Politics
Ishiba arrives in Canada to attend G7, meet Trump over tariffs
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba arrived in Canada on Sunday for his first in-person summit of the Group of Seven nations, with the Japanese leader prepared for a high-stakes, tariff-focused bilateral meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump likely the following day. The two-day G7 gathering starting Monday in Kananaskis comes amid… Read
At G7 summit, world leaders aim to show they're not intimidated by Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump has long bet that he can scare allies into submission — a gamble that is increasingly being tested ahead of the Group of Seven summit beginning Monday in Canada. He's threatened stiff tariffs in the belief that other nations would crumple. He's mused about taking over Canada and Greenland. He's suggested… Read
Ishiba cabinet support rate rises to 37%; most back rice policy shift
The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet rose to 37.0 percent from 31.7 percent in May, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday, with most expressing support for a shift away from the government's long-standing policy of curbing rice production. In the two-day telephone poll conducted from Saturday,… Read
Japan pushes preemptive cyber defense; calls on firms to act
With a national election nearing, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's minority government rushed to enact cyber defense legislation in May, aiming to show leadership after a series of serious attacks exposed major digital vulnerabilities. The legislation marks a bold shift from a reactive to a preemptive cyber defense posture. As threats… Read
Ishiba heads to G7 to press Trump to drop auto tariffs
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba heads to Canada on Sunday for trade talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, hoping to persuade him to drop trade tariffs that have imperiled Japan's auto companies and threaten to undermine his fragile government. The two are expected to meet on the sidelines of a… Read
Diet OKs pension reform law to ensure more contributions
The Diet has enacted a pension reform law that will scrap a 1.06 million yen annual income threshold blamed for prompting part-timers to limit their work hours, while opening the way for a future boost to basic pension benefits. The enactment came as a result of a last-minute compromise by… Read
Half of women in local assemblies have been harassed: study
More than half of women in local assemblies across Japan have either experienced harassment themselves or had family members who did, a recent government study found, highlighting how male-dominated political circles can make women more vulnerable. A Cabinet Office survey released June 6 found that 53.8 percent of assemblywomen reported… Read
Japan sets 1% wage growth target to spur economy in new policy plan
The Japanese government has approved a policy blueprint focused on wage hikes, setting a target of approximately 1 percent real pay growth annually over a five-year period to encourage consumer spending and sustain economic growth. The latest economic and fiscal policy plan, endorsed by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's cabinet, outlined… Read
Ishiba, Trump to meet on G7 sidelines
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump to meet in Canada on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit next week. Ahead of another round of ministerial-level tariff talks in the United States, Ishiba told reporters after a 20-minute phone call… Read
Japan condemns Israel's attack on Iran for escalating situation
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday condemned Israel's attack on Iranian nuclear and military targets, while vowing to work with other Group of Seven members to ease tensions in the Middle East. Ishiba told reporters that Israel's move was "totally intolerable" and "extremely regrettable," adding, "Any actions that could… Read
