Apr 02 Ryuichi Sakamoto, world-renowned composer and musician, dies at 71 By Yuri Kageyama, Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Ryuichi Sakamoto, a world-renowned Japanese musician and actor who composed for Hollywood hits such as “The Last Emperor” and “The Revenant,” has died. He was 71. Continue reading
Mar 21 Japan’s prime minister offers Ukraine support as China’s president backs Russia By Karl Ritter, Associated Press Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made a surprise visit to Kyiv, stealing some of the global attention from Asian rival President Xi Jinping of China. Continue reading
Mar 18 Leaders of Japan, Germany agree to increase economic, defense cooperation By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday held the first round of government consultations in Tokyo and agreed to strengthen economic and defense ties to better cope with China's growing influence and global security concerns. Continue reading
Mar 13 Nobel-winning writer Kenzaburo Oe dead at 88 By Mary Yamaguchi, Associated Press The Swedish Academy cited the author in 1994 for his works of fiction, in which “poetic force creates an imagined world where life and myth condense to form a disconcerting picture of the human predicament today.”… Continue reading
Feb 07 Japanese LGBTQ groups demand the country adopt equal rights law by G-7 summit By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Japanese LGBTQ people and rights groups have condemned a recent discriminatory remark by a senior aide of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida… Continue reading
Jan 13 WATCH: U.S. fully committed to U.S.-Japan alliance, Biden tells PM Kishida By Associated Press "We're modernizing our military alliance, building on Japan's historic increase in defense spending and new national security strategy," President Joe Biden said in remarks before reporters in the Oval Office. Continue reading
Jan 13 WATCH: U.S., Japan sign space cooperation agreement By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The meeting and signing ceremony capped a weeklong tour for Kishida that took him to five European and North American capitals for talks on his effort to beef up Japan's security in a time of provocative Chinese and North Korean… Continue reading
Jan 13 Suspect formally charged for assassinating Japan’s Abe By Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press A Japanese court says prosecutors have formally charged the suspect in the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe with murder. Continue reading
Jan 13 WATCH: U.S. joins UK in decrying planned execution in Iran By Aamer Madhani, Associated Press The United States echoed Great Britain in calling for a halt to the execution of Ali Reza Akbari, a British-Iranian dual national and former senior defense official in Iran. Continue reading
Jan 11 U.S., Japan plan to boost defense cooperation By Lolita C. Baldor, Matthew Lee, Associated Press The United States and Japan are boosting military and security cooperation as their top national security officials hold talks in Washington. Continue reading