Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara expressed regret Wednesday over the arrest of a Ground Self-Defense Force member who allegedly broke into the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"It is truly regrettable that an SDF officer, who should abide by the law, was arrested on suspicion of breaking into a building," Kihara told a press conference.

The government spokesman said that security at the embassy has been strengthened, with additional police officers deployed to guard the premises.

"In accordance with international law and domestic laws and regulations, relevant ministries and agencies will work together to respond appropriately, including taking preventive measures," he said, adding that Chinese authorities have called for efforts to prevent any recurrence of such incidents.
 
 

New partnership aims to boost Japan’s low e-waste recycling rates while strengthening domestic resource security


Japan Strengthens Domestic Recycling With Itochu-ERI Collaboration

Japan is taking steps to improve its handling of electronic waste, with Itochu partnering with U.S.-based Electronic Recyclers International (ERI) to launch a new recycling venture.

The project will centre on recovering valuable materials from discarded electronics, commonly referred to as “urban mines”. With only around 20% of e-waste currently recycled in Japan, there is considerable room for expansion. 

The initiative reflects rising concerns over dependence on imported resources in an increasingly uncertain geopolitical environment. By working with ERI, which specialises in IT disposal and recycling, Itochu hopes to strengthen domestic recycling while supporting a market expected to grow steadily. 


Iran War Drives Surge In Chinese Renewable Energy Stocks

Investors are shifting towards Chinese renewable energy stocks as the Iran war drives up oil prices and intensifies concerns over energy security.

The trend reflects expectations that countries will accelerate investment in alternatives to fossil fuels. China, which leads in sectors such as solar, wind, batteries, and electric vehicles, is seen as particularly well placed to benefit.

Since the conflict began, these stocks have outperformed the broader market. Many analysts expect continued government support and rising export demand, as countries rethink their energy mix and look for more stable, long-term options.

 

Totalenergies Shifts From U.S. Offshore Wind To Fossil Fuel Investment

TotalEnergies is stepping back from offshore wind projects in the United States and redirecting nearly $1 billion into fossil fuel investments instead.

Under an agreement with the U.S. government, wind leases off New York and the Carolinas will be cancelled, and the company will be reimbursed for what it has already spent. The money will now be invested in liquefied natural gas, oil, and gas production.

This reflects a wider shift in policy under President Donald Trump, with a stronger focus on domestic fossil fuels. While some argue this will improve energy reliability, others see it as a setback for clean energy progress.

EDF Faces EU Probe Over State Aid For Nuclear Expansion

EDF is expected to come under investigation by the European Union over a large state aid package linked to new nuclear power plants in France.

The plan involves building six reactors to replace ageing infrastructure and meet growing electricity demand in the coming years. However, EU regulators are concerned that the financial support could further strengthen EDF’s dominant position in the market and make it harder for competitors to enter.

The investigation could delay the project, which is central to France’s energy plans. Austria is also likely to challenge the proposal, given its long-standing opposition to nuclear power.
 

Sogo & Seibu said Wednesday that it would close its iconic Seibu department store in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward at the end of September.

The closure comes as the company failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension with the rights holder for the land and buildings housing the store over the redevelopment of the site.

The Shibuya store opened in April 1968 in an area long known as a youth-culture hub. It anchored the company's department store network, but in recent years it has posted persistent losses.

The closure will cover the A building, which includes the food floor, as well as the B building, housing clothing and sundry goods tenants, and a parking hall. Sogo & Seibu employees currently working at the Shibuya store will be assigned to other posts within the company.

The Loft building, which is owned by Sogo & Seibu, and the Movida building, housing a Muji household goods shop, will remain in operation.

"We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone for their support for our Seibu Shibuya store over the years," Sogo & Seibu said.

The move leaves Sogo & Seibu with nine outlets nationwide, with the Seibu Ikebukuro store as its sole presence in Tokyo.
 
 

The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan fell 13.1 yen from a week earlier to 177.7 yen per liter as of Monday, the industry ministry said Wednesday.

The drop came after the government resumed subsidies for oil wholesalers last week, in the face of surging crude oil prices amid the deteriorating situation in the Middle East.

The decline is the second-largest single-week fall on record, following a 21.7-yen drop just after the provisional gasoline tax rate expired in 2008.

Still, the average gasoline price remains elevated. In mid-February, it hovered around 150 yen per liter.

To ease oil supply concerns and stabilize prices, the government will release state oil reserves starting Thursday, in addition to tapping into private-sector reserves.
 
 

The Japanese government will consider compiling a provisional budget in the event that the fiscal 2026 regular budget is not passed by the April 1 start of the year, an official said Monday.

"We will consider a provisional budget in preparation for unforeseen circumstances," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara was quoted as telling senior members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

Kihara made the remark at a meeting with LDP members, such as Masaji Matsuyama, chairman for the party's members in the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, and Junichi Ishii, secretary-general for the party in the same Diet chamber. Matsuyama disclosed the remark to reporters.

 

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aims to enact the regular budget by the end of this month.

The draft budget has cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, but the outlook is uncertain in the Upper House, where the LDP-led ruling camp is a minority force.
 

 

• Confirmation came one day after Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu announced the person’s release
• Another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody

 

Japan’s top government spokesperson said Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned home in good health.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara’s confirmation came one day after Foreign Minister MOTEGI Toshimitsu announced the person’s release.

