Politics
Panel weighs need to update ¥43 tril Japan defense buildup plan
A panel of experts under the Japanese Defense Ministry is considering a proposal to revise the current defense buildup plan, which allocates 43 trillion yen in spending over five years through March 2028, sources close to the matter said Sunday, as inflation drives up the cost of defense equipment. The… Read
Japan and China accuse each other of violating airspace around disputed East China Sea islands
Japan and China are accusing each other of violating the airspace around the Japanese-controlled East China Sea islands that Beijing also claims. Japan’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that it has protested to Beijing after a Chinese helicopter that took off from one of China’s four coast guard boats… Read
Japan, Sri Lanka agree to enhance cooperation of defense forces
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Sri Lankan Deputy Defense Minister Aruna Jayasekara agreed Sunday to strengthen cooperation between their countries' defense forces to promote stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Nakatani's visit to Sri Lanka, the second by a Japanese defense minister, underscores the importance Japan places on ties with… Read
Ishiba vows to work to revise Constitution; yet momentum low
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed his desire to seek the country's first-ever revision of the pacifist Constitution, as Japan marked the 78th anniversary of its coming into force with no clear political momentum toward such a move. In a video message to a pro-reform gathering, Ishiba said his "top… Read
Japan wants all tariffs reviewed to reach deal with U.S.: negotiator
Japan has no intention of striking a trade deal with the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump unless all of its new tariffs are reviewed, top negotiator Ryosei Akazawa indicated Saturday as he returned to Japan following the second round of ministerial-level tariff talks in Washington. "We have pressed the… Read
Nearly 60% of Japanese believe election social media needs regulation
Some 58 percent of Japanese believe the spread of unverified information on social media platforms during elections should be regulated by law, according to a Kyodo News survey focusing on various constitutional matters. The result comes as criticism mounts over partisan online posts that are believed to have contributed to… Read
Japan says massive Treasury stockpile among tools for U.S. trade talks
Japan could use its $1 trillion-plus holdings of U.S. Treasuries as a card in trade talks with Washington, its finance minister said on Friday, raising explicitly for the first time its leverage as a massive creditor to the United States. While Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato did not threaten to sell… Read
Japan, Canada leaders discuss U.S. tariffs, economic impact
The leaders of Japan and Canada discussed the impact of U.S. tariffs on the global economy and the multilateral trading system during a roughly 30-minute phone call on Friday. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba congratulated his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on his party's election victory and expressed hope to strengthen bilateral… Read
Japan, U.S. agree to step up tariff talks with June deal in mind
Japan and the United States on Thursday agreed to intensify tariff talks after making some progress with the aim of reaching a mutually beneficial deal as early as in June. After meeting with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other U.S. cabinet members in Washington, Japan's chief negotiator Ryosei Akazawa told… Read
Japan, EU agree to deepen economic security cooperation
Japan and the European Union have agreed to boost cooperation on economic security issues, including strengthening supply chains for critical minerals. Japanese economic security minister Minoru Kiuchi and EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic affirmed the importance of diversifying sources of minerals critical to electric vehicles and… Read
