Japan’s industry ministry has requested major oil wholesalers to sell fuel directly to medical institutions and public transportation operators affected by crude oil supply disruptions amid the worsening situation surrounding Iran.

Designating hospitals and other institutions as critical facilities, the ministry asked wholesalers to supply fuel to them on a priority basis, ministry officials said Monday.

The fuel subject to the request is expected to include fuel oil used in boilers for sterilizing medical equipment.

On Saturday, the ministry requested wholesalers to supply the same volume of fuel year on year to nonaffiliated retailers, which are facing procurement difficulties, the officials said.

Regarding naphtha, a key raw material for chemical products, the ministry said Japan is expected to be able to secure about six months’ worth of domestic demand, compared with its previous projection of four months, thanks chiefly to an increase in supplies from outside the Middle East.
 
 

 

The international trade order should be fundamentally restructured under the leadership of Japan and other middle powers, a research group at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies said as part of policy recommendations it released on Friday.

The group at the Minato Ward, Tokyo-based institute is comprised of trade experts and was examining how to restore order after U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs caused disruption.

“Opaque subsidies and excess production impede fair competition,” reads the group’s document, referring to China’s financial support for state-owned enterprises. The group argues that the World Trade Organization, which should be addressing such issues, is dysfunctional.

As a first step toward amending the situation, it proposes that middle powers such as Japan and European countries unite to create an alternative framework to the WTO, where they can implement “high-level” rules and “effective dispute settlement mechanisms” and build a track record.

The document suggests that, in the future, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and South American countries be encouraged to join the new framework, ultimately aiming for “an upgraded WTO regime” that includes the United States as well as China.

The group, called the Research Group on the Transformation and Future Outlook of the International Economic Order, has been discussing how to deal with the United States’ flood of tariffs since last year.

“Rather than reacting ad hoc” to these measures, the group argues, the free trade system should be rebuilt by “eliminating the structural factors that drive such actions.”

At a symposium at the institute on Friday, Haruhiko Kuroda, a former Bank of Japan governor and the study group’s chair, said that “all problems stem from China’s accession to the WTO in 2001,” reiterating the group’s view that deviations from trade rules by some emerging economies must be addressed as the root cause of Trump’s tariffs.

The group has released its recommendations in both Japanese and English. While primarily aimed at the Japanese government, the group intends to share its message widely abroad and expand cooperation among middle powers.
 
 

 
The government Tuesday adopted a bill to designate digital textbooks as official materials on par with their conventional printed versions and to make them eligible for free distribution in elementary and junior high schools.

Japan is expected to use digital textbooks, which are currently treated as supplementary learning materials, as official textbooks from as early as fiscal 2030 after government screenings in fiscal 2028.

Local boards of education will select the books. Use of either paper textbooks alone or in combination with digital versions will be allowed.

Digital textbooks have the advantage of allowing students to use audio functions to check pronunciation when learning English and to practice using instruments, such as recorders, while watching videos.

On the other hand, some people have raised concerns about potential adverse effects on children, such as deteriorating eyesight.

The education ministry plans to draft guidelines describing the risks from using digital textbooks for long periods of time.
 
 

 

Japan's parliament passed the government's fiscal 2026 budget on Tuesday, marking the first time in 11 years that a regular budget has been enacted after the April 1 start of a fiscal year.

The budget was approved by a majority vote at a plenary meeting of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the Diet, Japan's parliament. It cleared the House of Representatives, the lower chamber, last month.

As the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Japan Innovation Party, are four seats short of an Upper House majority, they enlisted the help of the Conservative Party of Japan and unaffiliated lawmakers to push the budget bill over the line.

The budget calls for a record general-account spending of 122,309.2 billion yen, in line with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's advocacy of "responsible and proactive" fiscal policy.

The expenditures include 39,055.9 billion yen for social security measures and 31,275.8 billion yen for debt-servicing costs, as well as spending to make high school education and elementary school lunches free.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Upper House Budget Committee held intensive deliberations and a concluding round of questioning on the budget bill with the prime minister in attendance.

As the committee's vote on the bill resulted in a tie, its chairman, Masahito Fujikawa of the LDP, exercised his casting vote to approve the bill in accordance with the Diet law, after which it was sent to the Upper House plenary meeting.
 
 

A bear measuring about 1.5 meters in length was spotted in a residential area of the Kuwano district in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, on Tuesday morning.

The bear headed toward the Ose River, which flows near the residential area, and as of noon, it was reported to be staying in a grassy area along the riverbank.

City government officials and police officers were monitoring the surrounding area and are considering measures such as emergency culling. No injuries to residents have been reported so far.

About 30 minutes after being spotted in the residential area, the bear was seen at the nearby Oshima Shizen Fureai Hiroba park, according to the city government and the prefectural police.

Believed to be the same bear, the city government attempted to capture it by setting up a cage inside the park, but the animal headed to the river at around 10:30 a.m. on the day.

The area is about 3.5 kilometers northwest of JR Koriyama Station.
Since Monday night, there have been a series ofreports of a bear spotted on roads and in other areas nearby.

In response to the bear’s appearance, a nearby elementary school and a junior high school were temporarily closed.
 
 

Even as Japan dips into its vast reserves of oil, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is fueling concerns about medium and long-term shortages and higher prices for everything from gas at the pump to plastic toys sold in ¥100 shops.

While the government has rushed to assure the public that the overall supply of crude oil and petroleum products used in the making of plastics is sufficient for now, efforts to curb electricity and petroleum consumption could be needed by as early as next month if oil imports coming from the strait have not resumed and domestic reserves, enough to cover about eight months of the country’s consumption, are further depleted. 

"We’ll continue to monitor the current situation regarding the supply and demand of essential goods and their prices, and respond flexibly and won’t rule out any possibilities,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Thursday during parliamentary questioning about possibly seeking the public’s cooperation to conserve electricity and reduce consumption.

In the meantime, finding non-Middle Eastern suppliers to quickly send oil could be difficult. That’s because, while countries such as the U.S. can export oil, Japan’s domestic oil refining infrastructure could have difficulty turning the raw product into petroleum products quickly and cheaply.

“Crude oil comes in a variety of qualities, ranging from thick, asphalt-like substances to very light, fluid types. Japanese refineries have been designed specifically to process crude oil from the Middle East,” said Go Matsuo, head of the Energy Economics and Society Research Institute during a testimony at the Upper House on March 24.

This oil, accounting for 94% of total imports — 93% of which passes through the Strait of Hormuz — is also cheaper compared to U.S. crude oil. While Japan should keep its options open for other suppliers, it could be more expensive to process U.S. oil than Middle Eastern oil due to its different qualities and the possibility that refineries might need to be modified to handle U.S. oil, Matsuo said. 

Unlike the International Energy Agency, the Japanese government has not yet urged consumers to take specific actions to curb consumption.

The IEA has warned of the severity of the threat, comparing it to the oil shocks of the 1970s. The key difference between then and now is that, while the previous oil crises involved reductions in oil production and supply, there were no major disruptions to distribution. 

