Asahi Kasei and Kurashiki City held a grand opening ceremony on February 4, 2025, for a biogas purification system (the System) in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

The System uses Asahi Kasei’s CO2 separation/recovery technology utilising zeolites installed at a sewage treatment plant.

The goal of this collaboration is to evaluate and demonstrate the performance of the System.

Asahi Kasei and Kurashiki City concluded a partnership agreement for the realisation of carbon neutrality in September 2022.

Advancing the demonstration trial for decarbonisation is one of the provisions of the partnership.

The System separates CO2 and methane from biogas using the optimum combination of a special zeolite as adsorbent that selectively adsorbs CO2 and a special pressure vacuum swing adsorption (PVSA) process technology.

The zeolite is a crystalline aluminosilicate having regular channels (pores) controlled on the order of angstroms (ten-millionths of a millimeter) and cavities (voids) with a specific surface area exceeding several hundred square meters per gram.

Asahi Kasei’s PVSA process technology, which separates specific gases by changes in pressure, enables the removal of CO2 from biogas to refine high-purity methane gas (biomethane) at a high recovery rate.

Biogas from sewage sludge, garbage, etc., consists of approximately 60% methane and 40% CO2.

While the use of biogas as a carbon-neutral fuel is rapidly expanding, it is also a source of biomethane as a substitute for natural gas in Europe, the US, and other regions.

In Kurashiki City, electricity is generated using biogas derived from sewage sludge at the Kojima Sewage Treatment Plant. The System will use a portion of this biogas for the demonstration trial.

Furthermore, if the CO2 separated by this System is utilised and/or stored, it would achieve carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), which is carbon negative.

In the demonstration trial, the separated methane is returned and used as fuel to generate electricity for effective utilisation of the biogas.

The demonstration trial at the Kojima Sewage Treatment Plant began earlier this month.

Asahi Kasei is responsible for the design, installation and operation of the System, as well as evaluating and demonstrating its performance, while Kurashiki City supplies biogas generated from sewage sludge in addition to providing the site for the trial.

Commercialisation of the System is expected around 2027 following additional trials in countries or regions where biogas purification is performed.

“We are excited to start the on-site demonstration trial of a biogas purification system using Asahi Kasei's zeolite and PVSA process technology,” said Osamu Matsuzaki, senior executive officer of Asahi Kasei and Senior General Manager of Corporate Research & Development.

“As the next step, by expanding co-creation partnerships globally, we will accelerate the advancement and practical implementation of this outstanding technology that can reduce environmental impacts, contributing to sustainability for the world.”
 

The Japanese government adopted a bill Tuesday to oblige companies that emit at least 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year to participate in the country's carbon emissions trading system.

According to the bill to revise the law on promoting green transformation, which the government abbreviates as GX, the obligation is expected to apply to 300 to 400 companies, particularly those in high-emitting industries including steelmaking.

Under the emissions trading system, to be introduced in fiscal 2026, the government will allocate CO2 emission quotas to participating companies every fiscal year.

Companies with emissions exceeding their quotas will be required to buy quotas on the trading market operated by the public-private GX Acceleration Agency.

Those that fail to procure additional quotas for their excess emissions will be required to pay a surcharge of 10 pct on top of the maximum trading price.
 
 

The Government of Japan and UNICEF Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesian National Nutrition Agency, have launched a new partnership.

The new partnership aims to support the implementation of the Free Nutritious Meal Program (Makan Bergizi Nasional) and enhance the quality of education, nutrition, and overall wellbeing for children in Biak, Papua.

With funding support of more than USD3 million over two years from the Government of Japan, UNICEF will assist Papua’s provincial and district authorities in providing nutritious and cost-efficient school meals, for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and primary school students using locally-sourced food and integrated essential nutrition services.

“Japan would like to contribute to school meals in Indonesia by utilizing Japan’s 100-year history of school meals experiences," Ambassador of Japan to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi stated in a media release on Monday (24/2/2025).

The partnership will also provide professional development training to teachers to improve the quality and inclusiveness of teaching and learning in the classrooms, particularly in literacy, numeracy and nutrition awareness. Additionally, outreach to parents on matters relating to nurturing care and development of their children will be conducted.

Capacity development and training for government personnel on planning and budgeting for sustainable Free Nutritious Meals Program and quality education services will also be an important area of work under this partnership to promote sustainability.

“Every child has the right to develop to their fullest potential, which includes access to quality social services. Nutritious meals and nurturing learning environments are key ingredients for every child’s healthy development and future success.

UNICEF is proud to partner with the Government of Japan to support Indonesia’s efforts in enhancing education and nutrition services for children in Papua," UNICEF Indonesia's Country Representative Maniza Zaman stated.

The program will reach 2,500 pre-primary and primary school-age children with enhanced nutrition and education services during the course of this partnership. (Wahyu Dwi Anggoro)
 
 

Indonesian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Christiawan Nasir addressed the job opportunities offered by Taiwan and Japan to Indonesian citizens, a topic that gained attention through the viral hashtag "Kabur Aja Dulu" (Let's Just Run Away) on social media.

Arrmanatha expressed that he is not concerned about these offers from both countries. He argued that career opportunities within Indonesia are more expansive than those in Japan and Taiwan.

“Usually developing countries have more job opportunities compared to developed and structured countries because the opportunities could be more limited once a country has become developed and structured," said Arrmanatha during the celebration event of the 70th Indonesia-Vietnam diplomatic relations at Hotel Raffles Jakarta on Monday, February 24, 2025.

Drawing from his personal experience of studying abroad, Arrmanatha believes that a wide array of job opportunities exist in Indonesia. He further shared that his own children prefer to build their careers in Indonesia rather than overseas.

"My children also studied abroad for a long time. But, they see more opportunities here. So, when my children finished their studies, they chose to come back here," he added.


Job Opportunities in Taiwan

Head of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office (TETO) Bruce Hung acknowledged the viral "Kabur Aja Dulu" trend on social media. He acknowledged this as a reflection of Indonesian citizens' concerns. "They want a new life, I understand that. Of course, we welcome them," said Hung during a press conference in the Senayan area, Jakarta, on Friday, February 21, 2025.

While offering a positive response, Hung emphasized that Taiwan respects the decisions made by the Indonesian government and its citizens regarding moving abroad. He also highlighted the diverse opportunities available in Taiwan.

Hung stated that Taiwan offers opportunities for Indonesian citizens wishing to pursue further education or work in various sectors. He noted that Indonesia’s large youth population presents potential for Taiwan.

Hung also reminded that Taiwan maintains specific requirements for foreign workers.

Hung revealed that approximately 400,000 Indonesians currently reside in Taiwan, a significant number relative to Taiwan's population of only 23 million. He further disclosed that Indonesians in Taiwan are employed across nearly all sectors. "Whether it's in the medical, manufacturing, or construction sectors. Basically, in all sectors," he said.

Job Opportunities in Japan

Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masaki Yasushi expressed his hope that more Indonesian students will choose to study in Japan, as Japanese universities are increasingly offering courses in English.

Masaki conveyed that Japan welcomes skilled workers from various countries, particularly Indonesia. He praised Indonesian workers for their diligence in fields such as medical services, manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, and services.

"They are highly respected by the Japanese people. So, my mission is to increase the number of such individuals," Masaki said during the 65th birthday celebration of Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Jakarta on Thursday night, February 20, 2025, as reported by Antara.

Furthermore, Masaki mentioned that in addition to the previously mentioned fields, Indonesian citizens can also find employment in Japan's transportation sector. "I believe that Indonesians are accepted in any field.

And I heard there is a bus driver from Indonesia, the first one in Japan," Masaki said.

According to Masaki, while fluency is not always required, foreign workers in Japan are expected to have a basic understanding of the Japanese language.

He also emphasized that the Japanese population understands and respects Islamic culture. Therefore, Masaki believes that the Japanese people are prepared to welcome more skilled workers from Indonesia.
 
 

North Korea has formed a de facto military alliance with Russia, which continues its aggression against Ukraine, and sent troops to support Moscow in the war.

Russia and Ukraine are engaging in warfare using high-technology weapons such as drones, and North Korea's participation in the war means that Pyongyang has been given a precious opportunity to gain practical combat experience.

Pyongyang's participation in the conflict also signals that the war in Europe is starting to affect the situation in East Asia, making the Japanese government wary of the possibility of the reclusive country beefing up its military capabilities.

"The military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, including the dispatch of North Korean troops in the war, is expected to cause the situation in Ukraine to deteriorate even further, and we should be seriously concerned over the matter in light of the impact on the security environment surrounding our country," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference Friday.

At a meeting in Pyongyang in June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement calling for mutual support in the event of an emergency.
 
 

An exhibition showcasing Taiwan’s railway system, its dining car history and the bento lunchboxes of both Taiwan and Japan started Feb. 22 at the Railway Museum in the Japanese city of Saitama, the Ministry of Culture said.
 
On the theme of “Wafu Cuisine Meets Taiwanese Flavors: The Dining Culture of Taiwan Railways” and running through June 2, the event is organized by the Taiwan Cultural Center in Tokyo and Taipei City-based Preparatory Office of the National Railway Museum, both supervised by the MOC. It follows the “Stories of Taiwan Railway Bento” exhibition held by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan last September in Tokyo.
 
During the opening ceremony, Chou Shyue-yow, Taiwan’s deputy representative to Japan, said the two countries share common memories and culture, including the unique experiences associated with railways and lunchboxes. It is hoped that the exhibition will bring both sides even closer together, he said, adding that the government is looking forward to expanding Taiwan’s global presence through its unique cultural heritage.
 
According to the MOC, the event stems from an initiative by Japan’s Railway Museum Director Yoshiyuki Oba following the cooperative pact signed between the preparatory office and the museum in July of 2023.
 
The ministry said Taiwan’s cuisine is influenced by Japanese culture, with lunchboxes in particular forming part of local people’s way of life. Through research and oral histories, the curation team explored the connections and historical backgrounds of the two countries’ shared culture and the unique characteristics that developed in Taiwan.
 
The event features audiovisual records of Taiwan’s platform lunchbox vendors, related literature and samples of lunchbox containers throughout the years. There is a dedicated area to inform visitors about the current stage of preparation for Taiwan’s National Railway Museum.
 
