A series of powerful earthquakes that hit western Japan have left at least 55 people dead and damaged thousands of buildings, vehicles and boats. Officials warned on Tuesday that more quakes could lie ahead. Aftershocks continued to shake Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas a day after a magnitude 7.6 temblor slammed the area. Damage was … Read more
Strong shaking was reported in Chiba and Ibaraki prefectures, but the U.S. Geological Survey said there was little chance of serious damage or fatalities. | Photo Credit: AP A strong earthquake shook Tokyo and other areas of eastern Japan on Friday, but no tsunami warning was issued. The magnitude 6.1 quake was centered off the … Read more
Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s government worries that Russia has set a precedent that will encourage China to attack Taiwan, threatening nearby Japanese islands | Photo Credit: Reuters Japan said on Friday it would begin a once-unthinkable $320 billion military build-up that will arm it with missiles capable of striking China and ready it for a … Read more
Japan announced Friday it is expelling eight Russian diplomats and trade officials and will phase out imports of Russian coal and oil, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida saying Moscow must be held accountable for “war crimes” in Ukraine. Kishida said Japan will also ban imports of Russian lumber, vodka and other goods, and will prohibit … Read more
TOKYO—Yoshihide Suga was elected Japan’s first new prime minister in almost eight years, ushering in a rare period of political uncertainty as the country seeks to emerge from the coronavirus pandemic, navigate rising U.S.-China tensions and prepare for the Olympics in Tokyo next year. “What the people want is a quick end to the coronavirus … Read more
TOKYO—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to announce his resignation on Friday and will cite his worsening health, a ruling-party lawmaker said, ending the reign of the man who held the top job longer than anyone else. Lawmaker Hiroshige Seko said Mr. Abe would stay in office until a successor is chosen. The 65-year-old Mr. Abe … Read more
KYOTO, Japan—The bustle of tourists has disappeared from this ancient capital—only to be replaced by dissension over whether they should ever be welcomed back. Mimiko Takayasu, 80 years old, is proprietress of a century-old tea house where geisha entertain wealthy Japanese with traditional music and dance. Until the coronavirus pandemic, the streets of Gion, Kyoto’s … Read more