Page 49 - Japan

Uniqlo operator Fast Retailing's Q2 profit climbs 7.2% at $721.80 mn

Fast Retailing left its full-year operating profit forecast unchanged at 450 billion yen

Fumio Kishida to address Congress amid scepticism about US role abroad

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will head to Capitol Hill on Thursday for an address to US lawmakers meant to underscore the importance of keeping a strong partnership between the two countries at a time of tension in the Asia-Pacific and scepticism in Congress about US involvement abroad. Kishida was in Washington this week visiting President Joe Biden as the White House completed hosting each leader of the Quad an informal partnership between the US Japan, Australia and India that is seen as important to countering China's growing military strength in the region. Kishida is expected to talk about the future of the relationship between Japan and the US. He will be addressing many Republicans who have pushed for the US to take a less active role in global affairs as they follow the America First" ethos of Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. The Republican-controlled House has sat for months on a USD 95 billion package that would send wartime fundin

US President Biden, Kishida enlist Amazon, Nvidia to fund AI research

The $50 million project will be a joint effort between the University of Washington in Seattle and Tsukuba University outside Tokyo, according to a senior US official

Biden thanks Japan's Kishida for global partnership at White House summit

A red-coated fife-and-drum corps played "Yankee Doodle" and marched before the two leaders during the elaborate arrival ceremony featuring honor guards from each U.S. military branch

Why is China trying to teach US, UK, Australia and Japan a history lesson?

China has warned that a recent move by the US, UK and Australia could escalate the risk of nuclear proliferation

As China plans 4th aircraft carrier, here's Japan's answer armed with F-35s

China currently operates two conventionally-powered aircraft carriers, with the third expected to conduct sea trials this year

Biden welcomes Japanese PM Kishida as they aim for deeper bilateral ties

US President Joe Biden has welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House as the two leaders seek to further boost bilateral ties amid shared concerns about China's increasing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden and the First Lady Jill Biden have welcomed Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida at the White House on Tuesday and treated them to a seafood dinner at a city restaurant. Biden has invited the Japanese Prime Minister for a State Dinner on Wednesday as part of the efforts to strengthen ties with countries in the Indo-Pacific region. President Biden last year hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a State visit. "This (Kishida's) official state visit will build on the immense progress between our two nations that we've made towards creating a safer and more secure Indo-Pacific, as well as mutual prosperity for our peoples," US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. The Indo-Pacific is a biogeographic region, comprising the Indian Ocean and

Japan warns against excessive volatility as yen slides near fresh lows

We don't look at currency levels in judging whether the moves are desirable or not. It's important for currency rates to move stably reflecting fundamentals

MakeMyTrip expands global reach, now available in over 150 countries

India's online travel firm has expanded its reach to major travel markets like the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, France, and others

US, Japan, Oz and Philippines to stage military drills in S China Sea

The United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will hold their first joint naval exercises, including anti-submarine warfare training, in a show of force Sunday in the South China Sea where Beijing's aggressive actions to assert its territorial claims have caused alarm. The four treaty allies and security partners are holding the exercises to safeguard the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, they said in a joint statement issued by their defence chiefs Saturday. China was not mentioned by name in the statement, but the four countries reaffirmed their stance that a 2016 international arbitration ruling, which invalidated China's expansive claims on historical grounds, was final and legally binding. China has refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. The Philippines brought its disputes with China to international arbitration in 2013 aft

Japan PM visits chip factory, stressing ties with Taiwan, support for tech

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited a new semiconductor plant for which his government has pledged more than 1 trillion yen (USD 7 billion) of support to secure a steady supply of chips on Saturday. I believe this project will have positive ripple effects throughout Japan. It is key for not only the semiconductor industry but also a wide range of businesses such as electric vehicles and electronics, he said while touring the facility. The new plant on the southwestern island of Kyushu, majority owned by the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., is the Taiwanese semiconductor giant's first in Japan. Kishida also expressed sympathy to Taiwan following an earthquake that left at least 12 people dead. Japanese companies like Sony, Denso and Toyota are investing in the TSMC subsidiary that opened the plant in February, although the Taiwanese giant retained an 86.5% stake in the Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. The project underlines Japan's hopes to regain

Taiwan earthquake: More than 600 still stranded, at least 12 killed

Rescuers were planning to bring in heavy equipment on Saturday to try to recover two bodies buried under boulders on a hiking trail, three days after Taiwan's strongest earthquake in 25 years. Four more people remain missing on the same Shakadang Trail in Taroko National Park, famed for its rugged mountainous terrain. Search and recovery work was set to resume, after being called off Friday afternoon because of aftershocks. At least 12 people were killed by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Wednesday morning off Taiwan's east coast, and 10 others were still missing. More than 600 people, including about 450 at a hotel in the Taroko park, remained stranded in various locations cut off by rockslides and other damage. Survivors have told harrowing tales of rocks tumbling onto roadways, trapping them in tunnels until rescuers arrived to free them. In the city of Hualien, a building left tilting over a street at a precarious angle was being carefully torn down. The relatively lo

Indians can now get e-Visa for a trip to Japan: Here's a step-by-step guide

For Indian tourists, the process of obtaining a visa has been simplified with the introduction of eVisas for Japan, effective from April 1, 2024

BOJ Guv Kazuo Ueda signals chance of rate hike if yen moves affect prices

The BOJ releases fresh quarterly growth and inflation forecasts at its next meeting in April 25-26. Its board also holds rate-setting meetings in June, July, October and December

Everyone in Japan will be called 'Sato' by 2531 unless marriage law changes

A study led by Hiroshi Yoshida, a professor of economy at Tohoku University, challenges a civil law from the 1800s in Japan that requires married couples to choose a single surname

WATCH: Taiwan earthquake turns swimming pool in Taipei into massive waves

In the video clip circulating on social media, a man can be seen caught up in the pool amid the heavy waves caused by the earthquake

Taiwan earthquake: Rescuers search for dozens of people out of contact

Rescuers searched for dozens of people out of contact Thursday a day after Taiwan's strongest earthquake in a quarter century damaged buildings, caused multiple rockslides and killed nine people. In the eastern coastal city of Hualien near the epicenter, workers used an excavator to put construction materials around the base of a damaged building to stabilize it and prevent a collapse. Mayor Hsu Chen-wei previously said 48 residential buildings were damaged. Some of the damaged buildings tilted at precarious angles with their ground floors crushed. More than 1,000 people were injured in the quake that struck Wednesday morning. Of the nine dead, at least four were struck inside Taroko National Park, a tourist attraction famous for its scenes of canyons and cliffs in Hualien County, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) from the island's capital Taipei. Nearly 150 people were either still trapped or out of contact Thursday, the National Fire Agency said. About two dozen tourists and some .

Indian Navy reaches Japan for bilateral anti-submarine warfare exchange

The Indian Navy on Wednesday said its P8I aircraft has reached Japan for a bilateral anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and subject matter expert exchange with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). In a post on X, it said, "An Indian Navy P8I arrived at Atsugi, Japan, for bilateral ASW and subject matter expert exchange with the JMSDF. The crew will plan and execute maritime reconnaissance and ASW operations alongwith JMSDF. #BridgesofFriendship @jmsdf_pao_eng @IndianEmbTokyo." The Indian Navy also shared a picture of the aircraft with the post.

Japan begins tourist e-visa for Indians, here's a guide on how to apply

Specifically designed for tourism, the Japan eVisa offers a single-entry short-term visa allowing a stay of up to 90 days in Japan

Japan's economy recovers to full capacity, keeps rate hike prospects alive

The BOJ ended eight years of negative interest rates and other remnants of its unorthodox policy last month