Japan's new leader expresses regret for governing party slush fund scandal, vows stronger defense

TOKYO (AP) — New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba opened his first policy speech in office Friday by expressing deep regrets over the governing party's slush funds scandal that dogged his predecessor. Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida on Tuesday with the paramount mission of...

Dodgers to start Jack Flaherty in Game 1 of NLDS, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Game 2

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jack Flaherty will start Game 1 of this weekend’s National League Division Series for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Game 2. Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Wednesday that the team hasn't finalized plans for Games 3...

An anti-whaling activist will stay in detention in Greenland while Japan seeks extradition

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A court in Greenland ruled Wednesday that anti-whaling campaigner Paul Watson must remain in detention until Oct. 23 while Denmark’s Justice Ministry decides whether to approve his extradition to Japan. It was unclear when Denmark will decide whether...

Japan's Kojima, with its proud Jeans Street, draws fans of vintage, deep-blue denim

KOJIMA, Japan (AP) — Denim, that All-American fabric, is all about being Japanese in the town of Kojima, where the main road is named Jeans Street, with real pairs of pants flapping like flags overhead. Some would call this spot in southwestern seaside Okayama Prefecture a mecca of...

Japan's new Prime Minister Ishiba vows to push a strong defense under the Japan-US alliance

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to stick to the vital Japan-U.S. alliance while calling for it to be more equitable after he took office Tuesday vowing to tackle a slow economy and regain public trust before an upcoming election. Shigeru Ishiba...

Japan’s parliament elects Shigeru Ishiba, newly elected governing party leader, as the country’s prime minister

Japan's central bank survey underpins optimism about growth

TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among Japan’s large manufacturers stood unchanged in the latest quarter from the previous quarter, according to a closely watched survey called “tankan” released Tuesday. The Bank of Japan survey put the benchmark index at plus-13 for the...

The world’s longest-serving death row inmate acquitted in Japan mulls suing the government

TOKYO (AP) — A lawyer for the world’s longest-serving death row inmate — who was acquitted in a Japan ese retrial last week of a 1966 quadruple murder — said Tuesday that the defense team is considering filing a damage suit against the government over the fabrication of evidence that ruined...

Japan's likely next leader says he will call an election for Oct. 27 once he takes office

TOKYO (AP) — Shigeru Ishiba, the head of Japan's governing party, plans to call a parliamentary election to be held on Oct. 27 after he is elected as prime minister on Tuesday. Ishiba was chosen as the Liberal Democratic Party's leader on Friday and is assured to also succeed...

Kishida's legacy: Scandals and compromise at home, global respect for security and diplomacy

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will step down Tuesday, handing over leadership to his successor Shigeru Ishiba, who is expected to formally take office later in the day. He says he plans to call a snap election for Oct. 27. Kishida’s popularity ratings were...