Latest Japan News

Japan prepares to host and then travel to North Korea for back-to-back FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Mar. 19, 2024 02:29 AM EDT

Even with the top continental ranking and players of vast international experience, Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan squad faces a journey into the unknown in back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against North Korea. Asian qualifying resumes Thursday with Japan hosting North Korea in Tokyo....

US and Japan seek UN resolution calling on all nations to ban nuclear weapons in outer space

Mar. 18, 2024 21:31 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Japan are sponsoring a U.N. Security Council resolution calling on all nations not to deploy or develop nuclear weapons in space, the U.S. ambassador announced Monday. Linda Thomas-Greenfield told a U.N. Security Council meeting that...

$510 Dodgers jerseys and $150 caps. Behold the price of being an Ohtani fan in Japan

Mar. 18, 2024 12:41 PM EDT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Mai Fukuo was gift-shopping for a friend. Hideki Chiba was in the same sports store in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo looking for something for his father-in-law. They each picked up items in blue — Los Angeles Dodgers Blue, of course. This reflects the...

Stock market today: Asian stocks gain ahead of US and Japan rate decisions

Mar. 18, 2024 00:57 AM EDT

HONG KONG (AP) — Asian stocks advanced Monday ahead of policy decisions this week by Japan’s central bank and the Federal Reserve. Oil prices and U.S. futures rose. Chinese data for January-February were mixed, with property investment falling while other...

22 artifacts looted after the Battle of Okinawa returned to Japan

Mar. 15, 2024 20:03 PM EDT

BOSTON (AP) — Twenty-two historic artifacts that were looted following the Battle of Okinawa in World War II have been returned to Japan after a family from Massachusetts discovered them in their late father’s personal items, the FBI said Friday. The 22 artifacts, some of which...

Japanese table tennis star reaches an agreement with ex as parliament considers a joint custody bill

Mar. 15, 2024 09:43 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — A once-beloved Japanese table tennis star said Friday she has reached a settlement with her ex-husband, a Taiwanese star in the sport, ending a high-profile battle over custody of their 4-year-old son. The move comes at a time when Japan's parliament is discussing...

A Japanese court says denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and calls for urgent change

Mar. 15, 2024 01:29 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese high court ruled Thursday that denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and called for urgent government action to address the lack of any law allowing for such unions. Plaintiffs and the LGBTQ+ community in Japan cheered it as giving them hope for change toward...

Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for 'American steel workers'

Mar. 14, 2024 21:32 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden came out in opposition to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, saying on Thursday that the U.S. needs to "maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.” In a statement, Biden added: “U.S....

Lower house of Japan's parliament passes bill to promote LGBTQ+ awareness, but not guarantee rights

Mar. 14, 2024 13:45 PM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — The powerful lower house of Japan's parliament passed a bill Tuesday to promote understanding of LGBTQ+ issues amid protests by activists who say last-minute revisions by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s conservative party favored opponents of sexual equality instead of guaranteeing...

Japan high court says denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, calls for urgent government action for redress

Mar. 14, 2024 04:20 AM EDT
TOKYO (AP) — Japan high court says denying same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, calls for urgent government action for redress.