Amid a series of bear attacks across the country, a manufacturer of cut-resistant clothing in Kyoto Prefecture has developed specialized protective gear designed to withstand bear attacks and began selling it in May.

Called “Kuma Tector,” the product’s durability has reportedly been verified through tests using real bear claws. It is intended for use by local government officials on patrol and members of the public.

“We hope it will help save lives when people unexpectedly encounter a bear,” said the company’s public relations official.

The suit was developed by Success Planning Co., based in Yawata City.
According to company President Yukako Kuwahara, 63, the company was founded in 2003 by now Chairman Masafumi Ageno, in the wake of a 2001 mass murder at Ikeda Elementary School attached to Osaka Kyoiku University in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, in which a knife-wielding criminal killed eight children and injured 15 other people.

Ageno established the company with the aim of “contributing to society through products that protect people.”

The company’s main products include coveralls, T-shirts and vests for protective purposes. They are worn in workplaces were sharp tools are used and for personal safety.

In autumn last year, local governments and companies struggling with bear-related problems asked the firm whether its products would be effective against bears, prompting it to begin developing specialized protective gear.

The company’s slash-resistant products utilize materials, such as high-strength special polyethylene fibers and glass fiber, which is made by melting glass into a fibrous form. The firm enhanced Kuma Tector’s strength by layering these fabrics.

Separate garments protect the head and neck, torso and arms. As a result of pursuing a balance between ease of movement and durability, the finished fabric is less than 1 centimeter thick.

Durability testing was conducted in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering at Osaka Sangyo University. A pendulum-type impact tester was used to simulate a forceful, slashing blow from the clawed forepaw of a bear against a person.

A 26-kilogram weight covered with the fabric was dropped from a height of about 1 meter at a speed of 4.9 meters per second onto a taxidermic Asian Black Bear paw with claws.

When comparing the extent of tear conditions of a standard knit fabric and the Kuma Tector fabric, the knit fabric was severely torn by the claws, while the Kuma Tector fabric sustained only minor scratches, according to the company.

The product is intended for use by local government officials and security guards on bear patrol, as well as ordinary citizens who are concerned about bear attacks. “We hope this will help reduce tragedies caused by bears,” Kuwahara said.

The product line includes a protective hood, which covers the head (¥88,000), a protective vest for the chest and abdomen (same price), a neck guard (¥49,500) and protective arm covers (¥35,200). Prices include tax. Sales began in late May through major online retailers and other channels.
 
 

Casio Computer Co Ltd has released the "ER-100" hearing assist earphones as the first product in its new earU brand, which aims to solve the problem of misunderstandings and stress caused by hearing difficulties.

According to Casio, in addition to earphone-induced hearing loss, there are many cases where, even if hearing tests show no abnormalities and words can be heard, it is difficult to accurately grasp emotional information such as intonation, pauses and tone, such as in noisy places like cafes or when wearing a mask.

Ryoichi Furukawa, general manager of new business development, explained, "When people pretend to understand when they don't fully understand due to hearing difficulties, it creates stress and communication breakdowns, leading to a decrease in happiness and productivity—a state known as 'Muffled Ear.' Hearing assist earphones will solve these problems."

Casio developed these earphones using digital sound control technology cultivated through its electronic musical instruments and other products.

Because they are open-ear type earphones that do not block the ears, allow for easier perception of distance and other nuances compared to closed-type earphones. Hearing adjustments are made via a smartphone app.

They are available in black and white and are priced at 49,940 yen (including tax) at the Casio online store.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

For more than a century, only male umpires have officiated at Japan's prestigious Koshien high school baseball tournaments. That will change this summer when five women take the field at the national championship.

Female umpires will make their debut at the national high school baseball championship in August, marking the first time in the history of Japan's spring and summer meets that women have officiated on Koshien Stadium's hallowed ground.

The move comes as the Japan High School Baseball Federation seeks to broaden participation in the sport and address a growing shortage of umpires amid declining player numbers.

"Out!" "Safe!" rang out across the stadium in Nishinomiya near Osaka -- home to the Hanshin Tigers in Japanese professional baseball -- earlier this month as umpires gathered for a national training course ahead of the summer tourney.

Among them was Kana Sato, 39, of the Saitama Prefectural High School Baseball Federation, who said she hopes to bring her own style to the role.

"I want to make each call carefully," she said. "My voice is different from that of a man's, but I hope people will think that kind of voice works well too."

Sato began umpiring more than a decade ago after becoming supervisor of a junior high school baseball club at the school where she worked. Wanting to guide students from a different perspective, she decided to study umpiring seriously.

Her experience eventually led her to officiate at last year's Under-18 Baseball World Cup.

The mother of two young children, Sato has support from those around her that has helped her continue, including assistance with childcare during games.

For Kasumi Iwao, 33, from Kanagawa Prefecture, officiating at Koshien carries special meaning.

As a student at Kamata Girls' High School (now Haneda International High School) in Tokyo, she won the national high school girls' invitational tournament.

But while boys dreamed of competing at Koshien, girls' baseball received little attention, leaving her with the thought, "The boys get to go to Koshien -- lucky them."

After graduating, Iwao became an umpire and she now officiates games while working as a nurse. She wants younger generations to see that women can also thrive in the sport.

"I want to show that women are capable of this too, so they will feel encouraged to give it their all," she said.

Women have increasingly taken officiating roles at the highest levels of international sport.

In basketball, the NBA introduced its first female referee nearly 30 years ago, while Japanese judo referee Akiko Amano officiated at three Olympic Games.

At football's 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, six women, including Japanese referee Yoshimi Yamashita, officiated matches for the first time in tournament history.

Major League Baseball also introduced female umpires last year.
Now, that shift appears to have reached Koshien, one of the most revered stages in Japanese sport.

According to figures from two years ago, around 20 women served on umpire committees within prefectural high school baseball federations across Japan.

Taisuke Ozaki, chairman of the Japan High School Baseball Federation's rules committee, said the organization faces a serious shortage of umpires alongside a decline in the number of players.

"We want to create an environment where more people are willing to lend their support so we can work together to help as many people as possible," Ozaki said.
 
 

More than 90% of elementary school principals want lower-grade students to use paper textbooks, even as the country moves toward greater adoption of digital versions, according to a new Yomiuri Shimbun survey.

The survey, conducted earlier this month, asked elementary school principals nationwide about their opinions on digital textbooks, which the government aims to officially introduce to the nation’s schools starting in fiscal 2030.

Of the 149 respondents, more than 90% expressed a preference for “paper-only” or “primarily paper” textbooks for first and second graders. The figure was 80% for third and fourth graders, underscoring a clear desire for paper-based learning at schools.

A bill to officially recognize digital textbooks as a valid form of textbook passed the House of Representatives in April. With deliberations in the House of Councillors set to start soon, the bill is expected to be passed into law by the end of June.

Once the bill is passed, “fully digital” textbooks and “hybrids” combining paper and digital materials will be added to the existing paper-only options.

In the survey, principals were asked to choose the most desirable textbook format for children’s learning from four options: paper-only; paper-centric hybrids supplemented with digital material; digital-centric hybrids supplemented with paper material; or fully digital.

The combined percentage of principals who expressed a preference for paper-only or primarily paper texts for each level of education stood at 94% for early elementary (first and second grades), 80% for middle elementary (third and fourth grades) and 54% for upper elementary (fifth and sixth grades).

When asked for their reasons in a free-response format, many principals offered responses to the effect that paper textbooks encourage deeper thinking in elementary school children, while some also pointed out issues with digital technology, such as concerns over its effect on children’s eyesight and health.

By subject, the preference for paper-based materials for Japanese language classes reached 96% for early elementary, 83% for middle elementary and 63% for upper elementary. Mathematics saw similar results at 90%, 75% and 52%, respectively.

For social studies and science, the proportion of principals choosing paper for middle elementary students also exceeded those favoring digital-centric or fully digital options.

There were some subjects where respondents showed a greater preference for primarily digital or fully digital textbooks, such as English, where a combined 66% chose these options.

Meanwhile, a combined 72% of respondents said that they either “have concerns” or “somewhat have concerns” about granting digital textbooks official status.

The Yomiuri Shimbun conducted the online survey this month, targeting 188 officials including the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of elementary school principal associations across all 47 prefectures. Valid responses were received from 149 people, a response rate of 79%.
 
 

A regular passenger ferry service is set to be launched to connect the northern Taiwan city of Keelung and Ishigaki Island in the southernmost Japan prefecture of Okinawa.

For its maiden voyage, the Yaima Maru ferry will depart from the port of Keelung late Thursday and is scheduled to arrive at Ishigaki Island on Friday morning.

This will be the first time in 18 years that a regular passenger ship connecting Taiwan and the island is operated, according to Uni-Wagon Marine Co., a Taiwanese company entrusted with operating the service.

"I hope the Yaima Maru will be loved by many people and help deepen the friendship and trust between the two regions," Yoshitaka Nakayama, mayor of the city of Ishigaki, said at a ceremony held at the port of Keelung on Thursday to mark the service launch.

The ferry, owned by Shosen Yaima Co. in the city of Ishigaki, is equipped with guest rooms and bathrooms, and can accommodate up to 545 passengers. The one-way, 270-kilometer trip will take about eight hours.
 
 

Parliament on Wednesday enacted legislation featuring a measure to allow local governments to issue debt securities in a digital format.

At a plenary meeting, the Upper House passed legislation to revise multiple laws related to local autonomy, based on proposals from local governments.

The issuance of digital local government securities will involve highly secure blockchain technology. The introduction of digital securities is aimed at diversifying the investor base and sources of local government fund procurement.

