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☆ Japan protests Russia's declaring Sept 3 as day of victory over 'militaristic' Japan
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, June 26 (Reuters) - Japan has lodged a protest against Russia over the country's decision to declare Sept. 3 a day of victory over "militaristic Japan" - a move it said would fan mutual antagonism, the top government spokesperson said on Monday. "The passage of this law could not only stir anti-Japanese sentiment among the Russian people, but may also lead to anti-Russian sentiment among the Japanese people," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a press conference on Monday, calling Moscow's move "extremely regrettable". Russia last week renamed the commemoration day of Sept. 3 - the day after Japan's surrender in World War Two - as the Day of Victory over Militaristic Japan, according to Japanese media reports. Reporting by Kaori Kaneko and Mariko Katsumura Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Moscow's, Kaori Kaneko, Mariko Katsumura, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Russia

☆ BOJ policymaker calls for keeping low rates, focus on wages
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Noguchi also warned of risks to Japan's economy, such as uncertainty over global economic and market developments. Under yield curve control (YCC), the BOJ sets a -0.1% target for short-term interest rates and caps the 10-year bond yield around 0% to reflate growth and inflation. With inflation exceeding its target, markets are simmering with speculation the BOJ will soon tweak YCC due to criticism the policy is distorting market pricing and crushing financial institutions' profit margins. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has stressed the need to keep monetary policy ultra-loose until there is more evidence wages will keep rising next year, helping Japan sustainably hit the 2% inflation target. Reporting by Leika Kihara Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Asahi Noguchi, Noguchi, Seiji Adachi, Kazuo Ueda, Leika, Chang, Ran Kim, Sam Holmes Organizations: Noguchi, Global, Bank of Japan, Thomson Locations: Japan, TOKYO, Naha

☆ McDonald's Japan hikes prices in city centres as costs bite
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Anton Bridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, June 19 (Reuters) - The Japanese operator of McDonald's restaurants said on Monday it would raise prices at 184 city centre branches, equivalent to about 6% of its 3,000 stores, to help absorb higher rents and labour costs. Until now, 40 stores in some city centres and special locations such as airports and motorway service stations had been subject to "city centre pricing". McDonald's Holdings Company Japan (2702.T) said the new pricing would start on July 19. McDonald's, Japan's largest fast-food chain, has led the way with three price increases across all outlets since March 2022, including the latest one in January. McDonald's said the latest round of hikes would range from 10 to 90 yen per item or set.

Persons: McDonald's, Anton Bridge, Chang, Ran Kim, Angus MacSwan Organizations: McDonald's Holdings Company Japan, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

☆ Why Japanese Prime Minister Kishida may call a snap election soon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

TOKYO, June 14 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is thought increasingly likely to call a snap election, perhaps within days. This could make it easier for Kishida to call a snap election because there are no pressing policy issues to rally voters. Calling an election soon could shorten preparation time and keep them on the back foot. Kishida and the LDP could come under fire for calling the election because of the lack of pressing issues. Only 11% of voters thought an election should be held "promptly" and another 19% "within this year," according to the NHK poll.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Elaine Lies, Gerry Doyle, Chang, Ran Kim Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, NHK, Nikkei, Japan Innovation Party, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Hiroshima

☆ Japan Self Defence Force member arrested after shooting, two dead - NHK
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, June 14 (Reuters) - A member of the Japan Self-Defence Force (SDF) was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting incident that resulted in two fatalities, local media reported. An 18-year-old SDF member allegedly injured three other personnel with automatic weapon fire, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the defence ministry. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the incident happened at about 9 a.m. at an SDF shooting range in Hino City in the central Japanese prefecture of Gifu. The victims included a man in his 50s and two in their 20s, and there were no reports of civilian casualties, NHK said. Shootings are extremely rare in Japan, where gun ownership is tightly regulated and anyone seeking to own a gun must go through a rigorous vetting process.

