China has hit out at Japan’s latest defence white paper and military expansion, accusing Tokyo of reviving neo-militarism and moving away from its pacifist constitution. Beijing’s criticism comes as Japan strengthens its defence capabilities amid growing security tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

Beijing flags Japan's growing military ambitions

Discover the transformative power of 'Hara Hachi Bu'—the ancient Confucian and traditional Japanese mindful eating practice that has helped Okinawan populations maintain longevity, vitality, and a healthy relationship with food for centuries. In this video, we explore the science and philosophy behind stopping when you are 80% full, how slowing down your pace resets your natural hunger cues, and simple, actionable steps to bring mindful eating into your daily routine. Say goodbye to mindless snacking and overeating, and learn how a simple shift in awareness can completely transform your health and well-being.

A traditional Japanese mindful eating practice | The return to mindful eating

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal appeared to take a veiled swipe at China while pitching India as a trusted investment destination in Japan. Without naming China, Goyal said successful entrepreneurs in India do not have to worry about "disappearing one day" and reappearing elsewhere, remarks widely seen as a reference to Alibaba founder Jack Ma. The minister urged Japanese firms to expand investments in India, highlighting policy stability, entrepreneurship and economic opportunities.

Piyush Goyal's Jack Ma jibe? Minister takes veiled swipe at China in Japan

Rumors of ghosts haunting official political residences often make headlines, but Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi had a far more grounded—and creepy—surprise waiting for her. In this video, we explore the humorous and bizarre reality behind tales of haunted historic state residences, where pests like cockroaches replaced supernatural spirits. Watch to discover the amusing behind-the-scenes stories of official housing and political lore in Japan.

Takaichi shares candid post on life at prime minister's office 

Around 1800 people in northern Japan came together to move a 396-ton castle damaged in an earthquake. The enormous castle had to be moved back to its original position after the repair work was completed. They used a technique known as hikiya to move Hirosaki Castle a little more than two metres closer to its original place.&nbsp;“We had about 8,000 applications for the 1,800 slots over the last two days, roughly four times oversubscribed, so not everyone could participate,” said Kensuke Hayasaka, head of the parks and green spaces division at Hirosaki City. &nbsp;“Not only from the city, but from across Japan and overseas; a fair number from south-east Asia and from Europe and North America.”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-removes-syria-state-sponsors-terrorism-list-impact-1787660021250">US removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism list: What it means for Damascus</a><h2>How did 1800 Japanese move the castle?</h2>To preserve the historic structure, they used the “hikiya” technique, where the buildings are put on rollers and moved rather than dismantled. The “building-relocation method had existed in Japan since ancient times.” The castle was first moved in 2015, roughly 78 metres away from its edge to allow workers to safely rebuild it. That was the first use of citizen-driven Hikiya. The rebuilding was completed in 2024 with all 2,185 stones restacked in their original positions.&nbsp;After the task was completed, officials once again requested volunteers to pull the keep back to its original position. Rotating teams of 80 people heaved on 30-metre ropes as they chanted “so-re, so-re” as the keep on Armori Prefecture edged closer to its destination.Pulling the keep will continue until the end of August, with about 4,100 people scheduled to move it a total of 5m. It is a rare display of symbolic community effort for an important cultural property. The remaining 73m will be carried out using machinery by the end of the year.The keep at Hirosaki Castle is one of 12 such structures left in Japan. It was the seat of the Tsugaru clan; the castle was completed in 1611, but it was burned down in 1627 following a lightning strike that set fire to a gunpowder store. It was rebuilt in 1810 and is a major tourist attraction, drawing roughly 2 million visitors each year during cherry blossom season.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E5%BC%98%E5%89%8D%E5%9F%8E?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#弘前城</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E5%A4%A9%E5%AE%88%E6%9B%B3%E6%88%BB%E3%81%97?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#天守曳戻し</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E3%82%A4%E3%83%99%E3%83%B3%E3%83%88?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#イベント</a> 4日目！ 「そーれ！」の掛け声で参加者が一斉に綱を引っ張り、力を合わせて天守を移動させる曳戻し。 この4日間で天守が318ｃｍ移動しました！<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E5%BC%98%E5%89%8D?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#弘前</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/%E3%81%B2%E3%82%8D%E3%81%95%E3%81%8D?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ひろさき</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/hirosakicastle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hirosakicastle</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/hirosakipark?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hirosakipark</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/aomori?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aomori</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/tohoku?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#tohoku</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/visitjapan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#visitjapan</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/japantrip?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#japantrip</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/japantravle?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#japantravle</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/hirosaki?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hirosaki</a> <a href="https://t.co/631i4r1ZwA">pic.twitter.com/631i4r1ZwA</a>&mdash; 弘前市シティプロモーション (@hirosaki_promo) <a href="https://x.com/hirosaki_promo/status/2092233586388967825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Around 1,800 people in Japan helped move the 396-ton Hirosaki Castle using the traditional hikiya technique as restoration work nears completion.

