Japan's Olympic figure skating pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara announced their retirement on Friday, saying they were ending their careers with "no regrets".

Miura and Kihara claimed their country's first Olympic pairs medals in dramatic style at the Milan-Cortina Games in February, recovering from a disastrous short program to take gold.

Miura, 24, and Kihara, 33, were also crowned world champions twice.
"Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara have decided to retire from competition at the end of this season," the pair said in a statement on social media.

"A big thank you to everyone who has offered their support since the day they got together."

Miura and Kihara, popularly known collectively in Japan as "Rikuryu", went into the decisive Olympic free skate in fifth place after errors in their short program.

Kihara said he had been "feeling really down" and blamed himself for the slip-up, conceding: "We did not think we would win."

Instead, they spectacularly turned things around and topped the podium with personal-best scores.

The win was loudly celebrated in Japan, with government spokesman Minoru Kihara saying it had "moved so many people".

American gymnastics legend Simone Biles, who was in the arena to watch the action, said she was "pretty sure that was perfection".

Miura and Kihara, who skipped last month's world championships in Prague, said they would embark on a "new challenge" away from competition.

"We are ending our competitive careers but we feel that we have given everything and there are no regrets," they said.
 
 

The Japanese government plans to have the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, or JAMSTEC, own and operate the successor to the Antarctic research vessel Shirase, officials said Thursday.

The current vessel, slated to retire in 2034, is operated by the Maritime Self-Defense Force. The aim of the shift is to ease strain on the MSDF as its overall tasks rise while personnel shortfalls persist.

MSDF personnel will continue to support ice navigation and transport on ice to Japan's Showa Station in Antarctica.

JAMSTEC, overseen by the education ministry, long operated the research vessel Mirai in missions in the Arctic Ocean before its retirement last December.

The agency plans to deploy a new Mirai II, capable of breaking ice, to bolster observation capabilities. Taking on the Shirase's successor would extend JAMSTEC's operational area to Antarctic waters.
 
 

Former Japan soccer star Shunsuke Nakamura, 47, will join the coaching staff for Japan’s World Cup team, the Japan Football Association announced Thursday.

The former Japan’s midfielder will accompany the national team to the FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States and other countries in June and July.

I share the same aspirations as the players and will strive to contribute to achieving the goals the team has set, he said via the JFA.

Having left Yokohama FC at the end of last year, Nakamura reportedly received an offer from Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu and had been in negotiations with the national team.

Nakamura played for Yokohama F. Marinos, Italian club Reggina and Scottish club Celtic, among others.

He participated in the 2006 World Cup in Germany and the 2010 tournament in South Africa.
 
 

The southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto on Thursday marked the 10th anniversary of a deadly earthquake, the more intensive of a pair of back-to-back quakes that hit the region and claimed the lives of over 270 people.

Families and others observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the deceased at 1:25 a.m., the time when a magnitude 7.3 quake struck a decade ago following a M6.5 temblor two days prior.

A commemoration ceremony aimed at passing on lessons learned from the disaster to next generation and striving for the recovery of local communities was held in the city of Kumamoto, hosted jointly for the first time by the prefectural government and all the prefecture's local municipalities.

"We must never forget the precious lives lost and the many sacrifices made," Kumamoto Gov Takashi Kimura said at the ceremony. "We shall pass these memories on to the next generation, ensuring that they never fade."

Meanwhile, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara pledged at the ceremony efforts to turn the disaster-prone Japan into "the world's most disaster-resilient country" by leveraging the experiences and lessons learned from past disasters.

A total of 278 deaths have been attributed to the quakes in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures, with 223 of them -- about 80 percent of the total -- attributed to indirect causes such as illness and stress stemming from disrupted lives.

More than 43,000 buildings were damaged, and at the peak of the crisis, around 196,000 people were forced to evacuate.

The disaster also shed light on issues like sleeping in cars during prolonged evacuation and its impact on health.

The twin quakes, both measuring the highest reading of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale, inflicted serious damage to infrastructure as well, with Aso Ohashi Bridge in the village of Minamiaso collapsing and a JR Kyushu railway line severed.

Shinobu Yamato, 58, visited a site near the bridge where her 22-year-old son Hikaru was killed in a landslide.

"It fills me with such agony and regret to think that he might have made it without passing through here had the timing been slightly different," she said in tears.

Kumamoto Castle, a popular tourist destination, sustained significant damage including to its famous stone walls. Ongoing repair work of the landmark is expected to be completed in fiscal 2052.
 
 

The crews of Japan-linked ships stuck in the Persian Gulf are keeping a close eye on U.S.-Iran talks, a Japanese shipping-sector labor union official has said.

"Right now, there's no prospect (of the crews) getting out of the gulf, and they are patiently watching negotiations between the United States and Iran," Shinichi Tanaka, acting president of the All Japan Seamen's Union, told Jiji Press.

He said that the Japanese government and companies should put crew safety first when deciding whether vessels will sail through the Strait of Hormuz, under the de facto blockade, or whether crew members will disembark from their ships.

Currently, more than 1,000 crew members belonging to the union, including foreign nationals, are on ships stranded in the gulf.

According to Tanaka, they have internet access, so they can contact their families and view news reports about the situation in the Middle East.

"There are no safe places in the Persian Gulf," he stressed. "The biggest concerns for the crews are how long the situation will continue, and whether they will be able to evacuate if the situation worsens."
 
 

Japan’s relationship with NATO is moving beyond broad political dialogue into more “concrete” forms of cooperation across key strategic and security areas, Tokyo’s ambassador to the alliance said in an interview Wednesday.

Following last June’s NATO summit at The Hague, bilateral engagement has entered a more institutionalized phase, Ambassador Osamu Izawa said, highlighting progress made in recent months in defense-industry coordination, emerging technologies and support for Ukraine.

The most significant leap forward, according to Izawa, has been the establishment of a high-level bilateral defense industry cooperation dialogue.

The first meeting was held in late October in Brussels, with a second slated to take place in Tokyo later this year that will include senior NATO secretariat officials.

“This is the first time for Japan and NATO to engage directly to promote industry cooperation,” said Izawa, who assumed his post last year as Tokyo’s first dedicated ambassador to the 32-member alliance.

"Before, we talked about possibilities, but there was no channel, no framework,” he said. “This is an epoch-making development.” 

Unlike traditional government-to-government defense cooperation focused on heavy platforms such as fighter jets, the dialogue also targets “new domains” of warfare.
 
 

The Ministry of Health and the Tokushukai Medical Group of Japan have designated the Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital (RSJPD) in Jakarta as the largest hub for cardiovascular education and research in Asia.

"We have not only exchanged doctors and knowledge but now also assets, which has increased both the number of doctors and the level of knowledge," Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin remarked on Wednesday.

He hopes that closer cooperation between the two sides will enhance heart health services for Indonesians, given that cardiovascular disease continues to be the biggest expense for the state health insurer, BPJS Kesehatan, amounting to at least Rp17 trillion (US$963 million) in 2025.

Meanwhile, the President Director of Harapan Kita Hospital, Iwan Dakota, said the construction of the new building, a collaboration between the Indonesian government and Tokushukai, will increase the hospital's capacity from around 400 beds to around 800.

"Part of the facility will be used as a private wing (private and exclusive ward) with high-standard services so our people do not need to seek treatment abroad. Furthermore, this building will also function as an education and research center through collaboration with Japan and other countries," he remarked.

The new building will continue to serve BPJS patients, with a proportion of around 70-80 percent, while some of the upper floors will be used for premium services to attract patients who previously sought treatment abroad.

