Politics
78% think 1-year delay of Olympics appropriate: poll
A total of 78.7 percent of people think the decision earlier this week to postpone this summer's Tokyo Olympics for about one year due to the global coronavirus pandemic was "appropriate," a Kyodo News survey showed Saturday. The three-day nationwide telephone poll conducted from Thursday also found that 11.1 percent… Read
Japan plans huge stimulus package to cushion blow from coronavirus
The Japanese government will soon kick off work on a stimulus package that could be worth 10% of the country's economic output, joining global efforts to combat the hit to their economies from the coronavirus pandemic. With the state budget for next fiscal year having passed the Diet on Friday,… Read
Olympic delay may not be all bad news for Abe
In 2016, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe broke with his staid public image to pop up in Rio dressed as Super Mario for the official handover of the Olympic Games to Tokyo. The stunt reflected his commitment to an event that was supposed to be the crowning glory of his… Read
Pompeo says G7 agrees China spreading virus disinformation
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Group of Seven foreign ministers agreed with him in talks Wednesday that China was waging a "disinformation" campaign about the coronavirus pandemic. The top diplomats from the major industrialized nations held a previously scheduled meeting by videoconference, with the United States scrapping a… Read
Abe faces struggle on coronavirus, economy, after Olympics delayed
Postponing the Olympics due to the coronavirus pandemic has turned a hoped-for year of triumphant celebration for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe into a struggle to stem the outbreak and save the economy, but is unlikely to cost him his job. Abe, who returned to office in 2012 promising "Japan… Read
Abe says Trump supports Olympic postponement 100%
U.S. President Donald Trump fully supports a delay in the Tokyo Olympics agreed between Japan and the international Olympic panel, a Japanese government spokesman said on Wednesday, citing comments made to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a telephone call. "President Trump repeatedly said the postponement is an excellent and wise… Read
Global battle against coronavirus bolsters Japan-China relations
While the coronavirus pandemic has created friction between some countries, it appears to have brought out mutual expressions of goodwill between China and Japan, two historical rivals with a sometimes rocky relationship. After the deadly infectious disease first broke out in China late last year, Japanese cities and private organizations… Read
G7 pledges to do whatever is necessary to restore growth
G7 finance ministers and central bank chiefs on Tuesday vowed to "do whatever is necessary" to safeguard jobs and the economy from disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The officials said they are working cooperatively with "substantial and complementary packages" to help companies weather the impact. "We will do whatever… Read
Japan to spend over ¥15 tril as virus hits economy
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pledge of "huge" stimulus will involve spending of at least 15 trillion yen financed in part by deficit-covering bonds, sources say, joining global efforts to cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic. While the amount of debt issuance is likely be modest, it will… Read
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LDP to back Koike for re-election in Tokyo gubernatorial election
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is making final arrangements to support Tokyo Gov Yuriko Koike's re-election in a July gubernatorial race, sources familiar with the matter said Monday. The LDP, headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is seeking to maintain close coordination between the central government and Koike amid prospects… Read
