Honda Motor Co reported Tuesday a 42% drop in profit for the nine months through December, compared to a year earlier, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs hurt the Japanese automaker’s earnings.

Honda’s profit over the three quarters totaled 465.4 billion yen ($3 billion), down from 805.2 billion yen.

That marked the second straight year that profit declined during the period at Honda, the maker of the Accord sedan, Civic compact and Odyssey minivan.

Sales for the three quarters dipped 2.2% to 15.98 trillion yen ($102.6 billion) from the previous year. Honda stuck to its full fiscal year profit forecast at 300 billion yen ($1.9 billion).

The slowdown in electric vehicles in the U.S. market was one negative factor, according to Honda, while the relatively healthy performance in its motorcycle division worked as a plus.

Honda lowered its global EV sales ratio projection for 2030 to 20% from its previous target of 30%. It also said it canceled the development of some EV models, because the EV market was changing.

The Trump administration, which has favored the oil and gas industry, has backpedaled on prior programs supporting the proliferation of EVs, dismantling programs that kicked in during the Biden administration, which had encouraged environmentally cleaner cars and trucks.

Last year, Trump lowered the tariffs on automobiles and auto parts to 15% from an earlier 25% that he had initially announced. Japan promised to invest $550 billion in U.S. projects.

Tariffs are a major blow to Japan’s export-reliant economy, including the automakers. Last week, Japan’s top automaker Toyota Motor Corp. reported a decline in recent profit, and announced that its chief financial officer, Kenta Kon, will become its new chief executive and president.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office in October as Japan's first female leader, scored a landslide parliamentary election victory for the governing party over the weekend.

That’s expected to make it easier for her Liberal Democratic Party to push forward on its policies, including bolstering growth by boosting government spending, especially in technology and defense.

Honda stock jumped 2.1% in Tuesday’s trading. The Nikkei 225 benchmark finished 2.3% higher, renewing a record high for the second day straight, in a rally set off, in part, by Takaichi’s popularity.
 
 

Japan's main opposition party the Centrist Reform Alliance on Thursday officially began a brief two-horse race to select its new leader, as the recently established party seeks to rebuild after a crushing defeat in the recent general election.

The new party head is set to be chosen Friday in the race being contested by Junya Ogawa, 54, a former secretary general of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and Takeshi Shina, 59, the CDPJ's former acting policy chief.

The CRA was established in January and united House of Representatives members of the CDPJ and the Komeito party to achieve a centrist realignment amid what they view as a rightward shift under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Instead, it faced defeat, with its 167 seats before official campaigning falling to 49 in Sunday's election.

Speaking at an event to launch the leadership campaign, Shina said the party "must move forward raising a centrist banner for the sake of democracy and the next generation."

The CRA's loss has made it the smallest main opposition party in postwar Japanese history.

Ogawa referred to cost-of-living pressures on inflation-hit households, saying the party must "rebuild livelihoods" and that it has to "do something about the pervasive uncertainty toward the future spreading in society."

The race will be won by the candidate with the most votes from the party's lower house lawmakers, with no run-off round. The new leader's term will run until the end of March 2027.

The race did not require lawmakers to receive the backing of their colleagues to become a candidate. No lawmakers from the Komeito side came forward to run.

With the founding parties' lawmakers in the House of Councillors yet to merge with their lower house colleagues into the CRA in the wake of the election defeat, both men indicated to reporters that they do not plan to rush a merger.

Shina said there is "no reason to be hasty" on the issue, while Ogawa said the party "must proceed deliberately, clarify its direction and then decide."

The CRA's election strategy has caused internal tensions after Komeito was given priority in the proportional representation list, leading to all 28 of its candidates being elected.

Conversely, the CDPJ side fought in single-member districts and faced a wipeout, with only seven of its candidates including Shina and Ogawa winning in constituency races. Just 21 of the party's lower house lawmakers now originate from the CDPJ.

The party leadership contest comes after CRA co-leaders Yoshihiko Noda and Tetsuo Saito, respective former heads of the CDPJ and Komeito, said Monday they would step down to take responsibility for the election loss.

Komeito, a self-styled pacifist party, ended its 26-year coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in October, shortly after Takaichi became its leader.
 
 

The transport ministry plans to provide subsidies for measures designed to ease airport congestion caused by an increase in inbound tourists as part of efforts to address overtourism and create a more comfortable travel environment.

Specifically, the ministry is considering subsidizing costs for expanding passenger walkways at airports and increasing baggage conveyor belts in a bid to reduce long waiting times and queues.

The ministry has earmarked ¥2.88 billion ($18.9 million) for the program in the government's fiscal 2026 budget proposal.

Domestic airlines, airport terminal operators and local governments that manage airports would be eligible for the subsidies, which are expected to cover half of the costs, in principle, for strengthening terminal building functions to alleviate congestion.

