Politics
Major Japanese opposition party seeks policy consensus in bid to take power
The head of a major Japanese opposition party on Tuesday called on other opposition forces to unite on key policies to pave the way for a change in government, amid growing uncertainty over whether the ruling party can remain in power. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the… Read
Japan welcomes hostage release in Gaza, ceasefire deal
Japan on Tuesday welcomed the release of hostages and a ceasefire secured under the first phase of a U.S.-led peace deal to end more than two years of conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces. Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday returned all 20 living hostages to Israel as part of… Read
Japan to promote domestic AI development for national security
The Japanese government will specify the need to promote domestic development of artificial intelligence in an upcoming strategy, official sources said Sunday, as it seeks to avoid overdependence on foreign AI for national security. An overview of the country's basic AI plan being compiled is expected to call for better… Read
Japan's main opposition party head signals openness to unite on PM vote
The leader of Japan's Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan signaled his readiness Sunday to make policy concessions to field a unified opposition candidate against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in an upcoming prime ministerial vote. Yoshihiko Noda said on a TV program that he is eager to enter "discussions with… Read
Japan to send SDF personnel to Lithuania for demining in war-hit Ukraine
Japan plans to send two Ground Self-Defense Force personnel to Lithuania to teach Ukrainian soldiers how to remove land mines as part of its noncombat support for Kyiv, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said. It will be the first such dispatch since the announcement in December 2023 of Japan's participation in… Read
Hiroshima, Nagasaki mayors request Trump visit atomic bombed cities
The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have sent a letter addressed to U.S. President Donald Trump requesting he visit their cities, both of which were devastated by U.S. atomic bombs in 1945, during his trip to Japan scheduled for the end of October. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui and Nagasaki Mayor… Read
Outgoing PM Ishiba honors fallen SDF personnel at memorial
Outgoing Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday expressed condolences to the families of Self-Defense Forces personnel who died in the line of duty, vowing at a memorial ceremony to protect Japanese lives and livelihoods. "The loss of personnel who devoted themselves fully to their duties is truly heartbreaking," said Ishiba,… Read
Japan main opposition party eyes unified PM candidate to block Takaichi
Japan's biggest opposition party will seek to support a unified candidate with other groups in a bid to block Sanae Takaichi's election as prime minister, media reported after the ruling coalition collapsed. Junior coalition partner Komeito quit its 26-year alliance with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on Friday, putting… Read
China protests Takaichi's criticism of Inner Mongolia right abuses
China said Friday it has lodged a protest over criticism by the new Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party chief Sanae Takaichi of Beijing's "repression" of human rights in the Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, calling it an interference in its internal affairs. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a press… Read
Outgoing PM Ishiba stresses civilian control in 80th WWII anniversary message
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday renewed Japan's pledge to pursue peace in his message marking 80 years since the end of World War II, stressing the importance of civilian control over the military as a key lesson from the war rather than delving into divisive historical interpretations. In the… Read
