Page 14 - Japan

Ishiba calls for investment focus, not tariffs, in Trump call before talks

Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that he held telephone talks with US President Donald Trump and agreed to hold productive" discussions at an upcoming tariff talks between the two sides. Investment, not tariffs, Ishiba told reporters after the talks. He said Japan's position to keep pushing Washington to drop all recent tariff measures is unchanged and that he stands by plans to push for Japanese investment to create more jobs in the US in exchange. The two leaders held talks just after Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, headed to Washington for a third round of talks with his US counterparts. In the earlier rounds of talks, the US had not agreed to the Japanese requests. Ishiba said he reminded Trump that Japan's position was for the US administration to scrap all recent tariffs on imports from Japan, to which the US president made no specific response. I expressed my expectations for productive discussion to be held,

India not just future-ready, but shaping that future: FS Misri in Tokyo

Speaking on India's economic landscape at the event, Misri highlighted that India continues to be a highly attractive destination for global capital,

Japan's agriculture minister resigns after inappropriate remark on rice

Japan's agriculture minister said Wednesday that he has submitted his resignation over his inappropriate remark on rice that angered the public. Taku Eto said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba accepted the resignation. Eto came under fire earlier this week after saying that he never had to buy rice thanks to his supporters' gifts, triggering an uproar at a time when consumers are struggling with rice shortage and skyrocketing price.

Buying a car in Maharashtra? Proof of parking space may soon be mandatory

If you can't park it, you can't register it. Maharashtra government is likely to mandate proof of parking space for new vehicle registrations; aims to curb congestion and illegal parking in cities

Nissan plans to close 2 car plants in Japan and overseas, including Mexico

Overseas, Nissan is considering ending production at plants in South Africa, India and Argentina, and cutting the number of factories in Mexico

China announces anti-dumping duties on US, EU, Japan and Taiwan

The commerce ministry's findings conclude a probe launched in May 2024, shortly after the U.S. sharply increased tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, computer chips and other imports

Yes Bank expects Japan's SMBC to maintain at least 20% stake, says CEO

SMBC on Friday said it had signed a definitive agreement to take a 20 per cent stake in Mumbai-based Yes Bank, a deal that marks the largest cross-border merger

What is Yutori, the Japanese way to fight burnout, balance life and work

In a world that glorifies hustle, the Japanese philosophy of Yutori offers a powerful reminder to slow down, create space, and strike a balance between work and self-care

Nissan to halt operations at some domestic plants for restructuring

Details regarding which specific factories will be affected and whether they will be temporarily suspended or permanently closed are expected to be finalised at a later date

Global free trade is in 'crisis', says WTO chief during Japan visit

Global free trade is in crisis, the head of the World Trade Organisation chief said Tuesday while meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba on Tuesday. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation, told Ishiba that she has high expectations for Japan as a champion of open markets as US President Donald Trump disrupts world commerce with his fast-changing tariffs and other policies. Trade is facing very challenging times right now and it is quite difficult, she said. We should try to use this crisis as an opportunity to solve the challenges we have and take advantage of new trends in trade. Japan, as a champion of the multilateral trading system must help maintain, strengthen and reform the WTO, the Japanese Foreign Ministry cited her as saying. They met a day after the United States and China said they had agreed to slash recent sky- high tariffs for 90 days to allow time for negotiations. Japan is among many countries yet to reach a deal with the Tr

Japan PM Ishiba open to more stimulus but rules out sales tax cut

Speaking in parliament, Ishiba said the government "won't hesitate to take additional measures" to ease the pain on the economy from higher US tariffs

Trump tariffs fear makes Japan walk delicate tightrope between US, China

Just as Japan's top trade negotiator travelled to Washington for another round of tariff talks last week, a bipartisan delegation bearing the name of Japan-China Friendship wrapped up a visit to Beijing. A week earlier, the head of the junior party in Japan's ruling coalition was in Beijing delivering a letter from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Details of the letter are unknown, but the two sides discussed US tariffs in addition to bilateral issues. Among all US allies being wooed by Beijing in its tariff stare-down with Washington, Japan stands out. It is a peculiar case not only for its staunch commitment to its alliance with the United States but also for its complicated and uneasy history with the neighbouring Asian giant particularly the war history from the 20th century that still casts a shadow over the politics of today. On one hand, they are neighbours and they are important economic partners. There's a lot that connects