Motegi, speaking on a Fuji Television talk show Sunday, said the person had been detained since last year and was released on Wednesday. He said the person took a flight from Azerbaijan.

Kihara, at a regular news conference Monday, confirmed that the former detainee returned to Japan on Sunday in good health.

Kihara said another Japanese national who was arrested earlier this year is still in custody but “we have confirmed that there is no problem with the safety and health” of the person and that Japan is continuing to press Iran for a release as soon as possible.

Motegi said the release came after his repeated demands to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and that he is “working to win an early release” of the other detainee while communicating with his family and other concerned parties.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has named the person detained in Iran in January as a journalist at Japan’s public broadcaster NHK. The CPJ said the NHK journalist was arrested Jan. 20 by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and was transferred Feb. 23 to Evin Prison, quoting unidentified sources citing fear of persecution.

Motegi did not identify either of the people detained but said the released Japanese national was detained in 2025.

The Foreign Ministry said earlier this month the detainees were safe and in good health, but only acknowledged that one was detained last year and the other one in January.

The ministry has given no further details and did not say whether the two cases were related.
 

The government urged citizens not to panic-buy toilet paper as social media posts suggest people are starting to stockpile daily necessities out of concern over the war in the Middle East.

Hoarding toilet paper became a phenomenon in Japan at the time of the 1973 oil shock, which triggered the country’s first postwar economic contraction.

More recently, the devastating earthquake and tsunami of 2011 and the COVID-19 pandemic triggered similar behavior patterns.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a statement that shoppers should make rational decisions about toilet paper purchases based on accurate information.

One X user posted: "The nearby drugstore was sold out of toilet paper! It seems like everyone’s stockpiling it.” Other posts show photos of supplies users say they’ve stocked up on, ranging from cat-food and toiletries to a tower of Suntory beer.

According to the Japan Household Paper Industry Association, about 97% of toilet paper is produced domestically, using recycled paper and pulp, with no reliance on the Middle East.

The group added that production has not been directly affected and that there is sufficient capacity to increase output if needed.
 
 

Japanese stocks dropped after U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of attacks on power plants around the Strait of Hormuz exacerbated market concerns over climbing oil prices and fueled risk-off sentiment.

The Nikkei 225 fell as much as 5% to 50688.76 on Monday while the broader Topix slumped as much as 4.5% to 3447.34, heading for a technical correction. Tokyo’s market is catching up with global benchmarks after a public holiday on Friday.

Electronics and banks contributed most to declines on the Topix, while chip-related firms like Renesas Electronics and Lasertec were among the Nikkei’s worst performers. Skyrocketing oil prices — Brent was trading around $111 per barrel as of 10 a.m. in Tokyo — are sapping risk appetite across sectors.

"Whatever happens now, what has become crystal clear is the outlook for near term inflation," said Amir Anvarzadeh, Japan equity strategist at Asymmetric Advisors, in a note.

Trump's 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has "notched up the temperature," making escalation of the conflict look more likely, he added.

Anvarzadeh expects "overvalued" AI-related stocks, like cablemaker Fujikura, to be among the worst hit by inflation fears. Fujikura lost as much as 6.7% Monday.

Climbing bond yields are further amplifying caution in the equity market, said Kazuyuki Muramatsu, head of investment management at Nagomi Capital. Japan's 10-year bond yield rose six basis points to 2.32% on Monday, near its highest level since 1999.

"The market sees this as a 'bad' rise in yields," so it's a downside even for bank shares, which would usually get a tailwind from higher yields, Muramatsu said.
 
 

Japan will take "all possible steps" to address speculative moves in the foreign exchange market, the country's top currency diplomat said Monday, with the yen remaining under pressure as the conflict in the Middle East continues to escalate.

"Some market participants would say that speculative moves in crude oil futures are affecting the currency market," Atsushi Mimura, vice finance minister for international affairs, told reporters.

The U.S. dollar held steady in the lower 159 yen range in Tokyo as investors continued to seek safety amid fears that the Middle East crisis could be prolonged.

When the dollar rose to a similar level in January, it dropped sharply on signs that Japanese and U.S. authorities could step in to curb the yen's slide.

Mimura said the Japanese government will take into account "the impact on people's livelihoods and the economy." A weaker yen raises the cost of imported energy and goods.
 
 

 

Japan coach Nils Nielsen hailed the character of his "inspirational" side after they withstood a sustained Australian barrage to win the Women's Asian Cup, with the Greenlander calling the title well-deserved.

His talented team proved untouchable in reaching Saturday's final, but were pushed all the way by the Matildas with Maika Hamano's long-range 17th minute strike all that separated them in front of more than 74,000 fans in Sydney.

"I'm very lucky to be working with players that are that good," said Nielsen, a former Denmark and Switzerland coach who has been at the helm since late 2024.

"Japan can be an inspiration for many in some ways. We can find a style that fits our players because they are talented. We couldn't find our own rhythm but the character of the players, the way they never stop playing, makes us 10-20 percent better.

"It's nice to be good, it's nice to be charming but if you don't win the tournament, it doesn't count," he added. "We didn't play as well as we could have but they still made it count. It's been too long since Japan last won a trophy so it was very important and well-deserved."

As world number six, Japan were favorites despite being in front of a partisan crowd willing on an Australian side desperate for their first trophy since the 2010 tournament.

It could have gone either way.

Arsenal's Caitlin Foord had three clear-cut chances for the hosts, and Australia peppered the Japanese goal in the last 15 minutes searching for an equaliser.

