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A Toyota logo is seen during the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. Toyota is targeting sales of 1.5 million battery-powered vehicles a year globally by 2026. The announcement came after Toyota executives said in July the company would focus on selling hydrogen-powered trucks and cars in Europe and China. A hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle uses an electric motor like an EV but draws power from a fuel stack where hydrogen is separated by a catalyst to produce electricity. Toyota sold about 3,500 fuel-cell vehicles globally over the January-October period.

Persons: David, Dee, Delgado, Daniel Leussink, Mariko Katsumura, Lisa Shumaker, Jamie Freed Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Toyota, European Union, European Automobile Manufacturers Association, Battery, Lexus, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Europe, EU, China

Japan, a key U.S. ally, had sought the suspension of all non-emergency V-22 Osprey flights over its territory after one fell into the sea on Wednesday in western Japan. Japan's Coast Guard has said one person was found and confirmed dead, and the search for the remaining seven aboard continues. The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was still flying Ospreys for now, and that it was not aware of any official request for their grounding. "We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation (from the U.S. military), the Osprey continues to fly," he told a news conference. The Japan Self-Defense Forces (SDF), which also operates Ospreys, has said it would suspend flights of the transport aircraft.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Yoko Kamikawa, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Dujarric, Dujarric, Mariko Katsumura, John Geddie, Chang, Ran Kim, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Japan's Coast Guard, Pentagon, Ospreys, U.S ., Japan Self - Defense Forces, U.S, Pacifist Japan, U.S . Marine Corps, Tokyo's Temple University, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, U.S, Tokyo

☆ Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group CEO dies at 65
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc (SMFG)'s new chief executive Jun Ohta attends a news conference in Tokyo, Japan, December 14, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) (8316.T) on Monday said group CEO Jun Ohta died on Nov. 25 aged 65 of pancreatic cancer. Japan's second-biggest lender after Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (8306.T) said it plans to announce a successor in the near future as soon as an appointment is made. Ohta joined The Sumitomo Bank, a predecessor of SMFG, in 1982 and rose to group CEO in April 2019. Ohta recently sought to expand SMFG's footprint in overseas markets through an alliance with U.S. investment bank Jefferies Financial Group (JEF.N).

Persons: Jun Ohta, Kim Kyung, Japan's, Toru Nakashima, Ohta, Mariko Katsumura, Rocky Swift, Kim Coghill, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc, REUTERS, Rights, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Sumitomo Bank, Keidanren, Jefferies Financial, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, SMFG

☆ Car crashes into barricade near Israel embassy in Tokyo, man detained
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Francis Tang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A view of the scene after a car crashed into a barricade near the Israeli embassy in Tokyo, Japan, November 16, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A car crashed into a barricade near the entrance of the Israeli embassy in Tokyo on Thursday and a man in his 50s was detained on the spot, local media reported. An official at the Israeli embassy said the matter was under police investigation and declined further comment. Several pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held outside Israeli embassies around the world in recent weeks, including in Tokyo, in protest against Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. Around the same time, a staffer at the Israeli embassy in Beijing was assaulted on the street and hospitalised.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Israel, Francis Tang, Satoshi Sugiyama, Mariko Katsumura, John Geddie, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Fuji, Police, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Tama, Gaza, Israel, Beijing

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese President Xi Jinping pose for a family photo during Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S. November 16, 2023. They also pledged to hold high-level dialogue on economic issues and welcomed the launch of a framework to discuss export controls as they met on the sidelines of an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In a joint statement in 2008, Japan and China agreed to pursue a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" designed to ensure frequent leadership exchanges on issues such as security and economic cooperation. On the sidelines of the APEC summit, Kishida has also met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for their seventh meeting this year. Leaders from the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum are in San Francisco for its 30th summit from Nov. 15-17.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Xi Jinping, Carlos Barria, Xi, Kishida, Joe Biden, Biden, Washington, Rumi Aoyama, Aoyama, Yoon Suk, Yoon, Mariko Katsumura, John Geddie, Kaori Kaneko, Sakura Murakami, Ethan Wang, Stephen Coates, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Japan's, Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, Asia, Astellas Pharma, ., Waseda Institute of Contemporary Chinese, APEC, South, Thomson Locations: Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, China, San Francisco, Japan, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Tokyo