Other items among 188 pieces on display include tableware and receipts from dining cars dating from Japanese colonial rule (1895-1945) and large-scale train models. Participants can also enjoy Taiwan food such as bubble tea and beef noodle soup. (SFC-E)
 

Japan's main opposition party aims to prevent the ruling coalition from securing a majority in this summer's House of Councillors election while "making all efforts toward achieving a change in government" in a future House of Representatives election, its fiscal 2025 activity plan adopted Monday showed.

Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yoshihiko Noda vowed at a party convention to take a firm stance against the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, the Komeito party, at the current ordinary Diet session, saying, "This battle will determine the outcome of the upper house election, so we will make our presence known."

The activity plan, which outlined the party's leadership in maximizing opposition seats in the upcoming election, aims to build momentum toward reducing the ruling coalition's overall majority, including uncontested seats.

"Victory in a possible general election following lower house dissolution, which could happen at any time, will be set as the goal of all party activities," the document said, while also indicating a policy of fielding candidates in vacant constituencies.

Noda reaffirmed the party's intent to push for a ban on corporate and organizational donations, introduce the option for married couples to have separate surnames, and freeze a government plan to raise the out-of-pocket cost cap for high-cost medical care.

He also expressed his desire to ramp up pressure to revise the budget plan for fiscal 2025.

Tomoko Yoshino, head of the country's largest labor union Rengo, which is the biggest organizational supporter of both the CDPJ and fellow opposition Democratic Party for the People, called in her address for both parties to cooperate in the upper house election.
 
 

Emperor Naruhito on Sunday greeted thousands who gathered to celebrate his 65th birthday, joined by Empress Masako, their daughter Princess Aiko and other imperial family members, expressing hope for the people's happiness and good health.

Ahead of his birthday, the emperor expressed hope at a press conference that the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II later this year would serve as an occasion to renew a pledge for peace.

From a balcony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Sunday, he greeted and waved to a total of 18,000 well-wishers over three sessions, according to Imperial Household Agency. He was also joined by his younger brother, Crown Prince Fumihito, Crown Princess Kiko and their daughter Princess Kako.

Expressing gratitude for the show of support, the emperor said, "I wish for a peaceful spring for each and every one of you in all parts of the country. I hope for everyone's good health and happiness." He also expressed sympathy for those affected by the heavy snow that hit many areas along the Sea of Japan.

A banquet to celebrate his birthday was held for the first time in five years following a hiatus due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Cabinet members and ambassadors in attendance.

At his press conference on Thursday, the emperor spoke about the heavy toll of war, including the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the fierce ground battle on Okinawa, emphasizing the importance of passing down stories and lessons from the past. He also expressed hope that younger generations are actively seeking to learn about the war.

"I believe it is important to strengthen our love for peace by deepening our understanding of the past and not forgetting those who lost their lives nor those who experienced hardship and sadness," he said at the press conference at the Imperial Palace.

As the world today faces war and other crises, he said, "further cooperation and collaboration on the international stage is required to create a peaceful world, as well as a society that respects different values."

Japan will mark the 80th anniversary of its surrender in World War II on Aug. 15.

Last year, the emperor and Empress Masako made a state visit to Britain, meeting with King Charles and Queen Camilla. They also visited various locations throughout Japan, including the Noto Peninsula, hit by an earthquake on New Year's Day last year.

He said he hoped that those in disaster-stricken regions in the country will be able to live peacefully as soon as possible.

Regarding the official Instagram account created last year by the Imperial Household Agency, the emperor said it is important to share information to build trust but also noted people should be reminded that their expressions of views can sometimes hurt others.

"I wish for a sympathetic society in which we think about other people's feelings, situations and positions and are considerate of those with different opinions," he said.

At the press conference, the emperor said he was delighted to see his daughter, Princess Aiko, thrive and learn at her workplace at the Japanese Red Cross Society, as he had never been employed himself.

"I hope she continues to grow and broadens her perspective through further experiences," he said.

Reflecting on positive developments over the past year, the emperor said the achievements on the world stage made by the athletes at the Olympics and Paralympics in Paris and baseball star Shohei Ohtani winning his third MVP award gave people in Japan hope and courage.
 
 

 
“Futsu no Seikatsu” (Ordinary Life), an animated movie directed by Japan’s Yoriko Mizushiri, was awarded the Silver Bear Jury Prize for a short film at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival on Saturday.

At the prestigious annual event in the German capital, Japanese director Satoko Yokohama’s “Umibe e Iku Michi” (Seaside Serendipity) was given “Special Mention” from the jury in the Generation Kplus Competition category for works themed on children.

Futsu no Seikatsu depicts scenes from everyday life with movements, such as flowing hair, with a gentle touch and soft colors.

 

Mizushiri said in a video message sent to the award ceremony that she is really honored to receive the Silver Bear prize.

Umibe e Iku Michi, based on a manga series by Japanese comic artist Gin Miyoshi, features stories about boys facing up to art and eccentric adults.

Yokohama expressed joy after the ceremony, saying with a smile that a miracle has happened.
 
 

Japan's government approved on Tuesday new targets to cut the country's greenhouse gas emissions through 2040, alongside a revised energy plan and an updated industrial policy for the same period.

The measures, which seek to bolster long-term policy stability for businesses, focus on promoting decarbonisation, ensuring a stable energy supply and strengthening industrial capacity to drive economic growth.

Under the new climate policy, Japan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 2013 levels by 2035 and by 73% by 2040, extending its 2030 goal of a 46% cut.

The emissions-cutting target sparked calls for deeper reductions from experts and ruling coalition members when it was first proposed, as the world's fifth-biggest carbon emitter struggles to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

Despite more than 80% of 3,000 public comments supporting a more ambitious target, the environment and industry ministries finalised the goal without changes, citing prior deliberations by climate experts.

As part of global efforts to combat climate change, Japan plans to submit its new target, known as a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, to the United Nations this month.

The revised energy policy aims for renewables to account for up to 50% of Japan's electricity mix by fiscal year 2040, with nuclear power contributing another 20% as the country pushes for clean energy while meeting rising power demand.

Japanese utilities have struggled to restart nuclear reactors since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, limiting nuclear power to just 8.5% of Japan's electricity supply in 2023.

The new energy plan removes the previous goal of minimizing reliance on nuclear and calls for building next-generation reactors.

A new national strategy integrating decarbonisation and industrial policy through 2040, aligned with the emission target and energy plan, was also approved by the cabinet.

It aims to develop industrial clusters in areas rich in renewable energy, nuclear power, and other low-carbon power sources.

However, uncertainties are emerging around Japan's policies, as the domestic offshore wind market, a key driver of renewable energy growth, faces headwinds from inflation and high costs, recently prompting Mitsubishi Corp (8058.T), opens new tab to review three domestic projects.

Additionally, the decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and its negative stance on renewable energy have further clouded global expansion efforts.
 
 

An Indonesian man will be the first to take advantage of Japan extending the scope of its specified skilled worker visa to encompass the road transportation sector when he begins work as a bus driver in fiscal 2025.

Iyus, 40, who came to Japan in 2013, attended a language school and worked at a travel agency before joining Tokyo-based Nikko Kanko Bus Co.
He passed a test demonstrating professional and communication skills in December and is expected to start work in fiscal 2025 starting in April.

Having obtained the required large motor vehicle license, he is on course to take a role as a tour bus driver.

"I wanted to be a bus driver. It feels like a dream," he told a press conference in Okayama earlier in February held to mark his achievement. "I want to introduce tourist spots in Japan and visit there together."

Securing bus drivers is becoming a major challenge for Japan, with the government projecting a shortage of around 22,000 in 2029. The nation's falling birthrate and a legal revision last year that limited drivers' working hours are contributing to the problem.

Amid the increased need for foreign labor, the Cabinet decided last March to expand the scope of the Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa to accept foreign workers in four additional industries, covering road and railway transportation as well as the forestry and timber sectors.

Japan plans to admit up to 24,500 drivers of buses, trucks and taxis in the five years from fiscal 2024 under the visa, which enables them to stay in Japan for up to five years.
 
 

Japanese semiconductor manufacturers are turning to Vietnam to address labor shortages.

A delegation from Japan’s Kyushu region and industry officials visited Hanoi to explore hiring opportunities. They met with Vietnam’s largest IT company and Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Kuroki Yoichi from Tera Probe noted that Vietnamese engineers have basic training, which could support business expansion.

Kyushu’s semiconductor sector lacks specialized workers.

With a population of 100 million and a median age in the early thirties, Vietnam offers a strong talent pool. The government plans to train 50,000 semiconductor workers by 2030.

Vietnam’s appeal extends beyond Japan.

In 2022, Samsung Electronics built its largest Southeast Asia research facility in Hanoi. Nvidia also announced plans to open an R&D center in the country.
 
 

 

A total of 256 municipalities have neither a public library nor a bookstore, the Yomiuri Shimbun has learned. This amounts to 15% of the 1,718 municipalities nationwide.

“If having few chances to enjoy books becomes normal, print culture itself will fade away,” an expert said about the decrease in places where people can encounter a diverse range of books.

The Yomiuri Shimbun tallied data from the Japan Library Association, which surveyed municipalities that had no libraries as of April 2024, and the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture, which compiled municipalities that had no bookstores as of November 2024.

The two groups looked at libraries, where materials are collected and librarians and other staff are assigned based on the Library Law, and general bookstores, which handle new publications.

According to the Yomiuri tally, 256 municipalities had neither a library nor a bookstore, including Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Kamiyama, Tokushima Prefecture.

A survey conducted by the Japan Library Association and others in fiscal 2022 found 247 municipalities in such a state. Nine more municipalities have now been added, including Ichinomiya, Chiba Prefecture, where the last bookstore closed in 2022, and Yuzawa, Niigata Prefecture, where the last bookstore closed in 2023.

Libraries are on the rise, but bookstores are in steep decrease nationwide.
There were 20,880 bookstores in fiscal 2003, compared to 10,918 in fiscal 2023, almost halving over 20 years. The rise of online sales and a decline in reading due to the spread of smartphones are among the factors cited.

“Reading enriches people’s thinking and knowledge. Bookshelves provide encounters with unknown cultures and information,” said Kosuke Okabe, secretary general of the Japan Library Association.

“People who cannot buy books online are left behind, and the habit of reading gradually becomes obsolete in areas where there are no libraries and bookstores,” Okabe said. “In such areas, it becomes difficult to establish print culture again.”
 