"Furthermore, specialist doctors from Japan and other countries will practice regularly in this new hospital building," Dakota added.

In addition, the Tokushukai Group will also send several doctors and nurses for internship at Harapan Kita Hospital every year.

"They conduct internship here due to the large caseload. Going forward, we will strive to increase not only our educational capacity but also the volume of research. We will increase the number and quality of research collaborations," Dakota said.

Meanwhile, Tokushukai Medical Group CEO Shinichi Higashiue emphasized his company's commitment to make the cardiac education and training center at Harapan Kita Hospital the largest in Asia.

"This building will provide the most advanced cardiovascular services, and we want to make this institution one of the largest cardiac education and training centers in Asia," he stated.
 

The countries do not have formal diplomatic relations, and Pyongyang frequently criticises Tokyo over its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.

North Korea accused Japan of a "grave provocation" on Wednesday (Apr 15) after Tokyo laid out its opposition to Pyongyang's nuclear programme in an annual diplomatic paper.

The countries do not have formal diplomatic relations, and Pyongyang frequently criticises Tokyo over its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, which ended with World War II.

The Japanese foreign ministry released its annual bluebook last week, detailing Tokyo's official diplomatic views and repeating its opposition to North Korea having nuclear weapons.

The position is "a grave provocation encroaching upon the sovereign rights, security interests and development rights of our sacred state", an unnamed North Korean foreign ministry official said in a statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

North Korea's "measures for bolstering up its defence capabilities ... belong to the right to self-defence", the statement said.

It described the bluebook as "woven with conventional gangster-like logic and absurdity".

North Korea has insisted that it will not give up its nuclear arsenal, describing its path as "irreversible" and vowing to strengthen its capabilities.
In its bluebook, Japan also expressed its unease that North Korea had sent troops and ammunition to Russia to aid its war against Ukraine.

Tokyo also downgraded its assessment of China for the first time in a decade, calling Beijing an "important neighbour" instead of "one of Japan's most important" partners.

It marked the latest deterioration in ties with Beijing since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi indicated in November that Tokyo could intervene militarily in the event of an attack on Taiwan.

China views the self-ruled island as its territory and has not ruled out taking it by force.
 
 

Police in Kyoto Prefecture, western Japan, have launched an investigation into the suspected abandonment of a corpse after the body of an 11-year-old boy was found in a forest.

Elementary school student Adachi Yuki was found dead in the mountains of Nantan City on Monday. He had been missing since March 23.

Police say a detailed examination of the body failed to determine the cause of death. They believe the boy died in late March, around the time he was reported missing.

Police say he had no noticeable external injuries. But they say the fact that he was not wearing shoes and that his backpack was found elsewhere suggest someone abandoned the body.

They say the body was not covered in leaves, showed no signs of having been hidden and had no major tears in his clothing.

Police are retracing the child's movements before he went missing. They are searching his home and investigating other clues that could shed light on the circumstances that led to his death.
 
 

The transport ministry said Tuesday that tighter portable charger restrictions on flights will be introduced on April 24, following a string of incidents involving such devices.

Under the new rules, each passenger will be allowed to bring no more than two power banks in their carry-on baggage, each with a capacity of 160 watt-hours or less.

Charging the batteries and using them to charge electronic devices such as smartphones during flights will be prohibited.

Other existing rules will remain in force. Portable chargers must be carried on board rather than being placed in checked baggage, and passengers are required to keep them within reach instead of placing them in overhead compartments or other storage areas.

Those charging portable batteries and bringing more than two chargers on board in violation of the new rules could face a prison term of up to two years or a fine of up to ¥1 million.

There have been a series of incidents involving portable chargers on planes in Japan and overseas, such as catching fire and emitting smoke.

The tighter domestic regulations follow the adoption late last month of new international standards by the International Civil Aviation Organization, a specialized U.N. agency that sets global aviation rules.
 
 

A ritual ceremony of carrying timber to Ise Shrine in Ise, Mie Prefecture, was held in the city on Sunday and Monday, in preparation for 2033’s “Shikinen Sengu” — an ancient ritual tradition of completely rebuilding the Shinto shrine complex and transferring the deities to the new shrine once every 20 years.

The timber will be used to rebuild the main structures in both the Naiku inner shrine and Geku outer shrine areas.

The ritual of carrying timber is called Okihiki. On Sunday, timber was carried upstream on a boat on the Isuzu River and brought to the Naiku area.

Towing the timber on the river is called kawabiki, while carrying it on land to the Geku area is called okabiki.

During the okabiki ritual on Monday, local residents wearing happi coats pulled ropes tied to a ceremonial cart loaded with an about 5-meter-long Kiso-hinoki cypress log.

They pulled the cart on the street to the sound of a lively wood-carrying song and shouts of “Enya, enya” in a parade for about 2 kilometers.


 

A government survey in 2025 showed Tuesday that 4.5% of respondents in the country often or constantly feel lonely, up 0.2 percentage point from the previous year.

The share of people who often or constantly feel lonely was higher in their 30s to 50s.

The survey, conducted by the Cabinet Office in December, found that 13.7% said they sometimes feel lonely and 19.5% said they have lonely feelings once in a while.

It also found that feelings of loneliness tend to be stronger among people who seldom eat with someone else.

People who often or constantly feel lonely accounted for 17.3% of those who said they seldom have meals with someone else.

The percentage stood at 5.1% among those who eat with other people one or two days a month and at 3.7% among those who dine with others about once a week.

The mail-based survey covered randomly selected 20,000 people aged 16 or older across the country. Valid responses came from 59.4%.
 
 

The Japanese government is planning to present to a ruling party meeting Wednesday a modified draft of a bill aimed at revising the country's retrial system, it has been learned.

Initially, the government considered proposing the revised draft Tuesday but is now set to delay the presentation by one day, due to a scheduling issue regarding a related meeting of the Liberal Democratic Party.

The envisaged retrial system overhaul is intended to speed up the rescue of victims of false charges.

In the modified draft bill to amend the criminal procedure law, the government plans to set limits on public prosecutors' appeals against court rulings to grant retrials to finalized cases, apparently in an attempt to soothe the LDP.

The original bill continued to allow prosecutors to challenge such rulings, but this drew anger from the ruling party, with many calling for banning such appeals.

At a meeting Monday, the LDP conducted hearings with Hiroaki Murayama and Yumi Kamoshida, both lawyers, and former judge Hiroyuki Nakagawa.
 
 

The International Horticultural Expo 2027, billed “the next World Expo” to be held in Japan, is set to open in Yokohama next March but faces many challenges, such as soaring construction costs amid growing tensions in the Middle East and a lack of public awareness.

The venue for the Green x Expo 2027 spans about 100 hectares of a former U.S. military facility across the city’s Seya and Asahi wards.

It will be adorned with about 10 million flowers and plants and feature exhibits on food, agriculture and other related topics. Tokyo-based Kajima Corp. will construct a 60-meter-tall wooden tower using timber from the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo’s iconic Grand Ring.

The Expo has also drawn the participation of 61 countries and international organizations.Development costs — initially estimated at ¥32 billion in fiscal 2021 — have risen to ¥41.7 billion due to soaring material and labor costs.

There are also concerns that costs could rise further depending on the situation in the Middle East. The Japan Association for the International Horticultural Expo 2027, Yokohama, the organizer, said it would closely monitor future developments.

The venue is 2 kilometers away or an about 30-minute walk from the nearest station. Shuttle buses are planned to depart from four nearby stations and organizers plans to secure parking for 6,500 vehicles, but congestion is still expected.