The legislation also includes a law revision allowing prefectural governments to request electronic certificates of family registers from municipal governments online, including by email.

The step is expected to reduce the administrative burden on local governments as prefectural governments currently request and receive paper certificates by mail.
 
 

A welcome ceremony was held Wednesday at the Imperial Palace for Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife Louise Araneta-Marcos, who are visiting Japan as state guests.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako welcomed the couple at the event, which was also attended by Crown Prince Fumihito and his wife Crown Princess Kiko as well as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The four-day state visit, which coincides with the 70th anniversary year of the normalization of ties, is the first since Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife traveled to Japan in March 2025.

The ceremony took place in the palace's East Gardens, where the national anthems of both countries were played and Marcos received an honor guard salute from the Self-Defense Forces ceremonial unit.

The emperor and empress then met with the presidential couple for around 20 minutes in the palace's Take no Ma stateroom.

According to the Imperial Household Agency, Marcos noted that bilateral ties had developed remarkably across many fields, with many Filipinos working in Japan as nurses and in other professions.

The emperor responded by expressing his gratitude for their significant contribution to Japan, the agency said.

A state banquet hosted by the imperial couple will be held in the evening. Prince Hisahito, the 19-year-old son of the crown prince and princess, is expected to attend the banquet for the first time, following his coming-of-age ceremony last year.
 
 

Fashion trends that emphasize individuality without regard for gender norms, such as men using parasols and women wearing neckties, are spreading among young people in Japan, mainly those in Generation Z, who are aged around 15 to 30.

In line with the trend of genderless fashion, many Japanese apparel companies are working to expand their product lineups and improve store environments.

 

Menswear giant Aoyama Trading Co. released Skinny Tie, a tie for women that is thinner and shorter than men's ties, and makes a smaller knot, in January. The company sells unisex suits at both men's and women's sections at its stores.

Last year, Aoyama Trading conducted a survey for some 850 female members of its app, and about half of them said they are interested in styles designed for men. A company official said that clothing items for men are trending among young women.

With fewer and fewer people wearing suits to work, Aoyama Trading is seeking new demand from female customers, including those in Generation Z.
 
 

Japan’s parliament passed legislation on Wednesday to launch a new intelligence council, a key move in Prime Minister Sanae Takichi’s push to bolster the nation’s security agenda.

Japanese officials have long argued for enhanced intelligence capabilities to deter foreign spies, prevent terrorism, safeguard sensitive technologies and improve national security.

Tokyo has faced criticism that its existing policies and law enforcement against espionage are too relaxed — with some labelling the nation a “spies’ paradise”.

The issue has gained a renewed sense of urgency since a diplomatic row erupted with Beijing, after Takaichi suggested in November that Tokyo might intervene militarily in any Chinese attempt to take Taiwan.

Takaichi on Tuesday told the legislature that the step enables Japan to integrate intelligence activities — currently fragmented across multiple ministries — such as police, the foreign ministry and the defence ministry.

“To maintain peace and prosperity and pre-empt serious crises, it is of the utmost importance to establish a system in which the intelligence community provides robust support for sound decision-making by policymakers,” Takaichi said.

Under the new law, which was approved by the upper house Wednesday and cleared by the lower house last month, the government will upgrade an existing intelligence body to serve as the central command for collecting and analysing information related to security and public safety.

The newly created National Intelligence Council will be chaired by the prime minister.

But Takaichi’s critics have voiced concerns that the upgraded intelligence apparatus might lead to the government’s overreach and infringe upon individual freedom and privacy.

Opponents have staged rallies across the nation against Takaichi, saying that her campaign to expand Japan’s defence capacity might draw Tokyo into international armed conflicts.
 
 

As a teenager struggling to fit into life in rural Sicily, psychiatrist Francesco Panto found refuge in anime, where he discovered characters that resembled the kind of man he wanted to be.

Now living in Japan, Panto thinks anime can benefit others and is trialling whether it could be used as a method of therapy, particularly for people who would otherwise struggle to ask for help.

"The use of manga and anime supported me so much... they were very important emotional support kind of tools," Panto told AFP. "Being raised in Italy, in Sicily, there were very strong stereotypes around gender or self-expression.

But when I was 12 or 13 years old I started to play this game called 'Final Fantasy'... and the male protagonists resonated with me. They were so masculine and cool, but in their own way."

Panto's six-month pilot study into "character-based counseling" at Yokohama City University ended in March.

As part of the trial, he and his team recruited 20 people aged 18-29 who had symptoms of depression and gave them online counseling delivered by a psychologist who appeared on the screen as an anime avatar with a digitally altered voice.

He believes that the "filter of fantasy" can help put people at ease and aid recognition of their problems -- and he's hoping that the trial results will confirm this theory.

From a steady and trustworthy "maternal energy" figure who brandishes an assault rifle, to an emotionally perceptive "prince-like" male who wears a cape, six different characters were created specifically for the study.

Each is based on a particular archetype in Japanese manga, with trial participants given freedom to choose among them.

"I tried to infuse each character with a specific mental struggle. One character is called Kuroto Nagi. She's affected by bipolar personality traits," Panto said.

Others struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety disorders, or experience problems related to alcohol use.

But the idea is for the avatars to be "fun", Panto explained, and although the psychologist tells the story of their character at the start of the session, they were instructed not to make mental health issues too obvious.

One 24-year-old trial participant explained how they had been drawn to the study by a description of one of the characters, who was said to be "searching for true strength".

That "made me feel like it might help me get closer to the answer to my own problems," said the participant, an anime fan and game developer who could not be identified by name under the rules of the trial.


'Will to live'

The phase-one trial -- which tracked participants' heart rates and sleep -- is primarily to test whether anime therapy is feasible and if this kind of treatment can reduce symptoms of depression.

Panto is also considering whether the therapy could be delivered using artificial intelligence, without the medium of a real psychologist.

The research project is one of many trying to find solutions to mental health challenges in Japan including "ikizurasa", a term for people who find it "difficult to live, difficult to survive in society", said Mio Ishii, an assistant professor helping lead the project.

"There are many young people who cannot go to school or continue working. So, our scope is to give them... new choices to recover from their difficulties," she said, adding that there was still huge stigma in Japan attached to seeking help.

As of 2022, only six percent of people in Japan had used psychological counselling for mental health problems, according to data cited on the World Economic Forum website. The rate was much higher in Europe and the United States.

Jesus Maya, who specializes in family therapy at the University of Seville and is not involved in the trial, said the use of anime during sessions can be "really useful".

"It can facilitate the expression of emotions... (and) identification and communication between the patient and the therapist," he said.

Under the rules of the study, the 24-year-old trial participant -- whose current favorite anime series include "The End of Evangelion" and "Girls Band Cry" -- could not comment on the trial itself.

But they said anime had given them the "will to live, seeing characters who are full of life as they work hard toward their dreams".

Ishii hopes the therapy could help people of all ages across the world. "Because usually people have stigmas and psychological barriers to ask for help about their mental health," she said. "But anime or technology can decrease them."
 
 

Toshifumi Suzuki, the founder of Seven-Eleven Japan and widely regarded ​as the father of Japan's convenience store ‌industry, died of heart failure on May 18, Seven & i Holdings said on Monday. He was 93.

Born in ​Nagano in 1932, Suzuki joined retailer Ito-Yokado ​in 1963 after working at a book ⁠wholesaler. Defying scepticism at the time, Suzuki ​partnered with Southland Corp, the U.S. operator of ​7-Eleven, to launch Seven-Eleven Japan in 1973, opening the first store in Tokyo the following year.

He pioneered the use ​of data to tailor inventory and built ​a business model centred on ready-to-eat meals and rapid inventory ‌turnover, ⁠helping transform convenience stores into a cornerstone of Japan's retail landscape.

Suzuki also led the successful restructuring and rescue of Southland in the early 1990s ​after the ​7-Eleven parent ⁠filed for bankruptcy due to massive debt from a leveraged buyout.

Suzuki went ​on to establish Seven & i Holdings ​in ⁠2005 and oversaw its expansion into a retail conglomerate. The avid book reader stepped down as chairman ⁠in ​2016 after a management dispute ​but remained an influential figure in Japan's retail industry.

Reporting by Mariko ​Katsumura; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Jamie Freed
 
 

A strong odor at the Ginza Six shopping mall in central Tokyo prompted emergency calls and left at least 25 people complaining of feeling unwell Monday, police and fire authorities said.

According to reports from NHK, a woman called the police around noon to report a “pungent odor” and that “everyone was coughing,” according to the Metropolitan Police Department.

Similar complaints were also made at a nearby police box, TBS reported.
The incident occurred near a bank’s ATM area on the first floor. Several people complained of symptoms including sore throats after police officers and emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

According to TBS, 25 people, both men and women, have reported feeling unwell, and 14 of them — two men and 12 women — have been taken to the hospital. A total of 53 fire department vehicles, including fire engines, had been dispatched.

Police and the Tokyo Fire Department are investigating the cause of the odor. According to police, a man wearing a black jacket, light-colored pants, and a white mask sprayed something in the ATM area.

A woman who was at the shopping mall told NHK, “When I tried to go inside, the air felt strange, and everyone around me was covering their mouths.

When I went into the ATM area, my throat felt scratchy and numb, so I immediately went outside and called the fire department. My throat is still scratchy now.”

Ginza Six is one of Tokyo’s best-known luxury shopping malls.
 
 

Japanese trade minister Ryosei Akazawa said Saturday he had a brief exchange with his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao on the sidelines of a regional economic forum in Suzhou, eastern China, marking the first ministerial contact between the two countries since their latest diplomatic dispute flared up last year.

Sino-Japanese ties have deteriorated since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in parliament last November that Japan could deploy its defense forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing.

