Latest Japan government News

Biden praises cooperation at meeting with South Korean, Japanese leaders amid North Korea worries

Nov. 15, 2024 16:46 PM EST

LIMA, Peru (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday praised the cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the U.S. at countering what he described as North Korea's “dangerous and destabilizing cooperation with Russia.” Biden spoke at the start of a meeting in Peru with South...

Japanese Princess Yuriko, wartime Emperor Hirohito's sister-in-law, dies at 101

Nov. 15, 2024 06:49 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Princess Yuriko, the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito’s brother and the oldest member of the imperial family, has died after her health deteriorated recently, palace officials said. She was 101. Yuriko died Friday at a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household...

North Korea tests exploding drones as Kim calls for mass production

Nov. 14, 2024 23:23 PM EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea tested exploding drones designed to crash into targets and leader Kim Jong Un called for accelerating mass production of the weapons, state media said Friday. The country’s latest military demonstration came as the United States, South Korea...

Japan's economy grows for a second straight quarter on the back of consumer spending

Nov. 14, 2024 21:19 PM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s economy eked out an annual rate of 0.9% growth in the July-September period as consumer spending held up, government data showed Friday. The world’s fourth-largest economy grew 0.2% in the fiscal second quarter, marking the second straight quarter of...

Biden arrives in Peru for international summit and meeting with Xi as world leaders brace for Trump

Nov. 14, 2024 20:29 PM EST

LIMA, Peru (AP) — President Joe Biden arrived Thursday in Peru to start his six-day visit to Latin America for the final major international summits of his presidency, even as world leaders turn their attention to what Donald Trump’s return to the White House means for their countries. ...

Ishiba survived a rare runoff to remain Japan's prime minister but will face turmoil

Nov. 12, 2024 06:42 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, battered in parliamentary elections last month, has survived a rare runoff vote against the opposition to remain the country's leader but he still faces turmoil ahead. One of his top priorities is dealing with the aftermath of a...

Today in History: November 12, Ellis Island closes its doors

Nov. 12, 2024 00:03 AM EST

Today is Tuesday, Nov. 12, the 317th day of 2024. There are 49 days left in the year. Today in history: On Nov. 12, 1954, Ellis Island officially closed as an immigration station and detention center. More than 12 million immigrants arrived in the United States via...

Japan's reelected Prime Minister Ishiba vows to step up reform

Nov. 11, 2024 10:53 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to take tougher measures against misuse of political funds after he was reelected by parliament Monday following a major loss in the polls last month by his governing coalition. Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party and its...

Sumitomo Rubber closing western New York tire plant and cutting 1,550 jobs

Nov. 07, 2024 18:27 PM EST

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) — Sumitomo Rubber announced Thursday it will close its western New York tire manufacturing plant and eliminate all 1,550 union and salaried jobs. The Japan-based company said attempts to control costs, along with investments in the aging facility, had failed to...

South Korea's president denies wrongdoing in a growing scandal

Nov. 07, 2024 07:41 AM EST

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denied wrongdoing on Thursday in a burgeoning influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife that is severely hurting his approval ratings and providing political munition to his rivals. The political firestorm...