Politics
China-Japan virus cooperation helps offset sea dispute
Japan and China agreed to work together on Friday to battle the coronavirus outbreak in bilateral cooperation helping offset historic frictions over a maritime territorial dispute. The flu-like disease, which originated in China's central city of Wuhan, has infected more than 78,800 people and killed almost 2,800 in mainland China,… Read
Memorial service for ex-PM Nakasone postponed due to virus outbreak
A memorial service next month for former Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, who died at the age of 101 last November, will be postponed amid concern over the spread of coronavirus infections. Several thousand people were expected to attend the March 15 event at a Tokyo hotel, which was to be… Read
No plan yet for China's Xi to cancel visit to Japan in April: Motegi
There is no change in plans for Chinese President Xi Jinping to make a state visit to Japan, for the time being, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Friday amid speculation that the trip would be postponed due to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. Motegi made the comment after meeting with… Read
IAEA chief says Fukushima water release plan meets global standards
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday that Japan's plan to release radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the environment meets global standards of practice in the industry. The comment by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi made during a tour of the facility… Read
'Where's Abe?' critics ask, as coronavirus spreads in Japan
As Japan struggles to stem the spread of a coronavirus within its borders, critics are asking,"Where's Abe?" Shinzo Abe, 65, Japan's longest serving prime minister, has failed to take the helm as the public face of the response to the virus, critics say, leaving the task largely to his health… Read
IAEA chief vows support for Japan on Fukushima plant decommission
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Tuesday promised Prime Minister Shinzo Abe its continued support for Japan's efforts to safely decommission the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi and Abe also agreed to cooperate in tackling challenges including Iran's rejection of its commitments… Read
Japan to tighten export policy on coal-fired power plants
Japan will launch a review by the end of June aimed at tightening conditions for the export of coal-fired power plants, Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said on Tuesday. The move follows global criticism over the Japanese government's support for building coal-fired plants in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, as well… Read
G20 offer little reassurance over economy amid virus outbreak
The two-day gathering of the Group of 20 finance chiefs ended Sunday with a commitment to mobilize all policy tools to keep the global economy on track amid increasing concerns over the ripple effects of the coronavirus shock that has left China largely idle. But the message does not seem… Read
Foreign diplomats experience sake-making
Foreign diplomats in Japan have toured a sake brewery near Tokyo to study how the beverage is made in a project the Japanese government and the sake industry hope will promote the traditional rice wine overseas. The National Tax Agency, which co-hosted the project with the Japan Sake and Shochu… Read
G20 finance heads eye impact of coronavirus outbreak on growth; see modest pickup
Finance chiefs of the world's top 20 economies vowed to monitor the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on global growth and act if needed, as they said loose monetary policy and easing trade tensions would prompt a pick-up in 2020 and 2021. The Group of 20 (G20) finance ministers and… Read