Senior vice foreign minister Iwao Horii, who attended the two-day trade ministers' meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum together with Akazawa, also told reporters he had separately met with Wang and asked Beijing to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in China following a knife attack in Shanghai.

Two Japanese men and one Chinese woman were injured in the Tuesday incident at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai. China has so far described the attack by a man with a mental disorder as an isolated incident.

Akazawa said he approached Wang, who was sitting at a table alone, during a dinner Friday, while Horii said he had chatted with the commerce minister aboard a boat during a cruise after the dinner. Neither revealed details of their contacts with Wang.

Since the escalation of bilateral tensions following Takaichi's remarks, Japan has maintained that it remains open to dialogue with China.

It hopes to arrange a meeting between Takaichi and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an APEC summit to be held in southern China's Shenzhen in November to improve the strained ties.

"The Japanese government policy of seeking strategic and mutually beneficial ties with China remains unchanged," Akazawa stressed.

Angered by the Japanese leader's comments, China has increased pressure on Japan through tighter export controls on dual-use items, possibly including rare earths, travel alerts against the neighboring country and cancellations of Japanese cultural events, among other measures.

Following the end of the APEC session, the Japanese trade minister said he called for the removal of export control measures on rare earths and other critical minerals that are not in line with international practices, as they could "severely impact global supply chains."

Taiwan, one of the 21 APEC member economies, sent its trade representative Yang Jen-ni to the Suzhou meeting, but neither Akazawa nor Horii had contact with her, according to Japanese officials.

Last week, Japan's gender equality minister, Hitoshi Kikawada, attended an APEC meeting on women and the economy in Shanghai, marking the first visit to China by a member of the Takaichi Cabinet since her remarks triggered the diplomatic feud.

But he did not have any contact with the Chinese side, the Japanese officials said.
 
 

Prince Hisahito, the only son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, will attend a banquet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his wife at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday night, the Imperial Household Agency has announced.

It will be the first time for the 19-year-old prince, currently in his second year at the University of Tsukuba, to attend an event to welcome a state guest.

Naomasa Yoshida, grand master of the Crown Prince’s Household, said that the prince’s attendance was allowed because the evening banquet will not interfere with his studies. The young prince will attend after his university classes.

According to the agency, his father and two older sisters, Mako Komuro and Princess Kako, attended such events for the first time while studying at university and after reaching adulthood.

The three attended events for state guests from Niger in 1986, Bhutan in 2011, and the Philippines in 2014, respectively.
 
 

The calendar says we’re still in spring, but the thermometer shows that summer is almost here.

With temperatures in Tokyo hitting 30 degrees Celsius last weekend, we’re closing in on the time of year when some form of sun protection is a must for many when going outside, which in turn means the time of year when many find themselves thinking “I really should put on some sunblock…but it’s a hassle, so maybe I’ll just skip it…”

Thankfully, Japan’s Biore brand of sunblock is here to give us a little extra nudge towards taking the time to apply protection with its Kids Stamp UV.
 

 

Yes, the name does reveal that this was created first and foremost with kids in mind, but the appeal of cats knows no age limits, and unlike, say, children’s medicine, Kids Stamp UV is just as effective for adults as it is for children, with an SPF50 PA+++ rating.

Right away, the cute feline-eared design for the bottle catches the cat-loving eye, and things get even better when you flip open the cap.

 

Instead of a single opening, Kids Stamp UV has five, arranged in the pattern of a cat’s paw pads. The bottle is also designed so that instead of squeezing out a stream of liquid, you use it like a stamp, tapping it against your skin to apply the sunblock directly…

 

…and when you do, you get a series of paw prints, like a little kitty has been walking across your arm, leg, or cheek.

You do still need to rub the lotion in, but while there’s some initial stickiness, it quickly fades away and the Kids Stamp UV sunblock dries nicely, leaving no significant greasiness behind.

 

If you have kids, a big advantage of Kids Stamp UV is how it makes the process of applying sunblock fun.

Our reporter Ninoude Punico tried it out with her 6-year-old, and it immediately turned the regular session of “Sit still! You need this!” into a much more relaxed and happy “OK, let’s get our cat prints on before we go out.”

 

As a matter of fact, with how easy the sunblock is to apply because of the stamp-style top, Punico’s kid has even started using it without Mom’s help.

 

▼ The instructions, complete with adorable illustrations, say to apply one “stamp” every 10 centimeters or so.

Of course, Biore’s cute and clever design is just as fun and convenient for adult cat fans as it is for kids, and with Japan being the land of kawaii culture, you’re not going to get side-eyed by other adults for using it yourself either.

Being jointly developed by Biore parent company Kao and Aeon Retail, Kids Stamp UV is available at Aeon, Welcia, and Tsuruha supermarkets/drugstores, and we’ll be keeping some handy for mountain- hiking, Gundam-viewing, and other outdoor summer excursions.
 
 

A Japanese oil tanker that transited the Strait of Hormuz late last month is expected to arrive in Japan possibly on Monday, the government said, making it the first such case since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

As the resource-poor nation awaits the arrival of the tanker operated by a unit of major refiner Idemitsu Kosan Co., Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi spoke with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Friday, stressing the importance of "free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for vessels of all countries."

In their sixth telephone conversation since the United States and Israel attacked Iran in late February, Motegi also called on Iran to allow the swift passage of remaining vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The Idemitsu Maru, with three Japanese aboard, is scheduled to arrive at Idemitsu's Aichi complex in Chita, Aichi Prefecture, in central Japan.
Iranian state-run Press TV said the tanker, sailing under the flag of Panama, loaded crude oil in Saudi Arabia in early March.

Japan has relied heavily on the Middle East for crude oil, most of which normally passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The Iran conflict has sent crude oil prices surging due to supply concerns.

The ship-tracking website MarineTraffic showed the Idemitsu Maru off Japan's western main island of Shikoku as of Friday afternoon.

Another major Japanese oil company, Eneos Holdings Inc., said last week that an affiliate's oil tanker had passed through the strait, with its arrival expected between late May and early June.

According to the Japanese Shipowners' Association, 39 Japan-related vessels remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

Motegi told Araghchi that "what matters most is that the ceasefire is maintained" between the United States and Iran, as well as the de-escalation of the situation, including in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

He also expressed his strong hope that talks toward permanently ending the war will resume promptly, it said.
 
 

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Laotian counterpart, Thongsavan Phomvihane, agreed Friday that their countries will promote cooperation to strengthen supply chains for energy and critical minerals.

They reached the agreement at a meeting in Tokyo, amid supply instability reflecting Middle East tensions.

Thongsavan, who also serves as deputy prime minister of Laos, expressed support for the Partnership on Wide Energy and Resources Resilience, or Powerr Asia, a new energy support framework for Asian countries, which was announced by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month.

Motegi voiced pleasure at progress in exchanges between the two countries in various fields, citing a visit to Laos by Princess Aiko, the daughter of Japanese Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, last November.
 
 

Tokyo High Court ruled Thursday that the Feb. 8 election for Japan's House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, was constitutional in terms of vote-value disparities.

Presiding Judge Takao Furuta dismissed a claim by a group of lawyers led by Hidetoshi Masunaga that sought to nullify the election results.

In the lawsuit, the plaintiffs argued that the maximum vote-value disparity of 2.1 times in the election failed to satisfy the constitutional requirement for equality in the value of votes.

Furuta said that the so-called Adams method, introduced to better reflect differences in regional populations when setting the number of seats in each prefecture, is reasonable.

The plaintiffs plan to file an appeal.

It was the fourth ruling in a total of 16 lawsuits filed with the 14 high courts and high court branches across the country by two groups of lawyers, including the Masunaga-led group.
 
 

The Trump–Xi summit in Beijing on 14–15 May 2026 was a tactical detente driven by mutual domestic pressures rather than any genuine easing of tensions, with both leaders seeking short-term wins on the Iran war and Taiwan respectively.

Japan faces the sharpest consequences of this realignment, as a less committed United States leaves Tokyo increasingly exposed to Chinese economic coercion while its own hawkish security agenda risks pushing it into damaging isolation.

US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing on 14–15 May 2026 for a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping has ushered in a new — albeit fragile — era of coordinated management in US–China relations.

The meeting, driven by urgent domestic and geopolitical imperatives, signals a managed detente rather than a genuine stabilisation of deep-seated structural tensions.

For both leaders, the summit was a necessary tactical pause. Trump, seeking to recover domestic approval ratings battered by the ongoing Iran war, needs a ‘big success’ ahead of challenging midterm elections. Meanwhile, China requires stable ties with Washington to sustain its economic growth amid turbulent global headwinds.

The negotiations logically centred on the two intractable flashpoints of the Iran war and Taiwan. The US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in May 2026 has severely disrupted China’s energy security, threatening the substantial source of its crude oil imports.

In exchange for easing these pressures, Washington likely expects Beijing to exert its considerable influence over Iran and its intermediary, Pakistan.

Conversely, China’s primary objective remains its ‘core interest’ of Taiwan. Beijing aims to extract stronger rhetorical concessions from the United States, pushing Washington to shift its traditional stance from merely stating it ‘does not support’ Taiwan independence to explicitly declaring it ‘opposes’ the independence.

Notably, Xi used an unusually strong expression to warn Trump that the United States must handle the issue with utmost care.

While the summit predictably failed to yield definitive solutions to these structural disputes, both powers successfully managed to keep severe confrontation below the surface.

Systemic rivalry seems to be masked by a superficial, coordinated management designed to serve immediate mutual interests. How Trump handles the pending military sales to Taiwan will be seen as a touchstone of this coordinated management of the relationship.

