Japan's leader says he's preparing for tough negotiations with Trump on maintaining US presence
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, struggling to stabilize his minority government, said Friday he will seek to maintain regional security and prepare for tough negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump to win his commitment to maintain a strong American presence in the Asia-Pacific.

Bank of Japan raises policy interest rate

Japan Raises Interest Rates to Highest Level Since 2008
Bank of Japan raises rates to highest in 17 years
Bank of Japan raises interest rate to about 0.5%, citing higher wages and inflation
The Bank of Japan raised its key interest rate to about 0.5% from 0.25% Friday, noting that inflation is holding at a desirable target level. The decision by the central bank came at the end of a two-day policy board meeting in Tokyo.
The Diplomat9m
Japan Is Ready to Legalize ‘Active Cyber Defense’
National Security Strategy called for an overhaul of Japan’s cybersecurity posture. This might be the year the legislation finally gets over the finish line.
Alleged killer of Japanese schoolboy goes on trial in China, say Japan's foreign ministry
The trial of the alleged killer of a boy enrolled in a Japanese school in Shenzhen, China began in the city on Friday, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
Stock market today: World shares gain after S&P 500 climbs to a record and Bank of Japan raises rate
World shares advanced Friday after U.S. stocks rose to a record and the Bank of Japan raised its key lending rate. Oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump called on oil-producing countries to reduce the price of crude,
Exclusive: Japan's JERA plans to expand US LNG purchases to diversify energy supply
Japan's biggest top LNG buyer, JERA, plans to increase its purchases of liquefied natural gas from the United States to diversify its supply and meet demand growth spurred by data centres and AI, a senior executive told Reuters.
The Economist1d
Has Japan truly escaped low inflation?
Editor’s note: This story was updated on January 24th.
Public Radio International16h
Japan’s transit system is private. Should other countries consider the same?
Transit in most global cities is government-run. But in Japan, that’s not the case. There, private companies run a sprawling network of trains, subways, and buses, often considered the best in the world.
Star TV host retires as sex scandal rocks Japan industry
Masahiro Nakai, a TV host and former pop star in Japan, retires after sexual assault report
Entertainment And Media Industry Scandals In Japan
As J-pop superstar and TV host Masahiro Nakai announces his retirement over sexual misconduct allegations, AFP looks at recent scandals in Japan's media and entertainment industry:
KCON 2025 Announces Japan & Los Angeles Dates
Entertainment company CJ ENM announced its official dates for the K-pop festival's 2025 editions in Japan and the United States.
Japan raises interest rates to highest level in 17 years
The Bank of Japan raised interest rates on Friday to their highest since the 2008 global financial crisis, underscoring its confidence that rising wages will keep inflation stable around its 2% target.
One dead, two hurt in stabbing attack at Japan's Nagano train station
One person was killed and two hurt in a stabbing attack Wednesday at Japan's JR Nagano train station. One woman and two men were waiting for a bus on the station's north side when they were attacked.