Yokohama City conducted a public survey in March and found that 81% of Yokohama residents were aware of the event, but only 61.1% of Kanagawa Prefecture residents knew about the event in a prefectural survey conducted in October and November.

Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Yasushi Kaneko, who inspected the venue on Saturday, said, “We need to do more to raise its profile.”

The city and the organizer have run a train wrapped with the Expo’s official mascot Tunku Tunku in Tokyo and been promoting the Expo at flower and greenery-related events.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday she conveyed her support for Pakistan's mediation efforts in the U.S.-Iran conflict during phone talks with the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, after recent peace negotiations between the warring parties in Islamabad yielded no agreement.

Takaichi and Sharif also affirmed that Japan and Pakistan will work toward an early deescalation of the Middle East situation and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transportation, she told reporters in Tokyo.

Takaichi said she explained to Sharif about Japan's view. "What is the most important is that a final agreement will be concluded early through dialogue," she said, adding that Tokyo will continue to collaborate with the international community.

The United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire last week but failed to reach a peace deal in two days of negotiations through Sunday in the Pakistani capital.

Following the development, the U.S. military said it will begin blocking all ships entering and leaving Iranian ports and coastal areas from Monday at 10 a.m. in Washington.

Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports. Most transit the strait, which Iran has effectively closed since the United States and Israel began attacking the country in late February.
Japan, a close U.S. security ally, has traditionally maintained friendly relations with Iran.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference that Japan has made no decision on whether to send its Self-Defense Forces for minesweeping operations in the strait, where Iran may have laid mines to support its de facto blockade.

On Monday, Takaichi also held phone talks with To Lam, leader of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party who doubles as the country's president since last Tuesday.

Takaichi said the two agreed to strengthen the energy resilience of Asia, whose dependency on oil imports from Middle East is relatively high.
 
 

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara expressed hope for an early U.S.-Iran agreement to end their conflict on Monday, after Washington and Tehran failed to reach an agreement over the weekend.

"We hope they reach a final agreement soon," the top Japanese government spokesman said at a press conference. He noted that the government is closely monitoring the diplomatic efforts of related countries and developments relating to the Strait of Hormuz.

Asked about the possibility of Japan taking part in a U.S. blockade of the strait and mine-clearing operations announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Kihara said that "nothing has been decided" regarding the deployment of the Self-Defense Forces.
 
 

The government Friday adopted a support program for the so-called employment ice age generation, planning to implement assistance measures intensively over three years through fiscal 2028.

The program focuses on improving working conditions and securing housing in anticipation of the aging of the ice age generation, or those who had trouble finding jobs after graduating from school in the wake of the collapse of Japan's bubble economy in the early 1990s.

Progress will be reviewed annually at meetings of local governments, experts and labor and management representatives, and support measures will be revised as necessary.

Under the program, information on job changes that would lead to wage increases will be provided at Hello Work public job placement offices across the country. Reskilling opportunities will be offered through subsidies to local governments.

To prepare for the aging of the ice age generation, the government will also work to facilitate the provision of low-rent housing and to secure employment opportunities after they turn 65.

The support program was drawn up based on a policy adopted by the government in June 2025.
 
 

Japan Railways Group (JR Group) on Thursday announced that it will raise prices for its Japan Rail Pass, a ticket popular among foreign tourists that allows unlimited travel on trains across Japan, including most shinkansen bullet train services.

Prices for the pass will increase by around five percent to six percent under the first revision in three years, which will come into effect from October 1.

The price of a pass depends on its validity period. An adult seven-day pass will increase by 3,000 yen ($19) to 53,000 yen for travel in standard train carriages, and by 4,000 yen to 74,000 yen for premium Green Car carriages. 

Other price changes for adult passes include an increase of 4,000 yen to 84,000 yen for a 14-day pass (standard carriage), and 5,000 yen to 105,000 yen for a 21-day pass (standard carriage). 

JR Group last revised prices for its Japan Rail Pass in October 2023, when they were hiked by around 70 percent. The group said the latest revision reflects fare adjustments made by some of its member companies since then. 

In March, East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) raised fares on its trains by an average of 7.1 percent in what was the first full-scale hike for the group company since its creation 1987. Under the hike, the base fare of 150 yen for local trains increased to 160 yen. 

The Japan Rail Pass covers travel on trains and shinkansen operated by all six JR Group passenger railway operators.

Services covered include limited express, express, rapid, and local trains, as well as some buses and ferries. Exceptions include the super-express Nozomi and Mizuho shinkansen on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu lines, for which pass holders need to pay a supplementary fare.

The pass is available to foreign tourists visiting Japan under the entry status of "temporary visitor."

Travelers can buy passes before arriving in Japan at designated sales offices and through official agents overseas, as well as via the official online platform, Japan Rail Pass Reservation.

To encourage use of the online platform, JR Group said prices for passes purchased this way will remain unchanged for a limited time.  
 


 

The Diet, Japan's parliament, began substantive deliberations Friday on a bill to establish a national intelligence council aimed at enhancing the government's intelligence capabilities.

At the day's meeting of the Cabinet Committee of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said that an agency that would serve as the secretariat of the proposed council is "expected to take effective measures against foreign influence operations."

 

It is "urgent" to take measures against such activities, including the spread of false information, because they are "a security threat and shake the foundations of democracy," Ozaki emphasized.

Yuichi Goto of the main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance requested that the bill stipulate the protection of privacy, including personal information.

In response, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said, "Information will be collected in accordance with the law on the protection of personal information, and we do not see the need to set out separate provisions."
 
 

The number of soft drink vending machines installed in Japan in 2025 fell to 1.95 million, preliminary year-end figures show, dropping below 2 million for the first time in the 30 years for which records are available.

The figure is down about 20 percent from its peak seen in 2014 as a series of price hikes has driven more consumers away from the relatively costly items in the machines. This in turn has prompted beverage makers to remove unprofitable units and begin restructuring their businesses.

According to the institute in charge of beverage marketing and research, the number fell by 90,000 from the previous year, the largest decline on record since the Tokyo-based organization started the survey in 1995.

Sales initially grew on the convenience of being available anytime, making vending machines a lucrative source of revenue. But providing staff for restocking and distribution costs have become a burden, and the machines have lost their appeal as a sales channel, particularly as supermarkets and drugstores are able to offer discounts.

Major soft drink makers, including Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan Inc and Dydo Group Holdings Inc, have been hit by weaker earnings as consumers turn away from vending machines, posting losses or falling into the red.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Japan said it has reduced the number of its vending machines to around 650,000 from about 700,000 over the past few years, while DyDo has indicated plans to cut the number by a further 20,000.

Despite that, the machines are still relatively widespread in Japan compa
red with other countries and they are particularly popular with foreign tourists as a symbol of public safety, as vandalism and theft involving them is rare.
 
 

Japan is considering an additional release of its oil reserves providing 20 days of domestic consumption in May, as uncertainties remain over safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz even with the U.S.-Iran ceasefire, a source close to the matter said Thursday.

The United States and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, shortly before the expiry of U.S. President Donald Trump's self-imposed deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its critical infrastructure.

But it remains uncertain whether the strait will be reopened or operate under the same conditions as it was before the war, with Israel continuing to attack the Iran-affiliated Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

The industry ministry is weighing up the extra release on concerns that the effective closure of the strait may continue.

The government started its largest-ever discharge of oil stockpiles in mid-March to ensure a stable oil supply after the U.S.-Israeli launch of attacks on Iran on Feb. 28 left the key energy shipping waterway largely closed.