The implications of this changing balance of power are most acute for Japan. Historically, Beijing has calibrated its actions towards Tokyo by factoring in the robust US–Japan alliance. The presence of a United States willing to take a hard line against China previously deterred Beijing from escalating disputes with Japan beyond a certain threshold.

But Trump’s ‘America First’ doctrine alters this dynamic entirely. The Trump administration is far removed from Washington’s traditional willingness to risk conflict with China solely for the sake of its ally, Japan.

It is highly unlikely that Trump would defend Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s controversial remarks on Taiwan.

Sensing Washington’s vulnerability, Beijing is poised to adopt increasingly harsh measures against Tokyo. China immediately demanded the retraction of Takaichi’s comments on Taiwan and deployed economic coercion, including curbing tourism to Japan, reimposing a ban on Japanese seafood imports and restricting rare earth exports.

The Takaichi administration is aggressively pushing a conservative security agenda. This includes accelerating the revision of three key national security documents, easing arms export principles and revisiting formerly taboo policy options like Japan’s non-nuclear principles and amending the Japanese Constitution.

Tokyo is also attempting to counter Beijing’s economic pressure tactics by deepening economic security ties with ‘like-minded’ countries such as Vietnam and Australia.

The Trump–Xi summit exposes the limits of Tokyo’s foreign policy trajectory. As the United States and China prioritise a managed detente, Japan risks isolation if it continues on a path of unchecked friction with Beijing.

Takaichi must objectively confront the harsh realities of international relations. Promoting hostility between Japan and China may ultimately fail to serve Japan’s broader national interests in a profoundly shifting global order.
 
 

Playground Games released its brand-new racing video game, Forza Horizon 6, featuring famed automotive photographer Larry Chen as a major speaking character within the newly introduced Japanese setting.

The open-world racing title brings players to long-awaited Japanese locations, simulating Tokyo, rocky coastlines, dense forests, and snow-covered mountains.

The game also introduces a secondary progression system called "Discover Japan" in the Collection Journal, alongside Easter eggs referencing the iconic street racing manga series Initial D.

Chen, a Canon Explorer of Light, recorded over 300 speaking lines across two voiceover sessions and underwent motion capture scanning in July 2025 to create his realistic digital avatar.

The photographer noted that his friend and fellow Canon ambassador Atiba Jefferson previously appeared in Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4, but Jefferson's voice lines were replaced by an actor.

"It actually looks like a horror movie because they made me put a bald cap on and they made me put this thing in that spreads my lips so it’s just like my teeth exposed," laughs Larry Chen, Photographer.

The scanning process utilized a specialized rig comprised of 250 Canon consumer DSLR cameras, specifically the EOS 250D models known as the Rebel SL3 in North America.

"It was hilarious. But the rig they used to scan me was super interesting. It was 250 Canon consumer DSLR cameras, so it was funny. It was unintentional that it was Canon, but it was Canon." recalls Larry Chen, Photographer.

The game features real-world drifting hotspots like Mount Haruna and the Hakone Nanamagari route. Players can also unlock a souped-up Toyota AE86 Forza Edition by earning 5,000 points in the Master Explorer tier of the Discover Japan track.

"Not everybody can do what I do," says Larry Chen, Photographer.
The physical car model includes an animated cup of water on the dashboard cupholder that moves under G-forces, referencing the famous driving challenge from the Initial D anime series.

"I mean, a lot of people do. A lot of people do end up going to the same places that I go to and they can photograph these cars in real life. That’s great. I love that." states Larry Chen, Photographer.

The "Discover Japan" journal allows players to earn points by discovering landmarks, finding Bonus Boards, collecting cars, and completing Tokyo City food delivery missions.

"But if you’re just a casual photographer who doesn’t want to spend thousands of dollars to go to Europe or Japan or whatever, then you could do it from home and it kind of gives you the same feeling," says Larry Chen, Photographer.

Progressing through the activities unlocks specific reward tiers, categorized by point thresholds including a Yellow Stamp at 1,250 points, a Green Stamp at 2,500 points, and a Blue Stamp at 5,000 points.
 
 

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tuesday that her Group of Seven counterparts showed their understanding on Japan's recent yen-buying, dollar-selling market intervention.

At the just-ended meeting in Paris of the finance ministers and central bank governors of the major economies, the Japanese authorities' action to prop up the yen "won broad understanding," Katayama told a press conference after the meeting.

"We're determined to take decisive action whenever necessary," she stressed.
On the night of April 30, her ministry bought through the Bank of Japan an estimated 5 trillion to 6 trillion yen against the dollar.

The finance and monetary chiefs of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union adopted a joint statement Tuesday reaffirming the consensus view shown in their 2017 communique that "excess volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates can have adverse implications for economic and financial stability."
 
 

A man carrying a fruit knife attacked three people around noon on Tuesday at a Japanese restaurant in Shanghai World Financial Center, a Japanese-developed office building in the financial district of the Chinese city.

According to a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official, the three victims were two Japanese nationals and a Chinese woman. None of them suffered life-threatening injuries.

Many Japanese companies have offices within and around the building. Following the incident, the Japanese Embassy in China sent out an email advising Japanese nationals in the country to exercise vigilance.

The Japanese side requested that the Chinese government find out the truth behind the incident, strictly punish those responsible, and ensure the safety of Japanese nationals, according to the email.

The 59-year-old attacker was seized by police officers at the scene. According to local police sources, the man has a history of mental illness and made incoherent statements.

A nearby shop worker quoted a restaurant employee as saying that the man entered the restaurant, attacked the three people and then sat on the floor.
The shop worker said that screams were heard just after the incident as many customers fled.

In June 2024, a Japanese mother and child were attacked with a knife while waiting for a school bus in Suzhou. A Chinese woman was killed in the incident.

In September that year, a Japanese boy was stabbed to death on his way to school in Shenzhen.
 
 

The new funding follows the completion of Phase II of the project at the end of 2025, which had a total budget of almost $17 million.

The Japanese government has agreed to provide Cambodia with an additional ¥1.7 billion (approximately $11 million) in grants to support the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) through Phase III of the Integrated Mine Clearance and Victim Assistance Project.

The new funding follows the completion of Phase II of the project at the end of 2025, which had a total budget of almost $17 million.

A May 18 handover ceremony for the achievements of Phase II was held at the CMAC Techo Heritage Development Centre in Battambang province, under the presidency of Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Ueno Atsushi, alongside several senior officials.

CMAC director-general Heng Ratana explained that the Japanese government had provided a total of ¥2 billion — nearly US$17 million — for Phase II of the project, which ran for 45 months from April 1, 2022, to December 31, 2025.

The project was implemented in Battambang Pursat and Pailin provinces, achieving results that included the clearance of 12,011 hectares of mine- and explosive-contaminated land — equivalent to 127 per cent of the original target.

During the project, teams located and destroyed 27,847 landmines and unexploded ordnance items of various types, while mine-risk education was delivered through 12,582 sessions attended by a total of 343,209 people.

Ratana added that 763,602 people benefited from Phase II through the construction of 9.8 kilometres of laterite roads and 29 water drainage structures.

The project also procured mine-clearance equipment including 12 ALIS mine-detection machines, one Komatsu mine-clearing machine, one trailer truck and spare parts.

Regarding the newly launched Phase III project, inaugurated on May 18, Heng

Ratana noted that Phase III will run until January 2028.
The new phase will support CMAC in clearing 4,939 hectares of mine- and explosive-contaminated land in Pursat, Battambang and Koh Kong provinces, while also responding to emergency clearance requests in Pailin.

In addition, the project will assist mine victims, support post-clearance community development, procure additional ALIS mine-detection machines and establish an artificial intelligence data system.

Ratana expressed his gratitude to the Japanese government and people for providing both equipment and funding to support CMAC’s demining operations in Cambodia, as well as to the Cambodian government, for its continued backing of the organisation.

He also thanked the development partners and donors who have contributed to the government’s strategic plan aimed at achieving “a Cambodia free from the threat of anti-personnel mines by the end of 2030 and reducing the threat posed by explosive remnants of war by 2035”.

Sokhonn praised all stakeholders and also paid tribute to each of the deminers who were injured or lost their lives during mine-clearance operations.

“In its capacity as one of the countries most severely affected by landmines in the world, and as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention, Cambodia remains firmly committed to fulfilling all obligations and the spirit of the convention,” he said.

“Cambodia is also proud to have deployed demining and unexploded ordnance clearance forces to participate in UN peacekeeping missions,” he added.

The deputy prime minister also thanked other donor partners supporting mine-action activities in Cambodia, including China, the US, Australia, Belgium, Canada, the EU, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the UK.

Partner organisations mentioned included UN Development Programme, Norwegian People’s Aid, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Japan Mine Action Service, APOPO, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation, Japan International Cooperation System, Japan Crown Agents Japan Limited, Komatsu and Nikken Corporation.
 
 

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will visit New Delhi from Sunday through May 27 to attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the Quad countries--Japan, the United States, Australia and India, the Japanese government said Tuesday.

The Quad meeting, scheduled for May 26, will bring together Motegi, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

The ministers are expected to reaffirm cooperation to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals in light of China's increasing military and economic coercion.
 
 

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and his Brazilian counterpart, Mauro Vieira, have agreed to strengthen bilateral economic security cooperation, at the two countries’ first strategic dialogue held on Monday in Tokyo.

Brazil is rich in natural resources such as rare earths and iron ore.
Motegi noted that Brazil, which has the largest Japanese community outside Japan, is a strategic partner of Tokyo.

Vieira responded by showing hope that the two countries will work to put into action their strategic and global partnership action plan this year. The action plan was adopted at a Japan-Brazil summit held in March 2025.