On March 18, the agency listed 10 policies advanced economies should implement to conserve supplies. These include reducing highway speed limits by at least 10 kilometers per hour, encouraging remote work for up to three days a week, avoiding business air travel where possible, making Sundays a car-free day in major cities while encouraging the use of trains instead of planes where possible. 

The report also encourages walking, cycling, more efficient use of trucks for transportation and boosting the use of electric vehicles. Immediate implementation of the above could cut worldwide oil demand by 2.7 million barrels per day in the next four months, the IEA estimates.

Japan began releasing some of its oil reserves last month. As of Friday, it had about 230 days, just under eight months, of oil in storage, raising questions about what happens if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed over a long period. 

“If the current situation continues for more than four months, we’ll almost certainly have no choice but to move toward curbing consumption. I expect government policies will initially be implemented in line with the IEA’s 10-point plan,” said Masatoshi Kojima, a professor and oil distribution expert at Momoyama Gakuin University.

While possible oil shortages have led Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) to announce new fuel surcharges for international flights starting in June, and there are worries about a spike in gasoline prices, everyday household items could also be subjected to price hikes. 

Naphtha is a hydrocarbon liquid processed from crude oil. It’s used to produce chemicals such as butadiene, ethylene and propylene, which are used for manufacturing solvents, fuels, plastics, and rubber products, among other things. 

A naphtha shortage would create a ripple effect across supply chains, directly impacting mass-produced goods. If sufficient supplies of raw materials can’t be secured easily, the retail sector could face severe impacts. 

“The first items affected by a price spike would be things like disposable diapers, sanitary products, bottled beverages, detergents, and plastic packaging materials,” Kojima said.

“Japan’s ¥100 shops might continue to operate and retain their current name. But their pricing structure could change, with prices falling into roughly three categories: ¥200, ¥150 and ¥100.” 
 

 

An economist urged the government "to present countermeasures ahead of time, assuming the worst-case scenario."

Soaring energy prices caused by the escalating conflict in the Middle East are beginning to impact public services, including transportation and health care.

In mid-March, the Tokyo metropolitan government’s Bureau of Transportation sought diesel for its Toei bus services through open bidding. The bidding was divided into four groups by area for the procurement of 5.4 million liters of low-sulfur diesel for the April-June period.

All bids exceeded expected prices, and none were accepted. The pricing of bids submitted by companies in one group was 50% to 80% higher than in December last year. The bureau managed to procure diesel for April by switching to no-bid contracting at the end of last month.

The metropolitan government is considering seeking no-bid contracts for the May and June procurements as well.

“Bearing in mind that this situation could continue forsome time, both the central and local governments must be quick in examining how to respond,” said a senior metropolitan government official.

The cities of Kawasaki and Kitakyushu have also seen the open bidding process fail for diesel.

On March 30, six ordinance-designated cities operating municipal bus services — Yokohama, Kawasaki, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe and Kitakyushu — made an urgent request to the central government, asking it to approach industry leaders to ensure a stable fuel supply, in addition to asking for financial support.


Fewer ferry trips

Ferries have also been affected by the soaring fuel prices, with services reduced.

Segawa Kisen Co., based in Saikai, Nagasaki Prefecture, which operates ferries connecting Sasebo and Saikai, cut back its services from March 23.

After the company was told by a diesel supplier that it could no longer secure diesel, Segawa Kisen bought fuel through the local fishing cooperative and later switched to heavy fuel oil.

Anticipating a prolonged problem, the company has suspended four daytime services that have lower passenger volume — out of the 22 services run each weekday and on Saturdays.

Suo-Nada Ferry Co., based in Shunan, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which runs ferry services connecting Yamaguchi and Oita prefectures, also suspended one round-trip service at night and plans to raise fares from June.


Chance of clinic closures

Health care providers are also grappling with the crisis.
Some components in dialysis machines use materials derived from crude oil. “If the supply of such components stops and patients can no longer receive treatment, it will be a matter of life and death for them,” a support group for the patients said.

One dental clinic in Tokyo is unsure whether it can continue to obtain rubber gloves. The clinic was reportedly told by suppliers that “They are difficult to procure.”

As the clinic only has a one-month supply of gloves in stock, the dentist said, “If this situation continues for an extended period, we may have to consider suspending our services.”

Petroleum products are used in a wide range of medical devices, and an official at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said, “The situation is likely to become worse as time goes on.”

The government has set up a headquarters for ensuring a stable supply of medical and other goods. At a press conference following a Cabinet meeting on Friday, Health Minister Kenichiro Ueno said, “For the time being, we do not anticipate any shortage of supplies.”

Hideo Kumano, a chief economist at Daiichi Life Research Institute Co., said: “Given the possibility of oil prices continuing to rise for some time and of emergency stocks becoming depleted, the government needs to present countermeasures ahead of time, assuming the worst-case scenario. Based on this, local governments and companies should work out strategies to minimize the possible impact.”
 
 

As Generative AI applications transition from the cloud to internal corporate environments, the demand for enhanced data security and localized performance continues to surge. Supported by the Taiwan-Japan Industrial Collaboration Promotion Office (TJIC) of the Institute for Information Industry, a strategic trio—Neuchips, Netiotek, and ShareGuru—has joined forces to launch an integrated on-premise AI solution.

This comprehensive package combines high-performance AI acceleration cards, industrial-grade edge computing servers, and sophisticated knowledge-based Q&A systems.



Triple Collaboration: Building the Foundation for Localized AI


This partnership integrates the core technologies of three industry leaders. The solution will be featured in-depth by the ShareGuru and Netiotek teams during the upcoming exhibition:

• Netiotek: Provides the NERMPC-265K, an industrial-grade edge computing platform. Renowned for its superior stability and thermal design, it serves as the ideal hardware foundation for long-term on-premise AI operations.
• ShareGuru: Provides an enterprise-level semantic document retrieval and Q&A system. Utilizing its core ShareQA technology, it transforms diverse corporate documents into a real-time, high-precision knowledge base.
• Neuchips: Provides AI inference acceleration cards specifically optimized for Transformer architectures. The low power consumption and ease of deployment significantly reduce the operational costs for enterprises adopting Large Language Models (LLMs).

Forward-Looking Strategy: Experience Today, Witness Tomorrow

"Neuchips is dedicated to breaking through computational bottlenecks. We have already begun planning our next-generation hardware solutions optimized for Generative AI," a spokesperson stated.

"By leveraging advanced architectures to support larger model configurations, we aim to comprehensively upgrade the processing speed and accuracy of on-premise inference.

We cordially invite industry leaders to experience our first-generation solutions firsthand. Your feedback will be a vital reference as we refine our next-gen products."


Exhibition Information


We invite you to experience the technical innovations of high-performance on-premise AI and engage with our team of experts at the event:

• Event: Japan IT Week (Embedded, Edge & IoT Computing Expo)
• Date: April 8 – April 10
• Location: Tokyo Big Sight, Japan

West Hall 3, 4F, W20-22 (TAIWAN TECH PAVILION)


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• Netiotek: Specializes in robust edge computing for OT–IT connectivity, AIoT, and Local LLM.
• ShareGuru: An innovator in AI-driven knowledge management and semantic search technologies.
• Neuchips: A premier provider of energy-efficient AI ASIC solutions tailored for the generative AI era.

