Tag - us-japan

 
 

US JAPAN

Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 19, 2018
Japan and North Korea intelligence officials held secret meeting in Mongolia in October
The meeting could be consistent with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's stated desire to arrange a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 19, 2018
Japan fails to mention nuclear arms ban pact for second year in draft U.N. resolution
Japan has again omitted any reference to a landmark nuclear arms ban treaty, adopted last year, in its draft annual U.N. resolution calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons — despite falling support for its previous resolution.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 19, 2018
U.S. agriculture secretary says Washington seeks deeper farm tariff cuts by Japan than those in TPP
The United States will urge Japan to reduce tariffs on agricultural products beyond levels agreed to under the Trans-Pacific Partnership, an 11-member regional free trade agreement, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue indicated Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 19, 2018
LDP Toyama chapter led by minister gets donation from bid-rigging firm, will return funds
A ruling Liberal Democratic Party chapter headed by Mitsuhiro Miyakoshi, state minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, received political donations from a company involved in bid-rigging, data from the political funds reports of the chapter showed Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 19, 2018
Energy price surge seen fueling 1% September jump in Japan's inflation
Japan's key inflation gauge edged up in September, bringing the Bank of Japan back to the halfway point toward its price target, though gains are still largely limited to energy.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 19, 2018
Pope is conveyed invite from North Korea, signals he will consider it
Pope Francis on Thursday received an invitation to visit North Korea and the pontiff indicated that he would consider making what would be a landmark trip to the hermit nation, according to South Korean officials. South Korean President Moon Jae-in relayed the invitation from North Korean leader Kim...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 18, 2018
Japan's exports unexpectedly fell in September after natural disasters, clouding U.S.-China trade war impact
Japan's exports unexpectedly fell in September — the first drop in almost two years — as natural disasters disrupted economic activity and higher energy prices continued to feed gains in imports.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 18, 2018
Trump looks to tap ex-Air Force general conversant in Korean, Chinese and Japanese as top Asia diplomat
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to nominate former Air Force Gen. David Stilwell to be the State Department's top diplomat for East Asia, a post that has remained unfilled for more than a year despite major challenges in the region.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Oct 18, 2018
Abe wants foreigners to bolster Japan's shrinking workforce but finds vocal resistance
A strict immigration policy has helped make Japan one of the world's oldest and most homogeneous societies. Now, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan to invite as many as half a million foreign workers is testing the country's tolerance for change.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 18, 2018
Abe and Macron agree to boost cooperation for Indo-Pacific stability
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed Wednesday to step up their countries' cooperation in promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region, where China has been increasing its influence.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2018
China's gift of ibises arrive in Japan, the first such transfer in since 2007
A pair of crested ibises gifted to Japan as a symbol of friendship by China arrived Wednesday amid warming relations between the two countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2018
Abe sends ritual offering to Yasukuni for shrine's autumn festival
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a ritual offering Wednesday to Yasukuni Shrine, viewed as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism by neighboring countries, on the first day of its four-day autumn festival.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 17, 2018
Youngest Othello world champion flown home by man he bested
Keisuke Fukuchi, the new world champion of the board game Othello and the youngest ever at 11, was congratulated on his return flight to Japan after winning the top honor in Prague by the pilot of the plane, who himself was the previous record holder, winning the title at age 15 in the early 80s.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2018
Japan and Spain agree to expand economic and security cooperation
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Spanish counterpart, Pedro Sanchez, agreed Tuesday to boost their countries' economic and security cooperation as the two nations mark the 150th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties this year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 17, 2018
China pares U.S. Treasury holdings for third month in bid to keep yuan from falling
China's holdings of U.S. Treasuries fell for a third consecutive month in August as the Asian nation struggles to prevent the yuan from weakening amid trade tensions with America.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2018
Government to seek invalidation of Okinawa's move to block U.S. base work
The Japanese government will soon take a countermeasure against the Okinawa Prefectural Government's recent move to block landfill work for a key U.S. military base transfer within the island prefecture, a central government source said Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 16, 2018
Japan must look beyond U.S. for stable economic and military future, says risk analyst Ian Bremmer
As the United States’ commitment to global leadership and principles grows ever more uncertain under President Donald Trump, Japan finds itself with little choice but to look beyond its closest ally to ensure economic and military security, according to analyst Ian Bremmer, the head of political risk...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Oct 16, 2018
Decorated minimumweight Katsunari Takayama granted amateur boxing license
Former professional four-organization minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama will be granted his wish to receive an amateur license from the Japan Amateur Boxing Federation, it was announced at a news conference on Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2018
Diplomat spouse's top shot captures Japan in full bloom
An extreme close-up shot capturing a delicate sakura cherry blossom clothed in white floating on a tranquil surface of water won the Prince Takamado Memorial Prize in this year's version of the Japan Through Diplomats' Eyes annual photo competition.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 16, 2018
Disaster-hit Japan sees year-on-year visitor numbers drop in September for first time in over five years
The estimated number of foreign visitors totaled 2,159,600 in September, down 5.3 percent from the year before, amid a string of natural disasters.

Longform

Traditional folk rituals like Mizudome-no-mai (dance to stop the rain) provide a sense of agency to a population that feels largely powerless in the face of the climate crisis.
As climate extremes intensify, Japan embraces ancient weather rituals