China on Friday (May 6) slammed Japan for hyping a threat to East Asia after &nbsp;Tokyo's leader Fumio Kishida Ukraine's plight could be replicated in the region.

According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, "Japan has frequently taken advantage of some diplomatic activities to talk about China, exaggerate regional tensions and hype the so-called 'China threat'."

''Japan is doing this to find excuses for its own military expansion and to undermine mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries, which is not conducive to peace and stability in the region and is destined to be unpopular. China is firmly opposed to Japan's words and actions."

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"If Japan really wants peace and stability in East Asia, it should immediately stop provoking confrontation among leading powers and do more to promote mutual trust among regional countries and promote regional peace and stability," he added.

During his visit to the United Kingdom, Kishida said, "Collaboration among countries sharing universal values becomes ever more vital."

"We must collaborate with our allies and like-minded countries, and never tolerate a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by the use of force in the Indo Pacific, especially in East Asia."

"Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow," he added saying peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait must be maintained.

"Japan maintains its position to expect a peaceful resolution through dialogue to issues surrounding Taiwan. And the situation will be watched carefully from that perspective," he added.

In response, Taiwan's foreign ministry said that Kishida's statements "not only reflect the aspirations of democratic countries but also win the recognition and approval of the international community".

Japan along with the United States, Australia, and India have maintained a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to counter a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region.

(With inputs from agencies)

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China on Friday (May 6) slammed Japan for hyping a threat to East Asia after Tokyo's leader Fumio Kishida Ukraine's plight could be replicated in the region. According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, "Japan has frequently taken advantage of some diplomatic activities to talk about China, exaggerate regional tensions and hype the so-called 'China threat'.

China on Friday (May 6) slammed Japan for hyping a threat to East Asia after Tokyo's leader Fumio Kishida Ukraine's plight could be replicated in the region. According to Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian, "Japan has frequently taken advantage of some diplomatic activities to talk about China, exaggerate regional tensions and hype the so-called 'China threat'." ''Japan is doing this to find excuses for its own military expansion and to undermine mutual trust and cooperation among regional countries, which is not conducive to peace and stability in the region and is destined to be unpopular. China is firmly opposed to Japan's words and actions." "If Japan really wants peace and stability in East Asia, it should immediately stop provoking confrontation among leading powers and do more to promote mutual trust among regional countries and promote regional peace and stability," he added. During his visit to the United Kingdom, Kishida said, "Collaboration among countries sharing universal values becomes ever more vital." "We must collaborate with our allies and like-minded countries, and never tolerate a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by the use of force in the Indo Pacific, especially in East Asia." "Ukraine may be East Asia tomorrow," he added saying peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait must be maintained. "Japan maintains its position to expect a peaceful resolution through dialogue to issues surrounding Taiwan. And the situation will be watched carefully from that perspective," he added. In response, Taiwan's foreign ministry said that Kishida's statements "not only reflect the aspirations of democratic countries but also win the recognition and approval of the international community". Japan along with the United States, Australia, and India have maintained a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue to counter a rising China in the Indo-Pacific region. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: Decode the geostrategy, diplomacy, and ideologies of the world’s unending wars. Catch our special series ‘World at War’ every Saturday at 8:30 PM IST and Sunday at 10:30 PM IST only on WION.

China slams Japan after Kishida said Ukraine plight could be replicated in East Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday (April 30) called for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine during a meeting with his Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Kishida is on a tour of Southeast Asia to&nbsp;counter China's growing assertiveness in the region and to discuss regional responses to the Ukraine crisis.

He told reporters, "I expressed my strong opposition to a unilateral change of the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea."

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"An infringement on sovereignty and territorial integrity through the use of force and intimidation, as well as an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, are unacceptable in any region," he said.

Widodo confirmed that he has invited both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November.

In response, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "The President has expressed publicly his opposition to President Putin attending the G20. We have welcomed the Ukrainians attending."&nbsp;

"We have conveyed our view that we don't think (Russia) should be a part of it publicly and privately," she told reporters.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-may-last-a-decade-and-putin-a-desperate-rogue-operator-uk-foreign-secretary-liz-truss-474894" hreflang="en">Ukraine war may last a decade and Putin a 'desperate rogue operator': UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss</a>

According to State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter, "The United States continues to believe that it can't be business as usual with regards to Russia's participation with the international community or international institutions."&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "for the time being, it is premature to communicate the modalities of Russian participation."

Japan is Asia's only country that is a member of the Group of Seven (G7) and officials say it hopes to hold talks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and consolidate responses in Southeast Asia, where only one nation, Singapore, has joined sanctions against Moscow.

Kishida will host the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue next month for talks on regional security with India, Australia, and the United States.&nbsp;

Watch WION's live TV:

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(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday (April 30) called for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine during a meeting with his Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday (April 30) called for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine during a meeting with his Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Kishida is on a tour of Southeast Asia to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region and to discuss regional responses to the Ukraine crisis. He told reporters, "I expressed my strong opposition to a unilateral change of the status quo by force in the East China Sea and the South China Sea." "An infringement on sovereignty and territorial integrity through the use of force and intimidation, as well as an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force, are unacceptable in any region," he said. Widodo confirmed that he has invited both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to the G20 summit in November. In response, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, "The President has expressed publicly his opposition to President Putin attending the G20. We have welcomed the Ukrainians attending." "We have conveyed our view that we don't think (Russia) should be a part of it publicly and privately," she told reporters. Also read | Ukraine war may last a decade and Putin a 'desperate rogue operator': UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss According to State Department deputy spokesperson Jalina Porter, "The United States continues to believe that it can't be business as usual with regards to Russia's participation with the international community or international institutions." Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that "for the time being, it is premature to communicate the modalities of Russian participation." Japan is Asia's only country that is a member of the Group of Seven (G7) and officials say it hopes to hold talks on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and consolidate responses in Southeast Asia, where only one nation, Singapore, has joined sanctions against Moscow. Kishida will host the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue next month for talks on regional security with India, Australia, and the United States. Watch WION's live TV: (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida calls for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine

Japan's coast guard is looking for a tourist boat with 26 onboard that went missing on Saturday.

'Kazu I' had been on a sightseeing cruise when its crew noticed it was flooding around 1:15 p.m. (0415 GMT).

According to Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito, "that the bow of the vessel was flooded just off the coast of Shiretoko Peninsula and that the vessel was sinking... &nbsp;asking for rescue assistance."&nbsp;

"There were two crew members and 24 passengers on board, all of whom were wearing lifejackets," Saito added.

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Shiretoko Peninsula, a world heritage site designated by UNESCO in 2005, is famous for its wildlife and dramatic coastline, including the endangered Steller sea lion, as well as migratory birds and brown bears.

The peninsuela is located on the far northeastern tip of Hokkaido. Its temperature hovers around two-three degrees Celsius during daytime and zero degrees Celsius at night.

Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that the boat was keeling at a 30-degree angle when it contacted its operating company.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-japan-is-whipping-up-hysteria-in-kuril-islands-row-451707">Also read |&nbsp;Russia says Japan is whipping up ‘hysteria’ in Kuril Islands row</a>

Although rescuers had "set up a task force to tackle the incident," Saito said, "But we received reports that they haven't found the vessel or its crew and passengers."

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has given instructions to use all available means in the search for the boat.

He is currently in Kumamoto to attend the Asia-Pacific Water Summit. But Kyoto reported that he will cut short his visit to the southern prefecture because of the issue.

Japan Broadcasting Corporation said the boat left Utoro port around 10 a.m. for the Kashinu Falls where waves had been high.

Last November, a 69-year-old man had been found drifting in open water off southwestern Kagoshima by the Japanese coastguard after he had spent 22 hours around the archipelago.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Japan's coast guard is looking for a tourist boat with 26 onboard that went missing on Saturday. 'Kazu I' had been on a sightseeing cruise when its crew noticed it was flooding around 1:15 p.

Japan's coast guard is looking for a tourist boat with 26 onboard that went missing on Saturday. 'Kazu I' had been on a sightseeing cruise when its crew noticed it was flooding around 1:15 p.m. (0415 GMT). According to Transport Minister Tetsuo Saito, "that the bow of the vessel was flooded just off the coast of Shiretoko Peninsula and that the vessel was sinking... asking for rescue assistance." "There were two crew members and 24 passengers on board, all of whom were wearing lifejackets," Saito added. Shiretoko Peninsula, a world heritage site designated by UNESCO in 2005, is famous for its wildlife and dramatic coastline, including the endangered Steller sea lion, as well as migratory birds and brown bears. The peninsuela is located on the far northeastern tip of Hokkaido. Its temperature hovers around two-three degrees Celsius during daytime and zero degrees Celsius at night. Japanese news agency Kyodo reported that the boat was keeling at a 30-degree angle when it contacted its operating company. Also read | Russia says Japan is whipping up ‘hysteria’ in Kuril Islands row Although rescuers had "set up a task force to tackle the incident," Saito said, "But we received reports that they haven't found the vessel or its crew and passengers." Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has given instructions to use all available means in the search for the boat. He is currently in Kumamoto to attend the Asia-Pacific Water Summit. But Kyoto reported that he will cut short his visit to the southern prefecture because of the issue. Japan Broadcasting Corporation said the boat left Utoro port around 10 a.m. for the Kashinu Falls where waves had been high. Last November, a 69-year-old man had been found drifting in open water off southwestern Kagoshima by the Japanese coastguard after he had spent 22 hours around the archipelago. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan's coast guard searching for 'sinking' tourist boat with 26 on board

With the Ukraine crisis and further strengthening of Quad grouping, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will reach India to take part in the 14th annual India Japan summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;

Both leaders will meet around 5:00 pm IST in New Delhi, this is the second such in-person meeting after both leaders met last year on the sidelines of the Glasgow Climate Summit.&nbsp;

Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno ahead of the visit said, "From March 19th to 21st, PM Kishida will visit India and Cambodia. During his travel, PM Kishida will meet PM Modi of India...to discuss the international and regional affairs as well as the bilateral relationship. They will address broad range of topics...through Quad we would like to advance efforts to achieve free and open Indo Pacific", adding, "will discuss Ukraine situation".

Japan, along with the West has announced sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine that started on February 24.&nbsp;

Japan is also sanctioning Russia's state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport. Russia's Rosoboronexport is involved in K-203 Kalashnikov project in Amethi and other defence pacts with India.&nbsp;

India meanwhile has abstained at the United Nations over the Ukraine crisis and is looking to import discounted Russian oil something that is seen as a pragmatic approach domestically.&nbsp;

The visit comes even as India and Japan celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties.&nbsp;

This is the first visit by any Japanese PM to India in four and half years. While India and Japan have ab annual summit-level mechanism under which prime ministers of both countries travel to each other's countries alternatively, the delay has been due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.&nbsp;

PM Fumio, become the Japanese PM in October of last year and had visited India earlier in his capacity as foreign minister.&nbsp;

According to reports by Japanese newspaper Nikkei, the incoming Japanese PM plans to announce five trillion yen or $42 billion investment in India for the next five years during the two-day visit.&nbsp;

During the weekly ministry of external affairs presser on Thursday, spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The summit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, so as to advance partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo Pacific region and beyond."&nbsp;

Later this year, PM Modi is expected to visit Japan for the second Quad in-person summit in Japan. Quad, involving India, US, Australia, Japan is been evolving fast amid the Chinese aggressive actions in the Indo Pacific.&nbsp;

This is the first head of government/head of state-level incoming visit to India this year. Japan has been one of the closest partners for India in Asia and the world.&nbsp;

The country has been involved in building major infrastructure projects, especially in India's north-east. PM had last year laid the foundation stone of a 20 km-long bridge over the Brahmaputra river between Assam and Meghalaya.&nbsp;

Varanasi Convention Centre (Rudraksh) was inaugurated by PM last year where the then Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga had sent a video message. C

The country has a major role in India's first bullet train or Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and in terms of defence, both sides have signed a Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS).&nbsp;

As part of getting a trained Indian workforce, India and Japan have signed the Specified Skilled Workers Agreement. Under Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), 220 Indian youth have been sent to Japan to work.&nbsp;

The Japanese side has since January this year started examination for nursing care under this programme.

