US troops secretly moved dummy nuclear bombs to Okinawa in 1971: archive
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- U.S. forces in Japan secretly transferred dummy nuclear bombs to then U.S.-occupied Okinawa Prefecture in 1971 out of concern that Ja
2025-12-17
2025-12-17
Japan's MUFG appoints banking arm head Hanzawa as group president
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. said Tuesday it will promote MUFG Bank President Junichi Hanzawa to group president and C
2025-12-17
Ex-mayor of Japan's Maebashi who quit over 'love hotel' rendezvous to run again
MAEBASHI -- The former mayor of Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, who resigned over a scandal involving "love hotel" rendezvous with a city employee, has an
2025-12-17
Trump expands travel ban and restrictions to include an additional 20 countries
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Trump administration announced Tuesday it was expanding travel restrictions to an additional 20 countries and the Palestinian A
2025-12-17
Zelenskyy says proposals to end the war in Ukraine could be presented to Russia within days
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says proposals being negotiated with U.S. officials for a deal to end the fighting in Ru
2025-12-17
Japan to host 1st summit with 5 Central Asian nations from Fri.
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan will host its first summit with five Central Asian nations for two days from Friday in Tokyo, the government said, as it seeks
2025-12-17
China says Middle East nations' support secured amid row with Japan
BEIJING (Kyodo) -- China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, secured support from Middle Eastern nations for Beijing's stance on Taiwan during his trip to the re
2025-12-17
Easy Japanese news in translation: Shipping of horse tile ornaments busy in Hyogo Prefecture
The shipping of tile ornaments themed for the 2026 Chinese zodiac sign of the horse is in full swing in the city of Minamiawaji on Awaji Island in Hyo
2025-12-17
Japan PM Takaichi reflects on Taiwan crisis remarks, but offers no retraction
TOKYO -- Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated Dec. 16 that she had reflected on her past Diet remarks on a potential Taiwan crisis, which she said wer
2025-12-17
Kidnapped, married off, robbed of hope: US aid cuts contribute to exploitation of Rohingya children
UKHIYA, Bangladesh (AP) -- In moments when she is alone, when there is a break in the beatings from her husband, the girl cries for the school that wa
2025-12-17
Tokyo stocks end mixed on uncertain prospects of US economy
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo stocks ended mixed on Wednesday, following directionless trading amid growing uncertainty over the U.S. economy and future inte
2025-12-17
Japan household assets hit fresh record-high of 2,286 tril. yen
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Financial assets held by households in Japan rose to 2,286 trillion yen ($15 trillion) at the end of September on higher stock prices
2025-12-17
Editorial: Delays in plan to cut number of Diet seats in Japan exposes reform farce
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior coalition partner Nippon Ishin (the Japan Innovation Party, or JIP) have abandoned their plan
2025-12-17
Kenyans unite around the country's growing bullfighting tradition
KAKAMEGA, Kenya (AP) -- It's match day in western Kenya's Kakamega County, locally known as the home of bullfighting, where two bulls are brought to f
2025-12-17
China's newest aircraft carrier Fujian transited Taiwan Strait: Taipei
TAIPEI (Kyodo) -- Taiwan's Defense Ministry said Wednesday that mainland China's newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, transited the Taiwan Strait the
2025-12-17
Foreign visitors to Japan up 10% in Nov., growth in Chinese arrivals slows
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of foreign visitors to Japan in November rose 10.4 percent from a year earlier to 3.52 million, with arrivals this year al
2025-12-17
Uncontrolled gov't spending creating risk of Japan interest rate surge
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- While the rise in Japan's key long-term interest rate toward 2 percent is seen as a process of normalization as the country emerges f
2025-12-17
Tokyo rises to 2nd in global city attractiveness ranking for first time
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Tokyo rose to second among 48 major cities worldwide in overall attractiveness for the first time after nine years in third place, ac
2025-12-17
Millions are pledged to a Syrian Australian man who stopped a gunman and became a national hero
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- Like many Australians strolling at Bondi Beach on long, warm summer evenings, Ahmed al Ahmed just wanted a cup of coff
2025-12-17
Vacant lots helped stop fire in southwest Japan from spreading: 3D images
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Scattered vacant lots and fire-resistant buildings likely played a major role in preventing a massive fire in southwestern Japan last
2025-12-17
Head of Rengo opposes government's plan on surnames
Tomoko Yoshino showed her intention to cooperate with political parties supporting the introduction of a selective dual surname system for married couples.
2025-12-17
Pakistani military chief in spotlight over Trump’s Gaza plan
Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to fly to Washington to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming weeks for a third meeting in six months.
2025-12-17
Takaichi says Japan 'always open' to dialogue with China
"China is an important neighbor for Japan, and we need to build constructive and stable relationships," the prime minister told a news conference.
2025-12-17
Human‑wave attacks and drones: How Myanmar’s junta is fighting back
Generals have been boosted by the backing of China, which has applied diplomatic and financial pressure on resistance groups to stop fighting.
2025-12-17
High coffee prices are changing how consumers take their daily brew
People are choosing cheaper options such as drive-through baristas or whole beans delivered to their door.
2025-12-17
Australia's gun laws riddled with loopholes and workarounds, experts say
Tweaks by some states since laws were introduced in the wake of a mass shooting in 1996 have relaxed the oversight of the patchwork system.
2025-12-17
XG member Cocona’s coming out as nonbinary puts spotlight on gender identities
The announcement drew support from fans, but also backlash, which highlights a limited understanding of nonbinary identities in Japan.
2025-12-17
Children of U.S. deportees make lonely journeys to unfamiliar homes
Escorted to Guatemala by a nonprofit, one group of children face new lives in mostly impoverished rural areas where some will be unable to continue their education.
2025-12-17
Chinese visitor numbers up on year and down on month in November
The monthly statistics were the first to be released since China warned its citizens on Nov. 14 not to travel to Japan following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments…
2025-12-17
Retreat by U.S. and Europe from electric cars risks ceding race to China
Chinese carmakers like BYD and Xiaomi have strengthened their position as the leading producers of EVs over the past decade.