KDDI Corp. has started a service for the direct connection of smartphones with the Starlink satellite network of SpaceX of the United States.

It is the first time in Japan that smartphone connection services using satellites has become available. Even in places that were out of the service areas of mobile phones in the nation, some kinds of message information can be transmitted and received.

From summer this year, KDDI will make it possible for its smartphone subscribers to access the internet.

Subscribers to KDDI’s au brand smartphones can use the new service free of charge for the time being.

Although applications do not need to be made for the new service, subscribers need to use iPhone models of Apple Inc., Galaxy models of Samsung Electronics Co. or other models that are compatible with Starlink.

In the direct connection service, smartphone subscribers can transmit and receive radio waves via Starlink satellites without accessing wireless access points.

Even in out-of-service places, such as mountainous areas and on the sea, KDDI subscribers can transmit and receive short message service texts, share location information and receive emergency earthquake warnings.

Subscribers using smartphones with the Android operating system of Google LLC can send texts of questions to conversational AI programs.

Prior to rolling out the new service, KDDI provided antennas for Starlink connection to areas damaged by the Noto Peninsula Earthquake.
 
 

Whooping cough cases are continuing to surge in Japan.
The Japan Institute for Health Security says medical institutions across the country reported 2,176 cases in the week through April 27, up 292 from the previous week.

The number of patients per week was the highest since the current method of record keeping began in 2018. It broke the previous record for five weeks in a row.

The cumulative number of patients since the start of the year was 11,921, more than double the total count last year.

In a breakdown by prefecture, Tokyo and Fukuoka had 142 patients, Niigata had 132, Hyogo 110, and Osaka 105.

Whooping cough is an infectious bacterial disease characterized by intense and persistent coughing, especially among children. It can be fatal for infants up to six months old.

Amid the growing number of patients this season, cases have been reported of unvaccinated infants becoming severely ill or dying. There are also reports of cases that are resistant to conventional antibacterial drugs.

The Japan Pediatric Society is urging parents to have their infants vaccinated as soon as they turn two months old.
 
 

According to the JCG, the number of JCG personnel who quit for personal reasons has topped 300 for four consecutive years since fiscal 2021, a situation that could hinder enactment of the government’s policy on improving the nation’s maritime security.

Almost 400 Japan Coast Guard personnel left the organization for personal reasons during fiscal 2024, resulting in a drop in the JCG’s total staff size, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned, sparking concerns about the nation’s ability to deal with security threats at sea.

Last fiscal year, voluntary resignations at the JCG totaled 389. That caused the JCG staff size to drop from the previous fiscal year for the first time since fiscal 2013.

The government managed to expand the JCG by about 100 to 400 personnel annually after fiscal 2013, in response to Chinese government vessels nearing or intruding into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture at a far faster rate.

In its policy on improving the nation’s maritime security, the government has identified six key areas to focus on, including safeguarding territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands.

According to the JCG, the number of JCG personnel who quit for personal reasons has topped 300 for four consecutive years since fiscal 2021, a situation that could hinder enactment of the government’s policy.

According to the JCG, 243 of the 389 personnel who voluntarily resigned in fiscal 2024 were in their 20s, and 93 were in their 30s. These two age brackets accounted for 86% of resignations. The JCG had 14,123 personnel as of the end of March — six fewer than in the year prior.

The JCG believes that rapid changes in working norms are one reason why more personnel are stepping away from the organization. An increasing number of Japanese households have two working spouses, and there is a growing reluctance to accept relocations as a part of one’s job.

A majority of JCG personnel are transferred every two or three years, and many work in locations far from their family. Crews on large ships can be at sea for 10 days or more at a time. Staff cannot access the internet during this period and are unable to stay in contact with their family as much as they could like.

By law, the JCG was allowed a maximum staff of 14,788 in fiscal 2024, a rise of almost 20% from fiscal 2009. The government has upped the cap on the JCG workforce by an average of 170 people each fiscal year since 2013, when China Coast Guard vessels were found to have entered the contiguous zone in waters around the Senkaku Islands on more than 200 days.

During this period, the JCG added 24 large patrol vessels to its fleet, bringing the total for its larger ships to 78. By fiscal 2029, it should have 91 of these ships, with the new additions to include a massive multipurpose patrol vessel.

The actual JCG staff size has steadily diverged from its maximum allowed size, with the gap being vacant positions. The shortage stood at 259 personnel at the end of fiscal 2013, but had soared to 665 at the end of fiscal 2024.

This was the first time the figure topped 600. The JCG had a particularly severe shortage of crew members for its large patrol vessels, with 355 open spaces and a personnel vacancy rate of 12%, as of January.

In addition to ensuring security in Japan’s territorial waters, the JCG’s wide range of duties includes rescue missions and criminal investigations at sea, ensuring safety of navigation and conducting ocean research.

If the personnel shortfall continues to worsen, it could become harder to operate the JCG’s vessels and to operate them safely.

“We’re taking this situation seriously,” Daisuke Furukawa, head of the JCG’s human resources division, told The Yomiuri Shimbun. “We will deal with these challenges by doing everything we can and by not being bound by precedent, focusing foremost on rehiring personnel.”
 
 

Germany's new government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to deepen defense cooperation with Japan, according to a senior think tank official.

In view of disruptions to international cooperation caused by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Germany is increasingly acknowledging the need to work with "partners that really do share" common values, Alexandra Sakaki, deputy head of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs' Asia Division, said in an interview with Jiji Press.

The European power has enhanced its military commitment in the Indo-Pacific region by deploying warships and fighter jets to Japan, with an aim to counter China's hegemonic moves.

Pointing out that Johann Wadephul, an experienced politician well versed in Japan-Germany affairs, was appointed foreign minister, Sakaki said the new administration will "focus very much on Japan."

Especially the defense industry and economic security will be the next target areas for bilateral cooperation, she suggested.
 
 

Petal Ads, Huawei's leading global mobile advertising platform, today successfully hosted the "Think Tank 2025" seminar in Japan.

The event convened prominent brands and domestic agencies from the travel, beauty, luxury goods and lifestyle services sectors to showcase Huawei's all-scenario intelligent advertising solutions built on the HarmonyOS ecosystem, offering Japanese enterprises fresh digital-marketing strategies for entering the Chinese and wider global markets.

As a technology company deeply rooted in Japan for nearly two decades, Huawei leverages its global ecosystem and the innovation of HarmonyOS to continuously empower partners' digital transformation.

"Through in-depth local insights, we have built an intelligent advertising platform that connects global users," said Zhou Rong, Director of Asia-Pacific Ecosystem Development and Operations at Huawei Consumer Business Group.

"Petal Ads' unique all-scenario solutions not only precisely reach segmented audiences but also help Japanese brands unlock commercial value in cross-cultural communication."

At the seminar, Yang Yang, Global Marketing Director of Huawei Ads, presented an integrated marketing strategy within the HarmonyOS ecosystem.

Syaliza Abd Aziz, Japan representative of the Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, discussed her organization's strategic partnership with Petal Ads on Visit Malaysia 2026. Colin Duan, Chief Product Officer of third-party data firm QuestMobile, used detailed analytics to decode Chinese internet users' consumption patterns in travel, beauty and other industries, providing decision-making insights for Japanese companies' local-market campaigns.

Fukuzumi Ryo, co-founder of leading Japanese ad agency Unbot, shared multiple success stories on site, demonstrating Petal Ads' technical strengths in precise customer acquisition and performance conversion in Japan.

The upgraded "Think Tank 2025" marks a significant milestone in Petal Ads' globalization strategy. With three core advantages—intelligent ad technology, a premium global user base and customizable all-scenario solutions—the platform now delivers monetization services to 53,000 apps across more than 200 industries worldwide.

Looking ahead, Petal Ads will deepen strategic collaborations with its Japanese partners and continue to foster more high-quality brands' international growth through an innovative digital-marketing ecosystem.

Petal Ads is Huawei Terminal Cloud Services' global commercial-service platform, dedicated to providing advertisers and developers with intelligent marketing and traffic-monetization solutions.

As of March 2023, the platform spans over 200 industry verticals and operates in more than 170 countries and regions, continually empowering partners' commercial growth and brand enhancement via HarmonyOS's all-scenario intelligent distribution capabilities.
 

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato discussed the challenges posed by the US tariff policy in Milan, Italy, on Sunday.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN+3 Finance Ministers’ and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting, Sri Mulyani noted that Japan’s experience in dealing with the trade war with the US in the 1980s offers valuable insights and is an important reference in shaping the steps forward.

“(During the meeting) I conveyed that Indonesia received a positive response from the US government as one of the first mover countries that proactively negotiate tariffs,” she wrote on her Instagram account.

As part of the negotiations, Sri Mulyani highlighted that Indonesia has prepared a comprehensive policy package addressing various issues, including tariff and non-tariff barriers, as well as tracking the US trade deficit.

"Our discussion also covered the impact of escalating tariff wars on the automotive and electronics industries that have long been pillars of global trade and dominated by the US, Japan, China, and Europe,” she stated.

Earlier, Sri Mulyani stated that Indonesia's bargaining position remains neutral amid tensions between the US and China over reciprocal tariffs.

"Indonesia, both as the largest country in ASEAN and in its relations with the US and China, which are experiencing escalating tensions, maintains a fairly neutral position that is respected and taken into account,” she noted.

“This is a good bargaining power that we must maintain," she stressed.

She expressed optimism that Indonesia's relatively strong bargaining position is supported by its stable economic performance. With this support, Indonesia has sufficient capital to face the dynamic and tense global situation.

So far, the Indonesian government and the Office of the US Trade Representatives (USTR) have signed a non-disclosure agreement, marking the start of the technical discussion phase set to take place in the next two weeks.

The agreement resulted from negotiations between the Indonesian and US governments following President Donald Trump’s announcement to impose reciprocal tariffs on numerous countries, including Indonesia, which now faces a 32 percent tariff.

