Someiyoshino cherry trees have begun to bloom in Tateyama at the southern tip of Chiba Prefecture, the city government announced Thursday.

The announcement comes five days earlier than last year.

In Shiroyama Park, 463 someiyoshino trees have been planted, providing a delightful view of Tateyama Castle on a hill dyed pink with cherry blossoms.

According to a park official, the cherry blossoms are expected to reach their peak in about a week.

Starting Friday night, the cherry trees will be illuminated, with bamboo lanterns to remain lit.
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump on Thursday after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi, who met with Trump at the White House, told the president that Japan has opposed Iran's development of its nuclear program and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.

She told the U.S. president that in the Middle East and around the world now, there was "a very severe security environment," but said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”

The two leaders had warm words for each other, including Trump calling the prime minister a “popular powerful woman," but there appeared to be some tension as they faced repeated questions from reporters about Japan's support for the Iran war.

Trump told reporters that he and Takaichi would be discussing in their meeting Japan’s level of support for the U.S. in the Iran war, saying, “They are really stepping up to the plate.” He did not offer details.

He later said that much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the Strait of Hormuz and said, “so that’s a big reason to step up. He also mentioned U.S. spending in Japan and the number of troops it has stationed there.
“I expect Japan to step up you know, because we have that kind of relationship,” Trump said.

Taikaichi’s meeting at the White House, followed by a dinner Thursday night, was supposed to give her a prime opportunity to have Trump’s ear before he embarked on a trip to China.

The pair were all smiles in the evening, as Trump hosted a dinner in the prime minister's office. “This is a spectacular woman, and it’s an honor to have you at the White House," Trump said. Taikaichi referred to the leaders through an interpreter as “best buddies" before declaring, in English, “Japan is back.”

But now, the war in Iran and Trump’s unsuccessful call for Japan and other nations to help protect the vital Strait of Hormuz means the China trip has been delayed. Trump had repeatedly complained on camera and online that U.S. allies, including Japan, rejected his request to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport.

The prime minister acknowledged before she left Japan that she expected her meeting with Trump will be “very difficult.”

Beyond facing questions about Iran, Takaichi and Trump are expected to announce a $40 billion nuclear reactor deal, according to a White House official, who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details before the announcement.

Under the deal, U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. will build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, the official said. The deal aims to help stabilize electricity prices and expand power generation in the U.S.

Takaichi and her ministers have denied that Washington officially requested Japanese warships for the U.S.-Israeli operation.

Japan, a key U.S. ally in Asia, is one of the countries that Trump namechecked on Tuesday as he railed against the lack of help with the Strait of Hormuz before declaring the help wasn’t needed.

Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration who is now chair of The Asia Group, said that in order to press for Japan’s interests, Takaichi will want to find a way to suggest that Japan is a part of the U.S. plan in the Middle East.

“She’s going to want to come out of that as a partner in this case and realize that if she can do that, that she can translate that potentially into the president listening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan or other issues,” Campbell said.

The constraints on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II constitution that bans the use of force except to defend its territory. The country’s military is called the Self-Defense Force.

Christopher Johnstone, a partner and chair of the defense and national security practice at The Asia Group, said Japan could help with mine-sweeping and has had “a small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade.

But to join the U.S. mission would require Takaichi to clear “an exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense” that has never been done before.

Takaichi, who had her first meeting with Trump in October in Tokyo, is Japan’s first female prime minister and a protégé of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a close relationship with Trump.

She is also a hardline conservative and longtime supporter of Taiwan whose comments about Japan’s willingness to provide military support to the island have heightened tensions with China.

Ahead of her meeting with Trump, Takaichi had sought to focus on trade, strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship and security concerns. Japanese officials said the two sides would work to deepen cooperation in regional security, critical minerals, energy and dealing with China.

China views self-governed Taiwan, which the U.S. relies on for its production of computer chips, as its sovereign territory and has said it would take it by force if needed.

But beyond questions about helping with the Strait of Hormuz, the global implications of the Iran war have also put the Japanese leader in a tougher spot with Trump as she seeks to ensure U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

Japan considers China a growing security threat and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. But the U.S. has shifted some troops stationed in Japan to the Middle East, removing a check against China’s power.

Takaichi is expected to raise concerns about troop shifts with Trump because they are coming at the same time China is launching a large number of exercises around Taiwan.

“This raises the prospect that — once again — the United States will be distracted and bogged down in the Middle East at a time when the deterrence problem in East Asia has never been greater,” Johnstone said.
 


 

 
Heisuke Hironaka, a professor emeritus at Kyoto University and a former Yamaguchi University president who won the Fields Medal in 1970, died on Wednesday. He was 94.

The Fields Medal is often referred to as the Nobel Prize for math.
Hironaka also nurtured younger generations and was involved in the creation of the Sansu Olympics, a math competition for children.

He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture in 1931. He graduated from Kyoto University’s science department in 1954 and went on to serve as a professor at Columbia and Harvard University as well as the head of Kyoto University’s Research Institute for Mathematical Sciences. From 1996 to 2002, he was president of Yamaguchi University.

Hironaka specialized in algebraic geometry. In 1970, when he was a Harvard University professor, he was awarded the Fields Medal for the resolution of singularities of an algebraic variety.

He authored many books, such as “Ikiru Koto Manabu Koto” (Living, studying) and “Gakumon no Hakken” (The discovery of study), and received the Order of Culture in 1975.

He worked in education as well, nurturing young talent, and served as honorary chair of the Sansu Olympics, which encourages children to compete in math and thinking skills.

He enjoyed a long friendship with world-famous conductor Seiji Ozawa, who died in February 2024 at the age of 88. They published a book together titled “Yawarakana Kokoro o Motsu” (Having a soft heart).

Hironaka’s wife, Wakako, 91, is a former member of the House of Councillors and once headed the Environment Agency (now the Environment Ministry).

The Fields Medal is awarded once every four years to young academics age 40 or younger. Three Japanese have won the medal. The other two are Kunihiko Kodaira, a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo who won the medal in 1954 and died in 1997, and Shigefumi Mori, 75, the director-general of the Kyoto University Institute for Advanced Study and one of the medal recipients in 1990.

When Mori was a junior at Kyoto University, he heard a lecture by Hironaka, who was visiting from the United States, Mori said.

Hironaka “struck off some splendid diagrams and explained them to us, and I clearly remember it solved my questions instantly,” Mori recalled. “That lecture really drove me to pursue algebraic geometry.”
 
 

The number of stalking cases handled by police in Japan in 2025 hit the highest level since the antistalking law took effect in 2000, National Police Agency data showed Thursday.

The figure rose by 205 from the previous year to 1,546. Other violations linked to stalking, such as illegal entry into homes, also jumped 428 to 2,171. The number of restraining orders to stop stalking and similar acts topped 3,000 for the first time.

Last year, police received 22,881 cases of consultation requests on stalking from victims and others, up by 3,314.

The number of restraining orders issued grew 622 to 3,037. Of them, about 60 pct were emergency orders, which are given without holding hearings of perpetrators. Police handled 244 violations of the orders.

Warnings issued by police to stalkers increased by 98 to 1,577. The figure rose for the first time in five years, although it had been falling back from a spike after the country switched to allowing police to issue an emergency order before a warning.
 
 

Both countries will enhance cooperation in trade, digitalisation and technology, defence, green transition and energy, as well as other people exchanges.

Singapore and Japan announced on Wednesday (Mar 18) the upgrading of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership, with expanded cooperation across five areas.

The upgrade in ties was announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Mr Wong is making his first visit to Japan as prime minister. He met Ms Takaichi during the visit and she hosted him to a working dinner.

Welcoming Mr Wong, Ms Takaichi expressed hopes that both countries' ties will deepen through diverse exchanges and programmes this year. 

"Our two nations, as like-minded countries, have together defended and promoted rules-based free and open international order and free trade. Japan and Singapore are firmly united as nations that can place confidence in each other," she said. 

Mr Wong said that Japan has been a reliable and valuable partner for Singapore throughout the past 60 years. 

"Today, our relationship has matured, and we have become partners with similar strategic outlooks and complementary strengths, and our cooperation is multifaceted, substantial and mutually beneficial," he added. 

"There is a strategic imperative to deepen our cooperation further, especially as we face profound changes in the world today, with more uncertainty, fragmentation and disruption. 

"Both Japan and Singapore share similar strategic principles and views of the world. And as like-minded partners, I believe we can work together to uphold a multilateral, rules-based system and an open and inclusive regional architecture."

In a statement, Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said the two leaders affirmed the partnership between Singapore and Japan on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"They welcomed robust bilateral economic ties, noting that Singapore and Japan are each other’s top investors," added MFA. 

"They agreed to deepen cooperation in areas such as the green and digital economies, as well as supply chain and economic resilience. 

"This will help both countries better navigate the uncertain geopolitical environment, and deliver benefits for our peoples and businesses."

Both prime ministers agreed on the importance of working together to uphold free and open trade, the rules-based international order and the open regional architecture with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at its centre.

"As the country coordinator for ASEAN-Japan relations, Prime Minister Wong committed to work closely with Japan to implement the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," said MFA. 

"This includes deepening economic integration and collaborating on digital and green initiatives, such as the ASEAN Power Grid. The prime ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the situation in the Middle East."

The ministry said the Strategic Partnership provides a framework to "deepen and expand bilateral cooperation in existing and forward-looking areas, which can serve as pathfinders for broader regional and international cooperation".

