Japan pushes winter COVID shots amid low senior vaccination rates

SEOUL, November 13 (AJP) - Japan's health ministry issued an urgent appeal for elderly citizens to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, as winter approaches with concerning signs of low immunization uptake among the vulnerable population. The initiative on Tuesday marks the first winter season since the end of Japan's universal free vaccination program in March, though individuals aged 65 and above remain eligible for shots at a reduced fee. Ministry data reveals that medical f

November 13, 2024

Japan's Ishiba secures PM role amid minority government challenge

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba secured his position through a rare parliamentary runoff vote with no candidates securing the majority. Ishiba, 67, garnered 221 votes against opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda's 160 in the second round of voting at the House of Representatives on Monday, marking the first such runoff in 30 years after no candidate achieved a majority in the initial ballot. The reelection comes in the wake of the ruling coalitio

November 12, 2024

Japan's controversial Yasukuni shrine vandalized by death symbols

SEOUL, November 12 (AJP) - Tokyo police launched a criminal investigation after vandals inscribed the Japanese kanji character for "death" at two locations on Yasukuni shrine's stone wall, marking the third defacement incident at the controversial site since June, authorities said. The incident discovered on Monday follows earlier vandalism cases where Chinese suspects were identified for spray-painting the word "toilet" in red paint. The shrine, which hon

November 12, 2024

Japanese party leader draws criticism over reproductive rights comment

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - The leader of Japan's Conservative Party apologized on Sunday after suggesting a dystopian scenario where women over 30 would be forced to undergo reproductive organ removal as a solution to the nation's demographic challenges. Naoki Hyakuta, who founded the minor opposition party in 2023, made the controversial remarks during a YouTube livestream on Friday, where he outlined a hypothetical framework that would also ban women from university educat

November 11, 2024

Japanese navy vessel capsizes off southwest coast, 1 crew member missing

SEOUL, November 11 (AJP) - A Japanese naval minesweeper capsized off the country's southwestern coast early Monday after battling an engine room fire, leaving one crew member missing, officials said. The Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel, Ukushima, with about 40 crew members, first reported the blaze at 9:50 a.m. Sunday, about 2.5 kilometers from Oshima Island in Fukuoka Prefecture. The missing sailor, identified as Petty Officer 3rd Class Tatsunori Koga, 33, was assigned to

November 11, 2024

Nippon Steel accelerates U.S. Steel acquisition ahead of U.S. power shift

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Japan's largest steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. aims to complete its $14.1 billion acquisition of Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel Corp. before the expected return of Donald Trump to the White House. The deal faces scrutiny from the U.S. Committee on Foreign Investment, which is set to conclude its review by late December, amid concerns from both President-elect Trump and incumbent President Joe Biden about foreign ownership of the historic American manufactur

November 8, 2024

Ishiba, Trump hold phone call, agree to meet early

SEOUL, November 8 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump agreed Thursday to hold an early meeting during their phone talks. The five-minute call focused on strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance, with both leaders confirming their commitment to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region amid China's growing influence. Ishiba told reporters he got the impression that Trump is friendly and a person who he can speak honestly wi

November 8, 2024

Japan A-bomb survivors express concern over Trump's election victory

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - Atomic bomb survivors in Japan voiced apprehension on Wednesday following Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election, citing worries about his stance on nuclear disarmament. The development comes just weeks after Japan's leading atomic bomb survivors' organization, Nihon Hidankyo, was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. "Trump may believe that the world is stable because of nuclear weapons," said Toshiyuki Mimaki, 82,

November 7, 2024

Japan's Ishiba congratulates Trump in U.S. election win

SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba extended his congratulations to Donald Trump following Trump's declaration of victory in the U.S. presidential election. "I wish to coordinate closely with him to bring the Japan-U.S. alliance and relationship to new heights," Ishiba told the media on Wednesday, emphasizing Japan's commitment to its most crucial security partnership. The announcement came amid heightened regional tensions, with Jap

November 7, 2024

Japan's Ishiba set to retain premiership despite election setback

SEOUL, November 6 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to secure a fresh term in office when parliament convenes on Nov. 11, despite his ruling coalition losing its majority in last month's general election. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announced the four-day special Diet session on Tuesday, where Ishiba is likely to garner more parliamentary support than opposition challenger Yoshihiko Noda of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ

November 6, 2024