However, on April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause on the policy’s implementation for most countries, excluding China. Indonesia is among the countries granted the full three-month reprieve.
 

The governments of Indonesia and Japan are deepening their strategic cooperation in new and renewable energy (EBT) and environmentally sustainable infrastructure development through the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) framework.

A key project exemplifying this collaboration is the Muara Labuh Geothermal Power Plant (PLTP) located in South Solok, West Sumatra.

The strengthening of this partnership was formalized through a signing ceremony between Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday, May 5, 2025. In this context, Kishida is serving as the Special Envoy of the Japanese Prime Minister to AZEC.

Airlangga announced that the 80-megawatt Muara Labuh PLTP project achieved financial close on April 18, 2025, and is poised to enter the construction phase.

Reflecting on the collaborative efforts at the Muara Labuh PLTP, Minister Airlangga noted the continued growth of trade and investment relations between the two nations.

"In 2024, the value of Indonesia-Japan trade reached US$35 billion, and Japanese investment increased by 52 percent from 2021 to US$3.5 billion," Airlangga stated in a written press release on Monday, May 5, 2025.

Airlangga highlighted that Japan is currently Indonesia's sixth-largest investor, with over 12,000 strategic projects. He also expressed appreciation for Japan's support in the advancement of green energy and technological innovation.

"We deeply appreciate Japan's commitment and leadership in fostering sustainable development. This reflects the shared aspiration of both countries to cultivate mutually beneficial economic cooperation," he affirmed.

During the meeting, Airlangga emphasized Indonesia's pivotal role as Japan's primary partner within AZEC. He noted that 175 Memoranda of Understanding have already been signed by business entities from both countries.

Furthermore, he stated the government's commitment to accelerating the realization of these low-emission projects by addressing various challenges through cross-sector collaboration and public-private partnerships.

The Golkar Party politician added that the government is also actively promoting the advancement of other AZEC projects, including the Legok Nangka waste-to-energy plant, the development of sustainable aviation fuel, the Sarulla geothermal power plant, and the Java-Sumatra transmission network.

"These projects show the seriousness of Indonesia and Japan in expediting the transition to clean energy and green economic development. The visit of former Prime Minister Kishida reinforces our commitment to continued collaboration for a low-carbon future," he asserted.

The meeting also included a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement between PT Supreme Energy Muara Labuh and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Airlangga explained that this agreement marks a significant step in the development of the Muara Labuh geothermal power plant project, which is targeted for commercial operation in the first quarter of 2027.
 

The defense ministers of Japan and India have agreed to deepen cooperation between their forces, including starting discussions toward establishing a senior officer-level dialogue body, as China continues to expand its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh also affirmed that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Indian military will increase their joint exercises, Nakatani told reporters after their talks in New Delhi.

The envisaged dialoguebody will be in charge of coordinating the overall collaborative work between their forces, according to Japanese government officials.

At the outset of the meeting, which was open to the media, Nakatani said stronger ties between the two countries have become "more important" with the situation surrounding them becoming "growingly complicated and uncertain" at a time U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region remains unclear.

Singh told Nakatani that he hopes to continue bilateral defense equipment and technology collaboration with Japan.

Japan has been stepping up security ties with India by increasing joint drills in recent years and reinforcing defense capabilities in the space and cyber domains.

Japan and India have also been discussing a plan to transfer Unicorn communication antennas similar to those installed on a new Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer.

The meeting came after Tokyo approached New Delhi about participating in the Global Combat Air Program, an initiative involving Japan, Britain and Italy to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035, according to government sources.

Japan and India are members of the Quad grouping of Indo-Pacific democracies that also includes the United States and Australia. The framework is widely seen as a counterweight to China.

Nakatani is on a four-day trip from Saturday that has also taken him to Sri Lanka.
 
 

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SUMFGI.UL) (SMBC) is close to agreement on acquiring a stake in Yes Bank with the Japanese firm eyeing a majority 51% equity in the Indian lender, three sources familiar with the deal said on Tuesday.

If the deal goes through, it could potentially be the largest in India's banking sector, where deal-making, especially involving foreign entities, is rare.

Shares of Yes Bank soared nearly 10% at one point on Tuesday. They were up 1.6% as of 1 p.m. local time (0730 GMT), valuing the lender at 565 billion rupees ($6.7 billion).

Restrictions on ownership, stricter capital requirements, and state domination of the banking sector have curbed foreign banks' operations in India. A takeover of troubled Lakshmi Vilas Bank by Singapore-based DBS Group in 2020 was the last major deal in the sector.

SMBC, a unit of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Japan's second-biggest bank, has been in discussions with Yes Bank's largest investor, State Bank of India and India's central bank since last year, but the negotiations faltered amid concerns over ownership and voting rights.

Now, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given SMBC a verbal go-ahead and a deal structure would be announced by June, one of the sources said.
Another source said SBI "is negotiating with SMBC to chalk out the final contours of the deal, but is yet to take the proposal to the board."

Yes Bank, in an exchange filing, said that it "routinely explores opportunities" with various stakeholders, which are aimed at enhancing shareholder value. However, such discussions are "preliminary" and do not warrant disclosures, it said.

The information pertaining to these discussions is "speculative" at this time and are not factually correct, Yes Bank said, referring to reports in various media on the potential deal.

None of the sources wished to be identified as the talks are private. The RBI, SMBC and SBI did not immediately respond to Reuters' emails seeking comment.

SBI holds a 24% stake in Yes Bank, as a result of the regulator-led restructuring of the lender in March 2020.

ICICI Bank (ICBK.NS), opens new tab, HDFC Bank (HDBK.NS), opens new tab, Kotak Mahindra Bank (KTKM.NS), opens new tab, Axis Bank (AXBK.NS), opens new tab and Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIFI.NS)

, opens new tab together hold an 11.34% stake in Yes Bank.
Indian regulations need the largest shareholder of a bank to reduce their shareholding to 26% in 15 years.

For the SMBC-Yes deal, "the RBI is clear" that the Japanese firm's voting rights will be capped at 26%, the first source said.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will have to continue dealing with a host of difficult issues at home and abroad after the country's Golden Week holiday period ends Tuesday.

The course of Japan-U.S. negotiations on the high tariff policy of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is the biggest of the challenges facing the Ishiba government.

The outcome of the ongoing bilateral negotiations will certainly have a major impact on this summer's election for Japan's House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, and may affect the fate of the Ishiba administration, political watchers say.

"We are discussing all (U.S.) tariff measures, including tariffs on automobiles, steel and aluminum," Ishiba told reporters at his official residence Saturday, reiterating Tokyo's stance of calling on the U.S. side to review its tariff measures.

The gap between Tokyo and Washington is large, however, as the U.S. side apparently plans to put so-called reciprocal tariffs on the agenda of the bilateral negotiations while not including automobile, steel and aluminum tariffs from the scope of topics.
 
 

Japan was likely the fourth-largest official development assistance provider last year among members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with Britain reclaiming third place, according to the body's preliminary data.

The United States remained the top ODA donor in 2024 among the 32 member countries of the OECD Development Assistance Committee, with $63.3 billion, down 4.4 percent from 2023 in real terms, the OECD said in a report released in April.

Following Germany's $32.4 billion, down 17.2 percent, and Britain's $18.0 billion, down 10.8 percent, Japan's aid was estimated at $16.8 billion, down 10.3 percent, with France trailing at $15.4 billion, nearly unchanged from a year earlier, the report said.

Japan had held the position of third-largest donor sincesurpassing Britain in 2021. The decline in its donations in 2024 was mainly due to the yen's depreciation, the Foreign Ministry said.

A Foreign Ministry official said the decline also came in contrast to the sharp increases seen in 2022 and 2023 when many development projects backed by Japan resumed after being suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The OECD will finalize the data, calculated by international standards under the grant equivalent system, around year-end, the official said.
 

 

Japan views ODA as one of its "most important diplomatic tools" as it pursues a "free and open" Indo-Pacific amid China's growing military and economic clout, though it faces a tight fiscal situation with its public debt more than twice the size of gross domestic product.

The report by the OECD, a Paris-based club of mostly wealthy nations, also showed that overall ODA by Development Assistance Committee members fell 7.1 percent in real terms in 2024 to $212.1 billion, marking the first decline after five consecutive years of growth.

The result was because of "a reduction in contributions to international organizations, as well as a decrease in aid for Ukraine," the organization said, referring to the support for the Eastern European nation fighting a Russian invasion since 2022.

The net ODA to Ukraine declined by 16.7 percent to $15.5 billion, accounting for 7.4 percent of the total aid, it said.

Lower levels of humanitarian aid and reduced spending on hosting refugees in donor countries were also contributing factors, the OECD added.
 

 

President Prabowo Subianto received a visit from the Japanese Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Fumio Kishida, and a delegation at his residence in Kertanegara, Jakarta, on Sunday, May 4.

Kishida, who is also a former Japanese prime minister and his entourage, arrived at Prabowo's residence at around 19:00 WIB.

During the meeting, Kishida delivered a letter from the Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba, to President Prabowo.

"Yes, of course, former PM Kishida conveyed a letter from the Prime Minister Ishiba which was conveyed directly to the President and one of its contents related to his special entry of the prime minister specifically for the AZEC (Asia Zero Emission Community) projects," said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto in his statement after the meeting.

In addition to conveying an official message from the Japanese government, the two parties also discussed the development of a cooperation project within the framework of the AZEC. According to Airlangga, currently Indonesia has more than 170 MoUs with Japan.

"Tomorrow there will be a financial closing signing of the project in Muara Laboh, West Sumatra, where the project is 80 geothermal megawatts with an investment of around US$500 million," said Airlangga.

President Prabowo also expressed his appreciation for the close cooperation between Indonesia and Japan. He hopes that this collaboration can continue to be strengthened amid the challenges of global uncertainty.

