Politics
Abe rebuffs opposition resignation call over contentious gov't event
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday rejected opposition calls to resign over a controversial state-funded cherry blossom viewing party, saying he broke no law. Opposition parties have alleged that Abe used the annual event for personal gain by inviting hundreds of his own supporters. They have also claimed his… Read
Gov't keeps economic assessment for January
The government on Wednesday maintained its assessment of the Japanese economy after downgrading it a month earlier, but cut its views on business investment amid continued sluggish exports. The Cabinet Office meanwhile upgraded its assessment on the Chinese economy, noting some signs of improvement in China's business sentiment, following the… Read
Bank of Japan lifts growth outlook; keeps easy money policy
The Bank of Japan on Tuesday slightly upgraded its growth forecast for the world's third-biggest economy but kept its super easy monetary policy unchanged. The central bank said after a two-day policy gathering that it now expects a 0.9-percent expansion in the year to March 2021, an upgrade from a… Read
Japan may delay process for picking casino host cities, media report
The Japanese government is considering delaying the process for selecting casino host cities amid a bribery scandal that has seen the arrest of a ruling-party lawmaker, the Asahi and other local media reported on Tuesday. The government had originally planned to set by this month a basic framework to determine… Read
Abe strikes conciliatory note on S Korea
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday that South Korea was its "most important neighbor" and that the two shared basic values, taking a conciliatory tone towards the country that has been locked in a bitter row with Tokyo for over a year. The comment comes after South Korean… Read
Aso pledges to put Japan on sustainable, private sector-led growth
Finance Minister Taro Aso on Monday pledged to put Japan on a path of sustainable and private sector-driven growth, by increasing productivity and revitalizing the world's third-largest economy amid a rapidly-aging population. In a speech on the first day of the ordinary Diet session of 2020, Aso also underscored the… Read
Diet convenes 150-day regular session
Japan's parliament convened for a 150-day regular session Monday with swift passage of an extra spending plan and a draft budget for the next fiscal year a top priority to cope with post-disaster reconstruction and support the economy. A recent string of scandals engulfing the administration has cast a deep… Read
Abe says new unit will defend Japan from space tech threats
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday that Japan will form a space defense unit to protect itself from potential threats as rivals develop missiles and other technology and the new unit will work closely with its American counterpart recently launched by President Donald Trump. The Space Domain Mission Unit will… Read
Rohingya activists rebuke Japan envoy over denial of genocide
Japan-based Rohingya advocacy groups have accused Japan of siding with Myanmar's military over an ambassador's recent remarks denying genocide against the minority group. "Today Japan is not cooperating, not supporting the United Nations actions on Myanmar," said Zaw Min Htut, vice president of Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan. He was… Read
Trump calls for more from Japan as security pact turns 60 years old
Japan and the United States pledged Sunday to strengthen their alliance to deal with an evolving security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, as they marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of their security treaty. But they appeared out of sync on how to do that, as U.S. President Donald… Read