 

The monthly number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record high in January, partly reflecting travel demand from China and other parts of Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday period, a Japan National Tourism Organization report showed Wednesday.

The number of inbound visitors is estimated to have risen 40.6 pct from a year before to 3,781,200, exceeding 3 million for the fourth consecutive month and surpassing the previous record high of 3,489,800 marked in December 2024.

By country or region, the number of visitors from mainland China jumped 2.4-fold to 980,300, followed by 967,100 visitors from South Korea, up 12.8 pct, and 593,400 visitors from Taiwan, up 20.5 pct.

The monthly number of visitors from Australia rose 35.3 pct to a record high of 140,200. Visitors from the United States totaled 182,500, up 38.4 pct.
 
 

Deputy Minister for Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Christina Aryani discussed increasing the placement and protection of migrant workers in Japan during a meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

This is necessary considering reports of several cases involving the exploitation of Indonesian migrant workers in Japan, both those leaving under the independent scheme (special skilled workers/SSW) as well as those participating in internship programs.

"We are mandated to ensure that there is no more exploitation of migrant workers," Aryani said in a statement released on Monday.

In line with President Prabowo Subianto's directive to increase remittances, she affirmed that the government is continuing to strive to increase the number of placements of Indonesian migrant workers in various countries, including Japan.

"We have mapped, and one of the interesting placement countries—and we see that it can still be explored further—is Japan. We see that Japan is also one of the favorite destinations for Indonesian migrant workers," she added.

She described the government-to-government scheme for the placement of health workers and nurses as quite interesting.

However, building competency and language skills is important to take advantage of this opportunity.

Therefore, she urged health polytechnics and institutes of health science to start including Japanese in their curriculum.

"So when they (health workers and nurses) graduate, they do not start from zero for their Japanese language competency," she explained.

She further highlighted the migrant worker placement system in Japan.

She considered the placement scheme through migrant worker placement companies to be more secure compared to leaving independently or getting recruited by agencies from abroad to schools.

"There is a guarantee of protection for migrant workers that we can ensure is fulfilled," she said.

Human resource development is also one of the focuses of the cooperation between the Indonesian government and JICA, which has been running since 2016.

The development of the cooperation covers the human resources forum, support for health polytechnics in Indonesia, technical internship training, postgraduate studies, and improving health professionals and empowering migrant workers who have worked in Japan.
 

Japan says it will increase its reliance on nuclear energy in a major policy shift as it seeks to meet growing demand from power-hungry sectors like AI and semiconductors.

An energy plan approved by the cabinet on Tuesday called for "maximising the use of nuclear energy" and dropped reference to "reducing reliance on nuclear energy".

The energy plan, written by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry says that by 2040, nuclear energy should account for 20% of Japan's grid supply in 2040, more than double the 8.5% share in 2023.

It comes as the Fukushima nuclear plant disaster from 14 years ago continues to hang over the country, conjuring painful memories.

In March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake near Japan's north-east coast spawned a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people, wiping out entire towns and flooding the reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi plant.

Japan now operates 14 commercial nuclear reactors, compared to 54 before the Fukushima disaster when 30% of the country's energy was from nuclear sources.

The plan still needs approval by parliament, where it will be discussed in the coming months.

The country, which imports 90% of its fuel, needs to look to nuclear sources as part of its plan to cut back on carbon and be self-reliant on energy, said Daishiro Yamagiwa, an MP who was part of a government advisory committee on the energy plan.

"Because of the conflict in Ukraine and the war in the Middle East, even fossil fuels have become difficult to buy," he told the BBC. "Japan is a country without energy resources, so we must use whatever is available in a balanced way."

Yamagiwa added that energy burdens are growing because of demand from AI data processing centres and semiconductor factories around the country.
But experts say increasing reliance on nuclear energy will be both risky and costly.

Japan will need to import uranium, which is expensive and will make the country reliant on other countries, said Professor Kenichi Oshima at the faculty of policy science at Ryukoku University.

Prof Oshima told the BBC the main concern is that increasing the number of nuclear power plants also raises the risk of potentially disastrous accidents.

He cited the 2024 New Year's Day earthquake in the Noto peninsula, where two decades ago, a plan to build a nuclear plant was scrapped because locals opposed it.

"If there had been a nuclear power plant there, it is quite clear that it would have caused a major accident," he said.


Fukushima looms large

In Japan, any mention of nuclear energy inevitably brings back difficult memories of the nuclear meltdown at the Daiichi power plant.

"We all had such a terrible experience at the time of the Fukushima quake," Tokyo resident Yuko Maruyama told the BBC.

"How could I support it [the nuclear energy plan]? I want the government to rely on other sources of energy," she added.

"As a mother I think of the children, of their safety. I cannot help but think about what would happen in the future."

The meltdown at Fukushima is considered the world's worst since that of Chernobyl in 1986.

It stirred fresh controversy in 2023, when Japan started releasing treated water from the site of the Fukushima plant. This drew protests from Japan's neighbours, including China, over safety concerns.

The United Nations atomic energy regulator IAEA said the waste water was safe and would have a "negligible" impact on people and the environment.

In response to the new energy plan announced this week, Greenpeace said promoting nuclear energy is "outrageous" when the fallout from Fukushima is still ongoing.

"There is no justification for continuing to rely on nuclear energy, which remains toxic for tens of thousands of years, produces radioactive waste that requires long-term management, and carries risks like earthquakes and terrorism," the group said.

To meet the government's goal, experts say 33 reactors must be put back online, but the current pace of safety checks as well as residents' objections in some areas will make this difficult.

Many of these nuclear plants are old and will need to be refitted with new technology for them to function safely.

"That most difficult problem is that each nuclear power plant is in a different location and will need its own safety protocol and infrastructure," Yamagiwa said.

"We must check each of them carefully. It still takes time."
In recent months, regulators have given several old reactors approval to keep operating.

In October 2024 Japan's oldest reactor, Takahama nuclear power plant, was given the go-ahead to continue operations, making it the first reactor in the country to get approval to operate beyond 50 years.
 
 

The Justice Ministry said Monday it will allow Taiwanese who marry a Japanese to list the individual's place of origin as Taiwan, instead of China, in Japan's family registry system, a move that has been welcomed by the self-ruled island but has triggered opposition from Beijing.

When a Japanese marries a foreigner, the family register currently records the spouse's nationality along with his or her name and other information.

What was written in the nationality field was in principle the name of a country, leading people from Taiwan to be described as being from China.

But the ministry has decided to change an ordinance to add "region" to the current "nationality" entry of the family registry, in a sign of greater consideration for identity. The move brings it in line with Japan's residence registry and certificates for medium to long-term foreign residents that already have a similar system.

When a person from Taiwan was naturalized to Japanese, his or her register read that their country of origin was China. This will also be changed.
The revised system will be introduced from May, the ministry said, noting that it will also be applied in cases prior to the implementation of the ordinance revision if requests are submitted.

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung expressed gratitude to what he called "the long-term efforts made by various actors in Japan."

The democratic island "believes that the rights and interests of overseas Taiwanese in Japan will be further protected through the correct descriptions on Japanese family registers," Lin said in a statement.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, meanwhile, criticized the move, saying that Taiwan "is an inalienable part of China's territory."
"The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair that brooks no foreign interference," he said.

The Japanese ministry has decided on the latest change partly to avoid any confusion associated with marriage or a divorce between Japanese and foreigners that could involve not only Japanese law but the law of the country or region of the other individual.

There have also been calls on the ministry to accept the listing of Taiwan in the registry as the recording of Palestine has been allowed as an exceptional measure.

In a joint communique with China in 1972, Japan acknowledged the People's Republic of China as China's sole legitimate government and severed ties with Taiwan.

Following the normalization of diplomaticties between the two countries that year, Japan has taken the stance of respecting China's claim on Taiwan as part of its territory, while also maintaining nongovernmental working relations with the island.
 

 

Japanese restaurants are reacting to spiraling prices for domestic rice by embracing cheaper imports instead.

The Japanese government imports about 770,000 tons of tariff-free rice a year from countries such as the US and Thailand. It sells some of that to the private sector.

Restaurant operator Colowide recently started using Californian rice at some outlets at three of its chains, which include Korean barbecue and shabu-shabu hotpot places.

Officials say that by adjusting the amount of water used in the steaming process, they can achieve a similar taste and texture to domestic rice.

They say incorporating cheaper imports will make it easier to keep the business running as it is, given the uncertain outlook for domestic rice prices.

The firm says it will continue to use locally-grown rice at its Japanese set-meal and sushi chains.

Two major beef-bowl chains are taking similar steps.
Matsuya says it's using imported rice and Yoshinoya says it's been mixing domestic and imported rice since last year.
 
 

New Secretary of State Rubio joins South Korea, Japan in condemning DPRK weapons programs and military ties with Russia

The top diplomats of the U.S., South Korea and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to North Korea’s complete denuclearization and strengthening trilateral cooperation amid growing concerns over Pyongyang’s military ties with Russia.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya pledged to work together against Pyongyang’s military activities in their first trilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

In a joint statement issued after the meeting, the three ministers emphasized their “resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea” and expressed concern about Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs, illicit cyber operations including cryptocurrency theft and increasing military cooperation with Russia.

Rubio, Cho and Iwaya also warned the DPRK that their countries will not tolerate any “provocations or threats” and agreed to strengthen sanctions enforcement against North Korea and maintain pressure to block the illicit activities funding its weapons development.

Apart from the security concerns, the three countries condemned “the long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread, and gross violations of human rights in and by the DPRK.”

They also called for the immediate resolution of issues related to individuals abducted, detained or held as prisoners of war by North Korea, as well as families separated by the division of the two Koreas.

The trilateral meeting marked the first such talks involving Rubio, who took charge as secretary of state in late January after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, and was one of several diplomatic engagements that took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.

Rubio again reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to the “complete denuclearization” of the DPRK while maintaining openness to dialogue in a separate bilateral meeting with Cho on Saturday. The two officials also discussed “strategies to deter North Korean aggression,” according to a State Department press release.

As South Korea deals with the fallout of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived martial law imposition in early December, Rubio expressed confidence in Acting President Choi Sang-mok’s administration and the strength of the U.S.-ROK alliance.

Rubio’s affirmation of the bilateral alliance comes as concerns remain in South Korea following Trump’s election, given the new president’s repeated threats to withdraw U.S. troops from the ROK. 