Mr Wong also had separate meetings with former Japanese prime ministers Shigeru Ishiba, Fumio Kishida and Taro Aso.

"He thanked them for their contributions to strengthening bilateral cooperation and deepening Japan’s engagement with the region. They also discussed regional and international affairs," said MFA.



STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP

A joint statement from both countries laid out the details of the Strategic Partnership.

This partnership will deepen the foundations of the relationship and expand cooperation in several areas, including:

1. Promotion of free trade and economic cooperation
2. Digitalisation and technology 
3. Security and defence 
4. Green transition and energy cooperation
5. Partnerships and exchanges

The foreign ministers of both countries will oversee the progress in implementing the Strategic Partnership. It will be regularly reviewed to ensure that the bilateral cooperation remains relevant and future-ready, said the joint statement.

Both countries acknowledged that as a trusted partner of ASEAN, Japan has been contributing to the region's peace, stability, prosperity and integrity through its engagement.

This includes its support for ASEAN Centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). 

"We share the mutual understanding that the AOIP and the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) share fundamental principles, and the promotion and implementation of the AOIP will also contribute to promoting an international order based on the rule of law and a rules-based Indo-Pacific that is free and open," said the two countries. 

"In this regard, we welcome the adoption of the Joint Statement of the 28th ASEAN-Japan Summit on Further Promotion and Implementation of the AOIP, which affirms the synergy between the AOIP and the FOIP, and reaffirm our commitment to promote and implement concrete AOIP projects and activities that contribute to fundamental principles shared by the AOIP and the FOIP."



FREE TRADE, ECONOMIC COOPERATION

In the joint statement, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to open and free trade, economic resilience and mutual prosperity. 

Enterprise Singapore and the Japan External Trade Organisation will renew a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to enhance the facilitation of trade and investment flows.

Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) and Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will renew an MOC to spur agri-food trade.

"We reaffirm our commitment to free and open trade, economic resilience, and mutual prosperity. The Japan-Singapore Economic Partnership Agreement is the cornerstone of our substantive and dynamic economic relationship," said the two countries.

"This is complemented by the Japan-Singapore Economic Dialogue as a high-level platform to discuss enhancing cooperation in priority areas."



DIGITALISATION AND TECH

Both countries will establish an information and communication technology policy dialogue between Singapore's Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications to explore cooperation in the digital fields, including the digital infrastructure development.

They will strengthen collaboration on artificial intelligence to support a safe, secure, and trustworthy ecosystem, including in areas such as AI governance and models.

The countries will also promote research cooperation in cutting-edge fields such as AI, quantum technologies, and future communications. This will be pursued through international joint research, researcher and talent exchanges, among other programmes. 

An MOC on Quantum Science, Technology and Innovation was signed between MDDI and Japan’s Cabinet Office in January to deepen collaboration across eight key areas, including quantum research and innovation dialogue, academia-private sector interactions, education and talent exchange, and security policy dialogue.

An MOC between Singapore's Cyber Security Agency (CSA) and Japan's National Cybersecurity Office will be renewed to facilitate cybersecurity cooperation in areas such as industry and academic collaboration, capacity building and operational exchanges. 

Singapore's Personal Data Protection Commission and Japan’s Personal Information Protection Commission will agree to sign an MOC in 2026 to facilitate cooperation on the protection of personal information.

The National Space Agency of Singapore and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will agree to sign an MOC this year to formalise bilateral space cooperation.

On Wednesday, both countries signed an MOC to mutually recognise cybersecurity labelling schemes for smart devices.

Under the arrangement, smart devices that obtain cybersecurity labels under Japan’s JC-STAR scheme or Singapore’s Cybersecurity Labelling Scheme (CLS) will be recognised in both countries. 

Manufacturers will be able to apply for the other country’s label through a streamlined process.

The arrangement will take effect from Jun 1. It will cover smart devices such as smart home assistants, home automation, and alarm systems and hubs that connect multiple devices.

Japan is the fifth nation to establish such an arrangement with Singapore, after Finland, Germany, South Korea and the United Kingdom.



SECURITY AND DEFENCE
 
The joint statement said that both countries have a shared interest in regional peace and stability, while acknowledging an increasingly challenging security environment and the vital importance of open sea lanes to both countries.

They intend to strengthen cooperation by facilitating high-level exchanges between defence authorities, including a regular ministerial meeting at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

The two will deepen collaboration between operational authorities, including through bilateral and multilateral exercises.

They will enhance defence equipment and technology cooperation through professional exchanges in defence industry and technology, as well as by fostering innovation through startup collaboration.

Exchanges between law enforcement agencies will be enhanced, alongside efforts to combat transnational crime such as online scams.
Exchanges between agencies to address disaster management will also be stepped up. 

Both sides will deepen cooperation on arms control and disarmament efforts, including in the context of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons review cycle.



ENERGY

On energy, both sides signed a framework on Sunday to strengthen collaboration in areas such as cross-border electricity imports, low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia, carbon capture, utilisation and storage, civil nuclear energy, liquefied natural gas, advanced grid system enablers and offshore wind.

"We will strengthen cooperation to facilitate our transition into a green economy, including through platforms such as the Asia Zero Emission Community," the joint statement said. 

An MOC on environmental matters will be renewed between MSE and Japan’s Ministry of Environment to enhance cooperation in areas, including environmental protection, management, and sustainable development.

The countries intend to strengthen collaboration on decarbonisation and digitalisation of shipping based on the MOC on Green and Digital Shipping Corridor between Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and Singapore’s Ministry of Transport.

Another MOC between MSE and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will be expanded to deepen cooperation in climate science and climate adaptation.


PARTNERSHIPS AND EXCHANGES

"We recognise that mutual trust and understanding must be sustained through increasing and regular engagements at all levels, including through institutional, social, arts and culture, youth, and academic exchanges," both countries said in the joint statement.

Singapore and Japan will continue the annual dialogue between the foreign ministries to take stock of relations and enhance cooperation.

They will foster mutual understanding between officials under a programme where Japanese senior officials visit Singapore at the invitation of MFA.
Japan's National Personnel Authority and Singapore's Public Service Division will enhance civil service exchanges.

Opportunities for youth exchanges will also be expanded, as will bilateral cooperation in education.

Exchanges in arts and culture through exhibitions, performances and joint programmes will be promoted.

The two countries said they would enhance cooperation to further expand mutual travel and deepen collaboration in civil aviation.
 
 

The Japanese Association for Acute Medicine and three other academic societies in the country have proposed new guidelines for determining when to end life-sustaining treatment for patients, inviting public comments until March 27.

The current guidelines, established in 2014 by the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Circulation Society, define the "end of life" at emergency and treatment sites.

They state that life-sustaining treatment can be concluded based on the patient's intentions and appropriate medical judgment.

Since the establishment of the current guidelines, advances in medical technology have enabled the support of seriously ill patients. But there have been instances where this support does not align with patients' preferences.

Consequently, the Japan Society for Palliative Medicine has joined the effort to revise the guidelines.

The proposed guidelines do not define the end of life but focus on procedures for deciding whether to continue treatment after discussions with patients and their families. They state that medical teams, including nurses, should make decisions after careful consideration of the patient's will and prior intentions.

The new recommendations also highlight the importance of continued care, such as pain relief for patients and support for their families, after treatment concludes. They call for minimizing examinations and refraining from cardiopulmonary resuscitation in cases of cardiac arrest.

Patients with intractable diseases have expressed concerns about the proposed guidelines, saying that treatment may be discontinued for the convenience of hospitals and families.

"I feel a strong sense of crisis because they promote the choice to die rather than the choice to live," Hitomi Sakai, a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, said at a news conference on March 6.
 
 

Japan's national team secured qualification for the Women's Basketball World Cup in Germany for the fifth straight tournament with an 83-39 win over Argentina on Tuesday.

At a qualifying tournament in Istanbul, Japan finished fourth in the six-team pool with a 2-3 record but advanced as Australia, which had already secured a berth by winning the Women's Continental Cup, did not count toward qualification.

There are four six-team qualifying tournaments in China, France, Puerto Rico and Turkey, from which 16 teams advance to the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in September.
 

 

A panel of experts established by the Foreign Ministry launched discussions on Monday on how better the country's overseas development assistance (ODA) should be provided to meet its strategic needs.

The panel of 10 specialists on areas including development policy will discuss ways to strengthen the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), an organization that oversees the country's official development assistance.

"The strategic importance of ODA in foreign policy is growing even more," Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at the panel's first meeting.

JICA "needs to be strengthened to address new areas of importance and challenges, including economic security," he said.

The panel will meet roughly once a month, aiming to compile suggestions by summer. The proposals are expected to be reflected in JICA's medium-term plan beginning in fiscal 2027.
 

 

An overwhelming 82 percent of Japanese voters do not support the U.S. attack against Iran, and more than half want Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to express her stance on the war, a survey showed.

Only 9 percent of respondents back the Israeli-U.S. action, according to the nationwide telephone poll conducted by The Asahi Shimbun on March 14-15.

The findings show a significantly harsher public reaction compared to a survey in March 2003, immediately after the U.S.-led attack on Iraq.

In that earlier survey, 59 percent of Japanese voters opposed the U.S. action while 31 percent supported it.

International criticism has risen about the airstrikes against Iran, and countries like Spain have stated that the war violates international law.