But Nielsen's side clung on with some back-to-the-wall defence to earn a third continental title after winning in 2014 and 2018 -- both also against Australia and by the same scoreline.

Nielsen was gracious in his praise of Joe Montemurro's battling side.
"Australia are a world-class team with world-class players. They were led well by Joe who always had something up his sleeves," he said. "We had a brilliant goal thanks to Maika. She's a talented youngster who's on the way up."

Montemurro said it has been "an excellent journey" for his squad despite the bitter defeat as they now look ahead to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

"I've got 26 warriors out there that for 21 days have been absolutely fantastic," he said. "Sometimes things fall for you, sometimes they don't.

But I think for us, this has been an excellent journey. We played top teams, and that's what we wanted.

"We solidified 'us' as a footballing team, and what we mean," he added. "We now have to start looking forward, and I'll try to keep the belief going."
 

 

East Japan Railway Co., or JR East, has taken the lead in launching a training program aimed at nurturing about 100 foreign workers annually under Japan's specified skilled worker program amid severe labor shortages in railway maintenance.

The trained workers are expected to find jobs at railway companies across the country, attracting attention as to whether they can contribute to alleviating the labor shortages.

On March 6, the scene of the program was shown to the press at JR East's general training center in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

A total of 113 participants from four countries, including Indonesia and Vietnam, attended lectures in Japanese and took part in exercises such as moving rails on a training track and operating machines used to tamp down the ballast laid beneath the rails.

About 60 pct of the participants have experience in participating in technical intern programs in Japan.
 
 

Tehran is prepared to allow Japanese-related ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which 93% of Japan’s imported crude oil flows, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said in an interview.

Discussions with Japan on the matter have already begun, according to a transcript of Araghchi’s interview with Kyodo News posted to his Telegram account Saturday. Araghchi said the issue had been raised during his phone call last Tuesday with Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

Speaking on a TV program Sunday, Motegi declined to go into detail about the phone call but said their discussion had “centered on the fact that halting trade — including container shipments — is not a good thing.”

“I emphasized that the safety of these vessels is of the utmost importance,” he said, noting that 45 Japanese vessels have currently halted in the Persian Gulf.

“From Japan’s perspective, since there are so many vessels involved, we believe it is extremely important to create a situation where all of them can pass through,” Motegi said.

In one diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran, Motegi told the same TV program that one of two Japanese nationals detained by Iran had traveled to Azerbaijan after having been released Wednesday. The person arrived in Japan on Sunday.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz after its effective closure amid the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran remains one of Japan’s top concerns.

But Araghchi denied the waterway has been closed, according to the interview transcript.

“In our opinion, the strait is open,” he said. “It is closed only for ships belonging to our enemies, countries that attack us. For other countries, ships can pass through the strait.”

On the issue of vessels’ safety, the top Iranian diplomat said that Iran is “ready to provide safe passage for them.”

“They just need to contact us to discuss how this route will be,” he said, adding that this "absolutely" included Japan.

Asked if the Japanese government had made an official request to cross the strait, Araghchi declined comment, saying that the talks are “ongoing.”

While most Group of Seven nations have adversarial relations with Iran, Japan has maintained relatively friendly ties with the country, potentially giving Tokyo more diplomatic sway than its partners in the grouping.

Araghchi’s remarks came ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's demand on Saturday that Iran open the strait within 48 hours or risk the destruction of the country's power plants.

"If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump wrote on social media.

The harshly worded post appeared to reflect his growing anger with Iran and allies, who have offered lukewarm responses to his call to join a coalition to secure the waterway.

On Friday, Trump said that "it would be nice" if Japan, China and other countries that depend on energy imports from the Middle East joined efforts to protect shipping in the strait — just a day after a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

During their meeting in Washington, Takaichi successfully avoided a public rift with Trump and appeared to win a degree of understanding from him on the issue, with the U.S. president praising Tokyo for “stepping up to the plate.” 

But the U.S. leader has continued to express frustration with partners for not sending warships to escort tankers and clear mines from the strait.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, he claimed that "a simple military maneuver" could be used to reopen the strait, which has been effectively closed since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28.

But such a move, he said, would need a large mass of ships to be sent to the area.

"It's relatively safe, but you need a lot of help, in the sense of you need help, you need volume. NATO could help us, but they, so far, haven't had the courage to do so, and others could help us," Trump said. 

"You know, we don't use the strait. … We don't need it. Europe needs it. (South) Korea, Japan, China, a lot of other people (need it),” he added. “So, they'll have to get involved a little bit on that.”

Takaichi has repeatedly said in public that nothing has been decided in regards to helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.

During a news conference after her summit with Trump, she said she had “clearly conveyed Japan’s position” on the legal difficulties in sending Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) ships to the strait, while stressing the need “for an early de-escalation of the situation” in Iran and a role for Tokyo in any diplomatic solution to the war.

Motegi on Sunday said that while Trump had said Tokyo should "step up" during his meeting with Takaichi, "there was no specific request for what we should do" following an explanation from the Japanese side.

"At least at that moment, President Trump seemed to understand and nodded in agreement," he said, adding that if a ceasefire agreement enters into effect, the U.S. leader could ask for the MSDF to be deployed.

One hour before the Takaichi-Trump summit on Thursday, Japan joined a handful of European nations in issuing a joint statement calling for an “immediate comprehensive moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas installations” and expressing a readiness “to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait.”