 
 

The start of the new business year last week saw many companies in Japan holding ceremonies to welcome new recruits.

Among other factors, a shortage of labor is steadily raising starting salaries for new employees.

One company offers up to 400,000 yen, or around 2,500 dollars per month for some new hires, while the starting salary for a typical new hire is about 340,000 yen, or roughly 2,100 dollars.

This spring, the Tokyo-based operator of a leading electric appliance retail chain launched a new salary scheme in a bid to recruit talented workers.

The scheme provides the higher starting salary to new employees who have worked part-time for the company for at least one year before joining it as a regular employee. They must have experience in store operations, and have deep knowledge of products that the company sells.

Only 25 of the more than 500 new employees at this firm are eligible for the higher salary.

Under the new scheme, the company hopes it can continue to hire excellent student part-time workers as full-time employees after they graduate.

A labor ministry survey shows last year's average monthly salary for new graduates was the equivalent of about 1,640 dollars. That was up more than 220 dollars from 2020.

The ministry says many companies are still eager to recruit new employees, while smaller firms are facing difficulty in doing so.

The ministry says it will continue to work with job placement services to address Japan's labor shortage problem.
 
 

 
 
 
Japan plans to strengthen its defense system in the Pacific Ocean as part of the revision of three security-related documents slated to be made by year-end, sources have said.
The government aims to improve the country's deterrence and response capabilities in light of increasing Chinese military activities in the area. The Defense Ministry has begun examining concrete measures on a full scale at the Pacific defense concept office set up this month.

"A vast area on the Pacific side is a defense vacuum," Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters during his visit to Iwoto, the island widely known as Iwo Jima, in the village of Ogasawara, Tokyo.

Apparently with China in mind, Koizumi referred to "increased activities by a neighboring country" in the area and expressed his policy of expanding the presence of the Self-Defense Forces there.

Japan's warning and surveillance network has focused on the Sea of Japan and the Nansei southwestern islands, including Okinawa Prefecture, to counter North Korea's missile threat and China's advance into the East China Sea.

Currently, Japan has no radar system installed in the Pacific area that constantly monitors the skies, leaving the area only thinly covered. In addition, SDF unit presence is sparse there.

Meanwhile, China is believed to be enhancing its blue-water operational capabilities, with its military activities increasing in the Pacific.

China is said to view the so-called second island chain, which connects Tokyo's Ogasawara Islands and the U.S. territory of Guam, as a defense line against the U.S. military in the event of a contingency in Taiwan.

In June last year, China deployed the aircraft carriers Liaoning and Shandong simultaneously near the area for the first time. That month, a Chinese aircraft based on one of the two vessels flew dangerously close to a Maritime Self-Defense Force aircraft.

This situation made Japan recognize the urgent need to strengthen the functions of SDF bases and develop a radar network in the Pacific.

One of the bases is Iwoto, about 1,250 kilometers south of central Tokyo. Currently, about 290 MSDF members and 110 members of the Air Self-Defence Force are stationed there mainly to refuel arriving aircraft and provide logistic support for training.

The Defense Ministry is considering establishing a pier to accommodate large ships and improve the island's runway for future fighter jet operations.

On the island of Minamitorishima, east of Iwoto, the construction of a firing range for surface-to-ship missile training is under way. Proposals to install radars and expand the runway are also being considered for the easternmost island.

The Japanese and U.S. governments exchanged documents on the development of undersea rare earth resources around Minamitorishima to coincide with last month's bilateral summit.

The deployment of the ASDF mobile warning and control radar system to Okinawa's Kitadaitojima Island is expected to be accelerated. The island is about 360 kilometers east of the main island of Okinawa, and the local municipality has been informed that about 30 members will be stationed on the island.

On the Pacific side, however, there is little land that can accommodate bases, limiting Japan's ability to cover the vast sea area on its own.

"We have no choice but to make deterrence work by combining the warning and surveillance capabilities of allying and partner countries, such as the United States, Australia and the Philippines," an SDF source said.
 
 

 

 

The government has launched an initiative to address supply challenges for medical equipment and other critical items made from petroleum-derived materials, citing disruptions in the distribution of certain petroleum products.

In response to the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, the government convened its first cross-ministry task force on Thursday to ensure the security of essential supplies, including petroleum products.

The task force is composed of senior officials including those from the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry.

Although the necessary volume has been secured for Japan as a whole, there are supply imbalances and distribution bottlenecks in some areas, said Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, who is also responsible for ensuring the stable supply of critical materials amid the situation in the Middle East.

Akazawa instructed each ministry to conduct a comprehensive review of the supply of critical materials, saying, “I want the relevant ministries and agencies to cooperate broadly to grasp the reality of supply chains and make all-out efforts to ensure stable supplies by staying one step ahead.”

Although there had been a shortage of heavy oil necessary for the sterilization of medical catheters for newborns, injection needles and blood collection tubes, the necessary amount has been secured for the time being through coordination with oil primary distributors, according to the industry ministry.

The ministry has already addressed issues concerning ethylene oxide gas, which is required for sterilizing medical equipment.

Meanwhile, it now faces emerging concerns over the supply of thinner for paint manufacturing.

The ministry plans to investigate the supply chain to locate points of disruption.

The fisheries ministry plans to introduce a special measure by mid-April that will allow kanpachi amberjack to be imported duty-free once they grow to a specific size.

Maritime transportation fuel shortages have caused delays in importing juvenile kanpachi amberjack for aquaculture that were caught in Chinese waters.

To address this issue, the limit on the maximum size for tariff-free imports will increase from 30 to 50 centimeters in total length.


U.S. helium to cover supply needs

The Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry announced Thursday it will increase alternative helium procurement from the United States, as imports from Qatar have been disrupted by escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The ministry said there are no concerns over a stable supply, as U.S.

products are expected to cover almost all of the total import volume. Applications for Helium include its use in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
 

 

The Japanese government is planning to consider carefully whether it will ask companies and the general public to cut back on electricity and petroleum product consumption, several government sources said Friday.

Amid concerns over a possible prolonged military conflict between the U.S.-Israel camp and Iran, the government will make a decision on the matter after assessing the impact of the Middle East situation on energy supply and the Japanese economy.

"We'll consider all policy options in a way that would not greatly impact the people or the economy," industry minister Ryosei Akazawa said at the day's press conference.

"Energy-saving consciousness is high in Japan," a senior government official said. "The public is expected to respond quickly if we request it."

Suggesting that Japan still has adequate oil stockpiles, the official added that the government "will not make such a request until at least after the Golden Week holiday period (from late April to early May)."
 
 

The Indonesian government sent 200 migrant workers under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) scheme in the manufacturing sector to Japan, Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said on Friday.

"The dispatch today proves that the SMK Go Global program is key to expanding access for Indonesian workers to enter the global labor market," he said at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten.

The initiative is part of a national strategy to expand workforce access to overseas markets through the SMK Go Global program.

He said the program is a priority of President Prabowo Subianto, as instructed following a cabinet meeting on November 5, 2025.
"This is an initial pilot phase supported by state-owned enterprises’ CSR funding. The model will be tested and refined before being implemented as a regular program," Muhaimin said.

