Nippon Steel executive seeks U.S. support for U.S. Steel acquisition

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - A senior executive from Japan's largest steelmaker Nippon Steel Corp. met with U.S. government officials in Washington on Wednesday to garner support for its proposed $14.1 billion takeover of United States Steel Corp., sources familiar with the matter said. The meeting between Nippon Steel Vice President Takahiro Mori and members of the U.S. committee on foreign investment comes amid reports that the Biden administration is preparing to block the dea

September 12, 2024

Korea, Japan, China aim for 40 million cross-border tourists by 2030

SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Tourism ministers from South Korea, Japan and China set a target on Wednesday to boost cross-border travel to 40 million visitors annually by 2030, as part of efforts to reinvigorate regional economies. The trilateral meeting in Kobe, Japan, marked the first such gathering since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials agreed to expand flight connections to regional airports and address overtourism concerns while promoting accessible travel for famili

September 12, 2024

Japan's JR East to introduce autonomous bullet trains by 2028

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - East Japan Railway Company (JR East), one of the country's largest railway operators, announced on Tuesday its plans to introduce self-driving bullet trains on a section of its Joetsu Shinkansen Line by fiscal year 2028. The autonomous service, which could be the world's first for high-speed trains, will initially operate with a driver onboard for emergencies. The 55.7-kilometer stretch between Nagaoka and Niigata stations in northwest Japan wi

September 11, 2024

University of Tokyo plans first tuition hike in two decades

SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Japan's renowned academic institution, the University of Tokyo, announced on Tuesday its intention to raise tuition fees for new students enrolling from April 2025, marking the first increase in 20 years. The annual tuition will rise by about 107,000 yen ($751) to 642,960 yen, a move prompted by declining state grants and aimed at enhancing educational facilities. President Teruo Fujii told the press that improving the educational environment is an

September 11, 2024

TEPCO resumes fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima nuclear plant

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. (TEPCO) restarted efforts on Tuesday to extract a small amount of melted fuel from a damaged reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear complex, following a suspension last month due to technical issues. The operation, which aims to retrieve some of the estimated 880 tons of fuel debris from three affected reactors, had been halted on Aug. 22 after problems were discovered during preparations. TEPCO, the plant'

September 10, 2024

Japanese court expands benefits for Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors

SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A Japanese district court ruled on Monday to extend health care benefits to 15 plaintiffs who experienced the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki outside the previously designated area, potentially impacting thousands of survivors. The Nagasaki District Court ordered local authorities to certify the 15 individuals as atomic bomb survivors, despite their location being beyond the officially recognized zone but within a 12-kilometer radius of the bomb'

September 10, 2024

Kishida expresses gratitude to Yoon, urges continued cooperation

SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - Japan's outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida thanked Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for his hospitality during his final visit to Korea as premier, urging continued efforts to develop bilateral relations. Kishida, who is set to step down later this month, made the remarks on his social media platform X on Saturday, following his two-day visit to Korea. "I sincerely thank President Yoon and First Lady Kim," Kishida wrote. "I hope you

September 9, 2024

Fukushima peaches debut at London's Harrods

SEOUL, September 9 (AJP) - Peaches from Japan's Fukushima Prefecture made their retail debut in Britain, the Japan Times reported on Sunday. The fruit appeared on the shelves of London's luxury department store Harrods as part of a campaign by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) to promote food from Fukushima and support the prefecture's recovery from the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent nuclear accident. The peaches were priced at £80 ($88) for a

September 9, 2024

Japan's Prince Hisahito comes of age, spotlighting succession concerns

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (AJP) - Prince Hisahito, second in line to Japan's Chrysanthemum Throne, turned 18 on Friday, becoming the first male imperial family member to reach adulthood in about 39 years, highlighting the dwindling number of heirs to the world's oldest monarchy, Kyodo News reported. The prince, nephew of Emperor Naruhito and son of Crown Prince Fumihito, joins a shrinking pool of adult royals as Japan's Imperial House Law restricts succession to males and requires

September 6, 2024

Japan to resume Fukushima debris removal trial

SEOUL, Sept. 6 (AJP) - Japan's Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (Tepco) announced plans on Thursday to restart a trial removal of highly radioactive debris from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant next week, following a previous attempt's suspension due to technical issues. The operation, crucial for the plant's decommissioning, aims to extract a sample of the estimated 880 tons of hazardous material remaining inside the facility, which experienced a meltdown

September 6, 2024