The subsidies are also expected to be utilized for improving and expanding airport bus terminals and installing digital signage to guide passengers to their destinations so that they can smoothly transfer to public transportation.

The program will also cover airport ground operations, such as aircraft guidance and baggage handling. It will help promote operational efficiency by supporting the introduction of advanced equipment and help improve the working environment by installing air-conditioning systems in baggage-sorting areas.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record high of about 42.68 million in 2025, surpassing 40 million for the first time. At some airports, congestion has worsened, with long lines forming at security checkpoints.
 
 

A Japanese Justice Ministry panel on Thursday compiled an outline of a review of the country’s retrial system that would continue to allow public prosecutors to file appeals against courts’ decisions to start retrials.

The Legislative Council also outlined an automobile driving punishment law revision that would set numerical standards for the crime of dangerous driving resulting in death and injury, as well as a Civil Code revision related to the statutory adult guardianship and testament systems.

The panel handed the outlines to Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi the same day. The government plans to submit related bills to a special parliamentary session to be convened Wednesday.

Prosecutors will continue to be able to challenge retrial decisions under the outline on a proposed amendment to the criminal procedure law, despite the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and others calling for banning such appeals that could delay relief for falsely convicted people.

The outline also calls for establishing a new provision on evidence disclosures under the law, with a penalty proposed against those who used disclosed evidence for purposes other than their original intent.

It also includes a provision allowing courts to swiftly dismiss requests for retrials.
 
 

The memorandum aims to rehabilitate Units 1 and 2 of the Jandar power plant in Homs province, ensuring the stable supply of approximately 540 megawatts to the Syrian electricity grid.

The Charge d'Affaires of the Japanese Embassy in Damascus, Akihiro Tsuji, and the Acting Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Syria, Mohammed Mudawi, signed a memorandum for a loan to Damascus worth 1,952 billion yen (approximately $12,4 million) for the implementation of a project entitled "Stabilizing Energy Supply in Conflict-Affected Areas."

According to a statement from the Syrian Ministry of Energy posted on Telegram, the memorandum aims to rehabilitate Units 1 and 2 of the Jandar Power Plant in Homs province, central Syria, ensuring the stable supply of approximately 540 megawatts to the national grid.

The project is expected to contribute to improving electricity supply in the provinces of Damascus, Homs, Hama, and Deir ez-Zor.

Under the agreement, the Japanese government will finance the project, while UNDP will oversee its implementation in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy for a period of 24 months.

Deputy Minister of Energy for Electricity Affairs, Omar ShaqrouqHe thanked the Japanese government for the funding, noting that it covers comprehensive maintenance work on the plant, detailed technical assessments to identify priorities, procurement and installation of original spare parts, supervision of overhaul operations, and training of engineers and technicians.

Shaqrouq emphasized that the project will improve the efficiency and reliability of the power grid while strengthening national management and preventive maintenance capabilities.

Since 2014, Japan has allocated over $35 million to support electricity supply in Syria, rehabilitating three major power plants, adding 235 megawatts of generation capacity, and reducing losses by approximately 1,000 megawatts.
 
 

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 
 

The number of corporate bankruptcies in Japan in January involving liabilities of at least ¥10 million totaled 887, the highest level in 13 years, Tokyo Shoko Research said Monday.

The figure rose 5.5% from a year earlier, marking an increase for the second straight month, driven by growth in bankruptcies caused by sluggish sales.

Five of the 10 industries surveyed saw year-on-year rises in business failures, including the services, retail, wholesale and transportation sectors.

Bankruptcies stemming from weak sales climbed 6.3% to 649, accounting for the largest share of total failures. Failures linked to accumulated losses stood at 116, up 18.3%.

Bankruptcies due to high prices, where companies could not pass on rising costs and saw profits squeezed, jumped 24.5% to 76.

“This suggests the impact of sluggish real wage growth on consumer behavior,” a Tokyo Shoko Research official said.

Meanwhile, bankruptcies attributed to rising labor costs surged to 19 cases, nearly tripling from a year earlier, as a growing number of small and midsize firms were forced to raise wages to secure workers, worsening their cash positions.

Total liabilities left by failed companies fell 1.3% to ¥119,815 million. There was no failure with liabilities of ¥10 billion or more in the reporting month, while midsize companies accounted for a sizable share of total liabilities.
 


 

Japanese industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said Tuesday that he will visit the United States for four days from Wednesday to discuss Japanese investments in and loans to the United States as part of the two countries' tariff deal.

Akazawa will meet with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for in-depth talks on the possible first batch of projects.

Japan has agreed to make investments and loans worth up to 550 billion dollars in the United States in exchange for reductions in high U.S.
reciprocal and automobile tariffs imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump.