However, Takaichi has avoided specifying her view, saying, “I will refrain from making a legal assessment.”

Fifty-one percent of respondents said they disapprove of her reluctance, surpassing the 34 percent who approve.

Although a majority of Liberal Democratic Party supporters (53 percent) approved Takaichi’s cautious stance, only 22 percent of unaffiliated voters agreed with her move.


DEEP ECONOMIC ANXIETY

The Middle East conflict has fueled deep economic fears in Japan.
Fifty-three percent feel “greatly anxious” and 37 percent are “somewhat anxious” about the impact on Japan’s economy, for a combined 90 percent, according to the survey.

Only 10 percent feel little to no anxiety.

Economic concerns were highest among those in their 60s (66 percent) and nonregular employees (65 percent), while they were lowest among 18- to 29-year-olds (35 percent).

Regarding Takaichi’s measures against rising prices, 43 percent of respondents voiced disapproval, compared with 38 percent who expressed approval.

This marks the second consecutive survey in which disapproval has outpaced approval, although the disapproval figure fell slightly from 47 percent in January.

On March 11, Takaichi announced plans to release oil from the national stockpile and use subsidies to curb gasoline prices.


CABINET SUPPORT RESILIENT

Despite the economic anxiety, the approval rating for the Takaichi Cabinet was 61 percent, nearly unchanged from 63 percent in February and remaining in the 60s since the Cabinet’s formation last October.

The Cabinet’s strong support rating persists even as 51 percent of voters disapprove of the ruling parties’ decision to significantly shorten Diet debate to pass the budget bill for the new fiscal year in March.
Only 34 percent approve of the move.

Among those who object to the ruling coalition’s handling of Diet affairs, 44 percent disapproved of the Cabinet, well above the overall disapproval rating of 26 percent.

But among those who support the Diet management, the Cabinet’s approval rating soared to 87 percent.

The survey also touched on Takaichi’s distribution of catalog gifts worth 30,000 yen ($188) each to 315 LDP members elected in the February Lower House election.

Fifty-five percent of voters said it was problematic, with 28 percent calling it a “major problem” and 27 percent saying it was “somewhat of a problem.”
Forty-three percent saw it as a minor or no problem.

In a similar incident a year ago, 75 percent of survey respondents said then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s distribution of 100,000-yen gift certificates to new LDP lawmakers through his office was “problematic.”


LINGERING CHURCH DOUBTS

The survey also raised the Tokyo High Court’s decision in March to uphold a dissolution order against the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, formerly known as the Unification Church.

Sixty-one percent of respondents believe that LDP lawmakers “cannot sever ties” with the church, compared with 25 percent who believe they can.

Although skepticism remains high, it is lower than in summer 2022, when the church-politics issue re-emerged and around 80 percent of voters said ties could not be cut.

The survey was conducted using the Random Digit Dialing method. Valid responses were obtained from 1,166 eligible voters. Results were adjusted to reflect national demographics.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that her government is considering what to do to ensure the safety of Japan-related ships amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.

"The Japanese government is currently considering how to take necessary measures," she told the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament.

Asked about U.S. President Donald Trump's call for ship escorts in the Strait of Hormuz, Takaichi said, "It's difficult to answer hypothetically because we have not been asked for that yet."

She said that issuing a maritime security order based on the Self-Defense Forces law to escort ships would be "legally difficult."

The prime minister declined to comment on the legal assessment of U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, saying, "We are not in a position to know the detailed facts in full."
 

 

Indonesia and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in two strategic areas, namely critical minerals and nuclear energy, on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial and Business Forum (IPEM) in Tokyo on Sunday.

Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister Bahlil Lahadalia stated that the partnership aims to build a more integrated and sustainable energy system.

He noted that Indonesia remains open to collaboration in managing critical minerals, as the country possesses the world’s largest nickel reserves as well as substantial deposits of bauxite, tin, copper, and rare earth elements.

"We are delighted to invite the Japanese government and our Japanese business aid to jointly manage our critical minerals in Indonesia," he remarked in a statement on Sunday.

On the same occasion, Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), Ryosei Akazawa, emphasized the importance of collaboration between countries to address global uncertainty and maintain energy security and supply sustainability.

"Amidst the current global crisis, it is crucial for us to strengthen cooperation to maintain energy security. Japan itself has prepared strategic energy reserves as a precautionary measure," he said.

He then highlighted Japan's continued commitment to supporting various energy cooperation projects with Indonesia, including the completion of the Legok Nangka Waste-to-Energy Power Plant (PLTSa) as part of the two countries' strategic partnership.

Meanwhile, the ESDM Ministry said cooperation in the critical minerals sector will focus on strengthening the global supply chain to improve its reliability and long-term stability, while nuclear energy cooperation will center on developing low-carbon technologies with high safety standards.

The two countries will continue discussions on strengthening regional energy security, including cooperation in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal supply chains, as well as accelerating energy transition projects under the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) framework, such as the operation of the Sarulla geothermal power plant (PLTP) and the completion of the Legok Nangka PLTSa.

This cooperation is expected to strengthen energy security and support decarbonization efforts in the Indo-Pacific region.
 

Parliamentary deliberations on a bill to establish a national intelligence council in Japan may be tough as the opposition side is worried that activities of the new entity could lead to human rights violations.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara brushed aside concerns at a press conference Friday, saying that the envisaged council is not intended to enhance surveillance activities.

"We will provide careful explanations so as not to cause concerns," the top government spokesman said.

The government submitted a bill to establish the national intelligence council to the Diet, Japan's parliament, on Friday.

The council would be for strengthening Japan's intelligence capability, which is said to be insufficient, as the government believes that the current security environment surrounding the country is the most severe and complex since the end of World War II.

The planned launch of the national intelligence council is based on the coalition agreement between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, headed by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, and its partner, the Japan Innovation Party.

The LDP-JIP agreement calls for the promotion of "intelligence reform."
 
 

The Japan Coast Guard announced at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday that what appeared to be a ballistic missile was launched from North Korea, citing defense ministry information.

Defense ministry officials say it apparently fell in waters outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

The Japanese government has convened an emergency response team consisting of officials from relevant ministries and agencies at the crisis management center in the prime minister's office.

The team is collecting information and confirming if there is any damage.



South believes North fired more than 10 missiles

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says it believes the North fired more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles.

It says they were launched from near Sunan, close to the capital Pyongyang, toward the Sea of Japan at about 1:20 p.m.

The South Korean military says it is closely sharing information with Japan and the US, while stepping up monitoring and vigilance and maintaining full readiness.
 
 

Minister-level finance officials of Japan and South Korea held a meeting in Tokyo on Saturday, sharing concern over the rapid depreciation of the two countries' currencies.

A joint statement adopted at the meeting expressed "serious concern over the recent sharp depreciation of the Korean won and the Japanese yen."

 

Participants "reaffirmed that they will closely monitor foreign exchange markets and continue to take appropriate actions against excessive volatility and disorderly movements in exchange rates," the document also said.

From Japan, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and other officials attended the gathering. South Korea was represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy Koo Yun-cheol.

 

The attendees also confirmed the importance of close cooperation to ensure stable energy supply amid growing tensions in the Middle East, such as Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transportation waterway.
 
 

Coach Nils Nielsen said Saturday that Japan has the tools to take apart the Philippines in their Women's Asian Cup quarterfinal as the ominous two-time champion bids to keep a fourth straight clean sheet.

The highest-ranked team in the competition and the only Asian side to win the World Cup, Japan has been clinical so far with three wins from three games in the group phase.

Nadeshiko Japan have blasted a tournament-high 17 goals while conceding none, with the Philippines facing a daunting task in Sydney on Sunday.

"The Philippines are a very hard-working, disciplined and interesting side to watch, and it's going to be a challenge for us," said Greenland's Nielsen, the first foreign-born coach of the Japanese women's team.

"But I feel we have the tools to counter the challenges we face.
"We are preparing for all kinds of scenarios so that we can adapt quickly to whatever happens during the game, especially if things don't go our way."

For the Philippines' Australian coach Mark Torcaso, reaching the final eight is an achievement in itself.

He acknowledged the job in front of his side, but said the Philippines was playing for national pride.

"Given it's Japan, I know our chances will be limited so we must take full advantage of whatever opportunities we get and be disciplined in our game," he said.

"This is not just about reaching the quarterfinals.
"It is about carrying out our responsibility to showcase our quality so that every young girl in the Philippines will dream of playing for the national team."

The winner will bank automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil and lineup a semifinal against either South Korea or Uzbekistan.
 
 

 
Japan will inform the U.S. next week that it intends to join the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative and expects that ​Washington may seek its help with missile production due to the Middle ‌East war and other conflicts, two sources said.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will announce the latest plan when she meets U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington D.C. at a leaders' summit on March 19, the Japanese government ​sources said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Trump's Golden Dome ​project, announced last year with an ambitious 2028 timeline, envisions expanding existing ⁠ground‑based defenses such as interceptor missiles with more experimental space‑based elements, meant to detect, ​track and potentially counter incoming threats from orbit.

But the project has made little visible progress so ​far. Details of how Japan will participate also remain unclear.

The Yomiuri newspaper, which first reported Japan's plans on Friday, said Tokyo hoped the initiative could be used to defend the country against new ​hypersonic glide weapons being developed by China and Russia.