Persons: Hirokazu Matsuno, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim, Christian Schmollinger, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan Self, Defence Force, NHK, SDF, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Hino City, Japanese, Gifu

☆ Japan court rules that not allowing same-sex marriage is 'in a state of unconstitutionality'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Fukuoka District Court ruled on Thursday that not allowing same-sex marriage was "in a state of unconstitutionality" in a complicated ruling that fell short of marriage-equality activists' expectations. The ruling came a week after another district court said it was unconstitutional to not allow same-sex marriage, bolstering hopes of the LGBTQ community in Japan, the only Group of Seven nation without legal protection for same-sex unions. Five rulings on same-sex marriage have now been handed down around Japan - two saying bans on it are unconstitutional and one saying they were not. A Tokyo ruling upheld the ban on same-sex marriage but said a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their human rights. Opinion polls show about 70% of the public supports same-sex marriage, but the conservative ruling party of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida opposes it.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Elaine Lies, Chang, Ran Kim, GErry Doyle Organizations: Japan's, Partners, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Japan's Fukuoka, Japan, Tokyo, United States

[1/5] A student practices smiling with a mirror at a smile training course at Sokei Art School in Tokyo, Japan, May 30, 2023. Only 8% said they had stopped wearing masks altogether. Tellingly, roughly a quarter of the art school students who took the class kept their masks on during the lesson. Her trademarked "Hollywood Style Smiling Technique" method comprises "crescent eyes", "round cheeks" and shaping the edges of the mouth to bare eight pearly whites in the upper row. With a surge in inbound tourists, Japanese people need to communicate with foreigners with more than just their eyes, she added.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Hoon TOKYO, Keiko Kawano's, Himawari Yoshida, Young, Kawano, Anton Bridge, Tom Bateman, Chang, Ran Kim, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: Sokei Art School, REUTERS, NHK, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ BOJ's Ueda keeps free hand, says no time frame for achieving price goal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The BOJ's target remained elusive until last year, when supply constraints and a spike in commodity costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine drove up Japan's core consumer inflation near 4%. "The time it takes for the impact of monetary policy to appear on the economy could move around a lot depending on circumstances. We therefore do not have any time frame in mind," Ueda said on Friday. Given it will take more time to achieve our price target, we will maintain the easy policy," he said, when asked by an opposition lawmaker on the likelihood of selling the BOJ's holdings. "Given uncertainty over the outlook, clarifying a set time frame for achieving our price target could have unexpected impact on financial markets," Ueda said.

Persons: Kazuo Ueda, Haruhiko Kuroda, Ueda, We'll, Leika Kihara, Chang, Ran Kim, Shri Navaratnam, Kim Coghill, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Bank of Japan, Monetary, Thomson Locations: TOKYO, Ukraine

☆ Japan April factory output unexpectedly falls on weaker machinery orders
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, May 31 (Reuters) - Japan's factory output unexpectedly fell in April, government data showed on Wednesday, as production machinery orders slowed amid weakening global demand, casting doubts about recovery in the world's third-largest economy. Factory output fell 0.4% in April from the previous month on a seasonally adjusted basis. Output of semiconductor-manufacturing equipment fell 24.6% while flat panel manufacturing equipment dropped 66.6%. A METI official said U.S. export controls to China were not a factor in the decline in chip-making equipment shipments. Still, the METI official said there is a risk of downward adjustment in production plans due to overseas weakness.

Persons: Issei Kato TOKYO, Kota Suzuki, Satoshi Sugiyama, Chang, Ran Kim, Christian Schmollinger, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Ministry, Economy, Trade, Industry Official, Manufacturers, Daiwa Securities, Thomson Locations: Kawasaki, Japan, China

☆ Japan court rules that a bar on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People including plaintiffs' lawyers hold banners and flags, after the lower court ruled that not allowing same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, outside Nagoya district court, in Nagoya, central Japan, May 30, 2023, in this photo released by Kyodo. The ruling by the Nagoya District Court was the second to find a ban against same-sex marriage unconstitutional, out of four cases on the issue over the past two years. A Tokyo court later upheld the ban on same-sex marriage but said a lack of legal protection for same-sex families violated their human rights. Though opinion polls show some 70% of the public supports same-sex marriage, the conservative ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida opposes it. Kishida in February sacked an aide who sparked outrage by saying people would flee Japan if same-sex marriage was allowed, but the premier remains noncommittal about it and has said discussions must proceed "carefully".