WATCH |&nbsp;WION Ground Report: The story of Kyiv's first responders

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With the Ukraine crisis and further strengthening of Quad grouping, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will reach India to take part in the 14th annual India Japan summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

With the Ukraine crisis and further strengthening of Quad grouping, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will reach India to take part in the 14th annual India Japan summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Both leaders will meet around 5:00 pm IST in New Delhi, this is the second such in-person meeting after both leaders met last year on the sidelines of the Glasgow Climate Summit. Japan's chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno ahead of the visit said, "From March 19th to 21st, PM Kishida will visit India and Cambodia. During his travel, PM Kishida will meet PM Modi of India...to discuss the international and regional affairs as well as the bilateral relationship. They will address broad range of topics...through Quad we would like to advance efforts to achieve free and open Indo Pacific", adding, "will discuss Ukraine situation". Japan, along with the West has announced sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine that started on February 24. Japan is also sanctioning Russia's state-owned arms exporter Rosoboronexport. Russia's Rosoboronexport is involved in K-203 Kalashnikov project in Amethi and other defence pacts with India. India meanwhile has abstained at the United Nations over the Ukraine crisis and is looking to import discounted Russian oil something that is seen as a pragmatic approach domestically. The visit comes even as India and Japan celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. This is the first visit by any Japanese PM to India in four and half years. While India and Japan have ab annual summit-level mechanism under which prime ministers of both countries travel to each other's countries alternatively, the delay has been due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. PM Fumio, become the Japanese PM in October of last year and had visited India earlier in his capacity as foreign minister. According to reports by Japanese newspaper Nikkei, the incoming Japanese PM plans to announce five trillion yen or $42 billion investment in India for the next five years during the two-day visit. During the weekly ministry of external affairs presser on Thursday, spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "The summit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in diverse areas, as well as exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, so as to advance partnership for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indo Pacific region and beyond." Later this year, PM Modi is expected to visit Japan for the second Quad in-person summit in Japan. Quad, involving India, US, Australia, Japan is been evolving fast amid the Chinese aggressive actions in the Indo Pacific. This is the first head of government/head of state-level incoming visit to India this year. Japan has been one of the closest partners for India in Asia and the world. The country has been involved in building major infrastructure projects, especially in India's north-east. PM had last year laid the foundation stone of a 20 km-long bridge over the Brahmaputra river between Assam and Meghalaya. Varanasi Convention Centre (Rudraksh) was inaugurated by PM last year where the then Japanese PM Yoshihide Suga had sent a video message. C The country has a major role in India's first bullet train or Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail and in terms of defence, both sides have signed a Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services Agreement (RPSS). As part of getting a trained Indian workforce, India and Japan have signed the Specified Skilled Workers Agreement. Under Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP), 220 Indian youth have been sent to Japan to work. The Japanese side has since January this year started examination for nursing care under this programme. WATCH | WION Ground Report: The story of Kyiv's first responders ×

With Ukraine and Quad in focus, Japan PM Fumio Kishida lands in India today

The Russia-Ukraine conflict and China were discussed during the talks between Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Saturday.

Briefing reporters in New Delhi following the conclusion of the talks, Shringla said that both the leaders called for an immediate end to violence and emphasised on the importance of the safety &amp; security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine.

“PM Modi and Japanese PM Kishida exchanged perspectives on Ukraine today. They expressed the seriousness about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis and assessed broader implications for Indo-Pacific,” the top official said.

“PM Modi &amp; Japanese PM Kishida emphasised on the importance of the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. They reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that there was no other path than dialogue for resolving the Ukraine crisis,” he added.

When WION asked whether China’s aggression border aggression was raised during the meeting,&nbsp;Shringla responded, “Both the PMs discussed China. We informed Japan of the situation in Ladakh, the attempts of amassing the troops, &amp; our talks with China on border-related issues... Japanese PM also briefed us on his perspective vis-a-vis East &amp; South China sea.”

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/japan-pm-fumio-kishida-announces-42-billion-investment-in-india-463849">Japan PM Fumio Kishida announces $42 billion investment in India</a>

“We made it clear that unless we have a resolution of the border issues with peace &amp; tranquillity, we could not consider the relationship (with China) to be business as usual; normalcy would depend on the progress in issues we're discussing,” he added.

He also informed that India and China have signed three agreements on cyber security, sustainable development and wastewater management.

“We also concluded 7 loan agreements for official development assistance, in areas of connectivity, healthcare, water supply and sewage. Both sides agreed on work plans with the import of Japanese apples to India and export of Indian mangoes to Japan,” Shringla said.

Watch |&nbsp;Indian PM Modi, Japanese PM Kishida discuss Ukraine conflict, Indo-Pacific

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The Russia-Ukraine conflict and China were discussed during the talks between Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Saturday.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict and China were discussed during the talks between Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, India’s foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Saturday. Briefing reporters in New Delhi following the conclusion of the talks, Shringla said that both the leaders called for an immediate end to violence and emphasised on the importance of the safety & security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. “PM Modi and Japanese PM Kishida exchanged perspectives on Ukraine today. They expressed the seriousness about the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis and assessed broader implications for Indo-Pacific,” the top official said. “PM Modi & Japanese PM Kishida emphasised on the importance of the safety and security of nuclear facilities in Ukraine. They reiterated their call for an immediate cessation of violence and noted that there was no other path than dialogue for resolving the Ukraine crisis,” he added. When WION asked whether China’s aggression border aggression was raised during the meeting, Shringla responded, “Both the PMs discussed China. We informed Japan of the situation in Ladakh, the attempts of amassing the troops, & our talks with China on border-related issues... Japanese PM also briefed us on his perspective vis-a-vis East & South China sea.” Also read | Japan PM Fumio Kishida announces $42 billion investment in India “We made it clear that unless we have a resolution of the border issues with peace & tranquillity, we could not consider the relationship (with China) to be business as usual; normalcy would depend on the progress in issues we're discussing,” he added. He also informed that India and China have signed three agreements on cyber security, sustainable development and wastewater management. “We also concluded 7 loan agreements for official development assistance, in areas of connectivity, healthcare, water supply and sewage. Both sides agreed on work plans with the import of Japanese apples to India and export of Indian mangoes to Japan,” Shringla said. Watch | Indian PM Modi, Japanese PM Kishida discuss Ukraine conflict, Indo-Pacific

India’s Modi and Japan’s Kishida discussed China and Ukraine conflict: Shringla

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday announced a 5 trillion yen ($42 billion) investment in India over the next five years during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

"We (Kishida and Modi) confirmed any unilateral change to the status quo by force cannot be forgiven in any region, and it is necessary to seek peaceful resolutions of disputes based on international law," Kishida told reporters after meeting Modi in New Delhi.

The two leaders were meeting to strengthen security amid the Ukraine crisis and improve economic ties between the two nations.

Japan in recent years has supported India's urban infrastructure development and the high-speed railway based on its bullet train technology.

A joint statement pointedly "underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region".

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Kishida's office quoted him saying before meeting Modi that "Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an outrage that undermines the very foundation of the order of the international community, including Asia".

"Such unilateral changes to the status quo are also absolutely unacceptable in the Indo-Pacific region. During this overseas trip (to India and Cambodia) I will engage in exchanges of views with my counterparts about the situation in Ukraine and other matters and urge them to take action," Kishida's office tweeted.

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これからインドとカンボジアに行ってまいります。 <a href="https://t.co/WcfwP4WyIA">https://t.co/WcfwP4WyIA</a>
— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) <a href="https://twitter.com/kishida230/status/1504953457563774976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Unlike fellow members of the Quad alliance,&nbsp;Japan, Australia and the United States,&nbsp;India has abstained in three UN votes condemning Moscow's actions, calling only for a halt to the violence.

Ahead of Kishida's visit, the first by a Japanese premier since 2017, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Tokyo was "aware" of Delhi's "geographical location and historical ties to Russia".

Prime Minister Modi had spoken to PM Kishida on phone in October 2021 soon after he assumed office. Both sides expressed a desire to further strengthen the special strategic and global partnership.

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The annual summit between Prime Minister Modi and his then Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe was cancelled in December 2019 in Guwahati in the wake of massive protests rocking the Assam capital over the amended citizenship law.

The summit could not be held in 2020 as well as in 2021 primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2014, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced 3.5 trillion yen in investment and financing over five years during a visit to India.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday announced a 5 trillion yen ($42 billion) investment in India over the next five years during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Saturday announced a 5 trillion yen ($42 billion) investment in India over the next five years during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. "We (Kishida and Modi) confirmed any unilateral change to the status quo by force cannot be forgiven in any region, and it is necessary to seek peaceful resolutions of disputes based on international law," Kishida told reporters after meeting Modi in New Delhi. The two leaders were meeting to strengthen security amid the Ukraine crisis and improve economic ties between the two nations. Japan in recent years has supported India's urban infrastructure development and the high-speed railway based on its bullet train technology. A joint statement pointedly "underlined that the Quad must remain focused on its core objective of promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region". Kishida's office quoted him saying before meeting Modi that "Russia's aggression against Ukraine is an outrage that undermines the very foundation of the order of the international community, including Asia". "Such unilateral changes to the status quo are also absolutely unacceptable in the Indo-Pacific region. During this overseas trip (to India and Cambodia) I will engage in exchanges of views with my counterparts about the situation in Ukraine and other matters and urge them to take action," Kishida's office tweeted. これからインドとカンボジアに行ってまいります。 https://t.co/WcfwP4WyIA — 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) March 18, 2022 × Unlike fellow members of the Quad alliance, Japan, Australia and the United States, India has abstained in three UN votes condemning Moscow's actions, calling only for a halt to the violence. Ahead of Kishida's visit, the first by a Japanese premier since 2017, a Japanese foreign ministry official said Tokyo was "aware" of Delhi's "geographical location and historical ties to Russia". Prime Minister Modi had spoken to PM Kishida on phone in October 2021 soon after he assumed office. Both sides expressed a desire to further strengthen the special strategic and global partnership. This year also marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The annual summit between Prime Minister Modi and his then Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe was cancelled in December 2019 in Guwahati in the wake of massive protests rocking the Assam capital over the amended citizenship law. The summit could not be held in 2020 as well as in 2021 primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2014, then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced 3.5 trillion yen in investment and financing over five years during a visit to India. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan PM Fumio Kishida announces $42 billion investment in India

The acceptance rate for women has exceeded that for men at Japanese medical schools for the first time.

According to data released by Japan's education ministry, 13.6 per cent of female candidates passed exams at 81 medical schools last spring. In comparison, 13.51 per cent of men passed the same exams.

“It has become clear that the acceptance rate will not be low only for female applicants,” said a Japanese education ministry official told Kyodo news agency.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-doctor-and-aid-worker-tetsu-nakamura-shot-dead-in-afghanistan-266200">Also read |&nbsp;Japanese doctor and aid worker Tetsu Nakamura shot dead in Afghanistan</a>

It comes after a score-rigging scandal emerged over entrance procedures for Tokyo Medical University that systematically cut women applicant’s entrance exam scores for years to keep them out and boost the numbers of male doctors.

From 2011, the university began cutting the scores of female applicants to keep the number of women students at about 30 percent, after the number of successful women entrants jumped in 2010.

The exam score alterations were discovered in an internal investigation of a graft allegation that emerged last spring season.

The Yomiuri Shimbun daily quoted university sources as saying the action was prompted by a “strong sense at the school” that many women quit medicine after graduating to get married and have children.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-pm-shinzo-abe-to-consult-doctors-before-facing-media-on-friday-323191">Also read |&nbsp;Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to consult doctors before facing media on Friday</a>

Tokyo Medical University spokesman Fumio Azuma said an internal investigation had already begun after allegations last spring of bribery involving the medical school admission of the son of a senior official of the education ministry.

“Of course, we will ask them to include this in their investigations,” he said, adding that while result of the first investigation is expected this month, he does not know when the probe into the new allegations will be completed.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made creating a society “where women can shine” a priority, but women still face an uphill battle in employment and hurdles returning to work after having children, despite Japan’s falling birthrate.

A 2018 survey by the health ministry found that just 21.9 per cent of doctors were women, the lowest share among countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in which the average was 46 per cent in 2015.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The acceptance rate for women has exceeded that for men at Japanese medical schools for the first time. According to data released by Japan's education ministry, 13.

The acceptance rate for women has exceeded that for men at Japanese medical schools for the first time. According to data released by Japan's education ministry, 13.6 per cent of female candidates passed exams at 81 medical schools last spring. In comparison, 13.51 per cent of men passed the same exams. “It has become clear that the acceptance rate will not be low only for female applicants,” said a Japanese education ministry official told Kyodo news agency. Also read | Japanese doctor and aid worker Tetsu Nakamura shot dead in Afghanistan It comes after a score-rigging scandal emerged over entrance procedures for Tokyo Medical University that systematically cut women applicant’s entrance exam scores for years to keep them out and boost the numbers of male doctors. From 2011, the university began cutting the scores of female applicants to keep the number of women students at about 30 percent, after the number of successful women entrants jumped in 2010. The exam score alterations were discovered in an internal investigation of a graft allegation that emerged last spring season. The Yomiuri Shimbun daily quoted university sources as saying the action was prompted by a “strong sense at the school” that many women quit medicine after graduating to get married and have children. Also read | Japanese PM Shinzo Abe to consult doctors before facing media on Friday Tokyo Medical University spokesman Fumio Azuma said an internal investigation had already begun after allegations last spring of bribery involving the medical school admission of the son of a senior official of the education ministry. “Of course, we will ask them to include this in their investigations,” he said, adding that while result of the first investigation is expected this month, he does not know when the probe into the new allegations will be completed. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has made creating a society “where women can shine” a priority, but women still face an uphill battle in employment and hurdles returning to work after having children, despite Japan’s falling birthrate. A 2018 survey by the health ministry found that just 21.9 per cent of doctors were women, the lowest share among countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, in which the average was 46 per cent in 2015. (With inputs from agencies)

In a first, Japanese women beat men in medical school acceptance rate

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February.

