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☆ Incoming Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba's economic views 'are not terribly well defined': Moody's
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIncoming Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba's economic views 'are not terribly well defined': Moody'sStefan Angrick, senior economist at Moody's Analytics, says incoming Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will likely continue Fumio Kishida's policies in the short term.

Persons: Moody's Stefan Angrick, Shigeru Ishiba Organizations: Incoming Japanese, Moody's

☆ Japan's next prime minister is a career dissenter, but experts doubt he can govern as one
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-01 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shigeru Ishiba, the man set to become the next leader of Japan, has made a career as a political outsider and opponent of party orthodoxy. However, some experts doubt that the former defense minister will manage to govern as such. The election ultimately came down to a runoff in which Ishiba defeated economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, who presented herself as the more Abenomics-aligned candidate. Japan's parliament is expected to formally vote Ishiba into the role Tuesday. He also reportedly suggested he would follow Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's approach of trying to pull Japan out of years of deflationary pressures.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Shinzo Abe, Abe, Tobias Harris, Ishiba, Sanae Takaichi, he's, Sayuri Shirai, Takaichi, there's, Fumio, Shirai Organizations: Liberal Democratic Party, Bank of, LDP, Japan Foresight, Keio University Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Abenomics

☆ Japan's Kishida was a 'dead man walking for a long time,' strategist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapan's Kishida was a 'dead man walking for a long time,' strategist saysAmir Anvarzadeh, market strategist at Asymmetric Advisors, discusses Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision not to seek reelection as head of his party.

Persons: Amir Anvarzadeh, Fumio Organizations: Asymmetric Advisors, Japanese

☆ 'Pulling a Joe Biden': Reactions to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's resignation
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters following North Korea's missile launch on April 13, 2023. JIJI Press | AFP | Getty ImagesJapanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down in September, a move that sparked a broad range of reactions from government officials and analysts. Still, Izumi thanked Kishida for his hard work, adding "Prime Minister Kishida, you must have been under a lot of pressure." "The prime minister is a true friend of the United States and Japan has become a true global partner for America," U.S. "I pay tribute to my friend Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Persons: Fumio Kishida, Japan's, Kishida, Joe Biden, he's, William Pesek, Biden, Izumi, Japan Rahm Emanuel, Kishida's, Emanuel, Anthony Albanese, Japan Shihab Alfaheem, Amir Anvarzadeh Organizations: Japan's, JIJI Press, AFP, Getty, Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, LDP, Japan, America, U.S, Alliance, Australian, Asymmetric Advisors Locations: United States, Japan, Australia

☆ Japan's Fumio Kishida is having a 'Joe Biden moment,' author says
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailJapan's Fumio Kishida is having a 'Joe Biden moment,' author saysWilliam Pesek, author of "Japanization: What the World Can Learn from Japan's Lost Decades," discusses Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's decision not to seek reelection as head of his party.

Persons: Kishida, Joe Biden, William Pesek, Fumio Organizations: Japanese

☆ Japan Business Leaders Return to China Seeking to Bolster Cooperation
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

Japanese economic delegations had visited China every year since 1975, but those visits lapsed during the COVID-19 era when China largely shuttered its borders due to its stringent pandemic policies. During their visit this week, the Japanese business delegates, which included Masakazu Tokura, chairman of the powerful Keidanren, as the Japan Business Federation is known, are due to meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Thursday. Japan is heavily reliant on China, where Japanese companies have for years invested in building manufacturing supply chains and forged relationships with local partners. China last year arrested a Japanese executive, an employee of the drugmaker Astellas Pharma, on suspicion of espionage. The move has had a chilling effect on business, Japanese officials say.

Persons: Masakazu Tokura, Premier Li Qiang, Fumio, Xi Jinping, Wang Yi, Gamble, Ryan Woo, Miyoung Kim, David Dolan, Michael Perry Organizations: Japan Business, Premier, Pharma, Procter, SK, Nidec Corp, Toyota, Nissan Locations: BEIJING, China, Japan, United States, Kishida, Greater China, Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo

TOKYO (AP) — Japan signed a deal with the United States on Thursday to purchase up to 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles as part of its ongoing military buildup in response to increased regional threats. In November, the U.S. approved a $2.35 billion sale of two types of Tomahawks — 200 Block IV missiles and 200 upgraded Block V versions. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesJapan and the United States agreed to expedite the deployment “in response to the increasingly severe security environment,” Kihara said. The government quickly approved a shipment of Japanese-made Patriot missiles to the United States to complement the U.S. inventory. “There is a new Japan emerging, a more competent Japan,” he said.