☆ Mitsubishi Heavy expects record defence orders as Japan boosts military
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T) has doubled its forecast for defence orders to a record 1.6 trillion yen ($10.7 billion) in the current financial year, it said on Monday, as Japan expands its military by the most since World War Two. The country's top defence contractor Mitsubishi Heavy makes missiles, tanks, submarines and other defence equipment, and military work accounts for around a tenth of its overall revenue. The revision of the internal projection for defence orders compared to a range of 800 billion to 850 billion yen it had previously expected, a company spokesperson told Reuters. The company on Monday also lifted estimates for total orders for the full year by around a fifth, to 5.6 trillion yen.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Seiji Izumisawa, Maki Shiraki, Mariko Katsumura, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, REUTERS, Rights, Mitsubishi, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, North Korea

☆ China, Japan coast guards face off again near disputed islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BEIJING/TOKYO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Chinese and Japanese coast guard ships faced off in waters around disputed islands in the East China Sea again on Wednesday, with both countries saying they deployed patrol ships to urge the other side to leave the territory. The disputed islands, called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan, are claimed by both countries. The Chinese coast guard said three Japanese ships and several patrol ships illegally entered its territorial waters on Wednesday and that it took necessary control measures in accordance with the law. Japan's coast guard said its patrol boats in turn repeatedly urged three Chinese coast guard vessels to leave the waters. Reporting by Beijing newsroom, Mariko Katsumura in Tokyo; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mariko Katsumura, Jacqueline Wong, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: East China, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, TOKYO, East, China, Senkaku, Japan, Japan's, Tokyo

☆ Nidec shares slump over 9% after it retains annual profit outlook
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Nidec (6594.T) shares tumbled more than 9% on Tuesday after the electric motor maker kept its annual profit outlook unchanged the previous day despite reporting a rise in quarterly profit. Some analysts said the unchanged profit outlook of 220 billion yen ($1.47 billion) for the current year to March 2024 came short of market consensus, while also voicing concerns over declining margins in the Chinese automotive business. "We are still concerned about the outlook for the Chinese EV market and the shift to lower output motors, which is impacting profitability." After the market close on Monday, the Kyoto-based company announced a 7.6% rise in quarterly operating profit, helped by stronger sales and a weaker yen currency. The company's shares were trading down 9.2% by mid-morning, after being untraded with a glut of sell orders earlier in the day.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Mark Chadwick, Mariko Katsumura, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, EV, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, Kyoto

☆ Honda, GM, Cruise plan to begin Japan driverless ride service in early 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Rebecca Cook/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Honda Motor (7267.T) said on Thursday that it aims to set up a joint venture with General Motors (GM.N) and Cruise to begin a driverless ride service in Japan in early 2026. The three companies aim to establish the joint venture in first half of 2024 pending regulatory approval, the Japanese company said in a statement without providing financial details. Vogt said it was hard to say whether offering a driverless ride service in Tokyo posed a unique or distinct challenge for the company. The Japan service is planned to launch in central Tokyo, using dozens of Origins before expanding to a fleet of 500 vehicles, Honda said in its statement. The companies plan to later broaden the service to areas beyond central Tokyo, Honda said.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Cruise, Waymo, Honda, Kyle Vogt, Vogt, Toshihiro Mibe, Daniel Leussink, Mariko Katsumura, Rocky Swift, David Dolan, Christopher Cushing Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, Rights, Honda, Cruise, GM, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, Japan, San Francisco, United States, Tokyo, Austin

