Page 30 - Japan

Japanese PM Ishiba asks cabinet to compile fresh stimulus package

The fresh package will include payouts to low-income households and subsidies to local governments

Japan's new PM expresses regret for governing party's slush fund scandal

New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba opened his first policy speech in office Friday by expressing deep regrets over the governing party's slush funds scandal that dogged his predecessor. Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida on Tuesday with the paramount mission of quickly pacifying public anger over financial misconduct in the Liberal Democratic Party and regaining support ahead of an Oct 27 parliamentary election. I will achieve politics that is not for politicians but for the people, Ishiba said, pledging to provide sincere explanations and ensure that lawmakers abide by the rules. He set five policy pillars to uphold, including security, economy and disaster resilience. Ishiba said he will bolster Japan's military capability to defend itself from threats from China, Russia and North Korea under the framework of the Japan-US security alliance. He did not mention two goals he advocated before taking office making the Japan-US security alliance more equitable and establishing a .

Rapidly ageing population forces Japanese firms to lean on foreign workers

A shrinking and rapidly ageing population has forced Japan, which for centuries was mostly closed off to immigrants, to allow foreign workers to enter the country and potentially stay for good

BOJ policymaker calls for slow, cautious movement on interest rate hikes

The comments from Bank of Japan board member Asahi Noguchi come a day after Japan's new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, said the economy was not ready for further rate hikes

In a World War II reminder for Japan, war-era bomb detonates at airport

Japan authorities confirmed that a Second World War-era 500-pound US bomb was responsible for the explosion at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan, and no further threat remains

Japanese investors' $4 trillion 'carry trade' begins to slowly unwind

In the first eight months of the year, Japanese investors snapped up a net ¥28 trillion ($192 billion) of the nation's government bonds, the largest amount for the time frame in at least 14 years

Not working on PM's 'Asian Nato' proposal, say Japanese ministers

Shigeru Ishiba made the proposal ahead of his victory in the ruling party leadership election on Friday, arguing that it would bolster security in Asia

Unstable markets, uncertainty require vigilance: BOJ Governor Ueda

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday urged the BOJ to maintain loose monetary policy, as the government strives to end economic stagnation

US bomb from WW II explodes at Japan airport, causes large crater

An unexploded US bomb from World War II that had been buried at a Japanese airport exploded Wednesday, causing a large crater in a taxiway and the cancellation of more than 80 flights but no injuries, Japanese officials said. Land and Transport Ministry officials said there were no aircraft nearby when the bomb exploded at Miyazaki Airport in southwestern Japan. Officials said an investigation by the Self-Defence Forces and police confirmed that the explosion was caused by a 500-pound US bomb and there was no further danger. They were determining what caused its sudden detonation. A video recorded by a nearby aviation school showed the blast spewing pieces of asphalt into the air like a fountain. Videos broadcast on Japanese television showed a crater in the taxiway reportedly about 7 meters in diameter and 3 feet deep. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said more than 80 flights had been cancelled at the airport, which hopes to resume operations on Thursday morning. Miyaza

Japan's new PM Ishiba vows to push a strong defence under Japan-US alliance

Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to stick to the vital Japan-US alliance while calling for it to be more equitable after he took office on Tuesday, vowing to tackle a slow economy and regain public trust before an upcoming election. Shigeru Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida, who stepped down to pave the way for a fresh leader after scandals dogged his government. In a show of Japan's respect to its most important ally, the US, Ishiba spoke by telephone with President Joe Biden early on Wednesday and told reporters he reassured Biden of his plan to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance that Biden and Kishida have significantly elevated. His new Cabinet emphasises defence and a majority of its members, including Ishiba himself, are unaffiliated with factions led and controlled by Liberal Democratic Party heavyweights, and none is from the late Shinzo Abe's faction that has been linked to damaging misconduct. Speaking to reporters at the prime minister's office for the

Japan's Shigeru Ishiba confirmed as prime minister, set to unveil cabinet

In his victory speech on Friday, he spoke about the need to beef up Japan's security after recent territorial incursions by Chinese and Russian military vessels

Japan PM Kishida steps down before likely successor Ishiba takes office

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resigned with his Cabinet, paving the way for his likely successor Shigeru Ishiba to take office. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that Kishida and his ministers stepped down at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Ishiba was chosen as the governing Liberal Democratic Party's leader on Friday to replace Kishida, who announced in August his resignation at the end of his three-year term. Ishiba is assured to be prime minister later on Tuesday in a vote by parliament because it is dominated by his party's ruling coalition. Ishiba will then announce his new Cabinet later in the day. Kishida took office in 2021 but is leaving so his party can have a fresh leader after his government was dogged by scandals. On Monday, Ishiba said he planned to call a parliamentary election to be held on October 27 after he is formally chosen as prime minister. "I believe it is important to have the new administration get the public's judgement as soon a

Kishida's legacy: Scandals at home, global respect for security, diplomacy

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will step down Tuesday, handing over leadership to his successor Shigeru Ishiba, who is expected to formally take office later in the day. He says he plans to call a snap election for October 27. Kishida's popularity ratings were precarious during most of his three-year term due to damaging corruption scandals that eventually led him to bow out. At home, Kishida was seen as a leader without a vision who compromised with powerful conservative nationalists within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party to stay in power. But he has won respect outside Japan, especially from the United States, for pushing bold changes in Japanese defence and security policies and for standing tougher against Russia and China. Here is a lookback at Kishida's leadership and his legacy: Distress at home After taking office in October 2021, Kishida made a number of major decisions, such as reversing Japan's nuclear energy phase-out and pursuing a rapid military buildup. B

Japan's incoming PM Ishiba calls election for Oct 27, aims to unify party

Ishiba began picking government and party officials who will contest the upcoming general election with him

Asian shares hold steady amid China stimulus, Japan rate fears hit Nikkei

The week is packed with major US economic data including a payrolls report that could decide whether the Federal Reserve delivers another outsized rate cut in November

Shigeru Ishiba to become Japan's next PM after winning LDP leadership race

Shigeru Ishiba's victory in the leadership contest came after beating economic security minister Sanae Takaichi by 215 votes to 194

Leadership contest for Japan's next prime minister heads to run-off

The scramble to replace current premier Fumio Kishida was sparked in August when he announced his intention to step down

Tokyo Electron readies for India foray as PM Modi woos chipmakers

Japan's biggest chip equipment maker plans to hire and train local engineers in or around 2026, with their first task to provide technical services to Tata Electronics

G4 nations stress comprehensive UNSC reform essential for UN's future

They gathered to evaluate the current state of the multilateral system and discuss potential reforms to UNSC

Japan's Self Defense Force passes through Taiwan Strait for first time

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi declined to comment on the report, while expressing concern about China's increased military activity in the region