Gas-fired thermal power generation, synthetic diamonds and ports are major candidate projects. An announcement could be made if an agreement is reached between the two sides.

Akazawa, however, declined to comment on specific projects.
 
 
 
 

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

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

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

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

The government and Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) agree to accept a grant of defense and security equipment in the form of ships worth 1.9 billion yen from the Japanese government, after considering various aspects.

The agreement was the result of a closed-door working meeting between Commission I of the DPR RI, the Ministry of Defense, and the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) on Tuesday.

"During the meeting, we agreed to accept this grant from the Japanese government," Deputy Minister of Defense Donny Ermawan said during a press conference after the meeting.

According to him, this ship grant is part of the Japanese government's Official Security Assistance (OSA) program. Previously, Indonesia had also received a grant of two ships worth 1 billion yen from the same program.

Ermawan assessed this ship grant is important for Indonesia considering the various potential vulnerabilities posed by the country's vast territory.

This additional defense equipment will have a significant impact on the Indonesian Navy's security in Indonesian waters, he remarked.

From an operational perspective, he stated that the vessel is a patrol boat with speeds of up to 40 knots, suitable for operation in Indonesian waters.

"The value is around 1.9 billion Japanese yen. That would be approximately three or four ships," he informed.

Regarding the economic aspect, Ermawan said the Indonesian government did not use any state budget funds for this agreement.

He addressed that the agreement also considers the strengthening of the cooperative relationship between the two countries.

"Especially between the Ministry of Defense from both countries," he said.

Meanwhile, Utut Adianto, Chairman of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, stated that all mechanisms have been met, with approval from all factions.

However, he emphasized the importance of state sovereignty in this defense grant.

“This assistance should not dictate us in any way,” he emphasized.

Following this, the commission’s approval will be forwarded to a plenary session of the Indonesian House of Representatives.

“Once the process is completed, the items can be used. The ministry oversees their distribution, and vessels are typically brought to the Navy,” he said.

 

The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is joining forces with experts from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), the JSPS Alumni Association of Indonesia (JAAI), and the Indonesian Researchers Association (PPI) to reinforce the country’s research ecosystem.

“Indonesia must continue to maintain strong international relations and close partnerships, particularly through research and innovation with countries around the world,” said BRIN Head Arif Satria during The General Assembly Meeting and the 9th International Symposium of JAAI in Jakarta on Monday, February 9, 2026.

Arif emphasized that scientific collaboration is built on trust and long-term relationships fostered in laboratories and fieldwork. “JAAI and PPI provide excellent platforms to build new networks and future partnerships involving Indonesian, Japanese, and international academics,” he noted.

Strengthening the research ecosystem, he added, is essential to achieving Indonesia’s vision of Indonesia Emas 2045. This includes enhancing innovation capacity and national competitiveness to transform promising ideas into tangible, beneficial products.

Arif underlined the need to bridge gaps between research and industry, pointing out that national competitiveness reflects the contribution of research and innovation to the economy.

“This is evident in the excellence of R&D produced by industry, supported by research institutions, and high-quality human resources,” he said.

Through partnerships with JSPS, JAAI, and PPI, Arif expressed hope that BRIN can play a broader role in advancing research collaboration, particularly between Indonesia and Japan.
 

 

Japan's current account surplus in 2025 rose 11.1% from the previous year to a record ¥31.87 trillion ($203.5 billion), the Finance Ministry said in a preliminary report Monday.

The country's combined balance of goods and services trade thus extended its historic surplus growth to two years.

According to the ministry, the annual goods trade deficit shrank sharply to ¥848.7 billion from a deficit of ¥3.66 trillion.

Exports increased 2.5% to ¥107.76 trillion led by electronic components such as semiconductors and foodstuffs.

Although exports to the United States dropped for the first time in five years due chiefly to U.S. President Donald Trump's high tariff policy, those to other parts of Asia and Europe were robust.

On the other hand, imports inched down 0.1% to ¥108.6 trillion amid weaker markets for coal, crude oil and other energy commodities.

The current account surplus was also pushed up by net primary income's 4.7% rise to an all-time high of ¥41.59 trillion reflecting an increase in dividend payments by overseas subsidiaries of Japanese firms.

Meanwhile, Japan saw its services trade deficit widen to ¥3.39 trillion from ¥2.77 trillion, as expenses for developing automobiles and drugs abroad grew.

In December alone, the country's current account balance showed a net fund inflow of ¥728.8 billion, remaining in surplus for the 11th consecutive month.
 
 

Japan reported a record current account surplus for the second straight year in 2025, partly thanks to a narrower trade deficit.

The Finance Ministry says the surplus reached almost 31.9 trillion yen, or about 203 billion dollars.