His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

The question of whether Japan will send top officials to the Winter Olympics in February has resurfaced, following the announcements by the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom that their officials will not attend the games.

According to Kishida, Japan would make a decision after thoroughly considering numerous concerns in the national interest.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-declares-victory-after-very-tough-election-425730">Watch | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election&nbsp;</a>

The boycotts have been described by China as "political posturing" and a smear campaign.

Kishida made the remark in the House of Representatives. 
 
Watch | Gravitas: Meet Japan's 100th Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-meet-japans-100th-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-416951/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Japan, a key ally of the US, is concerned about what it believes to be escalating Chinese threats.

But, as a manufacturing hub and a buyer for its autos and other products, it is economically dependent on its neighbour.

According to the Yomiuri newspaper, senior Japanese government officials are likely to miss the Games, despite government officials saying that nothing has been determined so far.

(With inputs from agencies)

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February. His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom.

Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, confirmed on Thursday that he would not be attending the Beijing Olympics in February. His comments in parliament came after the US launched a diplomatic boycott of the games in response to mounting criticism of China's human rights record, a decision that has been echoed by other nations such as Australia and the United Kingdom. The question of whether Japan will send top officials to the Winter Olympics in February has resurfaced, following the announcements by the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom that their officials will not attend the games. According to Kishida, Japan would make a decision after thoroughly considering numerous concerns in the national interest. Watch | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election The boycotts have been described by China as "political posturing" and a smear campaign. Kishida made the remark in the House of Representatives. Watch | Gravitas: Meet Japan's 100th Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Japan, a key ally of the US, is concerned about what it believes to be escalating Chinese threats. But, as a manufacturing hub and a buyer for its autos and other products, it is economically dependent on its neighbour. According to the Yomiuri newspaper, senior Japanese government officials are likely to miss the Games, despite government officials saying that nothing has been determined so far. (With inputs from agencies)

'No plans to attend Beijing Olympics': Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Japan's prime minister said on Wednesday that the government had overstated the value of some construction orders received from builders for years, in a blow to the credibility of official statistics widely used by investors and economists.

Officials and analysts said the builders involved were relatively small firms and therefore this practice was likely to have had only a minimal impact on gross domestic product (GDP) figures.

"It is regrettable that such a thing has happened," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. "The government will examine as soon as possible what steps it can take to avoid such an incident from happening again."

He made the comment in parliament after the Asahi newspaper reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism had been "rewriting" data received from about 12,000 companies since 2013 at a pace of about 10,000 entries per year.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/slept-soundly-japans-kishida-assures-he-hasnt-seen-any-ghosts-in-pm-residence-yet-436431">'Slept soundly': Japan's Kishida assures he hasn't seen any ghosts in PM residence yet</a>

Kishida said that "improvements" had been made since January 2020 and that there was no direct impact on GDP data for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021.

However, the news is likely to raise questions about the reliability of data that is a cornerstone for economists and investors looking to understand and forecast trends in the world's third-largest economy.

It is not the first time that issues have been raised about government data. Similar concern was voiced about a flaw in health ministry wage data found in 2018.

"The biggest problem is not the effect on the GDP per se but the damage to reliability of (official) statistics," said Saisuke Sakai, senior economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies.

"We can't help doubting this kind of issue could happen across government ministries," Sakai said.

'UNDER PRESSURE'

The construction orders data combines public and private orders, which in fiscal 2020 totalled roughly 80 trillion yen ($700 billion). The figures also feed into Japan's GDP calculations.

For the construction survey, the ministry collects monthly orders data from building companies through local prefectural authorities.

Companies that fall behind in submitting data often sent in several months' worth of figures at a time. In these instances, the ministry would instruct local authorities to rewrite the orders for the combined months as the figure for the latest, single month.

"We engaged in such a practice to reflect the actual situation regarding orders placed. If we had refused to collect data that way, the number of samples would have dwindled," said a ministry official directly in charge of the data.

The official added that the practice may have begun in around 2000, when the ministry started tracking the data.

"We were under pressure not to reduce samples, even though looking back, this practice was weird."

Furthermore, when an entry was missing from a company, the ministry would put in a tentative figure by taking the average of the orders from the rest of the industry in that month, resulting in double-counting once the missing sum arrived.

Considering Japan has hundreds of thousands of construction companies, the proportion of those concerned was very small, said Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management.

"How much influence do they have? The kind of sloppy company which puts out numbers late is probably not big."

Still, Land Minister Tetsuo Saito, a veteran lawmaker of the Komeito party, the smaller of the two ruling coalition parties, confirmed the practice in parliament and said it was "extremely regrettable".

Ministry officials said they had not directly reported the data flaws to Saito's predecessor, Kazuyoshi Akaba.

Asked about the issue, the government's top spokesperson said only that the land ministry had been instructed to analyse "as soon as possible" what had led to the practice.

"We will first wait for the results of that investigation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters.

Restating data this way, which may have broken the law, continued until January 2020 after the Board of Audit pointed it out to the ministry, the ministry said. It added that the original construction survey forms from before 2019 had already been discarded so it would be hard to restore monthly figures from previous years.

Japan's prime minister said on Wednesday that the government had overstated the value of some construction orders received from builders for years, in a blow to the credibility of official statistics widely used by investors and economists.

Japan's prime minister said on Wednesday that the government had overstated the value of some construction orders received from builders for years, in a blow to the credibility of official statistics widely used by investors and economists. Officials and analysts said the builders involved were relatively small firms and therefore this practice was likely to have had only a minimal impact on gross domestic product (GDP) figures. "It is regrettable that such a thing has happened," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. "The government will examine as soon as possible what steps it can take to avoid such an incident from happening again." He made the comment in parliament after the Asahi newspaper reported that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism had been "rewriting" data received from about 12,000 companies since 2013 at a pace of about 10,000 entries per year. Also Read | 'Slept soundly': Japan's Kishida assures he hasn't seen any ghosts in PM residence yet Kishida said that "improvements" had been made since January 2020 and that there was no direct impact on GDP data for the fiscal years 2020 and 2021. However, the news is likely to raise questions about the reliability of data that is a cornerstone for economists and investors looking to understand and forecast trends in the world's third-largest economy. It is not the first time that issues have been raised about government data. Similar concern was voiced about a flaw in health ministry wage data found in 2018. "The biggest problem is not the effect on the GDP per se but the damage to reliability of (official) statistics," said Saisuke Sakai, senior economist at Mizuho Research and Technologies. "We can't help doubting this kind of issue could happen across government ministries," Sakai said. 'UNDER PRESSURE' The construction orders data combines public and private orders, which in fiscal 2020 totalled roughly 80 trillion yen ($700 billion). The figures also feed into Japan's GDP calculations. For the construction survey, the ministry collects monthly orders data from building companies through local prefectural authorities. Companies that fall behind in submitting data often sent in several months' worth of figures at a time. In these instances, the ministry would instruct local authorities to rewrite the orders for the combined months as the figure for the latest, single month. "We engaged in such a practice to reflect the actual situation regarding orders placed. If we had refused to collect data that way, the number of samples would have dwindled," said a ministry official directly in charge of the data. The official added that the practice may have begun in around 2000, when the ministry started tracking the data. "We were under pressure not to reduce samples, even though looking back, this practice was weird." Furthermore, when an entry was missing from a company, the ministry would put in a tentative figure by taking the average of the orders from the rest of the industry in that month, resulting in double-counting once the missing sum arrived. Considering Japan has hundreds of thousands of construction companies, the proportion of those concerned was very small, said Akiyoshi Takumori, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. "How much influence do they have? The kind of sloppy company which puts out numbers late is probably not big." Still, Land Minister Tetsuo Saito, a veteran lawmaker of the Komeito party, the smaller of the two ruling coalition parties, confirmed the practice in parliament and said it was "extremely regrettable". Ministry officials said they had not directly reported the data flaws to Saito's predecessor, Kazuyoshi Akaba. Asked about the issue, the government's top spokesperson said only that the land ministry had been instructed to analyse "as soon as possible" what had led to the practice. "We will first wait for the results of that investigation," Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Restating data this way, which may have broken the law, continued until January 2020 after the Board of Audit pointed it out to the ministry, the ministry said. It added that the original construction survey forms from before 2019 had already been discarded so it would be hard to restore monthly figures from previous years.

Japan overstated some construction order data for years, PM says

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was recently asked if he is sleeping comfortably in the official residence. Reason? Ghosts.<o:p></o:p>

Believe it or not, Japanese population is worried if their Prime Minister is being able to sleep and live peacefully in the official PM residence, also known as Sōri Daijin Kantei. They want to know whether or not he has spotted any ghosts in that residence.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-pm-fumio-kishida-vows-to-consider-all-options-to-counter-china-432300">Japanese PM Fumio Kishida vows to consider 'all options' to counter China</a></o:p>

The official residence of Japan’s Prime Minister is one of the most famous pieces of real estate in central Tokyo. However, despite its functionality, services, interior, architecture and prime location, the residence has not housed anyone in the past nine years. Reason? Once again, ghosts.<o:p></o:p>

This residence is believed to be haunted due to its history of the 1936 massacre. The property was the site of the attempted coup in 1936, during which several senior officials were brutally assassinated by young military officers. <o:p></o:p>

Since then, it is believed by some that the ghosts of the assassinated government officials have been haunting the hallways of the residence. Thus, previous prime ministers have kept their distance from this house.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-expresses-concern-about-chinese-attempts-in-east-south-china-sea-365042">Japan expresses concern about Chinese attempts in East, South China Sea</a></o:p>

Now, after nine years, Kishida has shifted into the official Prime Minister residence and claims that he is sleeping just fine.<o:p></o:p>

Local reporters recently asked the leader if he has spotted any ghosts, and he replied "I haven't seen any, yet". He also assured that he “slept soundly yesterday”, jokingly silencing concerns about whether or not the PM is ‘spiritually safe’ in his new residence.<o:p></o:p>

The stone and brick mansion is a&nbsp;two-story 5,183-square-meter (55,789 square foot) building that was built in 1929 and is located&nbsp;diagonally adjacent to the&nbsp;National Diet Building in Tokyo. While previous leaders have stayed away from this residence, Kishida has decided to move into the building to stay closer to closer to the prime minister’s office, in case of emergencies.<o:p></o:p>

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was recently asked if he is sleeping comfortably in the official residence. Reason? Ghosts. Believe it or not, Japanese population is worried if their Prime Minister is being able to sleep and live peacefully in the official PM residence, also known as Sōri Daijin Kantei.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was recently asked if he is sleeping comfortably in the official residence. Reason? Ghosts. Believe it or not, Japanese population is worried if their Prime Minister is being able to sleep and live peacefully in the official PM residence, also known as Sōri Daijin Kantei. They want to know whether or not he has spotted any ghosts in that residence. Also read | Japanese PM Fumio Kishida vows to consider 'all options' to counter China The official residence of Japan’s Prime Minister is one of the most famous pieces of real estate in central Tokyo. However, despite its functionality, services, interior, architecture and prime location, the residence has not housed anyone in the past nine years. Reason? Once again, ghosts. This residence is believed to be haunted due to its history of the 1936 massacre. The property was the site of the attempted coup in 1936, during which several senior officials were brutally assassinated by young military officers. Since then, it is believed by some that the ghosts of the assassinated government officials have been haunting the hallways of the residence. Thus, previous prime ministers have kept their distance from this house. Also read | Japan expresses concern about Chinese attempts in East, South China Sea Now, after nine years, Kishida has shifted into the official Prime Minister residence and claims that he is sleeping just fine. Local reporters recently asked the leader if he has spotted any ghosts, and he replied "I haven't seen any, yet". He also assured that he “slept soundly yesterday”, jokingly silencing concerns about whether or not the PM is ‘spiritually safe’ in his new residence. The stone and brick mansion is a two-story 5,183-square-meter (55,789 square foot) building that was built in 1929 and is located diagonally adjacent to the National Diet Building in Tokyo. While previous leaders have stayed away from this residence, Kishida has decided to move into the building to stay closer to closer to the prime minister’s office, in case of emergencies.

'Slept soundly': Japan's Kishida assures he hasn't seen any ghosts in PM residence yet

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he will consider ''all options'' to counter China.

The country will add $6.75 billion to its already record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defences.

"As the security environment around Japan worsens at unprecedented speed, our urgent task is to accelerate the implementation of various projects," the defence ministry said in its spending proposal.