TOKYO, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Chip equipment maker Kokusai Electric (6525.T) has raised $724.4 million after pricing its shares at the top end of their marketed range in Japan's largest initial public offering in five years. Kokusai, owned by U.S. private equity firm KKR (KKR.N), set its IPO price at 1,840 yen per share, according to a filing on Monday, valuing the company at 423.9 billion yen ($2.8 billion). If an overallotment option for domestic investors is exercised, the offering would raise roughly $833 million. The move was partly due to a lacklustre share price performance by chip designer Arm since its listing last month, a source familiar with the matter has said. Kokusai's largest customers are Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), TSMC (2330.TW) and Micron Technology (MU.O), collectively accounting for more than 40% of its revenue.

Persons: Mariko Katsumura, Sam Nussey, Miho Uranaka, Kim Coghill, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Kokusai, U.S, KKR, Tokyo bourse's, Samsung Electronics, Micron Technology, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

[1/3] Tokyo Tower is seen from the 52nd floor of 'Azabudai Hills Mori JP Tower', developed by Mori Building Co., during press preview of the complex in Tokyo, Japan, in this photo taken by Kyodo on August 8, 2023. "Housing prices and rents have risen a lot compared to the past, but in the end, salaries haven't gone up that much." After weathering decades of deflation and stagnant growth, Japan is seeing an investment boom that has made apartments in central Tokyo unaffordable for young Japanese professionals. For locals, the surge in prices has made Tokyo the second most unaffordable city worldwide, only behind Hong Kong, according to a UBS global real estate report. Average condo prices in central Tokyo were bumped up in the past year by a large supply of high-end residences hitting the market.

Persons: Kawamata, she'd, I'm, haven't, Cushman, Mari Kumagai, Kumagai, Wang Mao San, Wang, Mari Mochizuki, who's, Mariko Katsumura, Rocky Swift, Sonali Paul Organizations: Mori, Kyodo, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Real Estate Economic, UBS, Reuters, Cushman & Wakefield, Wakefield, Shingi, fusaya Realty Inc, Super, Japan Real Estate Institute, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Hong Kong, London, Singapore, New York, China, Asia, Asia Pacific, Australia, Taiwan, Taiwanese, Osaka, Tokyo's

☆ SoftBank Corp to raise $800 mln from bond-type shares in Japan first
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The logo of SoftBank Group Corp is displayed at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2017. SoftBank Corp, the Japanese telecommunications arm of tech investment giant SoftBank Group (9984.T), first proposed the issuance in May, but board approval only came on Monday. The shares will be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Nov. 1, with pricing expected between Oct. 13 and 17. Although classed as equity in accounting terms, the shares offer a set dividend and can be redeemed by SoftBank after a period of five years. As the shares will be publicly listed, they can be purchased through the tax-efficient Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA), unlike corporate bonds.

Persons: Issei Kato, SoftBank, Urvi, Anton Bridge, Mariko Katsumura, Kim Coghill, Mark Potter Organizations: SoftBank, REUTERS, SoftBank Corp, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Bankers, Savings, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Japan's, Bengaluru, Anton

☆ SoftBank Corp to raise $800 mln via bond-type class shares - filing
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of SoftBank Group Corp is displayed at SoftBank World 2017 conference in Tokyo, Japan, July 20, 2017. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 25 (Reuters) - SoftBank Corp (9434.T) plans to raise 120 billion yen ($808.79 million) via Japan's first public offering of bond-type class shares, it said in a regulatory filing on Monday. The Japanese telecommunications arm of tech investment giant SoftBank Group (9984.T) first announced the issuance in May, saying the shares would be listed before the close of the 2023 financial year, which ends on March 31, 2024. The shares will not have voting rights nor can they be converted into common shares, so the issuance would not affect current shareholders, SoftBank said in a statement in May. The proceeds will be used for growth investments in telecommunications, IT technologies and "next-generation social infrastructure", it said.

