Strained Sino-Japanese relations over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks in November on a Taiwan contingency seem to have had little effect on young Chinese lovers of Japanese animation and video games, with long queues formed at character goods shops in China.

The country's market for Japanese-originated anime and game culture, known as "erciyuan" in Chinese, meaning two-dimensional, almost doubled in five years to 597.7 billion yuan (about $86 billion) in 2024, according to iiMedia Research. The figure is expected to grow further to 834.4 billion yuan in 2029.

 

"Devoted fan activities are a source of spiritual fulfillment," a 21-year-old female college student dressed as the main character of the Japanese anime "Black Butler" said in late December at a Shanghai shopping mall that houses stores selling a variety of Japanese anime items.

"The deterioration of Sino-Japanese relations doesn't have any impact because we can watch our favorites on video streaming sites," she added.

Relations between Japan and China are at their lowest in years after Takaichi's remarks that an attack on Taiwan could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan, potentially prompting its Self-Defense Forces to act in support of the United States, infuriating Beijing.

 

China, which claims the self-ruled island as its territory and sees the Taiwan issue as a purely "internal affair," has come up with a series of anti-Japanese economic measures, including a limited number for the entertainment industry.

However, an industry source implied such measures will have little effect as so many local Chinese companies are involved in the sale of Japanese intellectual property-related products, such as anime and games.

Completely excluding the business could "deal a major blow to those Chinese firms," the source said, "(But) it's unrealistic (for them) to do that."

 

While characters from Japanese anime such as "Haikyu!!" and "Jujutsu Kaisen" enjoy enduring popularity in the Chinese market, China is developing its own domestic character business with the aim of becoming a cultural powerhouse.

In recent years, animation and games originating from China, such as the anime "Fei Ren Zai," which was aired in Japan, and romance simulation games for women, have been on the rise, fueling competition between Japanese and Chinese businesses in the market.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly considering retaining all of her ministers in the new cabinet to be announced next week.

After winning a landslide victory in the election for the House of Representatives on Sunday, Takaichi is expected to be reappointed as prime minister in parliament on February 18 when parliament convenes for a proposed special session of 150 days.

Reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Tuesday, February 10, Japan's ruling and opposition parties agreed to the government's proposal to hold the session, which is expected to last until at least July 17.

This happened after the lower house was dissolved on the first day of the regular parliamentary session at the end of January to hold a by-election.

The schedule proposed by the government includes a parliamentary vote to choose a prime minister that Takaichi will almost certainly win after the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partners won a landslide victory to control more than two-thirds of the 465 seats in the assembly.

With Takaichi's new cabinet appointed just months ago in October and his party winning a historic victory, a cabinet reshuffle is unlikely, the sources said.

The LDP's proposal to deliver policy speeches to Parliament by the prime minister and senior ministers, which will take place on February 20, was also approved by the Centrist Reform Alliance in a meeting of their heads of parliamentary affairs.
 
 

Japan won the bronze medal in the ski jumping mixed team event at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Tuesday, earning its first Olympic medal in the event.

The Japanese team, consisting of Nozomi Maruyama, Ryoyu Kobayashi, Sara Takanashi and Ren Nikaido, brought the Asian country its eighth medal at the ongoing Olympics.

Japan marked a total score of 1,034.0, while Slovenia won its second successive gold, with a score of 1,069.2. Norway placed second.

The mixed team event was held for the first time at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and Japan finished fourth at the time, missing the podium.

 

 
 

Almost three weeks of heavy snowfall has killed 46 people and injured 558 others in Japan, fresh data from the Fire and Disaster Management Agency showed Tuesday.

Continued snowfall since late January has buried northern communities and caused traffic chaos, particularly along the coast facing the Sea of Japan.

Many fatal accidents happened when mounds of snow fell on residents from roofs or people tumbled while trying to clear it, according to police and local officials.

In the northern regional hub of Aomori, residents are having to deal with 1.3 meters (more than 4 feet) of snow on the ground, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.
 

Japan won the silver medal in the figure skating team event at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Sunday, as it did at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

The Japanese team earned a total score of 68, just behind the U.S. team's 69. Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara recorded the highest score in pair skating, and Kaori Sakamoto did so in women's singles free skating.

In snowboarding, Tsubaki Miki placed sixth in women's parallel giant slalom. Tomoka Takeuchi, 42, was eliminated in the preliminary round.

 

Takeuchi competed in her seventh straight Olympic games, setting a new record for Japanese women.

In the women's big air event, four Japanese athletes advanced to Monday's finals, with Kokomo Murase ranking second in the preliminary round.

 

 
 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s striking victory in Sunday’s election has catapulted Japan’s political landscape to a time many had already begun to forget — a time when her Liberal Democratic Party held largely unfettered control over the levers of power.

Following a short hiatus after the party was all but declared dead — with many proclaiming the start of a new era ー the LDP rose from the ashes to win back the domineering position it had long held.

But Sunday’s triumph is less a master stroke of the LDP than a success of its indisputable architect: Takaichi herself.

Since the start of the campaign, Takaichi took center stage in the election like few of her predecessors had dared.

Defying convention and general wisdom in calling a snap election, the prime minister gambled on the public’s appetite for a strong and energetic leader — one who speaks in clear, direct terms and projects a vision for the country.

Even her critics had little space to complain, despite faulting her for acting unilaterally and relying on a small circle of handpicked advisers.
 
 

Japan will switch the world's largest nuclear power plant back on next week, after a glitch with an alarm forced the suspension of its first restart since the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The announcement came after TEPCO restarted the reactor on January 21 but shut it off the following day after an alarm from the monitoring system sounded.

Due to an error in its configuration, the alarm had picked up slight changes to the electrical current in one cable even though these were still within a range considered safe, Takeyuki Inagaki, the head of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant run by Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), said.

The firm has now changed the alarm's settings as the reactor is safe to operate, Inagaki said.

The commercial operation will commence on or after March 18 after another comprehensive inspection, he said.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven will restart.

The facility had been offline since Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.

Resource-poor Japan now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first TEPCO-run unit to restart since 2011. The company also operates the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, now being decommissioned.

Public opinion in the area around the plant is deeply divided: Around 60 percent of residents oppose the restart, while 37 percent support it, according to a survey conducted by Niigata prefecture in September.

In January, seven groups opposing the restart submitted a petition signed by nearly 40,000 people to TEPCO and Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, saying that the plant sits on an active seismic fault zone and noted it was struck by a strong quake in 2007.
 
 

Japan's nationalist ruling party is set to regain a majority in lower house elections, media projections showed on Sunday, in what would be a huge victory for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is expected to have won about 300 seats in the lower house of parliament, far exceeding the 233 seats required for a majority, national broadcaster NHK reported, basing projections on exit polls.

Together with its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), the LDP was projected to win 310 seats, NHK said, giving them a two-thirds majority.

Takaichi dissolved parliament in January ahead of the snap elections, a gamble that she hoped would provide her and her struggling party with a stronger mandate.

While Takaichi is hugely popular, particularly with younger voters, her conservative LDP, which has ruled the country for most of the past seven decades, has been hit by scandals and faced a new opposition alliance that has emerged as a potential challenger.


What do the projections mean?

The projections affirm what opinion polls foresaw ahead of Sunday's national elections, that the LDP alone would comfortably win the 233 seats required for a majority in the 465-member lower house of parliament.

Sunday night's projections showed the LDP and its coalition partner, the populist JIP, would most likely surpass the 310 seats needed for a two-thirds majority.

his would allow the coalition to override the upper chamber, which is controlled by the opposition.

That would be the strongest result for the LDP since Takaichi's mentor Shinzo Abe's victory in 2017. Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated in 2022.

Such a victory would mean a significant shift to the right in Japanese politics. The LDP, which has held a narrow majority since a poor showing in elections in 2024, has struggled to push through legislation.

Takaichi had said she would step down if the LDP failed to secure a majority.

NHK's projections showed that a newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance and the far-right Sanseito party were unable to pose a serious threat to the incumbent prime minister.

The alliance looked to have lost more than two-thirds of its 167 seats, while the far-right party was projected to have increased its seats from two to between five and 14, broadcaster NHK said.


Who is Sanae Takaichi?

Takaichi became Japan's first woman prime minister in October.
She has touted UK former-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — dubbed the "Iron Lady" — as an inspiration, and her pledge to "work, work, work, work and work" has resonated with voters.

An ultraconservative and China hawk, she wants to boost Japan's defense spending and capabilities amid growing tensions with Beijing and pressure from US President Donald Trump, with whom she enjoys good ties.

She has also been pressing for tougher immigration policies and to revitalize Japan's economy.

The election was held against the backdrop of record snowfall in many areas of the country in recent weeks, which could delay vote counting or hinder access to polling stations in some areas, even in Tokyo.

The snow has blocked roads and has been linked to dozens of deaths.
 
 

Heavy snowfall hit a wide swath of Japan on Sunday, particularly in the west and along the Sea of Japan coast, while central Tokyo was lightly blanketed.

The snowfall disrupted traffic in areas adjacent to Kyoto, as well as in southwestern Fukui Prefecture and eastern Tottori Prefecture, with some cities in the two prefectures recording more than 30 centimeters of snow over a six-hour period in the morning.

Among areas seeing unusually heavy snow, Nantan in Kyoto Prefecture recorded 35 cm over a six-hour period, while Tottori recorded 37 cm and Shobara in Hiroshima Prefecture logged the same amount in six hours.