Kishida said that “the reality is severer than ever,” with North Korea continuing to test-fire ballistic missiles while advancing its capability, and China pursuing a military buildup and increasingly assertive activity in the region.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/analysis-with-an-eye-on-china-japans-ruling-party-makes-unprecedented-defence-spending-pledge-420812">Also read |&nbsp;Analysis: With an eye on China, Japan's ruling party makes unprecedented defence spending pledge</a>

As a result, Japan will upgrade surface to air missile launchers on islands at the edge of the East China Sea and Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries elsewhere that are the last line of defence against any incoming North Korean warheads.

“I will consider all options, including possessing so-called enemy base strike capability, to pursue strengthening of defence power that is necessary,” Kishida said in an address to hundreds of Ground Self-Defence Force members in olive-colored helmets and uniforms.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-expresses-concern-about-chinese-attempts-in-east-south-china-sea-365042">Also read |&nbsp;Japan expresses concern about Chinese attempts in East, South China Sea</a>

The possibility of possessing so-called enemy base strike capability has been a divisive issue because opponents say it violates Japan’s war-renouncing Constitution.

China's increasing pressure on Taiwan is causing jitters in Japan because Beijing's control of the island would bring Chinese forces within around 100 kilometres (62 miles) of its territory and would threaten key maritime trade routes that supply Japan with oil and other goods.

It would also provide China with bases for unfettered access to the western Pacific.

Kishida has shifted his dovish stance to a more hawkish one, apparently to please influential leaders within his governing party, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and to strengthen his grip on power.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he will consider ''all options'' to counter China. The country will add $6.75 billion to its already record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defences.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said he will consider ''all options'' to counter China. The country will add $6.75 billion to its already record annual military spending in a rush to bolster air and maritime defences. "As the security environment around Japan worsens at unprecedented speed, our urgent task is to accelerate the implementation of various projects," the defence ministry said in its spending proposal. Kishida said that “the reality is severer than ever,” with North Korea continuing to test-fire ballistic missiles while advancing its capability, and China pursuing a military buildup and increasingly assertive activity in the region. Also read | Analysis: With an eye on China, Japan's ruling party makes unprecedented defence spending pledge As a result, Japan will upgrade surface to air missile launchers on islands at the edge of the East China Sea and Patriot PAC-3 missile batteries elsewhere that are the last line of defence against any incoming North Korean warheads. “I will consider all options, including possessing so-called enemy base strike capability, to pursue strengthening of defence power that is necessary,” Kishida said in an address to hundreds of Ground Self-Defence Force members in olive-colored helmets and uniforms. Also read | Japan expresses concern about Chinese attempts in East, South China Sea The possibility of possessing so-called enemy base strike capability has been a divisive issue because opponents say it violates Japan’s war-renouncing Constitution. China's increasing pressure on Taiwan is causing jitters in Japan because Beijing's control of the island would bring Chinese forces within around 100 kilometres (62 miles) of its territory and would threaten key maritime trade routes that supply Japan with oil and other goods. It would also provide China with bases for unfettered access to the western Pacific. Kishida has shifted his dovish stance to a more hawkish one, apparently to please influential leaders within his governing party, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and to strengthen his grip on power. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese PM Fumio Kishida vows to consider 'all options' to counter China

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday urged companies whose earnings have recovered pre-pandemic levels to raise wages by 3% or more at their labour talks next spring. This is to achieve a virtuous cycle of growth and wealth distribution.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urges companies to raise wages by 3% or more

&nbsp;Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to appoint former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as new foreign minister, Jiji news agency reported on Saturday (November 6).

The appointment will be part of a new cabinet that Kishida is expected to craft on Wednesday, after his ruling party won a Lower House election on October 31.

Kishida had earlier said he may take on the role of foreign minister until a new Cabinet is formed this month, as the incumbent foreign minister took over a key ruling party post.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to appoint former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as new foreign minister, Jiji news agency reported on Saturday (November 6).

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to appoint former education minister Yoshimasa Hayashi as new foreign minister, Jiji news agency reported on Saturday (November 6). The appointment will be part of a new cabinet that Kishida is expected to craft on Wednesday, after his ruling party won a Lower House election on October 31. Kishida had earlier said he may take on the role of foreign minister until a new Cabinet is formed this month, as the incumbent foreign minister took over a key ruling party post.

Japan PM Kishida to appoint ex-education minister Hayashi as foreign minister: Report

After guiding his ruling coalition to a substantial majority in national elections, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida claimed victory on Monday.

Kishida said on Monday that he will make the most of his unexpectedly strong election victory as he faces big policy challenges, including seeking to enact an additional budget to speed up the pandemic's recovery. 
 
"It was a very tough election, but the people's will -- that they want us to create this country's future under the stable LDP-Komeito government and the Kishida administration -- was shown.We received a precious 261 seats for the LDP. As a responsible party... we will meet the public mandate," he said. 
 
<img alt="Fumio Kishida" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6ac84264-180f-4907-a8fd-beeecdb7b231" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_178.jpg" /> 
 
Japan's Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Fumio Kishida poses with key party members as he puts rosettes on a board with names of successful general election candidates, at the party headquarters, in Tokyo. (Reuters Photo)

Kishida, a soft-spoken former banker, has stuck to the party's right-traditional wing's principles, pressing for higher military expenditure to fight a more aggressive China.

On Sunday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party maintained its strong majority in the Lower House election, capturing 259 seats and providing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with a positive finish in his first major test as leader.

The ruling coalition won 291 seats, including 32 seats from coalition ally Komeito, a decrease from the 305 seats it had before the election but still enough to get bills through the House of Representatives without difficulty. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

After guiding his ruling coalition to a substantial majority in national elections, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida claimed victory on Monday. Kishida said on Monday that he will make the most of his unexpectedly strong election victory as he faces big policy challenges, including seeking to enact an additional budget to speed up the pandemic's recovery.

After guiding his ruling coalition to a substantial majority in national elections, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida claimed victory on Monday. Kishida said on Monday that he will make the most of his unexpectedly strong election victory as he faces big policy challenges, including seeking to enact an additional budget to speed up the pandemic's recovery. "It was a very tough election, but the people's will -- that they want us to create this country's future under the stable LDP-Komeito government and the Kishida administration -- was shown.We received a precious 261 seats for the LDP. As a responsible party... we will meet the public mandate," he said. Japan's Prime Minister and ruling Liberal Democratic Party leader Fumio Kishida poses with key party members as he puts rosettes on a board with names of successful general election candidates, at the party headquarters, in Tokyo. (Reuters Photo) Kishida, a soft-spoken former banker, has stuck to the party's right-traditional wing's principles, pressing for higher military expenditure to fight a more aggressive China. On Sunday, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party maintained its strong majority in the Lower House election, capturing 259 seats and providing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida with a positive finish in his first major test as leader. The ruling coalition won 291 seats, including 32 seats from coalition ally Komeito, a decrease from the 305 seats it had before the election but still enough to get bills through the House of Representatives without difficulty. (With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s ruling coalition retained a majority in parliamentary elections. The LDP has scored 261 seats, exceeding the parliamentary majority of 233 seats. With Komeito scoring 32 seats, it gives their coalition a total of 293 seats.

Japan PM Fumio Kishida declares victory for ruling LDP

Japan has had no shortage of faceless prime ministers over the decades, a revolving door of leaders forgotten nearly as soon as they leave office. The most recent to hit the exit, who himself lasted only a year, was faulted for a communication style that often came across like a cure for insomnia.

Now comes Fumio Kishida, who was chosen as prime minister last month by the governing Liberal Democrats and is hoping to lead the party to victory Sunday in a closer-than-usual parliamentary election.

In anointing Kishida, 64, the Liberal Democrats passed over both an outspoken maverick who was popular with the public and a far-right nationalist who would have been Japan’s first female leader.

While slightly less stodgy than his predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, Kishida is frequently described as “boring” by the Japanese media, and he still struggles to connect with the public, or even his supporters and friends.

“His speech sounds so serious that it doesn’t sound interesting even if he was meaning to say something interesting,” said Ikuzo Kubota, 67, chairman of a real estate management company in Hiroshima, who has known Kishida for more than 30 years. “Even now, I sometimes think that he should learn how to say things in an interesting way.”

The rise of Kishida, a former foreign minister, is a potent reflection of the Liberal Democrats’ entrenched power in Japan. He was selected precisely because of his milquetoast persona, political experts said, as it allows behind-the-scenes power brokers to project their agenda onto him. And the party made its choice confident that it could win the election despite his lack of charisma.

But the gamble is likely to have consequences. Facing public discontent over economic stagnation and the government’s initial handling of the coronavirus crisis, the Liberal Democrats are projected to lose seats and merely eke out a majority. Many voters are expected to stay home.

Hoping to emerge from the election less weakened than expected, Kishida crisscrossed the country on chartered flights during the two-week campaign period. At his final campaign stop Saturday night, before a packed square in front of a Tokyo train station, Kishida received a smattering of polite applause as he shouted a hearty “Good evening.”

His voice cracked repeatedly as he tried to project enthusiasm into his stump speech, stumbling over his pledges to build a new style of economics and protect Japan in the face of growing regional instability. He wrapped up with a warning that Japanese democracy would be threatened if the country’s Communist Party gained more seats in parliament.

Kishida’s rhetoric about a “new capitalism” that would narrow income inequality, a platform aimed at a disgruntled public battered by coronavirus-related restrictions on business, has grown vaguer over the course of the campaign.

He has ratcheted back a proposal to raise taxes on capital gains. Instead, he has returned to a familiar economic playbook for the Liberal Democrats, calling for more fiscal spending on projects backed by large industries such as construction, which typically support the party.

“He’s almost like a figurehead for other figures in the party to get their ideas through,” said James Brady, the head Japan analyst at Teneo, a risk advisory consulting firm. “He’s not a strong leader. He’s not someone who’s coming up with a lot of ideas.”

Like many other Liberal Democratic lawmakers, Kishida was brought up in a political family. Both his grandfather and his father served in the House of Representatives, and Kishida started his political career as a secretary to his father.

Although Kishida represents a district in Hiroshima and his family is from the area, he was raised mostly in Tokyo. He spent three years in New York when his father was posted there during a stint at the trade ministry.

He often cites the formative experience of attending a public elementary school in the Elmhurst section of Queens, New York, describing an incident in 1965 when a white classmate refused to hold his hand as instructed by a teacher on a field trip. Kishida says the moment seeded in him a lifelong commitment to fairness and justice.

Back in Japan, Kishida was an ardent — although, by his own admission, middling — baseball player. He tried, and failed, three times to pass the entrance exam for the University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious state university.

He finally enrolled at Waseda, a top private university in Tokyo. In “Kishida Vision,” a memoir published last year, he wrote that he was more interested in music and mahjong than academics during his undergraduate years.

Kishida started a career in banking, gaining empathy, he wrote, for people and small businesses struggling to repay loans.

When his father died of cancer at age 65, Kishida ran for the Hiroshima seat in 1993 and won. He has served in various Cabinet positions and was Japan’s longest-serving foreign minister, under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

He did not leave much of an impression on his colleagues. “I have no memory of him even though I met him every week in Cabinet meetings,” said Yoichi Masuzoe, a former governor of Tokyo who served as health minister when Kishida was a minister in charge of Okinawa and a string of islands known as the Northern Territories.

Some civil servants in the foreign ministry gave him the nickname “Chihuahua,” referring to him behind his back as a “well-mannered type of dog,” said Gen Nakatani, a former defense minister who has known Kishida for 30 years.

One lawmaker whom Kishida met in college and described as one of his best friends went on to back a rival, Taro Kono, in the Liberal Democrats’ recent leadership election.

Kishida lacks the swagger or arrogance that characterizes other politicians. He “listens to people, is calm and never speaks ill of others,” Nakatani said. “He doesn’t behave in a selfish manner.”

He was foreign minister when President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in 2016, and when South Korea and Japan signed an agreement in 2015 to compensate so-called comfort women, the term for those taken as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers during World War II. But Kishida rarely gets credit for these accomplishments.

If he is remembered, it is as an abundant drinker who maintains his dignity and leaves the bar before midnight. In his memoir, he wrote of matching Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, drink for drink. Kishida once hosted a birthday party for his Russian counterpart and presented him with a bottle of Suntory Hibiki 21 whiskey, which retails for about $750.

When Caroline Kennedy was the U.S. ambassador in Tokyo, Kishida gave her T-shirts, aprons and mugs imprinted with photos or cartoons of her face.

His attempts to endear himself on social media have sometimes fallen flat or drawn outright jeering.

A post he shared on Twitter and Instagram, showing his wife standing in the kitchen doorway while he sat at the table eating a dinner she had prepared, was roundly mocked. Videos showing his wife, Yuko, 57, and his three sons cheering him on have been slightly more popular.

“He’s a little bit socially and culturally out of step with the majority of the population,” said Shihoko Goto, a senior northeast Asia associate at the Wilson Center in Washington.

