Latest Japan News
Stock market today: World shares are mixed after Wall Street suffers worst loss since Election Day
BANGKOK (AP) — World shares started out the week mixed after U.S. stocks fell to their worst loss since Election Day. U.S. futures were also mixed, with the S&P 500 contract up less than 0.1% and that for the Dow Jones Industrial Average 0.1% lower as speculation mounted over...
Australian woman accused of drug smuggling in Japan says she is innocent as trial begins
CHIBA, Japan (AP) — An Australian woman accused of smuggling amphetamines in a suitcase appeared in a Japanese court on Monday nearly two years after her arrest, saying she is innocent and that she was tricked into carrying them as part of an online romance scam. Donna Nelson from...
Japan's economy grows for a second straight quarter on the back of consumer spending
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...
Japan's sake brewers hope UNESCO heritage listing can boost rice wine's appeal
OME, Japan (AP) — Deep in a dark warehouse the sake sleeps, stored in rows of giant tanks, each holding more than 10,000 liters (2,640 gallons) of the Japanese rice wine that is the product of brewing techniques dating back more than 1,000 years. Junichiro Ozawa, the...
South Korean court finds former lawmaker guilty of misusing funds meant for sexual slavery victims
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s Supreme Court on Thursday handed a suspended prison sentence to a former lawmaker who was found guilty of embezzling funds while leading a group supporting Korean survivors of Japan’s wartime sexual slavery. Yoon Meehyang, who was also...
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...