Around 1800 people in northern Japan came together to move a 396-ton castle damaged in an earthquake. The enormous castle had to be moved back to its original position after the repair work was completed. They used a technique known as hikiya to move Hirosaki Castle a little more than two metres closer to its original place. “We had about 8,000 applications for the 1,800 slots over the last two days, roughly four times oversubscribed, so not everyone could participate,” said Kensuke Hayasaka, head of the parks and green spaces division at Hirosaki City. “Not only from the city, but from across Japan and overseas; a fair number from south-east Asia and from Europe and North America.” Also Read: US removes Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism list: What it means for Damascus How did 1800 Japanese move the castle? To preserve the historic structure, they used the “hikiya” technique, where the buildings are put on rollers and moved rather than dismantled. The “building-relocation method had existed in Japan since ancient times.” The castle was first moved in 2015, roughly 78 metres away from its edge to allow workers to safely rebuild it. That was the first use of citizen-driven Hikiya. The rebuilding was completed in 2024 with all 2,185 stones restacked in their original positions. After the task was completed, officials once again requested volunteers to pull the keep back to its original position. Rotating teams of 80 people heaved on 30-metre ropes as they chanted “so-re, so-re” as the keep on Armori Prefecture edged closer to its destination. Pulling the keep will continue until the end of August, with about 4,100 people scheduled to move it a total of 5m. It is a rare display of symbolic community effort for an important cultural property. The remaining 73m will be carried out using machinery by the end of the year. The keep at Hirosaki Castle is one of 12 such structures left in Japan. It was the seat of the Tsugaru clan; the castle was completed in 1611, but it was burned down in 1627 following a lightning strike that set fire to a gunpowder store. It was rebuilt in 1810 and is a major tourist attraction, drawing roughly 2 million visitors each year during cherry blossom season.

Around 1,800 people in Japan helped move the 396-ton Hirosaki Castle using the traditional hikiya technique as restoration work nears completion.

1,800 people move 396-ton Hirosaki Castle in Japan using ancient hikiya technique

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal took a veiled dig at China while pitching India to Japanese investors in Tokyo saying that they don't have to worry about disappearing after becoming successfull businessman in India and reappearing as a professor in a university in Japan, referring to Jack Ma founder of China's online marketplace Alibaba as an example who joined Tokyo College, University of Tokyo as visiting professor from May 1, 2023. Goyal was on a four-day official visit to Japan from August 24 to 27, 2026, leading a 200-member Indian business delegation seeking to deepen trade and investment ties between the two countries."Entrepreneurship is celebrated in India. You don't have to worry that if you make money in India, if you are a successful businessman, you may disappear one day and end up coming out as a professor in a Japanese University. That risk doesn't happen in India," said Goyal.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-melania-viral-clip-lip-reader-frustrated-exchange-freedom-250-grand-prix-1787592703411">'I can't take any more':Trump and Melania arguing over Natalie Harp at 250 Grand Prix?</a><h2>Was Goyal referring to China?</h2>While Goyal explicitly did not mention China, the reference was clearly towards China. Jack Ma, billionaire co-founder of Alibaba, had withdrawn from public life after criticising China's financial sector in 2020. Western media had framed him as the poster boy of China's tech industry. He publicly said state-owned banks had a “pawn shop” mentality. His public appearances decreased, though he appeared once publicly in January 2021 via a tightly stage-managed video address to rural teachers. He then gave up control of the Ant group in 2023, reducing his voting rights from 50 per cent to 6 per cent. He was then seen working as a visiting professor at Tokyo University in Japan. He was last seen publicly in February 2025 at a major government and tech sector meeting in China, where he shook hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping.&nbsp;Goyal was trying to suggest that India's neo-liberal free-market economic structure celebrates entrepreneurship and deregulation of the market. Eventhough crackdown on Jack Ma was anti-democratic, supporters of the crackdown suggest that Ant Group was operating and providing loans outside the traditional banking system, without massive cash reserves, and so a few defaulters would have had a ripple effect on the Chinese economy. They also suggest that the monopoly of Alipay was making it troublesome for competitors to survive.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal appeared to take a veiled dig at China while pitching India to Japanese investors, referencing Jack Ma's move to Tokyo University.

Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal took a veiled dig at China while pitching India to Japanese investors in Tokyo saying that they don't have to worry about disappearing after becoming successfull businessman in India and reappearing as a professor in a university in Japan, referring to Jack Ma founder of China's online marketplace Alibaba as an example who joined Tokyo College, University of Tokyo as visiting professor from May 1, 2023. Goyal was on a four-day official visit to Japan from August 24 to 27, 2026, leading a 200-member Indian business delegation seeking to deepen trade and investment ties between the two countries. "Entrepreneurship is celebrated in India. You don't have to worry that if you make money in India, if you are a successful businessman, you may disappear one day and end up coming out as a professor in a Japanese University. That risk doesn't happen in India," said Goyal. Also Read: 'I can't take any more':Trump and Melania arguing over Natalie Harp at 250 Grand Prix? Was Goyal referring to China? While Goyal explicitly did not mention China, the reference was clearly towards China. Jack Ma, billionaire co-founder of Alibaba, had withdrawn from public life after criticising China's financial sector in 2020. Western media had framed him as the poster boy of China's tech industry. He publicly said state-owned banks had a “pawn shop” mentality. His public appearances decreased, though he appeared once publicly in January 2021 via a tightly stage-managed video address to rural teachers. He then gave up control of the Ant group in 2023, reducing his voting rights from 50 per cent to 6 per cent. He was then seen working as a visiting professor at Tokyo University in Japan. He was last seen publicly in February 2025 at a major government and tech sector meeting in China, where he shook hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Goyal was trying to suggest that India's neo-liberal free-market economic structure celebrates entrepreneurship and deregulation of the market. Eventhough crackdown on Jack Ma was anti-democratic, supporters of the crackdown suggest that Ant Group was operating and providing loans outside the traditional banking system, without massive cash reserves, and so a few defaulters would have had a ripple effect on the Chinese economy. They also suggest that the monopoly of Alipay was making it troublesome for competitors to survive.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal appeared to take a veiled dig at China while pitching India to Japanese investors, referencing Jack Ma's move to Tokyo University.

Piyush Goyal takes veiled dig at China, invokes Jack Ma while pitching India to Japanese investors

Rumors of ghosts haunting official political residences often make headlines, but Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi had a far more grounded—and creepy—surprise waiting for her. In this video, we explore the humorous and bizarre reality behind tales of haunted historic state residences, where pests like cockroaches replaced supernatural spirits. Watch to discover the amusing behind-the-scenes stories of official housing and political lore in Japan.


Haunted residence? Takaichi saw no ghosts, only cockroaches

Japan is accelerating plans for a backup capital as concerns grow over the risks of concentrating political and economic functions in Tokyo. Osaka is emerging as the frontrunner, with its government pushing to make the city a secondary capital capable of supporting national functions if Tokyo is crippled by a major disaster. Japan's government has warned that a Tokyo-area earthquake could cause devastating human and economic losses. The debate is also aimed at reducing Tokyo-centric concentration and strengthening national resilience.


Why Japan wants Osaka as a backup capital to Tokyo 

Japan has approved a new code of conduct aimed at strengthening copyright protection in the age of artificial intelligence. The guidelines encourage AI companies to be more transparent about the data used to train their models and to take steps to prevent the use of pirated or illegally obtained content. The framework follows a "comply or explain" approach, meaning firms are expected to follow the code or publicly explain why they do not.


Japan approves code for AI copyright protection

Japan's Nuclear Potential: Tensions have flared following statements from Chinese officials alleging that Japan currently possesses enough separated plutonium to produce approximately 5,500 nuclear warheads.


China: Japan has plutonium for 5,500 nukes; Japan's nuclear potential in spotlight

China has issued a chilling warning over Japan's nuclear potential, pointing to Tokyo's huge stockpile of separated plutonium. Japan held about 44.4 tonnes of separated plutonium at the end of 2025, according to Japanese figures. Beijing says the stockpile gives Japan the technical ability for a rapid nuclear breakout. But Japan remains a non-nuclear-weapon state under the NPT and says its plutonium is for peaceful civilian use.


China says Japan has plutonium for 5,500 nukes

India and Japan have signed key agreements to deepen defence and maritime security cooperation. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi signed MoAs aimed at strengthening bilateral defence ties, while both sides are also exploring joint development of naval ships. The agreements come as New Delhi and Tokyo seek closer strategic cooperation amid growing security challenges across the Indo-Pacific.