He said the program aims to prepare Indonesian talent to compete globally and represent the quality of the national workforce.

He added that migrant workers remain a national priority for achieving long-term welfare.
"They are expected not only to work abroad, but also to become agents of economic transformation upon returning home," Muhaimin added.

"With global knowledge, work culture, and networks, they can contribute to domestic industries. The state will continue to protect and facilitate them," he said.

The 200 workers were sent through several schemes, including 50 under PT Angkasa Pura’s CSR program, 30 under PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s CSR program, and 120 through licensed migrant worker placement agencies (P3MI).
 

Three tankers operated by Oman, one French owned container ship, and one Japanese owned gas carrier have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Thursday, according to shipping data, reflecting Iran’s policy of allowing vessels it considers friendly to transit.

According to Reuters, Friday (3/4), Iran initially closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries around one fifth of global oil and LNG, after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran in late February triggered a wider conflict.

Iran later stated it would allow ships not linked to the United States or Israel to pass.

Oil and commodity markets are watching closely for signs that traffic is returning to normal. Several tankers and container ships managed to pass through the blockade in previous weeks, but those movements were followed by days of complete standstill.

A French owned container ship, CMA CGM, transited the Strait on Thursday, the same day French President Emmanuel Macron said that only diplomatic efforts, not military operations, could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The French vessel changed its destination on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to “Owner France” before entering Iranian waters, signalling its nationality to Iranian authorities.
India Ship India Crew

The ships appear to have switched off their AIS transponders during the crossing, as their signals disappeared from vessel tracking data.

Two Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) and one LNG carrier operated by Oman Shipping Management also exited the Gulf on Thursday, according to MarineTraffic and LSEG data.

Oman, which mediated talks between Iran and the United States before the strikes, criticised the launch of the attacks while negotiations were still underway.

Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said on Friday that the jointly owned LNG carrier Sohar LNG had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first Japan linked vessel and the first LNG carrier to do so since the conflict began.

A Mitsui spokesperson declined to tell Reuters when exactly the transit occurred or whether negotiations were required.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Transport, as of Friday morning, around 45 vessels owned or operated by Japanese companies remained stranded in the region.

Another Mitsui owned LPG carrier, Green Sanvi, left the Gulf via Iranian territorial waters earlier on Friday, according to shipping data. The India flagged vessel listed its destination as “India ship India crew”.

In addition, a large Panama flagged gas carrier, Danisa, left the Gulf via the same route heading for China. (YS/LM)
 

 

The “Mirai Ningen Sentakuki” (human washing machine of the future), a fully automatic bathing machine exhibited at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, will be exported for the first time this spring.

The decision was prompted by an importer’s official visiting the Expo shortly after its opening in April last year. The official observed visitors’ using the machine and concluded that it offered significant relaxation benefits.

An official of Science Co., the Osaka City-based plumbing manufacturer that developed the machine, said: “We hadn’t even considered expanding overseas. We hope many people enjoy it.”

The futuristic human washing machine envelops the entire body in warm water containing fine bubbles, removing dirt such as sebum. Its main feature is being environmentally friendly, as the machine does not use soap or shampoo. With calming visuals and music played in response to the user’s heart rate, trial sessions during the Expo proved so popular that reservations filled up immediately.

The machine caught the eye of an official from a U.S. company planning a large-scale resort facility in a nature-rich area in the state of Georgia, set to partially open this summer.

The company’s Japan representative responsible for equipment procurement visited the Expo the day after it opened to inspect the machine

. Feeling that it aligned with the facility’s philosophy of harmonizing with the environment and contributing to physical and mental health, he offered to purchase the machine from Science.

According to Science, the device — developed at a cost of about ¥100 million for the Expo — was the only one on display at the time.

While not initially planning to commercialize the machine, Science decided to sell following negotiations with the representative and due to the high number of people who were unable to secure reservations at the Expo.

Domestically, Science began delivering units to hotels and other facilities starting late last year.

Science plans to export a total of five units to the U.S. resort in stages, though the price has not been disclosed.

The representative said that while people in the United States do not have much of a habit of taking baths, the machine offers an experience similar to meditation, which can appeal to many. He added that he would be delighted if people could appreciate the excellence of Japanese technology.”
 

 

 

 

The average retail price of regular gasoline in Japan fell by 7.50 yen from a week earlier to 170.20 yen per liter as of Monday, the industry ministry said Wednesday.

After hitting a record high of 190.80 yen on March 16 amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the average pump price marked a second consecutive weekly drop, supported by the government's reinstated subsidies aimed at easing the impact of rising crude oil costs.

The gasoline price is now close to the government's goal of about 170 yen per liter.

Prices had surged following the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and the effective blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil transport waterway.

The government began providing subsidies to oil wholesalers starting with shipments on March 19, saying that the support would be reflected in retail prices within one to two weeks.
 
 

Indonesia and Japan have agreed to strengthen collaboration in forestry, biodiversity conservation, and climate initiatives following a ministerial meeting in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni met with Japan’s Minister for Economic Security and Growth Strategy Minoru Kiuchi, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deeper environmental cooperation.

“This meeting reaffirms a strong commitment by Indonesia and Japan to expand strategic cooperation in forestry, biodiversity conservation, and real contributions to global efforts in addressing climate change,” Raja said in a statement from Jakarta.

Kiuchi described Indonesia as a strategic partner, emphasizing its importance not only bilaterally but also across the Asia-Pacific, particularly in forestry and conservation.

Both sides welcomed a memorandum of understanding with Shizuoka Prefecture on wildlife protection, focusing on the komodo dragon—an animal highly popular in Japan and often compared to the panda.

Japan plans a special welcoming ceremony for the komodo and supports accelerating animal exchanges between iZoo in Shizuoka and Surabaya Zoo, with an agreement targeted by April 2026.

Raja confirmed Indonesia’s commitment to expedite the komodo transfer, strengthening conservation cooperation and public engagement through wildlife exchange

He also highlighted longstanding projects supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and called for scaling up collaboration, including faster implementation of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) in Indonesia’s forestry sector.

The minister further proposed a “sister park” initiative linking Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park with Indonesian national parks to enhance knowledge exchange, conservation management, and ecosystem sustainability.

The partnership is expected to bolster governance, technical cooperation, and joint contributions to global climate mitigation efforts.
 

Tokyo’s first batch of long-range strike missiles capable of reaching ground and maritime targets at extended ranges have been operationally fielded, according to Japan’s defense ministry.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) announced Monday the deployment of the Type 25 series of missiles. While the missiles share the same designation, their variants are split through surface-to-ship (SSM) and hypervelocity gliding projectile (HGP) classifications.

Capable of striking targets over 1,000 kilometers away, basing the Type 25 series anti-ship missiles at the service’s Kengun Western Army base in Kyushu enables Japanese forces to hit maritime targets across the country’s southwestern region, the East China Sea and mainland China. The SSM variant is derived from the domestically-made Type 12.

While the hypersonic variant is deployed at the JGSDF’s Fuji base, the service has practiced deploying the system via air and maritime means. Future variants of the Type 25-HGP plan to extend the hypersonic’s range to between 2,000 and 3,000 kilometers.