Persons: Issei Kato, SoftBank, Urvi, Anton Bridge, Mariko Katsumura, Rashmi Aich, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Kim Coghill Organizations: SoftBank, REUTERS, SoftBank Corp, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Bengaluru, Anton

☆ Japan says swarms of tourists defiling sacred Mt Fuji
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Mariko Katsumura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Visitors are seen at the fifth stage on the slopes of Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain 3,776 metres (12,388 ft), in Fujiyoshida, Japan, September 9, 2023. Mt Fuji, which straddles Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures in eastern Japan, has always been popular with local and overseas tourists. "It's uncontrollable and we fear that Mt Fuji will soon become so unattractive, nobody would want to climb it," he said. Mt Fuji was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site 10 years ago, further boosting its popularity. "Any Japanese person would want to climb Mt Fuji at least once in their life," said 62-year-old Jun Shibazaki, who arrived on a tour.

Persons: Mariko Katsumura, Masatake Izumi, Shibazaki, Chang, Ran Kim, Michael Perry Organizations: REUTERS, Mt Fuji, Mt, UNESCO, International Council, World Heritage, Thomson Locations: Mount, Fujiyoshida, Japan, Yamanashi, Shizuoka

☆ Nissan to delay new SUV production by 6 months in Mexico due to stolen mold -Nikkei
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The brand logo of Nissan Motor Corp. is displayed during a press preview of the company's new Ariya all-battery SUV, ahead of the world premiere, at Nissan Pavilion in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan July 14, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 5 (Reuters) - Nissan Motor (7201.T) will delay the start of production of its next "Kicks" SUV model in Mexico by about six months after some mold components were stolen at a local supplier, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday. Production of the remodelled "Kicks" had been due to start in December, but will now likely begin around June 2024, the paper said. Nissan builds the Kicks at its Aguascalientes plant in Mexico for sale in the North American market. The model accounted for 8% of its U.S. sales last year, with about 54,000 units sold, the Nikkei said.

Persons: Issei Kato, Chang, Ran Kim, Mariko Katsumura, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Nissan Motor Corp, Nissan, REUTERS, Rights, Nikkei, Thomson Locations: Yokohama, Tokyo, Japan, Mexico, Aguascalientes

☆ Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy reschedules moon rocket launch for Thursday
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen at the company headquarters in Tokyo, Japan December 8, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/file photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T) said on Monday it planned to launch its H-IIA rocket carrying a moon lander on Thursday morning, after unfavourable wind conditions led to a postponement last month. The new schedule was announced a week after the previous launch attempt, which would have carried Japan's first spacecraft to land on the moon, was suspended because of high winds. H-IIA, jointly developed by JAXA and MHI, has been Japan's flagship space launch vehicle, with 45 successful launches in 46 tries since 2001. After JAXA's new medium-lift H3 rocket failed on its debut in March, the agency postponed the launch of H-IIA No.

Persons: Kim Kyung, JST, Rocky Swift, Mariko Katsumura, Christian Schmollinger, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, REUTERS, Rights, Japan Aerospace Exploration, JAXA, Yomiuri, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. In a statement, Fortress said it would work with Seven & i to support Sogo & Seibu's management to maintain its workforce "to the extent possible." It plans to invest more than 20 billion yen with partner Yodobashi to renovate Sogo & Seibu's stores, it said. Sogo & Seibu's workers had the support of labour groups from rival department stores including Takashimaya and Isetan Mitsukoshi (3099.T). The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Fortress, Yodobashi, it's, Yasuhiro Teraoka, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson, & & ' Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

[1/2] Union workers of Sogo & Seibu hold banners which read 'on strike' in front of the company's flagship Seibu Ikebukuro store in Tokyo, Japan August 31, 2023. Some 900 workers at the flagship Seibu store in the bustling district of Ikebukuro are protesting the sale of Sogo & Seibu, a unit of retail giant Seven & i (3382.T), to U.S. fund Fortress Investment Group. This one-day strike - the first at a major Japanese department store in 61 years - followed months of negotiations between Sogo & Seibu management and the workers' union, and comes amid a labour shortage in Japan. Other Seibu and Sogo department stores were open for business as usual. The Seibu Ikebukuro store is Japan's third-largest department store by sales, according to media reports, but its owner Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years.