"Mr. President appreciates Indonesia's cooperation with Japan and hopes that this can continue to be improved amidst uncertainty due to the tariff war," explained Airlangga.

After the meeting in the office, the agenda was continued with a banquet at night together. The atmosphere of intimacy colored President Prabowo's banquet to Kishida, confirming the close friendship between Indonesia and Japan.
 
 

Japan's estimated child population has shrunk for the 44th straight year to a new record low, government data showed Sunday, as the country struggles to reverse the declining trend of births.

The number of children under 15, including foreign residents, was 13.66 million as of April 1, down 350,000 from a year ago, according to data released by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications before the national Children's Day holiday on Monday.

The ratio of children to the overall population fell 0.2 percentage point to 11.1 percent, also the lowest since comparable data became available in 1950.

According to U.N. data, although the date of the survey differs, Japan has the second lowest ratio of children among 37 nations with a population of at least 40 million, only behind South Korea at 10.6 percent.

The Japanese government has put priority on fighting the country's rapidly declining birth rate and implemented initiatives such as providing more financial assistance to child-rearing households, expanding daycare services and allowing flexible workstyles for parents, but the initiatives have not stopped the decades-long decline.

By gender, there were 6.99 million boys and 6.66 million girls.
By age, 3.14 million children were 12 to 14, compared with 2.22 million in the 0 to 2 age group, indicating a continuing trend of fewer children being born.

Japan's child population has been falling continuously since 1982, having peaked in 1954 at 29.89 million, with a second baby boom observed between 1971 and 1974.

Government data also showed that as of Oct. 1 last year, the child population fell from a year ago in all 47 prefectures. The figure exceeded 1 million only in Tokyo and neighboring Kanagawa Prefecture.
 
 

Japan Airlines Co. said Friday its revenues rose 11.6 percent from the year before to 1.84 trillion yen in the fiscal year ended March, a record high since its relisting in 2012, boosted by robust demand from domestic and international travelers.

The company said it remains vigilant over the possible effect of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs policy on travel and cargo demand, saying the latest earnings results have not reflected the impact of the "extremely uncertain" and fluctuating Trump policies.

CEO Mitsuko Tottori told a press briefing that the latest result gave her "confidence" to pursue further growth as it reflected continued support by customers despite incidents of pilots drinking alcohol that prompted a business improvement order from the transport ministry.

Tottori said she hopes that the World Exposition in Osaka, running for six months from mid-April, will further boost inbound travelers, not only to the western Japan city but also to other regions in Japan using domestic airline services.

JAL's net profit for fiscal 2024 grew 12.0 percent to 107.04 billion yen. The number of domestic passengers increased 2.9 percent to 36.13 million, and international travelers rose 14.4 percent to 7.58 million.

The figures picked up from fall and winter seasons after some people likely avoided traveling during the hot Japanese summer, the company said.

For the current fiscal year that began in April, the company expects its net profit to rise 7.4 percent to 115 billion yen on sales of 1.98 trillion yen, up 7.2 percent.
 
 

The Bank of Japan is closely monitoring U.S. tariff policy, as it could impact the timing of Japan’s rate hikes given the significant uncertainty the tariffs inject into the economic and price outlook.

At a press conference on Thursday, BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda reaffirmed that the bank would consider raising interest rates once it believes that its economic and price outlook will be realized.

However, given the major turmoil stirred up by U.S. tariffs, market observers have expressed divergent views about when interest rates will be hiked.


Outlook uncertain

The BOJ’s Outlook Report, released on Thursday, presented revised projections of inflation: 2.2% for fiscal 2025, 1.7% for fiscal 2026 and 1.9% for fiscal 2027. Notably, these forecasts have been revised downward for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 compared to the report issued in January.

During the press conference, Ueda said that the BOJ would be “slightly delayed” in reaching its target of stable 2% inflation, with that result now being expected between late fiscal 2026 and the end of fiscal 2027.

However, Ueda did not clarify whether rate hikes would be put off. This lack of clarity stems from the uncertainty associated with U.S. tariffs, which could prompt significant changes to the economic and price outlook.

“Considering the somewhat limited certainty of the [economic and price] outlook, there is a substantial probability that changes in conditions, such as tariffs, will require revisions to the outlook,” said Ueda.


Divided views

At its latest policy board meeting, the BOJ remained firm on raising the policy interest rate if “underlying inflation,” which excludes temporary factors such as rising rice prices, approaches 2%.

According to Shinichiro Kobayashi of Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting Co., the prospect of a rate hike this year has almost vanished. He believes an economic slowdown is inevitable, regardless of whether tariff negotiations between the United States and other countries produce results.

“I think the Bank of Japan will likely hike rates no earlier than the start of next year. A rate hike will be more likely if wage increases are expected to remain elevated in the 2026 spring labor negotiations,” he said.

Takeshi Minami, of Norinchukin Research Institute Co., noted that there was a risk of inflation slowing down, and saw the BOJ possibly considering a raise in rates around autumn.
 
 

The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump told Japan in their second ministerial meeting on Washington's tariff policy that it aims to focus mainly on reciprocal tariffs in its negotiations with Tokyo while not including duties on automobiles, steel and aluminum, it was learned Friday.

At the second round of negotiations, held in Washington on Thursday, Japanese economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and others for about 130 minutes.

While the U.S. side showed its intention to discuss mainly reciprocal tariffs, Japan, with an aim to put tariffs on specific areas such as automobiles also on the agenda, urged Washington again to review a series of its additional tariff measures.

At a press conference after the meeting, Akazawa said that the two sides deepened concrete discussions on trade expansion, nontariff barriers and cooperation in economic security.

The chief Japanese tariff negotiator expressed his hope that an agreement will be reached between the leaders of the two countries in June after intensive ministerial talks in or after mid-May.
 
 

All modes of transportation experienced peak congestion Saturday, the first day of the four-day holiday in the second half of Japan's Golden Week, as the travel and return rush intensified, operators said.

Reserved seats on shinkansen bullet trains were quickly filled, while many domestic flights were at full capacity. Train stations and airports were packed with travelers, with long traffic jams expected on expressways.

Most seats on Nozomi bullet trains departing Tokyo on the Tokaido Shinkansen Line were already booked Saturday morning. Reservations for other shinkansen lines were also mostly filled from the first services of the day through early afternoon.

According to All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines, only a few seats were available on domestic flights departing from Tokyo's Haneda airport.

Expressway operators said outbound traffic from major cities including Tokyo was set to be heaviest on Saturday, while the return rush is likely to peak on Monday.
 
 

Japan placed 66th in the 2025 freedom of press rankings announced by Reporters Without Borders on Friday, the lowest among the Group of Seven major countries.

Japan climbed four positions from last year, with the international journalist organization noting that "the principles of media freedom and pluralism are generally respected" in the country.

But RSF said, "Traditional and business interests, political pressure and gender inequalities often prevent journalists from completely fulfilling their role as watchdogs."

The government and corporations "routinely exert pressure" on the management of mainstream media, resulting in "heavy self-censorship" on topics that could be deemed sensitive, such as corruption and sexual harassment, it added.

The United States ranked 57th, down by two positions, and was second to last among the G7 countries.

While economic constraints have led to the closures of a number of local news outlets and a decline in press freedom, "Donald Trump's return to the presidency is greatly exacerbating the situation," RSF said.

News outlets in the United States have been jeopardized as Trump banned the Associated Press from the White House and dismantled the U.S. Agency for Global Media, RSF said, adding that politicians' open disdain for the media has trickled down to the public and that journalists reporting on the ground can face harassment, intimidation and assault as a result.

Meanwhile, Norway held the top position for the ninth consecutive year.
Germany ranked 11th, the highest in the G7. Among other countries, South Korea placed 61st, Russia 171st, China 178th and North Korea 179th. Eritrea ranked 180th and was at the bottom of the 2025 rankings.
 

 

Motorist held in Osaka on suspicion of attempted murder after seven children injured, according to local media

Police in the Japanese city of Osaka have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after he drove his car into seven schoolchildren, according to local media.

The children were walking home from school when the suspect appeared to deliberately drive the car at them on a quiet residential street at about 1.30pm local time, the public broadcaster NHK reported.

A seven-year-old girl suffered a broken jaw and the other children – boys and girls aged seven and eight – are reported to have relatively light injuries. All appeared to be conscious as they were taken to hospital.

Police arrested Yuki Yazawa, 28, an unemployed man from Higashimurayama city in Tokyo, at the scene. It is not clear why he was in Osaka.

“I was just sick of everything so I decided to drive my car into the elementary school students to kill them,” Yazawa told police, according to NHK.

Teachers from the primary school are reported to have pulled the suspect out of the car, where he had remained after driving into the children.

A mother in her 20s who had come to pick up her son, and who saw the attack, told NHK: “The car was being driven erratically, and it seems that it continued to move forward even after it had hit the children.

“My son was very shocked and has been crying the whole time. He only just started elementary school last month, and then something like this happened. It’s scary. I saw the man who had been driving the car. He was very quiet and appeared to be in a daze.”

Another witness told NHK that the car reversed back into the children after crashing into them.

An elementary school pupil told another news outlet, MBS News, that the man in the car had been “driving unsteadily”.

“I was walking along the side of the road and the car and suddenly it almost drove into us. The second and third graders in front of me were injured and were bleeding from their heads after being trapped between the car and the wall,” the pupil said.

A white SUV that appeared to be the one used by the suspect was being examined by police.
 
 

One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines came to a halt after a snake tangled itself in a power line, causing a power outage.

Tokaido Shinkansen trains running between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended from around 17:25 local time on Wednesday.

Services resumed at around 19:00 local time, operator Central Japan Railway Company said, according to local media.

Japan is currently in one of its busiest holiday seasons, Golden Week, which consists of four national holidays in seven days, and will see trains, airports and holiday hotspots hit their peak.

Osaka is also hosting the World Expo this year, which will see millions of foreign and domestic visitors flock to the city until it ends in October.