“These equipment are important in enhancing Japan’s deterrence and response capabilities. The Ground Self Defense Force will always stand with the people of Japan and will continue to make every effort to protect their safety and security,” reads a JGSDF statement on the deployment.

Amid regional tensions, Japan has prioritized a build-up of military forces in its southwestern region. The Ryukyu Islands, an archipelagic chain stretching from mainland Japan to Taiwan, received numerous missile bases, radar sites and additional defensive infrastructure following concerns of a cross strait conflict and Chinese ambitions over the disputed Senakaku Islands.

These missiles represent a significant capability boost for the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) in their plans to deter China and North Korea through long-range strike munitions.

The development, production and fielding of these missiles are part of a broader force-wide shift from its Cold War defensive mission against a northern Soviet threat to increasingly complex and capable Chinese military activities occurring around the southwestern region.

Tokyo plans to procure large quantities of long-range missiles and equip numerous mobile ground, naval and air platforms with the missiles. When fielded, this large missile inventory has the potential to hold regional adversaries at risk.

Chinese state media has expressed concern over the deployment, claiming that their operational fielding represents a breach of Tokyo’s post-World War II pledge to not procure weapons unrelated to self-defense via Article 9 of Japan’s constitution.

Washington’s recent arms sales are also playing a major role in developing Tokyo’s newfound counterstrike capabilities. In 2024, Japan finalized the purchase of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles, which will be fielded on its fleet of Aegis guided-missile destroyers.

Last week saw the successful integration of Tomahawk-related launching systems and crew training aboard the first Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force warship that will equip the American cruise missiles, USNI News reported. For the Type 25-HGP, the U.S. previously approved arms sales supporting its development and has hosted test launches in California.

These efforts also coincide with U.S. military efforts to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities across the first island chain in the Philippines and Japan to deter China.

Washington has eyed its allies in the region to host these capabilities, which could prove crucial in a potential Taiwan contingency against Beijing’s large array of naval forces.
 
 

The Japanese and French governments on Wednesday agreed to strengthen their cooperation on defense, sharing the view that the security of Europe and the Indo-Pacific is inseparable, given the deteriorating global security environment.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks with their French counterparts in Tokyo. "It is essential for us to enhance cooperation on diplomacy and defense," Motegi said at the so-called two-plus-two meeting.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that developing the two countries' strategic relationship is an urgent task.

The four ministers welcomed the port call by French naval vessels to Japan and the deepening defense collaboration through joint drills between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and French military forces. They agreed to continue cooperation on space and cyber domains.

On the Middle East situation, the four ministers affirmed the need for navigation safety in the Strait of Hormuz, agreeing to continue consultations for an early resolution of the situation.
 
 

Indonesia and Japan have signed 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) valued at USD23.1 billion or Rp392.7 trillion, marked during President Prabowo Subianto's official visit to Japan. This move highlights the importance of strategic cooperation amid global economic changes.

The MoUs aim to elevate the RI-Japan partnership to a higher level. It is expected to strengthen the bilateral economic ties that have existed for 68 years. Japan has been Indonesia's fourth-largest export destination with a value of USD17.61 billion.

Prabowo emphasized the importance of economic collaboration in confronting global dynamics. This collaboration is seen as the key to stability and long-term relations between the two nations. Japan is also a major investor in Indonesia, with an investment value of USD3.13 billion.

This partnership demonstrates the intent of both countries to modernize bilateral economic frameworks. The Indonesia-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (IJEPA) is being revised to enhance market access and economic collaboration.

Japan's investment lines in Indonesia include the automotive, transportation equipment, chemical, and pharmaceutical sectors. Japan also plays a role in the development of strategic infrastructure such as transportation, ports, energy, and urban projects.

Prabowo stated that Japanese investment consistently brings quality, technology, and long-term commitment. Based on this, the strategic relationship is expected to continue to grow stronger.

The partnership is not just focused on traditional economic aspects. Other focuses include energy transition, green growth, industrial transformation, and downstream industries. This aims for a more adaptive, future-based collaboration.

Airlangga Hartarto revealed that the revision of IJEPA is expected to strengthen the foundations of cooperation, including expanding collaboration and modernizing the economy for mutual benefit.

With strong support from both countries, this collaboration affirms concrete steps towards a more modern and resilient partnership. This move is expected to be a robust foundation for future economic and strategic partnerships.
 
 

Japan's private-sector rice inventories totaled 3 million tons at the end of February, up 1.5 times from a year earlier, the agriculture ministry said in a survey report Tuesday.

Rice sales have remained sluggish, partly due to high prices, causing inventories to swell to their highest level in a decade.

Private-sector inventories represent the combined holdings by aggregators, such as Japan Agricultural Cooperatives, or JA, and wholesalers.

Stocks held by rice aggregators increased by 740,000 tons from a year earlier to 2.33 million tons, while inventories held by wholesalers rose by 210,000 tons to 670,000 tons.

The inventory level equaled 43 pct of expected demand for the year through June, the highest level since the survey began.
 
 

 
Indonesia is strengthening ties with the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC) to develop its wellness tourism sector, aiming to attract more Japanese travelers through holistic health experiences and strategic regional partnerships.

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana met AJC Secretary-General Kunihiko Chris Hirabayashi in Tokyo on Monday to discuss promoting Indonesia’s wellness ecosystem as a key future growth driver for the national tourism industry.

"Wellness tourism is a strategic direction for Indonesia. We see AJC as a vital partner to strengthen promotion, knowledge exchange, and development in the Japanese market," Widiyanti said in an official statement issued in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Japan remains a critical market for Indonesia, recording over 380,000 arrivals in 2025. This figure represents a 12 percent increase from the previous year, highlighting the growing demand for Indonesian travel destinations.

The two parties discussed reviving a Wellness Tourism Workshop in Bali. The forum serves as a platform for capacity building and expert knowledge-sharing among tourism stakeholders from both ASEAN nations and Japan.

Beyond health-focused travel, the bilateral meeting touched on sustainable and community-based tourism.

Indonesia is currently prioritizing the development of "tourism villages" to improve local welfare and provide authentic cultural experiences for international visitors.

The collaboration also explores human resource development, including the exchange of best practices and expertise.

Both sides committed to increasing people-to-people exchanges to deepen the relationship between Indonesia, Japan, and the broader ASEAN region.

The partnership aims to secure long-term commitment for sustainable tourism growth.

By leveraging AJC’s network, Indonesia expects to solidify its position as a premier destination for holistic and community-driven travel in Southeast Asia.
 
 

 

 
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and visiting Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto agreed Tuesday to cooperate closely in the field of energy security amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the conflict between the U.S.-Israeli side and Iran.

At their 45-minute meeting at the State Guest House in Tokyo, the two leaders had an in-depth discussion over the Middle East and affirmed that their countries will work together to help calm the situation there at an early time.

 

Takaichi and Prabowo confirmed that Japan and Indonesia will cooperate to strengthen supply chains for liquefied natural gas and other items, while agreeing to expand collaboration on maritime security through Japan's official security assistance program, under which the country provides defense equipment to like-minded nations free of charge.

 

The two leaders also affirmed cooperation to foster artificial intelligence experts in Indonesia and enhance measures against flood and other natural disasters.

