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August 11, 2026
 

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Sakura Murakami
Reuters
Former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 6, 2026
Kishida sees growth strategy as game changer for yen
Â鶹´«Ã½ 14-year strategy aims to generate an annual average of more than ?26 trillion in domestic investment.
A reduction of the sales tax on food has made slow progress as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi opted for multiparty talks that failed to reach a consensus.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Jul 28, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s long-term vision may fail to dispel inflation angst
The one issue on which voters sought quick and clear action ¡ª a reduction of the sales tax on food ¡ª has made slow progress.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita (second from right) in the parliamentary building on Friday following the enactment of a bill to establish a second capital
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 26, 2026
Takaichi set to face grilling as parliament adjourns
Takaichi is set to appear at the Lower House Budget Committee during a review that follows Saturday¡¯s adjournment of parliament.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers a question in parliament in Tokyo last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 21, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s popularity dips after prioritizing controversial laws
Support for Takaichi¡¯s government decreased to 53% from 60% in June in an Asahi Shimbun poll, while broadcaster ANN found her popularity fell over 10 points to 49.2%.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi hopes to break away from "Â鶹´«Ã½ long-standing trend of underinvestment¡± by setting a target for growing the economy to a value of $6.8 trillion in nominal GDP by 2040.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2026
Takaichi sets target for nominal GDP of $6.8 trillion in 2040
The projections are in line with Cabinet Office estimates based on the premise that the government¡¯s growth strategy is successfully implemented over the next 14 years.
Industrial espionage, chip smuggling and drug trafficking are exposing Japan's growing economic security vulnerabilities.
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Jun 29, 2026
Chinese spies and smuggled drugs fuel Takaichi¡¯s security push
Across a range of industries, Â鶹´«Ã½ economic-security vulnerabilities have been on display in a slew of recent incidents.
Lawmakers who proposed a bill banning the desecration of the national flag bow as the bill was approved at a meeting of the Lower House Cabinet Committee on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 26, 2026
Lower House committee approves flag bill in appeal to conservatives
The proposed law would prohibit publicly damaging, removing or defacing the national flag in a way that ¡°causes extreme discomfort or disgust to others.¡±
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shake hands in Tokyo in January.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 14, 2026
Starmer to meet Â鶹´«Ã½ Takaichi as fighter jet funding sputters
The Global Combat Air Program has faced roadblocks including delays to Britain¡¯s financial contribution to the project.
An offering sent by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for the spring festival at Yasukuni Shrine, in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 21, 2026
Takaichi risks China¡¯s wrath with offering to Yasukuni Shrine
The prime minister¡¯s offering of a sacred tree was made on the first day of a traditional spring festival.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrives to a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 20, 2026
Takaichi¡¯s ratings stay high with some wavering amid Iran impact
Polls conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun show 5-point declines in the prime minister¡¯s approval rates.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi speaks during a parliamentary session in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 10, 2026
Japan lowers view of China relations amid tension over Taiwan
Japan referred to China as ¡°an important neighbor¡± after describing Tokyo-Beijing ties as ¡°one of the most important bilateral relations¡± in the 2025 iteration of a key report.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during an Upper House Budget Committee session on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Apr 6, 2026
Japan arranging summit with Iran, Takaichi says
The prime minister¡¯s comments come as Donald Trump warns Tehran that the U.S. will bomb Iranian power plants unless it opens up the Strait of Hormuz.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi enters the Prime Minister¡¯s Office on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 13, 2026
Takaichi misses events due to cold symptoms ahead of U.S. visit
A video showing the prime minister looking visibly exhausted after a budget committee session on Thursday garnered attention online.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers questions during a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 12, 2026
Japan not planning to send minesweepers to Middle East, Takaichi says
The prime minister said that while details about the use of sea mines are unclear, Japan wouldn¡¯t be able to get involved in mine clearance as long as the conflict continues.
Nobumitsu Hayashi, head of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, says how the U.S. responds to Japan's approach to projects tied to both country's $550 billion investment deal remains a variable.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 27, 2026
U.S.-Japan investment funding still needs work, JBIC chief says
How the U.S. responds to Â鶹´«Ã½ approach to projects tied to both country¡¯s $550 billion investment deal remains a variable.
Itsunori Onodera, a senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday that U.S. tariffs were "a real mess" after President Donald Trump raised levies following a Supreme Court ruling that his earlier tariffs were illegal.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 22, 2026
LDP tax chief calls U.S. tariff situation ¡®messy¡¯
Itsunori Onodera, a former defense minister who currently serves as chair of the party¡¯s tax research group, ruled out Japan seeking to renegotiate its trade deal with the U.S.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech in Tokyo Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 25, 2025
Takaichi says door remains open for China communications
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the door to communications with China remains open and Tokyo¡¯s goal of building a constructive, stable relationship with Beijing has been consistent through her two months in office.
South Korea¡¯s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac spoke with Â鶹´«Ã½ Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in two separate meetings in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 23, 2025
South Korea¡¯s security adviser affirms good Japan ties ahead of leader¡¯s visit
A meeting between the leaders in January would come as relations between Tokyo and Seoul remain stable after a warming of ties in 2023.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister¡¯s Office in Tokyo last week.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 22, 2025
Support for Takaichi stays firm as China dispute festers
Surveys conducted over the weekend showed that about 70% of respondents were in support of Takaichi¡¯s administration.
Ground Self-Defense Force personnel participate in a live-fire exercise at the GSDF's training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in 2024.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 19, 2025
Japan should have nuclear weapons, official reportedly says
The comments come at a sensitive time for Japan amid a tense security environment in East Asia.
America¡¯s cyberforces grapple with cluster of deaths by suicide
The U.S. Cyber Command building (center) stands on the National Security Agency campus at Fort Meade, Maryland.
Many Indonesians named after Japanese anime characters
Some people in Indonesia are named Doraemon, the name of a lead character of the blockbuster anime series with the same title.
Yasukuni Shrine introduces ban on military attire and cosplay
People gather in front of thousands of lanterns on display at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on July 15 during the Mitama Matsuri, one of the capital's largest summer o-Bon festivals.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
¡®Total whiplash¡¯: Foreign residents react to Â鶹´«Ã½ changing permanent residency rules
The entrance to the Tokyo Immigration Bureau in Minato Ward, Tokyo, in March. For some foreign residents of Japan, tightening measures for permanent residency have become one factor in a broader calculation over whether remaining in the country makes financial sense over the long term.
As countries ban social media for children, Japan mulls a different approach
Data from NTT Docomo¡¯s Mobile Society Research Institute released in June found that 55% of respondents across all age groups said they fiddled with their phones when they had nothing to do, even when another person was in front of them.
J. League enters new era as league kicks off first fall-spring campaign
Players from each J. League club pose during a kickoff event on Monday ahead of the start of the 2026-27 campaign.
Speaking Japanese at the movies with ¡®Chiikawa¡¯
A "Chiikawa The Movie" poster is seen at Toho Cinemas in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.
How Â鶹´«Ã½ racehorses find second careers away from the track
TCC Therapy Park is supported financially by racing organizations as well as donations from members of the public.
Will Takaichi¡¯s consumption tax cut break the LDP?
Despite months of debate, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi failed to gain consensus within the Liberal Democratic Party on a two-year reduction of the consumption tax.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

Disaster relief workers Taichi Kato (left) and Seiji Yoshimura enter the collapsed living quarters at Kyuganji temple in Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture.
What Kumamoto revealed about Â鶹´«Ã½ earthquake readiness
By Alex K.T. Martin

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