The current account is a key measure of the nation's earnings from trade and investment outside the country.

A drop in the cost of energy imports helped reduce the trade deficit.
At the same time, the primary income surplus expanded as Japanese companies' subsidiaries overseas reported higher stock dividends and interest payments from bonds.

The monthly current account balance posted a surplus of about 4.6 billion dollars in December.

It was the eleventh straight month of black ink, although the size of the surplus fell by 32 percent from a year earlier.
 
 

The yen strengthened in Asian trading on Monday after Japanese Prime ⁠Minister Sanae Takaichi swept to victory in Sunday's election, abruptly reversing a six-day ‌string of losses as traders ‍bet fiscal stimulus will boost the stock market.

The yen overturned a 0.3% decline which saw the currency reach its weakest level in two weeks to strengthen as much as 0.7% before paring gains. It was last trading 0.3% firmer at 156.76 yen against the dollar.

The yen also retraced losses against other currencies, which earlier saw it reach its weakest ‍level on record against the Swiss ​franc and trade near the weakest point since the creation of the euro.

"While the initial yen weakness may not have played out, the outlook for the yen is still one which is likely to struggle to strengthen," said Sim Moh Siong, currency strategist at OCBC in Singapore.

"At least in the near term, there's also concern about intervention risk, which may be capping the upside for dollar-yen."

Japan's top currency diplomat Atsushi Mimura said earlier on Monday that the government is "closely watching currency movements with a high sense of urgency" after Takaichi's coalition swept to a historic election win.

Takaichi is projected to deliver as many as 328 of the 465 seats in Parliament's lower house for her Liberal Democratic Party. Alongside her ​coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party - known ​as Ishin - Takaichi now has a supermajority ‍of two-thirds of seats, allowing her to override the upper chamber, which she does not control.

"The Liberal Democratic Party's landslide ⁠victory removes political uncertainty and strengthens policy execution, but shifts market focus squarely to how fiscal policy is designed and communicated," said Shoki Omori, chief desk strategist for rates and FX at Mizuho in Tokyo.

"Risks from fiscal expansion had already been largely priced in before the election," he added. "The key question now is whether those risks are reinforced or gradually unwind."

The U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was flat at 97.629, at the start of ‌a week that will see the release of several key data releases out of Washington, including retail sales, inflation and Wednesday's delayed jobs report.

Traders are increasing their bets on policy easing from the Federal Reserve later this year. Fed funds futures are now pricing an implied 19.9% probability of a 25-basis-point cut at the U.S. central bank's next two-day meeting on March 18, up from a 18.4% chance on Friday, according to the CME Group's FedWatch tool.

The pound was last down 0.1% at $1.3599 as markets considered developments in a political crisis swirling around British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney, resigned on Sunday.

McSweeney said he was taking responsibility for advising ​Starmer to name ⁠Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S., despite his known links to Jeffrey Epstein.

Against the Chinese yuan trading offshore in Hong Kong , the U.S. dollar was last flat at 6.9317 yuan.

The ​Australian dollar was last up 0.1% at $0.7018, while the New ​Zealand dollar nudged ​0.1% higher to $0.6013 and the euro was flat at $1.1818.
Bitcoin was last down 0.3% at $70,454.92, while ether slumped 0.9% at $2,074.89.
 
 

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

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

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

 

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

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

 

 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Department stores are increasingly expanding their Valentine’s Day product lineup to include baked goods and alternative “chocolates” that contain no cacao.

As Feb. 14 approaches, stores are stepping up their sales campaigns while trying to avoid significant price hikes amid a sharp rise in the price of cocoa beans.

Sogo & Seibu Co. has doubled its non-chocolate offerings, which include cookies, gummies and castella cakes. Non-chocolate products account for about 20% of all its Valentine’s products.

As some chocolate products have risen in price by about 30% from last year, the company aims to maintain consumer spending by providing more non-chocolate, low-cost items.

The company is also offering Mokables (¥2,090 for 12 pieces), a new chocolate substitute that swaps cocoa beans for ground coffee beans and vegetable fat to recreate the appearance and melt-in-your-mouth feel of chocolate.

“We want to create more joy out of choosing from a variety of products,” a company official explained.

Takashimaya Co. is offering truffle and ganache products from four popular brands, including Toshi Yoroizuka, that use alternative chocolate.

These sweets are made with Anoza M, a new milk chocolate-flavored ingredient developed by Fuji Oil Co., a major oils and fats manufacturer.

Because Anoza M is created from peas and other ingredients, the products are reasonably priced, ranging from ¥1,188 to ¥2,800, and some products are about ¥600 cheaper than those made from cocoa beans.

Matsuya’s flagship store in Ginza is working to attract customers by showing how high-end chocolates are made, and from Sunday it will offer a course meal in which a pastry chef will prepare chocolate desserts and other dishes in front of customers.