Persons: Irene Wang, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Wakana Shuto, Stephen Givens, it's, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs, Stephen Coates, Miral Organizations: Union, Sogo, Seibu, company's, REUTERS, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Rikkyo, Japan Inc, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo, Seibu Ikebukuro

☆ Japan sees rare strike as workers at landmark department store protest sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Mariko Katsumura 清水律子 | Mariko Katsumura | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The slogan on the banner in the centre reads, 'Sogo & Seibu, strike solidarity'. This one-day strike - the first at a major Japanese department store in 61 years - followed months of negotiations between Sogo & Seibu management and the workers' union. Other Seibu and Sogo department stores were open for business as usual. "Considering the industry's difficulties, the conditions at Sogo & Seibu are not unique." Sogo & Seibu has been in the red for the last four years and has some 300 billion yen in debt.

Persons: Satomi Saito, Isetan Mitsukoshi, Daimaru, Wakana Shuto, Ritsuko Shimizu, Mariko Katsumura, Kaori Kaneko, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Sogo, Seibu, company's, Kyodo, Workers, Fortress Investment Group, Yodobashi Holdings, Yodobashi, Hankyu Hanshin, Rikkyo, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, TOKYO, Ikebukuro, Sogo

☆ Japan says may take China to WTO over Fukushima-driven seafood import ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters that Japan would take "necessary action (on China's aquatic product ban) under various routes including the WTO framework". Filing a WTO complaint might become an option if protesting to China through diplomatic routes is ineffective, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi said separately. Japan's National Police Agency has received 225 reports of harassment calls to date, Jiji News reported, and the government said it was seeking help from telecommunications companies to block the calls. NTT and other phone companies including KDDI (9433.T) and SoftBank Corp (9434.T) are discussing measures following the government's request. "It is extremely regrettable and concerning about the large number of harassment calls that have likely come from China," Trade Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said during a news conference.

Persons: Tom Bateman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Sanae Takaichi, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Nishimura, Kantaro Komiya, Mariko Katsumura, Sakura Murakami, Chang, Ran Kim, Simon Cameron, Moore, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, World Trade Organization, Economic, Japan's National Police Agency, Jiji News, NTT Communications, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, NTT, SoftBank Corp, Thomson Locations: Fukushima, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, China, WTO

☆ Head of Japan coalition partner postpones China visit at China's request
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Komeito party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi attends a debate session with other leaders of Japan's main political parties, ahead of October 31, 2021 lower house election, at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, Japan October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Aug 26 (Reuters) - The head of Japan's Komeito party, the junior partner in the coalition government, will postpone his planned visit to China at China's request, the party announced on Saturday. Natsuo Yamaguchi was planning to visit China from August 28 to 30 in hopes of meeting China's President Xi Jinping and to hand over a personal letter from Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Komeito said in a statement that it hoped "to readjust the appropriate timing of the visit in the future." The party said the Chinese side had explained that the country sees the importance of Komeito's longstanding friendly exchanges with China and expressed appreciation for Komeito's efforts to realise the visit.

Persons: Natsuo Yamaguchi, Issei Kato, Japan's, Xi Jinping, Fumio Kishida, Komeito, Mariko Katsumura, Jason Neely Organizations: Japan National Press Club, REUTERS, Rights, Kishida, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, China, United States, South Korea, South China

☆ Typhoon Khanun lashes southern Japan, north braces for another storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/4] Passersby walk in a heavy rain and wind caused by Typhoon Khanun in Kagoshima on Japan's third-largest island Kyushu, August 8, 2023, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo via REUTERSTOKYO, Aug 9 (Reuters) - Heavy rain from Typhoon Khanun pounded southern Japan on Wednesday as another storm approached from the east to possibly threaten Tokyo just as thousands of people prepare to travel during the peak summer holiday season. The JMA issued heavy rain and high wind warnings to many parts of southern and western Japan. Railway operator West Japan Railway Co (9021.T) has also suspended some of its Shinkansen bullet train service in Kyushu. A second storm, Lan, had formed in the Pacific Ocean south of Japan and was predicted to strengthen as it heads north, possibly affecting Tokyo early next week, JMA said.