“We welcome the commitment of nations who are engaging in preparatory planning,” the leaders of Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom said in the statement.

Several other nations, including South Korea, also signed on to the statement on Friday.
 
 

Against the backdrop of soaring prices, a number of major companies across a wide range of industries, including automobiles and electronics, fully agreed on Wednesday to high wage increases as demanded by labor unions during this year’s shunto spring wage negotiations.

Many companies apparently fully accepted pay hike demands as they prioritized employees’ morale amid a severe business environment.

However, as negotiations with small and midsize enterprises are set to begin in earnest, rising crude oil prices due to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East could negatively impact their wage increases.

The Japanese Trade Union Confederation (Rengo) has set an overall target of at least a 5% increase in this year’s negotiations. For small and midsize enterprises, the target increase is at least 6%.

According to the Japan Council of Metalworkers’ Unions, all 49 member unions representing industries including the automobile and electronics sectors received decisions by 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Improvements to a pay-scale increase per month for base pay had been secured. The average wage increase stands at around 5.1%.

At a press conference on the same day, Akihiro Kaneko, president of the Confederation of Japan Automobile Workers’ Unions, expressed satisfaction. “Although the environment surrounding the automobile industry is severe, I highly appreciate the fact that we were able to secure the requested level,” he said.

All seven major automakers responded with wage increases that met or exceeded the requested amounts, an improvement from 2025, when only three companies did so. The move aims to boost employees’ morale even as business performance remains sluggish due to factors such as U.S. tariffs.

Nissan Motor Co., which gave its response before Wednesday, is projected to post a net loss for the fiscal year ending March 2026, while Mazda Motor Corp. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. also reported net losses for the April-December 2025 period.

A Mitsubishi Motors executive stated, “Precisely because the world is in turmoil, we want employees to focus on their work rather than prolonging wage negotiations.”

Honda Motor Co. also offered to fully meet the proposed amount of ¥18,500, including a ¥12,000 pay-scale raise and a regular pay increase.

The company is expected to post a net loss of up to ¥690 billion in its consolidated financial results for the fiscal year ending March 2026, mainly due to losses related to electric vehicles.



Steel sector falls short of demands

Major electronics manufacturers have reported solid performance driven mainly by increased demand for power transmission and distribution equipment as well as artificial intelligence services.

Five of the seven firms, including Hitachi, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Electric Corp., offered full-scale raises, with all companies exceeding offers from the previous year.

Mitsubishi Electric’s rate of increase, which combines a pay-scale raise and a merit-based pay increase, was 7% on average – the highest level since the current negotiation system was adopted in 2008.

Meanwhile, raises offered by major steelmakers fell short of demands for pay-scale increases due to deteriorating market conditions caused by overproduction in China.

JFE Steel Corp. responded to a demand of ¥15,000 with an offer of ¥7,000 – less than half the amount. The company had met the full ¥15,000 demand in 2025.

A public relations official from the company said: “We had anticipated an improvement in the business environment, but the severe conditions have persisted. The outlook remains uncertain.”

In response to the ¥15,000 increase demand, Nippon Steel Corp. offered ¥10,000 and Kobe Steel, Ltd. offered ¥13,000 — both lower than the previous year’s figures.
 
 

The Bank of Japan on Thursday kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged, as developments in the Middle East complicate the future path of its monetary policy.

With the Iran war threatening to drive up inflation and dampen economic growth, the central bank is bracing for the upside and downside risks to the price and economic outlooks.

BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said at a press conference after its two-day policy meeting through Thursday that he "needs more time" to understand the impact the war will have on the economy.

"We have decided to keep the policy unchanged as risks associated with rising crude oil prices have newly emerged," Ueda said. "We will make an appropriate policy decision next month after examining the new risk scenario and outlook when more data become available."

The bank has been seeking to normalize its monetary policy since it ended unconventional monetary easing two years ago to stably achieve its 2 percent inflation target.

If the central bank continues raising its policy interest rate to tame possible higher inflation at a time when an energy price surge threatens to dent demand, the move could add pressure on growth, while leaving the policy intact could fuel inflation coupled with the yen's recent weakening. A weaker yen increases import costs.

Still, Ueda said more policymakers are aware of the upside risk to inflation.
The U.S. Federal Reserve, which also decided to keep its rate steady at its meeting through Wednesday, also warned of higher inflation with Fed chief Jerome Powell emphasizing uncertainty over the U.S. economic outlook from the Iran war.

At the policy meeting, the BOJ left the key rate at around 0.75 percent for the second consecutive meeting.

The Japanese central bank lifted its policy rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent from 0.5 percent at its December meeting.

The latest decision to stand pat on the rate was delivered in an eight-to-one vote, with hawkish policymaker Hajime Takata proposing a rate hike to around 1.0 percent.

The nationwide core consumer price index, excluding volatile fresh food, in Japan is expected to come under "upward pressure," affected by the rise in crude oil prices, the bank said in a post-meeting statement.

The yen's recent depreciation against the U.S. dollar is also threatening to raise import costs for resource-poor Japan.

The dollar came within striking distance of the 160 yen mark overnight, a level unseen since 2024 prior to the BOJ's meeting, prompting Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama to say Japanese authorities are on "full guard" and ready to consider all possible options.

In the wake of the U.S.-Israeli launch of attacks on Iran, the dollar has drawn buying, as a safe-haven asset in times of crisis. Tokyo shares have also faced steep declines with uncertainties heightening over the effects of the Middle East crisis on inflation and the broader economy.