The government aims to provide a total of about 80 million barrels of oil, equivalent to about 50 days' worth of consumption, to the market from oil reserves held by the state, the private sector and oil-producing Gulf countries.

Of the total, state-held oil covering 30 days is set to be released from 11 bases nationwide by the end of April.

Resource-poor Japan relies on imports for almost all of its crude oil, with over 90 percent of it coming from the Middle East.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed her support for a possible additional joint oil stockpile release by the 32-member International Energy Agency when she met with IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in Tokyo last month.

IEA countries also started their oil reserve releases in mid-March, totaling over 400 million barrels, the first such coordinated move since 2022 when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
 
 

While the United States and Iran have reached a two-week ceasefire agreement, 42 Japan-linked ships still cannot leave the Persian Gulf due to Iran's de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has suggested that it will allow ships to safely pass through the strait, a key checkpoint for energy shipments, during the two-week period, provided that they coordinate with its military. However, specific procedures remain unclear.

"It'd be good if the remaining ships can leave as soon as possible," said an official from the Japanese Ship Owners' Association. "We're closely monitoring the situation."

In a social media post, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that vessels would be able to sail through the strait after coordinating with the military and assessing technical constraints.

However, a shipping industry source said that this post contains "no reliable and specific information." A shipping firm official said there has been "no change in the situation."

The 42 remaining ships include 12 crude oil tankers, which can carry oil equivalent to about 10 days of Japan's domestic consumption, as well as chemical tankers carrying liquid products, vehicle carriers, liquefied natural gas ships and tankers carrying petroleum products.

Normally, a two-week period is enough time for these ships to exit the Persian Gulf. However, even if safe passage is guaranteed, shipping companies alone cannot decide on departure because they need to consult with cargo owners.

"We don't even have information for consultations (with cargo owners) at the moment," an industry source said.

Amid the blockade, three Mitsui O.S.K. Lines ships have passed through the strait. The company said that it would continue to prioritize the safety of its ships, crew members and cargo.
 
 

The government is planning to subsidize municipalities’ efforts to help foreign residents understand local rules and customs, such as how to properly sort garbage.

The government is planning to subsidize municipalities’ efforts to help foreign residents understand local rules and customs, such as how to properly sort garbage.

Ministerial ordinances will be amended this fiscal year by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry so the government can use a special local grant tax to cover half the cost of initiatives that local governments conduct independently for such matters.

The measure is aimed at promoting the “realization of a well-ordered inclusive society with foreign nationals” advocated by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s administration.

Half the costs that local governments incur informing foreign residents of common systems in Japan, such as taxes and social insurance, are already covered by the central government.

However, the growing number of foreign residents had led to more and more difficulties with such daily matters as throwing away garbage.

Municipalities have therefore sought greater support from the government.
The central government envisions paying part of the costs necessary to raise awareness of detailed local rules and to assist with administrative procedures at city offices.

The grants will cover some expenses for classes meant to help foreign residents acquire adequate language skills to understand local rules.
The support will cover labor costs for staff who respond to foreign residents who are asked to visit local government offices by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA)’s consultation desk.

Financial help will likewise be provided for initiatives aimed at training and recruiting personnel who act as intermediaries between foreign residents and municipalities to convey information about daily life and people’s requests.

A system will be introduced that provides an additional ordinary local allocation tax based on the number of foreign staff members, known as coordinators for international relations (CIRs), who are assigned to those municipalities.

The aim is to expand CIRs’ roles to include language instruction and lifestyle counseling by increasing their number.

There were 4,125,395 foreign residents as of the end of 2025, a record high for the fourth consecutive year, according to the ISA.

This represents an increase of 356,418 compared to the same period the previous year, exceeding the 4 million threshold for the first time.
 

 

The Japanese government has decided to add 17 airports and ports to its list of designated facilities to allow the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard to use them from peacetime onward as part of efforts to strengthen the country's defenses.

The newly added facilities include New Chitose Airport in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, Chubu Centrair International Airport in the central prefecture of Aichi and Sendai-Shiogama Port in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, according to the decision made on Wednesday.

With the designation, runways will be expanded and seawalls will be improved to prepare for potential use by the SDF and the JCG in contingencies. The latest designation will bring the total number of such facilities to 57--24 airports and 33 ports.

The government has earmarked 225 billion yen in related costs in fiscal 2026, including funds for road development to enhance accessibility to designated facilities in Hokkaido, the Kyushu southwestern region and the southernmost prefecture of Okinawa, more than doubling from 96.8 billion yen in the previous year.
 
 

North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Wednesday morning, according to the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Fired from the Wonsan area in the eastern North Korean province of Kangwon, the missiles are believed to have flown around 240 kilometers.

The latest missile firing came after North Korea launched a projectile suspected to be a ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area only on Tuesday.

Speaking at a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said that no missiles have been confirmed to have entered Japan's exclusive economic zone. There have been no reports of damage to property and people, he added.

"North Korea's recent string of actions threaten the peace and security of our country, the region and the international community," the top Japanese government spokesman said, adding that Japan will work closely with the U.S. and South Korean governments to gather information and engage in warning and surveillance activities.
 
 

The Fukuoka Prefectural Police have arrested five more people with alleged links to Philippines-based Japanese crime ring JP Dragon on suspicion of fraud and theft.

The suspects, including Miyako Iwamoto, 34, had been detained by Philippine immigration authorities in October and were later transfered to Japan. The Fukuoka police made the arrests on Tuesday.

According to investigators, the five allegedly posed as police officers in December 2022 during a call with an elderly woman in Gifu Prefecture. They defrauded her of ¥1.4 million and stole her cash card.

The latest arrests have brought the total number of apprehended members and people with ties to the group to 14.

Investigators suspect that the group illicitly obtained about ¥900 million from roughly 250 victims across some 20 prefectures since autumn 2019.

In a related case, the Philippine authorities detained alleged leader Ryuji Yoshioka, 55, in June 2025. The Fukuoka police have obtained an arrest warrant on suspicion of theft and are seeking his extradition.
 
 

As part of efforts to support the development of artificial intelligence, the government on Wednesday approved a bill that would relax regulations under the Law on the Protection of Personal Information at a Cabinet meeting before submitting the bill to the House of Representatives.

The bill seeks to strike a balance between privacy protection and supporting AI development by establishing a new penalty system for malicious violations of the law. The government aims to pass it during the current Diet session.

Under the current law, businesses must obtain an individual’s consent when acquiring sensitive personal information that requires special care in handling — such as their medical records, disabilities or criminal records.

However, under the new bill, businesses could be exempted from having to obtain consent to collect such information, as long as it is only to be used for statistical and other limited purposes.

Since this scheme would apply to the collection of vast amounts of data essential for AI training, it is expected to provide a boost to the development of the technology.

While the bill would relax regulations in some ways, penalties for remaining violations would be strengthened. In cases of serious violations that infringe on individual rights, the bill would newly allow for the imposition of administrative fines equivalent to the profits gained by the business operator.

Rules on the handling of children’s personal information would also be tightened. When a business operator collects personal information on individuals under the age of 16, it would be required to notify their parents of its purpose in acquiring the data.
 
 

 

 
The government Tuesday adopted a bill to designate digital textbooks as official materials on par with their conventional printed versions and to make them eligible for free distribution in elementary and junior high schools.

Japan is expected to use digital textbooks, which are currently treated as supplementary learning materials, as official textbooks from as early as fiscal 2030 after government screenings in fiscal 2028.