The snake entanglement occurred between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, which suspended Tokyo-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Nagoya, and the Osaka-bound trains between Shin-Osaka and Tokyo, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo News.

While authorities worked to get power restored, passengers reportedly gathered around staff at one station while large queues formed at ticket machines.

One frequent shinkansen traveller, who was returning to Tokyo, said it was the first time he had experienced this.

"I use the shinkansen several times a month, but this is the first time I have experienced suspensions due to a power outage," Satoshi Tagawa, 46, told Kyodo News.

But 26-year-old Kazutoshi Tachi, said he was "fed up with the troubles" to services.

"I want them to run on time," he added.

This is not the first time a snake has brought the shinkansen service to a halt.
In April 2024, there was a 17-minute hold-up while authorities removed a 16 inch (40.6cm) snake from the train between Nagoya and Tokyo, according to CBS News, BBC News's US partner.
 
 

Shouting “banzai!” or “live long,” thousands of people gathered in a Tokyo park on Thursday and marched through the streets to the banging of traditional drums, as Japan kicked off celebrations to mark May Day.

The holiday, also known as International Workers' Day or Labor Day, marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labor movement around the world.

“For our children to be able to live with hope, the rights of workers must be recognized,” said Junko Kuramochi, a member of a mothers’ group who marched in Japan's capital.

Crowds gathered from the northernmost main island of Hokkaido to the tropical island of Amami, and in major cities like Kyoto and Hiroshima.

Their demands were wide-ranging and included higher wages, gender equality, health care, reduced military spending and disaster relief for earthquake victims. They also demanded a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Workers unite! Workers of the world! May Day!” they shouted, punctuating each exclamation with the word “banzai!”

Some said U.S. President Donald Trump’s policies hung over the day like a shadow. One truck in the Tokyo march featured a doll that looked like Trump.

Tadashi Ito, a union construction worker in Japan, said he worried about the potential for rising prices of imported raw materials in the months ahead.
“Everybody is fighting over work and so the contracts tend to go where the wages are cheapest,” he said. “We think peace comes first. And we hope Trump will eradicate conflict and inequalities.”

In Indonesia, President Prabowo Subianto took to the streets of the capital, Jakarta, to greet thousands of workers who cheered him amid tight police and military security in National Monument Park.

“The government that I lead will work as hard as possible to eliminate poverty from Indonesia,” Subianto told the crowd.

About 200,000 Indonesian workers were expected to take part in May Day marches across Southeast Asia’s largest economy, according to Said Iqbal, president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions.

They are demanding an end to outsourcing rules, wage raises, and protection for domestic workers and migrant workers abroad, Iqbal said.

U.S. organizers say their message this year is focused on fighting back against President Donald Trump’s policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity initiatives.Los Angeles is expected to host one of the world's largest May Day events this year, and a banner there summarized the day’s theme: “One Struggle, One Fight – Workers Unite!”

“We’re bringing the fight to the billionaires and politicians who are trying to divide us with fear and lies.

We know the truth — an attack on immigrant workers is an attack on all workers,” April Verrett, president of the Service Employees International Union, which represents 2 million workers, said in a statement.
 
 

 

 
Mixed martial arts (MMA) will make its Asian Games debut next year when Nagoya hosts the continent's premier sporting event, organizers said on Tuesday.

Cricket was also formally approved for inclusion at the Games during a meeting in host city Nagoya on Monday —despite doubts about where exactly the sport will take place.

"MMA will feature six events in its Asian Games debut and be classed as a discipline under combat sports," the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said.
The OCA and local organizers will hold meetings this week as they ramp up preparations for the 2026 Games, which will be in Nagoya and elsewhere in Aichi Prefecture.

As many as 15,000 athletes could compete at the Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 Games next year — more participants than the Olympics.

The OCA said that cricket will be played somewhere in Aichi but it is unclear where because there is currently no venue in the prefecture for the sport.

T20 cricket was played at the COVID-delayed Asian Games in China in 2023 and will return to the Olympic program in Los Angeles in 2028.

In December, Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura said the build-up to the Asian Games was going smoothly.

His remarks came after Japanese media said the OCA was not happy with preparations and had accused local organizers of not sticking to the host city contract.

Reports said the OCA had demanded improvements in several areas, including accommodation and transport for athletes and teams.
Next year will be the 20th edition of the Asian Games.
 
 

Former leaders of Japan's junior ruling party Komeito held talks with a senior official of the Communist Party of China in Beijing on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Natsuo Yamaguchi and Keiichi Ishii, former heads of Komeito, the junior coalition partner of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, exchanged views on culture and education with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the CPC's Central Committee.

"It's important to build deep interactions across various fields, such as education, culture and sports, not just between political parties," Yamaguchi told the press after the meeting.

During their three-day trip to China through Wednesday, Yamaguchi and others visited Tsinghua University in Beijing and a local Japanese school in Tianjin.
 
 

 

During the meeting, LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, who chairs the parliamentary group, said, “We would like to show concrete results and make efforts on both sides so that the people of Japan and China can feel happy about the development of Japan-China relations.”

A delegation from the Japan-China Parliamentary Friendship Association, a nonpartisan group of Japanese lawmakers, confirmed with the third-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party the importance of expanding bilateral exchanges between China and Japan, in Beijing on Tuesday.
 
The delegation met with Zhao Leji, who is also the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

During the meeting, LDP Secretary General Hiroshi Moriyama, who chairs the parliamentary group, said, “We would like to show concrete results and make efforts on both sides so that the people of Japan and China can feel happy about the development of Japan-China relations.”

Moriyama called for an early response regarding the resumption of imports of Japanese marine products. In response, Zhao said: “We are well aware of Japan’s high level of interest. There has been positive communication between the sections concerned.”

Moriyama also requested the loan of new pandas in light of the impending deadline for the return of giant pandas kept in the town of Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, and at the Ueno Zoo in Tokyo.

Fourteen lawmakers are participating in the visit to China, which began on Sunday. Members include Moriyama; Banri Kaieda, a Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker, who was a former vice speaker of the House of Representatives; Motohisa Furukawa, acting representative of the Democratic Party for the People; and Kazuo Shii, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party.

On Monday, the delegation met with Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, an international exchange organization.

At the meeting, Moriyama stressed that “personal exchange and mutual understanding are indispensable for putting Japan-China relations on a positive track.” In response, Yang said that “the visit to China will be of great significance in improving mutual political trust.”

Natsuo Yamaguchi, former chief representative of Komeito, and others also arrived in China on Monday, following the visit of Komeito Chief Representative Tetsuo Saito, who stayed from April 22 to 24. Yamaguchi and others will engage in educational and cultural exchanges between Japan and China until Wednesday.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Wednesday he succeeded in building "relations of trust" with the leaderships in Vietnam and the Philippines during his trip to the two Southeast Asian nations.

Ishiba told reporters in Manila before he left for Tokyo that his four-day trip was "meaningful," saying the agreements reached on strengthening security ties will foster "peace, stability and the rule of law" in the region, in an apparent reference to concerns over China's military clout.

Ishiba agreed with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on Monday to set up a vice-ministerial-level foreign affairs and defense dialogue framework with the first meeting to take place this year in Japan.
In Manila on Tuesday, Ishiba and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

affirmed that discussions will start on an information-sharing pact and an acquisition and cross-servicing deal to facilitate joint defense drills.

"We had quite in-depth and honest discussions," Ishiba said of his meetings with four Vietnamese leaders, also including To Lam, general secretary of the ruling Vietnamese Communist Party, and with Marcos.

"It is important to establish ties that would make us want to meet again, and I think we were able to achieve that," he added.

Japan has been ramping up security cooperation with Southeast Asian countries in recent years, as China intensifies its military activities in the resource-rich South China Sea, home to one of the world's busiest maritime sea lanes, as well as the East China Sea.

It was Ishiba's third trip to Southeast Asia since he took office in October. He visited Laos that month and Malaysia and Indonesia in January.
 
 

The research aims to confirm whether the checked meat has abnormalities through AI analysis of photographs.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry plans to start research this fiscal year on artificial intelligence programs for checking whether meat is safe for consumption before being shipped out.

The checks will be conducted by prefectural governments. The research aims to confirm whether the checked meat has abnormalities through AI analysis of photographs.

The goal is to reduce the workload in meat inspection facilities, as there is a shortage of licensed veterinarians serving as local government officials, who are needed to conduct the checks.

If the effectiveness of the method is confirmed, the ministry plans to introduce it nationwide.

Meat is shipped out after local governments or private meat-processing facilities check whether it is safe to consume.

Laws require that local government officials with veterinarian licenses conduct the checks in most cases. The veterinarians examine livestock, dressed carcasses and organs both visually and through touch.

If the animals or meat are found to have signs of diseases or other abnormalities, they are removed from shipment lines.

However, there is a nationwide shortage of officials with veterinarian licenses. Many who have obtained a veterinarian license aim to work in animal hospitals where pets are treated.

When The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted a survey on veterinarian employment in local governments in fiscal 2023, about 90% of prefectural governments were unable to employ the expected numbers.

Japan’s export of meat, mainly of the wagyu variety of cattle, has been increasing thanks to government support.

In fiscal 2023, a total of about 2,200 local government officials with veterinarian licenses conducted checks on at least 1 million cows and about 16 million pigs, and roughly 1,100 licensed officials checked about 830 million poultry.

Many local governments have narrowly been able to conduct checks by reemploying veterinarians who had retired.

If the shortage of veterinarians worsens, local governments may be unable to assign veterinarians to other duties, such as public health sanitation work.
The ministry has therefore decided to utilize AI for the checks.

In the research, AI-assisted image analysis systems will help veterinarians visually check meat.

The research will take place in Hokkaido, Ibaraki Prefecture and Miyazaki Prefecture across three years through fiscal 2027.