The future of cooperation between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo also remains in doubt following Yoon’s impeachment and the end of Joe Biden’s presidency, as the two leaders were strong advocates of boosting trilateral coordination to deter DPRK threats.

Meanwhile, during a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, Cho drew attention to North Korea’s deployment of troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, according to a South Korean foreign ministry press release. 

The ROK foreign minister stated that there is “no precedent” for an Asian country to dispatch troops to a European war at the request of a European country, warning that Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s war efforts will lead to “the expansion and prolongation of the Ukraine war” and poses a considerable security risk for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.

“North Korea is trying to obtain military support from Russia that will help strengthen its ability to threaten not only South Korea and Japan but also the U.S. and other countries around the world in return for support from Russia, and this is making efforts to end the Ukraine war more difficult,” Cho reportedly said. 

In a separate meeting on the sidelines of the conference in Munich, the foreign ministers of the G7 bloc of industrialized nations condemned North Korea’s military assistance to Russia for the Ukraine war and called on it to immediately cease all support, including by withdrawing its troops.

The G7 ministerial joint statement also expressed “serious concern” over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and reaffirmed their commitment to the “complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” while calling on North Korea to abandon all nuclear weapons and related programs “in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner.”
 
 

 

Japan plans to establish a system allowing the central government to promptly repair locally managed airports damaged by disasters, in place of local governments.

The system, expected to cover about 60 airports, is based on lessons from the delayed resumption of an airport on the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture, which was struck by a powerful earthquake on Jan. 1, 2024.

The transport ministry plans to introduce a revision to the airport law to create the system during the current session of parliament, which ends in June, informed sources said.

Noto Airport in Wajima, an area severely damaged by the quake, reopened for commercial flights on Jan. 27, 2024, after emergency repairs by the prefectural government.

Under the law for recovery from large-scale disasters, Japan has a system allowing the central government to repair locally managed airports on behalf of local governments if disasters that damaged them are officially designated as extraordinary.

But it was only a month after the earthquake that the central government was able to start full-fledged repairs of Noto Airport under that system.

The new system would allow the central government to repair disaster-affected airports before or without such a disaster designation if requested by local governments, helping early reopenings.

The ministry will also strengthen aircraft safety measures, following a collision of planes on a runway at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in January last year.

Airport managers will be obliged to take measures to prevent planes from entering runways by mistake and will be subject to regular inspections by the central government. All pilots will be asked to receive training on communication between pilots.

The measures will be included in a bill to revise the civil aeronautics law to be submitted to parliament.
 
 

The Japanese Prime Minister's summit with the unpredictable and impulsive new US president, Donald Trump, demonstrated a masterclass in diplomacy, showcasing how to manage Mr. Trump’s erratic leadership style.

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba may be struggling with rock-bottom approval ratings at home, but abroad, he has become an overnight sensation — one that world leaders are eager to emulate.

His summit with the unpredictable and impulsive new US president, Donald Trump, demonstrated a masterclass in diplomacy, showcasing how to manage Trump’s erratic leadership style.

Analysts believe Ishiba secured most of Japan’s key objectives through a strategy of “flattery diplomacy,” using warm praise and calculated compliments to win favor. For leaders of countries with vital relations with Washington — especially South Korea — Ishiba’s approach appears to offer valuable lessons.

Heading into the summit, Ishiba faced immense pressure. Since taking office last week, Trump had unsettled world leaders, both allies and adversaries, with steep tariffs and expansionist rhetoric.

Canada and Mexico, two of America’s closest partners, were slapped with 25 percent tariffs, and Europe and other trade allies braced for what Trump called his “tariff war.”

Adding to global unease, Trump expressed ambitions to acquire Greenland from Denmark and take control of the Panama Canal from Panama. With Japan enjoying a large trade surplus with the US and depending heavily on Washington for its security, it risked becoming Trump’s next target.

To shield Japan from damaging US policies, Ishiba knew he had to win Trump’s trust and admiration — just as former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had done during Trump’s first term. Abe had cultivated a deep personal bond with Trump through generous gifts, rounds of golf (Trump’s favorite pastime), and other gestures of camaraderie.

In return, Japan avoided major trade frictions and received strong security assurances. Understanding Trump’s reliance on personal chemistry in diplomacy, Ishiba followed Abe’s example — and it paid off.

Ishiba’s charm offensive was on full display. He presented Trump and his grandchildren with gold-plated traditional Japanese helmets, then showered the US president with praise during their joint press conference, making Trump beam with pride.

“On television, he appears intimidating, with a strong personality,” Ishiba said through a translator, “but in person, he is sincere, powerful and deeply committed to the US.” He even went as far as to suggest that “God” had saved Trump from an assassination attempt for the sake of America — a remark that undoubtedly flattered the president.

Coupled with promises of increased Japanese investment in the US and greater purchases of American products, Ishiba’s carefully crafted gestures helped secure Tokyo’s standing with the most powerful leader in the free world.

Of course, a flattered Trump does not necessarily mean a fundamental shift in US foreign policy. However, at least in the short term, Japan escaped the punitive tariffs Trump had imposed on other major trading partners.

Additionally, Trump reaffirmed Washington’s unwavering commitment to Japan’s security amid growing tensions from Russia’s war in Ukraine, North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and China’s increasing assertiveness. Praising Ishiba’s diplomatic skills, Trump remarked, “I think he’s going to do a fantastic job as prime minister — a very strong person.”

Now that Japan has secured a degree of trust from Trump through personal diplomacy, South Korea faces the challenge of doing the same. Korea, arguably even more reliant on the US than Japan for economic and security reasons, would benefit from a similar approach.

However, the timing is far from ideal. With President Yoon Suk Yeol facing impeachment, South Korea’s acting president, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, has yet to even speak with Trump, let alone meet him — despite Trump’s clear preference for face-to-face diplomacy.

If Yoon’s impeachment is upheld by the Constitutional Court, South Korea will likely hold new elections in the spring, with a new president taking office in the summer. Given the widespread public backlash against Yoon’s short-lived martial law, the opposition Democratic Party is favored to win.

However, this raises concerns about future Seoul-Washington relations, as opposition leaders in South Korea have historically been less inclined to embrace US ties with the same warmth as conservative leaders.

Many of South Korea’s opposition figures were once fierce anti-American activists, criticizing US involvement in Korean politics and accusing Washington of backing past military dictators.

While their views have since evolved and softened, some still harbor concerns over what they see as excessive US influence, particularly regarding inter-Korean relations.

A key reason for their grievances is historical. Some opposition leaders believe that Korea’s colonization by Japan and the subsequent division of the peninsula can be traced back to a secret US-Japan deal over a century ago.

The 1905 Taft-Katsura Agreement allegedly saw Washington recognize Japan’s rule over Korea in exchange for US control of the Philippines.

Although historians largely agree that the so-called agreement was a simple memorandum of personal opinions rather than an official treaty, many opposition figures still cite it as evidence of US complicity in Korea’s troubled past.

One such figure is Democratic Party President Lee Jae-myung, the current frontrunner among opposition presidential hopefuls. In a 2021 meeting with a US senator, Lee bluntly blamed the US for Korea’s past predicaments, raising the Taft-Katsura issue, a move critics saw as a diplomatic misstep.

Lee has since softened his rhetoric to mitigate his perceived anti-American stance, emphasizing the importance of the Korea-US alliance. Yet given that he is from Korea’s proud and often nationalistic opposition camps, it is unclear whether he would be as friendly or flattering as Japan’s Ishiba if he were to meet Trump as South Korea’s new leader.
 
 

Korea and Japan held a joint lighting ceremony Saturday in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the normalization of their diplomatic relations this year, Seoul's Foreign Ministry said.
 
N Seoul Tower and Tokyo Tower, iconic landmarks located in the two nations' capitals, were lit up at the same time in the evening, an event meant to look back on the path of their friendship and cooperation, and move toward a new future.

The event was part of Seoul and Tokyo's efforts to hold celebrative projects this year to mark the 60th anniversary of the 1965 signing of the bilateral treaty that normalized their diplomatic ties following Korea's liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule. 
 
The upper section of the exterior of N Seoul Tower, turning on at 6:30 p.m., was alternately lit up in blue and red — colors symbolizing the national flags of Korea and Japan. The lower section of the tower was illuminated with the image of the logo marking the 60th anniversary.
 
"With lights symbolizing the 60th anniversary brightly shining on central Seoul, I hope that Korea and Japan will hold their hands to picture a better future together," First Vice Minister Kim Hong-kyun said at the lighting ceremony.
 
Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Mizushima said the two nations have made deep strides in various areas despite many challenges, voicing hope that the two nations will continue to make efforts for friendship and trust.
 
Meanwhile, the English-language phrase "Japan Korea" was lit up on Tokyo Tower, and Tokyo's landmark was also illuminated in white, red and blue — colors used in the two countries' national flags.
 
"I hope this year will be a time when the two nations build the relationship that does not sway nor back away after looking back on 60 years of history, and also lay forth a blueprint full of hopes for the future generation of both countries," Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee said at the lighting ceremony.
 

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Saturday he asked his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio that Japan be exempt from President Donald Trump's plans to impose 25 percent steel and aluminum tariffs and reciprocal tariffs.

In a brief exchange on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Iwaya also expressed his desire to hold security talks involving the two countries' foreign and defense ministers "at an early date," according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

The exchange was held to follow up on a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump at the White House on Feb 7, where the two agreed to pursue a "new golden age" of bilateral relations and pledged cooperation in the fields of defense, the economy, technology and other areas.

The ministry said in a press release that Iwaya and Rubio "confirmed that they will communicate closely to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. economic relations."

In the context, Iwaya "lodged a claim" regarding the tariff measures by the U.S. government, the press release said.

On auto tariffs, which Trump said the administration will roll out around April 2, Iwaya told reporters that he "raised questions" with Rubio about the measure.

Trump, who took office on Jan. 20, has announced a series of tariff measures as part of his "America First" agenda, based on his belief that they will save many U.S. industries and help the country to cut its trade deficits.

On Monday, Trump signed proclamations to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports, due to take effect on March 12.

He also signed a document on Thursday to introduce reciprocal tariffs, which would raise the import taxes the United States charges on certain products to match what other countries impose on U.S. goods crossing their borders. On the following day, he said he will roll out tariffs on imported cars.

