Politics
LDP exec apologizes for calling typhoon damage 'so-so'
One of the most senior lawmakers of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's Liberal Democratic Party on Tuesday walked back remarks he made that damage to Japan caused by Typhoon Hagibis was "so-so." Toshihiro Nikai, secretary general of the party, apologized and told reporters that the comment "was inappropriate if I caused… Read
Japan dismisses N Korea's compensation demand for boat collision
Japan dismissed on Tuesday North Korea's demand for compensation over the sinking of a fishing boat that was in collision with a Japanese patrol vessel last week. "North Korea's announcement was totally unacceptable," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a press conference, as Tokyo lodged a protest against Pyongyang… Read
Abe to skip Yasukuni visit during autumn festival: sources
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not visit Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo, viewed as a symbol of Japan's wartime militarism by neighboring countries, during its annual autumn festival, government and ruling party sources said Tuesday. But he is expected to send a ritual offering to the Shinto shrine through an official… Read
China to send vice president to emperor's enthronement ceremony
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan will travel to Japan to attend Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony next week, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. "During his friendly visit to Japan, (Wang) will meet with Japanese leaders and people from all walks of life," spokesman Geng Shuang said at a regular press briefing,… Read
S Korean PM to attend emperor's enthronement ceremony
South Korea's prime minister plans to visit Japan next week in what would be the highest-level trip since Japan imposed export curbs in a deepening trade and diplomatic row, officials said on Sunday. Lee Nak-yon, whose trip is scheduled for Oct 22-24, will attend Japanese Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony, Lee's… Read
N Korea demands Japan pay compensation for sinking fishing boat
North Korea's foreign ministry "strongly demanded" on Saturday that Japan pay compensation for a fishing boat that sank when it collided with a Japanese patrol boat earlier this week, North Korean state media reported. The collision on Monday was deliberate and "a gangster act" by Japan, which should take steps… Read
RCEP trade ministers meet in Bangkok
Ministers from 16 countries negotiating for an Asia-wide trade pact met Saturday in Bangkok for another round of talks, with host Thailand characterizing the meeting as "very tough and serious." A senior Thai trade official said that Singapore was critical of India, which has been accused of stalling progress in… Read
Aichi exhibition closed over Korean 'comfort woman' statue reopens
A Japanese exhibition of censored art works reopened Tuesday two months after it was forced to close following threats over a controversial South Korean statue of a wartime sex slave. The Aichi Triennale 2019 show, featuring the statue of a girl in traditional Korean clothes sitting on a chair, was… Read
U.S., Japan sign limited deal on agriculture, digital trade
The United States and Japan signed a limited trade agreement Monday, a deal that would win back benefits American farmers lost when President Donald Trump pulled out of a broader Asia-Pacific pact his first week in office. U.S. farmers have been operating at a disadvantage in Japan since Trump withdrew… Read
Where U.S.-Japan trade deal falls short of TPP pact
U.S. President Donald Trump has called his new trade deal with Japan a "phenomenal" victory for U.S. farmers. But don't expect America's Land O'Lakes butter to knock New Zealand's Anchor or France's President brands off store shelves in Japan, the world's third largest economy. Butter is one of several U.S.… Read