[1/6] People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what it called a space satellite toward the south, in Seoul, South Korea, May 31, 2023. The launch prompted emergency alerts and brief evacuation warnings in parts of South Korea and Japan, which were then withdrawn with no danger or damage reported. South Korea's military said it was still analysing whether the launch was successful, while media in South Korea and Japan said governments there were examining the possibility that it failed. North Korea had said it would launch its first military reconnaissance satellite between May 31 and June 11 to boost monitoring of U.S. military activities. North Korea has previously attempted five satellite launches, with two satellites placed in orbit, including during its last such launch in 2016.

Persons: Kim Hong, Leif, Eric Easley, Chol, Brian Weeden, Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith, Chang, Ran Kim, David Brunnstrom, Chris Reese, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Ji, Ewha University, Ocean, Central Military Commission, Workers ' Party, U.S, U.S . State Department, Korean, United Nations, State Department, Secure, Foundation, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, TOKYO, Japan, Korean, China, Pyongyang, Tokyo, Okinawa, Korea's, U.S, Washington

[1/6] People watch a TV broadcasting a news report on North Korea firing what it called a space satellite toward the south, in Seoul, South Korea, May 31, 2023. REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiSEOUL/TOKYO, May 31 (Reuters) - A satellite launch conducted by North Korea on Wednesday ended in failure after the rocket's second stage malfunctioned, sending the craft plunging into the sea, North Korean state media said. The new "Chollima-1" satellite launch rocket failed due to instability in the engine and fuel system, state news agency KCNA reported. The launch was the nuclear-armed state's sixth satellite launch attempt, and the first since 2016. It was supposed to launch North Korea's first spy satellite into orbit.

Persons: Kim Hong, KCNA, Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith, Chang, Ran Kim, David Brunnstrom, Chris Reese, Sonali Paul, Christian Organizations: REUTERS, Ji, North, Thomson Locations: North Korea, Seoul, South Korea, Ji SEOUL, TOKYO, North Korean, Tokyo, Washington

☆ UN chief says it's time to reform Security Council and Bretton Woods
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday that it was time to reform both the Security Council and Bretton Woods to align with the "realities of today's world". Speaking at a press conference in Hiroshima, Japan, where the Group of Seven summit meeting had been held, Guterres said both institutions reflected the power relations of 1945 and needed to be updated. "The global financial architecture is outdated, dysfunctional and unfair," he said. "In the face of the economic shocks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion ofUkraine, it has failed to fulfil its core function as a global safety net." Reporting by Sakura Murakami Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Biden invited Kishida, Yoon to meet in Washington -U.S. official
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol attend a photo op on the day of trilateral engagement during the G7 Summit at the Grand... Read moreHIROSHIMA, Japan, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden invited his Japanese and South Korean counterparts for another meeting in Washington at their trilateral meeting in Hiroshima on sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Sunday, a senior U.S. official said. Specifically, a scheme to share information on North Korea's missile launches among the three countries was discussed, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol met bilaterally earlier in the day, their third meeting this year, as the East Asian neighbours improve ties to counter regional security threats. read moreBiden commended Kishida and Yoon on their "courageous work to improve their bilateral ties", saying the trilateral partnership is stronger because of their efforts, the White House said. Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Hiroshima, Japan; Writing by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Excerpts from G7 leaders' statement on economic coercion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