Persons: Fumio, spender, Minoru Kihara, Japan Rahm Emanuel, ” Kihara, Emanuel, Japan's, ” Organizations: TOKYO, —, China . Defense, U.S, Kihara, United, Japan’s, “ Locations: — Japan, United States, Japan, China, North Korea, Australia, Britain, Tokyo, South Korea, U.S

☆ Japan wants higher returns for investors — here's what it's doing
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

3D render Da-kuk | E+ | Getty ImagesJapan is stepping up efforts to ensure its listed companies become more efficient with capital allocation and increase shareholder returns this year. "It's not just the Tokyo stock exchange, but the entire Japan government is pushing for better corporate governance right now," said Toru Yoshikawa, a business professor at Waseda University in Tokyo. watch nowWith this move, the onus also falls on Japan's government to ensure steady and reliable returns from Japan's companies. Corporate governance pushMonday's disclosures will be based on information as of December and the releases will be a monthly affair. "If rival companies are doing great improvements in corporate governance, others will tend to follow that move."

Persons: It's, Toru Yoshikawa, Fumio, Yoshikawa, Warren Buffet, Yunosuke Ikeda, Goldman Organizations: Getty, Japan, TSE, Waseda University, The Tokyo Stock Exchange, kickstarted, Japan Inc, Nippon, Savings, Corporate, Tokyo Stock Exchange, CNBC, Toyota, Goldman Sachs Locations: Japan, Tokyo, Denso, Goldman Sachs Japan

☆ Nvidia CEO says he will try to prioritise Japan for AI processors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Japan is rushing to rebuild its once world-leading semiconductor infrastructure and catch up on the development of AI technology. The graphics processing units (GPUs) made by U.S.-based Nvidia dominate the market for AI. "Demand is very high, but I promised the prime minister we will do our very, very best to prioritise Japan's requirements for GPUs," Huang told reporters at Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official residence in Tokyo. "The semiconductor industry that Japan is now starting to grow and foster will be able to produce GPUs," Huang said. "Countries like Japan are realising that you need to own your own data, build your own AI factories and produce your own AI intelligence," he added.

Persons: Ann Wang, Jensen Huang, Huang, Fumio, Huang's, TSMC, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Rocky Swift, Chang, Ran Kim, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nvidia, Thomson Locations: Taipei, Taiwan, Japan, U.S, Tokyo, Hokkaido

☆ BOJ to end negative interest rates in 2024, over 80% of economists say: Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Satoshi Sugiyama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While none of 26 economists predicted changes in the upcoming December BOJ meeting, many foresaw the negative rate policy, which has set Japan's short-term deposit rate at minus 0.1%, would reach the end of the line next year. In the Nov. 15-20 poll, 22 of 26, or 85%, of economists said the BOJ would end the policy by the end of next year. Having watered down YCC, the BOJ's next focus is to end its negative interest rate policy and push short-term rates to zero, sources previously told Reuters. Close to 85% of poll respondents forecast the BOJ would end its YCC policy, while the rest said it would tweak the scheme again, the poll found. EYES ON NEXT YEAROf 22 economists in the poll who chose 2024 for the end of negative rates, more than a half, 12, opted for the April 25-26 meeting.

Persons: Issei Kato, Kazuo Ueda, Mitsubishi UFJ, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, Hiroshi Namioka, Namioka, Fumio Kishida's, Chiyuki Takamatsu, Satoshi Sugiyama, Veronica Khongwir, Sujith Pai, Sam Holmes Organizations: Bank of Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Bank of, Reuters, Capital, Research Institute, Mitsubishi, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, D, Management, Fukoku Mutual Life Insurance, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Bank of Japan

☆ Japan cuts view on economy for first time in 10 months
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Japan's government on Wednesday slashed its view on the economy for November in its first such downgrade in 10 months, as weak demand weighed on capital spending and consumer expenditure. The new assessment by the Cabinet Office came after data last week showed the economy shrank in July-September for the first time in three quarters as demand waned. "The economy is recovering moderately, although some areas showed stalemate recently," said the report issued by the Cabinet Office on Wednesday. It was the first time the government has cut its view on the overall economy since January. The government expects the economy to continue to recover moderately but there are risks such as those from global monetary tightening and the Chinese economy.