The two ministers signed a memorandum on mutual assistance for the protection of Japanese and Brazilian nationals abroad.

Brazil is the fifth country to sign such a memorandum with Japan. Under the pact, Japan and Brazil will cooperate mainly in the evacuation of their citizens in the event of an emergency in third countries or regions.

Motegi and Vieira also agreed to establish a strategic dialogue among the two nations’ public and private sectors for discussions on the use of artificial intelligence.

The Japanese government hopes to start negotiations to conclude an economic partnership agreement for free trade with Mercosur, a trade bloc among Brazil and four other South American nations.
 
 

Sources said the government intends to deploy vehicle-mounted warning and control radar systems on Iwoto Island and Chichijima Island of the Ogasawara island chain, which is under Tokyo’s jurisdiction.

The government is considering introducing to the Self-Defense Forces drones equipped with early warning radar that is capable of monitoring a wide area and detecting threats promptly, as part of efforts to strengthen the nation’s defenses in the Pacific, according to government sources.

The sources said the government intends to deploy vehicle-mounted warning and control radar systems on Iwoto Island and Chichijima Island of the Ogasawara island chain, which is under Tokyo’s jurisdiction.

The move is aimed to enhance deterrence and response capabilities against the Chinese military, which is stepping up its maritime activities, by improving the surveillance network in the Pacific — an area often referred to as a surveillance “blind spot.”

The government plans to include measures to strengthen the Pacific surveillance system in its three security documents, including the Defense Buildup Program, which are expected to be revised within the year. This initiative is part of those specific measures, the sources said.

While the government will determine in the future the specific aircraft model to carry such early warning radar, the MQ-9B SeaGuardian, a U.S.-made unmanned aerial vehicle, has been seen as a leading candidate. The Maritime Self-Defense Force plans to introduce the aircraft in fiscal 2027.

The SeaGuardian is capable of staying in the air for an extended period.
Airborne early warning aircraft used for maritime surveillance are also known as “flying radar sites.”

They excel at detecting low-altitude and long-range targets that are difficult to spot from land or ships due to the horizon. These aircraft also play a role in the early detection of low-flying aircraft, ships and other objects.

If early warning drones are deployed, the government will be able to monitor a wider area for longer periods, leading to workforce reductions and eased burdens on SDF personnel.

To achieve efficient operations, runways on Iwoto Island and Minami-Torishima Island, which is also administered by Tokyo, are also envisaged to be used for the takeoff and landing of early warning drones.

In addition to the introduction of the drones, the government intends to proceed with the deployment of radar systems on the islands, the sources said.

On Chichijima Island, deployment of a mobile radar system has been envisaged, and surveys for the deployment would begin this fiscal year. The current stationary radar system on Iwoto Island would be replaced with a mobile system.

The government’s decision to strengthen its surveillance and monitoring capabilities in the Pacific is based on the assessment that it is necessary from the perspective of deterring China.

The Chinese military is believed to be trying to establish a military strategy to prevent U.S. forces from approaching the area inside the “Second Island Chain” — which stretches from the Japan’s Izu Islands to Guam — in the event of a contingency related to Taiwan or similar situations. 
The Ogasawara Islands and Iwoto are located along this line.

Aggressive behavior by the Chinese military in the Pacific has been increasing. In June last year, two aircraft carriers were deployed simultaneously for the first time. Last December, an incident occurred in which Chinese carrier-based aircraft directed radar waves to SDF aircraft.
 
 

The government supplied antiviral drug Avigan from its stockpiles to Britain on Friday in response to a hantavirus outbreak, health minister Kenichiro Ueno said Monday.

Britain has accepted passengers from a cruise ship on which the outbreak occurred during a voyage in the Atlantic Ocean. They include a Japanese national.

According to the ministry, the Japanese government supplied the drug at the request of the British government based on a bilateral memorandum of understanding.

There is no established cure for hantavirus, but data from animal studies indicates that Avigan may improve survival rates of patients. The provision of the drug does not affect Japan’s Avigan stockpiles.

Ueno expressed gratitude to Britain for accommodating the Japanese national on a chartered plane and conducting health observations for the person in the country. “We’ll continue to work closely with the international community to prevent the spread of infections,” he said.

On the World Health Organization’s declaration of a public health emergency of international concern over Ebola outbreaks in Congo and Uganda, Ueno called for the public to respond calmly, saying, “At present, we believe the risk of a domestic outbreak is low.”
 
 

 

 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday her government will consider compiling an extra budget for fiscal 2026 to ease the impact of elevated crude oil prices, fueling renewed concerns about Japan's deteriorating finances as long-term bond yields move at nearly 30-year highs.

The size of the supplementary budget has come under scrutiny after a record 122.31 trillion yen ($770 billion) budget was enacted for the year starting April, underscoring Japan's heavy reliance on debt and reflecting Takaichi's stance of pursuing expansionary spending to spur economic growth.

"We will make decisions appropriately and respond timely as needed so that economic activities and people's lives are not disrupted" due to the Middle East situation, Takaichi told a liaison meeting of the government and the ruling parties at her office.

She has instructed Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama to consider crafting a supplementary budget, as gasoline subsidies are set to continue, and financial support to households for gas and utility bills this summer is planned.

Given surging crude oil prices, the government has set aside over 1 trillion yen for the gasoline price subsidies, restarted in mid-March, including reserve funds in the fiscal 2025 budget. But the amount fell to around 980 billion yen by the end of April.

Each month, hundreds of billions of yen are expected to be spent to keep pump prices at around 170 yen per liter. However, some economists estimate that these funds will run out by the end of June.

Takaichi said she told policy chiefs of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition parter Japan Innovation Party to craft detailed support measures for electricity and gas bills for households between July and September, when demand for air conditioning increases.

She stressed that the proposed measures should be implemented to keep utility bills at levels below those of last summer.

Usually, the government crafts a supplementary budget in the fall of the fiscal year or later.

Takaichi's call for one also comes as she has repeatedly said she wants to "break away" from the practice of formulating budgets on the assumption that supplementary budgets will be prepared every year.

She said necessary expenses should be fully accounted for in the initial budget, without resorting to supplementary budgets.

The advance crafting of the extra budget comes as the yields on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond have been trending higher amid persistent concerns over Japan's fiscal sustainability under the Takaichi government.

On Monday, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond briefly rose to 2.800 percent, its highest level since May 1997, as the debt was sold on worries about public finances.

Higher borrowing costs risk increasing debt-servicing costs for the country, whose debt was estimated at 204.4 percent of its gross domestic product, the worst ratio among the Group of Seven nations, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Utility bill aid has continued intermittently since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which also resulted in increased crude oil prices.

But the subsidies are costly. From January to March, the government used 529.6 billion yen from the supplemental budget for fiscal year 2025 to reduce household bills by around 7,000 yen.

The government could tap reserve funds totaling 1 trillion yen in the fiscal 2026 budget for economic measures, but the amount could fall short, while critics argue the funds should be reserved for emergencies such as natural disasters.
 
 

Japan’s government Monday presented a draft plan to create industry clusters in 10 regions, spotlighting semiconductors and green transformation, or transition to clean energy, to lure large-scale corporate investment and revive local economies.

The plan, presented at a state minister-level meeting, will be a key component of a government regional future strategy to be set as early as June.

The northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, where Rapidus Corp. is building plants, and the Kyushu southwestern region, which includes Kumamoto Prefecture, home to factories of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., are listed as prospective semiconductor clusters, as are the Hokuriku and Chubu regions in central Japan.

Meanwhile, the draft names the northeastern Tohoku region a green transformation center candidate, citing the presence of many nuclear and renewable-energy power sources.

The Kanto eastern region, which includes Tokyo, is expected to have an aviation cluster linked to Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture, while the Kinki western region aims to foster the flying-car industry.
 
 

Many political parties are now broadly in favor of a plan to let female members of the Imperial family retain their status after marriage, as the Centrist Reform Alliance presented its views on ensuring a stable succession of the Imperial throne at a general meeting of ruling and opposition parties on Friday.

The meeting, held at the official residence of the House of Representatives’ speaker, was attended by the speaker and vice speaker of the lower house, the president and vice president of the House of Councillors and representatives from 13 parties and parliamentary groups.

With the CRA having presented its view, all political parties and parliamentary groups have now declared their stances.

“We aim to pass the bill to revise the Imperial House Law during the current Diet session,” said Eisuke Mori, speaker of the lower house, after the meeting. He added that he plans to present a consolidated proposal at the next general meeting to be held within May.

The ruling and opposition parties have been discussing two plans on the issue that were presented in a final report compiled by a government advisory panel of experts in 2021.

One plan is to let female members retain status as Imperial family members after marriage, and the other is to adopt paternal-line male descendants of former Imperial family branches into the Imperial family.

The CRA, which had been delaying presenting its position, expressed its views at the meeting. The party stated that the first plan “should be approved” and that the other plan “could be institutionalized,” indicating a certain degree of acceptance.

With the CRA presenting its views, the first plan is now supported by most major parties, including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Japan Innovation Party, the Democratic Party for the People and the CRA.

Regarding the other plan, many parties are generally okay with it, apart from such parties as the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Japanese Communist Party.

The speaker and vice speaker of the lower house and president and vice president of the upper house will present a consolidated proposal summarizing the opinions of each party and parliamentary group regarding the two plans at the next meeting.

Mori intends to finalize the consolidation after the next meeting.
The focus of the consolidation will be on granting Imperial status to the husbands and children of married female members of the Imperial family.
The LDP and others oppose granting them status, arguing that it could lead to an emperor of female lineage in which only the maternal line traces back to the Emperor.