Prof. Yasukazu Muramatsu of Rakuno Gakuen University, an expert of veterinary public health who heads the research team, said: “Depending on the outcome of the research, it can be expected that the workplace burden on veterinarians will be drastically reduced. Because the checks affect food safety, we aim to raise the accuracy of AI to match the level of checks by veterinarians.”
 
 

Hiroshi Moriyama, secretary-general of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Tuesday called for concrete results on pending issues between Japan and China, apparently referring to Tokyo's demand that Beijing remove its restrictions on imports of Japanese fisheries products.

There are pending issues between Japan and China, said Moriyama, who was visiting China as part of a delegation from a suprapartisan group of Japanese lawmakers promoting friendship between the two countries.

It is necessary for Japan and China to build a relationship in which politicians meet face-to-face and to deepen mutual understanding and trust, Moriyama said in a meeting with Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress and the third-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party.

Both sides need to make efforts so that the people of the two countries will feel good about the development of Japan-China relations, said Moriyama, head of the Japanese suprapartisan lawmakers' group.

In the meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Zhao said that improving and developing Japan-China relations meet the fundamental interests of both sides.
 
 

Japanese people now have more options than ever if they wish to have a funeral for, or with, their pet -- be it a dog, cat or even a bug.

Demand for joint burials with pets has grown in recent years despite religious prohibitions, with one pioneer company in Tokyo providing "with pet" graves since 2003.

Memorial Art Ohnoya Inc. offers such graves in seven cemeteries in Japan and allows the remains of the pet to be interred even if it dies before the owner. The company has been contracted for its pet services around 1,500 times.

A man who began looking for a family grave site when his father died said he applied immediately upon finding the service as his family could not "contemplate being apart" from their dog, even after death.

"We respond to requests from those wanting to rest with their irreplaceable pets," said Yasunari Hakozaki from Ohnoya. "Some cemeteries also provide basins so that when people visit the grave with their pets, the pets can wash their feet."

Fuga, operator of tombstone retailer "Ishi no Miyabi," offers joint graves for owners and pets at its cemeteries in the cities of Kobe and Akashi in Hyogo Prefecture. It allows tombstones to be designed in line with the pet owners' wishes.

One example featured two cats in the middle of a circular tombstone. The animals' pictures were transferred onto a ceramic board, which is less likely to weather when outside.

At the Ai Pet Ceremony Amagasaki in Hyogo, people can bring their beetles and other insects personally or even send them by mail to have them buried. The facility provides memorial services once a month and notes that their deaths can help children learn about mortality.
 
 

• Hyundai Motor holds handover ceremony with Iwasaki Group on Yakushima Island, Japan, for Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses
• Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN buses are optimized for Yakushima's environment, with Vehicle Dynamics Control and advanced battery management and cooling systems
• The initiative demonstrates Hyundai Motor's strong commitment to its vision of 'Progress for Humanity' and to building a more sustainable future worldwide

Seoul, South Korea and Yakushima, Japan, (ANTARA/PRNewswire)- Hyundai Motor Company today held a handover ceremony to deliver Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN electric buses to Tanegashima Yakushima Kotsu, a regional transportation and tourism service provider operated by the Iwasaki Group in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan.

The initiative marks a significant step in transitioning to zero-emission public transport on Yakushima Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The event was attended by Jaehoon Chang, Vice Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Toshiyuki Shimegi, CEO of Hyundai Mobility Japan; Yoshitaro Iwasaki, CEO of Iwasaki Group; and Koji Araki, Mayor of Yakushima.

The handover follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024 between the two parties for the purchase of Hyundai ELEC City TOWN buses.

"I am delighted to see Hyundai's ELEC City electric buses running here on Yakushima, contributing towards a cleaner island environment," said Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chair Jaehoon Chang. "Being part of Yakushima's zero-emission island initiative is a significant step towards achieving carbon neutrality on the island by 2050."

Starting from June 2025, five Hyundai ELEC CITY TOWN buses will operate on Yakushima. These medium-sized, low-floor electric buses will be tailored to local conditions. They are equipped with a 145 kWh battery and a high-efficiency motor delivering a power output of up to 160 kW/217 PS.

The buses are equipped with Vehicle Dynamics Control to ensure safe and stable driving on the island's mountainous roads, characterized by steep slopes and sharp curves.

The buses also feature advanced battery management and cooling systems, optimized for Yakushima's hot and humid climate, enhancing charging performance, efficiency and driving range.

On Sunday, April 20th, ahead of the handover ceremony, Hyundai Motor signed a partnership agreement for the use of electric vehicles on Yakushima. The agreement includes utilizing the ELEC CITY TOWN's Vehicle-to-Home capabilities to supply power to evacuation shelters and medical facilities during natural disasters such as typhoons or periods of heavy rainfall.

Yakushima is located at the southwestern end of the Japanese archipelago and is known for its stunning natural scenery, often referred to as the 'Alps of the Ocean'. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the island is recognized as a leading eco-tourism destination, making emissions control essential for environmental preservation.

Kagoshima Prefecture has designated Yakushima as a key area in its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Yakushima aims to transition its vehicle fleet to primarily EVs as part of its aim to become a zero-emission island.

Hyundai Motor anticipates that the ELEC CITY TOWN buses will contribute to Yakushima's carbon neutrality goals by providing a mobility solution that supports local sustainability efforts and reflects the needs of the community.

This initiative aligns with Hyundai Motor's global vision of 'Progress for Humanity' and its ongoing commitment to building a more sustainable future.


 

When a severe rice shortage sent prices skyrocketing in Japan last year, Tokyo restaurant owner Arata Hirano did what had once seemed unthinkable: he switched to an American variety.  

The price of the Californian Calrose rice he buys has doubled since his first purchase last summer, but even so it's far cheaper than home-grown grains.
"Unless domestic prices fall below Calrose prices, I don't plan to switch back," said Hirano, whose restaurant offers meal sets of fish, rice, soup and sides.

His willingness to embrace foreign rice may presage a seismic change in mindset for Japanese businesses and consumers - one that could allow Tokyo leeway to relax some restrictions if rice becomes a thorny topic in tariff talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called out Japan's high levies on its staple grain.

Wholesale prices for domestic rice have surged about 70% over the past year to hit their highest levels since current records began in 2006. Crops were hit by extreme heat while a tourism boom has added to demand. Worries abound that not much will change this year.

With inflation also raising the cost of living, businesses are now betting that a nation of people known for their discerning palates and pride in their staple grain is open to change.

Supermarket giant Aeon last week began selling an 80-20 American-Japanese blend that's about 10% cheaper than domestic rice after a test sales-run proved a hit. Fast-food chain Matsuya and restaurant operator Colowide began serving pure American rice this year. At supermarket chain Seiyu, Taiwanese rice has been flying off the shelves since last year.

It's a sharp contrast to 1993, when the Thai rice the Japanese government imported during an acute shortage was largely shunned, leaving supermarkets with piles of unsold bags.

Rare shortages aside, for most of the past six decades, nearly all of Japan's so-called staple rice - which is consumed at meals as opposed to rice used for feed or ingredients in other products - has been home-grown. There hasn't been much need for imports while high tariffs, put in place to ensure Japanese self-sufficiency for its most basic food, have protected local farmers from competition.

Japan limits tariff-free "minimum access" imports of staple rice to 100,000 metric tons a year, or around 1% of total consumption. The U.S. accounted for roughly 60% of that amount last fiscal year, trailed by Australia, Thailand and Taiwan. Anything above that is subject to a levy of 341 yen per kilogram.

When Trump announced sweeping tariffs on much of the world this month, he lambasted Japan for what he said was a 700% tariff on rice, a reference to that levy. Japanese policymakers called his remarks on the sensitive topic "regrettable". They also dispute the 700% figure, saying it's based on outdated international rice prices.

It's unclear, however, just how much - if at all - rice will be discussed in bilateral tariff negotiations that began this week. Some analysts think Trump's Republican administration might not be focused on rice as exports to Japan come from California, a Democratic-leaning state. Nor is it clear how much Japan might be willing to yield in opening up its rice market.

In one sign that there might be room for some change, a panel advising the finance ministry on Tuesday proposed expanding imports of staple rice, saying that lifting the 100,000-ton tariff-free cap could help stabilize supply.

That said, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party is unlikely to risk angering farmers, traditionally a strong support base, ahead of upper house elections in July.

"It's not possible to make big concessions on rice just before the elections," said Junichi Sugawara, senior fellow at Tokyo-based Owls Consulting Group.

 

MORE IMPORTS TO COME

What is clear is that supply remains an issue. 
In the financial year that ended in March, tariff-free imports of staple rice hit Japan's 100,000-ton cap for the first time in seven years. 

The amount of tariffed imports, while still tiny, also jumped, quadrupling in the first 11 months of fiscal 2024 to just under 1,500 tons.

And this year, rice importer Kanematsu is shipping in its first large-scale purchase of American staple rice, 10,000 tons worth. 

"We're receiving many enquiries from the restaurant industry, convenience stores, supermarkets and rice wholesalers," a Kanematsu spokesperson said. 
In the week to April 6, Japanese supermarket rice prices hit an average of 4,214 yen ($29.65) per 5 kg, marking their 14th straight week of increase and more than double the same period a year earlier.

That's despite a rare release of rice from the government's emergency stockpiles that started last month and is set to continue every month through July.

As for the quality and taste of imported rice, Miki Nihei, a customer at Hirano's restaurant, Shokudou Arata, said she had no complaints and was surprised to learn it wasn't Japanese.

"I had no idea," she said. "I have no qualms about eating imported rice. Prices have gone up, so I'm always looking for cheaper options."
 
 

 

A "pocket park" in the central Japan prefecture of Shizuoka has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the world's smallest, measuring only 0.24 square meter with space for just one person to sit on a wooden seat on a rock.

Located in a corner of a residential area in the town of Nagaizumi, the park consists of small square raised bricks, small plants next to the stool and two stone monuments including one with a carving of the town's symbolic flower.

