Japan’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a sweeping victory in Sunday’s lower house election, cementing her authority and paving the way for major economic and security reforms.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 8th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
“Having a good security relationship with the United States is of utmost importance for the Japanese as a whole,” said Professor Seijiro Takeshita of the University of Shizuoka, highlighting the strategic stakes ahead of Japan’s national election.
U.S. President Donald Trump gave his “complete and total endorsement” of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday (5 February) ahead of Japan’s national election on Sunday, backing the country’s first female premier as she seeks a fresh mandate for controversial spending plans.
Heavy snow continued to batter northern and western Japan on Saturday (31 January) leaving cities buried under record levels of snowfall and prompting warnings from authorities. Aomori city in northern Japan recorded 167 centimetres of snow by Friday - the highest January total since 1945.
Japan and Britain have agreed to deepen co-operation on critical mineral supply chains and economic security, as both countries seek to reduce vulnerabilities in global trade and strengthen ties with like-minded partners.
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has suspended operations at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Japan, just a day after a reactor was brought back online for the first time in more than a decade.
A Japanese court sentenced 45-year-old Tetsuya Yamagami to life imprisonment for fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, public broadcaster NHK reported. The ruling on Wednesday (21 January) brings to an end a three-and-a-half-year case that has stunned the nation.
On Friday, 23 January, Japan’s parliament was officially dissolved, paving the way for a snap election on 8 February. The speaker read out the dissolution letter as lawmakers shouted the traditional “banzai” cheer. The 465-seat lower house now enters a 12-day campaign period starting Tuesday.
A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted the morning commute for roughly 673,000 passengers on Friday (16 January) as two main lines with some of the world's busiest stations were halted after reports of a fire.
Japan and South Korea have held high-level talks aimed at strengthening security cooperation and deepening economic ties, against a backdrop of rising tensions in East Asia.
Japan's elevated interest in Central Asia reflects a combination of economic motives, such as access to resources and investment opportunities, as well as geopolitical goals aimed at promoting regional stability and enabling a counterbalance to other major powers.
Diplomatic tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated as Japan slams China's export ban on dual-use goods. Markets have wobbled as fears grow over a potential rare earth embargo affecting global supply chains.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said on Wednesday (7 January), that significant progress has been made in restoring trust with China. He also reiterated that relations with Japan are equally important for Seoul’s diplomacy amid shifting regional dynamics.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung began a state visit to China on Sunday, hoping to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula hours after North Korea launched ballistic missiles.
North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea, according to South Korea and Japan, as regional diplomacy and security concerns remain in focus.
Chinese nuclear experts have suggested that Japan, with its advanced nuclear technology infrastructure, could potentially build nuclear weapons in less than three years.
Japan’s tourism sector has experienced a slowdown after China’s government advised its citizens to reconsider travel to Japan, following remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding Taiwan.
Two people were killed and at least 26 others injured after a multi-vehicle crash involving more than 60 vehicles on a major expressway in Japan, police said.
Japan's cabinet has approved a record-high $785 billion budget for the next fiscal year - including the largest allocation for defence spending ever.
Across continents, Christmas is being observed with a mix of worship, tradition and local flavour, reflecting how the season resonates differently around the world.
Uzbekistan and Japan have agreed a cooperation portfolio worth more than $12 billion in bid to advance economic, educational and regional ties.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
