Japan a notch higher in latest gender gap report, still worst among G7
Japan climbed to 117th place among 145 economies in the World Economic Forum’s annual gender gap report, improving one notch from the previous year.
Sanae Takaichi
Japanese lawmakers’ group visits China to mend ties
A delegation of Japanese lawmakers traveled to China to mend strained bilateral relations following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a potential Taiwan emergency.
M5.9 Quake Strikes Eastern Japan, Disrupting Trains
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.9 struck eastern Japan early Sunday, causing injuries in prefectures neighboring Tokyo and disrupting transportation services.
Japan executes man convicted of killing five in 2009 Osaka pachinko parlor arson
Japan has executed Sunao Takami, a 58-year-old death row inmate convicted of a 2009 arson attack that killed five people at an Osaka pachinko parlor. The hanging marks the first … Read More
Russia protests Japan PM’s comments after Putin’s Kuril visit
Russia summoned Japan’s ambassador to Moscow on August 18, 2026, delivering a strong protest over anti-Russian remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The diplomatic escalation follows the first-ever visit … Read More
Bureaucratic Drama Unfolds in Tokyo Ahead of Summer Vacation
In early August 2026, just as Japan prepared for its traditional midsummer vacation week, a high-stakes institutional power struggle erupted inside Tokyo’s bureaucratic apparatus. The tension highlights an enduring administrative … Read More
Japan’s Takaichi skips controversial Yasukuni Shrine visit on anniversary of World War II
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, marking the 81st anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender while refraining … Read More
Putin angers Japan with visit to islands seized by Soviet Union in WWII
Japan has issued a sharp diplomatic protest after Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the trip as absolutely … Read More
Australian PM Faces Backlash Over Japan Melon Joke as Tokyo Plays Down Controversy
On August 12, 2026, the Japanese government publicly downplayed a diplomatic controversy sparked by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who made a remark about a luxury melon gifted by Japanese … Read More
Australian PM Criticized Over Melon Joke by Japanese PM
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced public criticism and diplomatic scrutiny following a lighthearted comment about watermelons directed at Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during a bilateral exchange in August … Read More