• Fumio Kishida reelected as Japan's prime minister

    Fumio Kishida reelected as Japan's prime minister

    Nov 10, 2021 04:00 PM EDT

    ... the projects. Kishida is also expected to outline his pandemic measures later this week. As a former foreign minister, Kishida will continue to prioritize the Japan-U.S. security alliance and promote a vision of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” with other democracies, including Quad dialogue members the U ...

  • WATCH: Rahm Emanuel faces confirmation hearing for ambassador to Japan job

    WATCH: Rahm Emanuel faces confirmation hearing for ambassador to Japan job

    Oct 20, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

    ... style. Yuko Nakano, a Japan analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that while Emanuel has limited foreign policy experience, Japanese officials are pleased that Biden wants to send someone with Emanuel's profile to lead the Japan mission. "His experience in the White House ...

  • European-Japanese space mission gets 1st glimpse of Mercury

    European-Japanese space mission gets 1st glimpse of Mercury

    Oct 02, 2021 08:50 PM EDT

    BERLIN — A joint European-Japanese spacecraft got its first glimpse of Mercury as it swung by the solar system’s innermost planet while on a mission to deliver two probes into orbit in 2025. The BepiColombo mission made the first of six flybys of Mercury at 11:34 p.m ...

  • Former Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to become prime minister

    Former Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida to become prime minister

    Sep 29, 2021 01:11 PM EDT

    ... reforms by limiting terms for executive positions, but is seen as a choice who could prolong an era of unusual political stability amid fears that Japan could return to "revolving door" leadership. "Concern is not about individuals but stability of Japanese politics," Michael Green, senior vice president for Asia at ...

  • Japan to lift all coronavirus emergency steps nationwide

    Japan to lift all coronavirus emergency steps nationwide

    Sep 28, 2021 01:25 PM EDT

    ... and economic activities starting to normalize." Government officials are also instituting other plans such as vaccine passports and virus tests, Suga said. With the lifting, Japan will be free of emergency requirements for the first time in more than six months. Japan is eager to expand social and economic activities ...

  • WATCH: Japan prime minister calls Olympics 'symbol of global unity' at U.N. General Assembly

    WATCH: Japan prime minister calls Olympics 'symbol of global unity' at U.N. General Assembly

    Sep 25, 2021 12:11 AM EDT

    At a U.N. General Assembly meeting packed with global gloom, Japan's outgoing leader highlighted what he cast as a moment of inspiration: the Tokyo Olympics, controversially held in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Watch Suga's remarks in the player above. “While humanity has been faced with ...

  • Japan extends virus emergency until end of September

    Japan extends virus emergency until end of September

    Sep 09, 2021 06:16 PM EDT

    ... disorganized.Japan has done much better than other developed countries in the number of cases and deaths without having a lockdown, but the country has been struggling with new waves of infections propelled by more contagious new variants. Japan has reported about 1.65 million cases and 16,500 deaths.

  • IAEA seeks Japan transparency in release of Fukushima water

    IAEA seeks Japan transparency in release of Fukushima water

    Sep 07, 2021 03:26 PM EDT

    TOKYO (AP) — Experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency asked Japan on Tuesday for full and detailed information about a plan to release treated but still radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. The three-member team, which is assisting Japan with the planned release, met ...

  • 5 Stories: An underwater volcano creates a new island off Japan, customs officials confiscate thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and other stories you missed

    5 Stories: An underwater volcano creates a new island off Japan, customs officials confiscate thousands of fake COVID-19 vaccination cards and other stories you missed

    Aug 27, 2021 08:37 PM EDT

    The C-shaped island, approximately half a mile across, was discovered about 750 miles south of Tokyo near Iwo Jima. Since 1904, the same Fukutoku-Okanoba volcano has formed three other islands, all which eventually sank back below the ocean due to wave erosion. According to the Japanese Coast Guard ...

  • Japan suspends 1.63 million doses of Moderna over contamination found in unused vials

    Japan suspends 1.63 million doses of Moderna over contamination found in unused vials

    Aug 26, 2021 06:28 PM EDT

    ... multiple vaccination sites. Some doses might have been administered, but no adverse health effects have been reported so far, officials said. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., a Japanese drugmaker in charge of sales and distribution of the vaccine in Japan, said it decided to suspend use of doses manufactured in the same ...