Meanwhile, the CRA, which said “the matter [of granting Imperial status] should be dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner,” is calling for this issue to be explicitly listed as a matter for consideration in the supplementary provisions of the revision bill for the law.

At a press conference following the meeting, Mori commented on the consolidated proposal, saying: “It is impossible to gain the understanding and full approval of every party. I want to come up with a proposal that parties and parliamentary groups can accept, even if there are some differences.”

After Mori and others submit their consolidated plan as the legislative body’s proposal to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the government will begin drafting the revision bill. The government is expected to explain its outline to each party and parliamentary group prior to making a Cabinet decision.

Under the current law, eligibility for the throne is limited to “male offsprings in the male line” whose paternal lineage traces back to the Emperor. This provision will not be subject to revision in the bill.

Furthermore, the current discussions are based on the premise that Prince Hisahito, the son of Crown Prince Akishino and currently the youngest eligible heir to the throne, will maintain his position as second in line to the throne, following the crown prince.
 
 

 
Indonesian delegation is preparing to take part in the 2nd WNI Weather & Climate Forecast Conference (WCFC) 2026 in Tokyo, Japan, aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for Asia’s weather and climate systems.

Founder and strategic advisor of the Sakuranesia Foundation, Tovic Rustam, said in Jakarta on Saturday that the Indonesian delegation is expected to include representatives from the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the University of Indonesia (UI), Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), as well as entities within the ecosystem of state-owned energy company PT Pertamina (Persero).

“WCFC 2026 is not only about weather technology and AI, but also about how Asia is beginning to build a new future of collaboration that is more integrated, sustainable, and oriented toward the safety of humanity amid the challenges of global climate change,” he said.

The forum, scheduled for June 17, 2026, will carry the theme “Leveraging AI for the Future of Asia’s Weather and Climate – The Frontline of Early Warning Systems and Regional Implementation.”

According to Rustam, Indonesia, as a tropical archipelagic nation located in a disaster-prone hydrometeorological region, holds a strategic position in the meeting.

Indonesia’s participation follows ongoing bilateral cooperation between BMKG and conference organizer Weathernews Inc.

Earlier, the two parties signed a collaboration agreement titled “A Project for AI-Based Tropical Cyclone and Flood Forecasting in Indonesia” in February 2026 to strengthen the country’s tropical cyclone and flood early warning systems.

Meanwhile, Sakuranesia Foundation Founder and Chairman Sakura Ijuin also encouraged broader Indonesia-Japan collaborative networks to support Indonesia’s participation in the forum, in line with the foundation’s mission to strengthen ties between the two countries through education, technology, culture, and future-oriented cooperation.

Indonesia’s participation in WCFC 2026 is expected to open up new opportunities for cooperation in climate technology, research and innovation, digital transformation, and human resource development to address the growing threat of hydrometeorological disasters.

According to Ijuin, the presence of national universities and Pertamina entities at the forum is also expected to create new synergies between the academic, energy, and weather technology sectors, particularly in operational safety, risk mitigation, energy resilience, and climate change adaptation.

Acting Deputy for Meteorology at BMKG, Andri Ramdhani, said separately that the continued cooperation with the Japanese weather company aims to strengthen Indonesia’s early warning systems through the application of AI technology.

The initiative is seen as part of BMKG’s concrete efforts to integrate artificial intelligence and data innovation in support of the global Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative to mitigate hydrometeorological disaster risks.

“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring better weather and climate information,” he said.

The Asia-level conference will feature several international figures, including former United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Mami Mizutori, NVIDIA Earth System Science Domain Program Manager Stan Posey, Japan Meteorological Agency Senior Coordinator for AI Strategy Yoichi Hirahara, and Weathernews Inc. Technical Director Yuichiro Nishi.
 

 

The Japan World Cup 2026 squad may be one of the trickiest to call, with a selection packed with talent but lacking key stars

The Japan World Cup 2026 squad has been named by head coach Hajime Moriyasu.

Japan go into World Cup 2026 as one of the dark horses, with one of the most exciting squads at the tournament: that's something that would have seemed like a fever dream when the Far East hosted the 2002 tournament, but just a couple of decades on and Japanese football is thriving… as England found out in a March friendly.

Liverpool's Wataru Endo captains alongside Premier League rivals Daichi Kamada and Ai Tanaka in midfield, with Ko Itakura and Hiroki Ito behind – and it's a lovely sight to see Takehiro Tomiyasu overcome his injury hell of the last couple of years to return to a squad that he more than deserves his place in.

The attack, however, has taken a significant blow: Kaoru Miroma will miss the tournament through injury after suffering a hamstring injury for Brighton & Hove Albion, in what is absolutely gutting news for the Samurai Blue.

Hidemasa Morita won't be going to the tournament either, despite leading Sporting to a Champions League quarter-final, while Takumi Minamino ruptured his left knee anterior cruciate ligament and hasn't recovered in time.

Mitoma may well be his nation's best player, but there are stars waiting to step up in his absence: Ayase Ueda, Ritsu Doan and one-time Galactico and La Masia product Takefusa Kubo are all exciting attackers in their own right.

This tournament has also come a little soon for talented youngsters Kota Tawaratsumida and Sota Kitano, the latter of whom was compared to Hidetoshi Nakata and Keisuke Honda in a FourFourTwo scout report.
 
 
 
 

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake, measuring a lower 5 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale, struck the Tohoku region on Friday evening. There was no threat of a tsunami. 

The quake struck at a depth of 50 kilometers off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at 8:22 p.m., following an emergency earthquake warning for the region.

A lower 5 was registered in the cities of Tome, Osaki and Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture. A swath of Miyagi and Iwate prefectures also saw the quake register a 4 on the Japanese scale.

The Tohoku Shinkansen Line was temporarily suspended between Tokyo and Shin-Aomori stations following the quake, according to JR East, but trains were set to resume by around 10:40 p.m. Some trains on the Yamagata Shinkansen remained suspended. 

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. 

The temblor was the largest to strike the Tohoku region since a 7.7 magnitude quake hit on April 20, prompting a tsunami alert and a rare special advisory warning of an increased risk of major earthquakes.

More information:

• Detailed information about the location of the earthquake, from the Japan Meteorological Agency website
• An explanation of shindo, Japan's earthquake intensity scale
• A guide to what to do before, during and after an earthquake
• Our portal for disaster-related information

 
 
 
 
 

The Japanese government is considering compiling a supplementary budget to cover additional costs, as it is mulling providing electricity and city gas subsidies in July-September and keeping gasoline subsidies in place, government and ruling party officials said Friday.

The government is apparently considering increasing reserves by assembling an extra budget.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expectedto make a final decision as early as this month, depending on developments in the war in Iran, which has sent energy prices soaring.

At a press conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said, "We will make appropriate decisions according to the situation and take necessary measures."

About 980 billion yen remained in a pool of funds for the gasoline subsidies as of the end of April. Reserve funds set aside under the fiscal 2026 budget, totaling 1 trillion yen, may run short if the Iran war is prolonged.
 
 

The Japanese government is considering exporting the Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system to the Philippines, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.

The move follows Tokyo's revision in April of its three principles on the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as well as the implementing guidelines, which eased restrictions on exports of lethal weapons.

Japan and the Philippines are aiming to strengthen security ties amid China's assertiveness in the East and South China seas.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters Friday that "nothing has been decided at this point," regarding the possible missile export.

Referring to an agreement on enhanced defense equipment and technology cooperation reached in Manila on May 5 with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro, Koizumi voiced his intention to decide what would be exported.

On May 6, Japan's Self-Defense Forces conducted a live-fire drill involving the Type 88 missile system during the annual U.S.-Philippines Balikatan exercise in the Philippines.

Japan and the Philippines are in full-scale talks on the export of used Abukuma-class destroyers. Tokyo is also considering exporting the Type 03 medium-range surface-to-air missile system, dubbed Chu-SAM, used by the Ground Self-Defense Force.
 
 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit South Korea for two days from Tuesday to meet with President Lee Jae Myung, the Japanese government told parliament.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki on Thursday notified a board meeting of the House of Representatives' steering committee of the trip's itinerary, according to its head, Shunichi Yamaguchi, a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

During her visit, Takaichi is expected to discuss cooperation for ensuring energy security amid disruptions in crude oil shipments following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as well as beefing up supply chains for critical minerals, diplomatic sources have said.

The two leaders are likely to meet in the southeastern city of Andong, Lee's hometown, as part of a bilateral practice of leader-level reciprocal visits dubbed "shuttle diplomacy," according to the sources.
 
 

The Japanese government is considering providing electricity and city gas subsidies from July to September, when energy demand for cooling is expected to grow, people familiar with the matter said Thursday.

Electricity and city gas fees are likely to start rising around June as prices for crude oil and liquefied natural gas, which are used for thermal power generation, have been soaring because of the war in Iran.

The government has already provided electricity and city gas subsidies in recent years to cushion the impact of rising prices. Most recently, about 7,000 yen in subsidies per household was provided in the first three months of this year.

In addition, the government has offered gasoline subsidies since March.
About 980 billion yen remained in a pool of funds for the gasoline relief as of the end of April, but the money may run out if the measure remains in place for a long time.
 
 

Japan is offering Indonesia Mogami-class frigates and submarines, as Tokyo seeks to deepen security cooperation with Jakarta following the loosening of its arms export rules and amid the geopolitical situation in the region.

On April 11, Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) Chief of Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, confirmed that Japan is offering Mogami frigates and submarines to Indonesia.

According to the admiral, the offer was conveyed during a recent meeting between Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Indonesian Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

Admiral Ali said the proposals are still being discussed and reviewed by the Indonesian Ministry of Defence and that the final decision would be made by the ministry.