His self-effacement undergirds a political pragmatism that allows him to pivot when certain ideas grow unpopular or he needs to cater to a particularly powerful constituency. More often than not, that constituency comes from within the party, not the public.

As a politician from Hiroshima, Kishida has opposed nuclear weapons and taken more dovish stances on foreign policy. But as a candidate for prime minister, he ramped up his hawkish views on China and championed the restart of nuclear power plants, the vast majority of which have been idled since the triple meltdown in Fukushima 10 years ago. Supporting nuclear power is a key agenda item for the right wing of the Liberal Democratic Party.

Because Kishida won the prime ministerial election backed by lawmakers “more geared toward pleasing organized interests and big businesses,” he now has to reward them, said Megumi Naoi, an associate professor of political science at University of California, San Diego.

As for his proposals on economic inequality, Naoi said she could not tell how sincere he had been in the first place. “I don’t know how much of this is his belief,” she said, “or just campaign strategy or political survival strategy.”

Japan has had no shortage of faceless prime ministers over the decades, a revolving door of leaders forgotten nearly as soon as they leave office. The most recent to hit the exit, who himself lasted only a year, was faulted for a communication style that often came across like a cure for insomnia.

Japan has had no shortage of faceless prime ministers over the decades, a revolving door of leaders forgotten nearly as soon as they leave office. The most recent to hit the exit, who himself lasted only a year, was faulted for a communication style that often came across like a cure for insomnia. Now comes Fumio Kishida, who was chosen as prime minister last month by the governing Liberal Democrats and is hoping to lead the party to victory Sunday in a closer-than-usual parliamentary election. In anointing Kishida, 64, the Liberal Democrats passed over both an outspoken maverick who was popular with the public and a far-right nationalist who would have been Japan’s first female leader. While slightly less stodgy than his predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, Kishida is frequently described as “boring” by the Japanese media, and he still struggles to connect with the public, or even his supporters and friends. “His speech sounds so serious that it doesn’t sound interesting even if he was meaning to say something interesting,” said Ikuzo Kubota, 67, chairman of a real estate management company in Hiroshima, who has known Kishida for more than 30 years. “Even now, I sometimes think that he should learn how to say things in an interesting way.” The rise of Kishida, a former foreign minister, is a potent reflection of the Liberal Democrats’ entrenched power in Japan. He was selected precisely because of his milquetoast persona, political experts said, as it allows behind-the-scenes power brokers to project their agenda onto him. And the party made its choice confident that it could win the election despite his lack of charisma. But the gamble is likely to have consequences. Facing public discontent over economic stagnation and the government’s initial handling of the coronavirus crisis, the Liberal Democrats are projected to lose seats and merely eke out a majority. Many voters are expected to stay home. Hoping to emerge from the election less weakened than expected, Kishida crisscrossed the country on chartered flights during the two-week campaign period. At his final campaign stop Saturday night, before a packed square in front of a Tokyo train station, Kishida received a smattering of polite applause as he shouted a hearty “Good evening.” His voice cracked repeatedly as he tried to project enthusiasm into his stump speech, stumbling over his pledges to build a new style of economics and protect Japan in the face of growing regional instability. He wrapped up with a warning that Japanese democracy would be threatened if the country’s Communist Party gained more seats in parliament. Kishida’s rhetoric about a “new capitalism” that would narrow income inequality, a platform aimed at a disgruntled public battered by coronavirus-related restrictions on business, has grown vaguer over the course of the campaign. He has ratcheted back a proposal to raise taxes on capital gains. Instead, he has returned to a familiar economic playbook for the Liberal Democrats, calling for more fiscal spending on projects backed by large industries such as construction, which typically support the party. “He’s almost like a figurehead for other figures in the party to get their ideas through,” said James Brady, the head Japan analyst at Teneo, a risk advisory consulting firm. “He’s not a strong leader. He’s not someone who’s coming up with a lot of ideas.” Like many other Liberal Democratic lawmakers, Kishida was brought up in a political family. Both his grandfather and his father served in the House of Representatives, and Kishida started his political career as a secretary to his father. Although Kishida represents a district in Hiroshima and his family is from the area, he was raised mostly in Tokyo. He spent three years in New York when his father was posted there during a stint at the trade ministry. He often cites the formative experience of attending a public elementary school in the Elmhurst section of Queens, New York, describing an incident in 1965 when a white classmate refused to hold his hand as instructed by a teacher on a field trip. Kishida says the moment seeded in him a lifelong commitment to fairness and justice. Back in Japan, Kishida was an ardent — although, by his own admission, middling — baseball player. He tried, and failed, three times to pass the entrance exam for the University of Tokyo, Japan’s most prestigious state university. He finally enrolled at Waseda, a top private university in Tokyo. In “Kishida Vision,” a memoir published last year, he wrote that he was more interested in music and mahjong than academics during his undergraduate years. Kishida started a career in banking, gaining empathy, he wrote, for people and small businesses struggling to repay loans. When his father died of cancer at age 65, Kishida ran for the Hiroshima seat in 1993 and won. He has served in various Cabinet positions and was Japan’s longest-serving foreign minister, under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He did not leave much of an impression on his colleagues. “I have no memory of him even though I met him every week in Cabinet meetings,” said Yoichi Masuzoe, a former governor of Tokyo who served as health minister when Kishida was a minister in charge of Okinawa and a string of islands known as the Northern Territories. Some civil servants in the foreign ministry gave him the nickname “Chihuahua,” referring to him behind his back as a “well-mannered type of dog,” said Gen Nakatani, a former defense minister who has known Kishida for 30 years. One lawmaker whom Kishida met in college and described as one of his best friends went on to back a rival, Taro Kono, in the Liberal Democrats’ recent leadership election. Kishida lacks the swagger or arrogance that characterizes other politicians. He “listens to people, is calm and never speaks ill of others,” Nakatani said. “He doesn’t behave in a selfish manner.” He was foreign minister when President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima in 2016, and when South Korea and Japan signed an agreement in 2015 to compensate so-called comfort women, the term for those taken as sex slaves by Japanese soldiers during World War II. But Kishida rarely gets credit for these accomplishments. If he is remembered, it is as an abundant drinker who maintains his dignity and leaves the bar before midnight. In his memoir, he wrote of matching Sergey Lavrov, Russia’s foreign minister, drink for drink. Kishida once hosted a birthday party for his Russian counterpart and presented him with a bottle of Suntory Hibiki 21 whiskey, which retails for about $750. When Caroline Kennedy was the U.S. ambassador in Tokyo, Kishida gave her T-shirts, aprons and mugs imprinted with photos or cartoons of her face. His attempts to endear himself on social media have sometimes fallen flat or drawn outright jeering. A post he shared on Twitter and Instagram, showing his wife standing in the kitchen doorway while he sat at the table eating a dinner she had prepared, was roundly mocked. Videos showing his wife, Yuko, 57, and his three sons cheering him on have been slightly more popular. “He’s a little bit socially and culturally out of step with the majority of the population,” said Shihoko Goto, a senior northeast Asia associate at the Wilson Center in Washington. His self-effacement undergirds a political pragmatism that allows him to pivot when certain ideas grow unpopular or he needs to cater to a particularly powerful constituency. More often than not, that constituency comes from within the party, not the public. As a politician from Hiroshima, Kishida has opposed nuclear weapons and taken more dovish stances on foreign policy. But as a candidate for prime minister, he ramped up his hawkish views on China and championed the restart of nuclear power plants, the vast majority of which have been idled since the triple meltdown in Fukushima 10 years ago. Supporting nuclear power is a key agenda item for the right wing of the Liberal Democratic Party. Because Kishida won the prime ministerial election backed by lawmakers “more geared toward pleasing organized interests and big businesses,” he now has to reward them, said Megumi Naoi, an associate professor of political science at University of California, San Diego. As for his proposals on economic inequality, Naoi said she could not tell how sincere he had been in the first place. “I don’t know how much of this is his belief,” she said, “or just campaign strategy or political survival strategy.”

Japan’s election looks closer than usual, but party in power has hit snooze

Japanese voters went to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to endorse the conservative government of Fumio Kishida or weaken the new prime minister and possibly return the world's third-largest economy to a period of political uncertainty.

The vote is a test&nbsp;for Kishida, who called the election soon after taking the top post early this month, and for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been battered by its perceived mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-kishida-sends-offering-to-controversial-tokyo-shrine-421460">Japan's Kishida sends offering to controversial Tokyo shrine</a>

Already, Kishida has struggled to advance policies to help poorer people, while securing a big boost in military spending and taking a harder line on China.

With his lacklustre image failing to inspire voters, the LDP is on the brink of losing its sole majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time since 2009, opinion polls show, although its coalition with junior partner Komeito is forecast to remain in control.

Japan's vaccination drive initially lagged other advanced nations. More than 70 per cent&nbsp;of the population is now fully vaccinated and infections have dropped sharply, but some voters remain wary.

"It's hard to say the pandemic is completely snuffed out and society is stable, so we shouldn`t have any big changes in coronavirus policy," said Naoki Okura, a doctor, after voting in Tokyo.

"Rather than demanding a change in government, I think we should demand continuity."

Tough Contests, Revolving Door?

Several key LDP lawmakers are also facing particularly tough contests, including Akira Amari, the party's secretary general.

"Revolving-door prime ministers is a weakness that many outside of Japan fear," Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a blog post. "Prime Minister Kishida will need a unified party and a strong electoral showing on October&nbsp;31 if he is to successfully tackle Japan's difficult national agenda."

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fukushima-wastewater-release-cant-be-delayed-says-japan-pm-kishida-421707">Fukushima wastewater release can’t be delayed, says Japan PM Kishida</a>

Turnout will be crucial, since higher turnout tends to favour the opposition. As of 10 a.m., three hours after polls opened, turnout stood at 6.32 per cent, down 0.83 point from the previous lower house poll - but 16.6 million voted in advance, the Internal Affairs Ministry said.

The biggest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to gain seats but not come near toppling Kishida's coalition.

"The only party with policies aimed at people in their 20s and 30s is the Constitutional Democrats, things like income tax and so on," said office worker Daisuke Matsumoto, 27. "It's true other parties have policies aimed at child-raising, but what about those of us who are childless?"

A big loss of LDP seats could lead to party infighting, returning Japan to an era of short-lived administrations that diminished its global stature, until Shinzo Abe helmed the country for a record eight years to September 2020. The dovish Komeito could also gain more clout within the coalition.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-ruling-party-unveils-manifesto-with-focus-on-coronavirus-defence-420125">Japan's ruling party unveils manifesto with focus on coronavirus, defence</a>

Uncertainty is high, with the Nikkei newspaper estimating 40 per cent&nbsp;of single-seat districts have close races and recent polls showing some 40per cent&nbsp;of voters undecided.

Voting ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), with projected results likely to come soon afterward from media exit polls.

Kishida's publicly stated goal is for his coalition to keep a majority, at least 233 seats, of the 465 in the lower house. Before the election, the coalition had a commanding two-thirds majority of 305, with the LDP holding 276.

Investors and political watchers are focussed on whether the LDP - in power for all but brief spells since it was formed in 1955 - can keep its majority as a single party. Losing that would erode Kishida's power base in the factional LDP and the party's standing against the Komeito.

The usually splintered opposition is united, arranging for only one party - including the widely shunned Japanese Communist Party - to face off against the coalition in most districts, with analysts saying this is creating a number of neck-and-neck battles.

But the opposition has failed to capture the hearts of voters, with only 8 per cent&nbsp;supporting the Constitutional Democrats while 39 per cent back the LDP, according to a poll last week by public broadcaster NHK.

"The other political parties are all scattered, so I can't leave it to them with confidence," said Hiroki Kita, 49 and an advertising executive.

"There's only the LDP, but it's a negative choice."

Japanese voters went to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to endorse the conservative government of Fumio Kishida or weaken the new prime minister and possibly return the world's third-largest economy to a period of political uncertainty.