The United States is a major trading partner of Japan, which exports a variety of products such as cars and electronics. Japan reported an 8.64 trillion yen trade surplus with the United States last year, according to Japanese government data.
 
 

Japan's main opposition party on Friday demanded the revision of a draft state budget plan already submitted to parliament, ratcheting up pressure on Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who as head of a minority government has promised to heed calls from the opposition.

The proposed revisions unveiled by the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan call for changes worth nearly 3.8 trillion yen ($25 billion) to fund education-related measures to ease the burden on households and end a gasoline surcharge, party chief Yoshihiko Noda said.

Other proposed changes include blocking the government's bid to ask patients who are already paying high medical costs, such as those with cancer, to bear more.

Noda, Japan's prime minister between 2011 and 2012 when the CDPJ's predecessor was in power, said the revisions were aimed at demonstrating that the party "can take charge of government."

The CDPJ plans to hold discussions with the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party on revising the budget plan, already at a record-high 115.54 trillion yen, to boost defense capabilities and address the needs of Japan's rapidly graying population.

Ishiba's government is hoping to secure parliamentary approval for the budget plan before the next fiscal year starting April, meaning it would have to clear the lower house by March 2 at a time when households are struggling to cope with rising prices for everyday goods.

The CDPJ's move puts the focus on how far the government and the ruling coalition will compromise over the state budget, which reflects the current administration's policy priorities.

Since the ruling parties lost their majority in the powerful House of Representatives in last October's general election, the prime minister has prioritized "thorough" discussions with an emboldened opposition.

The backing of the Democratic Party for the People, an opposition party that gained strength in the election, paved the way for the enactment last year of a supplementary budget for fiscal 2024.

The LDP and Komeito have been in talks with the Japan Innovation Party to find common ground on the opposition party's demand for free high school education, in their latest attempt to seek policy coordination and ensure smooth Diet deliberations.
 
 

The Japanese government on Friday expressed caution over U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to return to the Group of Eight framework by reuniting Russia with the Group of Seven major democracies.

"We value the bond of the G-7," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stressed at a press conference.

"The G-7 is a framework that functions quickly and effectively in response to international situations through concrete cooperation among its members, who share basic values such as freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law," the top government spokesman noted.

"We will continue to communicate closely with G-7 members, including the United States," he added.

Russia was removed from the G-8 framework in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea in southern Ukraine.
 
 

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force said Thursday that it has begun the Pacific Steller joint exercise with the U.S. and French navies in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines.

This is the first drill involving MSDF vessels and U.S. and French aircraft carriers. From Japan, the MSDF destroyer Kaga, which is becoming a de facto aircraft carrier, and others joined the exercise.

It is unusual for Japan to conduct a drill with aircraft carriers of other countries in the sea area. The joint drill, which will last until Tuesday, is apparently aimed at keeping China in check.

Participating in the drill were patrol aircraft and a total of 11 vessels including the U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier.

It is the first time since the 1960s that a French aircraft carrier has been deployed to the Pacific.
 


 

The new entity will leverage TriNetX's LIVE platform, which encompasses a network of 200 million patient records.

TriNetX has collaborated with Fujitsu to establish TriNetX Japan KK, a joint venture (JV) aimed at transforming the utilisation of anonymised electronic health record (EHR) data from Japanese individuals to accelerate healthcare research and clinical trials.

The collaboration is set to integrate the country more fully into the worldwide data-driven healthcare landscape.

The new entity will leverage TriNetX’s LIVE platform, which encompasses a network of more than 200 million records of patients, with Fujitsu’s cloud-based platform.

TriNetX LIVE is the largest federated network of real-world data and harmonises diverse datasets including EHRs, lab outcomes and data from the tumour registries into a unified data model.

This facilitates on-demand cohort creation and analysis for researchers and life sciences companies, enabling them to conduct analytics and access large-scale EHR datasets securely.

The JV is in line with the increasing participation of Japanese medical institutions in the TriNetX network.

These institutions are engaging in new studies leveraging TriNetX’s technology and data and pharmaceutical companies are extending clinical trial opportunities to them.

TriNetX Japan KK will be led by Shogo Wakabayashi, the country manager for TriNetX in Japan.

TriNetX chief operating officer Steve Kundrot and the company’s mergers and acquisitions and business development vice-president Elizabeth Schwert are set to join the board of directors of the JV.

Fujitsu healthy living head Tatsuki Araki stated: “Fujitsu is proud to collaborate with TriNetX to advance healthcare and life sciences innovation in Japan. Together with TriNetX, we will create an environment where Japanese medical data, previously underutilised, can be efficiently leveraged for clinical research.

“As part of our business model “Fujitsu Uvance,” which is based on addressing social issues, Fujitsu aims to eliminate drug loss in Japan and achieve a society where everyone can choose the treatment that best suits them by creating an ecosystem leveraging medical data.” 
 
 

Television celebrity Dewi Sukarno, who was the third wife of then Indonesian President Sukarno, has announced the launch of a political group for animal protection in Japan.

She aims to field candidates in this summer’s election for the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of the country’s parliament. As head of the group, Dewi herself plans to run after reacquiring Japanese nationality.

The new group, named 12 Heiwa To, upholds animal protection as its central policy. Heiwa means peace, while 12 is pronounced “wan-nyan,” a combination of Japanese onomatopoeia for the sounds of a barking dog and a crying cat.

At a press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday, Dewi said that the first and most important measure the group aims to achieve is the enactment of a law against eating dogs and cats.

The group says in its constitution that it will protect dogs and work toward coexistence with humanity. The group also aims to set up a special institution policing animal abuse and toughen penalties for such acts.

At the press conference, election planner Shinnosuke Fujikawa said that the group’s Upper House election target is to win at least two or three seats, or five if possible.
 
 

As peckish deer chase delighted tourists in Japan's temple-dotted Nara Park, a quiet but dedicated team of litter-pickers patrols the stone paths, collecting plastic waste that threatens the animals' health.

The ancient city of Nara is a major draw for the country's record influx of visitors -- but like in nearby Kyoto, where photo-hungry crowds have been accused of pestering the famous geisha, there have been unwelcome consequences.

Tourists are only allowed to feed the deer special rice crackers sold in Nara, but the animals are increasingly eating rubbish by accident.
 

 

"More and more people are tossing away their leftovers or snack packaging in the park," Nobuyuki Yamazaki of the Nara Deer Preservation Foundation told AFP. "Plastic items can accumulate in deer stomachs over a long period, leading to their death through weakness."

Some activists have even retrieved chunks of plastic waste from Nara deer carcasses.

Armed with gloves, tongs and dustpans, the park's litter-picking squad -- called Beautiful Deer -- are fighting back.

 

The team, which mostly employs people with disabilities, has been collaborating with Yamazaki's foundation for several years.

Around half a dozen Beautiful Deer staff patrol the park in bright green jackets, unfazed by the excited squeals of holidaymakers surrounded by their hooved friends.

 

For many members, "the idea they're contributing to society is at the core of their motivation", said the squad's supervisor Masahito Kawanishi.

Around 1,300 wild deer roam the vast park, which has been their home since the eighth century, as the legend goes, acting as divine envoys for a Shinto shrine.

Drawn partly by the weak yen, 36.8 million foreign visitors came to Japan last year, a new record that the government wants to almost double to 60 million annually by 2030.

But residents and authorities in tourist hotspots, from tradition-steeped Kyoto to towns near the majestic Mount Fuji, are increasingly voicing frustration about overcrowding, traffic violations and bad behavior by some visitors.

Nara Park is no exception -- especially when it comes to litter.
The park has no public bins -- a policy introduced about four decades ago to stop deer scavenging in them for food.

Visitors are instead encouraged to take their trash home -- an ingrained habit in Japan that is not always shared by people from abroad, Yamazaki said.
"It's perhaps difficult to expect the park to remain empty of trash cans forever," he said.

With cultural differences in mind, Nara authorities are trialling high-tech, solar-powered bins near the park in a 20-million-yen project.

 

The bins can automatically compress trash and bear the slogan: "Save the Nara deer from plastic waste".

Public bins are scarce across Japan, with one theory being that the deadly 1995 subway sarin gas attacks by a doomsday cult caused them to be removed.

Gawel Golecki, a 40-year-old from Poland who regularly visits Japan, told AFP he now keeps his trash with him.

"It's kind of strange for us," he told AFP. "(In Europe) there is always a place to throw" it.

French tourist Arnaud Bielecki, 56, said it's "a shame that the deer eat plastic dropped by visitors", adding that the Beautiful Deer squad should be supported. "I'm glad there's a program like this."



© 2025 AFP
 
 

A truck cabin that was swallowed by a sinkhole in Japan two weeks ago has been located in a nearby sewer pipe, authorities say.

Drone images suggest that a human body is inside the cabin, but it is unclear if it is that of the truck's missing 74-year-old driver.

The sinkhole, which now measures 40m (131ft) in diameter, opened at a road intersection in Yashio city near Tokyo. It is believed to be caused by a sewer rupture.

Search teams are unable to enter the 5m-wide pipe due to continuous water flow and high levels of hydrogen sulfide or sewer gas, officials said.

They will need to install a temporary bypass pipe to stop the water flow and access the truck. That process could take three months, Saitama Governor Motohiro Ono said.

While rescuers were able to pull the truck's loading platform from the sinkhole, they were unable to reach the cabin which had the driver.

The driver was able to communicate with rescuers shortly after he fell into the sinkhole on 28 January, but contact was lost as the truck was buried deeper in soil and debris.

On Sunday, authorities moved their search from the sinkhole to the nearby sewer pipe, where part of a driver's seat was found.

The sinkhole initially measured 10m wide and 5m deep, but it has since quadrupled in size after it merged with another sinkhole nearby.

As the crater continues to erode, authorities have asked nearby residents to evacuate their homes, fearing further cave-ins.

Officials have also asked 1.2 million residents in Saitama prefecture to reduce their water usage, including cutting back on showers and laundry, to limit the water flowing in the underground pipes.

The water flow and further road collapses have hampered the search operation, which was suspended more than once out of safety concerns.
Sinkholes are increasingly common in Japanese cities, as many have ageing sewage pipeline infrastructure.

Officials say that it could take two or three years to repair the sewer rupture.
 