May 20 (Reuters) - Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) agreed on Saturday to establish an initiative to counter economic "coercion", pledging to take steps to ensure that any actors attempting to "weaponise" economic dependence would fail and face consequences. The initiative, dubbed Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion, will use early warning and rapid information sharing on economic coercion with members meeting regularly for consultations, the G7 leaders, meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, said in a statement. "We are taking additional steps today to enhance our ongoing strategic coordination on economic resilience and economic security by reducing vulnerabilities and countering malign practices that exploit and reinforce them. We will work together to ensure that attempts to weaponise economic dependencies by forcing G7 members and our partners, including small economies, to comply and conform will fail and face consequences. Within this Coordination Platform, we will use early warning and rapid information sharing, regularly consult each other, collaboratively assess situations, explore coordinated responses, deter and, where appropriate, counter economic coercion, in accordance with our respective legal systems.

☆ G7 leaders agree to new initiative to fight economic coercion
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 20 (Reuters) - Group of Seven leaders on Saturday agreed to a new initiative to counter economic coercion, and pledged action to ensure that any actors attempting to weaponise economic dependence would fail and face consequences. The initiative, dubbed Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion, will use early warning and rapid information sharing on economic coercion with members meeting regularly for consultations, the leaders said in a statement. "The world has encountered a disturbing rise in incidents of economic coercion that seek to exploit economic vulnerabilities," the G7 leaders said in a statement following a meeting in Hiroshima, Japan. The statement also committed the G7 leaders to deepen cooperation on hardening supply chains and called for a bigger role for lower income countries in promoting economic resilience. The group also agreed to deepen cooperation in information sharing as it looks to establish new standards for next generation technologies.

The April meeting of G7 climate ministers eventually agreed, despite tussles between Japan and European nations, that gas investments "can be appropriate to help address potential market shortfalls" following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the disruption it has caused in global energy markets. Saturday's G7 leaders statement at their summit in Japan's Hiroshima changed the language - eventually formulated by Germany, sources say - to include gas investments again, with the G7 saying it was "necessary to accelerate the phase-out of our dependency on Russian energy". DEFENDING THE STANCEGerman government officials rejected that criticism, saying investments are needed to get away from Russian gas and find a replacement. The G7 pledged to achieve a net-zero emissions goal by 2050 and to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Max Lawson, head of inequality policy at activist group Oxfam, said the G7 had maintained a loophole for new fossil gas investments using the Russian military conflict with Ukraine "as an excuse."

☆ Factbox: Key excerpts from G7 leaders' statement on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Below are key extracts from the Group of Seven leaders' statement. "We will further target those operating in these key sectors, such as manufacturing, construction, and transportation as well as business services." PREVENTING CIRCUMVENTION"We will further prevent the evasion and circumvention of our measures against Russia, including targeting entities transporting material to the front." "We will further reduce reliance on civil nuclear and related goods from Russia, including working to assist countries seeking to diversify their supplies." "We will also continue efforts to reduce Russia’s revenue from metals."

☆ Japan's G7 refugee balancing act: door open for Ukrainians, but not many others
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Elaine Lies | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The generosity towards Ukrainian evacuees, however, will highlight the stark contrast against Japan's track record with asylum seekers, experts and advocates say, with hopes for broader refugee policy reform still distant. Ukrainians have entered Japan under a framework set up specifically for them and are referred to as evacuees rather than refugees. "We want the world to know how bad Japan's refugee recognition system is," said Keiko Tanaka, head of Osaka-based refugee assistance group Rafiq, noting the group would hold a press conference on Sunday when the G7 summit wraps up. Private charity Nippon Foundation gave her 1 million yen ($7,400)- an annual grant it extends exclusively to Ukrainian evacuees. Advocates are guardedly hopeful the Ukrainian presence could change Japan's overall refugee policy, but Temple University Japan's political science professor James Brown thought it unlikely.