In the central area of Tokyo, 5 cm of snow was observed as of 11 a.m., with the weather agency issuing heavy snow warnings in some parts of the capital.

A strong winter weather pattern that brought the heavy snow is expected to ease in western Japan on Monday, but the Japan Meteorological Agency says snowfall is expected to continue in regions along the Sea of Japan coast.

In the 24 hours through 6 p.m. Monday, the Hokuriku region in central Japan could see up to 60 cm of snow, and the Kanto-Koshin region may get up to 50 cm, while 40 cm is expected in the Hokkaido and Tohoku regions. The western region of Chugoku is also expected to see 40 cm.

The western regions of Chugoku and Shikoku may see up to 25 cm and 15 cm, respectively.

Due to the snow, the Tokaido and Sanyo shinkansen bullet train lines operated at reduced speed from the start of Sunday's service between Shinagawa in Tokyo and Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture and between Hiroshima and Asa in Yamaguchi Prefecture, respectively, according to railway operators.

Over 50,000 people were affected by train suspensions and delays in the Tokyo metropolitan area, according to JR East.
 
 

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival during which the streets of the port city in southwestern Japan are illuminated with approximately 15,000 colorful lanterns got underway on Friday.

Starting this year, the festival began on the first Friday of February instead of coinciding with the start of the Chinese New Year.

A lighting ceremony was held at the main venue, Minato Park.

Around 6:00 p.m., following a countdown, the lanterns and sculptures were all lit simultaneously.

Approximately 15,000 lanterns and objects are on display throughout central Nagasaki.

Among them is a newly designed 11-meter-tall sculpture titled "Ryoma Seishin" representing a youthful and vibrant spirit soaring through the sky like a dragon and galloping across the earth like a horse.

This year's festival runs for 18 days until February 23.

The Emperor Parade, inspired by an imperial visit during China's Qing Dynasty, will take place on February 14 and 21 while the Maso procession, honoring the goddess of sailors and sea voyages, is planned for February 8 and 15.

The organizing committee expects more than one million visitors will attend the festival.
 
 

 

Japan will keep requesting Russia to allow the restart of a program for former residents of Russian-held northwestern Pacific islands to visit their ancestors' graves on the islands, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Saturday.

"Resuming the visits is a humanitarian issue and one of the top priorities in the Japan-Russia relationship," Takaichi said in an annual national rally held by the government and related organizations to demand the return of the Japanese-claimed islands, called the Northern Territories.

"We will patiently urge the Russian side to resume them," she also said, referring to the aging of former residents of the islands, seized from Japan by Soviet troops around the end of World War II.

The visit program was halted for reasons including Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is totally unclear when the program will restart.

"It is really vexing and regrettable that a peace treaty between Japan and Russia has not been concluded and that the Northern Territories issue has not been resolved although 80 years have passed since the war ended," Takaichi stressed.
 
 

 

Two leaders of a fledgling Japanese political party unveil a red logo reminiscent of Chinese Communist Party imagery.

A candidate campaigns in freezing weather wearing a tank top. Grannies vent in public about what they see as political nonsense. Or do they?

Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s Lower House election, the race will be remembered not least for having witnessed the full-blown debut of "AI slop" in Japanese politics.

As more voters in Japan turn to social media for political updates and policy debates, the internet is increasingly looking like a dumping site for fake and dubious news and content.

Behind the deluge of such content is the ease with which generative AI can create authentic-looking videos and the opportunities for anyone to make quick money, experts say.

Major social media platforms, such as YouTube and TikTok, offer financial rewards to channels with high numbers of views.

“The mechanism through which fake news and content of uncertain authenticity spreads hasn’t changed much since the previous election,” said Shinichi Yamaguchi, a professor at the International University of Japan in Niigata Prefecture.

“But what is decisively different in this election is how generative AI technology has advanced.”
 
 

A cherry blossom festival boasting a highly Instagrammable view of Japan's Mount Fuji has been cancelled after residents complained of overtourism fuelled by the weak yen.

The city of Fujiyoshida, in central Japan's Yamanashi region, said on Tuesday (Feb 3) that the weeks-long event attracting around 200,000 people will be called off this year because "the quiet lives of local residents are threatened".

About 42.7 million tourists flocked to Japan in 2025, an all-time high, topping 2024's record of nearly 37 million as the weak yen boosted the appeal of the "bucket list" destination.

But complaints of overcrowding have grown in hotspots like Kyoto, where disrespectful tourists have been accused of harassing kimono-clad geisha performers in their frenzy for photos.

In Fujiyoshida, the influx of foreign tourists has seen traffic chronically jammed and cigarette butts tossed, with trespassing and even defecation in private gardens reported by its citizens, the city said.

"Behind (Mount Fuji's) beautiful landscape is the reality that the quiet lives of citizens are threatened. We have a strong sense of crisis," Shigeru Horiuchi, Fujiyoshida mayor, said in a statement.

"To protect the dignity and living environment of our citizens, we have decided to bring the curtain down on the 10-year-old festival."

The city, however, admits that even if the festival itself is cancelled, its venue - a park overlooking Mount Fuji, cherry blossom trees and a five-story pagoda - may still see a spike in visitors as spring nears.
Mount Fuji is a perennial tourist attraction.

To manage the influx of visitors, nearby towns have in the past erected a view-blocking barrier to dissuade photo-hungry tourists, introduced an entry fee for hikers and capped their daily numbers.
 
 

Admission fees to Ginkakuji temple, a World Heritage Site, will increase from April for the first time in 32 years, the temple announced last month.

Money generated through the hike will be used to maintain the temple’s cultural properties and gardens, at a time when prices and labor costs are soaring.

From April, the general admission fee will double from ¥500 to ¥1,000, and the fee for elementary and junior high school students will climb from ¥300 to ¥500. Admission for people with a disability will remain ¥100, and those below elementary school age will still be able to enter for free.

Officially called Jishoji, Ginkakuji is located in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto. Its most iconic building is Kannonden hall, which is also known as “Ginkaku” (silver pavilion).

The temple’s Togudo hall is said to be the nation’s oldest existing example of Shoinzukuri architecture.

Both structures have been designated as national treasures, and the gardens are a national special place of scenic beauty and a special historic site.

“The temple was founded more than 500 years ago,” a Ginkakuji official said. “We hope that people will understand that [the price increase] will ensure it can be preserved and passed down for future generations.”
 

 

Tokyo police have arrested two Vietnamese men on suspicion of illegally purchasing popular Pokemon cards by creating fake accounts on a sales website. Police suspect the two resold the cards for profit.

The police say one of the suspects, 39-year-old Do Van Cuong, runs a communications service firm in Tokyo.

They say the two men accessed the official sales website for Pokemon goods from June to September 2025 and created 30 fictitious accounts using fraudulently obtained SIM cards.

The website held lotteries that allowed the winners to buy one box of Pokemon cards each.

Police say the two are suspected of illegally buying 4,500 cards in 30 boxes using the fake accounts.

In October 2025, Do Van Cuong was arrested and indicted on fraud charges for giving false information when he bought SIM cards from a communications business company.

Police say the suspects may have used some of the SIM cards obtained at that time to create the fake accounts.

Police searched related facilities and seized more than 15,000 Pokemon cards. They say the two are suspected of making at least 4 million yen, or about 25,500 dollars, by reselling some of the cards.

They have not revealed whether the two suspects have admitted to the allegations.
 
 

Japan Airlines has said that its passenger revenue on China routes in December was about 20% lower than its projections, following Beijing’s notices advising Chinese citizens against traveling to Japan.

The weakness continued into January and beyond, the company said.
Still, passenger revenue on routes to and from China accounts for about only 8% of the JAL group’s total international flight revenue.

The China route revenue loss “could be covered this fiscal year, as (revenue on) other routes remains very strong,” Executive Vice President Yuji Saito told a news conference Tuesday.

According to JAL, revenue from China routes in December plunged by ¥1 billion ($6.4 million) at JAL and by about ¥300 million at affiliate Spring Japan, a low-cost carrier based in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, from originally planned levels.

Last month, the Chinese government released a notice advising its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan during the Lunar New Year holiday period in February after issuing advisories against trips to Japan late last year.
 
 

The Indonesian National Futsal Team has made history by advancing to the semifinals of the 2026 Futsal Asian Cup for the first time.

This achievement was secured after the Garuda squad defeated their Southeast Asian rival, Vietnam, with a score of 3-2 in a quarterfinal match held at Indonesia Arena, Jakarta, on Tuesday, 3 February 2026.

The historic victory was confirmed through goals scored by Brian Ick in the 5th minute, Ardiansyah Nur in the 11th minute, and Reza Gunawan in the 26th minute.

Meanwhile, Vietnam put up a fierce fight with a brace scored by Nguyen Da Hai in the 25th and 36th minutes. This result makes Indonesia the only Southeast Asian representative remaining in the top four, alongside Japan, Iran, and Iraq.

Indonesian National Futsal Team coach, Hector Souto, admitted that he was pleased with his team's achievement in breaking the national record.

However, the Spanish coach offered a critical note regarding the team's performance, which he considered to be in need of significant improvement to reach higher standards.

“We break the record. The result is really good. But I repeat again, I'm really unsatisfied. We must play much better. This country must play a different style of futsal,” Hector stated during a press conference.

The team's main focus has now shifted to the crucial semifinal match against Japan, which is scheduled to take place on February 5. Given the very short break, Hector has instructed the players to prioritize physical recovery.