Japanese voters went to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to endorse the conservative government of Fumio Kishida or weaken the new prime minister and possibly return the world's third-largest economy to a period of political uncertainty. The vote is a test for Kishida, who called the election soon after taking the top post early this month, and for his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has been battered by its perceived mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read | Japan's Kishida sends offering to controversial Tokyo shrine Already, Kishida has struggled to advance policies to help poorer people, while securing a big boost in military spending and taking a harder line on China. With his lacklustre image failing to inspire voters, the LDP is on the brink of losing its sole majority in the lower house of parliament for the first time since 2009, opinion polls show, although its coalition with junior partner Komeito is forecast to remain in control. Japan's vaccination drive initially lagged other advanced nations. More than 70 per cent of the population is now fully vaccinated and infections have dropped sharply, but some voters remain wary. "It's hard to say the pandemic is completely snuffed out and society is stable, so we shouldn`t have any big changes in coronavirus policy," said Naoki Okura, a doctor, after voting in Tokyo. "Rather than demanding a change in government, I think we should demand continuity." Tough Contests, Revolving Door? Several key LDP lawmakers are also facing particularly tough contests, including Akira Amari, the party's secretary general. "Revolving-door prime ministers is a weakness that many outside of Japan fear," Sheila A. Smith, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote in a blog post. "Prime Minister Kishida will need a unified party and a strong electoral showing on October 31 if he is to successfully tackle Japan's difficult national agenda." Also Read | Fukushima wastewater release can’t be delayed, says Japan PM Kishida Turnout will be crucial, since higher turnout tends to favour the opposition. As of 10 a.m., three hours after polls opened, turnout stood at 6.32 per cent, down 0.83 point from the previous lower house poll - but 16.6 million voted in advance, the Internal Affairs Ministry said. The biggest opposition group, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan is expected to gain seats but not come near toppling Kishida's coalition. "The only party with policies aimed at people in their 20s and 30s is the Constitutional Democrats, things like income tax and so on," said office worker Daisuke Matsumoto, 27. "It's true other parties have policies aimed at child-raising, but what about those of us who are childless?" A big loss of LDP seats could lead to party infighting, returning Japan to an era of short-lived administrations that diminished its global stature, until Shinzo Abe helmed the country for a record eight years to September 2020. The dovish Komeito could also gain more clout within the coalition. Also Read | Japan's ruling party unveils manifesto with focus on coronavirus, defence Uncertainty is high, with the Nikkei newspaper estimating 40 per cent of single-seat districts have close races and recent polls showing some 40per cent of voters undecided. Voting ends at 8 p.m. (1100 GMT), with projected results likely to come soon afterward from media exit polls. Kishida's publicly stated goal is for his coalition to keep a majority, at least 233 seats, of the 465 in the lower house. Before the election, the coalition had a commanding two-thirds majority of 305, with the LDP holding 276. Investors and political watchers are focussed on whether the LDP - in power for all but brief spells since it was formed in 1955 - can keep its majority as a single party. Losing that would erode Kishida's power base in the factional LDP and the party's standing against the Komeito. The usually splintered opposition is united, arranging for only one party - including the widely shunned Japanese Communist Party - to face off against the coalition in most districts, with analysts saying this is creating a number of neck-and-neck battles. But the opposition has failed to capture the hearts of voters, with only 8 per cent supporting the Constitutional Democrats while 39 per cent back the LDP, according to a poll last week by public broadcaster NHK. "The other political parties are all scattered, so I can't leave it to them with confidence," said Hiroki Kita, 49 and an advertising executive. "There's only the LDP, but it's a negative choice."

Japan votes in test for new PM Kishida, political stability

Polls suggests that Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could lose its majority in 2021 general election, potentially turning new leader Fumio Kishida into another short-term prime minister and triggering a return to political uncertainty.

Survey: Kishida, LDP set to lose majority in Japan election 2021

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that the proposed mass disposal of wastewater from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean cannot be delayed, despite concerns raised by local residents.

Speaking at his first visit to the facility since taking office, Kishida said his government would work to reassure residents nearby the plant about the technical safety of the wastewater disposal plan.

The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered a triple meltdown in 2011 following a massive earthquake and tsunami. Around 1.25 million tonnes of water have accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant.

Japan's government argues that the release is safe because the water is processed to remove almost all radioactive elements and will be diluted.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ten-years-after-fukushima-disaster-this-nurse-may-be-the-regions-best-hope-369916">Ten years after Fukushima disaster, this nurse may be the region’s best hope</a>

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also endorsed the release, which it says is similar to the disposal of wastewater at nuclear plants elsewhere in the world.

“I felt strongly that the water issue is a crucial one that should not be pushed back,” Kishida told reporters after the tour.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fukushima-operators-to-build-undersea-tunnel-to-release-treated-water-408550">Fukushima operators to build undersea tunnel to release treated water</a>

In April, the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced plans to start releasing the water into the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2023 over the span of decades.

The plan has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japan’s neighbours, including China and South Korea.

Kishida said the government will do its utmost to address concerns the water disposal will hurt local fishing and other industries.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/water-leaks-indicate-new-damage-at-fukushima-nuclear-plant-364890">Water leaks indicate new damage at Fukushima nuclear plant</a>

“We will provide explanation about the safety (of the disposal) from a scientific viewpoint and transparency in order to dispel various concerns,” Kishida said.

Japan has requested assistance by the IAEA to ensure the discharge meets global safety standards.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that the proposed mass disposal of wastewater from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean cannot be delayed, despite concerns raised by local residents.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that the proposed mass disposal of wastewater from the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant into the Pacific Ocean cannot be delayed, despite concerns raised by local residents. Speaking at his first visit to the facility since taking office, Kishida said his government would work to reassure residents nearby the plant about the technical safety of the wastewater disposal plan. The Fukushima Daiichi plant suffered a triple meltdown in 2011 following a massive earthquake and tsunami. Around 1.25 million tonnes of water have accumulated in tanks at the nuclear plant. Japan's government argues that the release is safe because the water is processed to remove almost all radioactive elements and will be diluted. Also read | Ten years after Fukushima disaster, this nurse may be the region’s best hope The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also endorsed the release, which it says is similar to the disposal of wastewater at nuclear plants elsewhere in the world. “I felt strongly that the water issue is a crucial one that should not be pushed back,” Kishida told reporters after the tour. Also read | Fukushima operators to build undersea tunnel to release treated water In April, the government and Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings announced plans to start releasing the water into the Pacific Ocean in the spring of 2023 over the span of decades. The plan has been fiercely opposed by fishermen, residents and Japan’s neighbours, including China and South Korea. Kishida said the government will do its utmost to address concerns the water disposal will hurt local fishing and other industries. Also read | Water leaks indicate new damage at Fukushima nuclear plant “We will provide explanation about the safety (of the disposal) from a scientific viewpoint and transparency in order to dispel various concerns,” Kishida said. Japan has requested assistance by the IAEA to ensure the discharge meets global safety standards. (With inputs from agencies)

Fukushima wastewater release can’t be delayed, says Japan PM Kishida

Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida donated ritual offerings Sunday to a Tokyo shrine viewed by Chinese and Koreans as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression, though he did not make a visit in person.

Kishida donated masakaki&nbsp;religious ornaments to mark Yasukuni Shrine's autumn festival. It was the first such observance by Kishida since he took office on October 4.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-new-pm-defends-pro-nuclear-stance-in-parliamentary-debut-420290">Japan's new PM defends pro-nuclear stance in parliamentary debut</a>

Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially Chinese and Koreans, see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's militarism because it honours convicted World War II criminals among about 2.5 million war dead.

Such observances are seen by critics as a sign of a lack of remorse over the country's wartime atrocities.

Kishida was visiting the 2011 tsunami-hit areas in northern Japan over the weekend and stayed away from the shrine.

His predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, also only made offerings during his one-year leadership. He stepped down in September and visited the shrine on Sunday, dressed in a formal morning coat.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/analysis-with-an-eye-on-china-japans-ruling-party-makes-unprecedented-defence-spending-pledge-420812">Analysis: With an eye on China, Japan's ruling party makes unprecedented defence spending pledge</a>

Suga told reporters that he visited as a former prime minister to offer my respect to the sacred spirits of those who sacrificed their precious lives for the country and to pray that their souls may rest in peace.

After China and the Koreas reacted with outrage to a visit to Yasukuni by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013, Japanese leaders have avoided visiting the shrine while in office.

Many South Koreans deeply resent Japan for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.

Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have soured in recent years amid disputes over compensation for Korean wartime labourers and over the systematic abuses of comfort women&nbsp;used for sex by the Japanese military before its World War II defeat in 1945.

Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida donated ritual offerings Sunday to a Tokyo shrine viewed by Chinese and Koreans as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression, though he did not make a visit in person.

Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida donated ritual offerings Sunday to a Tokyo shrine viewed by Chinese and Koreans as a symbol of Japanese wartime aggression, though he did not make a visit in person. Kishida donated masakaki religious ornaments to mark Yasukuni Shrine's autumn festival. It was the first such observance by Kishida since he took office on October 4. Also Read | Japan's new PM defends pro-nuclear stance in parliamentary debut Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially Chinese and Koreans, see the shrine as a symbol of Japan's militarism because it honours convicted World War II criminals among about 2.5 million war dead. Such observances are seen by critics as a sign of a lack of remorse over the country's wartime atrocities. Kishida was visiting the 2011 tsunami-hit areas in northern Japan over the weekend and stayed away from the shrine. His predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, also only made offerings during his one-year leadership. He stepped down in September and visited the shrine on Sunday, dressed in a formal morning coat. Also Read | Analysis: With an eye on China, Japan's ruling party makes unprecedented defence spending pledge Suga told reporters that he visited as a former prime minister to offer my respect to the sacred spirits of those who sacrificed their precious lives for the country and to pray that their souls may rest in peace. After China and the Koreas reacted with outrage to a visit to Yasukuni by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013, Japanese leaders have avoided visiting the shrine while in office. Many South Koreans deeply resent Japan for its 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have soured in recent years amid disputes over compensation for Korean wartime labourers and over the systematic abuses of comfort women used for sex by the Japanese military before its World War II defeat in 1945.

Japan's Kishida sends offering to controversial Tokyo shrine

Japan has dissolved its parliament, this sets the stage for the general election at the end of the month. This will pit the newly elected prime minister Fumio Kishida against the unpopular opposition.

Japan dissolves lower house ahead of election

Japan has dissolved its parliament. This sets the stage for general election at the end of the month. It will pit the newly elected prime minister Fumio Kishida against the unpopular opposition.

General election to be held in Japan after dissolution of parliament

Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, defended his pro-nuclear energy policies on Wednesday, saying that re-starting nuclear power plants mothballed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster was vital.

Energy became a key issue during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) recent leadership race, during which Kishida beat Taro Kono, a former vaccine minister who had spoken out against nuclear energy, to become prime minister.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-ruling-party-unveils-manifesto-with-focus-on-coronavirus-defence-420125">Japan's ruling party unveils manifesto with focus on coronavirus, defence</a>

"It's crucial that we re-start nuclear power plants," Kishida said as he faced opposition questions in parliament for the first time since becoming prime minister last week.

Kishida was responding to questions from Yukio Edano, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), on the government's policy for sustainable energy and if nuclear power would be part of the plan.

Nuclear energy has been contentious in Japan, especially since a 2011 earthquake off the coast triggered a tsunami that smashed into a nuclear power plant in the Fukushima region north of Tokyo, causing one of the world's worst nuclear accidents.

All of Japan's nuclear power plants were shut down after the disaster, which highlighted failings in regulation and oversight. While some reactors have been coming back on stream, most remain shut.

Kishida is leading the LDP into a general election on October&nbsp;31 when priorities for many voters will likely be bringing an end to the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding a weak economy.

Many of Japan's hospitals have struggled during a fifth and most fatal wave of the coronavirus, though infections rates have begun to come down in recent days.

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Kishida acknowledged there was room for improvement in health care after criticism from Edano who said: "It is the fault of the LDP that so many people died in their homes."

But Kishida was vague on specifics, saying that he would "order to have the overall structure of our coronavirus policies drawn up soon".

Kishida also had to fend off criticism over an apparent U-turn on an earlier pledge to review taxes on capital gains and dividends as a way to redistribute wealth. read more

He said he would prioritise boosting wages through tax incentives rather than imposing higher levies on capital gains and dividends to address the income gap.

"It's among options to create a virtuous cycle of growth and redistribution," Kishida told parliament, when Edano asked him about his earlier idea to raise capital gains tax.

"But there are other things we should do first such as reforming the tax system to achieve wage increases."

Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, defended his pro-nuclear energy policies on Wednesday, saying that re-starting nuclear power plants mothballed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster was vital.

Japan's new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, defended his pro-nuclear energy policies on Wednesday, saying that re-starting nuclear power plants mothballed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster was vital. Energy became a key issue during the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) recent leadership race, during which Kishida beat Taro Kono, a former vaccine minister who had spoken out against nuclear energy, to become prime minister. Also Read | Japan's ruling party unveils manifesto with focus on coronavirus, defence "It's crucial that we re-start nuclear power plants," Kishida said as he faced opposition questions in parliament for the first time since becoming prime minister last week. Kishida was responding to questions from Yukio Edano, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), on the government's policy for sustainable energy and if nuclear power would be part of the plan. Nuclear energy has been contentious in Japan, especially since a 2011 earthquake off the coast triggered a tsunami that smashed into a nuclear power plant in the Fukushima region north of Tokyo, causing one of the world's worst nuclear accidents. All of Japan's nuclear power plants were shut down after the disaster, which highlighted failings in regulation and oversight. While some reactors have been coming back on stream, most remain shut. Kishida is leading the LDP into a general election on October 31 when priorities for many voters will likely be bringing an end to the coronavirus pandemic and rebuilding a weak economy. Many of Japan's hospitals have struggled during a fifth and most fatal wave of the coronavirus, though infections rates have begun to come down in recent days. Also Read | Japan to compile big extra budget after polls, says LDP heavyweight Kishida acknowledged there was room for improvement in health care after criticism from Edano who said: "It is the fault of the LDP that so many people died in their homes." But Kishida was vague on specifics, saying that he would "order to have the overall structure of our coronavirus policies drawn up soon". Kishida also had to fend off criticism over an apparent U-turn on an earlier pledge to review taxes on capital gains and dividends as a way to redistribute wealth. read more He said he would prioritise boosting wages through tax incentives rather than imposing higher levies on capital gains and dividends to address the income gap. "It's among options to create a virtuous cycle of growth and redistribution," Kishida told parliament, when Edano asked him about his earlier idea to raise capital gains tax. "But there are other things we should do first such as reforming the tax system to achieve wage increases."