Persons: inflation's, Fumio, Kaori Kaneko, Sam Holmes Organizations: Cabinet, Thomson Locations: TOKYO

"Given the fast-changing landscape, I believe those who move fast (with wage hikes) should become competitive." A demand made this year by Rengo, Japan's largest trade union confederation, for pay hikes of "around 5%" resulted in average wage hikes of 3.58% among major companies. Six out of 10 economists in a Reuters poll expect major firms' pay hikes in 2024 to exceed this year's. The key, however, would be whether wage hikes broaden to smaller firms and those in the regional areas. A report by the BOJ's regional branch managers in October warned wage hikes remained uneven among sectors with many firms undecided on next year's pay increments.

Persons: Kim Kyung, Takeshi Niinami, Fumio, Kazuo Ueda, Hisashi Yamada, Rengo, Atsushi Takeda, Kishida, Keita Kondo, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Kentaro Sugiyama, Sam Holmes, Leika Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Suntory Holdings Ltd, Reuters, Meiji, Life Insurance, Suntory Holdings, Bank, Japan, Hosei University, OECD, UA Zensen, Itochu Economic Research Institute, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Ukraine, Saitama

☆ Japan's inflation-adjusted wages slip in September for 18th month
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Japan's real wages slipped in September for an 18th month, government data showed on Tuesday, with rising prices squeezing consumers' purchasing power, and likely to add to pressure from labour groups for higher wage increases. Financial markets worldwide pay close attention to the wage trends in the world's third-largest economy. Inflation-adjusted real wages, a barometer of consumer purchasing power, dropped in September by 2.4% from a year earlier after a revised 2.8% fall the month before, data from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare showed. Base salary growth in September advanced by 1.4% year-on-year, from a revised 1.2% increase the previous month, the data showed. Overtime pay, a gauge of business activity, went up in September by 0.7% year-on-year, after a revised 0.2% gain in August.

Persons: Androniki, Fumio Kishida's, Satoshi Sugiyama, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Financial, Bank of Japan, Ministry of Health, Labour, Welfare, Rengo, UA, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Base

☆ Malaysia says won't recognise unilateral sanctions on supporters of Palestinian groups
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim speaks at a press conference during Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's official visit, at Putrajaya, Malaysia, 05 November 2023. FAZRY ISMAIL/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Malaysia said on Tuesday it will not recognise unilateral sanctions in response to a proposed U.S. law to level sanctions against foreign supporters of Hamas and other militant groups operating in Palestine. The Hamas International Financing Prevention Act, aimed at cutting off international financing to the groups, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last week and is awaiting voting by the Senate. "Any sanctions against Malaysia can also affect the assessment of the U.S. government and U.S. companies towards Malaysia, as well as affect U.S companies' investment opportunities in Malaysia," Anwar said in a written reply to parliament on Tuesday. Anwar previously rejected Western pressure to condemn Hamas and said the U.S. had raised concerns with Malaysia regarding its stance on Palestine.

Persons: Anwar Ibrahim, Fumio, FAZRY ISMAIL, Anwar, Rozanna Latiff, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Malaysia, Japanese, REUTERS Acquire, U.S . House, Senate, Malaysian, Israel, Thomson Locations: Putrajaya, Malaysia, KUALA LUMPUR, U.S, Palestine, Israel

☆ Japan new economic package to total about $112 bln - Asahi
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A woman points at the high prices of fruits at a market in Tokyo, Japan March 3, 2023. REUTERS/Androniki Christodoulou/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Nov 1 (Reuters) - A package of economic measures Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government is compiling will likely come to about 17 trillion yen ($112.15 billion) in size, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Wednesday. Kishida said last week his government hoped to compile the package to cushion the economic blow from rising inflation on Nov. 2. ($1 = 151.5800 yen)Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Androniki, Fumio, Kishida, Kiyoshi Takenaka, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Asahi Shimbun, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

A woman looks at items at a shop in Tokyo, Japan, March 24, 2023. The spending plan, to be formally decided by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet on Nov. 2, also features payouts to low-income households, the officials said, confirming a report by the Nikkei newspaper. Tax revenue has grown this year, and Murai said the prime minister wanted to find a way to return some of that to the public to support households. "The prime minister will give formal and specific instruction at a meeting tomorrow between officials of the government and the ruling bloc, which will shape up through the ruling party's tax panel debate," Murai said. Kishida is due to discuss wage hikes, among other issues, with auto industry officials when he visits the Japan Mobility Show on Thursday, Murai said.

