Japan&#39;s public broadcaster has vowed to reform its working practices after&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/watch-russian-reporter-punched-live-on-air-18521" target="_blank">it revealed that a young reporter died</a> of heart failure after logging 159 hours of overtime in a month.

NHK reporter Miwa Sado, 31, who had been covering political news in Tokyo, was found dead in her bed in July 2013, reportedly clutching her mobile phone.

A year later, Japanese authorities said her death was linked to excessive overtime. She had two days off in the month before she died.

NHK eventually made the case public four years afterwards, bowing to pressure from Sado&#39;s parents to take action to prevent a recurrence.

The case again highlights the Japanese problem of karoshi, or death from overwork, amid the country&#39;s notoriously long work hours.

It is also an embarrassing revelation for NHK, which has campaigned against the nation&#39;s long working culture.

Sato covered Tokyo assembly elections in June 2013 and an upper-house vote for the national parliament the following month.

She died three days after the upper-house election.

&quot;My heart breaks at the thought that she may have wanted to call me&quot; in her last moments, her mother told the Asahi daily.

&quot;With Miwa gone, I feel like half of my body has been torn off. I won&#39;t be able to laugh for real for the rest of my life.&quot;

The revelation shocked the nation as NHK has actively reported tragic deaths at other companies, including the 2015 suicide of a young woman at major advertising agency Dentsu after logging more than 100 hours of overtime a month.

The chief of NHK has pledged to improve work conditions at the broadcaster. &nbsp;

&quot;We are sorry that we lost an excellent reporter and take seriously the fact that her death was recognised as work-related,&quot; President Ryoichi Ueda said Thursday.

&quot;We will continue to work for reform in cooperation with her parents,&quot; he told reporters.

The case highlights the Japanese problem of karoshi, or death from overwork, amid the country's notoriously long work hours.

Japan's public broadcaster has vowed to reform its working practices after it revealed that a young reporter died of heart failure after logging 159 hours of overtime in a month. NHK reporter Miwa Sado, 31, who had been covering political news in Tokyo, was found dead in her bed in July 2013, reportedly clutching her mobile phone. A year later, Japanese authorities said her death was linked to excessive overtime. She had two days off in the month before she died. NHK eventually made the case public four years afterwards, bowing to pressure from Sado's parents to take action to prevent a recurrence. The case again highlights the Japanese problem of karoshi, or death from overwork, amid the country's notoriously long work hours. It is also an embarrassing revelation for NHK, which has campaigned against the nation's long working culture. Sato covered Tokyo assembly elections in June 2013 and an upper-house vote for the national parliament the following month. She died three days after the upper-house election. "My heart breaks at the thought that she may have wanted to call me" in her last moments, her mother told the Asahi daily. "With Miwa gone, I feel like half of my body has been torn off. I won't be able to laugh for real for the rest of my life." The revelation shocked the nation as NHK has actively reported tragic deaths at other companies, including the 2015 suicide of a young woman at major advertising agency Dentsu after logging more than 100 hours of overtime a month. The chief of NHK has pledged to improve work conditions at the broadcaster. "We are sorry that we lost an excellent reporter and take seriously the fact that her death was recognised as work-related," President Ryoichi Ueda said Thursday. "We will continue to work for reform in cooperation with her parents," he told reporters.

Japanese reporter died after 159 hours of overtime, govt reported her death after 4 years

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially dissolved parliament Thursday, effectively kicking off a national election campaign where he faces an unexpected and formidable challenge from the popular governor of Tokyo.

Members of the lower house raised their arms and shouted &quot;Banzai&quot; three times -- the Japanese equivalent of &quot;three cheers&quot; -- after the speaker read out a letter from Abe officially dissolving the chamber.

Voters in the world&#39;s third-biggest economy are expected to go to the polls on October 22, as Abe seeks a fresh popular mandate for his hardline stance on North Korea and a new tax plan.

&quot;A difficult battle starts today,&quot; Abe told reporters, shaking his fist.

&quot;This is an election about how to protect the lives of people,&quot; said the premier. &quot;We have to cooperate with the international community as we face the threat from North Korea.&quot;

Abe asked for public support for his &quot;strong diplomacy&quot; on North Korea, which has threatened to &quot;sink&quot; Japan into the sea and fired missiles at its northern Hokkaido island twice in the space of a month.

&quot;We need to fight for our children&#39;s future.&quot;

Party of Hope

Abe stunned Japan on Monday with a surprise call for a snap election, seeking to capitalise on a weak opposition and a boost in the polls, as voters welcome his hawkish North Korea policy.

But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has upended Japanese politics in recent days, stealing Abe&#39;s limelight with her newly launched &quot;Party of Hope&quot; that seeks to shake up the country&#39;s lethargic political landscape.

Koike&#39;s new party, formally unveiled Wednesday, has attracted an influx of lawmakers from a wide range of ideological backgrounds and could unify opposition to Abe, presenting Japanese voters with a credible alternative to the premier.

For the moment, although Koike is leading the party, she is not running for a seat in parliament, preferring to concentrate on governing the world&#39;s most populous city in the run-up to the 2020 Olympic Games.

But pundits say the charismatic former TV presenter, 65, could yet go all-in on her high-stakes gamble if she thought she could deflect criticism for ditching her current job after only a year.

&quot;The party may gain some seats in the Tokyo area, but a risk for her is that voters may feel betrayed as they voted for her as Tokyo governor and now she is working in national politics,&quot; Kensuke Takayasu, professor of political science at Seikei University, told AFP.

Vacuum

But surveys show that Koike&#39;s gambit is starting to put pressure on Abe, 63, who seemed to be a shoo-in for a fourth term at the helm.

Abe enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls of more than 30 points only a week ago but the gap appeared to have narrowed following Koike&#39;s high-profile announcement.

A survey in the Mainichi Shimbun suggested that 29 percent of voters would cast ballots for Abe&#39;s conservative LDP, while 18 percent would vote for the Party of Hope.

Abe returned to power in December 2012 and has pushed a nationalist social agenda as well as packages of big-spending, easy money programmes to end deflation and to kick-start the once world-beating economy.

The scion of a political dynasty, Abe had promised to achieve two-percent inflation and stable growth in two years, but nearly five years later, he has failed to deliver on those pledges.

He said on Monday he would use a planned hike in consumption tax from eight percent to 10 percent for new social spending, such as free early childhood education while pushing back his pledges to restore the nation&#39;s fiscal discipline.

Critics argue that Abe called the election to divert attention from a series of scandals in recent months that weighed on his popularity, including allegations of favouritism to a friend in a business deal which the premier strongly denies.

The timing of the election, amid the North Korean crisis, has also faced questions, including from Koike, who said it created a &quot;vacuum&quot; at a time of national tension.

Media-savvy Koike has vowed a break with old-school politics, promising to &quot;reset&quot; Japan and carry out reforms that are un-tied to vested interests.&nbsp;

She hopes to put up as many as 100 candidates in the election.

Members of the lower house raised their arms and shouted 'Banzai' three times -- the Japanese equivalent of "three cheers" -- after the speaker read out a letter from Abe officially dissolving the chamber

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially dissolved parliament Thursday, effectively kicking off a national election campaign where he faces an unexpected and formidable challenge from the popular governor of Tokyo. Members of the lower house raised their arms and shouted "Banzai" three times -- the Japanese equivalent of "three cheers" -- after the speaker read out a letter from Abe officially dissolving the chamber. Voters in the world's third-biggest economy are expected to go to the polls on October 22, as Abe seeks a fresh popular mandate for his hardline stance on North Korea and a new tax plan. "A difficult battle starts today," Abe told reporters, shaking his fist. "This is an election about how to protect the lives of people," said the premier. "We have to cooperate with the international community as we face the threat from North Korea." Abe asked for public support for his "strong diplomacy" on North Korea, which has threatened to "sink" Japan into the sea and fired missiles at its northern Hokkaido island twice in the space of a month. "We need to fight for our children's future." Party of Hope Abe stunned Japan on Monday with a surprise call for a snap election, seeking to capitalise on a weak opposition and a boost in the polls, as voters welcome his hawkish North Korea policy. But Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike has upended Japanese politics in recent days, stealing Abe's limelight with her newly launched "Party of Hope" that seeks to shake up the country's lethargic political landscape. Koike's new party, formally unveiled Wednesday, has attracted an influx of lawmakers from a wide range of ideological backgrounds and could unify opposition to Abe, presenting Japanese voters with a credible alternative to the premier. For the moment, although Koike is leading the party, she is not running for a seat in parliament, preferring to concentrate on governing the world's most populous city in the run-up to the 2020 Olympic Games. But pundits say the charismatic former TV presenter, 65, could yet go all-in on her high-stakes gamble if she thought she could deflect criticism for ditching her current job after only a year. "The party may gain some seats in the Tokyo area, but a risk for her is that voters may feel betrayed as they voted for her as Tokyo governor and now she is working in national politics," Kensuke Takayasu, professor of political science at Seikei University, told AFP. Vacuum But surveys show that Koike's gambit is starting to put pressure on Abe, 63, who seemed to be a shoo-in for a fourth term at the helm. Abe enjoyed a healthy lead in the polls of more than 30 points only a week ago but the gap appeared to have narrowed following Koike's high-profile announcement. A survey in the Mainichi Shimbun suggested that 29 percent of voters would cast ballots for Abe's conservative LDP, while 18 percent would vote for the Party of Hope. Abe returned to power in December 2012 and has pushed a nationalist social agenda as well as packages of big-spending, easy money programmes to end deflation and to kick-start the once world-beating economy. The scion of a political dynasty, Abe had promised to achieve two-percent inflation and stable growth in two years, but nearly five years later, he has failed to deliver on those pledges. He said on Monday he would use a planned hike in consumption tax from eight percent to 10 percent for new social spending, such as free early childhood education while pushing back his pledges to restore the nation's fiscal discipline. Critics argue that Abe called the election to divert attention from a series of scandals in recent months that weighed on his popularity, including allegations of favouritism to a friend in a business deal which the premier strongly denies. The timing of the election, amid the North Korean crisis, has also faced questions, including from Koike, who said it created a "vacuum" at a time of national tension. Media-savvy Koike has vowed a break with old-school politics, promising to "reset" Japan and carry out reforms that are un-tied to vested interests. She hopes to put up as many as 100 candidates in the election.