Japan's new PM defends pro-nuclear stance in parliamentary debut

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday he would do his utmost to lead Japan out of the COVID-19 crisis, while protecting its territory and people in an increasingly tough security environment.

Kishida took the top job in the world's third-largest economy on Monday, replacing Yoshihide Suga, who had seen his support undermined by surging COVID-19 infections. Daily cases have recently fallen and a long state of emergency was lifted this month.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/with-love-japans-new-pm-kishida-fumio-wins-over-internet-with-a-picture-of-japanese-pancake-417131">'With love': Japan's new PM Kishida Fumio wins over internet with a picture of Japanese pancake</a>

"I'm determined to devote body-and-soul to overcome this national crisis with the people, carve out a new era and pass on to the next generation a country whose citizens are rich at heart," Kishida said in his first policy speech to parliament.

A big early test for him will be leading his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) into a general election on October 31.

The 64-year-old former foreign minister, who has a reputation as a low-key consensus builder, said the government would quickly put together a stimulus package to support those hit hard by the pandemic and take legislative steps to secure medical resources.

He did not specify the size of the stimulus package in his speech but last month he suggested a sum of 30 trillion yen ($268 billion).

Earlier, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said he hoped to compile an extra budget to fund the stimulus immediately after the elections and have it approved by parliament by year-end.

Kishida underscored the need to support those in need to win public cooperation and he called for cash payouts to companies hit hard by the pandemic.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fumio-kishida-elected-as-new-leader-of-japans-ruling-ldp-set-to-be-next-pm-416736">Fumio Kishida elected as new leader of Japan's ruling LDP, set to be next PM</a>

He also pledged to give cash payouts to so-called non-regular workers, families with children, and those struggling to make ends meet because of the pandemic.

Kishida reiterated his resolve to overcome deflation and said he would press on with bold monetary easing, expeditious fiscal spending and a strategy for growth.

"We will conduct fiscal spending without hesitation to respond to crises and make sure all possible measures are taken," he said.

On national security and foreign affairs, Kishida said he would protect Japan's peace and stability.

"With the security environment surrounding the country getting tougher, I will resolutely protect our territory, territorial waters, air space and the people's lives and property," he told parliament.

Japan faces China's rapid military buildup and aggressive maritime expansion, as the threat from North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes.

Kishida said he planned to update national security strategy and aimed to bolster the coast guard and missile defence capabilities.

On ties with giant neighbour China, Kishida said building stable relations and maintaining dialogue were important but Japan would not mince words when necessary.

"While working with countries with which we share universal values, we say what needs to be said to China and demand firmly that it behave responsibly. We also maintain dialogue and continue cooperating with them in tackling common issues," he said.

China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, where it has established military outposts on artificial islands. It also claims a group of Japanese-administered islets in the East China Sea.

Calling Japan's security alliance with the United States the "cornerstone of world peace and prosperity,"&nbsp;Kishida said he intended to build on that alliance.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday he would do his utmost to lead Japan out of the COVID-19 crisis, while protecting its territory and people in an increasingly tough security environment.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday he would do his utmost to lead Japan out of the COVID-19 crisis, while protecting its territory and people in an increasingly tough security environment. Kishida took the top job in the world's third-largest economy on Monday, replacing Yoshihide Suga, who had seen his support undermined by surging COVID-19 infections. Daily cases have recently fallen and a long state of emergency was lifted this month. Also Read | 'With love': Japan's new PM Kishida Fumio wins over internet with a picture of Japanese pancake "I'm determined to devote body-and-soul to overcome this national crisis with the people, carve out a new era and pass on to the next generation a country whose citizens are rich at heart," Kishida said in his first policy speech to parliament. A big early test for him will be leading his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) into a general election on October 31. The 64-year-old former foreign minister, who has a reputation as a low-key consensus builder, said the government would quickly put together a stimulus package to support those hit hard by the pandemic and take legislative steps to secure medical resources. He did not specify the size of the stimulus package in his speech but last month he suggested a sum of 30 trillion yen ($268 billion). Earlier, Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki said he hoped to compile an extra budget to fund the stimulus immediately after the elections and have it approved by parliament by year-end. Kishida underscored the need to support those in need to win public cooperation and he called for cash payouts to companies hit hard by the pandemic. Also Read | Fumio Kishida elected as new leader of Japan's ruling LDP, set to be next PM He also pledged to give cash payouts to so-called non-regular workers, families with children, and those struggling to make ends meet because of the pandemic. Kishida reiterated his resolve to overcome deflation and said he would press on with bold monetary easing, expeditious fiscal spending and a strategy for growth. "We will conduct fiscal spending without hesitation to respond to crises and make sure all possible measures are taken," he said. On national security and foreign affairs, Kishida said he would protect Japan's peace and stability. "With the security environment surrounding the country getting tougher, I will resolutely protect our territory, territorial waters, air space and the people's lives and property," he told parliament. Japan faces China's rapid military buildup and aggressive maritime expansion, as the threat from North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes. Kishida said he planned to update national security strategy and aimed to bolster the coast guard and missile defence capabilities. On ties with giant neighbour China, Kishida said building stable relations and maintaining dialogue were important but Japan would not mince words when necessary. "While working with countries with which we share universal values, we say what needs to be said to China and demand firmly that it behave responsibly. We also maintain dialogue and continue cooperating with them in tackling common issues," he said. China claims almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea, where it has established military outposts on artificial islands. It also claims a group of Japanese-administered islets in the East China Sea. Calling Japan's security alliance with the United States the "cornerstone of world peace and prosperity," Kishida said he intended to build on that alliance.

Japan PM Kishida vows to devote himself to ending COVID-19 crisis

US President Joe Biden on Monday (US time) spoke with new Japenese PM Fumio Kishida. Both leaders expressed their commitment for the US-Japan alliance and a free Indo-Pacific. After the call, Kishida said that he received "strong" message from President Joe Biden about the United States' commitment to defending the disputed East China Sea islets known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan The phone call lasted for about 20 minutes.

Kishida was voted in by Japanese lawmakers on Monday as Japan's new prime minister.

Kishida's conversation with Biden came a day after he called parliamentary elections for October 31 and vowed to bolster the country's response to Covid&nbsp;pandemic. He was voted in by lawmakers on Monday as the nation's new prime minister.

"We confirmed that we would work together toward the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance and free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida said. "We also confirmed we would work closely on issues related to China and North Korea."

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-sends-56-warplanes-into-taiwans-defence-zone-in-largest-ever-air-incursion-418264">China sends 56 warplanes into Taiwan's defence zone in largest-ever air incursion</a>

"Especially, the president made a strong comment on the US&nbsp;commitment to defend Japan, including the Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan security treaty," Kishida added, referring to US&nbsp;defence obligations to Japan, which cover the uninhabited island.

Japan has become increasingly concerned about Chinese activity in the East China Sea, including incursions into waters around the disputed islands, known as the Diaoyus in China.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Joe Biden on Monday (US time) spoke with new Japenese PM Fumio Kishida. Both leaders expressed their commitment for the US-Japan alliance and a free Indo-Pacific.

US President Joe Biden on Monday (US time) spoke with new Japenese PM Fumio Kishida. Both leaders expressed their commitment for the US-Japan alliance and a free Indo-Pacific. After the call, Kishida said that he received "strong" message from President Joe Biden about the United States' commitment to defending the disputed East China Sea islets known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan The phone call lasted for about 20 minutes. Kishida was voted in by Japanese lawmakers on Monday as Japan's new prime minister. Kishida's conversation with Biden came a day after he called parliamentary elections for October 31 and vowed to bolster the country's response to Covid pandemic. He was voted in by lawmakers on Monday as the nation's new prime minister. "We confirmed that we would work together toward the strengthening of the Japan-US alliance and free and open Indo-Pacific," Kishida said. "We also confirmed we would work closely on issues related to China and North Korea." Also Read | China sends 56 warplanes into Taiwan's defence zone in largest-ever air incursion "Especially, the president made a strong comment on the US commitment to defend Japan, including the Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan security treaty," Kishida added, referring to US defence obligations to Japan, which cover the uninhabited island. Japan has become increasingly concerned about Chinese activity in the East China Sea, including incursions into waters around the disputed islands, known as the Diaoyus in China. (With inputs from agencies)

Biden congratulates Japan's new PM Kishida on phone call, both confirm strong alliance

Fumio Kishida will replace Yoshihide Suga as Japan's Prime Minister. Who is Fumio Kishida? Will Japan's new leader be tough on China? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: Meet Japan's 100th Prime Minister Fumio Kishida

Everyone has their own love language, and for the recently-elected Japanese Prime Minister, food might be it.<o:p></o:p>

Fumio Kishida who has just been named as the new Prime Minister of Japan has now gained a new found stardom on the internet through a simple post about one of his favourite traditional dishes.<o:p></o:p>

During an Instagram live, the new PM said he confessed that he loves okonomiyaki that his wife cooks for him. Much to his surprise, when he returned back home his wife had a plate of his favourite dish ready for him.<o:p></o:p>

The new Prime Minister took to Twitter to express his happiness and gratitude over this act of love.

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
帰宅すると、妻の裕子がお好み焼きを作ってくれていました。インスタライブで私が、「妻の作ってくれるお好み焼きが大好きです」と言っていたからです。 
 
いつも最高に美味しいけど、今日は、一生忘れられない美味しさでした。ありがとう。 <a href="https://t.co/vsBesywmCG">pic.twitter.com/vsBesywmCG</a>
— 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) <a href="https://twitter.com/kishida230/status/1443227822324027396?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 29, 2021</a></blockquote>
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"When I got home, my wife Yuko made me&nbsp;okonomiyaki, because I had said I love the dish she makes for me on Instagram live,"&nbsp;Kishida tweeted. "It's always super delicious, but today it was so delicious I won't forget it for a lifetime. Thank you."<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake dish that is made up of flour batter, cabbage, meat and can be topped with Japanese mayonnaise, pickled ginger, aonori and several other sauces. <o:p></o:p>

This dish mainly has routes in &nbsp;Hiroshima&nbsp;(Kishida's constituency) or the&nbsp;Kansai region&nbsp;of Japan and is hugely available as a popular dish all over Japan.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-meet-japans-100th-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-416951">WATCH |</a></o:p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-meet-japans-100th-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-416951/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Fumio Kishida is the 100th Prime Minister of Japan and will be replacing Yoshihide Suga. After Suga declared he will be giving up on the post and resigning from the office, Kishida won against Taro Kono in a close call.<o:p></o:p>

The new Prime Minister is hoping to be able to produce oral drugs and come up with stricter and more effective ways of beating the deadly coronavirus.<o:p></o:p>

"I want us to move toward and achieve the target of bringing our socio-economic activity back to near normalcy at the start of next year," Kishida had earlier said.<o:p></o:p>

Everyone has their own love language, and for the recently-elected Japanese Prime Minister, food might be it. Fumio Kishida who has just been named as the new Prime Minister of Japan has now gained a new found stardom on the internet through a simple post about one of his favourite traditional dishes.

Everyone has their own love language, and for the recently-elected Japanese Prime Minister, food might be it. Fumio Kishida who has just been named as the new Prime Minister of Japan has now gained a new found stardom on the internet through a simple post about one of his favourite traditional dishes. During an Instagram live, the new PM said he confessed that he loves okonomiyaki that his wife cooks for him. Much to his surprise, when he returned back home his wife had a plate of his favourite dish ready for him. The new Prime Minister took to Twitter to express his happiness and gratitude over this act of love. 帰宅すると、妻の裕子がお好み焼きを作ってくれていました。インスタライブで私が、「妻の作ってくれるお好み焼きが大好きです」と言っていたからです。 いつも最高に美味しいけど、今日は、一生忘れられない美味しさでした。ありがとう。 pic.twitter.com/vsBesywmCG — 岸田文雄 (@kishida230) September 29, 2021 × "When I got home, my wife Yuko made me okonomiyaki, because I had said I love the dish she makes for me on Instagram live," Kishida tweeted. "It's always super delicious, but today it was so delicious I won't forget it for a lifetime. Thank you." Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake dish that is made up of flour batter, cabbage, meat and can be topped with Japanese mayonnaise, pickled ginger, aonori and several other sauces. This dish mainly has routes in Hiroshima (Kishida's constituency) or the Kansai region of Japan and is hugely available as a popular dish all over Japan. WATCH | Fumio Kishida is the 100th Prime Minister of Japan and will be replacing Yoshihide Suga. After Suga declared he will be giving up on the post and resigning from the office, Kishida won against Taro Kono in a close call. The new Prime Minister is hoping to be able to produce oral drugs and come up with stricter and more effective ways of beating the deadly coronavirus. "I want us to move toward and achieve the target of bringing our socio-economic activity back to near normalcy at the start of next year," Kishida had earlier said.