Tokyo anticipates that Trump may request ​Japan to produce or co-develop missiles that could help replace stocks of U.S. munitions depleted by the ‌U.S.-Israeli ⁠war on Iran, as well as its support for Ukraine, the sources said. It is still considering how to respond to any such request, they added.

Japan exported a batch of surface-to-air Patriot missiles built under license to the United States late last year, marking a ​historic break from its ​long-standing ban on ⁠lethal weapons exports.

The Trump administration is pushing defense contractors to step up production of missiles and other munitions that have been drawn down ​in recent years. Tokyo is seeking to bolster its own munitions reserves ​to deter ⁠an increasingly assertive China and nuclear-armed North Korea.

Patriot interceptors have been critical in intercepting hundreds of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones fired at Gulf countries since the U.S. and Israel ⁠launched their ​air war against Iran earlier this month.

Ukraine has also ​relied on Patriots to defend its energy and military infrastructure since Russia invaded it in 2022.
 
 

Two senior public servants recalled challenges for female workers from their own experiences, nearly 40 years after Japan enforced the law on equal opportunity and treatment between men and women in employment in April 1986.

Tokyo Vice Governor Akiko Matsumoto, 60, and Riwa Sakamoto, 53, director-general of the Business Environment Department of the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency, looked back at their struggles balancing work and child care, saying that younger generations should have fun both in working and having families.

Matsumoto joined the Tokyo metropolitan government in 1989. Although the equal opportunity law had taken effect three years before, the law at that time merely stipulated an obligation for employers to make efforts to treat men and women equally in employment and promotion.

It was not until a revision in 1999 that discrimination against women was clearly prohibited under the law.

Matsumoto felt the gap between men and women when she was looking for a job, she says. At that time, job-seeking students would receive thick job information books and send postcards to companies they wanted to work for, in order to ask for more details.
 

 

Indonesia and Australia are in talks to expand their security cooperation to incorporate Japan after the close neighbors struck a landmark treaty on increased consultations against threats, a senior official said on Thursday.

The Jakarta Treaty was the centerpiece of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Indonesia in early February. The pact has opened up the possibility for Canberra and Jakarta to coordinate joint responses if either is attacked.

"There was the idea of creating an Indonesia, Australia, Japan trilateral [arrangement] that puts more emphasis on defense and professionalism,” Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsjoeddin told the press after hosting a meeting with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Jakarta.

Sjafrie offered few details on the Japan cooperation. The minister admitted that Jakarta was open to having joint military exercises with the two G20 nations, while saying it’s normal for countries to engage in such drills.

 He confirmed that he would discuss this in more depth with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, who is slated to visit Jakarta in May. 

Jakarta’s engagements in the defense field with Japan mainly revolve around Tokyo donating patrol boats, among others. 

The Sjafrie-Marles talks laser in on turning Maluku’s northernmost island, Morotai, into an international training facility. The Allied Forces turned Morotai into their base in their fight against the Japanese military during World War II.

According to Sjafrie, this training ground will be open for other foreign air and naval forces, including Japan.

Sjafrie also claimed to have floated an "intelligence sharing" plan to Marles in response to the global developments.
 
 

 
A giant pipe has emerged about 13 meters above a road in a busy district of central Osaka, western Japan. The city is investigating the cause of the incident, and restoration work is underway.

Osaka City officials said an iron pipe measuring 3.5 meters in diameter was discovered protruding from the road shortly before 7 a.m. on Wednesday.

Thirteen meters of the 30-meter-long pipe had been pushed vertically out of the ground beneath the elevated Shin-Midosuji highway in the city's Kita Ward.

No injuries were reported.

Officials said the pipe was part of an underground conduit being prepared to store rainwater. On Tuesday, workers reportedly removed groundwater that had accumulated in the pipe.

The officials said they do not know whether this operation played a role in the pipe's emergence.

They are investigating the cause of the incident. Workers are injecting water into the pipe to push it back underground.

Officials say that there is a risk of the pipe rising further and reaching the elevated highway above. The Shin-Midosuji highway has therefore been closed since Wednesday morning. As a result, heavy traffic congestion has occurred around the busy Umeda district.

City officials say they do not know when the road closure can be lifted.
The head of the city's sewage department, Miyazaki Hiroaki, offered a deep apology for causing significant inconvenience to many residents.
 
 

The Japanese government on Tuesday designated a total of 61 goods and technologies for priority investment by the public and private sectors, as part of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's efforts to realize a strong economy, Jiji Press reports. 

The designations were approved at a meeting of the Japan Growth Strategy Council, chaired by Takaichi.

We will find possible pathways for Japan to win, Takaichi said at the meeting, instructing her ministers to hammer out specific aid measures and investment amounts.

The 61 goods and technologies were selected from 17 areas, including artificial intelligence and semiconductors.

The government presented a draft investment roadmap for 27 of the designated goods and technologies, including AI robots, semiconductors, small drones, land-based aquaculture, gaming and next-generation ships.

Earlier, it was reported Japan's economy expanded an annualized real 1.3 percent in the October-December quarter, upgraded from an initially reported increase of 0.2 percent, driven up by stronger business investment and private spending. 
 
 

Japan is planning to sharply raise the legal cap on immigration-related residence fees for foreign nationals — the biggest revision of its kind in more than four decades.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to amend immigration law to hike the statutory upper limit for fees to change the status of residence or extend the period of stay to ¥100,000 from ¥10,000, while raising the ceiling for permanent residence applications to ¥300,000, 30 times the current ¥10,000.

The proposed increase marks the first major revision to the statutory ceiling since 1982. While fees had been raised several times within that ceiling, this will be the first increase to the cap, itself.

On April 1 of last year, the fee for the change of status and extension of stay rose from ¥4,000 to ¥6,000, and the permanent residence fee rose from ¥8,000 to ¥10,000.

Agency officials have declined to offer specific figures under the new ceiling but said factors such as period of stay will be considered in deciding fees.

At a briefing Monday, an Immigration Services Agency official told reporters that the government had, so far, managed within the existing cap by calculating fees largely on the basis of administrative costs such as personnel expenses tied to residence examinations.

But with the number of foreign residents surging, even those costs have become harder to cover within the current ceiling. Japan’s foreign resident population stood at a record 4.13 million as of the end of 2025, officials disclosed during the briefing.

The immigration official said the government is factoring in not only administrative costs for residence examinations, but also broader expenses tied to immigration and residence management, including digitalization, My Number-linked data-sharing and services aimed at helping foreign nationals live in Japan.

The agency said the new framework would also allow fee reductions or exemptions for people requiring special humanitarian consideration who cannot pay because of severe economic hardship, such as trafficking victims or others unable to return home.

When asked how the new fees were being calculated, the official said the government was broadly working from the cost of foreign-resident-related measures on a per-foreign-resident basis, while also factoring in periods of stay and fee levels in other countries.

The government is aiming to implement the fee provisions sometime before the end of the next fiscal year on March 31, 2027.

At a news conference Tuesday morning, Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said the measures are intended to ensure that foreign nationals “bear an appropriate amount of the costs” related to their arrival and residency.

“This will help promote an orderly coexistence with foreign nationals,” he told reporters.

The bill also includes plans to introduce Japan’s version of an electronic travel authorization system, known as JESTA, by March 31, 2029.

The system would require visa-exempt short-term visitors, certain cruise passengers and some transit passengers to obtain advance authorization before traveling to Japan.

The agency said the measure is aimed at preventing overstayers and other problematic entrants from reaching Japan in the first place, while also easing congestion at airports and ports.

Of the roughly 38.05 million short-term foreign arrivals to Japan in 2025, approximately 80% were visa-exempt travelers, according to the agency.

Under the new system, airlines and ship operators would be required to send passenger information in advance and would be barred from allowing travelers to board for Japan if authorities determine they should not be permitted entry.

The agency also plans to introduce walk-through gates at major airports so travelers who have received authorization and satisfy landing requirements can complete immigration procedures more smoothly.
 
 

Elderly people are getting exercise by disco dancing with a class in the central Japanese prefecture of Toyama.

Some 110 elderly people took part in the lesson organized by a federation of senior citizens' clubs in Uozu City.

Participants learned the steps and how to move their bodies, and were soon dancing to the rhythm of disco hits from the 1970s. The venue was filled with as much excitement as a disco dance floor. The participants raised their hands vigorously in a sign of enjoyment.

Members of a local high school dance club were there too to show off their moves.

A woman in her 70s said she's enjoying it as if she were back in her youth.
Another woman in her 80s said she sweat a lot, but it's wonderful to be able to dance with kids young enough to be her great-grandchildren.
 
 

The Japanese government adopted at a cabinet meeting Tuesday a bill designed to eliminate areas underserved by transportation services such as buses and taxis.

The bill to revise the law on local public transportation systems calls on municipalities to provide financial support and simplify procedures for passenger service providers that share vehicles and drivers in these areas.

The government assumes that school buses or shuttle vehicles for day care services can be used to jointly offer rides to citizens for a fee during their idle times.

According to the transport ministry, there were about 2,000 areas lacking transportation nationwide as of April 2025. The ministry aims to promote countermeasures during an intensive period through the end of fiscal 2027.

The law currently supports efforts to address a lack of transportation services in some areas, such as shared taxi services and ride-hailing services, in which private drivers transport passengers for a fee using their personal vehicles.
 
 

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the immigration control law to establish an online pre-entry screening system for overseas arrivals and significantly increase residence status application fees for foreigners.