Japan's Abe calls snap election, faces challenge from Governor Koike

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called a snap election even as tensions with North Korea continued to destabilise the Korean peninsula.

&quot;I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th&nbsp;of September,&quot;&nbsp;Abe told reporters today.

The Japanese Prime Minister has been leading in the popularity polls recently which is up 20 per cent from 30 per cent in July.

The main opposition Democratic Party is struggling with single-digit ratings, Reuters reported.

Developing

"I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th of September," Abe told reporters.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called a snap election even as tensions with North Korea continued to destabilise the Korean peninsula. "I will dissolve the House of Representatives on the 28th of September," Abe told reporters today. The Japanese Prime Minister has been leading in the popularity polls recently which is up 20 per cent from 30 per cent in July. The main opposition Democratic Party is struggling with single-digit ratings, Reuters reported. Developing

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe calls snap elections amid tensions with North Korea

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-crisis-boosts-japans-hawkish-pm-analysts-20374">Japan</a> will&nbsp;deploy an additional missile defence system on its northern island of Hokkaido, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP, days after North Korea launched a missile over the island.

&quot;We are deploying a PAC-3 system at about&nbsp;noon&quot; to a base of the nation&#39;s Ground Self-Defense Force in the southern tip of Hokkaido, said Kensaku Mizuseki.

According to local officials, Japan has already deployed the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile defence system to another part of Hokkaido.

But Mizuseki declined to confirm where in Japan other PAC-3 systems were deployed, citing the sensitive nature of defence information.

The move comes with tensions on the Korean peninsula at fever-pitch after Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test and fired two missiles over Japan in the space of less than a month, sparking emergency warnings to take cover.

North Korea has threatened to &quot;sink&quot; Japan into the sea and said&nbsp;Saturday&nbsp;that it sought military &quot;equilibrium&quot; with arch-enemy the United States by developing a full nuclear arsenal.

For his part, hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he would &quot;never tolerate&quot; the North&#39;s &quot;dangerous provocative action&quot; and has urged the international community to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang.

The UN Security Council, which condemned the launch as &quot;highly provocative,&quot; will hold a new ministerial-level meeting&nbsp;Thursday&nbsp;on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, focused on enforcing sanctions on the North Korean regime.

The move comes with tensions on the Korean peninsula at fever-pitch after Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test and fired two missiles over Japan in the space of less than a month, sparking emergency warnings to take cover

Japan will deploy an additional missile defence system on its northern island of Hokkaido, a defence ministry spokesman told AFP, days after North Korea launched a missile over the island. "We are deploying a PAC-3 system at about noon" to a base of the nation's Ground Self-Defense Force in the southern tip of Hokkaido, said Kensaku Mizuseki. According to local officials, Japan has already deployed the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile defence system to another part of Hokkaido. But Mizuseki declined to confirm where in Japan other PAC-3 systems were deployed, citing the sensitive nature of defence information. The move comes with tensions on the Korean peninsula at fever-pitch after Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test and fired two missiles over Japan in the space of less than a month, sparking emergency warnings to take cover. North Korea has threatened to "sink" Japan into the sea and said Saturday that it sought military "equilibrium" with arch-enemy the United States by developing a full nuclear arsenal. For his part, hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he would "never tolerate" the North's "dangerous provocative action" and has urged the international community to ramp up pressure on Pyongyang. The UN Security Council, which condemned the launch as "highly provocative," will hold a new ministerial-level meeting Thursday on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, focused on enforcing sanctions on the North Korean regime.

Japan to deploy additional missile defence system in north: Defence ministry

The North Korea crisis has been like &quot;divine aid&quot; for hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, experts say, burnishing his nationalist credentials and possibly tempting him into a snap election.

Abe is aiming to capitalise on a public perception of strong leadership in a time of crisis, as well as an opposition in turmoil, and is reportedly considering a vote as soon as late October.

Analysts say North Korea&#39;s provocative actions -- including a nuclear test and two missile launches over Japan -- have fanned the fears of Japanese voters, and Abe will use the crisis to justify his call for an early general election.

&quot;For Abe, it&#39;s like divine aid,&quot; Shinichi Nishikawa, a political analyst at Meiji University, told AFP.

The crisis has diverted attention away from a series of scandals that have pushed down Abe&#39;s approval ratings, including allegations of favouritism to a friend in a business deal, which the premier strongly denies.

During the scandals, &quot;people thought that he wouldn&#39;t last, but by using his sense of crisis, Abe has managed to turn the situation around,&quot; said Nishikawa.

Abe has sought to deliver a strong but reassuring message to a jittery population by reacting swiftly to missile launches and insisting his government has &quot;complete grasp&quot; of each projectile&#39;s path.

He has also promised to do his best to &quot;secure people&#39;s safety and security&quot;, with the government issuing rapid warnings to residents, complete with sirens and emergency text messages.

In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey released last week, half of respondents approved of Abe&#39;s efforts to deal with the crisis compared to 37 percent with the opposite view.

&quot;A sense of crisis has arisen among the Japanese people and they believe the country needs a hawkish leader now,&quot; said historian Hideaki Kase.

&quot;It is no wonder Abe&#39;s support ratings went up as North Korean tensions rose,&quot; he added.

&#39;Good chance&#39; for Abe 
Political blue-blood Abe, in office since late December 2012, has pushed a nationalist agenda alongside a massive policy effort to end years of on-off deflation and rejuvenate the world&#39;s third-largest economy.

Some commentators have suggested that Abe&#39;s government is playing up the North Korean threat to Japan in order to bolster his bid to revise the pacifist constitution.

When the sirens went off on Friday, many Japanese felt a sense of helplessness, with only a matter of minutes to take shelter and few practical places to hide.

&quot;I&#39;m wondering if the alert system is practical or not,&quot; Nishikawa said. &quot;This could be rather a gesture to show their seriousness or justify the budget to beef up defence systems.&quot;

But Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, says the current crisis is too serious to be playing politics.

&quot;Does the government take advantage of the situation and even exaggerate the risk to the Japanese population? No, in the sense that it is really a crisis,&quot; he said, while admitting that alerting the population just minutes before impact is &quot;a bit ridiculous.&quot;

Abe&#39;s reported decision to call an election also came as the opposition camp struggles to offer a political alternative, with the largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) suffering a string of defections despite a recent change in leadership.

The DP&#39;s decline accelerated in 2011 when the party, then in power, came under fire for poor crisis management over the Fukushima disaster, the world&#39;s worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl.

&quot;It&#39;s good timing for (Abe&#39;s conservative party) the LDP as the main opposition is on the verge of falling apart,&quot; noted Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities.

&quot;They couldn&#39;t do this before due to sagging support rates but they see a good chance.&quot;

However, the LDP suffered a drubbing in local Tokyo elections in July, which analysts and newspapers blamed on an increasing &quot;arrogance&quot; on the part of the prime minister.

And some experts warned him against taking the election gamble.

&quot;The North Korea crisis is one of the factors pushing Prime Minister Abe for snap elections,&quot; said Naoto Nonaka, professor of politics at Gakushuin University in Tokyo.