The war with Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which many oil tankers pass, including those bound for Japan. There has also been damage to liquefied natural gas export facilities.

Soaring crude oil prices will likely push up the prices of many products, from gasoline to plastics. Electricity and gas bills could also rise if liquefied natural gas prices climb alongside oil prices.
 
 

Japan's Suzuki Motor Corp. has unveiled to the media its second biogas plant in India, which processes cow dung to produce methane for compressed natural gas vehicles.

The plant in Bhukhala, Gujarat, shown on Thursday, ferments cow dung collected from farmers and extracts methane, which is sold at an attached filling station.

Biogas derived from cow dung is considered a carbon-neutral fuel and contributes to raising farmers' incomes.

The plant was built as part of a demonstration project launched by the vehicle maker mainly in cooperation with a local dairy industry association.

The facility, which opened in January, processes 100 tons of cow dung per day and produces about 1.5 tons of biogas daily.
 
 
 
 

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.
 


 

Japan's House of Representatives on Thursday approved two academics regarded as reflationists as new members of the Bank of Japan's Policy Board.

At the day's plenary meeting, the lower chamber of the Diet, the country's parliament, confirmed the government's nominations of 22 people at 11 institutions, including Chuo University professor Toichiro Asada and Aoyama Gakuin University professor Ayano Sato for the nine-member policymaking board of the central bank.

The House of Councillors, the upper chamber, is also expected to confirm the batch of nominations at a meeting Monday, completing the parliament's approval procedures for the 22 individuals.

Asada and Sato, who are set to succeed two retiring Policy Board members, are considered to be in favor of reflationist policies, namely monetary easing and active public spending.

Their nominations gave rise to a view that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who promotes her "responsible and proactive" fiscal policy, moved to warn against the BOJ's stance of continuing to raise interest rates.
 
 

Japan's seasonally adjusted core machinery orders in January fell 5.5% from the previous month, after a spike driven by large-scale orders in December, Cabinet Office data showed Thursday.

The private-sector orders excluding those for ships and equipment used at power companies, closely watched as a leading indicator of corporate capital spending, came to ¥982.4 billion.

The government agency kept its basic assessment intact, saying that machinery orders are showing signs of picking up.

Many private think tanks expect corporate capital spending to remain firm, but concerns linger over the conflict in Iran.

"If (the military conflict) drags on, there is a risk that appetite for capital spending will shrink at once," said Takeshi Minami of Norinchukin Research Institute.

Machinery orders from manufacturers dropped 12.5% to ¥435.8 billion. In the previous month, the sector was boosted by large-scale orders from the nonferrous metal industry and the oil and coal sector.

Core orders from nonmanufacturers rose 6.8% to ¥563.2 billion, driven by orders for computers and road vehicles including trailers.

Total machinery orders, including those from the public sector and abroad, declined 2.0% to ¥3,942.1 billion.
 
 

 
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.
 

 

The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan as of Monday surged 29 yen from a week earlier to hit a record high of 190.8 yen per liter, the industry ministry said Wednesday.

The jump was driven by a spike in wholesale prices after crude oil prices surged following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, in the wake of escalating tensions over Iran.

The Japanese government will resume subsidies to oil wholesalers Thursday, aiming to lower the average pump price to around 170 yen per liter.

With major wholesalers expected to raise their prices further, the initial amount of subsidies will be as much as 30.2 yen per liter. It is expected to take a week or two for the effect of the subsidies to be reflected in retail prices.

Retail prices rose for the fifth consecutive week, with all 47 prefectures of the country logging increases. The highest price was 198.5 yen in Yamagata, northeastern Japan, while Okayama in western Japan logged the largest weekly rise, at 32.1 yen.
 
 

Japanese exports rose 4.2 per cent year-on-year in February, up for a sixth straight month, data from the Ministry of Finance showed on Wednesday.

The result compared with a 1.6 per cent increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll.

Imports grew 10.2 per cent in February from a year earlier, versus an 11.5 per cent increase expected by economists.

The trade balance stood at a surplus of 57.3 billion yen (S$460.6 million), compared with the forecast of a deficit of 483.2 billion yen.
 

Key Points

-    Nissan will export the Murano SUV built in Smyrna, Tennessee, to Japan beginning early next year. It marks the first American-made Nissan sold in Japan since the 1990s.

-    Nissan is the latest of Japanese automaker to announce such plans after regulators loosened regulations to more easily allow automakers to import vehicles from the U.S. to Japan.

-    Under the new rules, U.S.-made vehicles don’t have to meet Japanese vehicle certification as long as they comply with American standards.
 
Nissan Motor plans to join fellow Japanese automakers Toyota Motor and Honda Motor

in exporting U.S.-produced vehicles to Japan following changes to the country’s vehicle import rules reached through a trade deal last year with the Trump administration.

The company on Tuesday said it will import the midsize Nissan Murano, built in Smyrna, Tennessee, to Japan beginning early next year. It marks the first American-made Nissan sold in Japan since the 1990s, according to a Nissan spokeswoman.

“With the introduction of this model, Nissan aims to further strengthen its product lineup in Japan and meet the diverse needs of Japanese customers,” Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa said in a statement.

Nissan is the latest Japanese automaker to announce such plans after changes to regulations meant automakers could more easily import vehicles from the U.S. to Japan. Those rules were put in place as part of a trade deal that also included easing U.S. tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump.
 