“So, I hope it was just today, because the semifinal is waiting in Japan. I know Japan well. And I think we have a chance to defeat them. Not many, but we have some chances. And of course, I will push my players to recover well,” Hector said.

This recovery process includes the strict monitoring of nutritional intake and rest duration, with the coach requiring players to sleep for more than eight hours.

Although Japan is favoured in terms of individual and collective quality, Hector, who is very familiar with their playing style, remains optimistic that there is still a chance to win through in-depth technical preparation.
 

Indonesia is accelerating the development of a national hydrogen ecosystem as part of its clean energy transition, supporting decarbonization, energy security, and long-term industrial growth under President Prabowo Subianto’s Astacita program.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry said on Tuesday the initiative aligns with the National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen and Ammonia Roadmap, which guide hydrogen and ammonia development in Indonesia.

Director General of New, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Eniya Listiani Dewi said hydrogen development is important for industry, transportation, power generation, and export-oriented sectors, while strengthening national energy security.

"This year, which is my key performance indicator, green hydrogen must be available in the market at nearly 200 tons per year.

We must achieve it, and we want to create more," Eniya said at the 4th Indonesia-Japan Hydrogen Ammonia Development Acceleration Forum in Jakarta.

She said implementation would be carried out in phases to ensure regulatory readiness, infrastructure development, market demand growth, and domestic capability building, while maintaining policy flexibility and regular evaluation.

The plan consists of an initiation phase from 2025 to 2034, followed by a development and integration phase from 2035 to 2045, and an acceleration and sustainability phase from 2045 to 2060.

Indonesia is strengthening cooperation with Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), combining Japanese technology, project experience, and financing with Indonesia’s renewable energy potential and long-term demand prospects.

The Indonesia-Japan hydrogen partnership roadmap is expected to encourage industrial collaboration, supported by public financing and early-stage risk mitigation to accelerate the development of financially viable hydrogen infrastructure.

JICA Senior Representative Akira Sato said government policies under President Prabowo emphasize energy and food self-sufficiency, investment growth, macroeconomic stability, and inclusive economic development.

Sato said JICA remains committed to supporting Indonesia’s energy transition, noting the bilateral hydrogen-ammonia roadmap complements Indonesia’s national policy and outlines practical frameworks for cooperation between the two countries.
 
 

Japan's ruling camp is touting national strength heading into Sunday's general election, while opposition parties are focusing on people's daily lives.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who leads the Liberal Democratic Party, is seeking a public mandate with a promise to make Japan "strong and prosperous," stressing the need for higher fiscal spending and investment to rev up the world's fourth-largest economy.

Takaichi, a security hawk, is also aiming to bolster the country's defense capabilities amid heightened tensions with China and North Korea.

The Japan Innovation Party, which styles itself as an "accelerator" in the ruling coalition led by the LDP, has adopted the slogan "We, Ishin, will get it moving" for the House of Representatives election. The party is also known as Nippon Ishin.

The JIP, which has a stronghold in Osaka, joined forces with the LDP in October after the Komeito party, which put the brakes on security and other divisive policies, left the ruling coalition.

The newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance, a merger of Komeito and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is seeking to draw a contrast with the ruling camp by vowing to put "ordinary citizens first and their livelihoods at the center."

The opposition Democratic Party for the People is sticking to the core message that boosted its popularity in the House of Councillors election in July, vowing, "We will increase take-home pay even more."

With Japanese households grappling with inflation, measures to address rising prices topped the list of priorities for voters in a Kyodo News poll over the weekend.

The survey pointed to growing support for the LDP ahead of the lower house election in which 465 seats will be up for grabs, with over 42 percent of respondents saying they want the ruling camp to secure more seats.

During the 12-day campaign, the Japanese Communist Party is placing
priority on protecting people's livelihoods, peace and human rights, while Reiwa Shinsengumi's slogan is "Protecting Japan starts with protecting yourself."

With its slogan "I am Japan," the Sanseito party is emphasizing the importance of each individual in building the nation, following the ultraconservative populists' success with "Japanese First" in the upper house election last year.

Among smaller parties, some are focusing on the country's defense, revitalization and independence, while others are raising concern about the country's ballooning defense spending or calling for more investment in growth areas.
 
 

A powerful cold air mass has resulted in heavy snow along the Sea of Japan coast in recent weeks, with some areas seeing more than double the usual volumes.

Unusually heavy snow in Japan has been blamed for the death of 30 people in the past two weeks, officials said on Tuesday (Feb 3), including a 91-year-old woman found under a 3m pile outside her home.

The central government has deployed troops to help residents in Aomori, the heaviest-hit region where as much as 4.5m of snow remains on the ground in remote areas.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a special Cabinet-level meeting on Tuesday morning to instruct ministers to do all they can to prevent deaths and accidents.

A powerful cold air mass has resulted in heavy snow along the Sea of Japan coast in recent weeks, with some areas seeing more than double the usual volumes.
 
Since Jan 20 through Tuesday, 30 people have died as a result of the heavy snow, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Among them was Kina Jin, 91, whose body was found under a pile of snow at her home in Ajigasawa, Aomori, a local police official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The police believe that snow from her rooftop fell on her. The cause of her death was suffocation, the official said. An aluminium shovel was found next to her body.

"As it gets warmer, the accumulated snow melts and falls. It depends on the volume (of snow) and the temperature. Under the rooftop is a dangerous place," the official told AFP.

Aomori governor Soichiro Miyashita said on Monday that he had asked Japan's military to offer disaster relief.

He also said that he had asked troops to help the region's elderly who live alone and need help clearing snow.

Walls of snow as high as 1.8m are on the ground of the regional capital of Aomori city, the governor said, adding that local workers clearing snow from roads and houses were overwhelmed.

"The danger of life-threatening incidents, such as fatal accidents due to falling snow from the roofs or collapsing buildings, is imminent," he said in the press conference.
 

 

This comes after a case where a then 12-year-old Thai girl was forced to provide sexual services at a massage parlour with private rooms in Tokyo.

The National Police Agency will dispatch a senior official to the Thai police to discuss countermeasures against human trafficking, following a case where a then 12-year-old Thai girl was forced to provide sexual services at a massage parlor with private rooms in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned from the agency.

The agency determined that strengthening cooperation with foreign authorities is necessary to prevent international human trafficking targeting the sexual exploitation of children.

The senior official will meet with the deputy chief of the Thai police and outline the current investigation status. The agency will also request support in uncovering the background of the operation as well as strengthened crackdowns on brokers targeting Japan.

The girl arrived in Japan with her mother last June on a 15-day short-term stay visa. She was left at the parlor and forced to perform sexual services for approximately 70 customers over about 40 days. After seeking help from the Tokyo Regional Immigration Services Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, last September, she was placed under protection.

Thai police transferred the mother, who had been detained in Taiwan, back to Thailand and arrested her on suspicion of human trafficking and other charges. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a Thai woman in Tokyo on suspicion of violating Japan’s Child Welfare Law for hiring the girl through her mother.

Human trafficking involves forcing labor or sexual exploitation through violence, threats, or other coercive means. For victims under 18, the means used are irrelevant.

International criticism of Japan’s response is severe, with the U.S. State Department’s report calling measures against child sexual exploitation insufficient. In January this year, the Japanese government instructed all ministries and agencies to revise their action plans against human trafficking.

The National Police Agency is expected to formally classify this case, which exploited the girl’s vulnerable position, as human trafficking, and plans to advance countermeasures including victim protection.

Meanwhile, the short-term stay visa exemption status for entry from certain countries and regions is being abused for crimes including special fraud and prostitution.

The agency views this as a breeding ground for crimes by “anonymous and fluid criminal groups,” known as “tokuryu” in Japanese, within Japan and overseas, and is working with foreign authorities to fully uncover the situation.
 

 

Experts are warning that the alteration of such broadcasts could affect the judgment of voters and distort the election.

A doctored version of a “campaign broadcast” by the Centrist Reform Alliance for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election has gone viral on the X social media network.

Altered via artificial intelligence to show the party’s co-chairmen Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito dancing together, the video has been viewed more than 1.6 million times. Experts are warning that the alteration of such broadcasts could affect the judgment of voters and distort the election.

Candidates for national and gubernatorial elections, political parties and political organizations use campaign broadcasts, which are disseminated on TV and radio, to present their platforms.

The Public Offices Election Law stipulates that they must be broadcast unedited, but there is no provision prohibiting voters from altering the content and posting it on social media.

In the original campaign broadcast, Noda and Saito advocate their policies and call in unison for voters to vote for their party. They then bow to a sign language interpreter. The altered footage has the two men push over the podium, stand up and dance with a fan in their hands.

The altered video was posted on Friday morning by a personal account purportedly located in Japan and had been viewed more than 1.6 million times by around noon Saturday. A number of viewers posted critical comments, saying it would cast a shadow over the fairness of the election.

The account deleted the video in question around Saturday noon and posted a comment saying that the footage had been altered through AI. The account owner apologized, saying the video was extremely inconsiderate and inappropriate, and that they had simply intended to be funny.

The Yomiuri Shimbun requested an interview with the account owner but had not received a response as of 7 p.m. Saturday.

A spokesperson for the Centrist Reform Alliance told The Yomiuri Shimbun, “We are extremely disappointed, as it runs counter to the purpose of campaign broadcasts to covey the views of a political party.”

