Japan eyes foray into Europe's defense market
World 17:35 24/02/2026BERLIN -- The Japanese government is eager to promote Japanese companies' entry into Europe's thriving defense market through industrial partnerships as part of its efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities.
Kashiwazaki-Kariwa N-reactor restarted after scheduled halt
World 17:35 24/02/2026TOKYO -- The No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, was brought back online on Tuesday after a scheduled brief halt.
20 people get trapped in Tokyo Skytree elevator for 6 hours
World 16:56 23/02/2026TOKYO -- Twenty people were rescued in the early hours of Monday after being trapped in an elevator of the Tokyo Skytree tower in the Japanese capital's Sumida Ward for about six hours, with no reported injuries or health issues.
Vocal group XG's producer, 3 others arrested for cocaine possession
World 16:56 23/02/2026TOKYO -- Tokyo police on Monday arrested the producer of the seven-member vocal group XG and three other men on suspicion of possessing cocaine at a hotel in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, according to investigative sources.
Bird flu outbreak confirmed in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture
World 16:33 21/02/2026MORIOKA, IWATE PREF., -- The prefectural government of Iwate, northeastern Japan, said Saturday that it has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the town of Kanegasaki.
5 killed in temple fire in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture
World 16:12 21/02/2026YAMAGUCHI -- A fire at a Buddhist temple and two nearby buildings in the city of Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan, in the small hours of Friday resulted in the deaths of five people, according to local police and fire authorities.
Japan to ban use of power banks on airplanes
World 21:02 19/02/2026TOKYO -- Japan's transport ministry plans to ban the use of power banks on airplanes as early as April, it was learned Wednesday.
Syrian man arrested for allegedly abandoning body in western Japan
World 18:07 19/02/2026OTSU, SHIGA PREF. -- Japanese police arrested a 22-year-old Syrian man on Wednesday on suspicion of abandoning a woman's body in a wooded area in Maibara, Shiga Prefecture, western Japan.
A-bombed Hiroshima castle main tower to close in March
World 18:28 18/02/2026HIROSHIMA -- The main tower of Hiroshima Castle will close on March 22 due to aging, marking the end of public access inside the building after it was destroyed by the 1945 U.S. atomic bombing and restored as a symbol of reconstruction of the western Japan city.
Japan convenience store chain Lawson to enter India
World 18:26 18/02/2026TOKYO -- Japanese convenience store chain Lawson Inc. will expand into India, seeing high growth potential in the world's most populous country, officials have said.
Japan, Britain, Italy vow cooperation on fighter jet
World 17:40 14/02/2026TOKYO -- Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi held talks separately with his counterparts from Britain and Italy in Munich, southern Germany, on Friday, confirming cooperation toward joint development of a next-generation fighter jet.
Weakened satisfaction likely to drive excessive drinking
World 17:40 14/02/2026KYOTO -- A weakening of a mechanism that produces a sense of satisfaction after drinking could lead to excessive alcohol consumption, a team of Japanese and other researchers has found.