Under the new Japanese regulations that were confirmed last month, U.S.-made vehicles don’t have to meet the country’s vehicle certification as long as they comply with American standards.

Nissan confirmed plans to import the Murano from the U.S. with the steering wheel on the left-hand side of the vehicle, which is typical for Americans but not in the Japanese market.

Automakers typically have to tailor vehicles to meet safety and other regulations for different countries globally. They can range from things such as lighting and side mirrors to more complex parts such as the location of the steering wheel.
 
 

Fans of Wasabeef potato chips may have to brace themselves for emptier shelves.

Japanese snack maker Yamayoshi Seika announced that it has suspended production of several products due to difficulties securing fuel, forcing it to halt factory operations.

The snack maker said it has stopped producing six items — including its flagship wasabi and beef-flavored potato chips — as heavy oil used in manufacturing became difficult to procure, citing disruptions linked to the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The company has not set a timeline for resuming production.

Yamayoshi also temporarily closed its direct sales store and online shop from Monday and has stopped accepting new orders. The company said orders already placed will be fulfilled.

Retail availability will be limited to existing inventories at supermarkets and other outlets.

“We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and trouble this will cause our customers and business partners,” the company said in a notice, adding it is working to secure fuel and resume operations as soon as possible.

The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime chokepoint for global oil shipments, has been effectively blocked by Iran amid a war with the U.S. and Israel. The chokepoint handles a significant share of global crude exports, and any disruption can quickly tighten fuel supply.

For countries such as Japan that are heavily dependent on imports, that can translate to unexpected knock-on effects — including, as evidenced in this case, on the snack aisle.

Yamayoshi’s production halt is one of the first tangible impacts of the oil shock on Japanese consumers.

Its products’ sudden unavailability sparked a wave of online dismay among fans of the potato chips on social media, with many netizens expressing concern about other daily goods that might disappear off the shelves as well.
 
 

Many Japanese firms remain underinsured despite rising exposure to cyber-incidents.

HDI Global SE’s Japan unit plans to expand its cyber-insurance capabilities whilst tightening underwriting discipline as companies face rising digital threats and insurers seek to protect profitability, its country head said.

Managing Director Hiro Yamasaki said cyber-risk is becoming one of the most rapidly evolving threats for businesses as attacks grow more frequent and sophisticated, increasing the risk of operational disruption.

“Cyber-risk is definitely one of the fastest-evolving risks for businesses today,” he told Insurance Asia. “The frequency and sophistication of attacks continue to increase and the potential business interruption impact can be severe.”

Yamasaki said Japan’s cyber-insurance market still has room to expand as many companies remain underinsured despite rising exposure to cyber-incidents.

A study by Aon Plc found that more than a quarter of organisations in Japan reported cyber-related losses, underscoring the scale of the risk.

However, far fewer companies have formal business continuity plans, pointing to gaps in preparedness that could affect insurance coverage and claim outcomes.

“Cyber-risk must be approached holistically, not only through insurance capacity but through continuous risk management as well,” Yamasaki said via Zoom.

Yamasaki, who took the helm of the Japanese unit of the Germany-based insurer earlier this year, said the company would continue focusing on its core commercial insurance portfolio whilst gradually strengthening cyber-offerings for corporate clients.

The insurer primarily serves large commercial and industrial companies in Japan, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing and multinational operations where property and liability insurance play a key role in managing operational risks.

Property and liability lines remain the backbone of the group’s business globally.

These segments account for the majority of gross written premiums, with fire and other property damage forming a significant share and general liability another major component, according to the company’s financial disclosures.

Japan’s property and casualty insurance market is also expanding as businesses seek broader protection against operational and financial risks.
Industry forecasts point to steady growth over the coming years as corporate risk management becomes more complex.

Within this environment, HDI Global aims to stand out through technical underwriting expertise and disciplined risk selection, Yamasaki said.

The insurer is also looking to deepen partnerships with brokers and agents.

More structured strategy discussions and clearer communication are intended to strengthen collaboration and improve the development of insurance solutions for clients.

HDI Global’s international network is another advantage for Japanese companies operating overseas. The insurer operates across more than 170 countries, enabling multinational clients to arrange coordinated coverage across multiple territories.

Technology is expected to play a bigger role in underwriting and risk assessment. HDI Global is investing in data analytics and artificial intelligence tools to support faster and more consistent decision-making whilst keeping specialist expertise central to the process.

“Balanced growth and sustainable profitability come from technical excellence, disciplined underwriting, and strong partnerships,” Yamasaki said.
 
 

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.
 

 

ANA Holdings Inc. is considering launching a new business using fixed-wing drones to survey damage in remote areas following a disaster.

The parent company of All Nippon Airways aims to use the drones, which can fly at high speeds and cover long distances, to survey disaster-struck mountainous areas and peninsulas.

It plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with a Swiss drone manufacturer for business use and to promote its new service to local governments and other businesses.

The drone model eyed for the new business has a wingspan of 1.2 meters and weighs 5.2 kilograms, small enough for a single person to carry.

Equipped with a camera, the model will be used to inspect aging infrastructure facilities such as bridges and utility towers to detect changes in their condition that might indicate possible issues.

In case of a disaster, the model can be used to survey landslides, cracks or other changes on the ground, as well as damage sustained to infrastructure.

During a test in October 2025 near Mt. Fugen in Nagasaki Prefecture, a fixed-wing drone was able to inspect an area of about 150 hectares for 30 minutes and detect fine cracks on erosion control facilities and changes in their condition, according to ANA Holdings.