 

A Japanese finance ministry employee on a night out with colleagues lost documents containing the personal data of 187 people suspected of drug smuggling, local media say.

The employee, who has not been named, reportedly drank nine glasses of beer during a five-hour-long night out with co-workers in Yokohama on 6 February.

Local media said that he did not realise he had lost his bag until after he got off his train ride home in another city, Sumida.

The finance ministry has said it was "deeply sorry" for the incident that "significantly undermined public trust", according to public broadcaster NHK.

The bag had contained documents which had the names and addresses of 187 suspected drug smugglers and recipients of marijuana seeds, the ministry said.

It had also contained business laptops with the employee's personal data.
The employee, who is assigned to the customs and tariff bureau, was not named in the NHK report.

The BBC has reached out to the finance ministry for comment on Tuesday, a public holiday in Japan.

Alcohol has long been seen as a social lubricant for thousands of years in Japan, where business deals and difficult issues are discussed over bottles of beer and sake.

It is believed that drinking alcohol creates a more relaxed environment for such discussions.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a golden samurai  helmet crafted by a company from his home prefecture in western Japan during his visit to Washington for their first summit on Friday, a Japanese government source said.

The idea stemmed from the popularity of the award-winning U.S. television series Shogun, a Japan-set historical drama about a warlord, the source said. Trump is widely known to like the color gold.

The samurai helmet, measuring 57 centimeters wide, 81 cm high, and 48 cm deep, is priced at 168,000 yen ($1,100), according to its manufacturer, Ningyouno Hanafusa Co., based in Tottori.

Tomoya Hanafusa, the company's president, said the firm received an order for a golden samurai helmet in November last year from the Japanese Foreign Ministry and was only told that the item would be given to a foreign VIP as a gift.

Hanafusa, who found out only a few days ago that the gift was for Trump, said he felt "extremely grateful and happy" that the present came from a company based in the prime minister's native prefecture of Tottori.

When former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met Trump in New York in 2016 immediately after he won the U.S. presidential election, the Japanese leader gave him a golden golf club as a gift.
 


 

Tokyo has begun looking into the capabilities of Japanese firms to manufacture different dual-use drones for export as a growing number of countries involved in Japan’s military aid program express interest in the unmanned systems.

“Both ... partner and candidate countries have been showing increasing interest in Japanese drones and related equipment, so we have begun looking into this,” a government official told The Japan Times on condition of anonymity, referring to the official security assistance (OSA) program.

As a result, the foreign and industry ministries have begun asking local firms about their capabilities in a bid to determine which systems Tokyo could potentially provide under the next OSA tranche in the fiscal year from April and beyond.

However, the official stressed that it would be premature to say whether drones — of any type — would be part of the next tranche, as the assets under consideration are still the subject of ongoing talks between Tokyo and countries receiving OSA.

“We are very interested in discussing the equipment needs of the candidate countries, including drones and related equipment, but nothing has been decided at this point,” the source added.

Whether for use in the air, on land or at sea, armed forces across the globe have begun integrating drones into their units in the hope that these increasingly capable and often autonomous systems can give them an edge.

The increased interest is likely also due to many countries, including Japan, drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine about how drones can act as force multipliers while minimizing human losses and operating continuously for long periods.

For fiscal 2025, which starts April 1, the Foreign Ministry has requested ¥8 billion ($52.5 million) for the OSA framework.

If approved by parliament, this would mark a 60% — or ¥3 billion — year-on-year increase, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen the security and deterrence capabilities of “like-minded” countries amid growing concerns over the regional security environment.

The expected increase in OSA spending would be the third since the program was launched in 2023 with an initial ¥2 billion budget, marking a break with Tokyo’s previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for purposes other than disaster relief.

Among the up to nine countries being considered for the third OSA tranche are Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Mongolia, all of which are already beneficiaries, as well as Papua New Guinea.

As OSA funds increase, so will Japan’s efforts to boost the number of countries it assists, with those already enrolled in the program expected to receive larger grants going forward.

The latest developments come as the Foreign Ministry announced Monday that it has reached a deal with Mongolia to provide that country’s air force with a ¥1.3 billion grant for air traffic control radars and related equipment under this year’s OSA tranche.

The grant comes as the Japanese and Mongolian air forces have conducted defense cooperation and exchanges in recent years, including a capacity-building project on air traffic control.

While the OSA’s main emphasis is on bolstering maritime security, Tokyo says it wants to support Mongolia in its efforts to avoid overreliance on its immediate neighbors — China and Russia — especially as Ulaanbaatar has adopted a “third neighbor policy” designed to strengthen relations with other nations.
 
 

The zoo is popular because visitors can directly interact with animals. It is often introduced in TV shows and travel magazines as the “most dangerous zoo in Japan” for allowing visitors to enter a cage and feed the tigers.

The Sapporo municipal government plans to order a company operating a zoo to remove buildings, which were constructed without permission, in an area where the development of residential and commercial buildings is restricted.

Issued under the City Planning Law, the building disposition order covers all North Safari Sapporo buildings in Sapporo, including animal-rearing facilities and offices. According to the city, it will be the first order of this kind for a zoo in Japan and a de facto closure order for the zoo.

The zoo is located in a mountainous area about 20 kilometers southwest of central Sapporo and was opened in July 2005. It has accommodation facilities and keeps and exhibits about 150 animal species, including lions, tigers and Asian black bears.

The zoo is popular because visitors can directly interact with animals. It is often introduced in TV shows and travel magazines as the “most dangerous zoo in Japan” for allowing visitors to enter a cage and feed the tigers.

A building disposition order is meant to allow authorities concerned to forcibly remove buildings not conforming to municipal urban development plans. If the party does not follow a finalized order, they will be subject to up to a year of imprisonment or a fine of up to ¥500,000.

According to the municipal government, since the entire premises of the zoo are within an urbanization control area, advance permission is required to construct buildings such as animal-rearing facilities.

In October 2004, before the zoo opened, the city confirmed construction of the zoo had begun without permission. The city gave an administrative direction to the zoo operator, Success-Kanko Corp., to obtain the necessary permission.

However, the company continued construction without following the direction and opened the zoo. It continued to expand the zoo, reaching up to about 150 buildings. The city has given many written and oral directions to the company.

While the company responded to the government, saying, “We will improve the situation,” it did not follow directions from the city. In order to obtain permission for development, it is necessary to submit development plans and designs that meet requirements.

“Since obtaining permission requires a lot of labor and cost, the company might not have had any intention to do that from the beginning,” a senior municipal government official said.

 
500 Complaints

Many social media posts have criticized the zoo since November for its arrangements, such as overnight stays in a room with an observation window into a seal enclosure, which might cause the animals excessive stress. The municipal government has received more than 500 complaints.

An online campaign for collecting signatures is underway to call for the zoo’s suspension of business and ask the Environment Ministry to take action to address the situation.

The city apparently decided to take strict measures not only because the company has ignored administrative directions for many years, but also because it took strong public sentiment against the zoo into account.

According to a senior government official, the city will notify the company when it is ready to issue the building disposition order and then hold a “hearing” procedure to listen to the company’s claims before making a final decision.

When the company opened the zoo, it did not register to relevant authorities of its license as a Type 1 Animal Handling Business, which is necessary to operate a zoo. When the city became aware of the situation just after the zoo opened, it gave the company an administrative direction to take necessary measures.

However, after the government received the registration in May 2006, it repeatedly allowed the company to renew the license. When a food court and accommodation facilities were built within the zoo, the city gave the company business licenses based on the Food Sanitation Law and the Hotel Business Law.

The city retroactively accepted the registration of the license from the company even though the city knew that the company was possibly violating City Planning Law.

“Since animals were already being kept and exhibited at the zoo, the city needed to take measures to protect them,” a city official said.

The city has renewed the company’s license registration and permitted it to operate hotels and other businesses. Regarding this, the city said these businesses fall under different laws from the City Planning Law, so it was unable to refuse renewal or permission applications from the company unless it violated relevant laws or regulations.

“We cannot make any comments,” an official at the company said to The Yomiuri Shimbun.
 
 

Japan has conducted a test launch of a domestically developed ballistic missile in the United States, the government in Tokyo announced.

The Chinese military and North Korea's embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to requests for comment, News.Az reports, citing Newsweek. 

Japan, which consists of 14,125 islands in the Western Pacific Ocean, is enhancing its standoff defense capabilities to intercept and eliminate any invading forces "at a distance and at an early stage."

While China has increased its number of medium-range ballistic missiles that are capable of striking American military bases in Japan, North Korea continues to develop nuclear-armed missiles, which are frequently launched toward waters near Japan during tests.

The Japanese Defense Ministry on Friday revealed the development progress of the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile, announcing the standoff missile—which is intended for use in defending the nation's many islands—took part in four tests from last August to January in California.

Photos released by the Japanese military showed a ground-based launcher was used for the tests. It is not clear if the missile can be fired from other platforms such as ships.

The Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile is equipped with a hypersonic glide vehicle as its warhead, according to Japanese media. The warhead can evade air and missile defenses by traveling at more than five times the speed of sound and maneuvering within the atmosphere.  

Masashi Murano, a senior fellow with the Hudson Institute's Japan Chair, described the new weapon as a short-range ballistic missile armed with a reentry vehicle that can maneuver at hypersonic speeds when it reenters the atmosphere as it heads toward a target.

It is estimated that the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile Block 1, the early mass-produced version of the missile that was tested in the U.S., has a range of 310 to 621 miles, Japan's media said, while the missile's longer-range version, the Block 2, is under development.

According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the island defense missile began mass production in fiscal year 2023, which ran from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

The Japanese Defense Ministry said in a press release: "We plan to complete research on the Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile for island defense by fiscal year 2025, and will continue to work toward building standoff defense capabilities."
 


 

On February 4, the Indonesian House of Representatives approved Japan's offer to donate two brand-new 18-metre patrol vessels to the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) under Tokyo's Official Security Assistance initiative.

The decision shows growing maritime security cooperation between the two countries.

According to the Indonesian Minister of Defense and TNI AL, the aluminum-hulled vessels will measure 18 meters in length and 5 meters in width, with a top speed of up to 40 knots.

Moreover, they will be able to accommodate 16 people (two crew and 14 passengers) and are designed for operations in shallow waters, particularly coastal areas and riverine. Once delivered, the vessels will be used to patrol waters around the country’s “Nusantara” New Capital City in East Kalimantan.

