Category: Japan

Biden Arrives in Japan to Meet with G-7 Leaders Amid Looming Debt Crisis at Home

HIROSHIMA, Japan—President Joe Biden arrived in Japan on Thursday to attend the three-day G-7 summit of the world’s top economic powers, leaving behind an intense debt ceiling negotiation with congressional leaders. Biden arrived in Hiroshima around 5 p.m. local time, where the Group of Seven (G-7) leaders will meet from May 19–21 to discuss a…


Hiroshima to Host G7 Summit to Address Growing Russia, China Threats

TOKYO, Japan—The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) will meet this week in Hiroshima, Japan, in a show of strength and unity to promote “the rule-based international order” in the face of escalating Russian and Chinese aggression. The summit, which will take place May 19–21, will be the 49th annual summit of the largest…


Going Nuclear in Asia: More Than Just Building a Bomb

Commentary Could America’s Asian allies go nuclear? This is a recurring scenario, given continuing concerns in Tokyo, Seoul, and even Canberra that Washington’s security commitment to Asia—and particularly its promise of extended nuclear deterrence—may be less than dependable. In articles (found here, here, and here), the argument is made that countries like Japan, South Korea,…


Chinese Warships Circle Japan Amid Missile Defense System Deployment

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships were spotted circling Japan for days in an apparent show of force amid Japan’s missile defense system deployment on an island near Taiwan. Japan’s defense ministry said on May 11 that a Chinese naval flotilla, led by the PLA’s Type 055 guided missile destroyer Lhasa, has been…


Cutest Birds: Tiny Japanese ‘Snow Fairies’ Caught Doing Gymnastics on Tree Branches

These tiny, snowball-like Japanese birds attract visitors from far and wide to marvel at their cuteness. One skilled photographer has captured the little birds “working out” using delicate tree branches as their gym, and the images are almost too perfect to be real. Shima-enaga, meaning “long-tailed island bird,” are known fondly as “snow fairies” in…


Japan’s Otsuka Pharma Gets FDA Approval for Alzheimer’s Agitation Drug

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Otsuka Pharmaceutical’s brexpiprazole to treat agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s on Thursday, making it the first approved drug for the indication, the company said in a statement. The decision comes after an advisory panel in April voted 9–1 that the company had enough data to identify the population…


5.4 Magnitude Earthquake Near Tokyo Causes Minor Injuries, Damage

TOKYO—An earthquake shook Japan’s capital, Tokyo, and surrounding areas on Thursday, injuring several people and causing minor damage, officials and media said. The quake had a 5.4 magnitude and its epicenter was in Chiba prefecture, southeast of Tokyo, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. No tsunami warning was issued. Four people were hurt, including a…


Asian Countries Phasing Out COVID Curbs, Inching Closer to Normality

Several countries in Asia have begun removing all COVID-19 curbs and treating the virus like a seasonal flu, signifying a shift into the endemic phase three years after its initial outbreak in 2020. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to the COVID-19 global health emergency on May 5, citing a downward trend of…


Trudeau to Visit South Korea, Attend G7 Leaders’ Summit in Japan Next Week

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to travel to Asia next week for an official visit to South Korea and the G7 leaders’ summit in Japan. Trudeau is set to visit Seoul between May 16 and 18 and meet with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to advance shared priorities, including economic and energy security,…


Japan Considers Requiring EV Makers to Disclose Carbon Emissions For Battery Production: Report

Japan is planning to make carbon footprint declaration mandatory for electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing, following the lead of the European Union, Nikkei Asia reported on Tuesday. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is looking to implement the rule in 2024, the same year that the EU will begin requiring battery manufacturers to…