Local boards of education will select the books. Use of either paper textbooks alone or in combination with digital versions will be allowed.

Digital textbooks have the advantage of allowing students to use audio functions to check pronunciation when learning English and to practice using instruments, such as recorders, while watching videos.

On the other hand, some people have raised concerns about potential adverse effects on children, such as deteriorating eyesight.

The education ministry plans to draft guidelines describing the risks from using digital textbooks for long periods of time.
 
 

 

Japan's parliament passed the government's fiscal 2026 budget on Tuesday, marking the first time in 11 years that a regular budget has been enacted after the April 1 start of a fiscal year.

The budget was approved by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. It cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, last month.

As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, are four seats short of an Upper House majority, they enlisted the help of the Conservative Party of Japan and unaffiliated lawmakers to push the budget bill over the line.

The budget calls for a record general-account spending of 122,309.2 billion yen, in line with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's advocacy of "responsible and proactive" fiscal policy.

The expenditures include 39,055.9 billion yen for social security measures and 31,275.8 billion yen for debt-servicing costs, as well as spending to make high school education and elementary school lunches free.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Upper House Budget Committee held intensive deliberations and a concluding round of questioning on the budget bill with the prime minister in attendance.

As the committee's vote on the bill resulted in a tie, its chairman, Masahito Fujikawa of the LDP, exercised his casting vote to approve the bill in accordance with the Diet law, after which it was sent to the Upper House plenary meeting.
 
 

A bear measuring about 1.5 meters in length was spotted in a residential area of the Kuwano district in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on Tuesday morning.

The bear headed toward the Ose River, which flows near the residential area, and as of noon, it was reported to be staying in a grassy area along the riverbank.

City government officials and police officers were monitoring the surrounding area and are considering measures such as emergency culling. No injuries to residents have been reported so far.

About 30 minutes after being spotted in the residential area, the bear was seen at the nearby Oshima Shizen Fureai Hiroba park, according to the city government and the prefectural police.

Believed to be the same bear, the city government attempted to capture it by setting up a cage inside the park, but the animal headed to the river at around 10:30 a.m. on the day.

The area is about 3.5 kilometers northwest of JR Koriyama Station.
Since Monday night, there have been a series ofreports of a bear spotted on roads and in other areas nearby.

In response to the bear’s appearance, a nearby elementary school and a junior high school were temporarily closed.
 
 

As Generative AI applications transition from the cloud to internal corporate environments, the demand for enhanced data security and localized performance continues to surge. Supported by the Taiwan-Japan Industrial Collaboration Promotion Office (TJIC) of the Institute for Information Industry, a strategic trio—Neuchips, Netiotek, and ShareGuru—has joined forces to launch an integrated on-premise AI solution.

This comprehensive package combines high-performance AI acceleration cards, industrial-grade edge computing servers, and sophisticated knowledge-based Q&A systems.



Triple Collaboration: Building the Foundation for Localized AI


This partnership integrates the core technologies of three industry leaders. The solution will be featured in-depth by the ShareGuru and Netiotek teams during the upcoming exhibition:

• Netiotek: Provides the NERMPC-265K, an industrial-grade edge computing platform. Renowned for its superior stability and thermal design, it serves as the ideal hardware foundation for long-term on-premise AI operations.
• ShareGuru: Provides an enterprise-level semantic document retrieval and Q&A system. Utilizing its core ShareQA technology, it transforms diverse corporate documents into a real-time, high-precision knowledge base.
• Neuchips: Provides AI inference acceleration cards specifically optimized for Transformer architectures. The low power consumption and ease of deployment significantly reduce the operational costs for enterprises adopting Large Language Models (LLMs).

Forward-Looking Strategy: Experience Today, Witness Tomorrow

"Neuchips is dedicated to breaking through computational bottlenecks. We have already begun planning our next-generation hardware solutions optimized for Generative AI," a spokesperson stated.

"By leveraging advanced architectures to support larger model configurations, we aim to comprehensively upgrade the processing speed and accuracy of on-premise inference.

We cordially invite industry leaders to experience our first-generation solutions firsthand. Your feedback will be a vital reference as we refine our next-gen products."


Exhibition Information


We invite you to experience the technical innovations of high-performance on-premise AI and engage with our team of experts at the event:

• Event: Japan IT Week (Embedded, Edge & IoT Computing Expo)
• Date: April 8 – April 10
• Location: Tokyo Big Sight, Japan

West Hall 3, 4F, W20-22 (TAIWAN TECH PAVILION)


About the Partners

• Netiotek: Specializes in robust edge computing for OT–IT connectivity, AIoT, and Local LLM.
• ShareGuru: An innovator in AI-driven knowledge management and semantic search technologies.
• Neuchips: A premier provider of energy-efficient AI ASIC solutions tailored for the generative AI era.

 
 

The start of the new business year last week saw many companies in Japan holding ceremonies to welcome new recruits.

Among other factors, a shortage of labor is steadily raising starting salaries for new employees.

One company offers up to 400,000 yen, or around 2,500 dollars per month for some new hires, while the starting salary for a typical new hire is about 340,000 yen, or roughly 2,100 dollars.

This spring, the Tokyo-based operator of a leading electric appliance retail chain launched a new salary scheme in a bid to recruit talented workers.

The scheme provides the higher starting salary to new employees who have worked part-time for the company for at least one year before joining it as a regular employee. They must have experience in store operations, and have deep knowledge of products that the company sells.

Only 25 of the more than 500 new employees at this firm are eligible for the higher salary.

Under the new scheme, the company hopes it can continue to hire excellent student part-time workers as full-time employees after they graduate.

A labor ministry survey shows last year's average monthly salary for new graduates was the equivalent of about 1,640 dollars. That was up more than 220 dollars from 2020.

The ministry says many companies are still eager to recruit new employees, while smaller firms are facing difficulty in doing so.

The ministry says it will continue to work with job placement services to address Japan's labor shortage problem.
 
 

 
 
 
Japan plans to strengthen its defense system in the Pacific Ocean as part of the revision of three security-related documents slated to be made by year-end, sources have said.
The government aims to improve the country's deterrence and response capabilities in light of increasing Chinese military activities in the area. The Defense Ministry has begun examining concrete measures on a full scale at the Pacific defense concept office set up this month.

"A vast area on the Pacific side is a defense vacuum," Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters during his visit to Iwoto, the island widely known as Iwo Jima, in the village of Ogasawara, Tokyo.

Apparently with China in mind, Koizumi referred to "increased activities by a neighboring country" in the area and expressed his policy of expanding the presence of the Self-Defense Forces there.

Japan's warning and surveillance network has focused on the Sea of Japan and the Nansei southwestern islands, including Okinawa Prefecture, to counter North Korea's missile threat and China's advance into the East China Sea.

Currently, Japan has no radar system installed in the Pacific area that constantly monitors the skies, leaving the area only thinly covered. In addition, SDF unit presence is sparse there.

Meanwhile, China is believed to be enhancing its blue-water operational capabilities, with its military activities increasing in the Pacific.

China is said to view the so-called second island chain, which connects Tokyo's Ogasawara Islands and the U.S. territory of Guam, as a defense line against the U.S. military in the event of a contingency in Taiwan.

In June last year, China deployed the aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong simultaneously near the area for the first time. That month, a Chinese aircraft based on one of the two vessels flew dangerously close to a Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft.

This situation made Japan recognize the urgent need to strengthen the functions of SDF bases and develop a radar network in the Pacific.