India-Japan ties: Rajnath Singh, Shinjiro Koizumi sign MoAs to boost defence ties 

China sounds nuclear alarm over Japan's 44-tonne plutonium stockpile

India-Japan deepen defence ties with maritime security and shipbuilding pact 

The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane of Japan, escalating Washington’s campaign against the Hague-based court. The move has drawn criticism from Tokyo, which called the sanctions “very unfortunate.” With Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government strongly backing the ICC and the rule of law, questions are emerging over whether the dispute could create friction in otherwise close U.S.-Japan relations.


Will US sanctions on Japan's ICC president hurt relations with Takaichi? 

Russia and Japan are once again at odds after Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories. Tokyo swiftly renewed its territorial claim and lodged a protest, while Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi criticised the visit. The islands have remained a major point of contention since the Soviet Union seized them at the end of World War II, preventing the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.

Russia-Japan spar over disputed islands, Japan envoy summoned

Kuril Island row: Putin's Kuril visit fuels Russia-Japan tensions

Kuril Island's row: Putin's Kuril visit fuels Russia-Japan tensions

Japan is seeing strong tourism growth as visitors from Asia, the US, Europe and South Korea help make up for shifts in travel patterns. The surge highlights Japan’s continued appeal as a major global tourism destination and provides a boost to its travel and hospitality sectors.

Japan makes up for lost tourism from Asia, US, Europe & Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine as Japan marked the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi also visited the controversial shrine, which honours wartime Japanese leaders, including convicted war criminals. Such visits have previously drawn strong criticism from China and South Korea.

Japan marks 81 years since World War II surrender 

This week in Asia, Japan's stock market is riding an extraordinary AI wave. But behind the surge in AI and semiconductor stocks, there is another powerful market force, the weak Yen.


Japan's AI boom rides on a weak Yen 

Russia and Japan are once again at odds after Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories. Tokyo swiftly renewed its territorial claim and lodged a protest, while Japanese politician Sanae Takaichi criticised the visit. The islands have remained a major point of contention since the Soviet Union seized them at the end of World War II, preventing the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty.


Russia-Japan tensions: Putin makes historic first visit to disputed Kuril islands, Japan protests 

Weak yen fuels Japan's AI stock rally

Japan’s ongoing currency shift is reshaping the country's technology and industrial sectors, with a persistently weak yen acting as a powerful financial tailwind for major corporate exporters. As global demand for artificial intelligence hardware, advanced semiconductors, and data center infrastructure surges, Japanese manufacturers are reaping record-high overseas revenues translated back into local currency.


Japan's AI market shift: Weak yen boosts exporter earnings

An adorable eight-month-old polar bear cub named Momota at Japan's Oga Aquarium (Akita Prefecture) has taken the internet by storm with his hilarious and quirky obsession with traffic cones. Viral footage captures the playful toddler shoving his head inside a bright orange cone, charging around his enclosure like a tiny unicorn, and accidentally poking his visibly exhausted mother, Momo, in the rear end.


Polar bear cub obsessed with traffic cones; Japan's polar bear goes viral

Japan marked the 81st anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing with a solemn peace ceremony, reaffirming its commitment to its long-standing non-nuclear principles. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized that the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must never be repeated. The commemoration comes as Japan simultaneously undertakes its largest defense buildup since World War II in response to growing security concerns posed by China and North Korea, highlighting the country's delicate balance between peace and national security.

August 6, 1945: Around 140,000 People Perished in Hiroshima Bombing

North Korea on Wednesday accused Japan of turning itself into a "war state" as Tokyo continues to strengthen its military capabilities across the Pacific.&nbsp;The remarks came from Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after Japan stepped up defence spending, expanded military partnerships and increased deployments on its outer islands.&nbsp;A day earlier, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the country must strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis" following a new government assessment that identified China, Russia and North Korea as growing security threats.&nbsp;In a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong said Pyongyang's "leadership will set up additional military options which are obviously due to Japan's transformation"."Japan, a war criminal state, is accelerating its transformation into a war state," the statement said.North Korea cites military drills and missile tests&nbsp;Kim pointed to Japan's recent Tomahawk long-range cruise missile test and its participation in United States-led military exercises in the Philippines in May as signs of Washington's support for what she described as "dangerous military moves" in the Pacific.&nbsp;She also accused Tokyo of moving "to formulate the possession of the capability for preemptive attack", adding, "We will never remain a passive onlooker to the military evolution of Japan which may pose a grave threat."&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-draws-up-new-nuclear-strategy-in-the-event-of-war-with-russia-and-china-1785952387235">Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China</a><h2>Japan defends military build-up</h2>Japan's Defence Ministry declined to respond directly to Kim's remarks but said the country's defence capabilities "remain bare minimum" and "are not meant to threaten other countries".&nbsp;"Ours isn't the defence meant to wage wars, but to prevent new wars, strictly kept to self-defence and within the scope of our (pacifist) Constitution and international laws," the ministry said.&nbsp;The ministry also confirmed that last week's Tomahawk missile test was Japan's first and said the country plans to acquire up to 400 Tomahawk missiles by the end of fiscal 2027.&nbsp;Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula until its surrender in the Second World War in 1945, after which Korea was divided into two states along the 38th parallel. The legacy of that colonial period continues to influence relations between Japan and both North and South Korea.&nbsp;Kim also warned, "If the descendants of militarism, who have inherited the genes of cunning and aggression, have seized deadly weapons in their hands, something unpleasant will happen."&nbsp;Japan increased its military spending by 9.7 per cent to $62.2 billion in 2025, taking defence expenditure to 1.4 per cent of its GDP, the highest share since 1958.