Persons: Androniki, Fumio Kishida's, Hideki Murai, Murai, Kishida, Takaya Yamaguchi, Yoshifumi Takemoto, Leika Kihara, Shri Navaratnam, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Nikkei, Japan, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, COVID

U.S. futures rose while oil prices fell back. A barrel of benchmark U.S. oil fell 97 cents to $87.11 per barrel. Chinese stocks fell to a 1-year low early Monday as foreign investors sold off holdings. High yields make borrowing more expensive for everyone, and they slow the economy while dragging on prices for stocks and other investments. But higher oil prices threaten to add upward pressure.

Persons: Brent, Taiwan’s Taiex, Fumio, Australia’s, ” Stephen Innes, It’s Organizations: Israel, Foxconn Technology, Fortune, Apple, Nikkei, Dow, Nasdaq, Treasury, Management, Federal, Fed, Enphase Energy, Regions Financial, U.S Locations: HONG KONG, Gaza, Gaza City, Israel, Shanghai, Hong, Taiwan, Seoul, Europe, U.S

☆ India and Japan will be Asia's next power couple
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Pranav Kiran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomes Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida upon his arrival at Bharat Mandapam convention center for the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. Evan Vucci/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 19 (Reuters Breakingviews) - India and Japan are edging closer. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's governments form part of the so-called Quad security grouping with the United States and Australia to counter Chinese expansionism in Asia. Now the two countries are setting up an investment fund together. That’s delivering on a pledge by Kishida to invest 5 trillion yen, or some $42 billion, into India over the next five years.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Fumio Kishida, Evan Vucci, Fumio, Kishida, Wood Mackenzie, Sajjan Jindal, India’s, Lakshmi Mittal, JBIC, Una Galani, Thomas Shum Organizations: Indian, Japan, Bharat, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, National Investment, Infrastructure Fund, Japan Bank, International Cooperation, Japan External Trade Organization, Nippon Telegraph, Telephone, Reuters Graphics, Teck Resources, Nippon Steel, ArcelorMittal, Japan Fund, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, Japan, United States, Australia, Asia, Reuters Graphics India, China, Russia, South, Teck, Indian

☆ Asia's edge isn't just cheap labor, whether it's China, India or Japan, KKR says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Evelyn Cheng | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Now, whether it's China, India or Japan, the region's edge lies in industrial services, KKR's heads of global and Asia macro said in an October note. That investment conclusion comes after a recent trip to Singapore, China and Japan by New York-based Henry H. McVey, chief investment officer of KKR Balance Sheet. "The bid for infrastructure and logistics could accelerate even more meaningfully, we believe, in key markets such as India, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and even Japan," the KKR report said. That includes a $2 billion acquisition of a Mitsubishi-backed real estate manager in spring 2022.watch now"I think there are two big megathemes in Japan," KKR's McVey said in an interview Thursday. The other big trend in Japan, McVey said, is corporate reform that's boosting shareholder returns.

Persons: Henry H, McVey, Frances Lim, KKR's McVey, Fumio, haven't, Warren Buffett, Lim didn't, There's, Nisha Awasthi, Lim Organizations: Visual China, Getty, BEIJING, KKR, Mitsubishi, Hitachi Transport System, Logisteed, Hyatt Regency, Gaw Capital Partners, Wednesday, China Locations: China, Haikou, Hainan, India, Japan, Asia, Singapore, New York, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Hyatt Regency Tokyo, Gurugram, BlackRock, Mumbai, Pacific, Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo

☆ Japan's top currency diplomat says Tokyo in close contact with US on FX moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Japanese yen and U.S. dollar banknotes are seen with a currency exchange rate graph in this illustration picture taken June 16, 2022. Yellen said whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. Last September, Japan conducted its first dollar-selling intervention to prop up the yen in 24 years as the dollar reached around 145 yen to the dollar. Authorities intervened twice in October as the dollar reached close to 152 yen. The Group of Seven (G7) nations require that member states inform their counterparts if they intervene in the currency market.

