Japan

Local consent clears way to restart world's largest nuclear plant in Japan

The governor of Niigata on Tuesday formally gave local consent to put two reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in the north-central prefecture back online, clearing a last hurdle toward restarting the plant idled for more than a decade following the 2011 meltdowns at another plant managed by the same utility. Gov. Hideyo Hanazumi, in his meeting with Economy and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, conveyed the prefecture's endorsement to restart the No. 6 and No. 7 reactors at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant, accepting the government's pledge to ensure safety, emergency response and understanding of the residents. Restart preparations for No. 6 reactor have moved ahead, and utility company TEPCO is expected to apply for a final safety inspection by the Nuclear Safety Authority later this week, ahead of a possible resumption in January. Work at the other reactor is expected to take a few more years. The move comes one day after the Niigata prefectural assembly adopted a

Easy money defined Asia in 2025, but tightening curbs hint at harder times

The real hit - if there is to be one - from the barriers erected by the White House will only be truly felt in 2026

At $4.4 bn, Shriram Finance to get India's largest financial-sector FDI

Japan-based Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group will invest nearly Rs 39,618 crore to acquire a 20 per cent stake in Shriram Finance through a preferential share issue

Japan should have nuclear weapons, PM's security adviser reportedly says

The official cited Japan's worsening security environment, pointing to China's expanding nuclear arsenal, Russia's nuclear threat and North Korea's ongoing development of nuclear weapons

Japan's JAPEX buys US tight oil and gas assets in $1.3 billion deal

JAPEX will buy VRIH, which holds assets in Colorado and Wyoming, from Verdad Resources Feeder LLC using a mix of its own funds and debt. The transaction is expected to close by the end of Feb 2026

AM Green, Mitsui explore potential investment, offtake for green aluminium

Dec 18 (Reuters) - India's AM Green and Japan's Mitsui & Co have signed a non-binding agreement to explore a potential investment in the former's green aluminium business, the companies said on Thursday.

Apple makes changes to iOS software in face of stricter Japanese rules

The company announced a compliance plan on Wednesday for Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act, or MSCA, which was passed last year and goes into effect this week

Japan's exports rise 6% in November as shipments to US bounce back

Japan's exports climbed 6 per cent in November from a year earlier, with shipments to the United States rising for the first time since March as uncertainties over tariffs abated following a trade deal with the Trump administration. The preliminary data released Wednesday showed Japan's total imports rose 1.3 per cent last month over a year earlier, leaving a surplus of 322.2 billion yen (about USD 2.1 billion). Exports to the US rose nearly 9 per cent from the year before as shipments of cars, chemicals and cameras helped make up for declines in machinery and iron and steel. Imports of US oil nearly tripled, along with sharp increases in imports of grain and other food products. Japan's deal on tariffs with President Donald Trump's administration, setting the baseline import duty for most products at 15 per cent instead of the earlier plan for a 25 per cent tariff, helped boost passenger car shipments by 8 per cent when measured by the number of vehicles. But the value of those car

Japan weighs record 120 trillion yen budget as PM Takaichi fights inflation

If approved, the plan would cross the previous record 115.2 trillion yen initial budget that was cleared under former prime minister Shigeru Ishiba for fiscal 2025

Global politics in 2025: Protests, peace deals and shifting alliances

Nepal's Gen-Z protests, a fragile Gaza ceasefire and Donald Trump's return reshaped global politics in 2025, as nations grappled with unrest, wars and shifting alliances

Wheels India signs tech assistance deal with Japan's Topy Industries

Wheels India on Monday said it has signed a technical assistance agreement with Japan's Topy Industries for design, development and manufacture of aluminium alloy wheels. Topy will provide technical knowhow and engineering support to enhance Wheels India's design and manufacturing capabilities for cast aluminium wheel business under the agreement, the company said in a statement. "This agreement is expected to bring in considerable technical expertise in the aluminium wheel segment for Wheels India. We are confident that this agreement will also help us win new businesses and bolster our competitive advantage in the cast aluminium segment," Wheels India Managing Director Srivats Ram said. Topy Industries is an over 100-year-old globally renowned wheel manufacturer. They are a leading manufacturer of aluminium wheels with cutting-edge technologies, he noted. Srivats further said,"Through this agreement, we are hoping to make fresh inroads into the Japanese OEMs in India in the allo

2 stabbed at entertainment complex in Japan, 30-year-old suspect arrested

Japanese police said Monday they arrested a man in connection with the alleged stabbing of two people at an entertainment complex housing the female pop music group HKT48 in the southern city of Fukuoka, leaving them with non-life-threatening injuries. Fukuoka police said they arrested a 30-year-old suspect for allegedly stabbing a 44-year-old man in the chest at the facility on Sunday with what appeared to be a kitchen knife. Police said they are investigating the case as possible attempted murder but declined to give further details, including the suspect's motives, and they also did not comment on the second stabbing. Kyodo News agency and other Japanese media said the injured man, who worked for the HKT48 theater inside the complex, was stabbed when he saw the suspect in an unauthorized area and told him to leave. The suspect also allegedly stabbed a 27-year-old woman in the back in an elevator hall at the facility before he fled the scene, media reports said. HKT48 said the .

Japan lifts tsunami advisory after 6.7 magnitude quake strikes country

Japan on Friday issued a tsunami advisory after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake shook the country's northeast, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. Damage and injuries weren't immediately clear. Friday's quake followed a 7.5 magnitude earthquake earlier this week in the north that caused injuries, light damage and a tsunami in Pacific coastal communities. At least 34 people were injured in that earlier quake on Monday off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island.

US nuclear bombers join Japan in show of force after China-Russia drills

The flight of two US B-52 bombers with three Japanese F-35s and three F-15s marked the first US show of military presence since China began its exercises in the region last week

Japan speeds up building 'missile archipelago' near Taiwan to counter China

Up and down the 160-strong Ryukyu island chain, Japan is quickly putting in place missile batteries, radar towers, ammunition storage sites and other combat facilities

Japan's rare earth strategy offers West a roadmap to reduce China reliance

The 15-year effort by Japan is a model for countries now scrambling to reduce their dependence on Beijing's critical metals

Japan quake: Tsunami warnings lifted; 30 injured, 90K forced to evacuate

A powerful 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday, injuring 23 people and triggering a tsunami in Pacific coast communities, officials said. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of a megaquake. The Japanese government was still assessing damages from the tsunami and late-evening quake, which struck at about 11:15 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean, around 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island. I've never experienced such a big shaking, convenience store owner Nobuo Yamada told the public broadcaster NHK in the Aomori prefecture town of Hachinohe, adding that luckily power lines were still operating in his area. A tsunami of up to 70 centimeters (2 feet, 4 inches) was measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, just south of Aomori, and tsunami levels of up to 50 centimeters struck other coastal communities in the region, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The Fire and

7.6-magnitude earthquake hits near Japan coast, triggers tsunami warnings

There have been no reports of significant impact on infrastructure, and no issues identified at nearby nuclear power stations so far

Japan's JERA inks 10-year LNG export deal with Torrent Power from 2027

Looking ahead, JERA will continue to build a robust LNG portfolio across the Middle East, Asia, and the United States, to develop resilience against market volatility, the company said

Chinese jet targets Japanese fighters with radar lock as tensions escalate

The latest incident is set to further fuel tensions between the two nations sparked by Takaichi's comments on Taiwan last month, which is worrying to other Asia-Pacific countries