Japan's new premier vows to push strong defense under Japan-US alliance and boost economy

TOKYO (AP) — The newly elected Japanese prime minister pledged Tuesday night to stick to the vital Japan-U.S. alliance amid growing tension in the region while calling for it to be more equitable. This comes as the new premier tries to boost a slow economy and regain public trust ahead of a...

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...

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index tumbles nearly 5% after its ruling party chose Ishiba as the next prime minister

Ex-Defense Minister Ishiba chosen to lead Japan's ruling party and become prime minister

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s governing party on Friday picked former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as its leader, setting him up to become prime minister next week. The party leadership is a ticket to the top job because the Liberal Democratic Party’s governing coalition controls...

Japan's soon-to-be prime minister faces big challenge as he tries to move past ruling party scandals

TOKYO (AP) — The person chosen Friday to lead Japan's governing party, and become prime minister next week, is a veteran politician with deep policy experience, a taste for curry and anime — and big challenges ahead of him as he tries to unite a fractious party and hold off an opposition eager...

Japan’s ruling party picks former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba as leader. He will become prime minister next week