The Cabinet-endorsed bill will be submitted to the current Diet session, and if enacted, the government aims to implement the entry eligibility screening system called the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization, or JESTA, in fiscal 2028.

The amendment includes raising the upper limit for visa application and renewal fees from 10,000 yen ($63) to 300,000 yen, marking the first increase since 1982.

The introduction of JESTA aims to prevent terrorism and illegal employment, according to the Immigration Services Agency. It would target the current 74 countries and regions whose citizens are exempt from obtaining short-stay visas.

Several days before traveling to Japan, applicants would be required to provide information online, including their name, the purpose of their stay, and the locations they intend to visit. Those suspected of traveling for illegal employment or other violations would be denied boarding on aircraft and ships.

Fees are currently set at 10,000 yen for application for permanent residency and 6,000 yen for residence period renewals.

It has been pointed out that these fees, which cover only actual costs and are also allocated to coexistence measures, are significantly lower than those in Western countries.

The number of foreign residents in Japan at the end of 2025 stood at approximately 4.13 million, a record high.

The government would aim to use the increased cap to cover system costs for efficient visa screening and the establishment of consultation services.

The amendment sets the cap at 300,000 yen for permanent residency applications and 100,000 yen for visa extensions and similar procedures.

The limits have been set in anticipation of future inflation. Going forward, the specific amounts for each fee would be determined by government ordinance with the aim of applying them within fiscal 2026.

According to sources, the permanent residency application fee is being considered at around 200,000 yen, while other fees would range from 10,000 yen to 70,000 yen depending on the intended period of stay.

A reduction and exemption system will also be introduced for cases that require humanitarian consideration, where payment is difficult due to financial circumstances.
 


 

 
The Japanese government is considering eliminating face-to-face immigration checks for most foreign tourists as part of efforts to simplify entry procedures and manage the growing number of international visitors, Qazinform News Agency cites Kyodo.

According to the Immigration Services Agency, the proposed system would rely on traveler information submitted through an online pre-screening platform known as the Japan Electronic System for Travel Authorization (JESTA), which is expected to be launched in fiscal year 2028.

Officials say removing in-person immigration checks to ease airport congestion would be an uncommon practice globally. To introduce the system, the government plans to amend the immigration control law through a bill that is expected to be submitted during the current session of the Diet.

The new system would apply to travelers from countries and regions that are currently exempt from short-term visas. At present, citizens from 74 countries and territories fall under this category.

Japan welcomed a record 42.7 million foreign visitors in 2025 and aims to increase that figure to 60 million by 2030.

Under the JESTA system, travelers will be required to submit details about their trip online before departure. Immigration authorities will review the information and decide whether to approve entry. Travelers suspected of planning to overstay their visas may be denied boarding before departure.
At several Japanese airports, visitors are already using a digital system called the Integrated Kiosk, which collects fingerprints and photographs while processing both immigration and customs procedures.

If no issues are detected - such as a previous record of overstaying - a traveler would be able to pass through an automated gate and enter the country. Immigration officers will remain stationed nearby and may conduct face-to-face checks if suspicious activity is observed.

The Integrated Kiosk system is currently operating at Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Fukuoka airports, and authorities plan to expand it to additional airports in the future.

Earlier, it was reported cities in western Japan raise tourism-linked fees to deal with overtourism. 
 

 

Momoka Muraoka won the silver medal in the women's alpine skiing super-G sitting event at the Milan-Cortina Paralympics on Monday, bringing Japan its first medal of the ongoing games.

Despite failing to win back-to-back gold medals in the event, Muraoka secured a podium finish for the third consecutive Winter Paralympics.

 

Her cumulative Winter Games medal tally rose to 10, matching Kuniko Obinata's Japanese record.

 

"I wasn't able to give it my all, but I'm relieved to have won a medal," Muraoka said.

 
 

 

As the Iran war expands across the Middle East, Japan has been accelerating efforts to evacuate its citizens — a response that underscores both Tokyo’s growing security role overseas and the diplomatic balancing act between Washington and Gulf states hosting Japanese nationals.

Late Sunday, 107 Japanese nationals arrived in Narita International Airport on a government-chartered aircraft as part of the ongoing evacuation effort from the Middle East. Tokyo has facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of Japanese nationals since the outbreak of hostilities in the region on Feb. 28, including 208 people who were evacuated from Doha to Riyadh by land for an arrival in Japan on Tuesday.

The effort demonstrated unprecedented speed and interagency coordination of government assets for the evacuation effort, while signaling Tokyo’s priority of protecting its citizens abroad amid the Iran conflict.

In contrast, for example, during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal in Afghanistan the Japanese government took eight days to authorize the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch aircraft for the evacuation of Japanese nationals. SDF aircraft did not arrive in the region until 10 days after the fall of Kabul.

Over the past week, Iranian counter strikes have hitmore than a dozen regional countries, including airports and other infrastructure in places like the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. This has left many travelers stranded and seeking alternative options for leaving as the governments in Washington, Tel Aviv and Tehran have signaled their intent to continue military operations.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced the completion of the most recent evacuation on social media, stating, “As the Government of Japan, we will continue to take every possible measure to protect Japanese nationals across the entire region, including countries around Iran.”

This includes the government’s decision to dispatch SDF aircraft in preparation for additional evacuations. On Sunday, the Defense Ministry announced that one of its aerial refueling and transport aircraft departed from Komaki Air Base and stopped over in the Maldives en route to the region.

The ministry did not disclose where the aircraft would be staging next, although the SDF base at Camp Lemmonier in Djibouti remains a possible option.
 

 

Taiwan’s premier visited Japan on Saturday for the island’s World Baseball Classic victory over the Czech Republic, a move expected to stoke China’s ire as Sino-Japanese ties remain in a deep freeze.

The visit by Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai was the first known planned trip to Japan by a sitting premier from the democratic island since the two sides severed diplomatic ties in 1972, Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported.

In 2004, a flight with then-Taiwanese Premier Yu Shyi-kun on board was forced to divert to Okinawa Prefecture’s Naha Airport, where he stayed for five hours before departing.

Cho attended the game at Tokyo Dome with the island’s de facto representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang, and Sports Minister Lee Yang, CNA said, adding that the trip had been conducted in a personal capacity.

CNA quoted Democratic Progressive Party lawmaker Kuo Kuo-wen as saying that Cho had returned to Taiwan after the game, calling the visit “a kind of baseball diplomacy.” Kuo said the visit had been facilitated by Liberal Democratic Party heavyweight Koichi Hagiuda and former representative to Japan Frank Hsieh.

The premier’s unprecedented visit could add fuel to the ongoing dispute between China and Japan, which began following Takaichi’s remarks in parliament on Nov. 7 that the Self-Defense Forces could be deployed under the right to collective self-defense in “worst-case” scenarios, such as a Chinese naval blockade of Taiwan, which the prime minister said would constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan.
 
 

Two Japanese nationals are being detained in Iran, and the Japanese government has requested their early release, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Friday.

Amid the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, Motegi informed a Diet session that the government was able to communicate with the two individuals and confirmed that they are currently safe.

One is the Tehran bureau chief of public broadcaster NHK, who was detained on Jan. 20 by local authorities, according to a nonprofit organization. Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference later Friday that the other has been under detention since June.

"The government calls strongly for their early release and will provide as much support as possible while staying in touch with them, their families and related parties," Motegi said.

The top diplomat added that he confirmed the safety of all Japanese nationals in Iran after the United States and Israel began attacking last Saturday.

"Of the approximately 200 Japanese nationals, about three-quarters are permanent residents, and many of them don't want to leave the country," he said.

Kihara, the top government spokesman, also said that Japan will dispatch a Self-Defense Forces airplane "as soon as arrangements are finalized" to prepare for an evacuation of its citizens stranded in the Middle East.

Upon the request of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has instructed the SDF to send a transport aircraft to the Maldives, an Indian Ocean islands nation, to stand by there, according to Kihara.

Kihara said that the evacuation of Japanese travelers in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates by chartered private flights will start as early as Saturday, and that the SDF plane dispatchment is a "precautionary" measure in case such flights become unavailable or other "unpredictable developments."

Also on Friday, the Foreign Ministry said a Tokyo-bound charter flight will leave Oman at midnight Sunday local time to evacuate Japanese nationals in Oman and the United Arab Emirates.

Separately, transport minister Yasushi Kaneko said that debris believed to have fallen from the sky was found on a Japanese-affiliated ship anchored in the Gulf of Oman, causing minor damage such as cracked windows.

No one was injured, and there are no disruptions to the ship's operations.
The transport ministry said it is not possible to determine whether the debris is related to the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
 

 

The Japanese government Friday approved a bill to establish the planned disaster management agency, which will serve as a central command body for disaster response.

The current disaster management division of the Cabinet Office will be reorganized into the agency, which will have personnel of 352, up from 220 at the current division. The related budget will also be expanded.

The agency will be headed by the prime minister and will also have a dedicated minister. The government aims to launch the agency in autumn.
According to the legislation, approved at a cabinet meeting, the agency will operate directly under the cabinet.

 

It will be responsible for formulating basic disaster-related policies, as well as for planning and overall coordination to address major disasters.

The dedicated minister will have the authority to issue recommendations to other government agencies.
 