&quot;But I don&#39;t think it&#39;s a wise decision to call it now, which will merely fuel unnecessary fears among voters by inflating the sense of crisis without giving concrete measures to settle the issue,&quot; Nonaka told AFP. 
&nbsp;

Analysts says North Korea's provocative actions have fanned the fears of Japanese voters, and Abe will use the crisis to justify his call for an early general election

The North Korea crisis has been like "divine aid" for hawkish Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, experts say, burnishing his nationalist credentials and possibly tempting him into a snap election. Abe is aiming to capitalise on a public perception of strong leadership in a time of crisis, as well as an opposition in turmoil, and is reportedly considering a vote as soon as late October. Analysts say North Korea's provocative actions -- including a nuclear test and two missile launches over Japan -- have fanned the fears of Japanese voters, and Abe will use the crisis to justify his call for an early general election. "For Abe, it's like divine aid," Shinichi Nishikawa, a political analyst at Meiji University, told AFP. The crisis has diverted attention away from a series of scandals that have pushed down Abe's approval ratings, including allegations of favouritism to a friend in a business deal, which the premier strongly denies. During the scandals, "people thought that he wouldn't last, but by using his sense of crisis, Abe has managed to turn the situation around," said Nishikawa. Abe has sought to deliver a strong but reassuring message to a jittery population by reacting swiftly to missile launches and insisting his government has "complete grasp" of each projectile's path. He has also promised to do his best to "secure people's safety and security", with the government issuing rapid warnings to residents, complete with sirens and emergency text messages. In a Yomiuri Shimbun survey released last week, half of respondents approved of Abe's efforts to deal with the crisis compared to 37 percent with the opposite view. "A sense of crisis has arisen among the Japanese people and they believe the country needs a hawkish leader now," said historian Hideaki Kase. "It is no wonder Abe's support ratings went up as North Korean tensions rose," he added. 'Good chance' for Abe Political blue-blood Abe, in office since late December 2012, has pushed a nationalist agenda alongside a massive policy effort to end years of on-off deflation and rejuvenate the world's third-largest economy. Some commentators have suggested that Abe's government is playing up the North Korean threat to Japan in order to bolster his bid to revise the pacifist constitution. When the sirens went off on Friday, many Japanese felt a sense of helplessness, with only a matter of minutes to take shelter and few practical places to hide. "I'm wondering if the alert system is practical or not," Nishikawa said. "This could be rather a gesture to show their seriousness or justify the budget to beef up defence systems." But Robert Dujarric, director of the Institute of Contemporary Asian Studies at Temple University Japan, says the current crisis is too serious to be playing politics. "Does the government take advantage of the situation and even exaggerate the risk to the Japanese population? No, in the sense that it is really a crisis," he said, while admitting that alerting the population just minutes before impact is "a bit ridiculous." Abe's reported decision to call an election also came as the opposition camp struggles to offer a political alternative, with the largest opposition Democratic Party (DP) suffering a string of defections despite a recent change in leadership. The DP's decline accelerated in 2011 when the party, then in power, came under fire for poor crisis management over the Fukushima disaster, the world's worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. "It's good timing for (Abe's conservative party) the LDP as the main opposition is on the verge of falling apart," noted Toshihiko Matsuno, chief strategist at SMBC Friend Securities. "They couldn't do this before due to sagging support rates but they see a good chance." However, the LDP suffered a drubbing in local Tokyo elections in July, which analysts and newspapers blamed on an increasing "arrogance" on the part of the prime minister. And some experts warned him against taking the election gamble. "The North Korea crisis is one of the factors pushing Prime Minister Abe for snap elections," said Naoto Nonaka, professor of politics at Gakushuin University in Tokyo. "But I don't think it's a wise decision to call it now, which will merely fuel unnecessary fears among voters by inflating the sense of crisis without giving concrete measures to settle the issue," Nonaka told AFP.

North Korea crisis boosts Japan's hawkish PM: Analysts

&quot;Missile launch! Missile launch! A missile appears to have been launched from North Korea. Take cover in a building or underground.&quot;

To the accompaniment of blaring sirens and emergency phone alerts, that was the terrifying loudspeaker message that jolted millions of Japanese awake in the early hours as North Korea blasted its second missile over the country in less than a month.

But for local residents on the flightpath over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, there was no question of this becoming a routine event.

&quot;I cannot say that we are used to this. I mean, the missile flew right above our town. It&#39;s not a very comforting thing to hear,&quot; said Yoshihiro Saito, who works in the small fishing town of Erimo on Hokkaido.

&quot;It&#39;s pretty scary. I heard that it went 2,000 kilometres in the Pacific and dropped in the sea&quot; where 16 of his ships were operating under the missile&#39;s flight path.

Citizens in earthquake-prone Japan are well-drilled in seeking cover when emergency strikes but with only a matter of minutes from launch to impact, several residents voiced a feeling of helplessness.

&quot;It&#39;s really scary. The government tells us to flee to stable buildings but we can&#39;t do that quickly. Our colleagues offshore can never take cover,&quot; said Yoichi Takahashi, 57, a fisheries official in Kushiro on Hokkaido.

&quot;It has now happened twice to us ... We&#39;ll have restless days from now on,&quot; Takahashi told AFP.

Isamu Oya, 67, a sushi restaurant owner in Erimo, told AFP: &quot;The government told us to take cover in a stable building or underground, but there isn&#39;t one here. We have no choice but just do nothing.

&quot;Scary? Yes, but we can&#39;t help it.&quot;

Dangerous provocative action

Breakfast television programmes across Japan, usually broadcasting a light-hearted diet of children&#39;s shows and gadget features, instead flashed up the warning message as the intermediate range ballistic missile flew overhead.

Mobile carriers in Japan sent automatic text messages to rouse customers awake.

Train services between Japan&#39;s main island and Hokkaido were temporarily suspended after the launch and bullet train services were also halted.

Airports in the area appeared to be unaffected, however, with Shinya Matsuura, an official at Obihiro airport, near the missile&#39;s flightpath, telling AFP that passengers there were calm and quiet.

&quot;We are just relieved it did not affect us.&quot;

An ashen looking Shinzo Abe, Japan&#39;s prime minister, said his country could &quot;never tolerate&quot; such &quot;dangerous provocative action that threatens world peace&quot;.

&quot;If North Korea continues to walk down this path, it has no bright future. We must make North Korea understand this,&quot; he added.

The Japanese government said its priority was to ensure the safety of its citizens.

There were no immediate reports of falling debris or damage but Tokyo stressed that a missile launch without warning could have destroyed shipping or aircraft in the area.

But some locals living on the missile flight path fretted that repeated missile launches could have a damaging impact on their day-to-day lives.

&quot;We are afraid that this may have an impact on our life, ranging from fishing to tourism,&quot; said Hironori Matsura, an official at the anti-disaster division at Erimo town hall.

Sushi chef Oya said he thought the missile wouldn&#39;t affect his trade as most of his customers were local but acknowledged that &quot;I&#39;m afraid this may affect a flow of tourism to Erimo&quot;.

Meanwhile, others displayed a grim determination that life would go on.

Saito admitted that the missile has been dominating conversation in the town -- &quot;like how scary it is&quot; -- but said: &quot;No one really has talked about stopping their work or suspending their operations.&quot;

Residents woke up to blaring loudspeakers alerting them of the missile launch by North Korea, its second over Japan in a month

"Missile launch! Missile launch! A missile appears to have been launched from North Korea. Take cover in a building or underground." To the accompaniment of blaring sirens and emergency phone alerts, that was the terrifying loudspeaker message that jolted millions of Japanese awake in the early hours as North Korea blasted its second missile over the country in less than a month. But for local residents on the flightpath over the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, there was no question of this becoming a routine event. "I cannot say that we are used to this. I mean, the missile flew right above our town. It's not a very comforting thing to hear," said Yoshihiro Saito, who works in the small fishing town of Erimo on Hokkaido. "It's pretty scary. I heard that it went 2,000 kilometres in the Pacific and dropped in the sea" where 16 of his ships were operating under the missile's flight path. Citizens in earthquake-prone Japan are well-drilled in seeking cover when emergency strikes but with only a matter of minutes from launch to impact, several residents voiced a feeling of helplessness. "It's really scary. The government tells us to flee to stable buildings but we can't do that quickly. Our colleagues offshore can never take cover," said Yoichi Takahashi, 57, a fisheries official in Kushiro on Hokkaido. "It has now happened twice to us ... We'll have restless days from now on," Takahashi told AFP. Isamu Oya, 67, a sushi restaurant owner in Erimo, told AFP: "The government told us to take cover in a stable building or underground, but there isn't one here. We have no choice but just do nothing. "Scary? Yes, but we can't help it." Dangerous provocative action Breakfast television programmes across Japan, usually broadcasting a light-hearted diet of children's shows and gadget features, instead flashed up the warning message as the intermediate range ballistic missile flew overhead. Mobile carriers in Japan sent automatic text messages to rouse customers awake. Train services between Japan's main island and Hokkaido were temporarily suspended after the launch and bullet train services were also halted. Airports in the area appeared to be unaffected, however, with Shinya Matsuura, an official at Obihiro airport, near the missile's flightpath, telling AFP that passengers there were calm and quiet. "We are just relieved it did not affect us." An ashen looking Shinzo Abe, Japan's prime minister, said his country could "never tolerate" such "dangerous provocative action that threatens world peace". "If North Korea continues to walk down this path, it has no bright future. We must make North Korea understand this," he added. The Japanese government said its priority was to ensure the safety of its citizens. There were no immediate reports of falling debris or damage but Tokyo stressed that a missile launch without warning could have destroyed shipping or aircraft in the area. But some locals living on the missile flight path fretted that repeated missile launches could have a damaging impact on their day-to-day lives. "We are afraid that this may have an impact on our life, ranging from fishing to tourism," said Hironori Matsura, an official at the anti-disaster division at Erimo town hall. Sushi chef Oya said he thought the missile wouldn't affect his trade as most of his customers were local but acknowledged that "I'm afraid this may affect a flow of tourism to Erimo". Meanwhile, others displayed a grim determination that life would go on. Saito admitted that the missile has been dominating conversation in the town -- "like how scary it is" -- but said: "No one really has talked about stopping their work or suspending their operations."