☆ EU's Michel calls for 'stable and constructive' cooperation with China
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Katya Golubkova | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HIROSHIMA, Japan, May 19 (Reuters) - European Council President Charles Michel said on Friday it was in the EU's interest to maintain "stable and constructive" cooperation with China, as the Group of Seven countries met to consider China's "economic coercion" and other concerns. The EU wants to "de-risk to reduce over-dependencies and diversify to address unfair practices", Michel told a briefing in Hiroshima. "Stable and constructive relations with China is in our mutual interest," he said. Michel called on China to use its influence over its neighbour to end the war in Ukraine. "We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression," Michel said.

"The international community is at a crossroads in history," Prime Minister Kishida told a briefing following his more than hour-long meeting with Biden. Japan, although a longtime buyer of Russian oil, has moved in tandem with G7 sanctions against Moscow following Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That military action has also raised fears among Japanese that China could be emboldened to take action against neighbouring, self-ruled Taiwan unless Russia is stopped. TIGHTEN SANCTIONSThe G7 will aim to tighten sanctions on Russia to prevent it skirting measures already in place, Germany's leader, Olaf Scholz, said on Thursday. Kishida later said he and Biden had agreed to continue "strict sanctions against Russia as well strong support for Ukraine".

☆ Ahead of G7, Japan PM welcomes more investment from global chipmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he welcomed and expected more investment from global chipmakers in Japan, which is striving to revive its chip sector, after meeting top executives on Thursday before a Group of Seven summit. Growing Taiwan and U.S. tensions with China have brought serious challenges to the semiconductor industry, with Taiwan a major producer of chips used in everything from cars and smartphones to fighter jets. "I am very pleased with your positive attitude towards investment in Japan, and would like the government as a whole to work on further expanding direct investment in Japan and support the semiconductor industry," Kishida said. In particular, Kumamoto prefecture in southwestern Japan is quickly becoming a hotbed for tech investment from companies including TSMC and Fujifilm Holdings Corp (4901.T). The G7 summit runs from Friday to Sunday, and Kishida is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden later on Thursday.

☆ Japan PM expects more investment from global chipmakers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he expected additional investment from global chipmakers in Japan after meeting top executives on Thursday ahead of a Group of Seven (G7) summit. Executives from Micron Technology Inc (MU.O), IBM Corp (IBM.N), Applied Materials (AMAT.O) and Samsung Electronics (005930.KS), among others, also met Kishida. The company is also poised to get about 200 billion yen in financial incentives from Japan to help it make next-generation memory chips in the country, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. read moreKishida also said the government would work on expanding foreign direct investment in Japan. read more($1 = 135.0500 yen)Reporting by Kantaro Komiya Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan April exports rise 2.6% year/year - MOF
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japan's exports rose 2.6% in April from a year earlier, Ministry of Finance data showed on Thursday. The rise compares with a 3.0% increase expected by economists in a Reuters poll. Imports fell 2.3% in the year to April, versus the median estimate for a 0.3% decrease. The trade balance came to a deficit of 432.4 billion yen ($3.20 billion), versus the median estimate for a 613.8 billion yen shortfall. For tables, click the MOF website at:http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/index_e.htm($1 = 135.0500 yen)Reporting by Tetsushi Kajimoto Editing by Chang-Ran KimOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Japan arranging subsidies for Samsung chip facility -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Maki Shiraki | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, May 17 (Reuters) - Japan is arranging subsidies that could be worth around 15 billion yen ($110 million) to South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co (005930.KS) for a chip facility it is considering setting up near Tokyo, a source with direct knowledge of the matter said. Samsung, the world's largest maker of memory chips, would construct the facility including its first chip packaging test line in Japan near its existing research and development centre in Yokohama, Reuters reported in late March. The facility could cost around 40 billion yen to set up, of which about a third would be subsidised by the Japanese government, said the source, who declined to be named because the information is not public. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday plans to meet with executives from leading chip firms including Samsung to strengthen multilateral cooperation. Japan said last month it would give 260 billion yen in subsidies to domestic chipmaker Rapidus, which is building a factory on the northern island of Hokkaido, in addition to 70 billion yen of government funding secured earlier.

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