The meal, which includes an alcoholic beverage, will set you back ¥18,700, but an official at the store said, “We’re catering to people who want to treat themselves to a Valentine’s Day gift.”

In 2024, cocoa beans soared in price on the international market, due in part to poor harvests by major producers such as Ghana.

The average price per kilogram on the New York cocoa futures market reached $10.70 (about ¥1,670) in January 2025, more than four times the price in January 2023, according to the International Cocoa Organization.

In January 2026, the price was back down to $4.97 (about ¥775), still about twice the price before the surge.

Major department stores are selling Valentine’s chocolates for an average of ¥436 per piece, 4.3% higher than last year and topping ¥400 for the second consecutive year, according to a survey by Teikoku Databank Ltd.
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


What do the projections mean?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Who is Sanae Takaichi?

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

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

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

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

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

Gallo signaled Friday that it sees wine and whiskey as a good mix for business.

The wine giant said it plans to add a prominent Kentucky bourbon brand to its portfolio in a deal to purchase Four Roses Distillery from Japanese-based Kirin.

The deal, valued at up to $775 million, is expected to close in the second quarter of this year, Kirin said in a release.

California-based Gallo said no changes are planned in operations, production or distribution once it acquires the Four Roses brand — produced in Lawrenceburg in the heart of Kentucky bourbon country.

“As we move through the regulatory process and await a closing date, we’re incredibly excited about this acquisition and the opportunity to welcome Four Roses into our portfolio,” Gallo said in a statement.

Founded in 1933 by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo, Gallo is a family-owned company with an extensive portfolio in wine, spirits, malt beverages and ready to drink products.

Kirin said Four Roses has achieved strong growth, primarily in the U.S., since it acquired the brand in 2002.

"Kirin regularly reviews its balance sheet and business portfolio from a medium to long term perspective," it said Friday. “After careful consideration as part of this review, Kirin decided to enter into an agreement to transfer the business to Gallo.

This transaction will allow Kirin to reallocate its resources toward businesses that could further grow by leveraging Kirin’s own organizational capabilities.”

Kirin didn't immediately signal how it will use proceeds from the Four Roses sale. The beverage giant also has holdings in health sciences and pharmaceuticals.

Four Roses Distillery completed a $55 million expansion several years ago that doubled production capacity at its Lawrenceburg plant. The iconic brand was a post-Prohibition powerhouse but disappeared from American shelves as a Kentucky straight bourbon for decades.

It’s only been since Kirin purchased Four Roses that the brand’s straight bourbons returned to American bars and liquor stores. A previous owner had turned Four Roses into a blended whiskey for U.S. consumption, while shipping the straight bourbons to foreign markets.

The Four Roses sale comes amid a period of uncertainty for American spirits producers as they navigate trade conflicts and nagging inflation that's pinched consumers' pocketbooks.

“While total U.S. spirits sales edged down 2.2% in 2025, the spirits industry remains resilient, driven by innovative products that continue to spark consumer interest,” Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said Thursday during its annual industry report.

Domestic sales of American whiskey — a category that includes bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey — totaled $5.1 billion in 2025, down nearly 1% from the prior year, the council said.

Demand for high-end premium whiskey brands remains strong, Swonger said. Those whiskeys age longer and fetcher higher prices for producers. Bourbon gets its flavor and golden brown color during aging.

“There is still a great deal of consumer interest and passion for America’s native spirit,” he said.
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Major power producer JERA Co. has announced that it signed a partnership agreement with U.S. e-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. to strengthen cooperation between the two.

Under the agreement, JERA will leverage Amazon’s artificial intelligence to improve efficiency in power plant maintenance, while providing a stable supply of eco-friendly energy to Amazon’s data centers to meet the growing energy demand fueled by AI, the company said Thursday.

Securing personnel and passing on technical expertise have become pressing issues at thermal power plants, JERA’s core business.

To address these challenges, the company intends to apply Amazon’s AI and cloud technologies to analyze operations and detect early signs of equipment failure.

For Amazon’s data centers, which require vast amounts of electricity, JERA is considering utilizing offshore wind power and thermal power generation using hydrogen and ammonia, as well as carbon capture and storage technology to collect carbon dioxide and store it underground.
 
 

 
Koji Sato is stepping down as president and chief executive officer of Toyota, the company said Friday.
 
Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon will succeed him, effective April 1.
 
Kon said the appointment, which he was informed of in January, came as a surprise.
 
“At this point, it’s not that I have assessed everything and have a clear roadmap,” Kon said, adding he will communicate with Sato and other executives about how to lead the automaker.
 
Sato will become vice chairman and assume the newly created role of chief industry officer.
 