One of the bases is Iwoto, about 1,250 kilometers south of central Tokyo. Currently, about 290 MSDF members and 110 members of the Air Self-Defence Force are stationed there mainly to refuel arriving aircraft and provide logistic support for training.

The Defense Ministry is considering establishing a pier to accommodate large ships and improve the island's runway for future fighter jet operations.

On the island of Minamitorishima, east of Iwoto, the construction of a firing range for surface-to-ship missile training is under way. Proposals to install radars and expand the runway are also being considered for the easternmost island.

The Japanese and U.S. governments exchanged documents on the development of undersea rare earth resources around Minamitorishima to coincide with last month's bilateral summit.

The deployment of the ASDF mobile warning and control radar system to Okinawa's Kitadaitojima Island is expected to be accelerated. The island is about 360 kilometers east of the main island of Okinawa, and the local municipality has been informed that about 30 members will be stationed on the island.

On the Pacific side, however, there is little land that can accommodate bases, limiting Japan's ability to cover the vast sea area on its own.

"We have no choice but to make deterrence work by combining the warning and surveillance capabilities of allying and partner countries, such as the United States, Australia and the Philippines," an SDF source said.
 
 

 

 

The Japanese government is planning to consider carefully whether it will ask companies and the general public to cut back on electricity and petroleum product consumption, several government sources said Friday.

Amid concerns over a possible prolonged military conflict between the U.S.-Israel camp and Iran, the government will make a decision on the matter after assessing the impact of the Middle East situation on energy supply and the Japanese economy.

"We'll consider all policy options in a way that would not greatly impact the people or the economy," industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said at the day's press conference.

"Energy-saving consciousness is high in Japan," a senior government official said. "The public is expected to respond quickly if we request it."

Suggesting that Japan still has adequate oil stockpiles, the official added that the government "will not make such a request until at least after the Golden Week holiday period (from late April to early May)."
 
 

The Indonesian government sent 200 migrant workers under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme in the manufacturing sector to Japan, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said on Friday.

"The dispatch today proves that the SMK Go Global program is key to expanding access for Indonesian workers to enter the global labor market," he said at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

The initiative is part of a national strategy to expand workforce access to overseas markets through the SMK Go Global program.

He said the program is a priority of President Prabowo Subianto, as instructed following a cabinet meeting on November 5, 2025.
"This is an initial pilot phase supported by state-owned enterprises’ CSR funding. The model will be tested and refined before being implemented as a regular program," Muhaimin said.

He said the program aims to prepare Indonesian talent to compete globally and represent the quality of the national workforce.

He added that migrant workers remain a national priority for achieving long-term welfare.
"They are expected not only to work abroad, but also to become agents of economic transformation upon returning home," Muhaimin added.

"With global knowledge, work culture, and networks, they can contribute to domestic industries. The state will continue to protect and facilitate them," he said.

The 200 workers were sent through several schemes, including 50 under PT Angkasa Pura’s CSR program, 30 under PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s CSR program, and 120 through licensed migrant worker placement agencies (P3MI).
 

Three tankers operated by Oman, one French owned container ship, and one Japanese owned gas carrier have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, according to shipping data, reflecting Iran’s policy of allowing vessels it considers friendly to transit.

According to Reuters, Friday (3/4), Iran initially closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries around one fifth of global oil and LNG, after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February triggered a wider conflict.

Iran later stated it would allow ships not linked to the United States or Israel to pass.

Oil and commodity markets are watching closely for signs that traffic is returning to normal. Several tankers and container ships managed to pass through the blockade in previous weeks, but those movements were followed by days of complete standstill.

A French owned container ship, CMA CGM, transited the Strait on Thursday, the same day French President Emmanuel Macron said that only diplomatic efforts, not military operations, could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The French vessel changed its destination on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to “Owner France” before entering Iranian waters, signalling its nationality to Iranian authorities.
India Ship India Crew

The ships appear to have switched off their AIS transponders during the crossing, as their signals disappeared from vessel tracking data.

Two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and one LNG carrier operated by Oman Shipping Management also exited the Gulf on Thursday, according to MarineTraffic and LSEG data.

Oman, which mediated talks between Iran and the United States before the strikes, criticised the launch of the attacks while negotiations were still underway.

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said on Friday that the jointly owned LNG carrier Sohar LNG had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first Japan linked vessel and the first LNG carrier to do so since the conflict began.

A Mitsui spokesperson declined to tell Reuters when exactly the transit occurred or whether negotiations were required.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Transport, as of Friday morning, around 45 vessels owned or operated by Japanese companies remained stranded in the region.

Another Mitsui owned LPG carrier, Green Sanvi, left the Gulf via Iranian territorial waters earlier on Friday, according to shipping data. The India flagged vessel listed its destination as “India ship India crew”.

In addition, a large Panama flagged gas carrier, Danisa, left the Gulf via the same route heading for China. (YS/LM)
 

 

Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen collaboration in forestry, biodiversity conservation, and climate initiatives following a ministerial meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni met with Japan’s Minister for Economic Security and Growth Strategy Minoru Kiuchi, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deeper environmental cooperation.

“This meeting reaffirms a strong commitment by Indonesia and Japan to expand strategic cooperation in forestry, biodiversity conservation, and real contributions to global efforts in addressing climate change,” Raja said in a statement from Jakarta.

Kiuchi described Indonesia as a strategic partner, emphasizing its importance not only bilaterally but also across the Asia-Pacific, particularly in forestry and conservation.

Both sides welcomed a memorandum of understanding with Shizuoka Prefecture on wildlife protection, focusing on the komodo dragon—an animal highly popular in Japan and often compared to the panda.

Japan plans a special welcoming ceremony for the komodo and supports accelerating animal exchanges between iZoo in Shizuoka and Surabaya Zoo, with an agreement targeted by April 2026.

Raja confirmed Indonesia’s commitment to expedite the komodo transfer, strengthening conservation cooperation and public engagement through wildlife exchange

He also highlighted longstanding projects supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and called for scaling up collaboration, including faster implementation of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) in Indonesia’s forestry sector.

The minister further proposed a “sister park” initiative linking Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park with Indonesian national parks to enhance knowledge exchange, conservation management, and ecosystem sustainability.

The partnership is expected to bolster governance, technical cooperation, and joint contributions to global climate mitigation efforts.
 

Tokyo’s first batch of long-range strike missiles capable of reaching ground and maritime targets at extended ranges have been operationally fielded, according to Japan’s defense ministry.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) announced Monday the deployment of the Type 25 series of missiles. While the missiles share the same designation, their variants are split through surface-to-ship (SSM) and hypervelocity gliding projectile (HGP) classifications.

Capable of striking targets over 1,000 kilometers away, basing the Type 25 series anti-ship missiles at the service’s Kengun Western Army base in Kyushu enables Japanese forces to hit maritime targets across the country’s southwestern region, the East China Sea and mainland China. The SSM variant is derived from the domestically-made Type 12.

While the hypersonic variant is deployed at the JGSDF’s Fuji base, the service has practiced deploying the system via air and maritime means. Future variants of the Type 25-HGP plan to extend the hypersonic’s range to between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers.

“These equipment are important in enhancing Japan’s deterrence and response capabilities. The Ground Self Defense Force will always stand with the people of Japan and will continue to make every effort to protect their safety and security,” reads a JGSDF statement on the deployment.

Amid regional tensions, Japan has prioritized a build-up of military forces in its southwestern region. The Ryukyu Islands, an archipelagic chain stretching from mainland Japan to Taiwan, received numerous missile bases, radar sites and additional defensive infrastructure following concerns of a cross strait conflict and Chinese ambitions over the disputed Senakaku Islands.