In a separate case related to the ongoing election, footage of a candidate from another opposition party waving their hands on the street before the official kickoff of campaigning was altered via generative AI to show them in a tank top.

“If fake videos of campaign broadcasts are created, viewers could easily believe that the content is real. If political claims, policies and facts are altered, this could affect voters’ judgment and distort the election,” said Harumichi Yuasa, a professor of information law at Meiji University and an expert on election systems.

“Under the current law, it’s illegal to tear down an election poster but the law does not address the internet being flooded with misinformation and disinformation from AI. The law needs to be reviewed in line with reality,” Yuasa said.
 

 

Japan has successfully retrieved rare earth-rich sediment from the deep seabed, marking a step toward a potential domestic supply of rare earths, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said Monday, Jiji Press reported. 

In a test project that began on Jan. 12, the deep-sea drilling vessel Chikyu, operated by the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, or JAMSTEC, collected the sediment from the seabed, about 6,000 meters deep, off Minamitorishima, a remote Tokyo island in the Pacific.

The sediment will be analyzed to determine what rare earths it contains and how much of each.

The success (in retrieving sediment containing rare earths) is significant from the standpoint of economic security and comprehensive marine development, Ozaki said at a press conference.

While China currently accounts for most of global rare earth production, Ozaki said, "We'll promote efforts to diversify (rare earth) sources by developing mines and investing in and providing aid to refinery projects while cooperating with like-minded countries."

Previously, Qazinform reported Kazakhstan and the U.S. focus on nuclear energy cooperation. 
 
 

The Japanese tourism ministry plans to strengthen financial support for town development efforts by municipalities that utilize historical tourism resources in fiscal 2026, which starts in April.

The ministry intends to provide subsidies to a wide range of municipal governments working on projects including renovating old buildings and preserving traditional events.

The aim of the move is to create more attractive sightseeing areas nationwide in order to diversify inbound tourist destinations and curb overtourism in major cities.

Currently, municipalities can receive subsidies if their plans for maintaining and improving historic landscapes involve national treasures or special historic sites designated by the central government and are approved by the ministry.

Plans by 100 municipalities, including Kanazawa, which is known for its former castle site, and Takayama, which is popular for its old township., had been approved as of the end of last month.
 

 

Visitors to a gorge in Saitama Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, are enjoying a spectacular view of massive ice pillars along a mountainside.

Residents in Ogano Town pour mountain runoff water at Onouchi Gorge every winter to create large icicles.

A recent cold snap has helped the icicles grow into what looks like a giant wall of ice measuring 250 meters long and 50 meters high.

On Saturday, holidaymakers were seen taking pictures of the ice pillars from a nearby suspension bridge.

A man in his 30s from Kumagaya City in the same prefecture said he visits the site every year, and that this winter's icicles look better than usual. He said the view made him forget about fatigue from work and get refreshed.

A woman in her 50s from Tokyo's Nishitokyo City said she had visited the gorge for the first time. She said she was impressed by the beauty of the icicles despite the freezing temperatures.

The wintry display is expected to remain visible until late February.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her visiting British counterpart, Keir Starmer, agreed Saturday to strategically promote their countries' cooperation in the field of cyberdefense.

They also confirmed that Japan and Britain will hold a so-called two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers within this year in order to enhance bilateral security collaboration.

Takaichi and Starmer agreed to further deepen Japan-Britain relations. This is Starmer's first visit to Japan since he took office in July 2024.

The two leaders shared the view that cooperation among like-minded countries, including Japan and Britain, is urgently needed for strengthening supply chains for critical minerals. They also decided to establish a forum for discussions on cooperation in the space field.

At the start of the bilateral summit, held at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Takaichi said that Japan and Britain have steadily and concretely advanced their cooperation.

Starmer stressed that the partnership between the two nations is very profound and based on trust and common interests.
 
 

Japan's Feb. 8 general election has put rice policy back in the spotlight after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reversed a push toward expanded production and exports, returning to a demand-based output strategy as prices remain high, putting a strain on consumers.

Retail rice prices are hovering above 4,000 yen ($26) per 5 kilograms on average nationwide. In recent years, the surge has been so sharp that it has been dubbed the "Reiwa rice crisis," referring to Japan's current imperial era.

The administration of former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba -- Takaichi's predecessor -- sought to counter rising prices by releasing government-stockpiled rice. Prices temporarily fell to the mid-3,000 yen range per 5 kg, but the decline was short-lived.

Ishiba had proposed an end to de facto production controls designed to support farmers by limiting rice output and shifting policy toward higher volumes and greater exports, but the Takaichi administration scrapped the plan.

A senior executive at a major rice wholesaler voiced frustration with Takaichi's government, saying it focuses too much on keeping prices high. Even accounting for rising production costs, rice prices remain at what he called "abnormally high" levels.

However, some officials at the farm ministry, along with agricultural groups, have pushed back, arguing it would be irresponsible to raise output without securing buyers, even though increased rice production could help lower prices.

Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party has pledged to pursue output and sales aligned with demand. To prevent a repeat of rice price spikes, the LDP said it would closely monitor distribution and seek market conditions acceptable to producers and consumers.

The Japan Innovation Party, which has been in a coalition with the LDP since Takaichi took office in October, has advocated expanding production, consumption and exports, while promoting the consolidation of farmland.

The main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance, formed in January ahead of the House of Representatives election, said it would fundamentally review rice policy, shifting away from simple production cuts or output expansion to ensure a stable supply.

The center-left party, which has challenged Takaichi's conservative stance on domestic policies, said it would provide direct payments to support farmers in the event of an oversupply that could lead to steep price drops.

The Democratic Party for the People unveiled a plan to provide payments based on rice farmland acreage to promote business stability in the farming sector. The party has also promised to implement effective measures to increase disposable income.

Other minor left-leaning parties have urged the government to stabilize supply, demand and prices, calling for guaranteed pricing of agricultural products and income compensation for farmers.

A small conservative party said it aims to make Japan 100 percent self-sufficient in food and increase rice production.
 

 

The number of foreign workers in Japan reached a new high of over 2.57 million as of the end of last October, government data showed Friday, shattering the record for the 13th consecutive year, as the nation deals with a labor crunch.

The total of 2,571,037 marks an 11.7 percent rise from the previous year, with Vietnamese workers accounting for the largest proportion.

The data comes as campaigning for the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election draws attention to how to better integrate foreign residents, such as toughening rules for accepting them and promoting social cohesion.

The number of workplaces employing foreign nationals also hit a record high at 371,215, up 8.5 percent from a year earlier, with small businesses with fewer than 30 employees accounting for 63.1 percent of the total, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

By industry, manufacturing led other sectors with 635,075 foreign employees, accounting for 24.7 percent of them, followed by the services sector excluding food and drink services at 391,946.

The medical and welfare sector, including long-term care, saw the biggest growth of 25.6 percent from the previous year.

Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, which allows people from overseas to work in labor-strapped industries, rose 38.3 percent to 286,225.

By nationality, Vietnamese workers made up the largest group at 605,906, or 23.6 percent of the total, followed by Chinese at 431,949, or 16.8 percent, and Filipinos at 260,869, or 10.1 percent.
 

 

Two sides also reiterate commitment to trilateral cooperation with US, without directly addressing North Korean threats

The defense ministers of South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their shared commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula” and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. on Friday, meeting against the backdrop of North Korea’s nuclear advancements.

South Korean defense minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart Shinjiro Koizumi held talks in the Japanese city of Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, marking Ahn’s first visit to Japan since taking office last year.

The joint statement further noted that the two ministers agreed on the importance of steadily advancing bilateral defense exchanges and decided to regularize mutual visits and hold annual defense ministerial talks. 

They also pledged to strengthen communication between their defense authorities as “regional security challenges” intensify, though the statement did not explicitly mention North Korea or its advancing nuclear and missile programs.

 

However, a supplementary press release from the ROK defense ministry said the two ministers agreed to continue bilateral and trilateral cooperation with the U.S. to combat North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat.

The language “denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” rather than of the DPRK in particular, aligns with Pyongyang’s past preference in negotiations with Seoul and Washington.

It appears to reflect South Korea’s efforts to revive diplomacy with the North, which has denounced all inter-Korean ties and now maintains it will never give up its nuclear weapons.

The meeting’s results followed a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi earlier this month, where they similarly reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearization.

While that summit focused largely on economic issues, both leaders underscored coordination on North Korea and regional security.

On Friday, photos released by the South Korean defense ministry showed that Ahn also visited the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, meeting with Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Patrick Hannifin. 

Ahn emphasized the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance and combined operational readiness, urging close cooperation between the South Korean navy and the U.S. 7th Fleet, according to his ministry.

Hannifin reportedly reaffirmed the alliance and pledged continued efforts to strengthen combined capabilities. 
 
 

The number of foreigners entering Japan rose 15.4 pct from the previous year to 42.43 million in 2025, marking a record high for the second straight year, preliminary government data showed Friday.

The annual tally exceeded 40 million for the first time since records began in 1950. The Immigration Services Agency attributed the result to the yen's weakening and an increase in the number of regular international passenger flights.

Meanwhile, the monthly number of Chinese entrants slumped 46.6 pct from a year earlier in December, after the Chinese government advised its citizens to avoid travelling to Japan in November, following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's remarks on a possible Taiwan contingency.