According to Toyota, Kon will focus on Toyota’s internal management, while Sato will handle tasks related to the auto industry in general, as he also serves as chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and vice chairman of Keidanren.
 
“To maintain the international competitiveness of the auto industry, we must come together to find specific fields for cooperation and a winning strategy for Japan,” Sato said during a news conference on Friday.
 
“Since cross-industry collaboration will be critical, Toyota has to play a bigger role in the industry.”
 
Sato became Toyota president in April 2023, succeeding Akio Toyoda, in what was the first leadership change in about 14 years.
 
At that time Toyoda said he himself was from “the old school,” so a younger person should lead the automaker to face new challenges, such as producing EVs and software-defined vehicles.
 
Toyoda said that he chose Sato due to his eagerness to absorb Toyota’s philosophy and understand its technology.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Toyoda Gosei Co., a Toyota Motor group firm, plans to sell facilities for cultivating strawberries on a trial basis as early as fiscal 2026.

The facility will have solar-powered electric power generators to cool down and warm the facility so that no greenhouse gases will be emitted, and fruit can be cultivated year-round.

Since the volume of strawberry harvests generally declines in summer, the firm hopes that growers can gain a stable revenue through greenhouses that allow for year-round cultivation.

The company will sell an agricultural greenhouse and such things as solar panels, batteries, air-conditioning systems and LEDs in a set.

It will also provide strawberry seedlings and soil. To assist companies and others that want to begin production, the company will provide techniques to cultivate strawberries.

At its Inabe Plant in Mie Prefecture that is powered by renewable energy sources, Toyoda Gosei cultivates strawberries while manufacturing tanks to store hydrogen gas for fuel-cell vehicles.

The company has provided strawberries to a hotel in Nagoya as a new business outside of manufacturing auto parts.

Toyoda Gosei plans to gather opinions from companies and other entities in the trial sales and aims to begin the new business on a full-fledged basis based on the information gathered.
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Japanese exports of agriculture, forestry and fishery products and foods rose to over 1.7 trillion yen ($10.9 billion) in 2025, renewing the record for the 13th straight year, amid expansions of worldwide popularity of washoku, or Japanese cuisine, the farm ministry said Tuesday.

Amid heightened health awareness, green tea exports doubled from the previous year, and exports of 20 major items, including beef and rice, reached record high, contributing to a 12.8 percent year-on-year increase, according to the ministry.

But the exports fell short of the government's target of 2 trillion yen in 2025, with continuous efforts to develop export markets deemed indispensable as the government aims for 5 trillion yen in exports in 2030.

By country and region, the United States was the top destination at 276.2 billion yen, up 13.7 percent, on the back of strong demand for green tea and seafood that are considered healthy food, despite higher tariffs imposed since April last year.

Hong Kong came in second at 222.8 billion yen followed by Taiwan at 181.2 billion yen, while China, which has reimposed suspension of Japanese seafood imports amid a diplomatic row, ranked fourth at 179.9 billion yen.

Exports to China rose for the first time in three years, up 7.0 percent, driven by notable increases of beer and timber logs.

By volume, rice exports rose 3.2 percent from the previous year to 46,573 tons. Those of packaged precooked rice soared 21.8 percent to 2,950 tons, due in part to consumption expansions at Japanese chain restaurants overseas.

The government aims to boost annual rice exports, including packaged rice and rice flour, to 353,000 tons in 2030.

"We need to expand our destinations to popular local restaurants" in addition to chain restaurants operated by Japanese firms, an official of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.
 


 

The Japan Federation of Basic Industry Workers' Unions decided Wednesday to demand a monthly pay scale increase of 15,000 yen in this year's "shunto" spring wage negotiations.

The unified demand is at the same level as the previous year, which was a record high, to cope with price increases and labor shortages.

"This is the necessary level to sustain wage growth exceeding inflation," Masao Tsumura, head of the federation's central committee, said at the day's meeting.

Member unions will submit their pay demands to management on Friday.
Given the difference in business performance between heavy machinery makers and steelmakers facing sluggish markets, the federation said that member unions "should recognize differences in their situations and allow each other to set demands flexibly."
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Japan’s real gross domestic product in October-December last year likely grew 0.4 pct from the previous quarter for an annualized rise of 1.6 pct, according to the average estimate by 10 private think tanks.

The Japanese economy is believed to have returned to positive growth for the first time in two quarters, partly thanks to a pickup in housing investment.

The Cabinet Office is scheduled to release preliminary GDP data on Feb. 16.
In October-December, private consumption, the main pillar of domestic demand, is estimated to have increased only 0.1 pct.

“Consumption continues to lack strong momentum as inflation persists,” said Yoshiki Shinke, a senior economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute Inc.