'Missile launch, take cover': How Japan woke up Friday

Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan.

&quot;It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,&quot; Piyush Goyal said.

Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative.

&quot;Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways,&quot; Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and &quot;it is indeed a matter of celebration.&quot; Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. &quot;The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it,&quot; he said.

Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the &quot;top salesman&quot; for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the Japan Times had reported, earlier in August.

The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.

'It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India,' the new railway miniser said

Rattled by the recent spate of train derailments in the country, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday, assured the people about the ambitious project and said that that the bullet train has not seen a single accident in Japan. "It has been a zero-accident train in Japan and I am sure the track record will remain the same in India," Piyush Goyal said. Ahead of Bhoomi Pujan ceremony of the bullet train project, Goyal said that the country`s rail network will be transformed and revolutionised with the initiative. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given directions for a holistic development of the Indian Railways," Goyal said, adding, India`s transport sector is all set to change and "it is indeed a matter of celebration." Goyal further said that the new initiative will help boost the employment in the country. "The coming of bullet trains to India will not only boost employment , but also will help India to export it," he said. Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe will also be visiting India to attend the `Bhoomi Poojan` and foundation stone laying ceremony of the Rs. 97,636-crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail link, using Japanese bullet-train technology. During the visit, Prime Minister Abe will also hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi and is expected to serve as the "top salesman" for the adoption of the Shinkansen technology by other Indian railway systems, with China also aiming to win orders for the projects, the Japan Times had reported, earlier in August. The 500-km railway will link Mumbai and Ahmedabad in western India, with services planned to commence in 2023. This train is based on Japanese high-speed technology called Shinkansen, known for its safety and comfort. India has pledged to build high-speed railways, focused on the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. When Prime Minister Modi went to Japan last November, he travelled by Shinkansen with his Japanese counterpart from Tokyo to Kobe to visit a bullet-train plant of Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., a maker of Shinkansen cars.

Piyush Goyal assures people Indian bullet train will be safe

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would allow Japan and South Korea to buy more &quot;highly sophisticated&quot; US military equipment, amid soaring tensions after Pyongyang&#39;s latest atomic test.

&quot;I am allowing Japan &amp; South Korea to buy a substantially increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from the United States,&quot; Trump said in a tweet.

Trump&#39;s statement came after <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/46-quake-detected-in-n-korea-due-to-cave-in-china-19810">North Korea on Sunday detonated what it described as a hydrogen bomb</a> designed for a long-range missile, sparking global alarm with what was by far its most powerful test to date.

On Monday, the South&#39;s military launched a volley of ballistic missiles simulating an attack on the North&#39;s nuclear test site.

Trump did not elaborate on the kind of weaponry and equipment he had in mind, but the White House has said the president is willing to approve the sale of &quot;many billions of dollars&#39; worth of military weapons and equipment&quot; to Seoul.

The White House statement also confirmed an earlier announcement by Seoul that the United States would lift restrictions on South Korean missile payload capabilities.

Seoul was previously restricted to a maximum warhead weight of 500 kilograms (1100 pounds) on its ballistic missiles, according to a bilateral agreement with the United States signed in 2001.

The United States on Monday launched a bid at the UN Security Council to quickly slap the &quot;strongest possible measures&quot; on North Korea in response to its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, but China and Russia argued that diplomatic talks were needed to address the crisis.

Trump's statement came after North Korea on Sunday detonated what it described as a hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range missile, sparking global alarm

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would allow Japan and South Korea to buy more "highly sophisticated" US military equipment, amid soaring tensions after Pyongyang's latest atomic test. "I am allowing Japan & South Korea to buy a substantially increased amount of highly sophisticated military equipment from the United States," Trump said in a tweet. Trump's statement came after North Korea on Sunday detonated what it described as a hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range missile, sparking global alarm with what was by far its most powerful test to date. On Monday, the South's military launched a volley of ballistic missiles simulating an attack on the North's nuclear test site. Trump did not elaborate on the kind of weaponry and equipment he had in mind, but the White House has said the president is willing to approve the sale of "many billions of dollars' worth of military weapons and equipment" to Seoul. The White House statement also confirmed an earlier announcement by Seoul that the United States would lift restrictions on South Korean missile payload capabilities. Seoul was previously restricted to a maximum warhead weight of 500 kilograms (1100 pounds) on its ballistic missiles, according to a bilateral agreement with the United States signed in 2001. The United States on Monday launched a bid at the UN Security Council to quickly slap the "strongest possible measures" on North Korea in response to its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, but China and Russia argued that diplomatic talks were needed to address the crisis.

Japan, S Korea can buy more sophisticated US military equipment: Trump

No amount of interference or shadowing of its aircraft will stop the Chinese air force from carrying out long-range drills, the defence ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved Taiwan and Japan, the defence ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved Taiwan and Japan.

The air force carried out further long-range exercises&nbsp;on Thursday, the ministry said late that same day, without giving details of where they happened. Japan said it was concerned about bombers flying close to its territory.

Such &quot;normal&quot; drills accord with international law and practices and are part of an &quot;ordinary need&quot; to raise combat abilities and strengthen the military, it added.

&quot;No matter what obstructions are encountered, the Chinese air force will carry on as before; no matter who flies with us, the Chinese air force will fly a lot and as normal!&quot; the ministry added, citing an air force spokesman.

Japan&#39;s government said six Chinese bombers flying from the East China Sea&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;passed close to its islands on route to the Pacific Ocean.

It was the first time we have recorded Chinese military aircraft flying this route,&quot; Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said during a regular press briefing&nbsp;on Friday. &quot;We expressed our concern through diplomatic channels,&quot; he added.

Drills over the past few months have mostly focused on flying near self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own, and by Japan&#39;s southern island chain to the north of Taiwan.

Taiwan&#39;s military said earlier this month it was in a high state of alert following three straight days of drills by the Chinese air force near it.

China has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. It is also worried about Taiwan, run by a government China fears is intent on independence.

Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring proudly democratic Taiwan under its control and has warned that any moves towards formal independence could prompt an armed response.

China is in the midst of an ambitious military modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores.modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores.

Taiwan is well armed with mostly US&nbsp;weaponry, but has been pressing Washington to sell it more high-tech equipment to better deter China.

The air force carried out further long-range exercises?on Thursday without giving details of where they happened

No amount of interference or shadowing of its aircraft will stop the Chinese air force from carrying out long-range drills, the defence ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved Taiwan and Japan, the defence ministry said, announcing another round of exercises of the type that have unnerved Taiwan and Japan. The air force carried out further long-range exercises on Thursday, the ministry said late that same day, without giving details of where they happened. Japan said it was concerned about bombers flying close to its territory. Such "normal" drills accord with international law and practices and are part of an "ordinary need" to raise combat abilities and strengthen the military, it added. "No matter what obstructions are encountered, the Chinese air force will carry on as before; no matter who flies with us, the Chinese air force will fly a lot and as normal!" the ministry added, citing an air force spokesman. Japan's government said six Chinese bombers flying from the East China Sea on Thursday passed close to its islands on route to the Pacific Ocean. It was the first time we have recorded Chinese military aircraft flying this route," Minister of Defence Itsunori Onodera said during a regular press briefing on Friday. "We expressed our concern through diplomatic channels," he added. Drills over the past few months have mostly focused on flying near self-ruled Taiwan, claimed by China as its own, and by Japan's southern island chain to the north of Taiwan. Taiwan's military said earlier this month it was in a high state of alert following three straight days of drills by the Chinese air force near it. China has been increasingly asserting itself in territorial disputes in the South and East China Seas. It is also worried about Taiwan, run by a government China fears is intent on independence. Beijing has never ruled out the use of force to bring proudly democratic Taiwan under its control and has warned that any moves towards formal independence could prompt an armed response. China is in the midst of an ambitious military modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores.modernisation programme that includes building aircraft carriers and developing stealth fighters to give it the ability to project power far from its shores. Taiwan is well armed with mostly US weaponry, but has been pressing Washington to sell it more high-tech equipment to better deter China.

