Category: Japan

Japan’s PM Vows Stronger Cooperation in Landmark Visit to South Korea

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed on Sunday to deepen cooperation with South Korea to tackle escalating global security challenges in the region as he became the first Japanese leader to visit the country in over a decade. Kishida met with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol for a second time since their meeting in Tokyo…


Strong Quake in Central Japan; 1 Dead, More Than 20 Injured

TOKYO—A strong, shallow offshore earthquake hit central Japan on Friday afternoon, killing at least one person and injuring more than 20 others and disrupting plans for holidaymakers. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck Ishikawa prefecture on the west coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The Japan Meteorological Agency measured the…


NATO to Open First Asia-Pacific Office in Japan: Reports

NATO is reportedly planning to open a liaison office in Tokyo, the first in the Asia-Pacific region, as it moves to deepen ties with Asia-Pacific nations amid increasing concerns over the threat of China’s communist regime. Nikkei Asia reported that the regional office would allow the military alliance to conduct consultations with its key Asia-Pacific…


Japan, South Korea Resume Economic Talks After 7 Years as Relations Improve

Japan and South Korea agreed on May 2 to resume finance ministers’ talks that had been stalled for seven years, in the latest sign of thawing ties between the two nations strained by wartime disputes. South Korean Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho and his Japanese counterpart, Shunichi Suzuki, met on the sidelines of the annual Asian…


Japan, Egypt Pledge ‘Strategic Partnership’ Upgrade Amid China’s Growing Influence

Japan and Egypt have agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to the “strategic partnership level” as Japan seeks to increase engagement with African countries in the face of communist China’s growing influence. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Egypt as part of a four-nation tour of Africa on April 30, where he met with Egyptian…


Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Becomes Visiting Professor in Japan

Jack Ma, the co-founder of Chinese e-commerce Alibaba Group, has taken up a visiting professor position at a research institute affiliated with the University of Tokyo, the university said Monday. Ma, 58, began his tenure at Tokyo College on that same day, and he will carry out joint research and projects related to sustainable agriculture…


Japan Scraps COVID Border Measures as ‘Golden Week’ Holiday Rush Begins

Japan has lifted its COVID-19 border measures, allowing all arrivals to enter the country without showing proof of vaccination or negative test results, as the country’s “golden week” holiday began. Golden week is one of Japan’s busiest travel times from April 29 to May 5, with four national holidays falling within the same week. Japan…


BOJ’s New Chief Keeps Ultra-Low Rates, Embarks on Policy Review

TOKYO—The Bank of Japan (BOJ) kept ultra-low interest rates on Friday but announced a plan to review its past monetary policy moves, laying the groundwork for new Governor Kazuo Ueda to gradually phase out his predecessor’s massive stimulus programme. While maintaining its commitment to “patiently” keep policy accommodative, the central bank removed a pledge from…


Chinese Journalist Charged With Espionage After Meeting Japan Diplomat, Family Says

Chinese authorities have reportedly indicted a veteran journalist for espionage over a year after detaining him for meeting with a Japanese diplomat in Beijing. Dong Yuyu, 61, was arrested in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat at a restaurant in a Beijing hotel. The diplomat was also detained for questioning but was…


Japan’s ispace Moon Landing Bid Fails, Lander Likely Crashed

Japanese lunar exploration company ispace said Wednesday that it had lost communication with its unmanned spacecraft, Hakuto-R, which it sent to the moon, and the mission was presumed to have failed. “Now we lost the communication. So we have to assume that … we could not complete the landing on the lunar surface,” ispace CEO…