In 2025, a total of 9.23 million South Koreans entered Japan, up from 8.63 million the previous year, making up the largest group by country or region of origin, followed by 7.22 million entrants from mainland China, up from 5.49 million, and 6.39 million from Taiwan, up from 5.69 million.

By status of residence, 38.46 million foreign entrants, or 98.1 pct of the total, were for short-term stay, including tourists, up from 33.36 million, and 180,000 were for studying, up from 170,000. Both figures hit record highs.
 
 

Rollout begins at Narita in February, followed by Kansai
Emirates will extend its Chauffeur-Drive service to two additional airports in Japan, expanding on its existing offering at Haneda Airport (HND) to provide more passengers with seamless premium ground transfers.
 
The Dubai-based airline will introduce the service to Narita International Airport (NRT) from February 2026, covering 23 neighbourhoods across Tokyo, as well as areas in Chiba, Saitama and Kanagawa.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) will follow on 1 March 2026, serving Osaka City, alongside parts of Nara, Kyoto and Hyogo. 
 
First Class and Business Class passengers travelling on eligible Emirates flights can redeem the complimentary door-to-door transfer to and from the airport, available for journeys up to 100km. Additional distances will be charged at JPY500 (AED12) per kilometre. 

With this expansion, Narita and Kansai join more than 70 destinations worldwide offering Emirates’ chauffeur service. The airline remains one of the few international carriers providing luxury ground transportation in Japan, complementing its dedicated lounge at Tokyo Narita’s Terminal 2. 
 
Emirates continues to enhance its premium offering across the network, most recently rolling out Premium Economy on 10 new routes, including Tokyo Narita-Dubai flights introduced in early 2024. 
 
The carrier recently earned two accolades — Best Long-Haul Airline and Best Premium Airline Service — at the 2026 Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards, building on a total of 25 awards secured in 2025. 
 

 

Akira Iriye, a Harvard University professor emeritus and a leading scholar on the history of international relations, died on Jan. 27. He was 91.

After earning his doctorate from Harvard in 1961, Iriye began a distinguished academic career in the United States, holding professorships at the University of Chicago and Harvard, among other institutions.

He became a towering figure in his field, serving as president of the Society for Historians of American Foreign Relations in 1978. In 1988, he became the first Japanese person elected president of the American Historical Association.

He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Iriye authored numerous influential books and papers in both English and Japanese, including: “Across the Pacific: An Inner History of American-East Asian Relations”; “Power and Culture: The Japanese American War, 1941–1945”; “After Imperialism: The search for a New Order in the Far East, 1921-1931”; and “Global Community: The Role of International Organizations in the Making of the Contemporary World.”

His life’s work offered a unique perspective on international history by focusing on the influence of imagery, culture and ideas.

With a core belief that “cultural exchange is the foundation of peace,” he consistently advocated a view of history from a transnational perspective rather than a nation-centric one.


SHAPED BY WAR

Born in Tokyo in 1934, Iriye was a 10-year-old self-described “militarist boy” when Japan surrendered in World War II on Aug. 15, 1945.

His diary entry from Aug. 28 that year read: “Today is the day the Allied forces move in, and American planes are flying by, roaring at a terribly low altitude. It is frustrating, but there is nothing to be done. The only thing to do is study.”

His father, Keishiro Irie, a journalist and international law scholar, taught him that “we lost the war because we didn’t know the world.”

Deeply valuing the opportunity to learn, Iriye traveled to the United States in 1953 on a Grew Foundation scholarship to study at Haverford College in Pennsylvania.

He recalled meeting “a wonderful history teacher and friends who could be called lifelong companions” there.

This positive exposure to American society during his youth profoundly shaped his research.

In his book “Rekishi wo Manabu Toiukoto” (What it Means to Learn History), he wrote that his election as head of the American Historical Association “showed the openness and generosity of the academic community in the United States.”

In an interview with The Asahi Shimbun in February 2025, Iriye repeatedly said, “Our generation was truly lucky.”

However, he expressed concern that the United States under the second Trump administration had “become self-centered.”

Iriye stressed that “intellectual and human exchange will become increasingly important” for the world’s future.
 
 

A record 24.4 percent of candidates for Japan's House of Representatives election on Feb. 8 are women, up 1.0 percentage point from the previous lower house election in 2024.

A total of 313 women are running in the election, compared to 314 in 2024. However, the proportion still falls short of the goal of having nearly equal numbers of male and female candidates, as mandated by the country's law promoting gender equality in politics.

Of the parties, Sanseito has the highest percentage of female candidates, with 43.2 percent of its 190 candidates being women. The Japanese Communist Party fielded 67 female candidates, accounting for 38.1 percent of its total candidates.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party put forward 43 women, or 12.8 percent of 337 candidates. The number is down from 55, or 16.1 percent, in the 2024 election when the party's slush-fund scandal prompted it to recruit more women and younger candidates.

Among the LDP's coalition partners, the Japan Innovation Party has 14.6 percent women among its 89 candidates, while the newly formed main opposition, the Centrist Reform Alliance, has 19.9 percent women among its 47 candidates.
 
 

 

Tokyo police have arrested a 61-year-old man for allegedly registering a fake address to rent an internet server, with the suspect also believed to be involved in a blog suggesting child prostitution in Laos, it was learned Thursday.

Arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department was Hiroshi Kida, a part-time worker in the city of Kawachinagano in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan.

Kida is suspected of providing a fake address and phone number when renting the server on Oct. 2, 2022.

He denied the allegations, saying that he just told his address to a man who got along at a bar in Laos.

According to the police, the blog in question contained texts and photos that suggest child prostitution in the Southeast Asian country.
 

 

Japan and Mercosur countries have held the first meeting to discuss their strategic partnership, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.

At the meeting, which took place in Asuncion, Paraguay’s capital, on Tuesday, senior officials from Japan and the South American common market members, including Argentina and Brazil, exchanged opinions on trade and investment issues with a view to enhancing bilateral economic ties.

In light of expectations Mercosur expressed at the meeting for launching negotiations on an economic partnership agreement with Japan, both sides agreed to accelerate their strategic partnership framework talks, the ministry said.

The ministry’s Latin American and Caribbean Affairs Bureau Director-General Motoyuki Ishize represented Japan.
 

 

Indonesia and Japan have agreed to boost cultural cooperation as a long-term investment to deepen bilateral relations.

The commitment was highlighted during an official meeting between Indonesia’s Minister of Culture Fadli Zon and representatives of the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Tuesday, 27 January 2026.

During the meeting, Fadli Zon  underscored that cultural collaboration goes beyond symbolic diplomacy and plays a strategic role in building long-term mutual understanding.

He outlined four priority areas of cooperation, including museum partnerships, revitalization of historical sites, repatriation of cultural artifacts, and a new, more comprehensive cultural memorandum of understanding.

“Cultural cooperation between Indonesia and Japan not only strengthens state-to-state relations, but also builds deeper mutual understanding and lasting friendship between the people of both nations,” Fadli Zon said.

One key topic discussed was the preservation of historical sites linked to Japan’s presence in Indonesia, including Japanese caves located in several regions.

In Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, such sites have evolved into cultural centers and historical tourism destinations, while similar sites in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, remain underdeveloped and require restoration.

“We see strong potential for cooperation in rehabilitating these sites, including the development of museums or open-air museums,” the minister said.

Fadli noted that proper revitalization, supported by Japan, would not only safeguard shared history, but also enhance educational value and cultural tourism. He said this approach aligns with Indonesia’s broader strategy of positioning culture as an asset for sustainable development.

The two sides also discussed expanding museum-to-museum collaboration, professional exchanges, and digitalization initiatives. Indonesia further encouraged discussions on a possible joint nomination for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, reflecting shared cultural elements between the two countries.

Repatriation of historical manuscripts and collections was another focus of the talks. Indonesia has been actively pursuing both physical and digital repatriation, following recent successes in the return of thousands of historical artifacts from abroad.

Meanwhile, Japanese Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Mitsuru Myochin, welcomed the proposed cooperation and reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to cultural exchange.

“Japan, including through the Japan Foundation, is very open and enthusiastic about promoting sustainable cultural exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding,” he said.

Both sides expressed optimism that enhanced cultural cooperation would serve as a long-term investment, reinforcing cultural diplomacy, people-to-people ties, and concrete collaboration between Indonesia and Japan in the years ahead.
 


 

On January 27, Universal Studios Japan, operated by USJ LLC, and The Pokemon Company announced their plan to offer more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokemon experiences.

The project is part of Universal Studios Japan's ongoing effort to enhance its offerings and bring fan-first, trip-driving characters to the park.

Universal Studios Japan is proud to build on its prior success and bring to life the world of Pokemon in new and enriching ways for the first time.

Following its debut in Japan, Universal Destinations & Experiences will deliver unique Pokemon experiences across the company's global footprint. Further details about the project will be announced at a later date.

Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO, Universal Destinations & Experiences
"Collaborating with imaginative and inventive storytellers fuels our ability to create and deliver mind-blowing attractions and experiences that shatter guest expectations.

The Pokemon Company is one of the most beloved interactive franchises in the world, and through our ongoing partnership, we will continue bringing its vibrant world to life in new and innovative ways for years to come."

Tak Murayama, Executive Vice President & General Manager, USJ LLC
"Since October 2021, Universal Studios Japan has been delivering Pokemon experiences such as parades and shows to guests from around the world.

A bold new global project is set to begin at Universal Studios Japan, creating unprecedented and innovative experiences in collaboration with Pokemon -- a beloved franchise born in Japan and cherished worldwide.