 

 

Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party (JIP), submitted a proposal on Friday aimed at revising the country’s rules on defense equipment exports, potentially allowing the export of lethal weapons, Qazinform News Agency cites Jiji Press.

The proposal was presented to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi by Yasukazu Hamada, the LDP’s security policy chief, and Seiji Maehara, who holds the same role in the JIP.

The plan recommends changing the operational guidelines linked to Japan’s “three principles on defense equipment transfers.”

Currently, Japan restricts defense equipment exports to five limited categories: rescue, transport, vigilance, surveillance, and minesweeping.

The new proposal calls for removing these restrictions, which would open the door for broader defense exports, including lethal arms.

Based on the proposal, the Japanese government is considering revising the operational guidelines as early as this spring.

Supporters of the plan argue that easing the restrictions would help strengthen Japan’s security cooperation with allies and partner nations, while also boosting the country’s domestic defense industry and technological capabilities.

The proposal signals a major shift in Japan’s long-standing security policy, as the country has traditionally taken a cautious approach toward arms exports.

If implemented, the government will likely need to carefully explain the policy change to the public and introduce safeguards to address concerns surrounding the export of lethal weapons.

Earlier, it was reported Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi vows policy shifts to forge a strong, prosperous Japan. 
 
 

Japan has just unveiled another round of grants dedicated to Indonesian grassroots communities, totaling nearly 25.1 million yen or $167,066 this time.

About $63,629 of that cash will go into constructing school buildings for a community learning center in Lamahara, East Flores. Japan will also bankroll around $43,324 to purchase medical equipment for the Marianum Haliulik Catholic Hospital in East Nusa Tenggara.

Tokyo has earmarked $60,113 to construct a building for Al-Hidayah Islamic School in a Lampung village. Japanese Embassy’s Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Myochin Mitsuru said Thursday that the recipient groups would receive the grant after the targeted construction and procurement are complete. 

“Japan puts great importance on human security. [Making sure] that people live with dignity, so education and healthcare are very important, in particular for the people who live in the countryside. … That’s why we are focusing on these sectors,” Mitsuru told the press.

In recent years, Japan has rolled out a series of grassroots grants for Indonesians, which typically target small-scale community projects in the country’s rural areas. Indonesia is an archipelagic country, but its development and growth have remained Java-centric. 

The Jakarta Globe asked Mitsuru whether the latest fund injection could be a curtain-raiser to an upcoming meeting between President Prabowo Subianto and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

According to Mitsuru, Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, had already travelled to Jakarta in January 2025. And now Japan wants Prabowo to make a return visit soon.

“Hopefully, our leaders can meet in person bilaterally. … We hope Prabowo can visit Tokyo. That would be great. But I cannot say exactly when. We sincerely hope that it will take place soon,” Mitsuru said.
 
 

A Japanese appellate court has ordered the group formerly known as the Unification Church to disband as a religious corporation.

With the order's issuance, procedures will immediately be put in motion to liquidate the group's assets.

Presiding Judge of the Tokyo High Court Miki Motoko issued the order on Wednesday, dismissing the group's appeal and upholding a lower court decision.

Japan's education ministry asked the Tokyo District Court in 2023 to issue a dissolution order over the group's practice of soliciting large donations from members or having them buy expensive items by exploiting fears about their spiritual wellbeing.

The district court issued the order in March last year, saying the group caused financial damage totaling about 20.4 billion yen, or about 130 million dollars, to more than 1,500 people.

The group appealed the decision. During the high court hearings, the group insisted that dissolution was unnecessary because it had been engaged in collective negotiations and taken other measures to resolve the issue.

The high court order takes effect immediately. A court-appointed liquidator will now start the process including disposing of the group's assets and compensating people who suffered financial damage.

The group will lose its tax-exempt status as a religious corporation. Its executives will also step down.

The group can still appeal to the Supreme Court. But unless the dissolution order is reversed, the liquidation process will continue.

This is the third time a religious corporation in Japan has been ordered dissolved for legal violations. Past cases included the Aum Shinrikyo cult.
The latest dissolution order marks the first time one has been issued on the grounds of civil wrongdoing.
 

 

A Japanese startup on Wednesday made a last-minute decision to cancel its postponed launch of a small rocket, a flight that would have made it the first private entity to put a satellite into orbit on its own.

Space One Co. said it aborted the process 30 seconds before the planned liftoff of the Kairos No. 3 rocket from a site in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan. The 18-meter, 23-ton solid-fuel rocket was loaded with five satellites for the Taiwan Space Agency and other entities.

The company said the launch was aborted because the vehicle could not receive stable positioning satellite signals, which are used to track its location and speed.

It also revealed that the new launch date has been set for Thursday at 11:10 a.m.

 

Weather conditions had forced the Tokyo-based startup to reschedule the launch initially set for February. It was postponed until Sunday and then to 11 a.m. Wednesday, again due to unfavorable weather conditions.

The company is aiming to provide low-cost, speedy space transport, with a target of 30 rocket launches per year in the 2030s.

Founded in 2018, the company has failed twice in its attempt to launch a rocket. The first Kairos rocket exploded about five seconds after liftoff in March 2024 due to an error in thrust prediction.

Its second unsuccessful rocket launch in December that year ended in self-destruction following an altitude control problem.
 

 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will host an annual evening meal for ambassadors of Islamic countries to Japan on March 12, sources said Wednesday.

Every year, the government holds an "iftar," the feast after sunset to break the daytime fast during the period of Ramadan, at the prime minister's office in Tokyo.

At this year's iftar, Takaichi and ambassadors are expected to exchange views on ways to help de-escalate tensions around Iran that intensified due to the U.S.-Israeli attacks since Saturday.

Takaichi will also seek cooperation to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint in a key oil transport route that has been effectively blocked, and to secure the safety of Japanese nationals in the Middle East.

The iftar hosted in March last year by then Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba was attended by ambassadors to Japan and other representatives from 45 economies, including Iran, Jordan and Indonesia.
 

 

The Japanese government is considering establishing an expert panel in late April toward revising its three key national security-related documents by the end of this year, informed sources said Tuesday.

The panel is expected to discuss new numerical targets for boosting defense spending and strengthening combat sustainability.

Based on the discussions, the government plans to draft outlines as early as this summer for a bill to update the three documents, government and ruling party officials said.

Experts on defense and security policies, cybersecurity and space will take part in the panel. They are likely to discuss responses to threats from China and ways to deal with new forms of warfare, such as the massive use of drones.

The government will move forward with the revision of the three documents, including the National Security Strategy, after taking into account proposals to be compiled by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party around Japan's Golden Week holiday period from late April to early May.
 
 

 

Japan plans to develop guidelines on dual pricing at public tourism facilities, its transport minister said Tuesday, as setting different prices for local residents and tourists has been gathering steam as a strategy to address overtourism.

Although setting prices should primarily be left to each operator to weigh demand and other factors, transport minister Yasushi Kaneko said it is necessary for the government to provide guidance.

"It's important that prices are set in a way that will enable (businesses) to sustain their operations and services going forward," Kaneko told a press conference.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is expected to ask a panel of experts to discuss the guideline details.

Japan, which is seeking to further boost inbound tourism, saw a record number of foreign visitors last year, with the total surpassing the 40 million mark for the first time. However, this surge has also raised issues, including congestion and poor behavior.

According to the Japan Tourism Agency, facilities use various pricing methods. For example, they may provide discounts for local residents or allow children to use their facilities free of charge.

On Sunday, the western Japanese city of Himeji, home to Himeji Castle, increased the entry fee for the World Heritage site from 1,000 yen ($6.4) to 2,500 yen for nonresidents aged 18 and older.

Kyoto, another popular tourist destination known for its temples and traditional culture, is considering raising the public bus fare for nonresidents to the western Japan city while lowering the current flat rate for residents, starting in fiscal 2027.

The Japanese government is asking national museums to consider the introduction of dual pricing by the end of March 2031.
 
 

Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman on Tuesday dispatched 545 tons of poultry and products worth Rp18.2 billion (US$1.2 million) to Singapore, Japan, and Timor Leste, expanding Indonesia’s strategic food commodity exports.

“Today we are sending poultry and related products to three countries: Singapore, Japan, and Timor Leste,” Sulaiman said at the Ministry of Agriculture office in Jakarta.

He said the exports signal Indonesia’s poultry industry has not only achieved self-sufficiency in chicken and eggs but is also expanding into global markets.

Sulaiman stressed that Indonesia now has strong production capacity after reaching self-sufficiency in eggs and chicken.

“Now we are self-sufficient in eggs, chicken, rice, and other staples. We are pushing exports to other countries. Currently, we have 10 regular export destinations. Today, three countries will receive our poultry products,” he said.

He added that export success proves Indonesia no longer depends on chicken imports.

“We agreed to become a global food hub, covering carbohydrates and protein. Protein, especially poultry, is now self-sufficient and ready for export,” he said.

Sulaiman said rising production should not cause prices to collapse for farmers. The government manages surplus through domestic absorption, including the Free Nutritious Meal program, and expanding export channels.

Exports are handled by four domestic companies, each with varying shipment volumes and values: PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk, PT Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk, PT Taat Indah Bersinar, and PT Malindo Food Delight.

For businesses, exports provide market certainty amid abundant domestic production. The government uses surpluses to stabilize farm-level prices and widen global market access.

Director General of Livestock and Animal Health Agung Suganda said export success relies on robust animal health systems, food safety assurance, and international-standard monitoring.

