China conducts military exercises near Taiwan

SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - China launched extensive military drills around Taiwan, prompting concern from Japan and other regional neighbors. The exercises, involving naval, air and ground forces, came in response to recent remarks by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te asserting the island's independence. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addressed the situation on Monday, saying that Japan will "carefully monitor the developments and prepare to respond to any continge

October 15, 2024

Osaka Expo faces challenges as opening day nears

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - With six months left until the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan, organizers are grappling with construction delays and falling short of ticket sales targets, raising concerns about the event's preparedness and financial viability. The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition aims to attract 28.2 million visitors to cover the ballooning costs, which have nearly doubled to 235 billion yen ($1.6 billion) for construction and 116 billion yen for opera

October 14, 2024

Israeli envoy rebuffs Nobel laureate's comparison of Gaza to post-war Japan

SEOUL, October 14 (AJP) - Israel's ambassador to Japan rejected a comparison between Gaza and post-World War II Japan made by a leader of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japanese anti-nuclear group that won this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Ambassador Gilad Cohen on Saturday called the remarks by Toshiyuki Mimaki, co-chair of Hidankyo, "outrageous and baseless" in a post on social media platform X (previously Twitter). Cohen said the comparison "distorthistory and dishon

October 14, 2024

Japan court upholds ban on dual citizenship

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - A Japanese high court ruled that the country's law prohibiting dual nationality is constitutional, dismissing a challenge by a Japanese-born U.S. citizen. The Fukuoka High Court upheld a lower court's decision on Thursday, stating there was "little necessity" to permit dual citizenship. The case was brought by Yuri Kondo, 77, who argued the law infringed on her right to self-determination. Kondo, born in Japan and naturalized as a U.S.

October 11, 2024

Japan's Ishiba seeks stronger ASEAN ties, expresses China concerns

SEOUL, October 11 (AJP) - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized strengthening relations with ASEAN nations while voicing apprehension over China's maritime activities during his inaugural diplomatic meetings in Laos. At the ASEAN Plus Three summit on Thursday, Ishiba expressed opposition to forceful attempts to alter the status quo, referencing the region's tense security situation. He also urged a firm international response to North Korea's ongoing nucle

October 11, 2024

Japan, China top diplomats address key tensions in phone talks

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Japan's new foreign minister, Takeshi Iwaya, has expressed concern over China's increased military activities around Japan during phone talks with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi. During a 45-minute call on Wednesday, the top diplomats addressed recent tensions between the two nations, including an alleged violation of Japanese airspace by a Chinese aircraft near Nagasaki in August, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. Iwaya expressed &quo

October 10, 2024

Japanese man's 1966 quadruple murder acquittal finalized

SEOUL, October 10 (AJP) - Japanese prosecutors have declined to appeal the acquittal of Iwao Hakamata, 88, in a 1966 quadruple murder case, bringing an end to a nearly six-decade legal battle. Hakamata, who spent about 48 years on death row before his release in 2014, was cleared of all charges by the Shizuoka District Court on Sept. 26. His case marks the fifth instance in post-war Japan where retrials have led to acquittals following death sentences. The Shizuoka Prefectural Po

October 10, 2024

Saudi wealth fund considers increasing stakes in Japanese gaming firms: report

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is contemplating raising its stakes in Japanese gaming companies as part of a strategy to diversify the kingdom's economy away from oil, Kyodo News reported Monday. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al-Saud, vice chairman of PIF's gaming entity Savvy Games Group, was quoted as saying, "It's always a possibility," when asked about potential additional investments in Japanese gaming firms.

October 8, 2024

Japan's Ishiba defends snap election call in first parliamentary debate

SEOUL, October 8 (AJP) - Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday defended his decision to call a snap election just over a week after his inauguration. Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, plans to dissolve the lower house on Wednesday for an Oct. 27 election. During his first parliamentary debate with the opposition, Ishiba said he needed a fresh mandate to restore public trust following his Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) political funds scandal. "To restore

October 8, 2024

Vatican selects Tokyo archbishop as new cardinal

SEOUL, October 07 (AJP) - Pope Francis announced the appointment of Archbishop Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo as a new cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Kikuchi, 65, will become the seventh Japanese to be elevated to the rank of cardinal, a position that carries the right to participate in the conclaves of future popes. The Vatican said on Sunday that Kikuchi, who hails from Iwate Prefecture in northeastern Japan, will be formally installed during a consistory scheduled for Dec. 8. This

October 7, 2024