Analysts are optimistic Ishiba will be able to tackle corruption in Japanese politics as he has a ‘clear majority’ for carrying out reforms.
The government is enacting age verification and purchase limits to curb hospitalisations and shortages, amid social media influence.
US president-elect Donald Trump pressured Japan to pay more for American troops stationed on its soil during his first term.
Analysts say the deployment aims to bolster alliances, deter adversaries and demonstrate France’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Naoki Hyakuta, founder of the Conservative Party of Japan, also angered many when he proposed uterus removal for women at the age of 30.
The cherry blossom-shaped fountain planned for Tokyo’s Odaiba Marine Park district has divided residents over its cost and potential economic benefits.
9 Nov 2024 - 9:12AM videocam
Japanese culture experts urge authorities to do more after new data shows suicides among Japanese schoolchildren remain high.
8 Nov 2024 - 2:44PM videocam
Japan has made big steps in accessible travel, one expert says, while bodies like Accessible Japan and TokudAw help those with special needs.
Tokyo is concerned about potential US troop withdrawals, higher defence costs, and the impact of new tariffs on Japanese businesses operating in China.
Critics argue that the UN panel’s call undermines Japan’s national identity, sparking a fierce debate on gender equality and tradition.
6 Nov 2024 - 11:24AM videocam
Meeting aims to address growing security challenges, but analysts say Beijing is unlikely to be able to influence Pyongyang’s actions.
Analysts are divided on whether Shigeru Ishiba will still be prime minister and LDP leader ahead of the upper house elections next year.
28 Oct 2024 - 2:27PM videocam
Analysts say waning support due to LDP growing distant from the public, with several opinion polls predicting it will struggle to win seats.
27 Oct 2024 - 4:47PM videocam
There have been 69 reported cases of injury involving the devices over the last decade, according to a government agency report.
22 Oct 2024 - 3:47PM videocam
The umbrellas were developed to protect passengers after a spate of violent incidents that have taken place aboard the country’s trains.
A poor showing at the October 27 polls could weaken the LDP’s grip on power and render Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba a lame duck.
The Chilean gymnast apologised after a video of the stunt elicited widespread condemnation from Japanese social media users.
17 Oct 2024 - 3:10PM videocam
Analysts predict Tokyo will seek to boost engagement with Southeast Asia amid concerns about a shift away from balanced diplomacy.
Analysts say Russia fears Japan’s growing ties with Nato nations – and is especially concerned about US missile deployments.
15 Oct 2024 - 8:00AM videocam
Masahiro Nouchi claimed he had lost his finger in an industrial accident, with his medical costs covered by national health insurance.
14 Oct 2024 - 3:50PM videocam
Controversy over lack of athlete support, corruption likely among factors for Toyota, Bridgestone and Panasonic’s withdrawal, analysts say.
13 Oct 2024 - 5:30PM videocam
Tokyo wants local pharmaceutical companies to increase their investments and manufacturing of essential medicine ingredients.
The mayors of Shibuya and Shinjuku are cracking down on street drinking this Halloween, citing public safety and overtourism as key concerns.
9 Oct 2024 - 3:26PM videocam
Japanese tourist arrivals to Hong Kong are up 106 per cent so far this year, but industry analysts say the weak yen threatens further growth.
9 Oct 2024 - 4:56PM videocam
The move reflects Tokyo’s growing frustration at stalled negotiations over disputed islands and marks a departure from Shinzo Abe’s policies.
Officials say the plan could help curb overtourism and generate billions in revenue – as activists worry it threatens the fragile ecosystem.
8 Oct 2024 - 1:12PM videocam
Experts say while such bombs are usually safe and damage likely to be limited, the difficulty is in finding those that are buried deeper.
5 Oct 2024 - 3:30PM videocam
Social media has become a fertile breeding ground for extremist sentiment, analysts say, amid deepening distrust and growing online hatred.
7 Oct 2024 - 8:12AM videocam
Hideki Makihara defended Japan’s use of capital punishment, despite debate sparked by the acquittal of a man wrongly imprisoned on death row for nearly 50 years.
Japan needs to improve flood defences and early-warning systems to give residents more time to evacuate when danger threatens, experts say.
2 Oct 2024 - 10:03AM videocam