Tag - japan

 
 

JAPAN

Former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba (left) and Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te at the presidential office in Taipei on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2024
Is it fifth time's the charm for Shigeru Ishiba?
Ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party's presidential race, a short trip to Taiwan is allowing the former defense minister to burnish his foreign policy chops.
Smoke clouds in the three colors of the French nationa flag appear at Pont d'Austerlitz during the opening ceremony on July 26.
OLYMPICS
Aug 14, 2024
In pictures: One last look back at the Games in the City of Light
From above, below and all sides, the artistry of the world’s best athletes could be seen everywhere at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro (right) speaks during a joint press conference with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at a hotel in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Aug. 4.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 14, 2024
Manila looks beyond Asia for defense support
Germany is the latest Western power to announce plans to deepen security ties with the Philippines amid Manila's escalating territorial disputes with China.
Health minister Keizo Takemi fields questions from reporters in March after a Cabinet meeting to deal with health problems caused by Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's beni kōji red yeast rice supplements.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 14, 2024
Health Minister Keizo Takemi on how to improve Japan's health care system
Digitalization, hiring high-skilled foreign workers and increasing wages are among the steps that Japan could take.
In the past 11 months, health minister Keizo Takemi has been charting his own path, seeking to make Japan's health care policies more global and digitalized.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 14, 2024
Global mindset crucial for reform of Japan's health care, minister says
International strategies and domestic health care reform are inextricably linked, says health minister Keizo Takemi.
After 80 years, Toshimizu Ishii is speaking out on his experience making balloon bombs during World War II.
JAPAN / History
Aug 14, 2024
96-year-old recounts WWII experience in Fukushima balloon bomb exhibit
"Back then, I didn’t think much about it," Toshimizu Ishii admitted. "But now, I see how senseless it all was."
Takashi Morita, a proponent of implementing Japan's A-bomb survivors' support law overseas, died of old age at a hospital in Sao Paulo on Monday.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 14, 2024
Takashi Morita, who led efforts to help A-Bomb survivors overseas, dies at 100
Morita was exposed to radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in August 1945 when he was a military police officer.
Former Kobayashi Pharmaceutical President Akihiro Kobayashi, currently director in charge of compensation, speaks during a news conference in Osaka earlier this month.
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 14, 2024
Chinese shoppers’ infatuation with Japanese brands wears thin
The backlash is reminiscent of last year’s outcry over the Fukushima wastewater release
Frederick Go, who advises the Philippine president on the economy, says Washington, Tokyo and Manila will prioritize five major projects in the Luzon Economic Corridor plan.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2024
U.S. and Japan reportedly keen on $15 billion Philippine projects
The Philippines is seeking to leverage stronger ties with the U.S. and its allies to help unlock economic benefits.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (second right) takes part in the inauguration ceremony for the Deep Tech Lab - Quantum in Copenhagen on Sept. 29.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 13, 2024
The growing strategic race in emerging technologies
Japan’s security and trading partners are increasingly serious about developing quantum capabilities. Japan has to do more to both keep pace.
The city of Yangon in July
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2024
Japan supermarket director detained in Myanmar released: junta
Hiroshi Kasamatsu, 53, director of Aeon Orange, which runs several supermarkets in Myanmar, was detained following an investigation into rice mills and supermarkets.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Aug. 2
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2024
Kishida holds phone talks with Tajik and Turkmen leaders
On the call, Kishida conveyed Japan's continued commitment to strengthening relations with Central Asia and his desire to rearrange his trip to the region.
Aeon has said that it will do its best to achieve the early release of a Japanese employee in Myanmar who was just given a one-year prison term.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 12, 2024
Japanese employee of Aeon given one-year prison term in Myanmar
Hiroshi Kasamatsu had been charged with violating a law on daily necessities and services by selling rice at prices higher than levels set by the military regime.
Polina Oba enjoys the food in Fukuoka, but still finds herself traveling to Tokyo often as that’s where most of the decision-makers are based. 
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Aug 12, 2024
Polina Oba: ‘Try quick, fail quick, learn quick and you need to always pivot’
Networking is at the core of Polina Oba's GourmetPro startup. Not only is it great meeting new people but you'll never know where those connections may lead.
Takuya Yokota, who leads the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, speaks during an event to spread awareness of the abduction issue among junior high school students on Aug. 9 in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 12, 2024
Government ramps up efforts to raise awareness on North Korean abductions
There are concerns that the issue, which has dragged on for decades, is slipping from the public’s awareness, particularly among younger generations.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida meets with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a summit in Bangkok in November 2022. Despite Japan-China relations stagnating in recent years, Xi's administration presents some interesting opportunities for an overture between the two countries.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Aug 12, 2024
Will Japan and China’s relations continue to stagnate?
Japan and China have historically been at odds and relations have stagnated. This pattern can be broken by seizing the moment, one that offers some key opportunities.
Fireworks are set off during the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Sunday.
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2024
France brings down the curtain on its Olympic party with Tom Cruise and Leon Marchand
Following a tumultuous buildup to the Games, France staged a successful and mostly problem-free Olympics.
Yuka Kagami celebrates with her medal after winning the women's 76-kg freestyle wrestling event on the final day of the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
OLYMPICS
Aug 12, 2024
Japan finishes third on medal table after strong showing at Paris Olympics
Japan won 20 gold medals at the Paris Olympics for its best showing at an overseas Games.
Kotaro Kiyooka celebrates after winning gold in his 65-kg match against Rahman Amouzadkhalili of Iran at Champ-de-Mars Arena in Paris on Sunday.
OLYMPICS / Wrestling
Aug 12, 2024
'Lion' king Kiyooka and Kagami underline Japan's mat mastery in Paris
Japan finished its campaign with eight wrestling golds — three more than at Tokyo 2020 — with Iran, Bulgaria and the U.S. all trailing far behind with two apiece.
A Japanese protester holds a picture of the disputed islands called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, during a rally in Tokyo in February 2013.
JAPAN
Aug 11, 2024
Japan protests South Korea's maritime survey near Takeshima
According to the Foreign Ministry, a South Korean survey ship was spotted on the day dropping apparent wires into waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.