We are proud to launch this journey from Japan, delivering extraordinary moments filled with surprise and excitement that will far exceed our guests' expectations.

We believe this global project will transcend traditional entertainment and contribute meaningfully to society, embodying the very spirit of 'NO LIMIT!'"

Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO, The Pokemon Company
"Since announcing our long-term alliance in 2021, we have collaborated with Universal Studios Japan to produce authentic Pokemon experiences such as the NO LIMIT! Parade and Halloween shows.

As Pokemon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to launch this new project at such a significant milestone.

Our mission is to enrich both the real and virtual worlds through Pokemon, and with this project, we aim to create theme park entertainment that surprises and delights fans around the globe."


ABOUT UNIVERSAL DESTINATIONS & EXPERIENCES

Universal Destinations & Experiences, a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, offers guests around the world the most innovative, immersive and popular entertainment experiences.

Its portfolio is comprised of world-class theme parks featuring the industry's most thrilling and technologically advanced attractions, exceptional hotels and resorts, unique merchandise, games, virtual and live entertainment experiences.

It uses its rich collection of stories and franchises -- from Universal Pictures, Illumination, DreamWorks Animation and more -- to take people to places they couldn't imagine while creating memorable and emotionally fulfilling moments for people of all ages.

Further details: https://corporate.universaldestinationsandexperiences.com/



ABOUT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS JAPAN

Universal Studios Japan is wholly owned by Comcast NBCUniversal. Universal Studios Japan has succeeded in establishing its position as a prominent entertainment and leisure landmark, drawing many guests from distant areas in Japan and overseas.

Universal Studios Japan offers world-class entertainment, such as authentic attractions and shows, based not only on Hollywood blockbusters but also popular entertainment brands such as Japanese anime and a variety of seasonal events, entertaining its guests with the world's highest-quality entertainment.

Through "Super Emotional" and "Super Exciting" experiences made possible only at Universal Studios Japan, all park visitors are given the opportunity to break out of their shells and be "Super Energized" in the "Super Energetic District" that is Universal Studios Japan.

Universal Studios Japan has continued to evolve since its opening in 2001.

It has recently accelerated its growth with the launch of world-class entertainment experiences such as The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, The Flying Dinosaur, which soars through the entire Jurassic Park area, Minion Park, and the "Hacha Mecha Ride" where guests are able to enjoy the chaotic antics of the Minions, and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, where guests can unleash their passion to play in an immersive environment based on world-renowned Nintendo characters and their worlds.


ABOUT THE POKEMON COMPANY

The Pokemon Company was established to manage the Pokemon brand. Currently, the company develops and produces video games, which is where Pokemon originates, as well as trading card games, animated TV series and movies, merchandise, tie-up promotions, events, and the Pokemon Center, directly-managed Pokemon shops.

Note: Pokemon - the correct notation is e with an accent mark.

HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements (C) & (TM) Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights (C) J.K. Rowling.
MINIONS TM & (C) 2026 Universal Studios.
(C) Nintendo
TM & (C) Universal Studios & Amblin Entertainment
Universal elements and all related indicia TM & (C) 2026 Universal Studios. All rights reserved.


 

Overseas travel from Japan is projected to continue rising in 2026, albeit at a slower pace due to the weak yen, with nearby Asian destinations favored as more affordable, according to a recent survey by major travel agency JTB Corp.

Meanwhile, the number of domestic trips is expected to decrease slightly as rising accommodation costs and inflation increase travel expenses, falling 2.2 percent from the previous year to 307 million.

The recovery of overseas travel from the effects of the pandemic is slowing due to the yen's weakness against the U.S. dollar.

Although the number of trips abroad is expected to increase by 2.6 percent, reaching 15.5 million, the figure is still just under 80 percent of the pre-pandemic level in 2019.

Furthermore, the expected growth is significantly smaller than the estimated 16.1 percent rise in 2025.

According to the survey, which has been conducted annually since 1981, average overseas travel spending is projected to rise 4.5 percent to 317,200 yen -- more than 30 percent higher than before the pandemic.

South Korea is the most popular overseas destination among respondents, followed by Taiwan, Europe, Hawaii and Southeast Asia.

"As travelers become accustomed to the weak yen, we are beginning to see a recovery in medium- to long-haul destinations," a JTB official said.
Meanwhile, average spending per domestic traveler is expected to increase 2.9 percent to 52,900 yen amid higher prices.

Around a quarter of respondents said they would not travel domestically in 2026, while 77 percent said they had no plans to go abroad, citing reasons such as high costs.

The online survey conducted in late November analyzed the travel intentions of people planning trips of at least one night in 2026. It targeted individuals aged between 15 and 79, and received valid responses from 2,067.
 
 

Campaigning for the Feb. 8 Lower House election kicked off Tuesday, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi facing off against a transformed opposition as she seeks a mandate from voters.

The election comes amid a dramatic shift in the political landscape.
Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is running without backing from Komeito, its former coalition partner of 26 years, or the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), its new ally.

The LDP and the JIP are also facing off against the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), a new party formed by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito.

Takaichi and JIP leader Hirofumi Yoshimura gave their first stump speeches at a joint rally in front of Akihabara Station in Tokyo.

“Before a long Diet session begins, I want your mandate first,” said Takaichi. “We can’t pursue policies with strength in such unstable circumstances. So, please, let the LDP and JIP take home a majority.”

Yoshimura talked up Takaichi, while talking down opposition leaders.
“(U.S.) President (Donald) Trump, (Chinese) President Xi Jinping, (Russian) President Vladimir Putin. Who can actually go toe to toe with them?
Is it (CRA co-leader Yoshihiko) Noda? Or (CRA co-leader Tetsuo) Saito? No — it’s Takaichi standing right here,” said Yoshimura, reiterating his party’s role as “Takaichi’s accelerator.”

Takaichi is betting on the ruling LDP-JIP coalition to ride on her high approval rates to a comfortable majority.

Until the dissolution on Friday, the LDP-JIP bloc held a slim majority in the Lower House, with 233 seats after three independent lawmakers from the chamber decided to join the LDP’s parliamentary caucus.

If the LDP and JIP fail to win a majority of 233 seats or more in the 465-seat lower chamber of parliament, the prime minister said she would resign “immediately.”

Public support for Takaichi’s Cabinet was 63.1% in January, down 4.4 percentage points from the previous month, according to a Kyodo News survey conducted on the weekend after the dissolution.

The opposition CRA aims to win more than 165 seats — more than its combined number of former CDP and Komeito lawmakers — to become the single largest party in the Lower House.

In his first stump speech in Aomori Prefecture, Noda criticized Takaichi’s decision to dissolve the Lower House last week, which resulted in parliament having less time to pass the ¥122.3 trillion ($792 billion) budget for fiscal 2026 before April.

Takaichi’s gambit could delay the government from introducing inflation-busting measures as planned, such as eliminating the provisional tax on gasoline from April.

“Are you going to choose politics that put everyday lives on the back burner? Or will you support the CRA, which will put your everyday lives at the heart of policies?” Noda asked.

One key issue in the runup to the election has been proposals to eliminate or reduce the 8% consumption tax on food.

The LDP and JIP have pledged to eliminate the tax for two years until Takaichi’s government can introduce a refundable tax credit program to support middle- and low-income households, while the CRA has pledged to scrap it permanently. The Democratic Party for the People (DPP) has pledged to lower the levy to 5%.

In recent elections, the LDP made no pledges to lower the consumption tax as the party’s fiscal hawks argued that doing so would run the risk of lowering the quality of social welfare services — including pension funds and medical care — to which 80% of the ¥25 trillion in expected revenue from the consumption tax was allocated for fiscal 2025.

 

The Finance Ministry said last year that scrapping the consumption tax on food would result in an annual revenue drop of about ¥5 trillion.

Takaichi said that by reviewing subsidies and special tax measures, as well as securing nontax revenues, ¥4.8 trillion can be made available to fund the tax cut.

The CRA has said it would use the government’s pension reserve funds to make up for the lost revenue, while the DPP proposes using excess tax revenue or exchange-traded funds.

Immigration policy, including a possible cap on the number of foreign residents, will be another key issue in the election.

The JIP and Sanseito are advocating for capping the number of foreign residents in Japan, while the CRA has cautioned against such “exclusionary” rhetoric, instead calling for policies that promote integration.

About 1,240 candidates, including some 300 women, are expected to contest in the election, according to a Jiji report. The projected number is lower than the 1,334 who ran in the 2024 Lower House election, as each party had less time to prepare for the snap election. Candidate registration closes at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Of the 465 Lower House seats, 289 will be contested in electoral districts while 176 will be filled through the proportional representation system.

When Komeito was part of the ruling coalition, it asked its supporters to vote for LDP candidates during national elections in exchange for the latter’s support in the proportional representation system and a number of single-seat districts.

Former Komeito candidates now with the CRA are rolling the dice on a new election strategy with former CDP candidates.

CRA lawmakers from Komeito will be given priority on the proportional representation list in exchange for withdrawing from single-seat districts where CRA lawmakers from the CDP will run.

The LDP and JIP have decided against a coordinated election strategy, which leaves open the possibility of candidates from both parties running against each other.
 
 

The Indonesian and Japanese governments discussed the repatriation of manuscripts and the revitalization of Japanese historical sites in a meeting at the Ministry of Culture, Jakarta, Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

This issue came up during a courtesy visit by representatives of the Japanese Embassy.