To note, Koizumi visited Indonesia on May 3 and 4, where he and Sjafrie signed a new Defence Cooperation Arrangement that includes an equipment and technology partnership aimed at enhancing both countries’ maritime deterrence capabilities.

During the signing, Koizumi explained Tokyo’s recent decision to loosen its arms export rules, while Sjafrie expressed Indonesia’s readiness to explore practical cooperation within Japan’s revised arms transfer framework.

The revised framework allows the export of lethal military equipment, including warships and missiles, to partner countries with existing defence technology agreements, including Indonesia.


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Reports of a potential Mogami-class frigate sale to Indonesia have circulated since at least 2021, when Jakarta and Tokyo signed an Agreement on the Transfer of Defence Equipment and Technology. Since then, Japan has actively showcased the class to senior Indonesian military and government officials.

Notably, at least two Mogami-class frigates have made port calls in Indonesia: JS Kumano (FFM-2) in 2023 and JS Yahagi (FFM-5) in 2025.

Moreover, during separate visits to Yokosuka in 2025, Defence Minister Sjafrie and Admiral Ali boarded JS Kumano, further demonstrating Japan’s strong interest in promoting the Mogami design to Indonesia.

For the submarine offer, no official statement has been made on the exact type being proposed. However, Naval News understands that Indonesia has officially expressed its interest in acquiring a second-hand Oyashio-class submarine.

During his visit to Yokosuka, Admiral Ali boarded the sixth boat of the class, JS Narushio (SS-595).

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Sjafrie boarded a Taigei-class submarine, JS Jingei (SS-515).

Japan’s push to market the Mogami-class frigate to Indonesia comes as the design is gaining wider international attention.

In August 2025, Australia selected the upgraded Mogami-class as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future general-purpose frigate programme, while New Zealand is also considering the design for its future frigate requirement alongside the UK’s Type 31.

Interest in the Mogami-class may also extend to the United States following a recent report that the Pentagon has asked the U.S. Navy to study Japanese and South Korean shipyards and naval designs.
 
 

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi on Wednesday emphasized the importance of close coordination with the United States over a multilateral effort to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Realistically, it's important to ensure close communication...with the United States" in order to successfully carry out minesweeping and vessel escort operations, Koizumi said in an online meeting of defense ministers from over 40 countries to discuss security in the strait in a framework led by Britain and France.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key global trade waterway, has been effectively closed due to the conflict between the United States and Iran.

The turmoil is seen to have strained ties between the United States and the two European leaders of the initiative.

"It's essential that stability in the strait be restored as soon as possible and that the free and safe navigation of vessels of all countries be ensured," the Japanese defense minister said.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference that taking part in the meeting does not mean Japan will participate in a multinational military mission in the strait.

"Nothing has been decided about the dispatch of the Self-Defense Forces."
 
 

The Indonesian Ministry of Manpower is expanding technical internship opportunities for Indonesians in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, through a partnership with the Miyazaki Prefectural Government.

The cooperation was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the ministry’s Secretary General Cris Kuntadi and Miyazaki Governor Shunji Kono in Jakarta on Tuesday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Kuntadi said the collaboration represents a strategic step to strengthen Indonesia-Japan labor cooperation, particularly in competency development and the expansion of technical internship placements.

“We appreciate the commitment of the Miyazaki Prefectural Government to expanding this cooperation, especially in human resource development and increasing placement opportunities for Indonesian technical interns,” he said.

He explained that the cooperation covers the training, dispatch, and placement of Indonesian technical interns in Miyazaki Prefecture.

Both parties will also strengthen the regular exchange of data and information to support the sustainability of the program.

Kuntadi noted that the Ministry of Manpower is developing an information-sharing system to support participants’ career development after completing the internship program.

The initiative comes as labor demand in Japan continues to increase, including in Miyazaki Prefecture, which is currently facing population decline.

He added that one of the partnership’s main focuses is implementing job matching to ensure that participants’ competencies align with the needs of industrial partners in Japan.

In addition, the ministry is preparing pre-departure training through government and private training centers across Indonesia.

According to ministry data, Indonesia sent 19,332 technical interns to Japan in 2025. As of May 2026, the number of dispatched participants had already reached 18,316.

In Miyazaki Prefecture alone, the number of Indonesian interns rose from 243 in 2025 to 285 in 2026.

Governor Shunji Kono welcomed the partnership, saying the prefecture is facing depopulation challenges and requires foreign interns to support various industrial sectors.

He also highlighted the potential for Indonesian interns to expand into a broader range of industries in the future.
 

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said Tuesday she agreed with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to closely coordinate on movements in the currency market during talks held after a recent intervention to stem the yen's depreciation against the dollar.

"We are in good coordination regarding recent currency movements" amid the Middle East conflict, Katayama told reporters after meeting Bessent at the Finance Ministry in Tokyo, noting that Japan's stance has been "fully supported."

Speaking to reporters later in the day about his views on the intervention, Bessent said, "We both believe that excess volatility is undesirable, and we have been in close contact with the Ministry of Finance, and we will stay in close contact with them."

"I believe the fundamentals of the Japanese economy are strong and resilient, and that that will be reflected in the exchange rate," the secretary said.

Bessent is visiting Tokyo ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's two-day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing from Thursday.

Bessent also met Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at her office on Tuesday and discussed the upcoming U.S.-China summit, Japan's investments in the United States and critical mineral supply chains, the secretary said.

With the instability in the Middle East continuing to drive a flight to safety to the dollar, Japanese authorities intervened on April 30 to curb the yen's fall to the upper 160 level, according to government sources, and likely conducted more yen-buying operations in early May during the Golden Week holidays.

Katayama stressed that she and Bessent agreed to coordinate based on a joint statement released in September, when the two countries confirmed interventions should be reserved for combating volatility as well as "disorderly depreciation or appreciation."

Although a weak yen is seen as a boon to Japanese exporters, given that it inflates their profits made overseas when repatriated, concern has been growing that excessive depreciation could hurt households and corporate profits by driving up import costs for fuel and other materials in the resource-poor country.

Among other agenda items, Katayama said she discussed with her U.S. counterpart ways to strengthen supply chains for critical minerals, ahead of a meeting of the Group of Seven finance chiefs in Paris next week aimed at reducing reliance on China for the key natural resources.

In reference to China's export controls on critical minerals, Katayama said, "The measures it has taken against Japan are terrible and unfair and the United States said it will continue to stress this point to China."

 

As bilateral ties between Japan and China have soured following a diplomatic row over Taiwan, Beijing has tightened its restrictions on exports of dual-use items, which can be used for both civilian and military purposes, with rare earths possibly included.

Katayama said she also shared with Bessent the need to respond to the growing threat posed by sophisticated artificial intelligence technology, such as U.S. company Anthropic's Claude Mythos model, which is said to be capable of identifying vulnerabilities in technology infrastructure, including financial systems.

"Frankly speaking, China can catch up in (developing) such (models) in a matter of six months or a year...the Western side needs to coordinate so that it will not be weaponized by those who are not our allies," she said.
 
 

Japan's Emperor Naruhito conferred Grand Cordon honors on 14 recipients, including four foreigners, at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday.

The conferment ceremony was held in the "Matsu-no-Ma" hall of the palace.
Recipients of the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun included former Ibaraki Governor Masaru Hashimoto, 80, and former internal affairs minister Tsutomu Sato, 73.

 

Former Cabinet Legislation Bureau head Masaharu Kondo, 70, received the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Hashimoto delivered remarks of gratitude.
 
 

Japan’s stealthy and highly automated Mogami warship is set for a showdown with the simpler and less expensive Type 31 frigate from the U.K. as the two nations compete to supply vessels to the Royal New Zealand Navy.

New Zealand said last week it was looking at both options to replace its two aging Anzac-class frigates, which were commissioned almost 30 years ago.

The Defense Force is set to report on the rival offerings by the end of next year, at the latest, and the government hasn’t ruled out buying more than two.

For Japan, a deal with New Zealand would build on an agreement signed recently with Canberra to build the first three of 11 Mogami-class ships planned for Australia.

That deal is Japan’s first major export order for lethal weaponry since World War II and comes as Tokyo seeks to develop its defense sector through foreign sales.

New Zealand Defense Minister Chris Penk said that there are strong cases for both the Japanese and U.K. frigates, but the fact that Australia will acquire the Japanese ships is strongly persuasive.

"Our starting point is to ask whether it’s suitable to acquire exactly the same, and if so, then we will,” Penk said in an interview.

Australia and New Zealand have close political and military ties, so opting for identical ships should provide benefits such as collaboration on ship crewing, joint operations and maintenance. That could extend to Japan, whose ties with both have deepened.

"The Mogami has a real advantage in that it would allow New Zealand to be perfectly interoperable, if not interchangeable, with Australia and Japan,” said Alessio Patalano, professor of war and strategy in East Asia at King’s College London.

Japan’s chief government spokesman, Minoru Kihara, said regional security would be boosted by all three countries operating the same ships.

"From the perspective of strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, this would be beneficial,” Kihara said at a regular news conference on Monday.

 

Ship construction could also be collaborative. As part of its deal with Japan, Australia is planning to build eight Mogami-class frigates at a shipyard near Perth. Penk said New Zealand is also looking for involvement in the construction of the vessels.

While Japan might be willing to bring New Zealand into the shipbuilding process, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the rival U.K. offer led by Babcock International Group already has a potential template for New Zealand in its existing deals with Poland and Indonesia to build Type 31 ships in those countries under license.

"How much work New Zealand can get in building the ships is going to be part of the decision,” said Peter Greener, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington.

