National / Politics Mar 29, 2018
Pyongyang has discussed possibility of holding Abe-Kim Jong Un summit in June: report
The Asahi Shimbun cited an unidentified North Korean source regarding the potential talks.
Asia Pacific | ANALYSIS Mar 28, 2018
With historic meeting of leaders, North Korea and China shore up leverage as Kim-Trump talks loom
North Korea and China secured major diplomatic victories — and possibly more — this week with leader Kim Jong Un's visit to Beijing, a move that bolsters Pyongyang's leverage ahead of talks with Washington and returns Beijing to its role as a central player ...
National | EXPLAINER Mar 26, 2018
As moves for dialogue between North Korea and allies gather momentum, Japan prepares to enhance its missile shield
As the world looks to upcoming summits involving Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington with hopes of achieving even slight progress toward denuclearizing North Korea, Japan's Defense Ministry maintains that it's still too soon for the nation to consider dropping plans to boost security. Defense Minister Itsunori ...
National / Politics Mar 21, 2018
Top diplomats from Japan and Russia meet in Tokyo, keen on promoting joint economic projects on disputed islands
The foreign ministers of Japan and Russia agreed Wednesday to further promote negotiations over joint economic projects on four disputed islands off Hokkaido ahead of a planned visit by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Moscow in May. Taro Kono and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov ...
National / Politics Mar 19, 2018
Japan lauds Putin's victory as isle row anchors Russo-Japanese diplomacy
The Japanese government lauds Russian President Vladimir Putin’s re-election with a reminder that it still wants the four disputed islands off Hokkaido back in its grasp.
National / Politics Mar 14, 2018
Change of U.S. secretary of state chief not likely to affect relations with Japan
The government reacted calmly to the sudden dismissal of U.S. Secretary of the State Rex Tillerson, saying the alliance between the two countries remains strong.
Film Mar 13, 2018
The films and the fury of punk moviemaker Gakuryu Ishii
Last year's release of "Blade Runner 2049" and this year's Netflix series "Altered Carbon" have rekindled interest in the futuristic cyberpunk aesthetic, though those works were decidedly more "cyber" and less "punk." Punk is meant to be raw, gritty — easily identifiable as do-it-yourself. The ...
National / Politics Mar 12, 2018
'Maximum pressure' to continue until North gives up nukes, Kono says after meeting South Korean intel chief
Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Monday that Japan, together with South Korea, will continue to maximize pressure on North Korea until Pyongyang takes concrete action toward the complete abandonment of nuclear weapons and missiles. Kono's comment followed his meeting with Suh Hoon, the director of ...
National Mar 11, 2018
Japan marks seventh anniversary of 3/11 with moment of silence
Japan observes a moment of silence to mark the seventh anniversary of the 2011 mega-quake and tsunami that left about 18,000 people dead or missing.
National / Politics Mar 9, 2018
Abe to visit U.S. in April to discuss North Korea with Trump
U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to meet with the North Korean leader might give Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a chance to resolve the abduction issue.