TNI AL Chief of Staff, Admiral Muhammad Ali, stated that the donation package includes essential navigation and communication equipment such as radar, radio, and an echo sounder. However, the vessels will not come armed. Once received, the patrol boats could be outfitted with existing weapons from TNI AL’s inventory, including guns of up to 20mm caliber.

The admiral further noted that maintenance should be straightforward as the navy is already familiar with the equipment and MTU diesel engines that will power the vessels. According to him, the vessels will be delivered to Indonesia next year as the construction process will take one to one and a half years.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Minister of Defense Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin addressed legislators’ concerns about the donation’s geopolitical implications or motives. He stressed that the assistance is not transactional and reaffirmed that Jakarta’s defense and foreign policies will remain independent. The minister added that the donation will not include a transfer of technology.
 

 

85-Metre Ship for Indonesian Maritime Security Agency

The Japanese Government, via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is also set to give the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) a new 85.6-meter offshore patrol vessel (OPV), with a total cost of JP¥9 million. The vessel will have a top speed of 22 knots and a capacity of 70 personnel.

It will be built by Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd (a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) at its Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works facility in Yamaguchi Prefecture and scheduled to be delivered in March 2028. The shipbuilding contract itself was already signed on December 27, 2024, between Bakamla and Mitsubishi.

To note, in 2023, Japan also donated two second-hand 65-metre patrol vessels to the Indonesian Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
 
 

The global popularity of blades forged in the western Japan city of Sakai is on the rise, with foreign tourists helping to boost sales of the city's native brand that is widely regarded as one of the country's top three traditional knives.

The Sakai Traditional Crafts Museum saw annual sales of its blades surpass 100 million yen ($660,000) for the first time in fiscal 2023 and expects another record this fiscal year, with foreign tourists from the United States, France and others making up half of the sales.

Sakai blades date back to Japan's Kofun period (from the third to seventh century), when blacksmiths gathered in the area to forge iron tools for tomb construction for the ruling class, according to the museum operated by the city.

One such ancient tomb is a keyhole-shaped mound administered by the Imperial Household Agency as the burial ground of Emperor Nintoku, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The industry began to flourish in the late 16th century when tobacco was introduced to Japan by Portugal and spurred the development of high-quality tobacco knives, leading to the endorsement by the Tokugawa shogunate that lasted until 1868.

Unlike mass-produced blades, Sakai blades are handmade by artisans that specialize in forging, sharpening and handle-making, with each step performed separately.

Today, Sakai knives continue to be crafted using traditional techniques passed down through generations and are widely used by chefs in Japan, the museum said.

"Foreign tourists are not just buying products -- they are buying stories," said Eric Chevallier, 35, a coordinator for overseas sales at the Sakai City Industrial Promotion Center.

Chevallier, a French national, said he sometimes spends hours explaining details of the knives while visitors handle and familiarize themselves with the blades.

"By knowing the history and how blades to be purchased are made, (tourists) will be able to imagine their background when using them in their home countries," he said.

Foreign tourists are said to frequently buy dozens of knives to bring home as souvenirs for family and friends, with those featuring wave-like patterns on the blade particularly popular.

According to the city, the value of the museum's knife sales rose from 20 million yen in fiscal 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic to 80 million yen the following year, and 140 million yen in the most recent fiscal year.

"Our top priority is hospitality. We strive to carefully explain the background of each knife to every individual so they can use it for years to come," said the museum's director Misa Endo.
 
 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and US President Donald Trump warned China over its behaviour related to Taiwan in a joint statement released after their meeting Friday.

The two leaders also confirmed their policy of enhancing their countries' alliance apparently with China's hegemonic ambitions in mind. Trump praised Japan's efforts to bolster its defence capabilities.

In the statement, the two leaders confirmed that Article 5 of their countries' security treaty, which obliges the United States to defend Japan, applies to the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, which are claimed by Beijing.

To enhance the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities, the two countries will upgrade the command and control frameworks of the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military, expand their presence in the Nansei southwestern Japan island chain including the Senkaku Islands and strengthen extended deterrence including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, according to the statement.

The statement also said the United States "welcomed" Japan's commitment to double its defence spending to 2 pct of its gross domestic product by fiscal 2027 and continue strengthening its defence capabilities after that.

At the meeting, Ishiba conveyed to Trump his intention to significantly enhance Japan's defence capability. At a joint press conference after the summit, Trump declared his country's commitment to fully employ the U.S. deterrence capabilities to defend Japan.

The two leaders said they uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific region while criticizing China by name regarding its activities in the East and South China seas. Ishiba and Trump expressed "their strong opposition" to any attempts by Beijing to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea and the country's unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea.

Over Taiwan, the two leaders also made clear their opposition to any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion. This language is unusual for a joint document between Japan and the United States concerning Taiwan, according to a Japanese official.

The language was included in view of increased Chinese military activities, including large-scale exercises, around Taiwan, the official explained.

The statement also said, "The two leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of security and prosperity for the international community."

On North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, the two leaders "reaffirmed their resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization" of the country. Ishiba showed his determination to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea, gaining support from Trump.

The statement called for continued multilateral cooperation among the Quad countries of Japan, the United States, Australia and India, the trio of Japan, the United States and South Korea, and the trio of Japan, the United States and the Philippines.

Although Trump was seen as reluctant to pursue multilateral collaboration, the statement was in line with the approach taken by former President Joe Biden. Ishiba and Trump agreed to hold a two-plus-two security meeting of the foreign and defence ministers soon.

The statement also said that the US Marine Corps Futenma air station in Okinawa will be relocated to the Henoko coastal district in the prefecture as planned.
 
 

Global communications platform Infobip has partnered with NTT Com Online Marketing Solutions Corporation to support the launch of NTT's omnichannel communication platform, NTT CPaaS, in Japan.

The partnership provides businesses with an innovative communication solution integrating reliable SMS and Voice delivery and Communication Platform as a Service (CPaaS) technology localized for the Japanese market.

As communication needs evolve, businesses and brands increasingly seek innovative solutions to enhance customer engagement and meet communication requirements.

This partnership combines the SMS and Voice quality of NTT group, the largest SMS provider in Japan, with Infobip's market-leading CPaaS technology, delivering cutting-edge no-code omnichannel solutions and customer engagement solution Moments alongside its generative AI platform AI Hub.

Through the collaboration with NTT, Infobip supports the Japanese market with a jointly localized CPaaS platform, providing services and payment options in Japanese.

The platform is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing business systems, supporting SMS use cases and Voice services that are part of NTT Com Online's offering to its customers. The partnership will add new channels such as webRTC, live-chat, and international SMS and Voice for the Japanese market.

Infobip is recognized as a global CPaaS leader by analyst firms such as Gartner and Metrigy. It is a trusted partner of multinationals like Microsoft, Apple, Meta, and Adobe, alongside innovative scale-ups such as Uber.

Yoshie Tsukamoto, President and CEO at NTT Com Online, said: "We are excited to launch NTT CPaaS in collaboration with Infobip and hold the highest regard for Infobip's technical excellence.

NTT CPaaS is a communication platform built on three layers of top-tier services: highly reliable SMS and Voice solutions provided by NTT Com Online, world-class communication application technology from Infobip, and NTT Com Online's extensive expertise in solutions and support within the Japanese market.

We are dedicated to empowering businesses to enhance customer experiences by enabling seamless omnichannel communication with their end users through NTT CPaaS."

Silvio Kutić, CEO at Infobip, said: "Together with NTT Com Online, we are bringing transformative CPaaS solutions to Japan, enabling businesses to deliver omnichannel experiences that enhance customer engagement, drive innovation, and adapt to evolving communication needs in a connected world.

We are excited to contribute our expertise and work closely with NTT to set new benchmarks in communication technology. We look forward to building and innovating together, delivering value for businesses in their digital transformation."
 

 

Workers on a lift check the area where the wing of a Japan Airlines jet hit the tail of a Delta Air Lines jet at the south end of a runway at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Wednesday.

The JAL plane was taxiing on the tarmac when it struck the tail of a parked Delta aircraft, airport authorities said. There were no injuries.

Delta spokesperson Samantha Moore Facteau said in an email that its Boeing 737 was waiting to have ice removed from its exterior when the wing tip of another aircraft reportedly made contact with its tail.
 
 

Japanese rice fish detect ultraviolet rays from sunlight directly with the pituitary gland and turn their bodies black for protection, a Japanese team has found.

The findings by the team, including University of Tokyo associate professor Shinji Kanda and Okayama University assistant professor Keita Sato, were published in the U.S. journal Science recently.

Recent research had found that vertebrates including fish have receptor proteins that can detect light in cells other than those in their eyes, but their purpose was unknown.

The team suspects that animals with almost translucent bodies may have yet more systems to detect light directly.

The surface of Japanese rice fish's body has pigment cells that receive a hormone from cells in the pituitary gland and synthesize melanin.
 
 

The Miyagi Prefectural Government in northeastern Japan invited ambassadors to Japan, representatives, and other officials from 11 countries/regions -- India, South Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Cambodia, Indonesia, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, and Taiwan -- to hold the "Miyagi Ambassador Summit" from January 23 (Thursday) to 25 (Saturday), 2025.

This event is part of the prefecture's efforts to promote international human exchanges and economic cooperation.

Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai issuing the Matsushima Declaration at Zuigan-ji Temple: https://kyodo-pr.box.com/s/vmlvjchij5f5oe0o1qesqqbuqlqy10dn

YouTube: https://youtu.be/sjKuu14Ledo

During an opening ceremony at Hotel Matsushima TAIKANSO, video messages from Iwate Gov.

Takuya Tasso and Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori were introduced after ambassadors, representatives, and officials from the 11 countries/regions gave speeches.

Subsequently, Tohoku Tourism Promotion Organization Director Junichi Konno delivered a presentation to promote Tohoku's tourism and products, followed by a performance by Sendai Ikuei Gakuen High School's calligraphy club members.




In issuing the "Miyagi Ambassador Summit Matsushima Declaration" in Zuigan-ji Temple's main hall, a national treasure, Miyagi Gov. Murai said:

"On behalf of the people of Miyagi Prefecture, I would like to express my sincere gratitude once again for great assistance and warm encouragement from people from around the world at the time of the grave damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Miyagi Prefecture has been able to recover because of your support. It is not just about recovery.

