Japan

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

N.Korea has technology to hit Japan with nuclear-equipped missiles – Japan govt spokesperson

TOKYO, July 12 (Reuters) - Japan's top government spokesperson said on Wednesday that North Korea already has technology to hit Japan with nuclear-armed ballistic missiles, repeating a statement made in…

Read More Here

EU, Japan to deepen chip cooperation -Breton

TOKYO, July 3 (Reuters) - The European Union will deepen cooperation with Japan on semiconductors, its industry chief said on Monday, as countries move to stengthen control over a technology…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

South Korea shoppers buy up salt before Japan’s Fukushima water dump

By Hyun Young Yi SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean shoppers are snapping up sea salt and other items as worry grows about their safety with Japan due to dump more…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

U.S. seeking explosives in Japan for Ukraine artillery shells

By Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo, Yukiko Toyoda and Kaori Kaneko TOKYO, June 2 (Reuters) - The United States is seeking to secure supplies of TNT in Japan for 155mm artillery…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

South Korea, US, Japan to hold missile defence drills to counter North Korea

By Hyonhee Shin SEOUL, April 17 (Reuters) - South Korea, the United States and Japan will stage joint naval missile defence exercises on Monday as they push for greater security…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

US, South Korea, Japan express concern over N.Korea’s ‘malicious’ cyber activities – joint statement

By Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park SEOUL, April 7 (Reuters) - The United States, South Korea and Japan expressed deep concern over North Korea's "malicious" cyber activities to support its…

Read More Here

Canada deploys military aircraft to Japan to implement North Korea sanctions

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Canada said it will deploy a military aircraft to Japan to support implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Deployment of the…

Read More Here

Russia fires supersonic anti-ship missile at mock target in Sea of Japan

Russia's navy fired supersonic anti-ship missiles at a mock target in the Sea of Japan, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday. "In the waters of the Sea of Japan, missile…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

Russia boosts defences near Japan

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said that a division of its Bastion coastal defence missile systems had been deployed to Paramushir, one of the Kuril islands in the north Pacific, some…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

Japan and South Korea top businesses push to leave behind a difficult history

By Kiyoshi Takenaka and Ju-min Park TOKYO/SEOUL (Reuters) - Business leaders from Japan and South Korea pledged on Friday to work more closely on chips and technology, seeking to put…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

What Japan, South Korea leaders achieved at first working meeting in 12 years

TOKYO, March 16 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met on Thursday in Tokyo, aiming to thaw years of diplomatic tension. It…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

South Korea’s Yoon says cooperation with Japan vital amid concerns on North Korea, supply chains

By Soo-hyang Choi and Josh Smith SEOUL, March 15 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday that cooperation with Japan is vital in confronting North Korea's…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

South Korea moves to resolve historical, legal disputes with Japan

SEOUL, March 6 (Reuters) - South Korea on Monday proposed establishing a public foundation to compensate victims of wartime forced labour by Japan, to help resolve strained ties between the…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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,…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

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…

Read More Here

Japan’s passport is most powerful

Japan has the world’s most powerful passport. The country came out on top of the Henley Passport Index’s 2023 rankings. Japanese citizens can now visit 193 countries visa-free, which amounts…

Read More Here

Pacific islands urge Japan to delay release of Fukushima waste over contamination fears

(Reuters) - Pacific island nations are urging Japan to delay the release of water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear power plant over fears fisheries will be contaminated, the Pacific Island…

Read More Here

Most big Japanese firms heed prime minister’s call to raise wages this year

53% committed to wage increases this year 81% of firms are pessimistic over next three months More than half of firms back increase in defence budget 29% support increase in…

Read More Here

Crypto exchange Coinbase says it will halt Japan operations

Jan 18 (Reuters) - Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc on Wednesday said it will halt operations in Japan due to volatile market conditions. All Coinbase Japan customers will have until…

Read More Here

Kishida says G7 should show strong will on Russia’s Ukraine invasion

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday that the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May should demonstrate a strong will to uphold international order and rule…

Read More Here