Despite Japan's concern, China continues to engage in air drills over its territory

Japan said Friday it will impose fresh sanctions on North Korea by freezing the assets of Chinese and Namibian firms doing business with the nuclear-armed state.

The move against a half dozen organisations and a couple of individuals comes days after Washington expanded its own punitive measures against Chinese and Russian firms, as well as people linked to Pyongyang.

The US move drew an angry response from Beijing, North Korea&#39;s key ally, while Japanese media said Friday that Namibia has been tightening its links to the North in recent years.

&quot;We will continue to make strong calls (for North Korea) to take actions toward denuclearisation,&quot; Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese government&#39;s top spokesman, told a regular press briefing.

&quot;Now is the time to apply pressure,&quot; he added.

The sanctions are aimed at disrupting the flow of cash funding North Korean weapons programmes, which are in violation of United Nations resolutions.

Japan has previously frozen the assets of entities and individuals involved in natural resources and research work related to Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile development programmes.

The US and its allies, particularly Japan and South Korea, have been on high alert in recent months as North Korea carried out successive missile tests.

Tensions have eased since North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un pulled back from a plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam.

But Pyongyang Wednesday disclosed significant technological advances and ambitious plans to further improve its missile capabilities.

US President Donald Trump, like his predecessors, has called on China to play more active roles in convincing North Korea to stop threatening its neighbours and the US.

But China has so far been lukewarm on the idea, preferring to address the issue through long-stalled talks.

Japan has frozen the assets of Chinese and Namibian firms doing business with North Korea

Japan said Friday it will impose fresh sanctions on North Korea by freezing the assets of Chinese and Namibian firms doing business with the nuclear-armed state. The move against a half dozen organisations and a couple of individuals comes days after Washington expanded its own punitive measures against Chinese and Russian firms, as well as people linked to Pyongyang. The US move drew an angry response from Beijing, North Korea's key ally, while Japanese media said Friday that Namibia has been tightening its links to the North in recent years. "We will continue to make strong calls (for North Korea) to take actions toward denuclearisation," Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese government's top spokesman, told a regular press briefing. "Now is the time to apply pressure," he added. The sanctions are aimed at disrupting the flow of cash funding North Korean weapons programmes, which are in violation of United Nations resolutions. Japan has previously frozen the assets of entities and individuals involved in natural resources and research work related to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programmes. The US and its allies, particularly Japan and South Korea, have been on high alert in recent months as North Korea carried out successive missile tests. Tensions have eased since North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un pulled back from a plan to send a salvo of missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam. But Pyongyang Wednesday disclosed significant technological advances and ambitious plans to further improve its missile capabilities. US President Donald Trump, like his predecessors, has called on China to play more active roles in convincing North Korea to stop threatening its neighbours and the US. But China has so far been lukewarm on the idea, preferring to address the issue through long-stalled talks.

Japan hits nuclear-armed North Korea with fresh sanctions

Makoto Hasebe has been recalled for Japan&#39;s crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Australia and Saudi Arabia after the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder was included in head coach Vahid Halilhodzic&#39;s squad on Thursday.

Having missed games against the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Iraq due to surgery on a knee injury, Japan&#39;s captain has made a full recovery to be selected in Halilhodzic&#39;s initial 27-man squad.

&quot;There are a number of players I am concerned about and I have done this because I don&#39;t want to take risks. I want to look first-hand at the players I have got and see what the possibilities are,&quot; Halilhodzic was reported as saying by Kyodo News.

The former Algeria coach has also recalled Getafe midfielder Gaku Shibasaki as well as striker Yoshinori Muto, while there are fitness concerns over Yuya Osako, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa.

Japan lead Group B of Asia&#39;s qualifying competition for the tournament in Russia next year by a solitary point and victory over Australia on Aug. 31 would secure a place in the World Cup finals for a sixth successive time.

However, with the Australians and Saudi Arabia only a point behind, Halilhodzic&#39;s side cannot afford to slip up or risk being forced to continue their qualification quest via a series of playoffs.

&quot;We started the final round of qualifiers on the wrong foot (with a 2-1 home defeat to UAE last September) but we are top of the group,&quot; Halilhodzic said.

&quot;I hear the recent criticism directed my way and it puts pressure on me but this is the kind of situation I like. The more I come under attack and the more criticism I face, the more determined I am to respond.&quot;

&nbsp;

Japan Squad

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz, France), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa Reysol).

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Italy), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton, England), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille, France), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg, Germany), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers), Genta Miura (Gamba Osaka).

Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Yojiro Takahagi (FC Tokyo), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Yuki Kobayashi (Heerenveen, Holland), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe, Spain), Yosuke Ideguchi (Gamba Osaka).

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City, England), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca, Mexico), Takashi Inui (Eibar, Spain), Yuya Osako (Cologne, Germany), Genki Haraguchi (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz, Germany), Kenyu Sugimoto (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Kubo (Gent, Belgium), Takuma Asano (Stuttgart, Germany).

Japan's captain has made a full recovery to be selected in Halilhodzic's initial 27-man squad.

Makoto Hasebe has been recalled for Japan's crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Australia and Saudi Arabia after the Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder was included in head coach Vahid Halilhodzic's squad on Thursday. Having missed games against the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and Iraq due to surgery on a knee injury, Japan's captain has made a full recovery to be selected in Halilhodzic's initial 27-man squad. "There are a number of players I am concerned about and I have done this because I don't want to take risks. I want to look first-hand at the players I have got and see what the possibilities are," Halilhodzic was reported as saying by Kyodo News. The former Algeria coach has also recalled Getafe midfielder Gaku Shibasaki as well as striker Yoshinori Muto, while there are fitness concerns over Yuya Osako, Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa. Japan lead Group B of Asia's qualifying competition for the tournament in Russia next year by a solitary point and victory over Australia on Aug. 31 would secure a place in the World Cup finals for a sixth successive time. However, with the Australians and Saudi Arabia only a point behind, Halilhodzic's side cannot afford to slip up or risk being forced to continue their qualification quest via a series of playoffs. "We started the final round of qualifiers on the wrong foot (with a 2-1 home defeat to UAE last September) but we are top of the group," Halilhodzic said. "I hear the recent criticism directed my way and it puts pressure on me but this is the kind of situation I like. The more I come under attack and the more criticism I face, the more determined I am to respond." Japan Squad Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Metz, France), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka), Kosuke Nakamura (Kashiwa Reysol). Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan, Italy), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds), Maya Yoshida (Southampton, England), Hiroki Sakai (Marseille, France), Gotoku Sakai (Hamburg, Germany), Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers), Naomichi Ueda (Kashima Antlers), Genta Miura (Gamba Osaka). Midfielders: Makoto Hasebe (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Yojiro Takahagi (FC Tokyo), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Yuki Kobayashi (Heerenveen, Holland), Gaku Shibasaki (Getafe, Spain), Yosuke Ideguchi (Gamba Osaka). Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Leicester City, England), Keisuke Honda (Pachuca, Mexico), Takashi Inui (Eibar, Spain), Yuya Osako (Cologne, Germany), Genki Haraguchi (Hertha Berlin, Germany), Yoshinori Muto (Mainz, Germany), Kenyu Sugimoto (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Kubo (Gent, Belgium), Takuma Asano (Stuttgart, Germany).