Rajnath holds talks with Japanese counterpart, thanks him for defence ties

Defence Minister praised Nakatani for his efforts to deepen defence cooperation between the between the the two countries

Rajnath to host Japanese Defence Minister Nakatani for talks on Monday

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will host his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani for wide-ranging talks on Monday against the backdrop of rising tensions between India and Pakistan over the Pahalgam terror attack and China's persistent muscle-flexing in the South China Sea. The defence ministry said the Indian and the Japanese sides will exchange "views and ideas" on the current regional and international security situation and discuss ways to further deepen the bilateral defence cooperation. It is expected that the situation that emerged following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people will figure in the talks. The two sides are also expected to deliberate on ways to boost India-Japan defence industrial cooperation. It will be the second meeting between the two defence ministers within six months after their maiden interaction in November on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus at Lao PDR. At that meeting, Singh and Gen Nakatani deliberated

Japan, China accuse each other of airspace violations near disputed islands

Japan and China are accusing each other of violating the airspace around the Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands that Beijing also claims. Japan's Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that it has protested to Beijing after a Chinese helicopter that took off from one of China's four coast guard boats had entered Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku island, violating the Japanese airspace around them for about 15 minutes on Saturday. In response to the airspace intrusion, Japan's Self-Defence Force scrambled fighter jets, the Defence Ministry said. China routinely sends coast guard vessels and aircraft into waters and airspace surrounding the islands, which China calls the Diaoyu, to harass Japanese vessels in the area and force Japan to scramble jets in response. The latest territorial flap comes as Japan and China were appearing to have warm ties as both countries seek to mitigate damages from the U.S. tariff war. The Japanese Foreign Ministry said it lodged

Why US cars can't crack Japan's market - despite Trump's trade push

While Japanese brands dominate American highways, with Toyota alone selling more than 2.3 million vehicles in the US last year, American carmakers barely register in Japan's auto market

From Tokyo to LA, workers observe May Day, many voice concerns about Trump

Shouting banzai! or live long, thousands of people gathered in a Tokyo park on Thursday and marched through the streets to the banging of traditional drums, as Japan kicked off celebrations to mark May Day. The holiday, also known as International Workers' Day or Labour Day, marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labour movement around the world. Thousands of people are expected to attend rallies and marches across the US, including in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia. For our children to be able to live with hope, the rights of workers must be recognised, said Junko Kuramochi, a member of a mothers' group who marched in Japan's capital. US organisers say their message this year is focused on fighting back against President Donald Trump's policies targeting immigrants, federal workers and diversity initiatives. Even in Japan, some said Trump's policies hung over the day like a shadow. One truck in the Tokyo march featured a doll that looked like ...

Japan's Rakuten to invest $100 mn in India, increase hiring: India unit CEO

Rakuten currently employs 4,000 people in India - 90 per cent of whom are tech staff - and plans to recruit people who it considers "power users" of AI

India set to join Australia's biggest military exercise for first time

Dubbed as the 'Olympics of military exercises', Talisman Sabre is the most important military exercise that the Australian Defence Force engages in every second year

Japan PM to discuss Chinese aggression, US tariffs during Philippines visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is travelling to the Philippines on Tuesday seeking to further boost an alliance in the face of China's growing assertiveness in the region. Ishiba will meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in Manila on Tuesday at the start of his two-day visit. Their talks are expected to focus on China's aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea and East China Sea, a reaffirmation of their commitment to a three-way alliance with the United States, and the barrage of tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, officials said. Japanese and Philippine officials are expected to start negotiations this year on two defense pacts, including a proposed defense logistical agreement that would allow the provision of food, fuel and other necessities when Japanese forces visit the Philippines for joint training under a major defence accord that was signed last year and is expected to be ratified by the Japanese legislature. Another proposed agreement involv