The park had been dubbed by locals as the "world's smallest park" and cherished as a resting space for more than 30 years, before it was officially recognized by Guinness in December.

Approximately 300 meters away from the town hall, the park was built in 1988 using land left over from road construction work.

A former official of the town proposed the idea of creating the tiny park after being inspired by Mill Ends Park in Oregon, the previous record-holder with an area of 0.29 square meter.

With local support, the town decided to challenge the world record in 2023. For expenses related to registering for the Guinness World Records, the town secured about 2.5 million yen, through its budget, online fundraising and private sector donations.

The town then hired a surveyor to measure the land and submitted a certificate that proved the park had existed for over five years. The space was also recategorized from being a part of a road to a park.

Since earning Guinness recognition, the park has become a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from outside Shizuoka.

"We hope this park will serve as an opportunity to promote our town," said Shuji Koyama of the town's construction management division.
 
 

 

Shinkansen bullet train services in western Japan were halted Monday evening after a person was hit by a train in Hiroshima Prefecture, JR West said.

The incident, which occurred between Fukuyama and Shin-Onomichi stations, led to the suspension of bullet train operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations around 5:50 p.m., the operator said.
Service is expected to resume around 8:30 p.m., it said.
 
 

Japan and Vietnam agreed to boost bilateral trade and uphold global rules on the free flow of goods as Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi while both countries engage in talks with Washington to avoid tariffs.

Ishiba's first trip to Vietnam, and his subsequent visit on Tuesday to the Philippines, mark the latest high-level East Asian meetings amid escalating global uncertainty triggered by the threat of crippling U.S. tariffs.

"The world economy is becoming more uncertain, and the impact on the Southeast Asian region is also becoming apparent," Ishiba told reporters on Monday after a meeting with Vietnam's Prime Minister Chinh.

In recent weeks, Vietnam has hosted China's President Xi Jinping and top South Korean ministers, while Tokyo has held a trilateral meeting with China and South Korea.

Early in April, the White House slapped "bilateral tariffs" of 46% on Vietnam and 24% on Japan. Those duties were later paused until July as bilateral talks are underway, but a 10% levy applies on all imports into the United States, which is a major market for both countries.

"We will cooperate to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law," Ishiba added in a joint press conference with Chinh where journalists' questions were not allowed.

Vietnam is a major assembling hub for large Japanese manufacturers, including Honda, Canon and Panasonic, with a total of $78 billion invested in the Southeast Asian country by Japanese firms, according to Vietnam's finance ministry. Japanese banks also hold strategic stakes in top Vietnamese lenders.

"The two countries agreed to uphold the global order of free trade based on international rules," Chinh said, after the two leaders signed four cooperation agreements, including on boosting trade in energy transition products and on research and development on semiconductors.

The content of the agreements was not disclosed and Reuters could not establish whether they entailed any binding or financial commitment.
Vietnam's top leader To Lam urged Japan to increase investment in infrastructure projects after he met Ishiba on Sunday, according to a report on Vietnam government's portal.

Japan has been involved in preliminary studies for the future construction of a high-speed railway connecting Hanoi to the southern business hub of Ho Chi Minh City, which with an estimated cost of $67 billion is Vietnam's most ambitious infrastructure project.

Leaders, however, did not explicitly mention railways among fields of cooperation. Vietnam has said it plans to finance the project largely on its own.
 
 

Core consumer prices in Japan’s capital rose 3.4% in April from a year earlier, data showed on Friday, accelerating for the second straight month and making the central bank’s task of balancing risks from higher U.S. tariffs and rising prices more challenging.

The increase in the core consumer price index (CPI), which excludes volatile fresh food costs, was faster than a median market forecast of 3.2% and followed a 2.4% gain in March.

The Tokyo core CPI rose above 3% for the first time since July 2023.
The higher reading reflected a reduction in government subsidies to curb electricity and gas bills, as well as a series of price hikes for food that took place on April 1, the start of Japan’s new financial year.

A separate index that strips away the effects of both fresh food and fuel costs, closely watched by the Bank of Japan as a broader price trend indicator, rose 3.1% in April from a year earlier after a 2.2% rise in March.
The Tokyo inflation figures are considered a leading indicator of nationwide trends.

The data comes ahead of the BOJ policy meeting on April 30-May 1, where the central bank is widely expected to keep short-term rates steady at 0.5%.

While BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has signaled the central bank’s readiness to keep raising rates, sweeping U.S. tariffs have complicated its decision on when and how far it could hike.

The BOJ will cut its economic growth forecasts and warn of escalating risks from U.S. tariffs, which are expected to dent global demand, sources have said.
 
 

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) confirmed the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in the upcoming 2025 Super Garuda Shield joint military exercise that will take place in Indonesia.

Head of the TNI Information Center, Brig. Gen. Kristomei Sianturi shared this information following a meeting between TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto and Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of the JSDF, General Yoshida Yoshihide at the TNI Headquarters in East Jakarta on Friday.

"The JSDF will take part in the 2025 Super Garuda Shield exercise, which will provide a platform for Indonesian and Japanese forces to enhance their interoperability and capacity," Sianturi told the media at the headquarters.

Sianturi emphasized that Japan's inclusion in the list of participating countries in the military exercise would benefit Indonesia significantly.

He said that hosting defense forces from various countries during the planned drill will give Indonesia valuable opportunities to exchange war strategies and defense technologies.

He affirmed that the 2025 Super Garuda Shield is also expected to pave the way for even stronger bilateral ties between Indonesia and Japan.

In addition to synergizing in the forthcoming event, Sianturi noted that the TNI would collaborate with Japan for non-war military operations, especially those concerning disaster mitigation.

The TNI officer explained that such collaboration could be implemented through joint disaster evacuation simulations and the exchange of personnel for capacity-building activities related to search and rescue operations.

"Since we regard the JSDF as a seasoned institution in delivering humanitarian assistance and mitigating disasters, we aim to explore potential future cooperation in this area," he stated.

The Super Garuda Shield is an annual multinational military exercise organized by the TNI, with participants from countries across the Indo-Pacific region.

This event is designed to facilitate the participating military forces to strengthen their capabilities and synergy among them.
 

A Türkiye-Japan economic partnership agreement seeking to reduce the imbalance in bilateral trade is still under negotiation, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat has said.

Attending a Türkiye-Japan CEO Round Table Meeting in the capital Tokyo on April 24, he said: "We believe that the agreement will be a strategic tool for diversifying and balancing trade, increasing investments, and establishing a true 'win-win' partnership."

"As we approach the final stages of negotiations, we are confident that we will find common ground that respects the sensitivities of both sides and paves the way for new opportunities," he added.

He said Türkiye has proven itself as a “regional center” in production and logistics with access to markets such as Europe, Asia, and Africa, adding that the two countries’ trade volume last year reached $5.4 billion.

Türkiye welcomed the 11.4 percent increase in Türkiye's exports to Japan last year, Bolat said, but added that the structural imbalance in trade is still an important problem.

The countries are determined to eliminate this imbalance and create a more sustainable trade structure, he stressed.

In Tokyo, he met with Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Nakano Hiromasa.

They reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in transportation, infrastructure and projects carried out in third countries based on a long-term partnership vision and sustainable development goals, Bolat said in a post on X.
 
 

Bereaved families and others on Friday mourned more than 100 people who died in a train derailment accident that occurred in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, 20 years ago.

Kazuaki Hasegawa, president of West Japan Railway Co., reiterated the company's apology in a memorial ceremony for the accident that happened on its Fukuchiyama Line in 2005 and left 106 passengers and the driver dead and 562 others injured.

 

"On that day, we took away precious and irreplaceable lives," Hasegawa said in the ceremony at a memorial facility built at the site of the accident.

The company is firmly aware of the importance of not letting the memories of the accident fade away, Hasegawa said, while noting that many JR West employees are those who joined the firm after the accident.

 

"We will carve the tragedy of the accident and the preciousness of lives in our hearts and will do our best to pass on the facts, remorse and lessons of the accident to future generations," he said. The ceremony was joined by 343 people.
 
 

Japanese auto giant Nissan on Wednesday announced the launch of two models aimed at picking up speed in its key market of China, where it has been outpaced by local rivals.

At industry show Auto Shanghai, the group announced an investment of 10 billion yuan ($1.4 billion) into China, and said it would increase the number of new models it planned to launch by summer 2027 to 10, up from eight.

The group's China chief, Stephen Ma, told a press conference the aim was to match Chinese competitors, and that Nissan had been slow in approaching the market with new models.

"We were not at the same speed, mainly because the Chinese brands were exceptional with speed," Ma said.

With fewer than 800,000 vehicles sold, in the 2023 financial year Nissan's sales fell by 24.1 percent in China, the world's leading car market.

The company is struggling on several fronts, with fragile accounts and an aborted merger attempt with Honda exacerbated by the tariff turmoil affecting its biggest market, the United States.

The group's renewed China offensive was on display at its booth on Wednesday, in the hulking form of the Frontier Pro truck.

It is Nissan's first plug-in hybrid vehicle, and designed to appeal to Chinese consumers' tastes.

The N7 electric sedan, meanwhile, produced with local partner Dongfeng, promises a range of up to 635 kilometers, customisable lighting and advanced driving assistance systems.

Nissan also plans to export the two models outside of China "in less than a year", Ma said, without specifying where -- other than not to the United States.
 
 

A 22-year-old Chinese exchange student has been awarded the top prize in the 20th annual Japanese language essay contest for Chinese nationals with her candid reflections on her initial struggles in Japan. 

Lin Fangfei impressed the judges with her writing about her journey toward making a meaningful human connection.

When Lin arrived in Japan last spring to study at Ritsumeikan University in Osaka, her closest companion was not a classmate or local friend, but “Yume-chan” (“Miss Dream”)—the name she gave to an artificial intelligence chatbot she used to practice Japanese.