The prefecture has overcome the disaster while aiming for 'creative reconstruction' with an eye toward the future, creating new values in each field such as society, economy, and environment.

We are committed not only to rebuilding the agricultural, forestry, and fisheries industries and reconstructing the tourism industry but also to nurturing venture companies supporting the local economy and disaster prevention/mitigation utilizing state-of-the-art technology.

The 'Miyagi Ambassador Summit' constitutes a crucial step toward further deepening relations with everyone and opening new possibilities in the future. After this summit, Miyagi Prefecture will pursue further challenges in coordination with everyone in the countries and regions in attendance."

After the declaration was issued, a ceremony was held at Hotel Metropolitan Sendai to sign a memorandum with the summit participants.


 

The Japanese House of Representatives' Budget Committee on Wednesday began checking the contents of the fiscal 2025 draft budget, launching its first government budget review by agency.
 
The review, set to run until Friday at the major panel of the lower chamber of parliament, was proposed by opposition parties including the biggest force Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan. The CDP aims to ask cabinet members about the details of the draft budget to identify problems and propose amendments.
 
Sixteen government organs and the Cabinet Secretariat are divided into six groups for the three-day review, which has morning and afternoon sessions each day.
 
The Wednesday morning session covered the Cabinet Office division in charge of economic and fiscal policy as well as the finance and defense ministries. It was attended by economic and fiscal policy minister Ryosei Akazawa, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.
 
The CDP's Sumio Mabuchi said that the past 30,000-yen handouts to low-income households generated huge administrative costs, calling for improving operational efficiency.
 

The Japan Tourism Agency will launch a program in fiscal 2025 to support municipalities and companies in attracting digital nomads, who work remotely from anywhere in the world using digital technologies.

The agency will provide subsidies to cover part of the expenses for preparation of workplaces and accommodation for such workers.
It aims to expand consumption by foreign digital nomads, who are expected to stay longer than tourists.

The subsidies will partially cover the costs of creating shared offices that are open 24 hours, cafes and bars that allow such workers to interact and lodgings equipped with such facilities.

The agency conducted model projects for attracting digital nomads in five regions in fiscal 2024, which ends next month. It will draw up guidelines for other regions interested in such projects. It plans to hold similar model projects in fiscal 2025.

The government in April set a new residential status to allow digital nomads to stay and work in Japan for up to six months.

The tourism agency expects to promote interactions between Japanese companies and digital nomads, who include entrepreneurs.
 
 

A man who threw a homemade pipe bomb at former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at a 2023 campaign event denied that he intended to kill the politician as his trial began Tuesday at a court in western Japan.

Ryuji Kimura, 25, is charged with attempted murder for the April 15, 2023 attack on Kishida at a small fishing port in the city of Wakayama, as well as four other charges including violations of laws controlling explosives and deadly weapons.

Kishida was unhurt, but two people sustained minor injuries. Kimura was arrested on the spot.

At Tuesday's trial at the Wakayama District Court, Kimura pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, saying he didn't intend to kill Kishida, according to NHK public television and other media. They said Kimura admitted to making the bombs and other charges.

A ruling is expected later this month.

Prosecutors said the bomb Kimura threw at Kishida was one of two he brought to the campaign event.
Social media postings later suggested Kimura had grievances about Japan’s election system.

Authorities found parts of the pipe bomb stuck in a container 60 meters away from the venue. Prosecutors say that it was potentially lethal.

The attack on Kishida came nine months after the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a campaign speech in Nara, another city in western Japan. That attack shocked the nation and prompted greater protection for dignitaries.
 
 

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make a three-day trip to the United States from Thursday for his first in-person talks with President Donald Trump in Washington, Japan's top government spokesman said Tuesday.

The two countries plan to issue a joint statement after the meeting, which is likely to take place Friday, with discussions ongoing about including the "unwavering" U.S. commitment to Japan's defense, according to Japanese government sources.

During the talks, Ishiba intends to outline Japan's efforts to increase defense spending, with apparent consideration that Trump, under his "America First" agenda, is stepping up pressure on NATO members to contribute more to defense, they said.

In a formal announcement of Ishiba's first trip to the United States since becoming prime minister in October, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed hope that the two leaders will build a personal relationship through candid exchanges and share their views on security and economic challenges to elevate bilateral ties to "new heights."

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will accompany Ishiba to the United States.
The upcoming summit will be a crucial opportunity for Japan to reaffirm its strong alliance with the United States amid growing security challenges from China, North Korea and Russia, given uncertainties over how Trump plans to engage with Japan in his second term, which began Jan. 20.

The "unwavering" U.S. defense commitment to its Asian ally, backed by both nuclear and conventional military capabilities, was affirmed in a joint statement issued in February 2017 when Trump, then newly in office, met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Ishiba told a parliamentary committee Tuesday that he has "a host of issues" to discuss with Trump, namely security and tariffs.

"I want to set priorities and achieve results within the limited time available," he said.

Ishiba apparently aims to secure Trump's support for measures to strengthen the alliance's deterrence capabilities, noting that in 2022, the Japanese government committed 43 trillion yen ($280 billion) in defense spending over five years to raise the budget to 2 percent of gross domestic product.

North Korea's nuclear and missile development is also expected to be on the agenda. Ishiba is likely to seek U.S. cooperation on the issue of Pyongyang's past abductions of Japanese nationals.

Trump has expressed eagerness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two met three times during Trump's first presidency, but their denuclearization negotiations made no progress.
 
 

Record snowfall has blanketed Japan's northern island of Hokkaido, causing widespread travel disruptions and prompting calls for assistance from stranded motorists.

The heavy snow, deemed record-breaking by the Hokkaido prefectural government, has particularly impacted the island's eastern regions, including Obihiro and Kushiro.

Local authorities have been inundated with calls from drivers whose vehicles became trapped in the snow.

The severe weather coincides with the start of Sapporo's renowned snow festival in southern Hokkaido. While the festival itself has not experienced significant disruption, the broader impact on the island is evident.

Television footage has captured scenes of residents battling the elements, shovelling snow and assisting stranded drivers. Despite the widespread disruption, no injuries or major damage have been reported.

In Obihiro, a record-breaking snowfall of 129 centimetres (4 feet) was detected on Tuesday.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said two powerful low pressure systems are moving on both sides of the Japanese archipelago, sending cold air into the region.

The agency predicted up to 100 centimetres (3.2 feet) of snowfall in northwestern Japan and 50 centimetres (1.6 feet) more snowfall in Hokkaido over the next 24 hours through Wednesday evening.

The prefecture said parts of highways and main roads were closed, and train services in the affected areas were suspended. Runways were closed due to snow at Obihiro and Kushiro airports, while dozens of flights in and out of Hokkaido were cancelled, affecting thousands of people.

About 370 schools cancelled classes Tuesday across Hokkaido, according to the prefecture.

The snow also caused closures of post offices and other distribution services, delaying deliveries within Hokkaido and to destinations across Japan.

Hokkaido officials called on the residents and visitors to carry shovels and warm clothes in their vehicles in case they stall in the snow.
 

An artificial intelligence-based chatbot will start answering questions from a Buddhist viewpoint in English in Bhutan, its developers including a Kyoto University professor said Monday.

The team of the university and a startup initially developed a chatbot called Buddhabot in 2021 with the Japanese translation of the Sutta Nipata, considered to be the oldest collection of discourses of Buddha. Data on other classic collections were also incorporated into the AI Buddha later.

In 2023, the team remodeled the Buddhabot using OpenAI's ChatGPT generative AI to create Buddhabot Plus, which adds interpretations and explanations to the discourses. The English version of Buddhabot Plus was completed last year following the Bhutanese government's request.

According to the team, 100 to 200 monks in Bhutan, whose state religion is Tibetan Buddhism, will use the chatbot on a trial basis to further improve its functions and create guidelines on its use.

The technology will be available for all monks by March 2027 at the earliest, and the country will consider whether to open it up to ordinary citizens, almost all of whom can understand English, amid declining interest in Buddhism among younger generations.

At a news conference Monday, Buddhabot co-developer Seiji Kumagai, professor at the Kyoto University Institute for the Future of Human Society, said the chatbot "could offer opportunities for many people to receive Buddhist teachings also in Japan, where temples are expected to decrease."
 
 

The Japanese government on Monday warned of heavy snowfall across a wide swathe along the Sea of Japan coast due to this season's strongest cold front, with residents urged to avoid nonessential outings due to potential traffic disruptions.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said snow is expected to fall in regions where snowfall is uncommon such as the Tokai region in central Japan, as well as Shikoku and Kyushu islands in the west and southwest.

While snowfall is expected to peak on Thursday, another cold front is forecast from Saturday onward.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism warned that expressways and major roads could be closed depending on snowfall, and asked shipping companies to refrain from asking drivers to make nonessential deliveries.

The ministry cited previous cases of stranded vehicles, road and railway closures as well as major train delays.

Some areas in the country may experience a cold front of a severity only seen once every several years, according to the weather agency.

In the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Tuesday, up to 50 centimeters of snow could fall in Hokkaido, the northernmost of Japan's four main islands, while the Hokuriku region in central Japan could see up to 40 cm and the Tohoku region in the northeast up to 30 cm.

There may be up to 25 cm of snow in the Tokai region and up to 20 cm in the western regions of Kinki and Chugoku as well as in northern Kyushu.

In the following 24-hour period, 70 cm of snow may fall in the Tohoku, Hokuriku and Tokai regions, and 50 cm in Hokkaido, the Kinki and Chugoku regions.

Northern Kyushu may receive 30 cm, while Shikoku could see 20 cm, and southern Kyushu and the Amami Islands in the southwest may get 15 cm.
 
 

UFO fans are increasingly active in Japan, where lawmakers have called for official investigations and UFO events have attracted many visitors.

The trend, which followed U.S. developments including the establishment of a special organization to analyze eyewitness information and other data, "may reflect a sense of social anxiety," an expert says.

Some Japanese municipalities trying to take advantage of the mysteries of UFOs for regional revitalization are hoping for a return of the UFO boom.

 

The U.S. government refers to UFOs as unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs. In an interview on a popular podcast during the U.S. presidential election campaign last year, Donald Trump, who took office last month, emphasized the need to disclose information about UAPs.

In Japan, parliamentary members launched a nonpartisan group to study UAPs from the perspective of national security in June last year. The founders include Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.