Elaine Lies Tokyo: The Japanese island chain of Okinawa marked the 50th anniversary of the end of U.S. occupation and its return to Japan this week with calls for more economic growth and fewer U.S. bases despite growing worries over its proximity to an increasingly assertive China. Okinawa, a string of tropical islands off far […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japan will take time to phase out Russian oil imports after agreeing on a ban with other Group of Seven (G7) nations to counter Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said this week. The G7 nations committed to the move “in a timely and orderly fashion” at an online meeting on […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japanese electronics manufacturer TDK will spend roughly 50 billion yen ($383 million) to construct a domestic factory that makes parts for electric vehicles, Nikkei has learned, in a move that follows a growing trend of locating capacity at home due to supply chain pressures and the weak yen. The new facility will make […]
Read MoreIslamabad: Just in time for the summer travel season, Japan aims to reopen to international tourists in June. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made the announcement yesterday while visiting London. “We will further relax controls, so that in June it will be possible to enter the country as smoothly as other G7 nations,” said Kishida. […]
Read MoreTokyo: Boris Johnson has promised to work with other countries to take on “autocratic, coercive powers”, after signing a defensive partnership with Japan. The prime minister met Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida in Downing Street, where the two nations also announced joint exercises and increased working together for disaster relief. The agreement is the first of […]
Read MoreIslamabad: Pakistan has a huge workforce concentrated in the IT sector and Japan is planning more collaboration with Pakistan regarding the training of skilled human resources and employment of Pakistani skilled workers in different sectors, said Deputy Director-General at Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan Iwamoto Keiichi. He […]
Read MoreTokyo: Japanese supercentenarian and the world’s oldest person Kane Tanaka has passed away at the age of 119. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare confirmed Kane’s death in a statement. Officials said Tanaka passed away after being in relatively good health until recently. The actual cause of her death was unknown, while some family […]
Read MoreDavid McElhinney Tokyo: When Japan implemented a blanket ban on inbound tourists in April 2020, Andrew William braced for a tough few months. As revenues from his Kyoto tour company An Design plummeted, William shifted to virtual experiences to keep his business afloat. “An Design relies heavily on inbound tourism. Pre-pandemic I was typically leading […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japanese finance minister Shunichi Suzuki said on Tuesday the damage to the economy from a weakening yen at present is greater than the benefits accruing to it, making the most explicit warning against the currency’s recent slump versus the dollar. The yen’s fall has worsened imported inflationary pressures in Japan amid a spike […]
Read MoreDima Stouhi Sou Fujimoto Architects has unveiled its design for the Hida Furukawa Station Eastern Development, a regional community-based center that aims to enrich the life, leisure, and culture of the residents of Hida City, in Gifu Prefecture. The Center will include a university research base, student accommodation, an all-weather playing field, and commercial facilities, […]
Read MoreTokyo: Japan plans to ease COVID 19-related border restrictions by lifting its entry ban for foreignnationals from 106 countries including the United States, Britain and France, the government said. Tokyo has been gradually relaxing pandemic-induced curbs but the loosened border regime does not mean a full reopening to tourists. The foreign ministry said in an […]
Read MoreYoshifumi Takemoto, Yuka Obayashi and Ritsuko Shimizu Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s announcement this week that he would not abandon a massive Russian gas project was decided weeks ago when he told top officials in private he wouldn’t risk Japan’s energy security, three sources said. Kishida assured his trade and economy minister, Koichi Hagiuda, […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: To celebrate the 62nd Birthday of His Majesty the Emperor Naruhito, the Ambassador of Japan H.E. Mr. WADA Mitsuhiro and his wife hosted a reception at a local hotel in Islamabad on March 29. The reception was attended by the Ministers such as (the chief guest) Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for National […]
Read MoreLahore: Ambassador of Japan Wada Mitsuhiro, accompanied by other officials from the Japanese embassy, visited the University of Engineering & Technology (UET) Lahore this week. Wada Mitsuhiro presented 98 books to the UET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mansoor Sarwar which have been placed in a special corner of the university’s main library. The Ambassador also took […]
Read MoreJakob Ranglin Grissler Tokyo: Japan’s national borders have acquired an infamous reputation for being seemingly impenetrable. During the first months of the pandemic, the rule of who belongs and should be granted access to Japanese territory became painfully clear for many long-term foreign residents as they were not allowed to reenter the country after traveling […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: An inauguration ceremony for “the Project for Installation of Weather Surveillance Radar at Karachi”, funded by Japan, was held this week with Mr. ISOMURA Toshikazu, Consul General, Japan Consulate office Karachi, Mr. FURUTA Shigeki, Chief Representative, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan Office, H.E Mr. Ghulam Sarwar Khan, Federal Minister for Aviation and […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: The Embassy of Japan and Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) jointly organized a webinar titled “Afghanistan and South Asia” this week to deliberate upon the various perspectives concerning existing situation in Afghanistan as well as to exchange views and knowledge on other subjects of regional and international interest. AOKI Kenta, Research Fellow, Middle […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: Madam Naoko WADA, spouse of Ambassador of Japan celebrated the changing of seasons with ladies of diplomatic missions on the occasion of “Hina Matsuri(dolls festival)” and “Hanami(cherry blossom viewing)” at the Ambassador’s residence. “Hina Matsuri” is celebrated on the 3rd of March. Japanese families with young girls celebrate this festival by displaying dolls, […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant assistance up to US$189,204 (equivalent to around PKR 33 million) to three NGO development projects in Pakistan. The recipients that will implement the projects are True Worth Foundation, Rehman Foundation, and Dir Area Development Organization (DADO). The grant contracts were signed between H.E. WADA […]
