Page 39 - Japan

Will not step down over party's loss in special elections, says Japan's PM

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday his governing party's major defeat in last weekend's by-elections was largely due to a political fundraising scandal and that he would not step down or replace party executives to take responsibility. Instead, Kishida said he will push anti-corruption measures and political reforms. As I take the results seriously, I believe as president of the governing party we must tackle the challenges we face one by one and achieve results, and this is the way I will take responsibility," Kishida said. By doing so, I will regain the people's trust. Kishida said the scandal dealt a big and heavy hinderance to the party. The scandal centres on dozens of lawmakers in Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party who allegedly pocketed profits from ticket sales to political events by falsifying accounting reports. Asked if he would take responsibility for the election loss, Kishida denied he would step down or replace top LDP posts, and pledged to pursue par

Yen holds on to sharp gains after suspected intervention, Fed in focus

Japanese currency was trading a touch lower 0.16% at 156.56 per dollar, but was well off its 34-year low of 160.245 hit on Monday

Yen hits weakest level since April 1990, trips past 160 per US dollar

The yen's move barely affected the euro and sterling, both of which stayed near the bottom of the ranges hit during Friday's volatile session

Japan's equity renaissance

The Japan story is still in its early days. But the lesson it holds is that companies, regulators, and the broader market micro-system all need to continuously evolve

Japan to launch upgraded observation satellites on new rocket's flight

Japan's space agency announced Friday a plan to launch a major upgrade to its satellite imaging system, as a new flagship rocket is put to the test for a third time. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency that an H3 rocket will be launched from the Tanegashima Space Center, on a southwestern Japanese island, early afternoon on June 30, with a launch window that runs through the end of July. The rocket will be carrying an Advanced Land Observation Satellite, ALOS-4, tasked primarily with Earth observation and data collection for disaster response and mapmaking, as well as with monitoring military activity, such as missile launches, with an infrared sensor developed by the Defense Ministry. The ALOS-4 is a successor to the current ALOS-2 and can observe a much wider area. The launch will be the H3's third, coming after a failed debut in March 2023 and a successful launch on Feb. 17. During the first attempt, the rocket's second stage engine did not ignite and the rocket had to be ...

Japan's yen hits fresh 34-year low after BOJ holds interest rates

The yen also nudged down to its weakest almost 16 years at 167.38 per euro and its weakest in nearly a decade on the Australian dollar

India, Japan discuss on disarmament, non-proliferation, export control

The Indian delegation was led by Muanpuii Saiawi, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs

Former Japanese PM Taro Aso meets Trump, discuss mutual cooperation

Ex-Japanese prime minister Taro Aso has met former president Donald Trump and both the leaders discussed the enduring importance of the US-Japan alliance to their physical and economic security in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, met Trump on Tuesday at the Trump Tower in Manhattan. Both the leaders discussed the enduring importance of the US-Japan alliance to both countries' physical and economic security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to a statement issued by the Trump Campaign on the meeting with the 83-year-old visiting Japanese leader. They also discussed challenges posed by China and North Korea. President Trump praised Japan's increased defence spending, the press release said after the meeting. "He's a highly respected man in Japan and beyond and somebody that I've liked and I've known through our very dear friend Shinzo," Trump, the 77-year-old presumptive nominee of the Republican Party in the

Air India enters into codeshare pact with Japan's All Nippon Airways

Air India has entered into a codeshare partnership with Japan's All Nippon Airways. With the codeshare, effective for travel from May 23, Air India and All Nippon Airways passengers can fly to their desired destination by combining those flights between India and Japan with a single ticket. Air India will add its 'AI' designator code on ANA's flights between Tokyo Haneda and Delhi as well as Tokyo Narita and Mumbai. ANA will add its 'NH' designator code on Air India's flight between Tokyo Narita and Delhi, a release said on Tuesday. Both airlines are considering further expanding their cooperation on additional routes. Now, Tata Group-owned Air India, which is expanding its presence, has codeshare partnerships with 15 airlines, including ANA .

No decision yet on ADNOC LNG project tie-up after Nikkei report: Mitsui

Other oil majors Shell, BP and Total Energies are also expected to invest, the report said

Japan's MUFG mulls sweeter offer for India's HDB Financial, says report

Both sides are looking to reach an agreement for a 20% stake in HDB Financial Services in about a month, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter

Japan's watchdog orders Google to fix ad search limits affecting Yahoo

Japan's antitrust watchdog said Monday that US search giant Google must fix its advertising search restrictions affecting Yahoo in Japan. The Japan Fair Trade Commission said in a statement that its recent study of Google's practices showed it was undermining fair competition in the advertising market. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Yahoo has merged with Japanese social media platform Line, and Line Yahoo declined comment. The alleged questionable practices by Google began about a decade ago and continued for more than seven years, according to the commission. Google will be under review for the next three years, to ensure it carries out needed changes, the commission said. There is no immediate fine or other penalties for Google, which remains popular among Japanese. The commission's move follows another setback for Google in Japan. Last week, Japanese doctors filed a civil lawsuit against the company, demanding damages for what they claim are ground