Japan World Cup qualifier: Makoto Hasebe recalled for matches against Australia, Saudi Arabia

International reactions on the current Doklam tension have been quite cautious. Many major countries, including the United States and Australia have reacted to India-China border stand-off that involves Bhutan. The United States State Department Spokesman Heather Nauert had stated earlier to resolve the Doklam border stand-off through &ldquo;direct dialogue&rdquo; while Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had stated that both India and China should resolve the dispute peacefully without any escalation. Given the sensitivity of the matter, much of these reactions, however, have taken a neutral stance indicating to the fact that none of these countries overtly wants to support either China or India.&nbsp;

In contrast to these cautious international reactions, Japan seems to be quite eloquent and bold. Though Japan was quite late in commenting on the Doklam border tension, the Japanese Ambassador to India who also holds the Ambassadorship to Bhutan concurrently, Kenji Hiramatsu, recently stated that it is important for the &lsquo;parties involved in the Doklam border tension to not resort to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force&rsquo;. Calling for a &lsquo;peaceful&rsquo; resolution to the long-standing India-China stand-off in Doklam, the Japanese Ambassador explicitly acknowledged India&rsquo;s stance by stating that &lsquo;India is involved in this incident based on its bilateral agreement with Bhutan&rsquo;. This statement may have neutral wordings, but a close appraisal of this statement reveals how Japan has spoken the unsaid, by explicitly supporting India on the Doklam tension.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The statement by the Japanese Ambassador, undoubtedly, was a pro-India statement, supporting New Delhi on the matter.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The statement by the Japanese Ambassador, undoubtedly, was a pro-India statement, supporting New Delhi on the matter. " target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

The statement by the Japanese Ambassador, undoubtedly, was a pro-India statement, supporting New Delhi on the matter. This statement clearly points out to the strategic understanding both New Delhi and Tokyo are currently sharing with each other on sensitive matters. The Japanese stance further explains a number of issues that should not be missed out in the broader context of Japan, India and their bilateral relations.&nbsp;

First, the Japanese stance on Doklam reveals the significance of preserving the &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; on territorial disputes that have implications for Japan and the region. The Japanese attempt of touching the issue of &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; is certainly an exclusive one since none of these major countries, such as the United States and Australia have commented on the &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; issue while reacting on the Doklam border tension. India must appreciate this perspective by the Japanese on Doklam.&nbsp;

This perspective, however, is derivative of Tokyo&rsquo;s increasing concern over the Chinese maritime law enforcement agency&#39;s (CMLEA) involvement in the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea as well as China&rsquo;s attempt at changing the facts on the ground in the South China Sea. These actions are seen by Japan as gradually disturbing the &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; existing in the region.&nbsp;

Chinese naval vessels have frequently been visiting the Japanese territorial waters and that has troubled Tokyo for some time. Through its newly released 2017 Defense White Paper, Tokyo reportedly outlines how China is gradually trying to &#39;change the status quo by coercion in the East and the South China Sea dispute. All this while, Japan has tried to garner international support on the matter, including an attempt to develop a shared understanding with India. A positive statement on Doklam and touching the sensitive issue of &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; unveils the Japanese intention of exposing China&rsquo;s aggressive attempt at changing the &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; in relation to land and maritime territorial disputes. Therefore, this Japanese stance calls for a greater India-Japan dialogue, mainly in developing a shared perspective on land and maritime disputes, locally and regionally.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>A positive statement on Doklam and touching the sensitive issue of &lsquo;status-quo&rsquo; unveils the Japanese intention of exposing China&rsquo;s aggressive attempt.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=A positive statement on Doklam and touching the sensitive issue of ?status-quo? unveils the Japanese intention of exposing China?s aggressive attempt." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Second, the Japanese statement that &lsquo;India is involved in the incident based on the bilateral agreement with Bhutan&rsquo; describes the country&#39;s resolve to support India diplomatically. Further, Japan has stated that it appreciates a &lsquo;peaceful resolution&rsquo; to the matter, referring to India&rsquo;s External Affairs Minister&rsquo;s approach. Clearly, Japan wants to passively underline the aggressive stance taken by the People&rsquo;s Liberation Army (PLA) in contrast to India&rsquo;s persistent effort for a &lsquo;peaceful resolution&rsquo; through diplomatic channels. Also, Japan intends to support India which Bhutan must take a serious note of.&nbsp;

The Japanese Ambassador&rsquo;s statement has a greater context for India-Japan cooperation. His statement indicates that Tokyo takes an immense strategic interest in India&rsquo;s Northeast provinces as well as in India&rsquo;s neighbours where Japan wants to emerge as a partner for development. Clubbing India and Bhutan together in the statement explains how Japan wants to make its presence noticed smartly as a power promoting &lsquo;peace&rsquo; and development both for India and its neighbouring countries.&nbsp;

Though the statement by the Japanese Ambassador is not a direct statement on Bhutan but it has to be also seen in the context of Japan-Bhutan bilateral relationship. For long, Japan is trying to boost its relationship with Bhutan, not only through the donor and recipient mode but also through trade and investment cooperation.&nbsp;

Kenji Hiramatsu&rsquo;s statement has a domestic narrative attached to it where the emphasis is again on &lsquo;peace&rsquo;&rsquo;. The term &ldquo;Proactive contribution to peace&rdquo; has been the catchphrase of Japan&rsquo;s approach to regional security matters, including its maritime disputes with China. In fact, in this context, Japan wants to acknowledge India for promoting peace, not aggression as a resolution to the Doklam tension. Both Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe had, in fact, agreed to have a shared understanding on cooperation between India and Japan in promoting &lsquo;peace and prosperity&rsquo;. The Joint Statement of November 11, 2016, released during Prime Minister Modi&rsquo;s visit to Tokyo, bears testimony to the fact.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Both India and Japan need to translate their growing strategic interests to an action-oriented partnership, both in bilateral and regional contexts.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Both India and Japan need to translate their growing strategic interests to an action-oriented partnership, both in bilateral and regional contexts." target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

Japan&rsquo;s stance on the Doklam tension might appear to be a symbolic gesture of support towards India, but it has other narratives attached to it to which India must read carefully and nurture its relationship with Japan accordingly in times to come. The bold Japanese stance on Doklam is essentially a reflection of its changing security and diplomatic outlook.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Japan under Shinzo Abe is debating on a new constitution by 2020. It wants to revise its age-old pacifist Constitution, which prohibits Japan to maintain an active armed force, limiting it to just maintain a self-defense force (SDF). The main debates in Japan surround over Article 9 of the Japanese pacifist Constitution and its fading relevance. Seen as a relic of the Cold War period, the growing voice in Japan is that Article 9 is unable to help the country to meet the emerging security and defence challenges of the post-Cold war period. &nbsp;

Hence, Japan wants to have a &lsquo;proactive pacifist&rsquo; constitution to meet new security challenges arising not only from China and North Korea but it also wants to be able to &ldquo;proactively&rdquo; contribute to peace in and around the neighborhood region. Japanese statement on Doklam may not directly be linked to this Japanese initiative to change the Constitution, but it undoubtedly derives from this changing security mindset that India must prepare to take a strong cognisance of.&nbsp;

Both India and Japan need to translate their growing strategic interests to an action-oriented partnership, both in bilateral and regional contexts. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe&rsquo;s forthcoming visit to India must encourage both sides to have a careful and in-depth discussion on security matters that are local as well as regional in nature. On India&rsquo;s part, New Delhi must exhibit the character of a greater power in East Asia which should complement Japan&rsquo;s &ldquo;Proactive Pacifist&rdquo; security thinking. Further, India needs to gradually emerge as a greater security provider in the region which will complement the Japanese changing security outlook.&nbsp;

Japan wants to underline the aggressive stance taken by the People?s Liberation Army in contrast to India?s persistent effort for a ?peaceful resolution? of the Doklam tension