When a powerful earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture in January 2024, ANA Holdings conducted a survey using a large drone. However, the company encountered challenges, such as the long time required to transport such a large product to the affected areas.

ANA Holdings is therefore turning to the small model with fixed wings, as it can be operated more flexibly. The model is more maneuverable than a helicopter and can survey wider areas than a small drone without fixed wings.

ANA Holdings also plans to launch a logistics business using a large drone with a wingspan of 7 meters as early as 2027. When a disaster strikes, the drone will be tasked with delivering food and other relief supplies to areas where access has been cut off.

Other companies are also trying to use fixed-wing drones for their businesses.

In January, Itochu Corp. announced that it will work with Pasco Corp. on the practical use of fixed-wing drones in aerial surveying. The major trading firm is considering using the drones to transport blood products and medical equipment in normal times, as well as deploying them when a disaster happens.

East Japan Railway Co. has also conducted tests using a fixed-wing drone in heavy snowfall areas to survey conditions on slopes along its tracks and analyze if an avalanche could happen.

As the market for fixed-wing drones is expanding, the government is currently working to establish a new national certification specifically for this type by the end of the year.

Currently, operators must hold a highly specialized certification for unmanned aircraft that require the use of runways. The government aims to promote fixed-wing drones by establishing a certification that is easier to acquire.
 
 

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."
 

 

Last year saw 143 ransomware attacks on small and midsize companies in Japan, accounting for 60% of all attacks in the country for the second year in a row, according to the National Police Agency.

Officials at one company that was targeted said the attack could have caused the firm’s bankruptcy.


Data hacked

Early on the morning of Jan. 6 last year, a security official at a manufacturer of dairy products in Tokyo received an automated call that said irregularities had been detected in the company’s internal system.

Accessing the server via a computer at home, he found that some file extensions had been overwritten.

“Is this ransomware?” he thought. After instructing all employees via the in-company chat not to start their computers, he rushed to his firm’s data center.

There, he discovered that almost all their data had been encrypted. When he opened a text file on the server that had been left unencrypted, he saw that it was a note from RansomHub, a notorious ransomware group, that claimed responsibility and said the data had been “taken” to the group’s server.



Brought to a standstill


Data about the firm’s roughly 7,000 corporate customers and personal information about its employees was encrypted and a server at a separate location was also affected.

The firm was forced to suspend production and distribution. Even the backup files, which were supposed to have been impossible to overwrite, had been encrypted.

The ransomware group demanded a payment of $1 million, or about ¥150 million, to restore the data. Management decided that same day not to comply with the demand, believing the data might not be restored even if they paid. The company’s headquarters ground to a halt.

But there was one saving grace. The firm’s core system, which had a specially designed operating system, had not been attacked. The system was introduced about 40 years ago and was set to be retired in about six months.

The core system was accessed safely from a computer, suggesting it might be possible to take some orders and check stock again.

It was around 3 p.m. that the firm managed to partially resume operations. The company explained the situation to customers over the phone and received orders via phone and fax. The firm continued production with rough projections, keeping its plants online.


Early warning signs

The company was hacked through a virtual private network, or VPN, which was used to access the in-company system from outside. The company identified traces of an attack three days before, but it was unable to decrypt files in the attacked server.

It took the firm four months to completely restore operations, costing it tens of millions of yen, including for safety measures after the incident.

So far, there is no sign of secondary damage, such as the disclosure of customer information.

“The attack was beyond our expectations,” said one corporate official. “The incident made us keenly aware that we need a system that will allow us to keep operating even if it gets infected or we are attacked, which could mean a backup system that is not connected to the internet.”

“We never expected our firm would be targeted,” said a senior official. “The core system just happened to survive, but otherwise we would have gone bankrupt.”
 
 

The umbrella body for labor unions at Japanese electronics makers plans to allow member unions to accept pay scale hike offers from management in the ongoing shuntō annual wage negotiations if the proposed levels are ¥12,000 or higher per month, sources said Saturday.

The minimum acceptable level will be higher than last year's ¥10,000 or more. The hike is intended to help sustainably realize robust pay increases outpacing inflation.

The Japanese Electrical Electronic & Information Union is expected to make a decision on the matter Monday, informed sources said.

Unions at major electronics makers have demanded a monthly pay scale hike of ¥18,000.

Labor-management negotiations in the 2026 shuntō are in the final stretch toward Wednesday, when many major companies in Japan are slated to present their responses.

Starting with the 2020 shuntō, the umbrella body for electronics unions allows agreed pay hikes to vary from company to company if the levels are at or above the minimum acceptable standards set by the organization.

Agreed pay increases are highly likely to differ again this year, due to gaps among companies with regard to earnings performances and business environments.

NEC, which is enjoying rosy earnings, has already informed its labor union of a plan to fully meet the union request for a monthly pay scale hike of ¥18,000.

In the 2025 shuntō, unions at major electronics makers sought a pay scale increase of ¥17,000 per month.

In response, NEC, Hitachi Ltd. and Fujitsu Ltd. fully accepted their unions' demands. Meanwhile, Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba and Sharp concluded their negotiations with the labor side at ¥15,000, ¥14,000 and ¥12,000, respectively.
 
 

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.
 
 

The Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) held a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the tentatively named Yamanashi Prefecture Station, marking the start of construction for a series of planned stations between Tokyo’s Shinagawa and Nagoya Station that are set to support the future Linear Chuo Shinkansen maglev train service.