Read MoreKanako Takahara Tokyo: Japan is set to ease border restrictions from March, allowing foreign nationals who are not tourists, including students and business travelers, to finally come to the nation. Another significant change for travelers, including Japanese and foreign residents, is the shortening of the quarantine period for people who are entering the country — […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Embassy of Japan in Islamabad this week held a signing ceremony of Exchange of Notes for a USD 3.45 million grant projectaimed at strengthening the operational capacities of border management authorities to contribute towards comprehensive migration management in Pakistan. The event – held at the […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: The Japanese government welcomes the International Atomic Energy Agency’s review on the safety of releasing contaminated water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said this week. A group of experts from the organisation is in Japan to evaluate the safety as well as the radiation […]
Read MoreStaff Writer Islamabad: Mitsuhiro Wada, Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan, said this week that Tokyo was now providing grant-in-aid for the improvement of water and sewerage system in Multan, Punjab, as well as cultural grant assistance for conservation of Taxila Museum. The ambassador disclosed it during a meeting with Omar Ayub Khan, Federal Minister for […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Princess Yoko, the younger daughter of the late Prince Tomohito of Mikasa, a cousin of former Emperor Akihito, complained of a sore throat this week and tested positive for the virus, the Imperial Household Agency said. She was admitted to a hospital inside the Imperial Palace. Her sister, Princess Akiko, 40, will also […]
Read MoreTokyo: The Japanese Embassy in Ukraine is operating as normal and is not planning to evacuate its staff despite recommendations from the Japanese government. According to Ukrinform, Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda told this to Suspilne (Ukraine’s Public Broadcasting Company). Commenting on the Japanese government’s recommendation that Japanese citizens leave Ukraine and postpone their […]
Read MoreRurika Imahashi Tokyo: Japan’s top automakers are gearing up to roll out electric versions of the lightweight kei minicars that are so popular with drivers in the country, accelerating the shift to greener transport in the world’s No. 3 economy. Nissan Motor and Mitsubishi Motors are leading the race to electrify the tiny, nippy cars […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: A record 327 day-care centers temporarily shut down in Japan this week as the coronavirus resurgence grips the country, the health ministry said, causing a headache for working parents. The number of such facilities suspending services as of last Thursday, excluding privately operated or locally licensed ones, increased fourfold in a week along […]
Read MoreSuvendrini Kakuchi Tokyo: On January 1 at a shrine in the leafy suburb of Asagaya in west Tokyo, Michiko Kubo and her husband, each wearing two face masks, joined a long line of worshippers all standing a metre apart to welcome 2022. “Last year we stayed at home following official guidelines to avoid crowded places. […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japan plans to allow 87 government-sponsored foreign students into the country, making an exception to the country’s current entry ban on nonresident foreigners amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the top spokesman said this week. Entry of the students will possibly be allowed from later this month and they will be required to quarantine for […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japan is considering placing 11 prefectures, including Tokyo and its vicinity, under a COVID-19 quasi-state of emergency to curb rapidly spreading coronavirus cases, government sources said Monday. Any declaration of a quasi-emergency hinges on requests made by these prefectures, but the Japanese government is preparing to make a decision as the highly transmissible […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: To kick start the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Pakistan, the Embassy of Japan in Pakistan and the Japan Foundation in cooperation with the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) are presenting a superb collection of Japanese dolls in an exhibition titled “NINGYO: Art and […]
Read MoreTokyo: Japan plans to maintain its strict border restrictions of barring almost all new entries by foreign nationals until late February in a bid to stave off the omicron variant amid a resurgence in COVID-19 cases in the country, sources familiar with the matter said. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce the measure possibly on […]
Read MorePrincess Kako, the niece of Japanese Emperor Naruhito, turned 27 this week, following another year of restrictions to official duties due to the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. The younger daughter of Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko has expressed concern for those affected by the pandemic after receiving briefings from experts, as well as […]
Read MoreBen Ascione Tokyo: Japan’s political calendar in 2021 was dominated by the government’s commitment to host the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games in July in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, the election of the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in September and the lower house election in October. This series of events […]
Read MoreNewswire Saitama: Two-time Olympic figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu has booked his place at the Beijing Games, laying down a marker with a commanding win at Japan’s national championships on Sunday. But he failed in his bid to become the first person to land a quadruple axel in competition, slightly under-rotating his maiden crack at […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japan’s industry ministry has said it will hold an auction on February 9 to sell about 100,000 kilolitres, or 628,980 barrels, of crude oil from its national reserve as a part of a US-led coordinated release of oil reserve to cool rising prices. The supply, to be taken from its Shibushi tank in […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: The Japanese government this week launched a smartphone app that allows people to display proof of vaccination that can be used for multiple purposes, including immigration procedures. The app, called the COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate Application and available for both iPhone and Android smartphones, displays information such as the number of doses a user […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa has returned to Earth after a 12-day journey into space, ending a practice run for his planned trip around the moon with founder Elon Musk’s SpaceX in 2023. The 46-year-old fashion tycoon and his assistant, Yozo Hirano, parachuted onto Kazakhstan’s steppe at 03:13 GMT on Monday, along with Russian […]
Read MoreNewswire Islamabad: The Government of Japan this week announced a US$ 4.35 million grant to procure essential oral polio vaccines as part of its continued support to Pakistan for its polio eradication efforts. This latest grant will be utilized for the procurement of 24 million oral doses of vaccines. It will allow the programme to […]
Read MoreNewswire Tokyo: The government plans to simplify the immigration procedures for foreign travelers arriving in Japan by luxury transport such as private jets and superyachts usually used by the wealthy, sources close to the matter said. The move comes as the government hopes such affluent travelers will bring considerable spending power and help accelerate a […]
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