These missiles represent a significant capability boost for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in their plans to deter China and North Korea through long-range strike munitions.

The development, production and fielding of these missiles are part of a broader force-wide shift from its Cold War defensive mission against a northern Soviet threat to increasingly complex and capable Chinese military activities occurring around the southwestern region.

Tokyo plans to procure large quantities of long-range missiles and equip numerous mobile ground, naval and air platforms with the missiles. When fielded, this large missile inventory has the potential to hold regional adversaries at risk.

Chinese state media has expressed concern over the deployment, claiming that their operational fielding represents a breach of Tokyo’s post-World War II pledge to not procure weapons unrelated to self-defense via Article 9 of Japan’s constitution.

Washington’s recent arms sales are also playing a major role in developing Tokyo’s newfound counterstrike capabilities. In 2024, Japan finalized the purchase of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which will be fielded on its fleet of Aegis guided-missile destroyers.

Last week saw the successful integration of Tomahawk-related launching systems and crew training aboard the first Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warship that will equip the American cruise missiles, USNI News reported. For the Type 25-HGP, the U.S. previously approved arms sales supporting its development and has hosted test launches in California.

These efforts also coincide with U.S. military efforts to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities across the first island chain in the Philippines and Japan to deter China.

Washington has eyed its allies in the region to host these capabilities, which could prove crucial in a potential Taiwan contingency against Beijing’s large array of naval forces.
 
 

The Japanese and French governments on Wednesday agreed to strengthen their cooperation on defense, sharing the view that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, given the deteriorating global security environment.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks with their French counterparts in Tokyo. "It is essential for us to enhance cooperation on diplomacy and defense," Motegi said at the so-called two-plus-two meeting.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that developing the two countries' strategic relationship is an urgent task.

The four ministers welcomed the port call by French naval vessels to Japan and the deepening defense collaboration through joint drills between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and French military forces. They agreed to continue cooperation on space and cyber domains.

On the Middle East situation, the four ministers affirmed the need for navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, agreeing to continue consultations for an early resolution of the situation.
 
 

 
Indonesia is strengthening ties with the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) to develop its wellness tourism sector, aiming to attract more Japanese travelers through holistic health experiences and strategic regional partnerships.

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana met AJC Secretary-General Kunihiko Chris Hirabayashi in Tokyo on Monday to discuss promoting Indonesia’s wellness ecosystem as a key future growth driver for the national tourism industry.

"Wellness tourism is a strategic direction for Indonesia. We see AJC as a vital partner to strengthen promotion, knowledge exchange, and development in the Japanese market," Widiyanti said in an official statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Japan remains a critical market for Indonesia, recording over 380,000 arrivals in 2025. This figure represents a 12 percent increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing demand for Indonesian travel destinations.

The two parties discussed reviving a Wellness Tourism Workshop in Bali. The forum serves as a platform for capacity building and expert knowledge-sharing among tourism stakeholders from both ASEAN nations and Japan.

Beyond health-focused travel, the bilateral meeting touched on sustainable and community-based tourism.

Indonesia is currently prioritizing the development of "tourism villages" to improve local welfare and provide authentic cultural experiences for international visitors.

The collaboration also explores human resource development, including the exchange of best practices and expertise.

Both sides committed to increasing people-to-people exchanges to deepen the relationship between Indonesia, Japan, and the broader ASEAN region.

The partnership aims to secure long-term commitment for sustainable tourism growth.

By leveraging AJC’s network, Indonesia expects to solidify its position as a premier destination for holistic and community-driven travel in Southeast Asia.
 
 

 

 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed Tuesday to cooperate closely in the field of energy security amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the conflict between the U.S.-Israeli side and Iran.

At their 45-minute meeting at the State Guest House in Tokyo, the two leaders had an in-depth discussion over the Middle East and affirmed that their countries will work together to help calm the situation there at an early time.

 

Takaichi and Prabowo confirmed that Japan and Indonesia will cooperate to strengthen supply chains for liquefied natural gas and other items, while agreeing to expand collaboration on maritime security through Japan's official security assistance program, under which the country provides defense equipment to like-minded nations free of charge.

 

The two leaders also affirmed cooperation to foster artificial intelligence experts in Indonesia and enhance measures against flood and other natural disasters.

In addition, they discussed regional affairs, including issues related to China and nuclear and missile development by North Korea.
 
 

 
Indonesia will loan two Komodo dragons to Shizuoka Prefecture, where it is hoped the endangered reptiles will be able to breed, and will receive some red pandas and giraffes in return, an official said Monday.

The Forestry Ministry said ‌the animal ‌swaps would increase "contributions from both parties toward wildlife protection and conservation, as well as raising public awareness of biodiversity," adding that the program was intended to breed the Komodo dragons, which the IUCN Red List classifies as endangered.

Ahmad Munawir, a conservation official at the ministry, said a male and a female will be sent to a zoo in Shizuoka. In return, the prefecture will send several animals to Indonesia, including red pandas and giraffes, Ahmad said.

The agreement was aigned last week, ahead of a visit to Japan by President Prabowo Subianto, who met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on ‌Tuesday.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said Tuesday that the dragons should never be treated as "diplomatic bargaining chips."

"Shipping these highly intelligent animals overseas for captive ‌breeding only reinforces the dangerous myth that conservation can happen behind zoo walls, while any offspring born there would be condemned to a lifetime of confinement," PETA Asia President Jason Baker said, adding that the dragons should remain in their habitat.

Indonesia is home to over 3,000 Komodo dragons, according to government data. The reptiles are the largest lizards in the world, growing up to around 3 meters long. They have a yellow forked tongue and a venomous bite.

Japan's TV Shizuoka has reported the two dragons would arrive as soon as June for the breeding program. Ahmad said the dragons would be sent after a business-to-business agreement was signed by the zoos in Indonesia and Japan.
 
 

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto landed at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan, to commence his inaugural state visit as the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to the Presidential Secretariat, the Indonesian-1 presidential plane arrived in Tokyo on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 19:10 local time.

Upon disembarking from the plane, Prabowo was greeted by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, the Chief of Protocol of Japan, Tadayuki Miyashita, the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, and the Defense Attach of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo, Rear Admiral TNI Hidayaturrahman. From the airport, President Prabowo continued his journey to his place of stay.

During his visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, Prabowo is scheduled to meet with the Japanese Emperor, Naruhito. Additionally, Prabowo is scheduled to hold discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister (PM), Sanae Takaichi.

President Prabowo departed Jakarta and headed to Japan on Sunday morning, March 29, 2026. Prabowo, along with a limited entourage, took off from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, at around 10:35 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

During the flight to Tokyo, Prabowo was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, and the Cabinet Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya.

The State Secretary Minister, Prasetyo Hadi-who saw off Prabowo's departure in Jakarta-stated that this state visit to Japan is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

According to Prasetyo, during the visit to the Land of Sakura, Prabowo will discuss several strategic matters that have been the strength of cooperation between Indonesia and Japan.

"For example, in terms of trade, technology, education, and including cooperation in the forestry and environmental sectors," Prasetyo told the media on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
 
 

Punch the baby Japanese macaque has been spending more time without his surrogate “mother” — a large stuffed orangutan — at a zoo in Chiba Prefecture, with visitors watching over him on his journey toward independence.

For the past two months, Punch has been spending more time grooming his peers, leaving his stuffed orangutan in the monkey house.

