Politics
Ishiba raps opposition over tax cut push with no revenue offset plan
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday criticized opposition leaders as irresponsible for proposing a consumption tax cut without a plan to offset lost revenue, as Japan's House of Councillors election campaign entered its first weekend. Official campaigning for the July 20 upper house race began Thursday, with parties vying over… Read
Taiwan invited to Nagasaki atomic bomb anniversary event for 1st time
Nagasaki has accepted a request from Taiwan to attend this year's ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing, the southwestern Japanese city said Saturday. If Taiwan attends, it will be the first time its representatives officially take part in the annual event held each August. Following last… Read
Ishiba counters Trump's view on rice imports ahead of election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Japan is not importing U.S. rice, saying the misconception should be corrected. Ishiba's comment, made during a meeting with farmers on the second day of campaigning for a nationwide parliamentary election, followed his remark the… Read
Sanseito party head courts ageism controversy with childbirth comments
Sohei Kamiya, leader of the populist minor opposition Sanseito party, has courted controversy ahead of Japan's House of Councillors election with his comment that "only young women can have children." Sanseito, under its "Japanese First" banner, has gained traction among conservatives with nationalist and anti-establishment beliefs, while fueling controversy in… Read
Japan seeks 8th round of tariff talks next week in U.S.
The Japanese government wants to send its chief tariff negotiator to the United States for an eighth round of ministerial-level talks early next week, a source close to the matter said Thursday. Tokyo is believed to have sounded out the administration of President Donald Trump for another round of negotiations… Read
Minor opposition parties tout economic plans in election pitches
As official campaigning began Thursday for Japan's July 20 House of Councillors election, minor opposition parties expected to gain ground pitched economic plans to voters struggling with rising living costs. Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, which increased its clout in October's House of Representatives election… Read
South Korean leader seeks early visit to Japan
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday expressed a strong desire to visit Japan at an early date, showing eagerness to forge cooperation in security and economic issues despite lingering disputes over history with its neighbor. "I had actually planned to visit Japan soon, but I have heard they… Read
Campaigning for Japan upper house election begins
Official campaigning began in Japan on Thursday for the July 20 House of Councillors election, a crucial test for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his minority government as voters struggle with the rising cost of living. Ishiba has set a goal for the ruling coalition of his Liberal Democratic Party… Read
Japan's minority government faces tough test in upper house election
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces a tough test in an upper house election later this month as his minority government struggles after its major defeat in last year's snap election. Ishiba has survived so far, though he had to make some concessions to the opposition — an unusual step for the Liberal Democratic… Read
Hiroshima mayor says Trump remarks out of touch with A-bomb reality
The mayor of Hiroshima said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump "does not understand the reality of the atomic bombings" of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after he equated the devastating 1945 attacks with recent U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui urged the president to visit the city… Read