Persons: Florence Lo, Masato Kanda, Janet Yellen, Yellen, Kanda, Fumio, Tetsushi Kajimoto, Jacqueline Wong, Sam Holmes Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Treasury, Authorities, Thomson Locations: Washington, Japan

☆ Japan's top currency diplomat says Tokyo in close contact with U.S. on FX moves
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past an electronic board showing the closing numbers on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Japanese yen rate versus the US dollar (R), along a street in Tokyo on May 1, 2023. Japanese authorities are always in close communication with U.S. counterparts on currencies and share a mutual understanding that excessive volatility is undesirable, Tokyo's top foreign exchange official said on Wednesday. Yellen said whether Washington would show understanding over another yen-buying intervention by Japan "depends on the details" of the situation. "We won't rule out any options if excessive moves persist," Kanda said. To help households cope with higher living costs, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government plans a supplementary budget for this fiscal year, which could aggravate the industrial world's heaviest debt burden.

Persons: Masato Kanda, Janet Yellen, Yellen, Kanda, Fumio Organizations: Tokyo Stock Exchange, U.S, Treasury Locations: Tokyo, Washington, Japan

☆ Daiwa Securities Deputy President discusses culture change in corporate Japan and cabinet reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

In this videoShare Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailDaiwa Securities Deputy President discusses culture change in corporate Japan and cabinet reshuffleKeiko Tashiro of Daiwa Securities discusses the various reforms to Japan's corporate culture and governance, and Fumio Kishida's latest cabinet reshuffle.

Persons: Keiko Tashiro, Fumio Kishida's Organizations: Daiwa, Daiwa Securities Locations: Japan

☆ Feeling the heat: 44% of Japan firms see earnings hit from extreme weather - Reuters poll
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( David Dolan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Satoshi Sugiyama/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Some 44% of Japanese companies see extreme weather events around the globe hitting earnings, a Reuters survey showed, highlighting the impact of scorching heat waves and torrential rains on firms in the world's third-largest economy. Disaster-prone Japan is no stranger to extreme weather events, including typhoons, floods and blistering heat. "Infrastructure is likely to be disrupted due to extreme weather conditions, which could result in emergency spending and lower productivity," wrote a manager at a company in the transport sector. The monthly Reuters Corporate Survey of 502 large and medium-sized non-financial Japanese firms, in which 248 responded, showed a majority of non-manufacturers had already felt or expected to feel the effects of extreme weather on their earnings. Flooding has been a particular headache for Japanese companies.

Persons: Satoshi Sugiyama, Japan Inc's, Fumio, David Dolan, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: Mitsubishi Motor, Rights, Reuters Corporate Survey, Reuters, Nikkei Research, Investment, Thomson Locations: Kurashiki, Japan

☆ Japan PM to Include Five Women in Cabinet - Media
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's cabinet will include five female ministers, the same number as in two previous administrations, Japanese media reported on Wednesday, as the premier seeks to boost his sagging ratings with fresh faces. About 43% of respondents disapproved of Kishida's leadership while 36% approved, according to a poll by public broadcaster NHK conducted last week. Yoko Kamikawa, a former justice minister who oversaw the execution of the Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult that carried out a deadly sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway in 1995, will become foreign minister, the media outlets said. The number of women in cabinet is the same as previous cabinets led by former premiers Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe. Kishida has also appointed pro-Taiwan politician Minoru Kihara to head the defence ministry, while retaining Shunichi Suzuki as finance minister and Yasutoshi Nishimura as economic minister, the media outlets said.

Persons: Fumio Kishida's, Kishida, Yoko Kamikawa, Sanae, Junichiro Koizumi, Shinzo Abe, Minoru Kihara, Suzuki, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Sakura Murakami, Miral Fahmy Organizations: NHK Locations: TOKYO, Tokyo, Taiwan

TOKYO (AP) — Fishermen and residents of Fukushima and five other prefectures along Japan’s northeastern coast filed a lawsuit Friday demanding a halt to the ongoing release of treated radioactive wastewater from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea. Three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant melted after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in 2011 destroyed its cooling systems. “The intentional release to the sea is an intentional harmful act that adds to the (nuclear plant) accident," said another lawyer, Hiroyuki Kawai. He said the ocean is a public resource and it is unethical for a company to discharge wastewater into it. China banned all imports of Japanese seafood in response to the release, while Hong Kong and Macau suspended imports from 10 prefectures including Fukushima.

Persons: Kenjiro Kitamura, Hiroyuki Kawai, Fumio, Kishida Organizations: TOKYO, —, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Nuclear, Authority, TEPCO, International Atomic Energy Agency, Groups Locations: Fukushima, Tokyo, China, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Indonesia

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