Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda says his government is considering buying islands in the East China Sea that are also claimed by China. Mr. Noda told reporters in the northeastern city of Iwaki Saturday that the government is in contact with the Japanese citizen who owns the islands about buying them next year. The islands […]
Panel: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster ‘Man-Made’
Posted July 5th, 2012 at 6:45 am (UTC-5)
A Japanese parliamentary panel has concluded that last year’s Fukushima nuclear disaster was “man-made,” even as authorities announced the controversial return of nuclear power for the first time following the crisis. The report, based on a six-month investigation, faulted both the government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, for failing to foresee and […]
Panel: Fukushima Nuclear Disaster ‘Man-Made’
Posted July 5th, 2012 at 3:25 am (UTC-5)
A Japanese parliamentary panel has concluded that last year’s Fukushima nuclear disaster was “man-made,” even as authorities announced the controversial return of nuclear power for the first time following the crisis. The report, based on a six-month investigation, faulted both the government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company, for failing to foresee and […]
Japan Holds Regional Military Drills
Posted July 4th, 2012 at 2:35 am (UTC-5)
Japan is hosting several of its Pacific neighbors for a joint military exercise intended to boost readiness to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The drill, which will also include Australian, South Korean, and Singaporean airmen, will simulate the forced landing and inspection of a plane carrying radioactive substances flying into Japanese airspace. […]
Russian Visit to Disputed Islands Irks Japan
Posted July 3rd, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has made a repeat trip to one of four islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, prompting Japan to complain to Russia’s ambassador in Tokyo. Mr. Medvedev visited the island of Kunashir, which is in the island chain Russia calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories. He […]
South Korea Bans Imports of 35 Japanese Seafood Products
Posted June 27th, 2012 at 4:40 am (UTC-5)
South Korea has placed a temporary import ban on 35 Japanese seafood products because of fears of lingering radiation contamination from last year’s devastating nuclear disaster. Seoul’s Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries says the ban is a temporary measure meant to protect South Korean citizens from products originating from the waters near the […]
Japan’s Ruling Party Split as Lawmakers Approve Controversial Tax Hike
Posted June 26th, 2012 at 6:15 am (UTC-5)
Japanese lawmakers have approved a controversial tax hike plan to help curb growing public debt, despite a rebellion by some in Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s ruling party. The plan to double the sales tax to 10 percent over three years easily cleared Japan’s lower house of parliament Tuesday. But 57 members of the ruling Democratic […]
Japan’s Ruling Party Split as Lawmakers Approve Controversial Tax Hike
Posted June 26th, 2012 at 4:05 am (UTC-5)
Japanese lawmakers have approved a controversial tax hike plan to help curb growing public debt, despite a rebellion by some in Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s ruling party. The plan to double the sales tax to 10 percent over three years easily cleared Japan’s lower house of parliament Tuesday. But public broadcaster NHK reported that 57 […]
Japan to Restart 2 Nuclear Reactors
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 11:30 pm (UTC-5)
Japan’s prime minister has approved the resumption of nuclear power operations at two reactors, the first to come back on-line since all were shut down after the Fukushima crisis last year. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda announced the decision to resume operations at the Ohi power plant in western Japan at a meeting with key ministers […]
Reports: Japan Captures Last Aum Shin Rikyo Fugitive
Posted June 15th, 2012 at 12:15 am (UTC-5)
Media reports out of Japan say police have arrested the last fugitive from the religious cult that launched deadly nerve gas attacks on Tokyo’s subway system in 1995. Japan’s public broadcaster NHK said 54-year-old Katsuya Takahashi, a former member of the Aum Shin Rikyo cult, was arrested Friday at a comic book cafe in downtown […]