Meanwhile, capital expenditure is expected to post an increase of 0.7 pct, supported by software investment for labor-saving purposes.
 
 

With Valentine's Day approaching, Japan's major department stores are turning to alternative methods and ingredients to curb the prices of chocolates, the country's most popular gift of the season, as cacao and logistics costs continue to climb.

Matsuya Co's department store in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district, for instance, has begun selling a new lineup of 10 chocolates through its online store that feature domestically produced fruit and ingredients, responding to rising prices by reducing the amount of cacao used per piece while highlighting the appeal of those foods.

In addition, Patisserie Couleur, a pastry shop from Shiojiri, Nagano Prefecture, will set up a booth at a special venue in Matsuya Ginza from Wednesday to sell products made with Shinshu buckwheat kernels and Shine Muscat grapes for 3,981 yen per box of eight.

"We used off-grade fruit and changed our packaging materials to keep costs down," said Takuya Sasaki, 35, the shop's representative.

Stores under Takashimaya Co have prepared sweets made with cacao-free chocolate substitutes, including items created by famous chefs, that can be bought for about 650 yen less than regular products, as the average price of items handled at its stores has risen by about 10 percent compared with last year.

Sogo & Seibu Co has also doubled its selection of non-chocolate items, such as baked goods and gummies, which are less affected by rising raw-material costs.

In Japan, many women give chocolates to the men in their lives, including husbands, boyfriends and fathers, around the time of Feb 14, Valentine's Day. The sweets also serve as seasonal gifts to friends, coworkers and business partners.

However, a Matsuya survey released in January showed a trend of people planning to spend more on chocolates for themselves, with the average budget for personal treats exceeding 10,000 yen for the first time.

Matsuya is offering reservation-only courses where pastry chefs prepare desserts in front of guests for as much as 18,700 yen, while Takashimaya will host its annual Amour du Chocolat! Valentine's chocolate event, featuring a lineup of limited-edition chocolates.
 
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

As Japan depends greatly on imported food and energy, the prices of many goods tend to rise if the yen’s lower value boosts the cost of imported items.

All the major parties are vowing to lower the consumption tax rate in their campaigns for the House of Representatives election.

Partly due to surging prices for materials, prices in general have been rising for a prolonged time and household finances are being squeezed as a result.

About 50 people — parents and their children — gathered at a volunteer-run cafeteria for children in need at a corner of the Takashima Danchi housing complex in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, on a cold evening on Jan. 21.

Many residents of the complex are elderly, and many of the buildings are aged.

The day’s menu comprised a plate of taco rice — minced meat, tomato and other ingredients topped on rice — a cup of soup and one mikan mandarin orange per person.

Named Okaeri Gohan, the cafeteria is run by the nonprofit organization Dream Town. It operates the cafeteria twice a week to assist households in which both parents have jobs and to prevent elderly people from becoming isolated.

The cafeteria provides meals for a fee of ¥100 for high school students or younger and ¥500 for adults. If parents and children eat together, the fee is ¥500 per parent regardless of the number of children.

According to Dream Town, the daily number of users of the meal service has tripled from three years ago. Representative director Atsuko Inoue, 41, said, “I see the impact of rising prices.”

A 41-year-old female company employee who came to the cafeteria with her 5-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son said that because her salary has not increased, they usually eat noodles and packaged frozen vegetables for everyday meals.

“It’s helpful to get meals with a good nutritional balance at low prices,” she said, expressing her gratitude.

A 60-year-old unemployed woman said: “The more necessary food items are, the higher their price. I wonder how long this will go on, and I can’t imagine when my hardships will end.”

The woman has used the cafeteria two to three times a month. She lives on a monthly disability pension of about ¥65,000 and sometimes forgoes an evening meal to save money.


Up 4 years in a row

Average figures for 2025 in the nationwide Consumer Price Index, publicized by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, put the index for “All items, excluding food” at 111.2 against 100 in 2020.

The figure rose 3.1% from the previous year and marked the fourth consecutive yearly increase.

Among 522 categories of goods, the prices rose for 440, or more than 80%. The price for rice, which is a staple of daily living, rose 67.2% and for eggs 10.3%.

As Japan depends greatly on imported food and energy, the prices of many goods tend to rise if the yen’s lower value boosts the cost of imported items.

As the prices of necessities that consumers often buy have been on the rise, many people are likely feeling the impact keenly.



Rent rises ¥50,000

Housing expenses have also risen. A 39-year-old housewife who lives with her husband and four children of kindergarten to elementary school age in a condominium in Taisho Ward, Osaka, could not believe her eyes when she saw an email from their real estate company in October last year.

The family lives in a 5LDK unit and their monthly rent had been ¥150,000. The email notified them that the rent would rise by ¥50,000 from April because of rising prices of goods and services in general.

