Pepper-grinder move unwelcome in Japan high school tourney
Lars Nootbaar's imaginary pepper-grinder was the talk of World Baseball Classic games in Japan, but the fun-loving gesture by the St. Louis Cardinals outfielder does not appear welcome in Japan's popular high school baseball tournament. When a player for Tohoku High School twisted his two fists together — imitating Nootbaar — after getting on first base Saturday, the umpire told him to stop. Hiroshi Sato, manager for Tohoku High School, defended his player.
news.yahoo.comYoon: Seoul-Tokyo ties key to address N Korea, supply chains
South Korea’s president wants to quickly overcome decades of lingering hostility left over from Japan’s past colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula and forge a united front to meet regional security and economic challenges facing the neighbors.
Masks stay put in Japan as 3-year request to wear them ends
Japan on Monday dropped its request for people to wear masks after three years, but hardly anything changed in the country that has had an extremely high regard for their effectiveness at anti-virus protection. During a televised budget committee meeting at parliament, some lawmakers still wore masks, though Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wasn't wearing one when he arrived at his office Monday. Dropping the mask-wearing request is one of the last steps Japan's government is taking in easing COVID-19 rules in public places as it tries to expand business and other activity.
news.yahoo.comJapan marks 12 years from tsunami and nuclear disaster
Japan has marked the 12th anniversary of the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster with a minute of silence as concerns grew ahead of the planned release of the treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant
washingtonpost.comWhy Japan Is Considering a Move Toward LGBTQ Rights
Japan is the only country among the Group of Seven advanced democracies without any laws to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, let alone officially recognize same-sex couples. But as it prepares to host a G-7 summit in May, pressure is building both at home and from abroad on Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government for change. Lawmakers are wrestling over a bill to “promote understanding,” but some conservatives oppose an anti-discrimination clause — and marriage equality isn’t even on the ta
washingtonpost.comJapan PM apologizes to LGBTQ activists over ex-aide's remark
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has met with LGBTQ representatives and offered an apology over his former aide’s discriminatory remarks, which sparked nationwide outrage and calls for the government to ensure equal rights
washingtonpost.comUS ambassador to Japan has 'full confidence' Japanese government will ban discrimination against LGBTQ people
Sexual minorities in Japan are campaigning for the government to ban discrimination against LGBTQ people. The U.S. Ambassador to Japan has "full confidence" the government will do so.
foxnews.comNATO chief wants firmer ties with Japan to defend democracy
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in Japan as part of his Asia tour, said “our security is closely interconnected” and called for stronger ties with Japan as Russia’s war on Ukraine has made the world more dangerous and unpredictable and believers of democracy and freedom need stronger partnerships.
How the BOJ Gets a New Governor and Why It Matters
Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda is due to step down in April after the longest stint at the helm of the central bank in its 140-year history. Kuroda has spearheaded the most ambitious monetary stimulus program of modern times, with measures that have turned the bank into the largest owner of stocks and government bonds in Japan and made it the last major anchor of ultra-low interest rates in the world. The BOJ’s first change of guard in a decade could have wide-reaching ripple effects in
washingtonpost.comJapan PM aide apologizes for 'shameful' act of having hands in pockets on US trip
As Kishida spoke to the media, Kihara was captured in the background with his hands inside his pants pockets. Many in Japan believe that such an action portrays a dismissive attitude and is considered inappropriate in formal scenarios. When footage of Kishida’s interview emerged on Japanese media, viewers criticized Kihara as “shameful,” “disrespectful” and “arrogant.”
news.yahoo.comKishida prioritizes arms buildup, reversing low birthrate
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Japan faces the severest security environment in the region since the end of World War II and pledged to push a military buildup under a newly adopted security strategy as well as tackle rapidly declining births.
Lack of info on China's COVID-19 surge stirs global concern
Moves by several countries to mandate COVID-19 tests for passengers arriving from China reflect global concern that new variants could emerge in its ongoing explosive outbreak — and that the government may not inform the rest of the world quickly enough.
New Japan law aims at Unification Church fundraising abuses
Japan’s parliament has enacted a law to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups, which mainly targets the Unification Church, whose fundraising tactics and cozy ties with the governing party caused public outrage.
Japan Cabinet OKs $200B spending plan to counter inflation
Japan’s Cabinet has approved a hefty economic package including 29 trillion yen ($200 billion) in government spending to counter the blow from inflation, signaling that the greater concern of its policymakers is that the economy will stall, not overheat.