International reactions on the current Doklam tension have been quite cautious. Many major countries, including the United States and Australia have reacted to India-China border stand-off that involves Bhutan. The United States State Department Spokesman Heather Nauert had stated earlier to resolve the Doklam border stand-off through “direct dialogue” while Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had stated that both India and China should resolve the dispute peacefully without any escalation. Given the sensitivity of the matter, much of these reactions, however, have taken a neutral stance indicating to the fact that none of these countries overtly wants to support either China or India. In contrast to these cautious international reactions, Japan seems to be quite eloquent and bold. Though Japan was quite late in commenting on the Doklam border tension, the Japanese Ambassador to India who also holds the Ambassadorship to Bhutan concurrently, Kenji Hiramatsu, recently stated that it is important for the ‘parties involved in the Doklam border tension to not resort to unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force’. Calling for a ‘peaceful’ resolution to the long-standing India-China stand-off in Doklam, the Japanese Ambassador explicitly acknowledged India’s stance by stating that ‘India is involved in this incident based on its bilateral agreement with Bhutan’. This statement may have neutral wordings, but a close appraisal of this statement reveals how Japan has spoken the unsaid, by explicitly supporting India on the Doklam tension. The statement by the Japanese Ambassador, undoubtedly, was a pro-India statement, supporting New Delhi on the matter. × The statement by the Japanese Ambassador, undoubtedly, was a pro-India statement, supporting New Delhi on the matter. This statement clearly points out to the strategic understanding both New Delhi and Tokyo are currently sharing with each other on sensitive matters. The Japanese stance further explains a number of issues that should not be missed out in the broader context of Japan, India and their bilateral relations. First, the Japanese stance on Doklam reveals the significance of preserving the ‘status-quo’ on territorial disputes that have implications for Japan and the region. The Japanese attempt of touching the issue of ‘status-quo’ is certainly an exclusive one since none of these major countries, such as the United States and Australia have commented on the ‘status-quo’ issue while reacting on the Doklam border tension. India must appreciate this perspective by the Japanese on Doklam. This perspective, however, is derivative of Tokyo’s increasing concern over the Chinese maritime law enforcement agency's (CMLEA) involvement in the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea as well as China’s attempt at changing the facts on the ground in the South China Sea. These actions are seen by Japan as gradually disturbing the ‘status-quo’ existing in the region. Chinese naval vessels have frequently been visiting the Japanese territorial waters and that has troubled Tokyo for some time. Through its newly released 2017 Defense White Paper, Tokyo reportedly outlines how China is gradually trying to 'change the status quo by coercion in the East and the South China Sea dispute. All this while, Japan has tried to garner international support on the matter, including an attempt to develop a shared understanding with India. A positive statement on Doklam and touching the sensitive issue of ‘status-quo’ unveils the Japanese intention of exposing China’s aggressive attempt at changing the ‘status-quo’ in relation to land and maritime territorial disputes. Therefore, this Japanese stance calls for a greater India-Japan dialogue, mainly in developing a shared perspective on land and maritime disputes, locally and regionally. A positive statement on Doklam and touching the sensitive issue of ‘status-quo’ unveils the Japanese intention of exposing China’s aggressive attempt. × Second, the Japanese statement that ‘India is involved in the incident based on the bilateral agreement with Bhutan’ describes the country's resolve to support India diplomatically. Further, Japan has stated that it appreciates a ‘peaceful resolution’ to the matter, referring to India’s External Affairs Minister’s approach. Clearly, Japan wants to passively underline the aggressive stance taken by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in contrast to India’s persistent effort for a ‘peaceful resolution’ through diplomatic channels. Also, Japan intends to support India which Bhutan must take a serious note of. The Japanese Ambassador’s statement has a greater context for India-Japan cooperation. His statement indicates that Tokyo takes an immense strategic interest in India’s Northeast provinces as well as in India’s neighbours where Japan wants to emerge as a partner for development. Clubbing India and Bhutan together in the statement explains how Japan wants to make its presence noticed smartly as a power promoting ‘peace’ and development both for India and its neighbouring countries. Though the statement by the Japanese Ambassador is not a direct statement on Bhutan but it has to be also seen in the context of Japan-Bhutan bilateral relationship. For long, Japan is trying to boost its relationship with Bhutan, not only through the donor and recipient mode but also through trade and investment cooperation. Kenji Hiramatsu’s statement has a domestic narrative attached to it where the emphasis is again on ‘peace’’. The term “Proactive contribution to peace” has been the catchphrase of Japan’s approach to regional security matters, including its maritime disputes with China. In fact, in this context, Japan wants to acknowledge India for promoting peace, not aggression as a resolution to the Doklam tension. Both Narendra Modi and Shinzo Abe had, in fact, agreed to have a shared understanding on cooperation between India and Japan in promoting ‘peace and prosperity’. The Joint Statement of November 11, 2016, released during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Tokyo, bears testimony to the fact. Both India and Japan need to translate their growing strategic interests to an action-oriented partnership, both in bilateral and regional contexts. × Japan’s stance on the Doklam tension might appear to be a symbolic gesture of support towards India, but it has other narratives attached to it to which India must read carefully and nurture its relationship with Japan accordingly in times to come. The bold Japanese stance on Doklam is essentially a reflection of its changing security and diplomatic outlook. Japan under Shinzo Abe is debating on a new constitution by 2020. It wants to revise its age-old pacifist Constitution, which prohibits Japan to maintain an active armed force, limiting it to just maintain a self-defense force (SDF). The main debates in Japan surround over Article 9 of the Japanese pacifist Constitution and its fading relevance. Seen as a relic of the Cold War period, the growing voice in Japan is that Article 9 is unable to help the country to meet the emerging security and defence challenges of the post-Cold war period. Hence, Japan wants to have a ‘proactive pacifist’ constitution to meet new security challenges arising not only from China and North Korea but it also wants to be able to “proactively” contribute to peace in and around the neighborhood region. Japanese statement on Doklam may not directly be linked to this Japanese initiative to change the Constitution, but it undoubtedly derives from this changing security mindset that India must prepare to take a strong cognisance of. Both India and Japan need to translate their growing strategic interests to an action-oriented partnership, both in bilateral and regional contexts. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s forthcoming visit to India must encourage both sides to have a careful and in-depth discussion on security matters that are local as well as regional in nature. On India’s part, New Delhi must exhibit the character of a greater power in East Asia which should complement Japan’s “Proactive Pacifist” security thinking. Further, India needs to gradually emerge as a greater security provider in the region which will complement the Japanese changing security outlook.

Why Japan supports India and not China on Doklam

The Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) and Third Division US Marines, took part in a live-fire joint exercise on Wednesday (Aug 16) in the northern Japanese city of Eniwa, Hokkaido, as part of Northern Viper 17-- the largest-scale military drill to be held between the two countries.

The exercise was also the first to be held in Hokkaido, as an effort to strengthen the US-Japan alliance by training together on unfamiliar ground.

Although the drills are not related to the latest tension on the Korean peninsula, it is taking place as unease between North Korea and the US are escalating and with US troops based in Okinawa, where the bulk of US forces in the region are based.

The 18-day live fire exercise which include rocket artillery drills and live-fire operations, will run through August 28 and will involve 3,500 troops.

Although the drills are not related to the latest tension on the Korean peninsula, it is taking place as unease between North Korea and the US are escalating

The Japanese Self Defence Force (JSDF) and Third Division US Marines, took part in a live-fire joint exercise on Wednesday (Aug 16) in the northern Japanese city of Eniwa, Hokkaido, as part of Northern Viper 17-- the largest-scale military drill to be held between the two countries. The exercise was also the first to be held in Hokkaido, as an effort to strengthen the US-Japan alliance by training together on unfamiliar ground. Although the drills are not related to the latest tension on the Korean peninsula, it is taking place as unease between North Korea and the US are escalating and with US troops based in Okinawa, where the bulk of US forces in the region are based. The 18-day live fire exercise which include rocket artillery drills and live-fire operations, will run through August 28 and will involve 3,500 troops.

US, Japan conduct joint military drill in Hokkaido

Japan&#39;s economy grew in the second quarter at the fastest pace in more than two years as consumer spending and capital expenditure both rose at the fastest in more than three years, highlighting stronger domestic demand.

Gross domestic product expanded an annualised 4.0 per cent in April-June, government data showed, more than the median estimate for 2.5 per cent annualised growth and the biggest increase since January-March 2015.

Compared to the previous quarter, the economy expanded 1.0 per cent, versus the median estimate for 0.6 per cent growth.

Annualised GDP for the previous quarter was revised to a 1.5 per cent increase, while quarterly real (inflation adjusted) GDP was revised up to 0.4 per cent growth from a 0.3 per cent increase.

Economic growth is expected to continue in coming quarters, offering the Bank of Japan (BOJ) the hope that a tight labour market is finally starting to boost consumer spending, which in turn makes it easier to generate sustained inflation.

&quot;The engines of consumer spending and capital expenditure both fired well in the second quarter, and that&#39;s why domestic demand was so strong,&quot; said Hidenobu Tokuda, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute.

&quot;The pace of growth may moderate slightly, but we are still in recovery mode. This is a positive development for inflation.&quot;

The economy grew for six straight quarters in April-June. The last time the economy had a run of six consecutive quarters of growth was January-March 2005 through April-June 2006.

Private consumption, which accounts for about two-thirds of GDP, rose 0.9 per cent from the previous quarter, more than the median estimate of 0.5 per cent growth.

That marked the fastest expansion in more than three years as shoppers splashed out on durable goods such as cars and home appliances. Consumers also spent more money on dining out, the data showed. These are all encouraging sign that consumer spending is no longer the weak spot in Japan&#39;s economic outlook.

Capital expenditure jumped by 2.4 per cent in April-June from the previous quarter, doubling the median estimate for a 1.2 per cent increase. That was the fastest growth in business investment since January-March 2014 as companies spent more on software and construction equipment.

Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was more cautious on the outlook for domestic demand and pledged to implement more policies to strengthen the economy.

&quot;If you ask me whether private consumption has fully recovered, I would say it still lacks strength in some areas, which will need to be followed with policy,&quot; Motegi told reporters.

&quot;We&#39;ll make sure that the domestic demand-led recovery continues. What is needed is supply-side reform. We&#39;ll focus our efforts on human resource investment, improvement in productivity, and new growth strategies.&quot;

While growth was faster than expected, it is not expected to nudge the Bank of Japan into dismantling its massive stimulus programme anytime soon, as inflation remains stubbornly weak.

External demand subtracted 0.3 percentage point from GDP growth in April-June in part due to an increase in imports. This is notable because Japan usually relies on exports to drive growth.

Since launching quantitative easing in April 2013, the BOJ has pushed back the timing for reaching its 2 per cent inflation target six times in part due to weak consumer spending.

The GDP data for April-June show private consumption is finally starting to move in the direction that the BOJ and other government ministers have long predicted.