Minister of Culture Fadli Zon emphasized that cultural cooperation is positioned as a long-term investment. "Indonesian and Japanese cultural cooperation not only strengthens relations between countries, but also builds mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples," he said.

Four focuses were discussed, namely museum collaboration, revitalization of historical sites, repatriation, and drafting of a new memorandum of understanding that is more comprehensive.

One of the concerns is the preservation of the Japanese Cave in various regions. The site in Bukittinggi has developed as a historical destination, while similar locations in Kupang are considered potential but need restoration.

"We see opportunities for cooperation in the rehabilitation of these sites, including the development of museums or open museums," said Menbud Fadli.

Cooperation is also directed at professional exchange of museums, digitization of collections, and exploration of joint nomination of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The repatriation of manuscripts is discussed in both physical and digital schemes, in line with the repatriation of Indonesian historical collections from abroad.

Chargé d'Affaires ad interim of Japan, Mitsuru Myochin, expressed his country's support. "The Japan Foundation is very pleased to work together to promote cultural exchanges that strengthen mutual understanding. We will examine the various cooperation proposals submitted," he said.

Japan also plans to conduct further research in Papua in February regarding repatriation, opening up opportunities for further technical collaboration.

This meeting expands the cultural diplomacy of the two countries to the management of historical heritage and the strengthening of museum networks.
 

The number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record last year, including those from Muslim-majority regions, drawn by the country's food, pop culture, and seasonal scenery, Kyodo reports.

Between January and November last year alone, about 560,000 travelers came from Indonesia, 540,000 from Malaysia, and 240,000 from the Middle East, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

For many, however, navigating daily prayer obligations in a country where dedicated facilities remain unevenly available detracts from an otherwise rich travel experience.

The issue it seems is less about building grand mosques than about flexibility. The Japan Tourism Agency has issued a guide for serving Muslim travelers, encouraging hotels, transport hubs, and commercial facilities to designate quiet, clean spaces for prayer where possible.

In places where purpose-built rooms are not feasible, experts say that simple accommodations -- temporary partitions, clear signage or staff awareness -- can make a significant difference, helping Japan project an image of hospitality that extends beyond culture.

At last year's World Exposition in Osaka, which saw many Muslim visitors and staff members, a prayer room was set up near the Forest of Tranquility, in the center of the venue to accommodate worshippers who are required to pray five times a day.

Availability of prayer spaces has expanded at big airports and major cities, too. Tokyo's Haneda airport, for example, opened a prayer room at Terminal 3, which handles international flights, in 2014. It was used by almost 2,000 people per month on average in fiscal 2024, according to its operator.

Prayer rooms have also been installed at JR Tokyo and Osaka stations, while local governments and firms have set up facilities around stations in tourist destinations like Kyoto and Nara.

Still, due to factors such as space constraints and low demand, few prayer spaces are available at stations in regions like Shikoku and Kyushu in western and southwestern Japan, respectively. 

Earlier, it was reported that Kazakhstan launched QazETA - a digital platform designed to provide foreign nationals with convenient, transparent, and secure access to key migration and related services under the “one-stop shop” principle.
 
 

Thousands of people flocked to a zoo in Japan on Sunday to say farewell to the country's last two giant pandas, who are set to return to China on Tuesday.

Emotions ran high at the Ueno zoo in Tokyo as people stood in line – some for as long as three-and-a-half hours – to see twin cubs Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei one last time.

This comes at a very tense moment in relations between Tokyo and Beijing. Ties have sharply deteriorated after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Tokyo would get involved militarily if China attacked Taiwan.

The twins' departure will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, the year the two countries normalised diplomatic ties.

The People's Republic of China has used giant pandas as a gesture of goodwill towards its international allies and competitors since it was founded in 1949.

But China retains ownership of all pandas it loans to foreign countries, including cubs born abroad. In return, host countries pay an annual fee of about $1m (£790,000) per pair of pandas.

According to Tokyo's metropolitan government, some 108,000 people vied to get one of the 4,400 slots available for one last look at the zoo's beloved pandas.

"I have been bringing my son here since he was a baby, so I hope it becomes a good memory for him. I'm glad we could come today to remember them," Ai Shirakawa told the BBC.

Another woman recalled witnessing the pandas' growth journey. "Witnessing their growth, especially since they were so small, has been such a joy," she said.
 
Some visitors were pictured sobbing as they bade the bears goodbye.
 
Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei were born in 2021 at the Ueno zoo to their mother Shin Shin and their father Ri Ri, both of whom were on loan to Japan for breeding research.
 
More recently, China's panda loans have coincided with major trade agreements. In 2011, the loan of two pandas to Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland was agreed during negotiations over contracts to supply salmon meat, Land Rover vehicles and energy technology to China.
 
Many pandas have been returned to China in recent years – a loan agreement typically lasts 10 years although extensions are common.
 
However, the prospects of a new panda loan to Japan have remained uncertain amid the escalating row.
 
Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan angered Beijing which views the self-governed island as part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to "reunite" with it.
 
Both sides have since engaged in increasingly hostile actions and rhetoric towards each other. Early this month, China tightened restrictions on exports of rare earth-related products to Japan.
 

Heavy snowfall continued to affect transportation across northern Japan and the Sea of Japan coast on Monday, leaving thousands of travelers stranded.

The latest storm, driven by successive cold air masses, dumped record amounts of snow in the city of Sapporo, with snow depths reaching 111 centimeters in the Hokkaido capital by Sunday afternoon — exceeding 1 meter for the first time in four years.

Hokkaido Railway Co. said train services in the Sapporo area were expected to resume on Monday afternoon once tracks have been cleared of snow.

At New Chitose Airport, about 7,000 passengers were stranded overnight after rail links to Sapporo were halted, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Road conditions across the region remain hazardous. The Do-O Expressway is closed between Sapporo junction and Sapporo Minami interchange in the Chitose area, and the entire section of the Sasson Expressway between Sapporo and Otaru is closed.

Many residential streets in Sapporo are yet to be fully cleared of snow, narrowing lanes and forcing pedestrians into roads.

Snowfall totals along the Sea of Japan coast are significantly above average, with accumulation reaching 4.7 meters in parts of Aomori Prefecture and more than a meter in the cities of Niigata, Yamagata and Sapporo as of Monday noon.

The storm has already proved deadly. In Niigata Prefecture, a 56-year-old man died Sunday after apparently falling from the roof of his three-story home while clearing snow, police said. He was working alone when he fell, with snow depth in the area exceeding 2.4 meters.

Across Fukui Prefecture, 15 people have suffered injuries from snow removal accidents over the past several days, while Ishikawa Prefecture reported 32 vehicle crashes caused by slippery roads, which injured nine people, according to NHK.

Officials are urging residents to avoid working alone when tackling the snow and to use safety gear when clearing roofs.

On Sunday evening, eight people in the city of Hirakawa, Aomori Prefecture, were reported missing after going into the mountains to ride snowmobiles. They were all found safe and uninjured by Monday morning after a team of 30 policemen and firefighters was dispatched on a search and rescue mission.

While snowfall in northern parts of the country is expected to ease by Monday afternoon as the cold air shifts east, snow and rain is forecast to return on Tuesday, raising the risk of further disruptions.
 
 

Japanese political parties began gearing up in earnest for the upcoming House of Representatives election on Saturday, the first weekend since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, the day before.

Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said at a press conference in the city of Chiba, east of Tokyo, that the ruling bloc will "create a strong economy by decisively carrying out responsible and proactive fiscal policy" advocated by the prime minister.

Noting that the Japan Innovation Party has joined the ruling bloc after the LDP's previous partner Komeito left the coalition, Kobayashi said that the Feb. 8 Lower House poll will be "an election to ask the public whether Takaichi or another person should lead state management under a new framework."

 

Tetsuo Saito, co-chief of the newly formed Centrist Reform Alliance and former head of Komeito, told a press conference in the city of Hiroshima in western Japan that his party will seek to permanently reduce the consumption tax on food to zero while considering ways to finance the measure.

 

He mentioned that the centrists' policy pledges feature the establishment of a new state-run fund as a source of funding for the consumption tax cut, saying, "The focus (of election debates) will be on funding."
 
 

Fans gathered at a Tokyo zoo on Sunday to bid farewell to the last two giant pandas in the country, long a symbol of Sino-Japanese friendship, two days before they leave for China.

The departure of Xiao Xiao and his sister, Lei Lei, will leave Japan without any pandas for the first time since 1972, when China gifted a pair to Japan following the normalization of bilateral ties.

Prospects for a new panda loan by China remain uncertain amid soured ties following remarks last year by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggesting Japan could act in the event of an attack by China on Taiwan. China has long used the giant panda as a tool of outreach and goodwill toward other nations in what is called its "panda diplomacy."

Visitors needed a prior reservation to see the pandas at the Ueno Zoological Gardens on Sunday, with 4,400 slots available and 24.6 times the number of people applying for them online, according to the Tokyo metropolitan government.

An 8-year-old boy residing in Tokyo who came along with his parents said after viewing the pandas, "The two appeared healthy, devouring the bamboo shoots. They were cute."

There were also visitors who went to the zoo even after failing to secure a slot for the public viewing.

"I plan to stay in the zoo until it closes. I hope the twin pandas both remain in good shape," said a 60-year-old resident of Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei will leave Japan on Tuesday and arrive the next day at a facility in China.