Persons: Typhoon, Khanun, Mariko Katsumura, Elaine, Miral Organizations: Kyodo, REUTERS, Japan Meteorological Agency, JMA, Railway, Japan Railway Co, Thomson Locations: Kagoshima, Japan's, Kyushu, REUTERS TOKYO, Japan, Tokyo, Okinawa

☆ Japan says cannot confirm leakage after report says China hacked defence networks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/File PhotoTOKYO, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Japan cannot confirm if any security information has been leaked, the top government spokesperson said on Tuesday when asked about a Washington Post report on Chinese hacking into its defence cyber networks. Chinese military hackers gained access to a classified defence network in Japan beginning in 2020, accessing information about the U.S. ally's military capabilities, plans and assessments of shortcomings, the Washington Post reported on Monday, citing senior officials. Speaking at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan and U.S. have always been in close communication on various levels. Matsuno also said that cyber security is the foundation for maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance, and that Japan will continue to work to keep its network firm and secure. Meanwhile, Japan's slow response to improve its cyber network could impede greater intelligence sharing between the Pentagon and Japan's Defence Ministry, the Washington Post said, citing officials.

Persons: Kacper, Hirokazu Matsuno, haven't, Matsuno, Mariko Katsumura, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, Washington Post, U.S . National Security Agency, Pentagon, Japan's Defence Ministry, Thomson Locations: Japan, Tokyo, U.S, Beijing

[1/5] Kazuyuki Tanioka, the owner of Japanese cuisine Toya restaurant, prepares a sashimi dish, during an interview with Reuters, in Beijing, China July 25, 2023. China is the biggest importer of Japanese seafood. Shortly after the 2011 tsunami and earthquake damaged the Fukushima plant, it banned the import of food and agricultural products from five Japanese prefectures. The latest import restrictions were imposed this month after the United Nation's nuclear watchdog approved Japan's plans to discharge the treated water. "Our main focus is to source seafood within China or sourcing from other foreign suppliers," Tanioka said.

Persons: Tanioka, Tingshu Wang, It's, Toya, Kenji Kobayashi, Fukuoka, Duan, restaurateurs, Martin Quin Pollard, Chris Gallagher, Tom Bateman, Mariko Katsumura, Xiaoyu Yin, Justin Fung, Miral Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, United, Aomori, Aomori Chuosuisan Co, Japan, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Toya, Beijing, China, Tingshu Wang BEIJING, Kumamoto, Japan, Aomori Chuosuisan, Hong Kong, Tokyo

☆ Japan space agency rocket engine explodes during test
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, July 14 (Reuters) - A rocket engine exploded during a test in Japan on Friday but there were no injuries, an official at Japan's Education, Science and Technology Ministry said. The explosion of the Epsilon S engine at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) testing site is the latest in a series of failures that have deflated Japan's space ambitions. The explosion took place about a minute into the test of the second stage engine, the official said. JAXA's new medium-lift H-3 rocket was ordered to self-destruct on its debut flight in March, when its second-stage engine did not ignite as planned. Reporting by Satoshi Sugiyama and Mariko Katsumura; Writing by Elaine Lies; Editing by Shri Navaratnam and Tom HogueOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Satoshi Sugiyama, Mariko Katsumura, Elaine Lies, Shri Navaratnam, Tom Hogue Organizations: Japan's Education, Science, Technology Ministry, Epsilon, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan

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