1+ week, 5+ day ago   (478+ words) The preliminary total is only a small increase from the 8.8 trillion yen ($55 billion) defense budget requested for this fiscal year. It will be much higher eventually, but further details will come later this year after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government…...

1+ week, 6+ day ago   (752+ words) Ahead of the summit officially opening Monday, the country’s president and other senior officials walked the main road around the island picking up trash. Barbers and tattoo artists prepared to become drivers for delegates and student volunteers to usher dignitaries....

2+ week, 5+ day ago   (277+ words) The group, which includes Gaku Hashimoto, a lawmaker of Takaichi’s governing Liberal Democratic Party and a former health and welfare vice minister, and a lawmaker each from the Komeito and Centrist Reform Alliance opposition parties, will meet with Chinese Communist…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago   (371+ words) The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches happened from North Korea’s capital region around 5 p.m. (0800 GMT) on Thursday. The military said the missiles were launched toward North Korea’s eastern waters. The military said South Korea has bolstered its surveillance…...

4+ week, 23+ hour ago   (303+ words) Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, wore a dark suit and tie as he visited Yasukuni Shrine, local media images showed. He has visited in the past, including as agriculture minister last year. Kimi Onoda, minister for…...

4+ week, 1+ day ago   (407+ words) Visits by Japanese politicians to the shrine, which also commemorates World War II criminals, have been criticized by China and South Korea. They see it as a move that shows their lack of remorse over Japan’s wartime atrocities. Defense Minister…...