Japan's Space One to launch Kairos rocket February 25
World 18:17 16/12/2025TOKYO -- Japanese startup Space One Co. will launch a Kairos small rocket carrying artificial satellites on February 25 next year after two failed attempts.
Japanese public urged to stay vigilant after quake advisory ends
World 18:10 16/12/2025TOKYO -- The Japanese government on Tuesday called on people to remain prepared for a possible major earthquake and tsunami although the Japan Meteorological Agency's week-long advisory for a potential megaquake in northern and northeastern Japan expired at the end of Monday.
Japan's Diet enacts 18.3-t.-yen extra budget for stimulus package
World 18:10 16/12/2025TOKYO -- The Diet, Japan's parliament, on Tuesday enacted the government's 18.3-trillion-yen supplementary budget for fiscal 2025, which will finance the first comprehensive economic package under the leadership of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Japan's last 2 giant pandas are headed to China and fans just can't bear it
World 16:12 16/12/2025TOKYO -- A day after news broke that Japan would soon lose its last two giant pandas to China, thousands of fans flocked to Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on Tuesday to catch a final glimpse, with many bidding the twins a tearful farewell.
Japan's last 2 pandas to return to China in January
World 16:56 15/12/2025TOKYO -- Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo, the only giant pandas in Japan, will be returned to China in late January, the Tokyo metropolitan government said Monday.
Man arrested after 2 stabbed near Fukuoka dome
World 16:55 15/12/2025FUKUOKA -- A 30-year-old man was arrested Monday on suspicion of attempted murder in an incident in which a man and a woman were attacked near the Mizuho PayPay Dome stadium in the southwestern Japan city of Fukuoka.
Tsunami advisories issued briefly for northern Japan
World 22:35 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan issued tsunami advisories for the Pacific coast of Hokkaido and Aomori, Iwate and Miyagi prefectures from northern to northeastern Japan after another offshore earthquake shook the regions late Friday morning.
Nearly half of Japanese familiar with loneliness, isolation
World 19:04 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Almost half of Japanese nationals feel familiar with loneliness and isolation, a government survey showed Friday.
Japan unveils measures to tackle mass oyster deaths
World 18:56 12/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan's Fisheries Agency and others announced measures Thursday to address the mass deaths of farmed oysters in the western prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama and Hyogo, all facing the Seto Inland Sea.
Japan to mandate steps against customer abuse in October 2026
World 16:56 11/12/2025TOKYO -- Japan's labor ministry has decided to enforce on October 1, 2026, a revised law obliging companies to prepare measures against customers' harassment of their employees through abusive behavior.
Japan eyes raising departure tax to 3,000 yen
World 16:55 11/12/2025TOKYO -- The Japanese government and the ruling parties are considering increasing the so-called departure tax from the current 1,000 yen per person to 3,000 yen starting in fiscal 2026, informed sources said Wednesday.
Japanese ivory trade attracts fresh global scrutiny
World 14:58 11/12/2025At his store in Tokyo's ritzy Ginza district, Hajime Sasaki displays a disparate array of wares, from chopsticks to Buddha statues -- including many made of ivory.
