Latest Japan News
Japan's nuclear watchdog disqualifies a reactor for the first time since Fukushima disaster
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's nuclear watchdog on Wednesday formally disqualified a reactor in the country's north-central region from restarting, the first rejection under safety standards that were reinforced after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The decision is a setback for Japan as it seeks to...
Struggling Australia and Saudi Arabia play a crucial Asian World Cup qualifier
Australia hosts Saudi Arabia in a crucial World Cup qualifier at Melbourne on Thursday while Japan and South Korea can take a big step towards North America in 2026 when the third round of Asian qualifying reaches the halfway stage. With only the top two teams from each of the three...
Ishiba survived a rare runoff to remain Japan's prime minister but will face turmoil
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...
Japan's SoftBank returns to profit after gains at Vision Fund and other investments
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese technology group SoftBank swung back to profitability in the July-September quarter, boosted by positive results in its Vision Fund investments. Tokyo-based SoftBank Group Corp. reported Tuesday a fiscal second quarter profit of nearly 1.18 trillion yen ($7.7...
Japan's prime minister vows military buildup and deeper ties with the US as regional tension rises
TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba renewed a pledge Saturday to build up his country’s military and deepen its alliance with the United States under President-elect Donald Trump. Ishiba, who made the comments at an annual troop review held at Camp Asaka in the...
Sumitomo Rubber closing western New York tire plant and cutting 1,550 jobs
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...
Hit by scandal, Japan's top automaker Toyota reports lower profits
TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s July-September profit sank to less than half of what it was in the same period the previous year, as a production stoppage that followed a certification scandal and recalls dented vehicle sales, the Japanese automaker said Wednesday. Toyota Motor Corp.’s...
Nintendo Chief insists the Switch momentum will keep going, even after its successor
TOKYO (AP) — Japanese video game maker Nintendo’s chief said Wednesday that Switch console sales were still going strong, while he promised its successor is coming. “The momentum of the Nintendo Switch hasn’t stopped,” President Shuntaro Furukawa told reporters. ...
Golf is starting to see double. Identical twins from Japan, Denmark and Germany are competing
Rasmus Hojgaard of Denmark is a lock to be among the leading 10 players from the European tour who earn a PGA Tour card for 2025, making it the second straight year of identical twins on the PGA Tour. His brother, Nicolai, earned one of those European spots last year. Pierceson and...
World silver medalist Isabeau Levito withdraws from figure skating's Finlandia Trophy
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — World silver medalist Isabeau Levito withdrew Monday from next week's Finlandia Trophy, which was supposed to be the American star's second Grand Prix assignment, putting her status for the rest of the figure skating season in question. There was no...