“Each exported product undergoes veterinary certification and strict oversight according to destination requirements. We ensure traceability, biosecurity, and food safety to maintain sustainable exports,” Agung said.

He added that market access is maintained through intensive veterinary diplomacy and technical communication with partner countries, securing international trust through quality and compliance.

With ample production and growing export markets, Indonesia’s poultry sector is stronger. The Ministry will continue balancing production surplus, farm-level price stability, and global market expansion to boost industry competitiveness.
 

The Japanese government will evacuate its nationals in Israel by bus as early as Monday Japan time amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.

"We will refrain from commenting on details such as the exact route and time, as it pertains to the safety of nationals," Kihara said at a press conference.

Japan's Self-Defense Forces are "preparing to quickly deploy personnel to swiftly and appropriately transport nationals," he added.
 
 

The National Police Agency instructed prefectural police departments nationwide to increase security at U.S.- and Israel-related facilities, following the two countries' military attacks on Iran.

The agency issued an administrative notice on Sunday, requesting thorough security measures at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo and U.S. consulates and military bases across Japan, as well as locations linked to Israel and Jewish communities nationwide.

Patrols will also be strengthened at facilities related to Iran and Islamic communities.

In light of Iran's suggestion of retaliation, the police departments will reinforce their security posture by increasing the number of officers deployed, while also working to prevent disturbances or unexpected incidents during potential protests and to strengthen information-gathering efforts.
 
 

Proposed changes could reduce prevalence of international leaks while breeders await registration 

Japan is set to revise its plant variety protection laws in a bid to block unauthorised exports of new crop varieties by third parties, according to a recent report by Japan Today.  

Currently, plant rights are only protected once a new variety has been officially registered – which can take up to six years to complete. 

Due to the long registration timeframe, it’s common practice for breeders to cultivate more plants on a trial basis while a new crop is undergoing its review.

This means companies can begin marketing as soon as a new variety is registered. However, according to Japan Today, the practice has increased the risk of international leaks before a variety can be entered on the official register. 

In fact, in 2025 Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed that names similar to 50 new fruit varieties from Japan appeared on Chinese and Korean seed vendor websites. 

“The varieties were likely leaked during the application process,” an agriculture ministry official told Japan Today. 

Under the proposed revision, protection would be applied as soon as a developer has submitted a new variety for registration. It would also extend plant breeders’ rights, by another ten years. Currently fruit varieties are protected for 30 years and other plants for 25 years. 

The bill is expected to be submitted during the current special parliamentary session and is intended to be implemented within the year.  
 
 

 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday urged Iran to seek a "diplomatic solution" amid an escalation in the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Tehran, while her government began its evacuation operation for nationals.

At a parliamentary committee meeting, Takaichi demanded Iran stop any actions that "destabilize the region" including its development of nuclear weapons, which she said is "absolutely unacceptable," as well as its attacks on surrounding countries.

"We will work in coordination with the international community toward an early deescalation of the situation and continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort," Takaichi said.

Meanwhile, Takaichi said her government will refrain from offering a "definitive legal assessment" about the bombardment launched by the United States, Japan's close security ally, and Israel, as Tokyo does not have "detailed information."

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at the Diet session that no Japanese casualties in Iran have been reported so far.

About 200 and 1,000 Japanese citizens live in Iran and Israel, respectively, and some 7,700 in total reside in nine nearby nations such as Bahrain and Lebanon, according to the government.

Later Monday, a government-arranged bus departed from Tel Aviv to Jordan's capital Amman with some business persons and tourists from Japan on board, a source close to the matter said.

The main international airport outside of Tel Aviv is expected to be closed until Wednesday amid continued retaliatory attacks by Iran.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference that Japan is ready to dispatch its Self-Defense Forces for a possible operation to evacuate nationals from the region.

Organizing a large-scale evacuation in Iran is difficult, however, because airports are closed and land routes are dangerous, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Due to its heavy reliance on the Middle East for crude oil, Japan, a resource-poor country that has traditionally maintained friendly ties with Iran, has a vital interest in stability in the region.

Kihara, the top government spokesman, said that no immediate impact is expected on Japan's oil supply from the Middle East conflict, citing stockpiles equivalent to 254 days of crude oil consumption, including reserves held by the private sector, and around three weeks of liquefied natural gas consumption.

The Japanese government is closely watching the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, an oil shipping route vital for Japan, with the U.S. and Israeli strikes prompting Iranian attacks on other Gulf nations in addition to Israel.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Sunday it had attacked at least three oil tankers belonging to the United States and Britain in the area, according to state-run media.

More than 200 vessels including oil and LNG tankers had dropped anchor around the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters as of Sunday, Reuters reported, citing shipping data.

The latest developments came after weekend airstrikes by the United States and Israel in which Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the operation is aimed at eliminating "imminent threats" posed by the Iranian government.

U.S. Central Command said Sunday that three U.S. service members had been killed and five seriously wounded, marking the first confirmed U.S. military fatalities in connection with "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran.
 
 

The Japanese yen recovered on Thursday after the head of the Bank of Japan said the decision on whether to increase interest rates at its March and April meetings will be based on economic data, while overall movements in the market were subdued as traders awaited fresh catalysts.

Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank will continue to raise interest rates if Japan makes progress in achieving its economic and price projections.

A report on Tuesday said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed reservations about additional interest rate hikes during her meeting with Ueda last week.

The yen strengthened 0.12% against the greenback to 156.15 per dollar. It had reached a two-week low of 156.82 on Wednesday.

The dollar index , which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies including the yen and the euro, rose 0.18% to 97.79, with the euro down 0.11% at $1.1796.

Moves were muted with traders gauging the outlook for tariffs, risk sentiment and the economy.

"The risk backdrop remains relatively supportive," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto. "But conviction among investors is low, and clear-cut directional trends are nearly absent."




TARIFFS, INTEREST RATES IN FOCUS

The U.S. tariff rate for some countries will rise to 15% or higher from the newly imposed 10%, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday, without naming any specific trading partners or giving further details.

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep rates steady until at least June as it balances elevated inflation and labor market risks, which is adding to the lack of market conviction.

Data on Thursday showed that the number of Americans filing new applications for jobless benefits increased marginally last week, and the unemployment rate appeared to hold steady in February amid a stable labor market.

Analysts at TD Securities see continuing risks for further dollar weakness in the coming quarters, noting "strained haven status, and the continued hedge America trade."

"U.S. resilience is likely to fall short of exceptionalism, which in a backdrop of solid global growth, lower rates, and fiscal buffers is positive for risky assets and is bearish for the dollar," the analysts said in a report on Thursday.

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said policymakers continued to expect inflation to stabilise at their target rate of 2% in the near term, while repeating her "baseline" expectation that she would stay until the end of her term.

Data released on Thursday showed the ECB sold some of its dollar assets early last year and reduced the weight of the dollar in its foreign exchange reserves.

Sterling weakened 0.52% to $1.3486. Domestic political risks remained a key driver, with traders focused on a byelection in Manchester, widely viewed as a key test for Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Labour Party.

The Chinese yuan strengthened against the dollar in offshore trade, rising 0.22% to 6.842 yuan, the strongest level in almost three years despite the central bank signalling it wanted to curb the currency's rapid gains.

Investors are keeping an eye on rising tensions between the United States and Iran. The countries made significant progress in talks aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes on Iran, mediator Oman said on Thursday, amid a large-scale U.S. military buildup in the Middle East.

In cryptocurrencies, bitcoin fell 2.01% to $67,554.
 
 

Japan raised its travel alert for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and the UAE to level two and strongly urged Japanese citizens to avoid travel to these nations, while those currently traveling are advised to remain vigilant and take extra precautions.

Jordan was also raised to level two for the entire country, with some border areas at a higher alert level.

This heightened danger level comes in the wake of the Saturday’s joint American and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which triggered a series of Iranian missile launches across the region, including strikes on Bahrain and Qatar.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard declared it had targeted a U.S. military base in both Bahrain and Qatar and signaled plans to strike more American sites in these countries, according to the Ministry’s Overseas Safety Department.

The Ministry raised the advisory level in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Province to level 2, recommending avoiding non-essential travel.

Level three, which advises against all travel, remains in effect for border areas with Yemen in Jazan, Asir, Najran, and the Eastern Province.

The border areas with Iraq remain at level 2, advising against non-essential travel. For the remainder of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry maintains level one, urging travelers to exercise extreme caution.

“Avoid non-essential travel to these countries, remain informed, and exercise heightened caution. Depending on the circumstances, implement appropriate safety measures, such as refraining from unnecessary outings. Please be aware of potential flight cancellations and delays,” the advisory stated.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry has also increased the danger level for Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Jordan following recent attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran.

The Gaza Strip and the area adjacent to the Lebanon border are now classified as level four, with Japanese citizens instructed to depart immediately. The entire West Bank is designated as level three, and travel to this region is strongly discouraged.

Iran remains at level four, Japan’s highest alert level.

All of Israel is now designated as level three or four, an increase from previous levels of two or three. The Ministry stated, “Please refrain from traveling to Israel.

Those already in Israel should ensure their own safety and consider leaving the country after checking the airport and commercial flight statuses. If you are unavoidably staying in the country, please exercise special caution and avoid areas where large numbers of Israeli Defense Forces soldiers are gathered.”

