Latest Japan News
Summer Olympians will get their support systems back in Paris after Tokyo's COVID bans
Athletes at the last Summer Olympics remember the sadness and longing of competing with nearly no one in the stands, thanks to pandemic-era restrictions in Tokyo three years ago. Not just zero spectators and eerily quiet stadiums, which were bad enough. Worse, perhaps? There were no...
Japan's top court orders government to compensate disabled people forced to undergo sterilization
TOKYO (AP) — In a landmark decision, Japan’s Supreme Court ordered the government Wednesday to pay suitable compensation to about a dozen victims who were forcibly sterilized under a now-defunct Eugenics Protection Law that was designed to eliminate offspring of people with disabilities. ...
Cash-based Japan issues first new bills in two decades, designed against counterfeiting
TOKYO (AP) — Japan issued its first new banknotes in two decades Wednesday, yen packed with 3-D hologram technology to fight counterfeiting. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised as “historic” the state-of-the-art anti-counterfeit traits of the new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and...
It's not as world-famous as ramen or sushi. But the humble onigiri is soul food in Japan
TOKYO (AP) — The word “onigiri” became part of the Oxford English Dictionary this year, proof that the humble sticky-rice ball and mainstay of Japanese food has entered the global lexicon. The rice balls are stuffed with a variety of fillings and typically wrapped in seaweed....
Japan successfully launches an advanced Earth observation satellite on its new flagship H3 rocket
TOKYO (AP) — Japan successfully deployed an upgraded Earth observation satellite for disaster response and security after it was launched on a new flagship H3 rocket Monday. The H3 No. 3 rocket lifted off from the Tanegashima Space Center on a southwestern Japanese island and...
Japan revises economic growth in 1Q downward, as latest data show sluggish demand and rising prices
BANGKOK (AP) — Japan revised its earlier estimates to show that its economy contracted at a 2.9% annual pace in the first quarter of the year, as meanwhile a survey by the central bank released Monday showed conditions remain sluggish. Analysts had expected the downward revision...
As North Korean and Chinese threats rise, US looks to lock in defense partnerships with Asian allies
GIMHAE AIR BASE, South Korea (AP) — The United States wrapped up its first multidomain exercise with Japan and South Korea in the East China Sea on Saturday, a step forward in Washington's efforts to strengthen and lock in its security partnerships with key Asian allies in the face of growing...
Japan's space agency delays launch of upgraded observation satellite on new H3 rocket due to weather
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s space agency said Friday its planned launch this weekend of a satellite on its new flagship H3 rocket will be postponed until Monday due to expected bad weather. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, said it is postponing the launch because of rain...
Japan protests sex assault cases involving US military on Okinawa and their delayed disclosure
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s government protested Friday to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo over at least two sexual assault cases involving American servicemembers on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa which were only recently made public. In one case, an Air Force member is accused of...
Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise ahead of U.S. inflation report
TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares gained Friday as traders looked ahead to a key report on inflation that could influence the Federal Reserve's next move on interest rates. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 jumped 0.9% in early trading to 39,711.93. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 rose 0.6% to...