'With love': Japan's new PM Kishida Fumio wins over internet with a picture of Japanese pancake

With the world’s oldest population, rapidly declining births, gargantuan public debt and increasingly damaging natural disasters fueled by climate change, Japan faces deep-rooted challenges that the long-standing governing party has failed to tackle.

Yet in choosing a new prime minister Wednesday, the Liberal Democratic Party elected the candidate least likely to offer bold solutions.

The party’s elite power brokers chose Fumio Kishida, 64, a stalwart moderate, in a runoff election for the leadership, seeming to disregard the public’s preference for a maverick challenger. In doing so, they anointed a politician with little to distinguish him from the unpopular departing leader, Yoshihide Suga, or his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fumio-kishida-elected-as-new-leader-of-japans-ruling-ldp-set-to-be-next-pm-416736">Fumio Kishida elected as new leader of Japan's ruling LDP, set to be next PM</a>

Elders in the party, which has had a near monopoly on power in the decades since World War II, made their choice confident that, with a weak political opposition and low voter turnout, they would face little chance of losing a general election later this year. So, largely insulated from voter pressure, they opted for a predictable former foreign minister who has learned to control any impulse to stray from the mainstream party platform.

“In a sense, you are ignoring the voice of the rank and file in order to get somebody the party bosses are more comfortable with,” said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University in Tokyo.

But choosing a leader who lacks popular support carries the risk of a backlash that leaves the party weaker after the election and makes Kishida’s job harder as the country slowly emerges from six months of pandemic restrictions that have battered the economy.

Kishida will need to win the public’s trust to show that he is not just a party insider, said Kristi Govella, deputy director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/race-for-new-leader-begins-in-japan-as-struggling-pm-suga-steps-down-410458">Race for new leader begins in Japan as struggling PM Suga steps down</a>

“If challenges start to arise,” she said, “we could see his approval ratings decrease very quickly because he is starting from a point of relatively modest support.”

Kishida was one of four candidates who vied for the leadership post in an unusually close race that went to a runoff between him and Taro Kono, an outspoken nonconformist whose common touch has made him popular with the public and with rank-and-file party members. Kishida prevailed in the second round of voting, in which ballots cast by members of Parliament held greater weight.

He will become prime minister when Parliament holds a special session next week, and will then lead the party into the general election, which must be held by November.

In his victory speech Wednesday, Kishida acknowledged the challenges he faces. “We have mountains of important issues that lie ahead in Japan’s future,” he said.

They loom both at home and abroad. Kishida faces mounting tensions in the region, as China has grown increasingly aggressive and North Korea has started testing ballistic missiles again. Taiwan is seeking membership in a multilateral trade pact that Japan helped negotiate, and Kishida may have to help finesse a decision on how to accept the self-governed island into the group without angering China.

As a former foreign minister, Kishida may have an easier time managing his international portfolio. Most analysts expect that he will maintain a strong relationship with the United States and continue to build on alliances with Australia and India to create a bulwark against China.

But on the domestic front, he is mostly offering a continuation of Abe’s economic policies, which have failed to cure the country’s stagnation. Income inequality is rising as fewer workers benefit from Japan’s vaunted system of lifetime employment — a reality reflected in Kishida’s campaign promise of a “new capitalism” that encourages companies to share more profits with middle-class workers.

“Japan’s accumulated debt is growing, and the gap between rich and poor is growing,” said Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo. “I don’t think even a genius can tackle this.”

On the pandemic, Kishida may initially escape some of the pressures that felled Suga, as the vaccine rollout has gathered momentum and close to 60% of the public is now inoculated. But Kishida has offered few concrete policies to address other issues like aging, population decline or climate change.

In a magazine questionnaire, he said that he needed “scientific verification” that human activities were causing global warming, saying, “I think that’s the case to some extent.”

Given the enduring power of the right flank of the Liberal Democratic Party, despite its minority standing in the party, Kishida closed what daylight he had with these power brokers during the campaign.

He had previously gained a reputation as being more dovish than the influential right wing led by Abe, but during the leadership race, he expressed a hawkish stance toward China. As a parliamentary representative from Hiroshima, Kishida has opposed nuclear weapons, but he has made clear his support for restarting Japan’s nuclear power plants, which have been idled since the triple meltdown in Fukushima 10 years ago.

And he toned down his support for overhauling a law requiring married couples to share a surname for legal purposes and declared that he would not endorse same-sex marriage, going against public sentiment but hewing to the views of the party’s conservative elite.

“I think Kishida knows how he won, and it was not by appealing to the general public, it was not by running as a liberal, but courting support to his right,” said Tobias Harris, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington. “So what that’s going to mean for the composition of his Cabinet and his priorities, and what his party’s platform ends up looking like, means he could end up being pulled in a few different directions.”

With the world’s oldest population, rapidly declining births, gargantuan public debt and increasingly damaging natural disasters fueled by climate change, Japan faces deep-rooted challenges that the long-standing governing party has failed to tackle.

With the world’s oldest population, rapidly declining births, gargantuan public debt and increasingly damaging natural disasters fueled by climate change, Japan faces deep-rooted challenges that the long-standing governing party has failed to tackle. Yet in choosing a new prime minister Wednesday, the Liberal Democratic Party elected the candidate least likely to offer bold solutions. The party’s elite power brokers chose Fumio Kishida, 64, a stalwart moderate, in a runoff election for the leadership, seeming to disregard the public’s preference for a maverick challenger. In doing so, they anointed a politician with little to distinguish him from the unpopular departing leader, Yoshihide Suga, or his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. Also read | Fumio Kishida elected as new leader of Japan's ruling LDP, set to be next PM Elders in the party, which has had a near monopoly on power in the decades since World War II, made their choice confident that, with a weak political opposition and low voter turnout, they would face little chance of losing a general election later this year. So, largely insulated from voter pressure, they opted for a predictable former foreign minister who has learned to control any impulse to stray from the mainstream party platform. “In a sense, you are ignoring the voice of the rank and file in order to get somebody the party bosses are more comfortable with,” said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University in Tokyo. But choosing a leader who lacks popular support carries the risk of a backlash that leaves the party weaker after the election and makes Kishida’s job harder as the country slowly emerges from six months of pandemic restrictions that have battered the economy. Kishida will need to win the public’s trust to show that he is not just a party insider, said Kristi Govella, deputy director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. Also read | Race for new leader begins in Japan as struggling PM Suga steps down “If challenges start to arise,” she said, “we could see his approval ratings decrease very quickly because he is starting from a point of relatively modest support.” Kishida was one of four candidates who vied for the leadership post in an unusually close race that went to a runoff between him and Taro Kono, an outspoken nonconformist whose common touch has made him popular with the public and with rank-and-file party members. Kishida prevailed in the second round of voting, in which ballots cast by members of Parliament held greater weight. He will become prime minister when Parliament holds a special session next week, and will then lead the party into the general election, which must be held by November. In his victory speech Wednesday, Kishida acknowledged the challenges he faces. “We have mountains of important issues that lie ahead in Japan’s future,” he said. They loom both at home and abroad. Kishida faces mounting tensions in the region, as China has grown increasingly aggressive and North Korea has started testing ballistic missiles again. Taiwan is seeking membership in a multilateral trade pact that Japan helped negotiate, and Kishida may have to help finesse a decision on how to accept the self-governed island into the group without angering China. As a former foreign minister, Kishida may have an easier time managing his international portfolio. Most analysts expect that he will maintain a strong relationship with the United States and continue to build on alliances with Australia and India to create a bulwark against China. But on the domestic front, he is mostly offering a continuation of Abe’s economic policies, which have failed to cure the country’s stagnation. Income inequality is rising as fewer workers benefit from Japan’s vaunted system of lifetime employment — a reality reflected in Kishida’s campaign promise of a “new capitalism” that encourages companies to share more profits with middle-class workers. “Japan’s accumulated debt is growing, and the gap between rich and poor is growing,” said Tsuneo Watanabe, a senior fellow at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation in Tokyo. “I don’t think even a genius can tackle this.” On the pandemic, Kishida may initially escape some of the pressures that felled Suga, as the vaccine rollout has gathered momentum and close to 60% of the public is now inoculated. But Kishida has offered few concrete policies to address other issues like aging, population decline or climate change. In a magazine questionnaire, he said that he needed “scientific verification” that human activities were causing global warming, saying, “I think that’s the case to some extent.” Given the enduring power of the right flank of the Liberal Democratic Party, despite its minority standing in the party, Kishida closed what daylight he had with these power brokers during the campaign. He had previously gained a reputation as being more dovish than the influential right wing led by Abe, but during the leadership race, he expressed a hawkish stance toward China. As a parliamentary representative from Hiroshima, Kishida has opposed nuclear weapons, but he has made clear his support for restarting Japan’s nuclear power plants, which have been idled since the triple meltdown in Fukushima 10 years ago. And he toned down his support for overhauling a law requiring married couples to share a surname for legal purposes and declared that he would not endorse same-sex marriage, going against public sentiment but hewing to the views of the party’s conservative elite. “I think Kishida knows how he won, and it was not by appealing to the general public, it was not by running as a liberal, but courting support to his right,” said Tobias Harris, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress in Washington. “So what that’s going to mean for the composition of his Cabinet and his priorities, and what his party’s platform ends up looking like, means he could end up being pulled in a few different directions.”

Japan faces big problems. Its next leader offers few bold solutions.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida as their new leader on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Kishida beat his rival Taro Kono in a close race. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had earlier decided to step down from office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japans-vaccines-minister-kono-leads-opinion-poll-on-succeeding-suga-412498">Also Read:&nbsp;&nbsp;Japan's vaccines minister Kono leads opinion poll on succeeding Suga</a>

Two woman candidates Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda had dropped out of the race. The country is set to go to the polls later this year.

Kishida, 64, is widely known as a consensus builder. The former banker will have to address the economic problems in the country after it suffered due to the pandemic. Kishida has reportedly proposed a spending package to boost the economy.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-pm-suga-to-back-vaccine-minister-kono-in-ldp-leadership-race-410605">Also Read:&nbsp;Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in LDP leadership race</a>

The new LDP leader had promised a more aggressive policy to beat the virus and proposed mass vaccination for citizens. Kishida had said the country needed to produce oral drugs and that the government needs to speed up efforts to overcome the virus.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-japan-to-ease-emergency-measures-gradually-as-number-of-cases-fall-416687">Also Read:&nbsp;Japan to ease emergency measures gradually as number of cases fall &nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

"I want us to move toward and achieve the target of bringing our socio-economic activity back to near normalcy at the start of next year," Kishida asserted.

Kishida toughest test however is likely to be in the elections set to be held in November.

(With inputs from Agencies)&nbsp;

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida as their new leader on Wednesday. Kishida beat his rival Taro Kono in a close race.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) elected ex-foreign minister Fumio Kishida as their new leader on Wednesday. Kishida beat his rival Taro Kono in a close race. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had earlier decided to step down from office. Also Read: Japan's vaccines minister Kono leads opinion poll on succeeding Suga Two woman candidates Sanae Takaichi and Seiko Noda had dropped out of the race. The country is set to go to the polls later this year. Kishida, 64, is widely known as a consensus builder. The former banker will have to address the economic problems in the country after it suffered due to the pandemic. Kishida has reportedly proposed a spending package to boost the economy. Also Read: Japan PM Suga to back vaccine minister Kono in LDP leadership race The new LDP leader had promised a more aggressive policy to beat the virus and proposed mass vaccination for citizens. Kishida had said the country needed to produce oral drugs and that the government needs to speed up efforts to overcome the virus. Also Read: Japan to ease emergency measures gradually as number of cases fall "I want us to move toward and achieve the target of bringing our socio-economic activity back to near normalcy at the start of next year," Kishida asserted. Kishida toughest test however is likely to be in the elections set to be held in November. (With inputs from Agencies)

Fumio Kishida elected as new leader of Japan's ruling LDP, set to be next PM

Fumio Kishida has won a race to lead Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), putting him on course to become the next prime minister. Mr Kishida will succeed Yoshihide Suga, who decided to step down after just one year in office.

Fumio Kishida on course to become Japan's next Prime Minister

Japan's PM contender Fumio Kishida said that the country needs to bolster coastguard capabilities to counter China.

Japan's PM contender speaks on maritime security

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