Latest Japan government News

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...

Japan has grounded its V-22 Osprey fleet again after flight incident

Nov. 03, 2024 09:48 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Japan has grounded its fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft again after an incident last Sunday where one of the hybrid helicopter-aircraft tilted unexpectedly and hit the ground while trying to take off. The V-22 was taking part in the joint U.S. military exercise Keen...

Japan plans automated cargo transport system to relieve shortage of drivers and cut emissions

Nov. 02, 2024 01:27 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan is planning to build an automated cargo transport corridor between Tokyo and Osaka, dubbed a “conveyor belt road” by the government, to make up for a shortage of truck drivers. The amount of funding for the project is not yet set. But it's seen as one key...

Japan and EU announce a security and defense partnership as regional tensions rise

Nov. 01, 2024 09:49 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Japan and the European Union announced a security and defense partnership on Friday as they seek to step up military ties, including joint exercises and exchanges between their defense industries, amid growing tensions with China, North Korea and Russia. It is the...

A second high court rules that Japan's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

Oct. 30, 2024 07:58 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — A second Japanese high court ruled Wednesday that the government's policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, the latest in a series of decisions upholding plaintiffs' demands for marriage equality. The Tokyo High Court called the ongoing ban “a...

What does a shocking parliamentary loss for Japan's long-ruling party mean?

Oct. 29, 2024 03:39 AM EDT

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s ruling party and its junior partner lost their majority in Sunday’s parliamentary election. The loss, much bigger than expected, is bad news for a leader who's only been in power for a month. It's largely a reflection of...