She liked the location of the condo, which is close to a school that her children attend and a train station, but the family decided to move. The couple now aims to buy a previously owned house with a bank loan.

According to research by At Home Co., a major real estate service company, the average proposed rent of condominium units soared in major cities in December last year.

A 50- to 70-square-meter unit for a family in Tokyo’s 23 wards exceeded ¥250,000 on average, up ¥63,000 from five years ago. In Osaka, the average rose by ¥45,000 and in Fukuoka by ¥41,000.


Falling real wages

The growth of wages has not caught up with price increases.
According to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry’s Monthly Labor Survey, the real wage per worker in 2024, after adjusting for the effects of price fluctuations, fell 0.3% from a year ago, marking the third consecutive year of decline.

Late last year, the government abolished a temporary additional gasoline tax as a measure to cope with rising prices. In addition, the government plans to provide financial assistance for household expenditures on electricity and gas in this winter.

For consumption from January to March this year, the total burden per household will be lowered by about ¥7,300.

Takahide Kiuchi, executive economist of Nomura Research Institute, said: “Even if the consumption tax rate is lowered, the effect will be offset if prices rise further.

It’s necessary to build a system in which middle class people and low-income earners will not become needy regardless of price fluctuations.”

He also proposed that political parties should make progress in debates about the introduction of a refundable tax credit system.

Under such a system, low-income earners whose income tax payments are too low to receive the benefits of tax cuts will receive cash provisions to cover the unrealized benefits.
 

 

Within Kanagawa Prefecture, several food-related companies are focusing their efforts on exporting food products overseas. To support the international expansion of these local companies, Kanagawa Prefecture provides opportunities for business negotiations with overseas buyers and organizes food fairs abroad.

In Thailand, the “Kanagawa Fair in Thailand” was held in December at the Max Valu SRIRACHA J-Park store (AEON Group) in Chonburi Province. At a special booth, 20 products from eight food-related companies in Kanagawa Prefecture were sold.

 

When exporting food products to Thailand, notification and registration with the local authority, the Thai FDA (Food and Drug Administration), are required. This Kanagawa Fair has been held three times in Thailand.

For these events, Kanagawa Prefecture has provided logistical support for such that licensing procedures by connecting overseas buyers with local manufacturers beforehand. Through this series of activities, over 60 products have been exported to Thailand.

Some food-related companies in Kanagawa that export to Thailand:

-- TIVOLI Holdings, headquartered in Yugawara town, focuses on expanding its products overseas, with exports reaching over 25 countries.

Its “Akai Bohshi(Red Hat)” brand cookies have gained popularity among Thais and are regularly stocked as staple items in multiple Japanese retail stores.

-- Nature Co Ltd, headquartered in Odawara, manufactures and sells specialty jellies primarily using locally sourced Kanagawa fruits.

 

They export to multiple markets including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the United States, Malaysia and Switzerland. Their products are also highly popular in Thailand, valued for using Japanese fruits and offering the authentic taste of the fruit itself.

Many food-related companies in Kanagawa participating in this event had already established trade channels in Thailand.

 

However, they faced challenges such as difficulties in registering new products with the FDA, establishing regular distribution within Thailand, and expanding sales channels. This fair provided an opportunity to address these challenges.

Feedback from participating companies included: “We were able to advance FDA registration for new products in preparation for the fair,” and “Our products were adopted by AEON in Thailand for the first time. This was a valuable opportunity for expanding our sales channels.”

 

Sales have continued at MaxValu stores throughout Thailand after the fair. These items are expected to be distributed regularly due to increasing sales.
 
 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

ANA Holdings Inc. said Friday its net profit in the nine months ended in December rose 3.9 percent from a year earlier to 139.24 billion yen, driven by the solid international flight business on the back of Japan's inbound tourism boom.

Revenue in the April-December period climbed 10.3 percent to a record 1.88 trillion yen and operating profit grew 5.6 percent to 180.71 billion yen.

ANA saw growth in the number of passengers on routes connecting cities between Japan and China in the October-December quarter, even as China urged its citizens in November to avoid traveling to Japan amid the Beijing-Tokyo row.

For the upcoming Lunar New Year holidays, "We've seen steady demand in reservations" from China, President Koji Shibata said at a press conference.
Some customers may have chosen ANA as Chinese airlines reduced the number of flights to and from cities in Japan, Shibata said.

The parent of All Nippon Airways Co. said passengers of international flights saw a 11.7 percent increase in the nine-month period, supported by three newly added routes connecting Japan with Europe. Passengers of domestic flights were up 3.7 percent.

For the current fiscal year ending March, the company said, it will keep its full-year projection of 145 billion yen in net profit and 200 billion yen in operating profit. It will also maintain its revenue forecast of 2.48 trillion yen.
 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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