She found comfort in chatting with the AI, especially when real conversations with Japanese students felt daunting.

However, Lin gradually realized that she was missing a crucial element in communication: empathy.

“I got used to talking to the AI and stopped thinking about how real people feel,” she wrote in her award-winning essay.

At the award ceremony held in Tokyo, Lin spoke about timeless human values.

“Even as times change, the importance of people meeting, helping one another and connecting heart-to-heart remains the same,” she said.
Born in Jining, Shandong province, in eastern China, Lin was inspired to study Japanese after watching Studio Ghibli films, captivated by the beauty of the landscapes they depicted.

She majored in Japanese at her Chinese university before coming to Japan to study business management.

Her favorite Japanese word is “mamoru,” meaning “to protect.” To Lin, it represents the responsibility of passing on what has been inherited from the past to future generations.

This belief was reflected in her undergraduate thesis, which compared silk textile cultures in China and Japan. She praised Japanese museums that let visitors try traditional weaving, seeing such interactive methods as a model for cultural preservation in China.

Looking ahead, Lin hopes to work for a Japanese manufacturer, developing products and services that blend Chinese technological innovations with Japan’s renowned spirit of hospitality.

Despite the challenges posed by political tensions in Sino-Japanese relations, she dreams of fostering collaboration between the two nations.

This spring, Lin begins her graduate studies at Ritsumeikan University. With more Japanese friends around her now, her days with Yume-chan are behind her.
 

 

Nintendo shares surged Thursday after the gaming giant boasted of higher than expected demand in Japan for pre-orders of its hotly anticipated Switch 2 console.

The successor to the Switch -- the third best-selling console ever behind Sony's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo DS -- is set to hit shelves worldwide on June 5.

And the stakes are high: Although Nintendo is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, analysts say around 90 percent of its revenue comes from the Switch business.

An X post attributed to company president Shuntaro Furukawa published Wednesday said there had been 2.2 million pre-order applications for the new console in Japan.

This is an "extremely high" number which "greatly exceeds our initial expectations", the post said.

"It also significantly exceeds the quantity of Switch 2 consoles" that can be delivered on the release date.

"Therefore, it is expected that a considerable number of customers will not win the lottery when the winners are announced" on Thursday, for which "we deeply apologize".

Shares in the Kyoto-based company gained as much as 5.5 percent on Thursday following the bullish announcement.

Nintendo in early April revealed details about the Switch 2, which like its predecessor is a hybrid console that can be used on the go or connected to a TV screen.

However, the price has raised eyebrows at over a third more than the original Switch in major markets including the United States, where it will cost $449.99.

A Japanese-only version for domestic consumers will be cheaper at 49,980 yen ($350).

"Uncertainty around reciprocal tariffs, global trade and higher component costs" mean a price drop is unlikely within the next five years, industry research firm Niko Partners said earlier this month.

Nintendo delayed pre-orders for the Switch 2 in the United States by several weeks as it assessed the fallout from US President Donald Trump's trade levies.
 
 

Tokyo and Manila are also likely to agree to start negotiations to sign an agreement, under which the Self-Defence Forces and the Philippine military will be able to provide food, fuel and other supplies to each other.

The Japanese and Philippine governments have entered the final phase in coordinating the early signing of a bilateral general security of military information agreement (GSOMIA) at a summit scheduled for later this month, according to Japanese government sources.

GSOMIA is necessary for exchanging highly confidential military information between signatory nations.

Japan and Manila are also likely to agree to start negotiations to sign an agreement, under which the Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military will be able to provide food, fuel and other supplies to each other.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is scheduled to visit Vietnam and the Philippines from April 27 to 30. Ishiba aims to use the trip to strengthen security cooperation with the two countries while keeping China, which has been increasing its hegemonic activities, in mind.

Ishiba will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr in Manila, and they will confirm strengthening cooperation between the SDF and the Philippine military while also working to make progress regarding Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) programs.

Through the OSA, Japan provides defense equipment for free to countries that share the same values.

The leaders are also likely to discuss such issues as conducting joint drills with the countries’ coast guards.

Ahead of his visit to the Philippines, Ishiba will visit Hanoi and meet with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

To boost communication between Japan and Vietnam, Ishiba and Pham are expected to agree to hold two-plus-two meetings between the countries’ vice foreign and defense ministers. Their first two-plus-two meeting will likely be held in Japan by the end of the year.

Ishiba and Pham are also expected to agree to proactively use the OSA programs. As Japan has never implemented an OSA program in Vietnam, it will be the first if realized.

They will also likely agree on fostering personnel in the semiconductor industry.

In addition, Ishiba is expected to have discussions with the two leaders on how to respond to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The Japanese side hopes to have close communication with the two countries.
 
 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to make a four-day trip from Sunday to Vietnam and the Philippines as part of Japan's summit diplomacy to maintain a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region, the government said Wednesday.

Japan has been focusing on building stronger ties with Southeast Asian nations, as U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked uncertainty over the global economic and security situation. Ishiba's visit follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's recent trip to the region.

By holding talks with To Lam, general secretary of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Ishiba seeks to deepen "personal" relations with them, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi.

"It is one of the top diplomatic priorities for Japan to strengthen ties with Southeast Asia, a major global growth driver and a strategically important area," Hayashi said, adding that Ishiba aims to bolster economic and security cooperation with the region.

"We will actively pursue summit diplomacy to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law," Hayashi, the top government spokesman, said at a regular press conference.
 
 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Tuesday his government will help reduce gasoline prices and energy costs for households as part of inflation relief steps.

Ishiba said the government will take measures to reduce the price of gasoline and diesel fuel by 10 yen per liter, and that of kerosene and heavy oil by 5 yen, from May 22.

From July to September, the government will help curb electricity and gas costs shouldered by households when energy demand typically rises partly due to the summer heat, with details to be decided in May.

The latest inflation-relief measures in the run-up to this summer's House of Councillors election come after a plan initially floated within the ruling camp to offer cash handouts was shelved.

The parliamentary election will be crucial for Ishiba, head of a minority government whose public support remains low in opinion polls, after the ruling coalition lost its majority of the more powerful House of Representatives last year.

Earlier in the day, Ishiba received a set of requests from his Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, the Komeito party, urging the government to take steps to ease the pain of inflation and the expected fallout of higher U.S. tariffs announced by President Donald Trump.

The average price of gasoline is set to fall from around 185 yen per liter to about 175 yen, comparable to the levels seen shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ishiba said.

The government will tap existing funds that have been set aside for purposes other than those covered by regular or extra budgets.

Ishiba did not say how long the support for gasoline, kerosene and others would last, adding that it will depend on the outcome of ongoing cross-party talks on ending a gasoline surcharge.

The LDP-Komeito coalition and the Democratic Party for the People have been in talks to decide when to eliminate the gasoline surcharge currently in place.

Resource-poor Japan has been grappling with higher costs of imported energy, food and other products.

While Japan's inflation has been slowing in recent months, consumer prices, including energy and volatile fresh food, jumped 3.6 percent in March from a year earlier, also driven by surging rice prices.

The persisting inflation has largely offset strong gains in nominal wages, in a blow to households.
 
 

Japan Airlines (JAL) has been announced as an official World Athletics supplier for the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

This collaboration reflects JAL’s commitment to empowering the next generation by inspiring young people to take their first steps toward global aspirations through the power of sport.

The WCH Tokyo 25, taking place on 13-21 September, will see the World Athletics Championships return to Tokyo for the second time, and for the first time since 1991, welcoming elite competitors from around the globe back to Japan.

With a history spanning more than 70 years, JAL has long connected Japan to the world, supporting and cheering on those who dare to challenge global boundaries.

As an official supplier for this prestigious event, JAL will implement a variety of initiatives to provide the next generation with opportunities to witness world-class competition up close and to inspire them to take their first steps on to the world stage by sharing the passion that can only be experienced on-site.

JAL remains dedicated to connecting young people to the world through the power of sport, encouraging them to pursue their dreams.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said: “We are delighted to have Japan Airlines sign on as an official supplier for our World Championships this summer, transporting athletes and key stakeholders to the vibrant city of Tokyo.

As an organisation focused on innovation and pushing boundaries, Japan Airlines is a natural fit for World Athletics as we look to continue growing our ever-expanding group of partners and suppliers, with a sharp focus on those who share common goals and values with us, particularly the critical role athletes play in our sport, and who also work every day to reach new heights, speeds and distances.”

“We are honoured to be a part of World Athletics and welcome athletes and fans from around the world at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 in September,” said Mitsuko Tottori, President & Group CEO of Japan Airlines.

“This global event showcases the spirit of pushing beyond limits, and we hope it inspires young people in Japan to take that first courageous step toward the world.

“By sharing the excitement of the genuine ultimate stage with young people, we aim to keep standing as a backbone of Japan’s youth wishing to challenge themselves on the world stage.”
 
 

Major Japanese automakers unveiled their latest electric vehicle models at the Shanghai motor show on Wednesday, hoping to bounce back in the Chinese market that has seen cutthroat competition with local carmakers amid a rapid shift toward new energy vehicles.

About 1,000 companies, including auto parts makers, are participating in the biennial show through May 2, one of the world's biggest auto exhibitions, at a time when a tit-for-tat tariff war between the United States and China has cast a shadow over the car industry.

Japanese manufacturers stressed their policy of accelerating localization in China, the world's largest auto market, through collaboration with Chinese partners and adopting locally developed technologies to better meet customer needs.

Toyota Motor Corp. is displaying its new bZ7 EV model for the first time, while Honda Motor Co. is exhibiting the latest version of its Ye EV series exclusively launched for the Chinese market.

Li Hui, general manager of Toyota China, told a press conference the new battery EV sedan, which the company aims to commercialize within a year, will be equipped for the first time with an operating system developed by Chinese telecom giant Huawei Technologies Co.