The station, to be used exclusively for the maglev line, is about 7 kilometers south of JR Kofu Station, straddling the cities of Kofu and Chuo in Yamanashi Prefecture.

 

Features of the project will include the station building and a 1.2-kilometer elevated bridge where the platforms will be located. There will be two platforms and four tracks.

The station building will be four stories tall, with ticket gates on the second floor and platforms on the fourth floor.

JR Tokai signed a construction contract with the contractor in September 2025 and has been moving forward with preparatory work since February this year. The construction period is set to last until December 2031.

Attending the groundbreaking ceremony were JR Tokai President Shunsuke Niwa, Yamanashi Gov. Kotaro Nagasaki and various local municipal leaders.

“As we proceed with construction, we want to make safety our highest priority and place great importance on cooperation with the local community,” said Niwa.
 
 

PayPay Corp, the Japanese provider of a popular digital payment app, made a major stock market debut on the U.S. Nasdaq exchange on Thursday, a move aimed at supporting its global expansion.

PayPay was valued at around $12.1 billion based on its closing price of $18.16, exceeding the initial offering price of $16 per share. The offering price was set below the initially indicated range of $17 to $20.

Although U.S. stocks fell broadly on concerns over the war raging in the Middle East, the new share opened at $19, about 19 percent above the offering price.

At a commemorative ceremony at the Nasdaq, PayPay President Ichiro Nakayama rang the bell, saying the company hopes to show that a Japanese firm "can directly access the U.S. capital markets and grow with strength."

For the listing, PayPay issued about 31 million new shares to bolster its overseas business, while an investment fund operated by SoftBank Group Corp will sell around 24 million shares. Nakayama said, "We will always remain challengers."

 

After the listing, roughly 90 percent of PayPay's shares will be owned by companies including SoftBank Corp and LY Corp, operator of the Line messaging app.

Last month, PayPay announced plans to enter the U.S. market by setting up a new firm with global credit card brand Visa Inc, aiming to build its merchant network through QR code and contactless payments in California and elsewhere.

The Japanese company launched the app in Japan in 2018 and had about 73 million users as of March.
 
 

At least 1,515 Japanese firms operate in the Middle East, where Japanese nationals have begun to evacuate following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, a survey by research firm Teikoku Databank showed Friday.

Of them, 469 companies have resident offices and plants. Teikoku Databank noted that these firms may be forced to halt or reconsider their operations there.

The survey covered Japanese businesses in 13 countries in the region. It confirmed that 126 companies are operating in Iran, including importers of food and furniture products to Japan.

The number of operating Japanese firms was highest in the United Arab Emirates, at 709, followed by 473 in Israel.

By industry, 883 companies were electronics, luxury used car and other wholesalers, 291 were manufacturers and 127 were service firms.
 
 

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.
 
 

The average retail gasoline price in Japan rose to 161.80 yen per liter as of Monday, reflecting higher crude oil prices amid the Iran war, industry ministry data showed, with the price possibly jumping to above 180 yen next week.

The average price advanced 3.30 yen from March 2, rising for the fourth straight week, after the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, launched on Feb. 28, drove up crude oil prices, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Wednesday.

The Oil Information Center, which collected the data, estimates the price could hike a further 20 yen next week as tensions in the Middle East continue, stoking fears over crude oil supplies.

The increase in the price of gasoline comes as a headache for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government as it strives to tackle inflation.

Due to the end of a provisional gasoline tax in December, the price of gasoline had been moving at its lowest level in around four and a half years in recent weeks, providing relief for many businesses and car owners.

In mid-January, the price hit as low as 154.70 yen, contributing to a slowing down the country's nationwide inflation to 2.0 percent in the month, the lowest in two years.

According to the ministry, advances in the price of gasoline were recorded in all 47 prefectures as of Monday.

Diesel prices were also 3.2 yen higher than the previous week at 149.8 yen, while the price of kerosene climbed 47 yen to 2,267 yen per 18 liters, the size of a standard home storage tank.
 
 

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. 
 
 

East Japan Railway has said it will launch a trial in April of a system that uses artificial intelligence to monitor pantographs on trains running on its busy Yamanote Line in Tokyo to detect defects at an early stage.

The railway operator, known as JR East, also plans to use drones toinspect overhead wires and other infrastructure, aiming to reduce the time required to resume operations by 30% when transport service disruptions occur due to equipment problems.

Cameras to monitor pantographs, which are located on the roof of a train car and connect the carriage to overheard electrical wires, will be installed near Shimbashi, Ebisu, Mejiro and Uguisudani stations in the capital, the company said Tuesday.

The AI system will analyze the images in real time, and if damage is detected, it will notify the control room or other relevant sections. Drones will be dispatched later to inspect overhead wires and other equipment, facilitating faster restoration work.

By replacing the work traditionally done by people with AI and drones, the system is expected to shorten the time needed to identify damaged vehicles and inspect facilities.

It is the first time for JR East to use AI to detect such damage, and the company is considering introducing it to the Tokyo-Shinjuku section on its Chuo Line and to shinkansen services in the future.

In May last year, many pantographs on the Yamanote Line were damaged due to broken overhead wires, affecting about 250,000 people.

This year, JR East faced a series of large-scale transportation disruptions due to power outages on its Yamanote, Joban and Utsunomiya lines, making it an urgent task for the company to prevent a recurrence.