North Korea accused Japan of becoming a "war state" and warned of additional military measures after Tokyo expanded its defence capabilities and increased military activities in the Pacific.

North Korea on Wednesday accused Japan of turning itself into a "war state" as Tokyo continues to strengthen its military capabilities across the Pacific. The remarks came from Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, after Japan stepped up defence spending, expanded military partnerships and increased deployments on its outer islands. A day earlier, Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the country must strengthen its military with a "sense of urgency and crisis" following a new government assessment that identified China, Russia and North Korea as growing security threats. In a statement published by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo Jong said Pyongyang's "leadership will set up additional military options which are obviously due to Japan's transformation". "Japan, a war criminal state, is accelerating its transformation into a war state," the statement said. North Korea cites military drills and missile tests Kim pointed to Japan's recent Tomahawk long-range cruise missile test and its participation in United States-led military exercises in the Philippines in May as signs of Washington's support for what she described as "dangerous military moves" in the Pacific. She also accused Tokyo of moving "to formulate the possession of the capability for preemptive attack", adding, "We will never remain a passive onlooker to the military evolution of Japan which may pose a grave threat." Also Read: Pentagon draws up new nuclear strategy in the event of war with Russia and China Japan defends military build-up Japan's Defence Ministry declined to respond directly to Kim's remarks but said the country's defence capabilities "remain bare minimum" and "are not meant to threaten other countries". "Ours isn't the defence meant to wage wars, but to prevent new wars, strictly kept to self-defence and within the scope of our (pacifist) Constitution and international laws," the ministry said. The ministry also confirmed that last week's Tomahawk missile test was Japan's first and said the country plans to acquire up to 400 Tomahawk missiles by the end of fiscal 2027. Japan ruled the Korean Peninsula until its surrender in the Second World War in 1945, after which Korea was divided into two states along the 38th parallel. The legacy of that colonial period continues to influence relations between Japan and both North and South Korea. Kim also warned, "If the descendants of militarism, who have inherited the genes of cunning and aggression, have seized deadly weapons in their hands, something unpleasant will happen." Japan increased its military spending by 9.7 per cent to $62.2 billion in 2025, taking defence expenditure to 1.4 per cent of its GDP, the highest share since 1958.

North Korea accused Japan of becoming a "war state" and warned of additional military measures after Tokyo expanded its defence capabilities and increased military activities in the Pacific.

North Korea accuses Japan of becoming a 'war state' amid military buildup

Japan's 2026 defense white paper brands China as its greatest strategic challenge, highlighting regional security risks, military expansion near Taiwan, and deeper ties with Russia.


The White Paper identifies China as Japan's strategic challenge 

The Japanese Yen's historic slide against the greenback has officially drawn high-level attention from Washington, with U.S. financial authorities actively weighing a potential multi-billion-dollar currency intervention to stabilize foreign exchange markets. As Japan's central bank battles severe depreciation pressures driven by diverging monetary policies, global markets are on high alert.

US-Japan intervention boosts Yen, but at what cost?

Japan has officially launched its new National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), upgrading the older Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office (CIRO). Led by director Kazuya Hara with a staff of roughly 730, the agency has the legal power to force different government ministries to share security and intelligence information.

Takaichi: First step in the country's intellignce reform

A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture triggered a devastating explosion at the Aeon Mall shopping complex, leaving parts of the structure collapsed and rescue teams racing against time.
Witnesses described scenes of panic as shoppers and employees evacuated moments before a massive blast sent debris flying and filled the air with dust "like volcanic ash." Authorities are investigating whether a gas leak contributed to the explosion.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has called the rescue operation a "race against time" as emergency workers continue searching for those still trapped. More than 100 aftershocks have complicated rescue efforts across the region.

Japan earthquake: Death toll rises to 35 after earthquake 

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