Through the adoption of Huawei technology for the driver's seat interface, "we have achieved smartphone-like functionality in cars," Li said.

Toyota also unveiled a new EV model for the upscale Lexus brand. In February, the manufacturer said it will build a new factory in Shanghai to produce Lexus EVs and batteries from 2027 or later.

Masayuki Igarashi, chief of Honda's China operations, said in presenting the new GT model of the Ye series that the company will adopt artificial intelligence technologies of Chinese startup DeepSeek for all future Ye vehicles.

Referring to cutting-edge technologies in the areas of electrification and intelligence in the Chinese auto market, he added that Honda will "incorporate the strength of local companies" and further develop its own products.

Nissan Motor Co. revealed its new plug-in hybrid pickup truck Frontier Pro, which the company plans to sell in China later this year and export to other markets within a year.

China's BYD Co. and some other local automakers are exhibiting cars equipped with technologies such as AI-powered driver-assistance systems in a heated race to develop smart and intelligent vehicles.

In 2024, new energy vehicles, including EVs and plug-in hybrids, accounted for around 45 percent of new car sales in China.

China slapped additional tariffs of 125 percent on all American imports in retaliation for 145 percent extra duties imposed on all U.S. imports of Chinese goods.

Following the escalation of the trade war, Ford Motor Co. has halted shipments of cars made in the United States to China, while Tesla Inc. has stopped accepting new orders in China for vehicles made in America, according to media reports.

An official of the Lincoln luxury brand under the Ford Motor group expressed concern about the hefty tariffs, saying the most upscale model launched Wednesday is imported from the United States.

"When we finish selling its inventories of 100 units, each carrying a price tag of up to 1.45 million yuan ($199,000), they will be subject to extra 125 percent tariffs. When their prices are more than doubled, we will be beaten by Chinese brands," the official said.
 
 

 

The finance chiefs of Japan and the United States are expected to hold talks on currency this week with Japanese representative Katsunobu Kato departing Tuesday for Washington to attend international gatherings.

The U.S. dollar fell below 140 yen on Tuesday for the first time since September, after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell for not reducing interest rates.

At around 2:30 p.m. in Tokyo, the U.S. dollar fell to around 139.90 yen. It traded at 140.83-93 yen in New York and 140.55-57 yen in Tokyo at 5 p.m. Monday.

The dollar also came under pressure amid speculation that the U.S. administration will urge Japan to address the yen's weakness against the dollar when the Japanese and U.S. finance chiefs meet in Washington.

The bilateral talks will likely take place on Thursday, and come after Trump accused Japan of pursuing a policy to reduce the yen's value, a claim rejected by the Japanese government.

Before his departure, Kato said he intends to discuss exchange rate issues with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as part of broader talks between the two governments centered on tariff negotiations.

The two previously confirmed they will discuss the issues closely, the finance minister said, while declining to comment further as it could cause speculation and unforeseen impact on the market.

During his visit, Kato will attend a two-day gathering from Wednesday of finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies, to be held on the fringes of the spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda will also join the gatherings.
The U.S. dollar has been declining against the yen recently amid speculation the U.S. administration will urge Tokyo to address the dollar's strength against the Japanese currency, as Trump seeks to reduce his country's hefty trade deficit.

The Japanese government has rejected Trump's claim that it has devalued the yen and put U.S. manufacturers at a disadvantage, pointing to its yen-buying, dollar-selling interventions in recent years to prop up the currency.

Japan and the United States have been engaging in trade talks, with the Asian nation urging its close ally to reconsider tariffs introduced by the U.S. president.

Last week, economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief negotiator, held the first round of talks with Bessent in Washington, but said exchange rates were not discussed.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba plans to launch a new program next month to reduce gasoline prices by 10 yen per liter, in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff measures and the rising cost of living, informed sources said Tuesday.

He also plans to bring back subsidies aimed to cut down on electricity and gas bills during the July-September period, as part of the central government's efforts to tackle the torrid summer heat, according to the sources. Such subsidies had been provided up until March this year.

The government is now not expected to submit a fiscal 2025 supplementary budget bill featuring cash handouts during the ongoing ordinary session of the Diet, Japan's parliament.

 

By implementing measures in place of the proposed extra budget, Ishiba hopes to alleviate the financial strain on members of the general public in their daily lives ahead of a House of Councillors election to be held this summer.

Currently, the government is offering oil wholesalers subsidies to ensure that gasoline prices are kept at around 185 yen per liter.

Ishiba is considering implementing a program starting next month to set the gasoline price reduction rate at 10 yen, instead of deciding target gasoline prices, the sources said.
 

 

A cross-party group of around 70 Japanese lawmakers on Tuesday attended the spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, regarded as a symbol of the country's past militarism by its Asian neighbors.

Group member Ichiro Aisawa, a lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said at a press conference, "We should never forget the history of how the spirits of many fallen heroes laid the foundation for a peaceful and prosperous Japan after the war."

Yasukuni, however, has long been a source of diplomatic friction with China and South Korea, as the shrine honors Japan's wartime leaders convicted as war criminals by a post-World War II international tribunal, along with about 2.4 million war dead.

On Tuesday, former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, who was narrowly defeated by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in last year's LDP presidential race, also visited the shrine. She has been labeled a "right-wing" nationalist by Chinese state-run media.

The group's visit came a day after Ishibasent a ritual offering to the shrine to mark the festival. He is not expected to make an in-person appearance during the three-day event through Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The cross-party group usually visits the shrine for the spring and autumn festivals as well as the anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15, despite backlash from China and South Korea, where resentment of Japanese wartime militarism runs deep.

For last year's fall festival, the group did not organize a visit to Yasukuni as the event coincided with campaigning for the Oct. 27 general election, in which the ruling bloc led by Ishiba's LDP lost its majority in the House of Representatives.

Japan had invaded and occupied a wide area of China by the end of the war and ruled the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
 
 

You could even get a bargain, if you get your timing right.
Japan is famous for its vending machines. It could easily be dubbed the “Land of the Vending Machines.” While most countries stick to selection of drinks and snacks, Japan’s line-up also includes cute knick knacks and shocking discoveries.

From origami to potential spouses: the country is littered with quirky and unusual vending machines. The latest example, unveiled in Tokyo, steers away from the shock value, but instead highlights smart technology and healthy eating, which are also things Japan does really well.

Salad Stand is a vending machine service that allows passers-by to enjoy a healthy snack or drink on-the-go. This is a new plan introduced by Japanese wellness company Kompeito’s Office De Yasai (“Vegetables at the Office”) service, which started over ten years ago with the goal of helping office workers to eat a healthier, more balanced meal while they work.

Kompeito felt that the lack of convenience was a major factor in people’s choice to forego the greens and instead indulge in quick and unhealthy foods. The service gained traction over time, and now Kompeito is expanding beyond office walls to reach the general public.

Getting to enjoy a salad when you’re out and about is nice, but nothing revolutionary. However, this is no ordinary vending machine: Kompeito have seen fit to incorporate AI into it. Built-in cameras track foot traffic and expiration dates, allowing the machine to dynamically adjust prices.

So, the same salad you saw at lunch might cost less at dinner. Kompeito is on track to lift the curse of throwing away unwanted, short shelf-life salads once and for all.

Combatting food loss is a noble cause, but are the products themselves worth buying? Let’s take a look.

Their main line-up consists of salads, juices and “fruit granola.” Going by the name of the machine, there’s no doubt that the salads are the stars. With eight different varieties, made with farm-fresh vegetables, you’re bound to find something you like. Combined with meat, fish, fruits, and nuts, the salads are finished with a specially selected dressing to give it that final dash of perfection.

The cold-pressed juices are made to preserve as much of the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, to keep the nutritional content high. They come in two different sizes, 250 and 400 milliliters, and can store up to one and a half kilograms (just over three pounds) of squeezed fresh produce within their bottles.

These juices are sure to be a great way to get a boost of nutrition during a busy morning.

Sad to see the amount of vegetable leaves and peels that get discarded, Kompeito have turned these nutrient-rich parts into tasty, crunchy fruit granola snacks.

Each pack provides the daily recommended intake of fiber (based on men and women in their 30s and 40s), and are a tasty little way to enjoy vegetables anytime, anywhere.

So, where can you go if you want to be part of this futuristic salad experience? Sitting at the base of Tokyo Skytree is the shopping mall Tokyo Solamachi, which is also home to Sumida Aquarium.

Within Tokyo Solamachi, on the second floor of the West Yard in Zone Three, you will find the Salad Stand vending machine just waiting for you to discover if you can get a good bargain on the delicious goods inside.

However, if you were hoping for 24-hour access, you might be a little disappointed, as it follows the operating hours of the mall, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Or, if you happen to be in Kyoto, there’s also one at Kyoto Shiyakusho-mae Station on the Tozai subway line.

Whether you’re after a healthy snack, or curious about the evolution of vending machine culture in Japan, this machine is certainly worth checking out. If you can’t make it to Tokyo, perhaps you’ll be inspired to rethink your own lunch routine, and keep food waste to the minimum.


Location information

Salad Stand
Address: Tokyo-to, Sumida-ku, Oshiage, 1-chome 1-2, Tokyo Solamachi, West Yard, 2-kai, 3-banchi
東京都墨田区押上１丁目１−２東京ソラマチ ウエストヤード 2階3番地
Open 10:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.


Website
 
 

The Japanese currency strengthened to the 140-yen level against the dollar in Tokyo on Monday. It's the first time in about seven months that it's climbed to that range.

The move comes after US President Trump described "currency manipulation" as a non-tariff trade barrier in a social media post. Japan has repeatedly denied that it has a policy to devalue its currency.

Market players took Trump's comment as a sign the US will pressure Japan to take steps to reverse the weakening of the yen against the dollar.

The issue is likely to be on the agenda when Japan's Finance Minister Kato Katsunobu meets Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in the US later this week.
Investors are buying the yen in anticipation of those talks.