Japan's foreign ministry launches peace mediation unit
World 17:31 18/03/2026TOKYO -- Japan's Foreign Ministry has launched a new office tasked with actively engaging in the efforts to broker peace in countries in conflict.
Japan to begin active cyber defense operations in October
World 17:31 18/03/2026TOKYO -- The Japanese government decided at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday to begin active cyber defense operations on October 1, as part of efforts to prevent major cyberattacks.
4 die after cargo ship, fishing boat collision off Aomori
World 17:20 17/03/2026AOMORI -- Four people died after a collision between a cargo ship and a fishing boat off the northeastern Japan prefecture of Aomori in the early hours of Tuesday.
Japan starts releasing oil reserves
World 17:46 16/03/2026TOKYO -- The Japanese government started releasing its oil reserves Monday to tackle the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran.
2 dead after 2 ships capsize off Henoko in Okinawa
World 17:32 16/03/2026NAHA, OKINAWA PREF. -- Two ships capsized on Monday off the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, southernmost Japan, leaving two people dead and two others injured.
Japan grants $140,000 to support organic agriculture in Vietnam’s Dong Thap
Economy 18:22 14/03/2026The Japanese government has provided a non-refundable grant of US$140,000 to support organic agriculture development and eco-friendly communities in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam.
Japan oks bills for full coverage of childbirth costs
World 17:37 13/03/2026TOKYO -- The Japanese government adopted at a cabinet meeting Friday bills aimed at introducing a system under which public health insurance will fully cover childbirth costs.
Japan eyes mass drone use for coastal defense
World 17:35 13/03/2026TOKYO -- Amid an increasingly severe security environment, Japan's Defense Ministry plans to establish a coastal defense system using thousands of drones, while there are still many issues to overcome.
Japan to release oil reserves Monday at earliest
World 17:19 12/03/2026TOKYO -- Japan will release its oil reserves as early as Monday amid soaring crude oil prices, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Wednesday.
Japan’s Takashimaya eyes expansion in Vietnam
Economy 09:37 12/03/2026Japanese department store operator Takashimaya is planning to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, as it looks for new growth drivers while facing declining Chinese tourism in Japan.
JR East to monitor Yamanote line pantographs with AI
World 17:51 11/03/2026TOKYO -- East Japan Railway Co. has said it will launch a trial in April of a system that uses artificial intelligence to monitor pantographs on trains running on its busy Yamanote Line in Tokyo to detect defects in train cars at an early stage.
Japan's Asahi Breweries to fully resume shipments in April
World 17:51 11/03/2026TOKYO -- Japanese alcoholic drink maker Asahi Breweries Ltd. plans to resume shipments of all its products starting April 7 after a halt due to a computer system failure caused by a cyberattack on its parent.