In addition, they discussed regional affairs, including issues related to China and nuclear and missile development by North Korea.
 
 

 
Indonesia will loan two Komodo dragons to Shizuoka Prefecture, where it is hoped the endangered reptiles will be able to breed, and will receive some red pandas and giraffes in return, an official said Monday.

The Forestry Ministry said ‌the animal ‌swaps would increase "contributions from both parties toward wildlife protection and conservation, as well as raising public awareness of biodiversity," adding that the program was intended to breed the Komodo dragons, which the IUCN Red List classifies as endangered.

Ahmad Munawir, a conservation official at the ministry, said a male and a female will be sent to a zoo in Shizuoka. In return, the prefecture will send several animals to Indonesia, including red pandas and giraffes, Ahmad said.

The agreement was aigned last week, ahead of a visit to Japan by President Prabowo Subianto, who met Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on ‌Tuesday.

Animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said Tuesday that the dragons should never be treated as "diplomatic bargaining chips."

"Shipping these highly intelligent animals overseas for captive ‌breeding only reinforces the dangerous myth that conservation can happen behind zoo walls, while any offspring born there would be condemned to a lifetime of confinement," PETA Asia President Jason Baker said, adding that the dragons should remain in their habitat.

Indonesia is home to over 3,000 Komodo dragons, according to government data. The reptiles are the largest lizards in the world, growing up to around 3 meters long. They have a yellow forked tongue and a venomous bite.

Japan's TV Shizuoka has reported the two dragons would arrive as soon as June for the breeding program. Ahmad said the dragons would be sent after a business-to-business agreement was signed by the zoos in Indonesia and Japan.
 
 

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto landed at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, Japan, to commence his inaugural state visit as the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia.

According to the Presidential Secretariat, the Indonesian-1 presidential plane arrived in Tokyo on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at 19:10 local time.

Upon disembarking from the plane, Prabowo was greeted by the Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs, Iwao Horii, the Chief of Protocol of Japan, Tadayuki Miyashita, the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan, Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, and the Defense Attach of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo, Rear Admiral TNI Hidayaturrahman. From the airport, President Prabowo continued his journey to his place of stay.

During his visit to the Land of the Rising Sun, Prabowo is scheduled to meet with the Japanese Emperor, Naruhito. Additionally, Prabowo is scheduled to hold discussions with the Japanese Prime Minister (PM), Sanae Takaichi.

President Prabowo departed Jakarta and headed to Japan on Sunday morning, March 29, 2026. Prabowo, along with a limited entourage, took off from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta, at around 10:35 AM WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

During the flight to Tokyo, Prabowo was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sugiono, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Bahlil Lahadalia, and the Cabinet Secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Indra Wijaya.

The State Secretary Minister, Prasetyo Hadi-who saw off Prabowo's departure in Jakarta-stated that this state visit to Japan is aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in various sectors.

According to Prasetyo, during the visit to the Land of Sakura, Prabowo will discuss several strategic matters that have been the strength of cooperation between Indonesia and Japan.

"For example, in terms of trade, technology, education, and including cooperation in the forestry and environmental sectors," Prasetyo told the media on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
 
 

Punch the baby Japanese macaque has been spending more time without his surrogate “mother” — a large stuffed orangutan — at a zoo in Chiba Prefecture, with visitors watching over him on his journey toward independence.

For the past two months, Punch has been spending more time grooming his peers, leaving his stuffed orangutan in the monkey house.

Although visitors have not been able to see him with his stuffed animal as much, they seem relieved that he is spending more time with the other monkeys.

“I wonder if he’s become independent from his mom,” a visitor said.
Zoo staff gave Punch the stuffed animal after his real mother showed little interest in raising him, and he began dragging it around with him.

Scenes of Punch running back and forth around monkey mountain with his “mother” became popular not only among visitors to the zoo but also worldwide on social media.

As a result, visitors to the zoo increased, with the number reaching 47,000 in February, 2.3 times higher than the same month last year.

The city has received many inquiries from people wanting to donate and support the now 8-month-old Punch.

On March 16, the city announced options for people to support the monkey, including bank transfers and the furusato nozei hometown tax donation system, with more than ¥11 million raised in the week leading up March 22.

The zoo plans to use the donations to address the extreme heat on monkey mountain, which is believed to be one of the reasons mother monkeys have given up raising their infants.

“He still sleeps while hugging the stuffed animal in the monkey house, so he’s not fully independent,” an official of Ichikawa City Zoo said. “We ask visitors to continue to offer their warm support.”
 
 

 
Japanese Vice Minister of Finance for International Affairs Atsushi Mimura on Monday hinted at the possibility of Japanese authorities intervening in foreign exchange and other markets after the dollar rose above 160 yen over the weekend.

"There are voices that speculative movements are increasing in the foreign exchange market," Mimura told reporters at the Finance Ministry.

Referring to recent trends in crude oil futures trading, he said, "If this situation continues, it will be necessary to take decisive measures soon," adding, "Our sights are directed in all directions."

It is the first time that Mimura has used the phrase "decisive measures" since he assumed his current position in the summer 2024.

A plan to stem the depreciation of the yen by intervening in the crude oil futures market and curbing speculative trading is being considered by some government officials, informed sources said.
 

 

 

 

 
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. will raise the mandatory retirement age at its subsidiary banks and securities firms to 65 starting in fiscal 2027 as part of efforts to secure excellent employees regardless of age.

Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp. will revise its system of rehiring employees who are 60 years or older as contract workers and instead continue to employ them as regular employees until age 65.

While the company has previously reemployed 80% to 90% of its employees as contract employees under an evaluation and compensation system comparable to that of regular employees, it is now moving to continued employment to better reflect actual working conditions.

Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. will also raise its retirement age to 65.

MUFG Bank, Ltd. will not only raise the retirement age, but also abolish its system of reducing salaries past the age of 55.

The bank will also raise the salaries of non-management employees, who are primarily younger, by up to 7% and increase the starting salary for university graduates to ¥300,000 a month starting in fiscal 2026.

According to a survey in June 2025 by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry of 238,000 companies that employ more than 21 employees, about 30% of them had their retirement age at 65 or older. The number of such companies has been increasing, the ministry said.
 
 

 

Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Japanese fast-fashion retailer Uniqlo have signed a partnership deal that includes the team’s ballpark adding Uniqlo Field to its name.

Tadashi Yanai, chairman and chief executive officer of the retailer’s parent company Fast Retailing Co., told The Yomiuri Shimbun on Wednesday that “the Dodgers are like a turbo engine” for the company to expand business in North America.

Following are excerpts from the interview.

The Yomiuri Shimbun: What was the reason for entering into this partnership deal?

Yanai: The Dodgers always think about what they can do to delight their fans. We need to learn from them in this regard. Uniqlo must become a brand loved by Americans.

Just coming to the stadium is fun at Dodgers games. We want to create that kind of experience in our stores, too.

Q: Will this agreement serve as a driving force for your North American business?

Yanai: The Dodgers are like a turbo engine. If we combine the Dodgers’ strength with ours, it could become two or three times, or perhaps even ten times as powerful.

Q: Will there be positive effects beyond North America?