Other factors including capability and cost will also shape New Zealand’s decision, according to Penk, who was appointed defense minister last month.
Defense analysts say both the U.K. and Japanese options are strong choices.

The Mogami-class ships are a relatively young and untested offering, albeit with more capabilities such as vertical launch cells for missiles, anti-submarine warfare technology and a stealthy design.

The extra features also come with a higher price tag, and a key question will be what capabilities New Zealand will need on its new ships. The U.K. Type-31 is a modular design that allows extra functions to be added as required.

"The British are likely to put forward a very cost attractive proposal,” Greener said, adding that the Type 31 offer might have an advantage if New Zealand decides to buy both frigates and patrol vessels based on the similar simpler design.

Penk has said the country is looking at all options to modernize its navy and add further new ships.

A spokeswoman for Babcock said the Type 31 frigate offered New Zealand a proven option for the kinds of roles New Zealand will have for its new ships. "It does what it says on the tin for what they will need in terms of maritime patrols and humanitarian aid,” she said.

While the Mogami-class frigates are likely to be more expensive, Patalano said the price tag has to be assessed through the life cycle costs. He said a robust local supply chain shared with Australia could help prevent costs ballooning.

"It’s like this: you buy the cheaper car but support, parts and maintenance are all more distant, less available, than the more expensive car you can service in the village,” he said.

Japan is likely to push hard to secure a deal with New Zealand as the government in Tokyo prioritizes growing its defense sector.

Senior Japanese government officials were regular visitors to Australia during that bid process, and Mitsubishi Heavy ran an advertising campaign in the country to support its offer.

That sales drive followed the trauma of Japan losing out to France in a bid to build submarines for Australia a decade ago despite being considered the front-runner. Penk said a Japanese Mogami-class frigate was expected to visit New Zealand soon.

"I can see them going either way,” Patalano said. "If cheaper is the overriding factor then the Type 31 might be the one they go for.”
 
 

Renowned Japanese novelist Koji Suzuki, whose seminal work "Ring" ignited a global fascination with Japanese horror, died from an illness at a Tokyo hospital on Friday, May 8, 2026. He was 68 years old.
 
Suzuki, a native of Hamamatsu City in Shizuoka Prefecture, rose to international prominence after his 1991 novel "Ring" became a bestseller. The story, centered on a cursed videotape that kills viewers after seven days, was adapted into a hit Japanese film in 1998 and a successful Hollywood remake in 2002.

His literary career began in 1990 with the fantasy novel “Rakuen”, also known as “Paradise”. This debut earbed him a superior prize at Japan Fantasy Novel Award, setting the stage for his subsequent success in the horror genre as reported by NHK and Nippon.com.

Beyond the "Ring" series, which included sequels "Rasen" (Spiral) and "Loop," Suzuki authored other notable horror titles such as "Honogurai Mizu no Soko kara," translated as "Dark Water."

His works received significant critical acclaim, including the Eiji Yoshikawa Literary Award for newcomers for "Rasen" and the Shirley Jackson Award in the United States for "Edge."

Other majors contributions to his bibliography include “Kamigami no Promenade” (Promenade oh the Gods) and “Ubiquitous”. The author remained active late into his life, publishing his most recent novel just last year according his publisher.
 

The fifth Japan Parade event to promote Japanese culture was held in Manhattan, New York, on Saturday.

About 100 organizations including companies, schools and groups of Japanese nationals from various prefectures took part in the event. Participants marched through the streets, performing dances, martial arts and taiko drumming.

Festival-style stalls were also set up, offering Japanese food. According to the organizer, about 50,000 people attended the event.

Defying heavy rain, participants in the parade delivered their performances, such as a board-breaking karate demonstration, drawing cheers from the crowd.

At the end of the parade were cast members from a stage adaptation of the popular manga and anime series "Jujutsu Kaisen."

A woman living in New York wearing Japanese anime merchandise said she was happy to see cast members because she loves anime.

Lines formed in front of stalls selling such items as yakitori (charbroiled chicken skewers) and taiyaki fish-shaped pancakes containing sweet bean paste.

A man who bought takoyaki (ball-shaped pancakes) containing pieces of octopus said it was his first time eating the popular Japanese dish and enjoyed it.

The New York Times included the city of Nagasaki in its "52 places to go" list for 2026. Nagasaki Prefecture featured local traditional female entertainers, known as geikoshi or geisha, in the Japan Parade event.

"We hope many tourists will visit regional cities," not just Tokyo or other big cities, said Yoshihiro Date, a cultural and tourism official of the prefecture.
 
 

Japan have been pitted against two-time reigning champions Qatar as well as Thailand and Indonesia in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup following Saturday's tournament draw in Riyadh.

Record four-time champions Japan begin the tournament in Saudi Arabia against Indonesia on Jan. 11 before facing Thailand on Jan. 16 and Qatar four days later, with the final set for Feb. 5.

Japan icon Hidetoshi Nakata appeared as an assistant during the draw, which saw 24 teams split into six groups of four. The top four third-placed teams will join the top two nations from each group in the round of 16.

The Samurai Blue are currently top among the Asian nations in the FIFA rankings at 18th. Their group rivals Qatar are 55th, Thailand 93rd and Indonesia 122nd.

Iran, 21st in the world, are in Group C with Syria, while 25th-ranked South Korea are in Group E with the United Arab Emirates.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering visiting South Korea later this month for talks with President Lee Jae Myung, diplomatic sources said Friday.

During her planned visit currently being arranged for two days from May 19, Takaichi is expected to discuss bilateral cooperation with South Korea in energy security amid disruptions of crude oil transportation following the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, according to the sources.

The Japanese and South Korean leaders are likely to meet in the southeastern city of Andong, Lee's hometown, and affirm collaboration in economic security, including strengthening critical mineral supply chains, the sources said.

The move would be part of a bilateral practice of leader-level reciprocal visits dubbed "shuttle diplomacy." Tokyo and Seoul have kept good relations in recent years after recovering from their lowest point in decades due to wartime history and territorial issues.

Takaichi, who took office in October, and Lee met in January in the western Japan city of Nara, the capital of her home prefecture, agreeing to continue the mutual visit practice and promote cooperation in various fields.

Reciprocal visits by leaders of the two countries started in 2004 but had stalled since 2011 in the face of disputes stemming from Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

The visits resumed in 2023 after progress in a row regarding compensation demands from South Koreans over wartime labor. Lee became president in June 2025 after his predecessor was impeached as his short-lived declaration of martial law sparked protests.

The two Asian neighbors have faced a common challenge of securing oil and petroleum products in the wake of the Middle East conflict since late February that has disrupted global energy supplies, as they heavily rely on crude oil imports from the region.

Japan and South Korea have also been bolstering their security cooperation bilaterally and trilaterally with their common ally, the United States, given North Korea's missile and nuclear programs and China's intensifying military activities in the Indo-Pacific region.
 
 

While concerts by Japanese singers at large venues in China have been canceled one after another since last November, small-scale events such as anime-themed gatherings have continued

Amid deteriorating Japan-China relations, events related to Japanese anime remain popular. The number of people, particularly young people, who are becoming familiar with Japanese culture is increasing, and it seems they are taking the government’s criticism of Japan in stride.

On May 1, as China’s May Day holidays began, a Pokémon-themed event was held in a park in central Shanghai, where families enjoyed taking photos in front of a model of the popular character Pikachu.

“I don’t worry about the deterioration of China-Japan relations,” said a 35-year-old IT company employee who visited the park with two family members. “I like what I like. Nothing can replace Pokémon.”

While concerts by Japanese singers at large venues in China have been canceled one after another since last November, small-scale events such as anime-themed gatherings have continued.

In Beijing, a shop and cafe selling merchandise related to the famous Japanese weekly manga anthology magazine Shonen Jump opened at the end of April and has been popular.

In mid-April, a pop-up store themed on the beloved Japanese children’s hero Anpanman opened in a Shanghai department store, drawing crowds of customers eager to buy character-shaped bread.

A 38-year-old software company employee said, “I hope relations between China and Japan get better soon.”
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Friday emphasized the importance of privacy protection during parliamentary discussions on a government bill to set up a national intelligence council aimed at enhancing the country's intelligence capabilities.

On medium- to long-term strategies for the government's intelligence activities, Takaichi told a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament, "We will consider measures to ensure that the government does not collect or provide information in ways that unnecessarily infringe on personal data or privacy."

 

The bill, which last month cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, entered deliberations in the Upper House, with the prime minister attending the plenary meeting in which the bill's purpose was explained and a question-and-answer session was held.

 

Takaichi also said that the bill would neither create new investigative powers to make it easier to collect information from people nor expand existing powers.

 

Elsewhere in the meeting, Makiko Dogomi, an Upper House lawmaker from the opposition Democratic Party for the People, underlined the importance of securing personnel with know-how on artificial intelligence and economic security at a national intelligence bureau that would serve as the council's secretariat.
 
 

A major defense equipment fair is underway in Istanbul, bringing together more than 1,700 firms from across the globe.

The five-day exhibition opened on Tuesday. Various defense technologies, including the latest in drones and defense systems, are being showcased.
Turkey's defense industry has experienced rapid growth as an exporter of drones.

The Japanese government last year reached an agreement with Turkey, a member of NATO, to enhance defense cooperation.

Against this backdrop, officials from the two nations exchanged notes of agreement confirming their commitment to expand cooperation in the field of defense equipment.

Both sides expect private-sector firms from the two countries to strengthen ties by jointly developing defense equipment, including drones.

Fukawa Hideki, councilor for Japan's Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency, said Turkey's defense equipment and defense industry have shown remarkable growth.

He added he believes that when the two sides share their expertise, they can create better equipment.