Since pandas arrived in Japan half a century ago, they have won the hearts of many in Japan, drawing big crowds. They have also brought economic benefits as tourist attractions and with panda-themed toys and goods.

The twin pandas were born in Japan in 2021 to their mother Shin Shin and her mate, Ri Ri, both of whom were on loan to Japan for breeding research. China retained ownership of them.

Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei became the last remaining pandas in Japan after four others at the Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, departed for China in June last year.
 
 

The government on Friday compiled a policy package to toughen rules for foreigners in Japan and promote social cohesion, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to show commitment to the issue before a snap election on Feb. 8.

Billed as measures to promote "well-ordered and harmonious coexistence," the proposals approved by a meeting of relevant Cabinet ministers include tougher rules on permanent residency and naturalization, as well as measures to prevent delinquent tax and social insurance payments.

They also include facilitating discussions on creating rules for foreign nationals' land acquisitions, which is considered a national security issue, and considering the establishment of a program to teach foreigners Japanese and its social norms.

Pundits have said that one of the key campaign issues for the upcoming House of Representatives election is how to better engage with foreign residents in Japan.

"We have put together a new framework for initiatives to ensure public safety and security, and outlined measures that will be carried out quickly," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, who chairs the meeting, said.

The measures increase the number of years that individuals seeking Japanese citizenship must live in the country and make application inspections stricter.

The proposed education program is expected to influence decisions about granting residency, and the government will determine which residence categories the program will apply to. By this summer, a framework of rules on foreign land acquisitions, informed by the approaches of other countries, will be compiled.

As of June 2025, the foreign population in Japan stood at around 3.95 million people, or some 3.2 percent of the population. The largest group was Chinese, followed by Vietnamese and Korean.
 
 

The land ministry said Friday that it has been looking into whether local governments nationwide are aware of the nationalities of residents living in public housing.

The ministry will compile the survey results as early as February. It will issue a notice to municipalities within fiscal 2025 asking them to check the nationality of new residents.

The survey comes as some local governments confirm the nationalities of foreign residents while others do not.

Identifying the dominant nationalities of foreign residents will help officials address challenges such as etiquette awareness and disaster response, ministry officials said.

Launched on Jan. 6, the survey covers prefectural and municipal governments across the country but does not ask for the number of foreign residents.

The forthcoming notice will instruct local governments to ensure that emergency contact numbers for foreign residents belong to those who understand Japanese.

The ministry is considering finding the total number of foreign residents of public housing in Japan.
 
 

The Japanese government will raise basic public pension benefits by 1.9 pct in fiscal 2026 from the previous year, the welfare ministry said Friday.

Benefits under the "kosei nenkin" public pension program for corporate employees, paid on top of basic benefits, will be increased by 2 pct in the year that starts in April.

Both pension benefits will be raised for the fourth straight year.
The pace of the increases will be kept below inflation due to a measure to stabilize finance for the public pension system.

Public pension benefits are revised every year based on changes in prices over the past year and in wages over the past three years. For fiscal 2026, the ministry used an inflation rate of 3.2 pct and a wage growth rate of 2.1 pct.
 
 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi dissolved the lower house of the Diet on Friday, paving the way for a Feb 8 snap election.

The move is an attempt to capitalize on her popularity to help governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years, but will delay parliamentary approval for a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices.

Elected in October as Japan’s first female leader, Takaichi has been in office only three months, but she has seen strong approval ratings of about 70%.

Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party could still face some challenges as it reels from a series of scandals about corruption and the party's past ties to the controversial Unification Church.

But it's not clear if the new opposition Centrist Reform Alliance can attract moderate voters while opposition parties are still too splintered to a pose a serious threat to the LDP.

Takaichi is also seeing rising animosity with China since she made pro-Taiwan remarks. And U.S. President Donald Trump wants her to spend more on weapons as Washington and Beijing pursue military superiority in the region.

The dissolution of the 465-member lower house paves the way for a 12-day campaign that officially starts Tuesday. When house speaker Fukushiro Nukaga declared the dissolution, the assembled parliamentarians stood up, shouted banzai — “long live” — three times and rushed out to prepare for the campaign.



Takaichi hopes to win majority

Takaichi’s plan for an early election aims to capitalize on her popularity to win a governing majority in the lower house, the more powerful of Japan’s two-chamber Parliament.

The scandal-tainted LDP and its coalition had a slim majority in the more lower house after an election loss in 2024. The coalition lacks a majority in the upper house and relies on winning votes from opposition members to pass its agenda.

Opposition leaders criticized Takaichi for delaying passage of a budget needed to fund key economic measures.

“I believe that the only option is for the people, as sovereign citizens, to decide whether Sanae Takaichi should be prime minister,” she told a news conference Monday when announcing plans for the election. “I’m staking my career as prime minister” on it.

A hardline conservative, Takaichi wants to highlight differences with her centrist predecessor Shigeru Ishiba.

Takaichi stresses that voters need to judge her fiscal spending moves, further military buildup and tougher immigration policies to make Japan “strong and prosperous.”

While an upbeat and decisive image has earned her strong approval ratings and fans of her personal style, the LDP is not popular as it recovers from a political funds scandal. Many traditional LDP voters have shifted to emerging far-right populist opposition parties, such as the anti-globalist Sanseito.


China, Trump and corruption scandals

Meanwhile, Japan faces escalating tensions with China after Takaichi made remarks suggesting that Japan could become involved if China takes military action against Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own. A furious China has increased economic and diplomatic retribution.

Takaichi wants to push further a military buildup and spending increases, while Trump has pressured Japan to spend more on defense.


Takaichi has a new right-wing coalition partner and faces a divided opposition

Takaichi says she needs a mandate to push policies she’s agreed on with her new coalition partner, the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. They struck a deal in October to pursue goals that include a stronger military, continuing male-only imperial succession, and accelerating the reactivation of offline nuclear reactors.

Takaichi struck a deal with the JIP after the LDP’s long-time ally Komeito, a Buddhist-backed centrist party, left the ruling bloc over her ideological views and reluctance to pursue anti-corruption measures. With the new partner’s help, she secured just enough votes to become prime minister.

Komeito turned to the main liberal-leaning opposition, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, to form the Centrist Reform Alliance just in time for the election.

“Now is our chance to start the centrist movement,” said Yoshihiko Noda, a former prime minister and leader of the Constitutional Democrats.

He said the new alliance seeks to achieve a diverse, gender equal and inclusive society with “people-first politics,” speaking at joint news conference with co-leader Tetsuo Saito, head of Komeito.

As divisions and confrontations spread globally and economic disparity widens at home, the new group is promising a “realistic” security policy and efforts to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world.

Opposition groups in Japan are seen as too splintered to win an election, and so far, polling for the alliance is not promising. But Komeito’s ability to turn out votes from the Soka Gakkai sect makes it a force to be reckoned with.


Takaichi promises results on economy, defense and conservative values

Takaichi is focusing on the economy, looking to attract voters with measures to address rising prices and stagnant wages, as well as support for low-income households.

But the security hawk has also pledged to revise security and defense policies by December to further strengthen the military, and to eliminate arms export restrictions to allow more sales and develop the Japanese defense industry.

Her party is also vowing tougher immigration rules and restrictions on foreigners living in Japan to address growing anti-foreign sentiment.

Earlier this week, the LDP proposed new immigration policies including tougher requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on the number of foreign residents in Japan.
 

 

The Japan Meteorological Agency says a powerful winter pressure pattern has brought heavy snow, mainly along the Sea of Japan side.

Authorities are warning of possible impacts on transportation in areas including Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region, as snow accumulates rapidly.

The agency says a Japan Sea polar air mass convergence zone, or JPCZ, caused active snow clouds to develop over the Hokuriku and Kinki regions from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.

It issued information on significant heavy snowfall for Ishikawa Prefecture on Wednesday evening. It also did so on Thursday morning for areas east of Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture, after 25 centimeters of snowfall was recorded over a six-hour period in Hikone City.

Accumulated snow as of 11:00 a.m. on Thursday was 4.3 meters in Sukayu in the Hakkoda mountain range of Aomori Prefecture, 1.77 meters in Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture, 1.05 meters in Otaru City, Hokkaido, 33 centimeters in Toyooka City, Hyogo Prefecture, 31 centimeters in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 27 centimeters in Hikone City, Shiga Prefecture and 20 centimeters in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture.

Snow accumulated on some flatlands on the Pacific side as well.
The JPCZ is expected to move north, sending active snow clouds over Niigata Prefecture and the Hokuriku region.

Niigata and Hokuriku could get up to 80 centimeters of snow over a 24-hour period through noon on Friday, while the Tohoku region could get 70 centimeters, the Kinki region 60 centimeters, the Chugoku region and Gifu Prefecture 50 centimeters, Hokkaido 40 centimeters, the Kanto-Koshin region 20 centimeters and Shikoku 10 centimeters.

The strong winter pressure pattern is forecast to continue through around Sunday. Another round of heavy snowfall is expected from Saturday through Sunday.

The agency is warning of possible disruptions in transportation, such as vehicles getting stuck on snowy roads.

It also warns that snow on power lines could cause outages.

People are being advised to refrain from nonessential or non-urgent outings, and check if they have sufficient fuel, cold weather gear, mobile batteries and other supplies.

Drivers are urged to stay updated on the latest traffic information, check detour routes, and have snow tires or tire chains ready.