Yanai: I certainly think so. Los Angeles is the gateway to Latin America and Asia. We will open many great stores in Los Angeles from this point on.

I expect people from Latin America who come to shop here would want to visit our stores back home as well.

Q: Uniqlo places a strong emphasis on social contribution.

Yanai: Companies that cannot contribute to society should not go abroad. Doing things that make money for themselves would make no one in that country happy.

Companies are not welcomed unless they contribute in some way to that society and the world.

Q: Are there any similarities between sports and business?

Yanai: I think sports and business are similar. Both require teamwork, and you must win. You must work hard to win and make the audience want to come back and watch again. In our case, we must think about the customers who come to buy our products.

Q: What is the appeal of the Dodgers?

Yanai: They were the first to sign a black ballplayer in MLB, and that must’ve taken courage. Pitcher Hideo Nomo went to the Dodgers and performed brilliantly despite facing opposition in Japanese professional baseball.

We need people with the courage to break down barriers, and those are the people that the Dodgers have supported.

Q: How do you view Shohei Ohtani?

Yanai: He has the heart, the skills and the physical strength, and he’s smart, too. He has it all. His answers at press conferences are textbook perfect.

Not a single word is wasted, and nothing is left unsaid. Even when he’s struggling, he thinks things through and turns it around. He considers the whole team and demonstrates leadership by figuring out what needs to be done for the team to win.

That’s amazing. A lot can be learned from that attitude. If he were to go into business, I think he’d become a top-tier executive.
 
 

Japanese industrial conglomerate Toshiba said Friday it will start negotiations with Mitsubishi Electric and chipmaker Rohm to merge their power semiconductor businesses, as international competition over the sector heats up.

The move comes as Japan has been pushing for a greater presence in the global semiconductor market.

If realized, the alliance would create the world's second-largest power chip group, according to local media.

Billed as able to drastically reduce power loss, power semiconductors are seen as pivotal to sectors ranging from railway to automotive and renewable energy.

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (TDSC), a subsidiary of Toshiba, signed a memorandum of understanding to begin discussions with Mitsubishi and Rohm.

"As the global competition over the semiconductor industry keeps intensifying, TDSC and Rohm have long explored the possibility of coordinating in the power semiconductor sector," Toshiba said.

With Mitsubishi Electric now on board, too, a merger would make "our business scale and technological infrastructure competitive in the global market," Toshiba said.

The agreement was also signed by Japan Industrial Partners and TBJ Holdings.

Japan currently holds less than 10% of the global chip market, but the government is investing heavily in new factories in a bid to change that.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration set a new sales target for domestically produced microchips, aiming for an eightfold increase by 2040 compared with 2020 levels.

The 2040 target of ¥40 trillion ($250 billion) far exceeds sales of around ¥5 trillion in 2020, according to figures from the ministry of economy, trade and industry.
 
 

Japanese figure skater Sakamoto Kaori has won her career fourth women's singles world title in her final competition before she retires.

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games silver medalist performed her free skate at the world championships in the Czech Republic capital of Prague on Friday.

She successfully executed all her jumps, scoring a personal best of 158.97 points. Her overall score of 238.28 points was also a career best.

Sakamoto's fourth world championships title is a new record by a Japanese figure skater. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics silver medalist Asada Mao won the world championships title three times.

Sakamoto said in an interview after her victory that she is really glad she was able to skate in front of all the fans. She expressed her gratitude for the support they provided.

Japan's Chiba Mone placed second with an overall score of 228.47 points, a personal best.
 
 

The Japanese government adopted Friday a new basic plan for science and technology policy, which for the first time calls for promoting research and development activities on technologies for military-civilian dual-use goods.

The policy direction reflects the fact that various countries are advancing the military application of advanced technologies. The basic plan also calls for raising the target for total public-private investment in science and technology from the current ¥120 trillion to ¥180 trillion.

Japan's science and technology basic plan is revised every five years. The new plan covers fiscal 2026 to fiscal 2030.

Countries around the world are taking advantage of the rapid development of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence to enhance their national security.

The new plan says that improving dual-use technologies is "essential from the viewpoint of security and economic growth."

It designates AI and semiconductors as "national strategic technologies," aiming to promote domestic development while preventing their outflow overseas. It also features support for human resource development.

The plan also calls for establishing a research institute for critical technology strategy in fiscal 2026, which starts next month, to advise the government on economic security in the field of science and technology.

At a Council for Science, Technology and Innovation meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government will "work as one to promote the plan, including basic research, human resource development, social implementation and the enhancement of industrial competitiveness" 
 
 

 
A female store clerk has died after being stabbed at a commercial complex in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district by a man who later stabbed himself to death. Police say the man was the victim's former boyfriend.

At around 7:20 p.m. on Thursday, the police were notified that a man was behaving violently inside Sunshine City, a multifunction complex.

Police officers say the woman was attacked at the Pokemon Center Mega Tokyo shop on the building's second floor. The unconscious victim was rushed to a hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.

Police officers have confirmed that the victim was 21-year-old Harukawa Moe from western Tokyo's Hachioji City.

They say the assailant, 26-year-old Hirokawa Taiki, was the woman's ex-boyfriend. He reportedly died at a hospital he was taken to.

The police say security camera footage shows the man visiting the shop alone and stepping behind the counter where the woman was. They add that they are treating the incident as a murder.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department says the woman informed police officers in December of last year that she was the victim of a stalker. It notes that the case was being dealt with.

The department says the woman started dating Hirokawa around October of 2024 and broke up with him around July of 2025.

On December 25, 2025 she visited a police station in Hachioji for a consultation and said that her former boyfriend was following her around. When police officers took her home, they found Hirokawa in the vicinity of her home and arrested him on suspicion of violating Japan's anti-stalking law.

The officers said they found a knife with a blade about 10 centimeters long in the vehicle that Hirokawa had rented to reach the area.

Hirokawa was rearrested on allegations of voyeurism in January. Restraining orders were then issued against him. Those orders ban individuals from engaging in actions, such as stalking. Hirokawa was released at the end of January, after he was summarily indicted.

Before Hirokawa's release, police officers had the woman stay at a relative's home and install security cameras at her residence.
 
 

The number of foreign visitors to Japan is rising, and in response, luggage storage services are becoming more diversified, resulting in the growing popularity of “hands-free” sightseeing.

Multiple services are available in Ueno in Taito Ward, Tokyo, an area bustling with tourists.


Easing train crowding

At 9 a.m. on a weekday in mid-February, foreign tourists could be seen pulling suitcases to the luggage storage facility outside the ticket gates at Keisei Electric Railway Co.’s Keisei Ueno Station. Narita Airport can be accessed directly from the station.

Staff members greet the tourists in English or Chinese, asking, “How many pieces of luggage?” After depositing their luggage at the facility, the foreign visitors thank the staff and disappear into the city.

The fee for storing a single suitcase is ¥1,000 per day. Just 2½ hours after opening, the facility had already taken in over 210 pieces of luggage, at which point a “FULL” sign was posted.

According to Chiba Prefecture-based operator Community Keisei Co., most customers store their luggage for a few hours or half a day.