Most of the West Bank, except for Jericho, Bethlehem, Ramallah, the main roads connecting these cities to Jerusalem, and National Highways 1 and 90, remains at level three. Areas outside these specified locations have also been upgraded to level three. The Foreign Ministry stated: “Do not travel to the West Bank.”

Escalating clashes in Iran and the heightened risk of military conflict with the United States have prompted Japanese officials to warn that the Middle East may soon become significantly more dangerous.

The Ministry has recently expanded its level one advisory, which urges caution, to 55 countries, including the United States, Canada, and most European nations.
 
 

Japan has refrained from expressing outright support for the weekend launch of U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran as Tokyo continued Sunday to gather information on the unfolding situation in the Middle East following the killing of longtime supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has instructed government ministries and agencies to analyze the potential impact of the attacks on sea and air transportation, as well as on the economy. She also vowed Saturday night to ensure the safety of Japanese nationals in the region.

Takaichi has not expressed support for or criticism of the attacks against Iran launched Saturday by the United States, Japan's longtime ally, and Israel.
Japan has traditionally built friendly ties with Iran, viewing stability in the region as vital.

Ensuring the safe passage of vessels carrying oil and cargo through the Strait of Hormuz between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman is also important for resource-scarce Japan.

In a phone conversation with other members of the Group of Seven nations, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated Japan's position that it supports U.S. efforts to resolve the issue of Iran's nuclear program "through dialogue," his ministry said.

Motegi reiterated that Japan will maximize its diplomatic efforts with the international community over the Iran situation, saying that Tehran's development of nuclear weapons "must never be allowed."

The killing of Khamenei, 86, who ruled Iran for over three decades, came after U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the Middle East country. He announced Saturday on social media that Khamenei had been killed in the attacks, and Iran's state media later confirmed the death.

He was apparently frustrated over Tehran's handling of anti-government demonstrations and progress toward reaching a deal over its nuclear program through negotiations.

A senior executive of Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party also stayed clear of criticizing the attacks during an appearance on a Sunday television program of public broadcaster NHK. His comments drew an immediate rebuke from opposition lawmakers appearing on the same program who argued that such strikes violate international law.

"We cannot simply condemn it, considering Iran's attitude toward nuclear development," Secretary General Shunichi Suzuki, the No. 2 of the LDP, said.

Speaking of the impact on Japan, he said the attacks "could have a huge impact on people's daily lives and the economy." Japan relies heavily on the Middle East for crude oil.

Japanese nationals in Iran had already been advised to evacuate, with the Foreign Ministry urging caution among people living in or traveling to countries in the Middle East and beyond due to heightened geopolitical tensions.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament on Friday (Feb 27) that she opposes changing the imperial family's male succession rules.

The comments are her clearest on the issue - the subject of increasing debate as a succession crisis looms - since her party's landslide election victory this month.

Takaichi said she respected the conclusion of a panel of experts who had discussed the matter and found in 2021 that it was "appropriate to limit eligibility to those who are male-line male descendants belonging to the imperial lineage".

"The government, and I, myself as well, respect this report."

The premier previously warned that revising the imperial family's succession rules is "an urgent matter", although this would likely involve "adopting" new members.

During a policy speech last, she said that she hoped "discussions will deepen on how to ensure stable imperial succession ... leading toward the revision of the Imperial House Law".

Even though tradition dictates only a man can carry on the imperial line - which goes back 2,600 years according to legend - opinion polls have shown high public support for a woman taking the throne.

Emperor Naruhito has a daughter, Princess Aiko, but she has been sidelined by the royal family's male-only succession rules.

Japan has debated the royal succession for decades, with a key government panel in 2005 recommending that it pass to the oldest child regardless of their sex.

That appeared to pave the way for the emperor's daughter to rise to the Chrysanthemum Throne, but the birth of Prince Hisahito, the emperor's nephew, the following year silenced the debate.

In 2021, a government-appointed expert panel advised the government to consider allowing the imperial family to "adopt" new male members - distant relatives that could be brought back into the fold.

But it is unclear if those men would be willing to give up their careers and freedom to continue the lineage.

The panel also said royal daughters - currently forced to leave the family after marriage - could potentially continue their public duties after their nuptials.

Traditionalists have asserted that the "unbroken imperial line" of male succession is the foundation of Japan, and major changes would divide the nation.

Under the post-war constitution, the royal family holds no political power.
Historically, women who wed royals have faced intense pressure to produce sons and some family members are regular subjects of online and media gossip.

Empress Masako, a former high-flying diplomat, struggled for years with a stress-related illness after joining the household, which some have put down to the pressure to have a boy.

Emperess Emerita Michiko, Naruhito's mother, also suffered stress-induced illnesses.
 
 

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, on Friday agreed to allow the establishment of secondary capitals in multiple regions.

During working-level talks at the Diet, Japan's parliament, the LDP presented a proposal for allowing several regions to be secondary capitals, and it was accepted by the JIP, which had been calling for a framework effectively limiting the potential sites to the western city of Osaka, its home base.

"This was a big step toward creating legislation," Eikei Suzuki, an LDP member of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, said of the agreement reached at the meeting.

The two parties will begin drafting an outline for the legislation with the aim of submitting related bills to the ongoing Diet session.

The JIP had previously insisted that a region designated as a secondary capital must fulfill the requirement of realizing the metropolis plan, which involves abolishing an ordinance-designated city and reorganizing it into special wards.
 
 

The number of births in Japan fell to a record low last year, extending the trend for the 10th year in a row, according to a summary released by the health ministry on Thursday.

Preliminary data from the ministry shows that 705,809 babies were born in 2025, including those born in Japan to foreign nationals — down 15,179, or 2.1%, from a year earlier. The figure marks the 10th consecutive annual decline, and the lowest level since comparable records began in 1899.

Despite government efforts to reverse the plummeting birth rate, the annual number of births has neared 700,000 more than 15 years earlier than was projected in a 2023 forecast by the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research.

While the rate has slowed from the over 5% annual drops recorded between 2022 and 2024, the longer-term trend remains stark. Over the past decade, annual births have fallen roughly 30%.

Deaths totaled 1,605,654, down 0.8% from a year earlier and marking the first decline in five years. Even so, the natural decrease in the population (the gap between births and deaths) widened to a record 899,845.

Births fell in 45 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. Seven prefectures, including Shimane, Yamagata and Aomori, recorded declines of more than 5%.
Tokyo saw births rise 1.3% to 88,518, an increase of 4,311 from a year earlier and the first gain in nine years.

Ishikawa Prefecture also posted an increase, with births rising from 6,078 to 6,515. The rebound follows a sharp drop the previous year linked to the impact of the Noto Peninsula earthquake, on Jan. 1, and heavy rain damage.

About 30% of all births nationwide occurred in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which comprises Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama prefectures.

The number of marriages rose 1.1% to 505,656 in 2025, topping 500,000 for the first time in three years and marking a second straight annual increase as the wedding ceremony business recovers from the slump caused by COVID-19 restrictions. Divorces fell by 6,983 to 182,969.

Japan’s rapidly graying population and declining birth rate could further strain its social security and pension systems, which relies on contributions by working generations.

In a news conference Thursday afternoon, Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki said, “The government recognizes that many people’s desire to have children has not been sufficiently fulfilled, and we haven’t been able to reverse the declining birth rate.”

“By achieving sustainable economic growth, raising incomes for younger generations and ensuring stable employment, we aim to alleviate anxieties about the future ... to create a society in which anyone who wishes to have children can do so, and raise them with peace of mind.”

Declining birth rates are a common issue worldwide. In France, known for its comprehensive support for child-rearing, deaths were higher than births in 2025 for the first time since World War II.
 
 

 
Private-sector weather firms in Japan have released their latest forecasts for when the buds on cherry trees in the country will start to open this spring. They say the Somei Yoshino variety will come into bloom earlier than usual in many areas.

The Japan Weather Association announced on Thursday that central Tokyo and Fukuoka City will see the country's earliest blossoming on March 20.
It predicts that they will be followed by the cities of Nagoya and Kochi on March 21, Hiroshima on March 22, Osaka on March 24, Sendai on April 1 and Sapporo on April 27.

The association said it made the forecasts based on a severe cold snap in January, many days of higher-than-average temperatures in February and relatively warmer-than-normal temperatures expected for March.

Another company, Weather Map, also announced on Thursday that this year's earliest blooming will be on March 16 in central Tokyo.

It said blossoms will appear in Nagoya, Kochi and Fukuoka on March 17, Hiroshima on March 19, Osaka on March 22, Sendai on April 2 and Sapporo on April 25.

Many locations are expected to see flowering earlier than average, with markedly early blooms expected in parts of eastern Japan.
 
 

The websites of multiple local governments in Japan have become inaccessible.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference Wednesday that the central government and others are gathering information to identify the cause of the problem.

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry has asked prefectural governments to submit reports on the matter, the top government spokesman said.

As of 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, affected local governments included the city of Ebetsu in Hokkaido, the city of Shiojiri in Nagano Prefecture, the city of Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the city of Dazaifu in Fukuoka Prefecture and the city of Tosu in Saga Prefecture.

An error message appears when people try to access the websites of the municipalities.

In addition, the websites of Gunma Prefecture, Kumamoto Prefecture, the city of Mito, the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, the city of Toda in Saitama Prefecture, and the city of Nagasaki, the capital of the namesake prefecture, temporarily became inaccessible.