Although visitors have not been able to see him with his stuffed animal as much, they seem relieved that he is spending more time with the other monkeys.

“I wonder if he’s become independent from his mom,” a visitor said.
Zoo staff gave Punch the stuffed animal after his real mother showed little interest in raising him, and he began dragging it around with him.

Scenes of Punch running back and forth around monkey mountain with his “mother” became popular not only among visitors to the zoo but also worldwide on social media.

As a result, visitors to the zoo increased, with the number reaching 47,000 in February, 2.3 times higher than the same month last year.

The city has received many inquiries from people wanting to donate and support the now 8-month-old Punch.

On March 16, the city announced options for people to support the monkey, including bank transfers and the furusato nozei hometown tax donation system, with more than ¥11 million raised in the week leading up March 22.

The zoo plans to use the donations to address the extreme heat on monkey mountain, which is believed to be one of the reasons mother monkeys have given up raising their infants.

“He still sleeps while hugging the stuffed animal in the monkey house, so he’s not fully independent,” an official of Ichikawa City Zoo said. “We ask visitors to continue to offer their warm support.”
 
 

Japanese figure skater Sakamoto Kaori has won her career fourth women's singles world title in her final competition before she retires.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games silver medalist performed her free skate at the world championships in the Czech Republic capital of Prague on Friday.

She successfully executed all her jumps, scoring a personal best of 158.97 points. Her overall score of 238.28 points was also a career best.

Sakamoto's fourth world championships title is a new record by a Japanese figure skater. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics silver medalist Asada Mao won the world championships title three times.

Sakamoto said in an interview after her victory that she is really glad she was able to skate in front of all the fans. She expressed her gratitude for the support they provided.

Japan's Chiba Mone placed second with an overall score of 228.47 points, a personal best.
 
 

The Japanese government adopted Friday a new basic plan for science and technology policy, which for the first time calls for promoting research and development activities on technologies for military-civilian dual-use goods.

The policy direction reflects the fact that various countries are advancing the military application of advanced technologies. The basic plan also calls for raising the target for total public-private investment in science and technology from the current ¥120 trillion to ¥180 trillion.

Japan's science and technology basic plan is revised every five years. The new plan covers fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2030.

Countries around the world are taking advantage of the rapid development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance their national security.

The new plan says that improving dual-use technologies is "essential from the viewpoint of security and economic growth."

It designates AI and semiconductors as "national strategic technologies," aiming to promote domestic development while preventing their outflow overseas. It also features support for human resource development.

The plan also calls for establishing a research institute for critical technology strategy in fiscal 2026, which starts next month, to advise the government on economic security in the field of science and technology.

At a Council for Science, Technology and Innovation meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government will "work as one to promote the plan, including basic research, human resource development, social implementation and the enhancement of industrial competitiveness" 
 
 

 
A female store clerk has died after being stabbed at a commercial complex in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district by a man who later stabbed himself to death. Police say the man was the victim's former boyfriend.

At around 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, the police were notified that a man was behaving violently inside Sunshine City, a multifunction complex.

Police officers say the woman was attacked at the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo shop on the building's second floor. The unconscious victim was rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police officers have confirmed that the victim was 21-year-old Harukawa Moe from western Tokyo's Hachioji City.

They say the assailant, 26-year-old Hirokawa Taiki, was the woman's ex-boyfriend. He reportedly died at a hospital he was taken to.

The police say security camera footage shows the man visiting the shop alone and stepping behind the counter where the woman was. They add that they are treating the incident as a murder.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department says the woman informed police officers in December of last year that she was the victim of a stalker. It notes that the case was being dealt with.

The department says the woman started dating Hirokawa around October of 2024 and broke up with him around July of 2025.

On December 25, 2025 she visited a police station in Hachioji for a consultation and said that her former boyfriend was following her around. When police officers took her home, they found Hirokawa in the vicinity of her home and arrested him on suspicion of violating Japan's anti-stalking law.

The officers said they found a knife with a blade about 10 centimeters long in the vehicle that Hirokawa had rented to reach the area.

Hirokawa was rearrested on allegations of voyeurism in January. Restraining orders were then issued against him. Those orders ban individuals from engaging in actions, such as stalking. Hirokawa was released at the end of January, after he was summarily indicted.

Before Hirokawa's release, police officers had the woman stay at a relative's home and install security cameras at her residence.
 
 

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned to the country.

The individual, who had been held by Iranian authorities since last year, arrived in the country Sunday in good health.

The confirmation followed an announcement by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who stated Sunday that the release was secured Wednesday after repeated petitions were made to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Japanese government has not officially identified the individual involved.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the detentions earlier this month, noting that the two cases involved individuals detained at different times—one in 2025 and the other in January of this year.

Although the ministry has confirmed both individuals remained in good health during their respective periods of custody, officials have declined to provide further details regarding the specific legal charges or whether the two cases are substantively related.

Regarding the Japanese national who remains in custody, reported to be NHK journalist Shinnosuke Kawashima, Kihara stated:

We have confirmed that there is no problem with the safety and health of the person. The government of Japan is continuing to press Iran for a release as soon as possible. We are working to win an early release while communicating with the family and other concerned parties.

The release marks a significant development in diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Tehran. However, the continued detention of Kawashima remains a point of international concern for press freedom advocacy groups.
 
 

At the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change between the European Union and Japan, in Brussels, senior officials agreed to deepen their bilateral co-operation, working together towards achieving climate neutrality and tackling shared economic and geopolitical challenges. 

In the context of the current crisis in the Gulf region, both sides acknowledged the importance of the clean energy transition that contributes not only to climate neutrality but also their respective security, independence and competitiveness. 

The meeting was opened by Kurt Vandenberghe – Director-General for Climate Action at the European Commission and DOI Kentaro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.

During the dialogue both sides reaffirmed their resolve to uphold multilateralism and their unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and the need to scale-up climate action in this decade, to reduce emissions with a view to keeping the limit of 1.5°C temperature rise by the end of the century within reach. 

The EU and Japan discussed the implementation of their 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as their NDCs for 2035 and 2040 in the case of Japan. Both sides agreed to join efforts to ensure a successful COP31 in Antalya later this year.

They also agreed to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle including through international cooperation on the preparation and delivery of NDCs and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) for parties that have not delivered them.

The EU and Japan recalled the first of its kind Green Alliance launched between the EU and Japan in May 2021 and reviewed opportunities to work together to support each other respective climate agendas.

In particular, they agreed to promote bilateral exchanges during the course of 2026 on industrial decarbonisation, climate adaptation, carbon pricing and carbon credits, carbon capture use and storage, sustainable finance, as well as climate action at sub-national level. 
 
 

 

 

Japan’s Supreme Court is expected to issue a unified ruling on whether law provisions not allowing same-sex marriage are constitutional, as six related appeals have been sent to the court’s Grand Bench.

The court’s Third Petty Bench, presided over by Michiharu Hayashi, on Wednesday forwarded the cases to the Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Yukihiko Imasaki.

Lower court decisions on the lawsuits were divided, with five finding the legal provisions to be unconstitutional.

The Grand Bench, consisting of the top court’s 15 justices, is expected to give its ruling as early as next year, as it already has other suits to handle, including one over whether last July’s election of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, was constitutional in terms of vote-value disparities.

After hearing opinions from both sides of the damages suits, filed against the state mainly by same-sex couples, the top court will present its first constitutional interpretation as to the provisions related to same-sex marriage.

Five of Japan’s high courts, namely those in Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka, ruled the provisions of the Civil Code and family register law, which do not allow same-sex marriage, are unconstitutional.