Many use the service on travel days or the final day of their trip — when they may not be able to leave their luggage at their accommodation — and then go sightseeing in nearby areas like Ueno and Asakusa.

On the other hand, some people leave their luggage for up to two weeks or so while touring other cities.

On the day, a 34-year-old woman from Taiwan deposited her luggage for a four-day period. “I’m going to Nagano to see the snow,” she said.
The station also launched an airport luggage delivery service in January.

Luggage is accepted in the morning and delivered to Narita Airport by that evening, for a fee of ¥4,000 per suitcase. The aim of the service is to improve convenience for tourists and create more space on trains.

JR Ueno Station is expanding its luggage storage capacity by installing lockers at about 70 spots. Some of the lockers include a service in which the luggage can be delivered to hotels and other locations.


Hands-free sightseeing

Another service in the area allows users to search for and make reservations for nearby luggage storage spots online. Luggage is accepted by various shops registered with the service.

Big Beat Smile Garage, a motorcycle accessories shop in front of JR Ueno Station, stores luggage on its second floor. “Foreign customers come in looking puzzled, asking, ‘Do you take luggage here?’” said Takahiro Ishigami, who runs the shop.

Molek, a real estate company near the station, also registered with the service last year. They have prepared English guides regarding the service.

Shinichi Kudo, president of Tokyo-based ecbo, which operates the “ecbo cloak” storage service, said, “Stores can efficiently utilize spare space to generate income, and customers can store their luggage efficiently by making advance reservations.”

More than 2,500 locations nationwide, including hair salons and cafes, have signed up to the program. About 400 7-Eleven convenience stores across 26 prefectures joined the initiative in December.

By leaving large luggage behind, travelers can expand their range of activities. The benefits for tourist destinations are also significant.

In Taito Ward, four companies — including a luggage storage service provider and a travel planning app operator — jointly launched the “Machi Hop Project” last autumn. The project provides online luggage storage services and introduces spots that are best enjoyed hands-free.

“We want to alleviate the concentration of visitors at famous sites like Sensoji temple and spread the economic benefits of tourism to the surrounding areas,” said Takumi Sugahara, who conceived the project.

“We want foreign visitors to enjoy less well-known parts of Japan — such as small shrines and back-alley izakaya.”

Luggage takes up space in trains and buses, makes it more difficult to navigate narrow sidewalks and can make a clattering sound when on the move — all of which can contribute to overtourism.

“When overtourism occurs, foreign tourists become a source of irritation for local residents. Improving services such as luggage storage serves a dual purpose: creating economic value and solving social issues,” said Kazuo Takahashi, a professor of tourism marketing at Kindai University.

“It would be good to see the development of a nationwide system that promotes hands-free tourism, including collaboration between service providers.”

 

Overseas examples

In Taiwan, Seoul and other overseas locations, services allowing tourists to check in their luggage for their flight before traveling to the airport have been introduced.

These services are available at major train stations connected to the airport. They enable travelers to enjoy their trip unencumbered until the very end, while also streamlining the journey to the airport and pre-boarding procedures.

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry is conducting pilot projects in locations such as Osaka City, exploring the feasibility of implementing similar systems.
 

 

The Japanese government began releasing the country's state oil reserves on Thursday, in an effort to ensure a stable supply of oil products amid Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

This is the first such release since the previous one in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

This time, about 8.5 million kiloliters, equivalent to 30 days of domestic consumption, will be released from oil reserve bases across the country.

 

On Thursday, crude oil was transferred from the Kikuma national petroleum stockpiling base in the western city of Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, to a nearby oil refinery operated by Taiyo Oil Co. via pipeline.

The government has already been releasing 15 days' worth of oil from private-sector reserves since March 16.
 
 

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed Monday that one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has safely returned to the country.

The individual, who had been held by Iranian authorities since last year, arrived in the country Sunday in good health.

The confirmation followed an announcement by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who stated Sunday that the release was secured Wednesday after repeated petitions were made to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Japanese government has not officially identified the individual involved.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged the detentions earlier this month, noting that the two cases involved individuals detained at different times—one in 2025 and the other in January of this year.

Although the ministry has confirmed both individuals remained in good health during their respective periods of custody, officials have declined to provide further details regarding the specific legal charges or whether the two cases are substantively related.

Regarding the Japanese national who remains in custody, reported to be NHK journalist Shinnosuke Kawashima, Kihara stated:

We have confirmed that there is no problem with the safety and health of the person. The government of Japan is continuing to press Iran for a release as soon as possible. We are working to win an early release while communicating with the family and other concerned parties.

The release marks a significant development in diplomatic relations between Tokyo and Tehran. However, the continued detention of Kawashima remains a point of international concern for press freedom advocacy groups.
 
 

At the High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change between the European Union and Japan, in Brussels, senior officials agreed to deepen their bilateral co-operation, working together towards achieving climate neutrality and tackling shared economic and geopolitical challenges. 

In the context of the current crisis in the Gulf region, both sides acknowledged the importance of the clean energy transition that contributes not only to climate neutrality but also their respective security, independence and competitiveness. 

The meeting was opened by Kurt Vandenberghe – Director-General for Climate Action at the European Commission and DOI Kentaro, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs at the Ministry of the Environment of Japan.

During the dialogue both sides reaffirmed their resolve to uphold multilateralism and their unwavering commitment to the Paris Agreement and the need to scale-up climate action in this decade, to reduce emissions with a view to keeping the limit of 1.5°C temperature rise by the end of the century within reach. 

The EU and Japan discussed the implementation of their 2030 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) as well as their NDCs for 2035 and 2040 in the case of Japan. Both sides agreed to join efforts to ensure a successful COP31 in Antalya later this year.

They also agreed to advance the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s ambition cycle including through international cooperation on the preparation and delivery of NDCs and Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) for parties that have not delivered them.

The EU and Japan recalled the first of its kind Green Alliance launched between the EU and Japan in May 2021 and reviewed opportunities to work together to support each other respective climate agendas.

In particular, they agreed to promote bilateral exchanges during the course of 2026 on industrial decarbonisation, climate adaptation, carbon pricing and carbon credits, carbon capture use and storage, sustainable finance, as well as climate action at sub-national level. 
 
 

 

 

Japan’s Supreme Court is expected to issue a unified ruling on whether law provisions not allowing same-sex marriage are constitutional, as six related appeals have been sent to the court’s Grand Bench.

The court’s Third Petty Bench, presided over by Michiharu Hayashi, on Wednesday forwarded the cases to the Grand Bench, presided over by Chief Justice Yukihiko Imasaki.

Lower court decisions on the lawsuits were divided, with five finding the legal provisions to be unconstitutional.

The Grand Bench, consisting of the top court’s 15 justices, is expected to give its ruling as early as next year, as it already has other suits to handle, including one over whether last July’s election of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of parliament, was constitutional in terms of vote-value disparities.

After hearing opinions from both sides of the damages suits, filed against the state mainly by same-sex couples, the top court will present its first constitutional interpretation as to the provisions related to same-sex marriage.

Five of Japan’s high courts, namely those in Sapporo, Tokyo, Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka, ruled the provisions of the Civil Code and family register law, which do not allow same-sex marriage, are unconstitutional.
 
 

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.