, and pledged to take steps to ensure…

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UPDATED: G7 pledges support for Ukraine as summit awaits Zelenskiy

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 19 (Reuters) - Leaders of the world richest democracies agreed on Friday to stiffen sanctions against Russia and pledged financial support for Ukraine as its president, Volodymyr…

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Japan pledges to mobilise $1 bln to help nations around Ukraine accept refugees

By Tetsushi Kajimoto NIIGATA, May 11 (Reuters) - Japan will unveil a plan on Thursday to mobilise $1 billion to help countries surrounding Ukraine accept refugees from the war-torn country,…

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UPDATED: Japan earthquake of magnitude 6.5 injures some, damages buildings

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck on Friday off Japan's western prefecture of Ishikawa, authorities said, as media reported some buildings had collapsed…

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Japanese police officer dies in possible suicide near premier’s residence

TOKYO, May 5 (Reuters) - A Japanese police officer died after being found shot in a toilet near the prime minister's residence early on Friday and police were investigating a…

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Alibaba founder Jack Ma takes up Tokyo University visiting professorship

TOKYO, May 1 (Reuters) - Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma has been invited to be a visiting professor at Tokyo College, a new organization run by the University of Tokyo,…

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Japan’s ispace says bid to make first commercial moon landing failed

By Kantaro Komiya and Joey Roulette April 26 (Reuters) - Japanese startup ispace inc 9348.T said its attempt to make the first private moon landing had failed after losing contact…

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Japan considers widening long-term foreign worker visa scheme

TOKYO, April 24 (Reuters) - Japan is considering expanding the areas in which skilled foreign workers can receive long-term work visas to 12 from three, the Nikkei newspaper reported on…

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Japan prepares to shoot down North Korea satellite if it falls on Japan

TOKYO, April 22 (Reuters) - Japan's Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada on Saturday ordered the country's military to prepare to shoot down a North Korean spy satellite should it fall within…

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G7 ministers set big new targets for solar and wind capacity

By Katya Golubkova and Yuka Obayashi SAPPORO, Japan (Reuters) - The Group of Seven rich nations on Sunday set big new collective targets for solar power and offshore wind capacity,…

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Japan’s Kishida vows safety of G7 meetings after ‘smoke bomb’ attack

TOKYO, April 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a day after he was evacuated from an apparent attack, vowed on Sunday to do everything possible to ensure the…

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Japan, China hold maritime talks as Beijing simulates attack on Taiwan

TOKYO, April 10 (Reuters) - Senior Japanese and Chinese officials met on Monday to discuss maritime concerns in disputed waters in the East China Sea as Beijing conducted wargames around…

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Ryuichi Sakamoto, composer of ‘The Last Emperor’ film score, dies aged 71

TOKYO, (Reuters) - Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Oscar-winning Japanese composer famed for his scores for "The Last Emperor", "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" and other epic films, has died aged 71. Sakamoto…

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Japan’s consumer inflation off 41-year high but cost pressure persists

Feb core CPI up 3.1% yr/yr, matches forecast Index excluding fresh food, fuel costs rises 3.5% in Feb Data shows cost-push pressure from raw materials easing By Takahiko Wada and…

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The many disputes overshadowing relations between South Korea and Japan

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's trip to Japan on Thursday was aimed at overcoming decades of disputes and mistrust between the two countries. Some issues, like…

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As wages go up, Japanese women reckon with a vast pay gap

By David Dolan and Makiko Yamazaki TOKYO, (Reuters) - As Japanese companies offer their heftiest wage raises in decades, women in the world's third-largest economy are hoping it won't take…

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South Korea and Japan hail spring thaw amid missiles and weight of history

By Sakura Murakami and Ju-min Park TOKYO/SEOUL, March 16 (Reuters) - The leaders of Japan and South Korea promised to turn the page on years of animosity at a meeting…

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South Korea and Japan to drop trade dispute as leaders seek common ground

By Sakura Murakami TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Japan and South Korea agreed to drop an almost four-year-old trade dispute on high-tech materials on Thursday, an emphatic sign they aim…

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WATCH: Japan’s new rocket fails after engine issue, in blow to space ambitions

Japan's new medium-lift rocket failed on its debut flight in space on Tuesday after the launcher's second-stage engine did not ignite as planned, in a blow to its efforts to…

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Plastic consumption on course to nearly double by 2050 – research

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Plastic use in G20 countries is on course to nearly double by the middle of the century unless a comprehensive and legally binding global treaty to curb…

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Earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hits northern Japan, no tsunami warning

TOKYO, Feb 25 (Reuters) - An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.1 hit off the eastern part of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido on Saturday, authorities said, and no tsunami warning was…

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Leiji Matsumoto, manga creator of Captain Harlock space saga, dies aged 85

TOKYO, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Leiji Matsumoto, the famed Japanese manga and anime creator of epic space sagas including "Galaxy Express 999" and "Space Pirate Captain Harlock", has died aged…

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UPDATED: US stages joint air exercises with Asian allies after North Korea’s ICBM launch

By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL, Feb 19 (Reuters) - The United States held joint air exercises bilaterally with South Korea and Japan involving strategic bombers on Sunday, a day after North…

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Former UK PM Truss calls for tougher China policy in first speech since resigning

TOKYO, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Former British prime minister Liz Truss will call on Friday for Taiwan to be given more arms and for the Group of Seven nations to…

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Heavy snow in Japan disrupts flights and trains, closes roads

TOKYO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Heavy snow across much of Japan on Friday grounded 100 flights, blocked dozens of roads and disrupted train services, government authorities and operators said. Domestic…

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Washington weighing deploying medium-range missiles to U.S. forces in Japan

TOKYO, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Washington has suggested deploying medium-range missiles in Japan as part of a plan to bolster defences against China along the East and South China Seas,…

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NATO chief stresses importance of Indo-Pacific partners amid security tensions

By Sakura Murakami TOKYO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday stressed the importance of NATO's working closely with partners in the Indo-Pacific, saying Europe could not…

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NATO, Japan pledge to strengthen ties in face of ‘historic’ security threat

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Japanese premier Fumio Kishida pledged on Tuesday to strengthen ties, saying Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its growing military cooperation with China had created the…

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Japan, Netherlands to join US in China chip controls -Bloomberg

Japan and the Netherlands will join the United States in implementing export controls on semiconductor manufacturing equipment to China soon, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. The trilateral talks are set to conclude…

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Japan cuts economic view as exports to Asia weaken

TOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Japan cut its view on the overall economy for the first time in 11 months in January, as China's COVID-19 infections and a slowdown in…

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UPDATED: Heavy snow causes havoc in Japan as cold snap sweeps through Asia

TOKYO, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Heavy snow blanketed wide swathes of Japan on Wednesday, snarling traffic, forcing hundreds of flight cancellations, disrupting train travel and leaving at least one person…

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Japan PM Kishida: it’s ‘now or never’ to stop shrinking population

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime minister Fumio Kishida pledged on Monday to take urgent steps to tackle the country's declining birth rate, saying it was "now or never" for…

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