No sign of mechanical failure; data from crashed Japanese helicopter shows

An initial analysis of flight data recorders recovered from the crash of two Japanese navy helicopters showed no sign of mechanical problems, Japan's defence minister said on Monday, indicating likely human error. One of the eight crew members died and a search is continuing for the seven others. Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said an initial analysis of data from the two flight data recorders on each helicopter showed no abnormality during their flight and that mechanical failure was most likely not the cause of the crash. The two SH-60K reconnaissance helicopters from the Maritime Self-Defence Force lost contact late Saturday during nighttime anti-submarine training near Torishima island, about 600 kilometers (370 miles) south of Tokyo, officials said. A crew member who was recovered early Sunday from the water was later pronounced dead. Searches continued on Monday for the seven who were still missing, along with the fuselage of the aircraft. The seabed at the crash site east o

2 Japanese navy helicopters crash in Pacific Ocean; 1 dead, 7 missing

Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crewmembers were believed to have crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a night-time training exercise, and rescuers were searching for the missing, Japan's defense minister said. The two SH-60K choppers belonging to the Maritime Self Defense Force and carrying four crew each, lost contact late Saturday near Torishima island in the Pacific about 600 kilometers (370 miles) south of Tokyo, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters. One of the eight crewmembers was recovered from the waters, but his or her condition was unknown. Officials were still searching for the other seven. The cause of the crash was not immediately known, Kihara said, adding that officials are prioritizing the rescue operation. The MSDF deployed eight warships and five aircraft for the search and rescue of the missing crew. They recovered fragments believed to be from one of the SH-60Ks, Kihara said. We believe the helicopters have crashed, he said.

Philippines to hold military exercise with US amid tensions with China

Japan and the U.S. have cooperated in supporting the PCG's capacity building, and the three countries held trilateral Coast Guard exercises for the first time last June

5 Japanese escape unhurt in suicide bombing attempt in Pakistan's Karachi

Five Japanese nationals had a lucky escape when their vehicle was targeted by militants in a suicide attack here in Pakistan's Sindh province on Friday, police said. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) East Azfar Mahesar said the terrorists on a motorbike attempted to hit the van of the Japanese nationals near Murtaza Chorangi in Landhi. All five Japanese remained safe. However, the private security guard with them was injured, he said. The Japanese nationals were on the way to the Export Processing Zone from their residence in Zamzama, Clifton, he said. Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) DIG Asif Aijaz Shaikh told Dawn News that the Japanese nationals were travelling in a van along with two security guards when two terrorists tried to hit the van. The security guards killed one terrorist while another blew himself up in an attempt to get close to the van, the official said. All five Japanese nationals are safe, DIG Shaikh said. No one has claimed responsibility so far, the DIG said,

Why are doctors in Japan seeking $9,000 in damages from Google Maps?

The lawsuit was filed by a diverse group of healthcare professionals, including doctors, dentists, medical clinics, and veterinary clinics from across Japan

US envoy vows support for Japanese families abducted, taken to N Korea

America stands with Japan until all the Japanese abducted by North Korea decades ago return home to end their painful separation, United States ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said ON Thursday in Tokyo. Japan says North Korea abducted at least 17 Japanese citizens, possibly many more, to train them as agents during the 1970s and 1980s. Twelve remain missing. They include teenage students and others living along Japan's coasts, and many were bundled into small boats and taken across the sea to North Korea. Thomas-Greenfield began her Japan visit by meeting with families of those kidnapped. The United Stats stands with all the families, with all of Japan and with the international community in pressing for a resolution that will allow all families separated by the regime's policies to be reunited, she said at the outset of her meeting with five relatives of the abductees and a representative from their support group at the Prime Minister's Office. I'm all too

Earthquake of 6.4 magnitude jolts Ehime, Kochi prefectures of south Japan

The epicentre of the earthquake was Bungo Channel, a strait separating Japanese islands of Kyushu and Shikoku, the agency said, adding that no tsunami warning had been issued

Japan records trade deficit for 3rd fiscal year despite recovering exports

Japan recorded a trade deficit for the third straight fiscal year as the costs of energy and other imports rose and the yen remained weak. The deficit was 5.89 trillion yen (USD 38 billion) for the fiscal year that ended in March, according to Finance Ministry data released on Wednesday. The biggest trade deficits were in the Middle East, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Australia and Indonesia. Japan had a trade surplus with the US and some European countries. Annual exports to China slipped slightly, declining for the first time in four years, although the latest monthly data show exports to China recovering, growing 12 per cent from the previous year. Robert Carnell, regional head of research Asia-Pacific at ING Economics, said strong technology-related exports were behind the jump in exports to China, while noting exports were also growing to other regions. We think exports will be the main engine for growth in the coming months, he said in a ...