Compared to the previous quarter, the economy expanded 1.0 per cent, versus the median estimate for 0.6 per cent growth

Japan's economy grew in the second quarter at the fastest pace in more than two years as consumer spending and capital expenditure both rose at the fastest in more than three years, highlighting stronger domestic demand. Gross domestic product expanded an annualised 4.0 per cent in April-June, government data showed, more than the median estimate for 2.5 per cent annualised growth and the biggest increase since January-March 2015. Compared to the previous quarter, the economy expanded 1.0 per cent, versus the median estimate for 0.6 per cent growth. Annualised GDP for the previous quarter was revised to a 1.5 per cent increase, while quarterly real (inflation adjusted) GDP was revised up to 0.4 per cent growth from a 0.3 per cent increase. Economic growth is expected to continue in coming quarters, offering the Bank of Japan (BOJ) the hope that a tight labour market is finally starting to boost consumer spending, which in turn makes it easier to generate sustained inflation. "The engines of consumer spending and capital expenditure both fired well in the second quarter, and that's why domestic demand was so strong," said Hidenobu Tokuda, senior economist at Mizuho Research Institute. "The pace of growth may moderate slightly, but we are still in recovery mode. This is a positive development for inflation." The economy grew for six straight quarters in April-June. The last time the economy had a run of six consecutive quarters of growth was January-March 2005 through April-June 2006. Private consumption, which accounts for about two-thirds of GDP, rose 0.9 per cent from the previous quarter, more than the median estimate of 0.5 per cent growth. That marked the fastest expansion in more than three years as shoppers splashed out on durable goods such as cars and home appliances. Consumers also spent more money on dining out, the data showed. These are all encouraging sign that consumer spending is no longer the weak spot in Japan's economic outlook. Capital expenditure jumped by 2.4 per cent in April-June from the previous quarter, doubling the median estimate for a 1.2 per cent increase. That was the fastest growth in business investment since January-March 2014 as companies spent more on software and construction equipment. Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was more cautious on the outlook for domestic demand and pledged to implement more policies to strengthen the economy. "If you ask me whether private consumption has fully recovered, I would say it still lacks strength in some areas, which will need to be followed with policy," Motegi told reporters. "We'll make sure that the domestic demand-led recovery continues. What is needed is supply-side reform. We'll focus our efforts on human resource investment, improvement in productivity, and new growth strategies." While growth was faster than expected, it is not expected to nudge the Bank of Japan into dismantling its massive stimulus programme anytime soon, as inflation remains stubbornly weak. External demand subtracted 0.3 percentage point from GDP growth in April-June in part due to an increase in imports. This is notable because Japan usually relies on exports to drive growth. Since launching quantitative easing in April 2013, the BOJ has pushed back the timing for reaching its 2 per cent inflation target six times in part due to weak consumer spending. The GDP data for April-June show private consumption is finally starting to move in the direction that the BOJ and other government ministers have long predicted.

Japan Q2 GDP blows past expectations on robust domestic demand

Japan could legally intercept a North Korean missile headed towards Guam, defence minister Itsunori Onodera said on Thursday in remarks reported by Kyodo news service.

Onodera told a lower house of parliament committee that Japan would be allowed to hit a missile headed towards the US&nbsp;Pacific territory if it was judged to be an existential threat to Japan, Kyodo said.

This is a reiteration of the Japanese government&#39;s position.

Experts say Japan does not currently have the capability to shoot down a missile flying over its territory headed for Guam.

&nbsp;

Defence minister Itsunori Onodera reportedly told a lower house of parliament committee that Japan would be allowed to hit a missile headed towards the US?Pacific territory if it was judged to be an existential threat to Japan

Japan could legally intercept a North Korean missile headed towards Guam, defence minister Itsunori Onodera said on Thursday in remarks reported by Kyodo news service. Onodera told a lower house of parliament committee that Japan would be allowed to hit a missile headed towards the US Pacific territory if it was judged to be an existential threat to Japan, Kyodo said. This is a reiteration of the Japanese government's position. Experts say Japan does not currently have the capability to shoot down a missile flying over its territory headed for Guam.

Japan could legally intercept a Guam-bound North Korea missile: Report

A new breed of younger, business and tech-savvy farmers are transforming Japan&#39;s shrinking agriculture sector with cutting edge techniques and marketing strategies, giving new hope to an industry in slow decline.

Hiroki Iwasa, a 40-year-old IT entrepreneur with an MBA, grows strawberries in seven high-tech greenhouses where computers set the temperature and humidity to optimum growing conditions and ensure the rows of bushes are sprayed with water at precise times.

He markets his &quot;Migaki Ichigo&quot; brand strawberries directly to fancy department stores in Tokyo, where they go for as much as 1,000 yen ($9) apiece, as well as to customers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, where Japanese produce has an excellent reputation.

Such changes, while small, come as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to reform Japan&#39;s hidebound farm industry where small-plot holdings still dominate, the average farmer is aged over 66 and the sector&#39;s contribution to the economy has fallen by 25 per cent since its peak in 1984.

They should also make Japan more resilient if the United States tries, as Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has hinted, to pry open markets such as rice and beef that are protected by tariffs.

Iwasa was running an IT company and getting an MBA in Tokyo when his coastal hometown of Yamamoto in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, an area famous for strawberries, was hit by the March 2011 tsunami.

He rushed to help with relief efforts and later saw an opportunity to combine his tech skills with the specialised know-how of a local farmer.

He now heads 6-year-old GRA, which has 20 full-time employees and 50 part-timers, including four dedicated to managing overseas orders.

&quot;Farmers&#39; intuition and experience may not always result in a good harvest. So it&#39;s crucial that we capture that as explicit knowledge in technology and automation, and use that to increase productivity,&quot; Iwasa said. &quot;Also nurturing professional farm managers is needed.&quot;

By leasing surrounding land, Iwasa expanded his farm to two hectares (five acres), which is about 10 times the size of an average strawberry farm in Japan.

Future of Farming

Such larger-scale agri-businesses, many using new technologies, are the future of Japanese farming, says Kazunuki Ohizumi, professor emeritus at Miyagi University, who has been studying farming trends in Japan for decades.

&quot;Large-sized farmers are the ones to revitalise Japan&#39;s agriculture, which will be changed significantly,&quot; he said. &quot;Of course, IT, robots and artificial intelligence are needed, which will generate jobs to handle such technologies.&quot;

Japan is already seeing a shift toward company-run farms, whose numbers have jumped from 8,700 in 2005 to 20,800 last year.

And the number of young people working in agriculture is slowly rising. The farm industry added just over 23,000 workers under the age of 49 in 2015, up from less than 18,000 five years ago.

Ohizumi predicts that sales from large-sized farms - those with more than 50 million yen ($450,000) in sales - will rise to about three-quarters of total sales by 2030, up from 41 per cent in 2015.

Shuichi Yokota, a 41-year-old rice farmer in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, says Japan&#39;s rice farmers have been protected by government subsidies and tariffs for too long.

Japan imposes a hefty 341 yen ($3.09) per kg tariff on imported rice, outside of its World Trade Organisation tariff-free obligations, while the government offers subsidies of up to 105,000 yen ($950) per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre).

Farmers should aim to become just as globally competitive as the country&#39;s famed car brands Toyota and Honda, Yokota said.

&quot;If you fail business management, you have to leave. It is the same in other industries,&quot; he said. &quot;If you cannot lower production costs or secure clients, you will go bankrupt.&quot;

When Yokota became a farmer after graduating from college 20 years ago, his family had about 16 hectares. As older farmers in the area retired, he started leasing their land.

He now oversees a 140-hectare (346-acre) rice farming corporation, far bigger than the average three hectare (7.5 acres) farm.

The company grows several different varieties so that planting and harvesting are spread out, and uses electronic sensors to measure water levels and temperature in the paddies as well as the condition of the rice.

&quot;Government subsidies will have to end eventually as it is not sustainable,&quot; Yokota said. &quot;Farmers should produce goods that have a market.&quot;

Such changes come as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to reform Japan's hidebound farm industry where small-plot holdings still dominate

A new breed of younger, business and tech-savvy farmers are transforming Japan's shrinking agriculture sector with cutting edge techniques and marketing strategies, giving new hope to an industry in slow decline. Hiroki Iwasa, a 40-year-old IT entrepreneur with an MBA, grows strawberries in seven high-tech greenhouses where computers set the temperature and humidity to optimum growing conditions and ensure the rows of bushes are sprayed with water at precise times. He markets his "Migaki Ichigo" brand strawberries directly to fancy department stores in Tokyo, where they go for as much as 1,000 yen ($9) apiece, as well as to customers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, where Japanese produce has an excellent reputation. Such changes, while small, come as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to reform Japan's hidebound farm industry where small-plot holdings still dominate, the average farmer is aged over 66 and the sector's contribution to the economy has fallen by 25 per cent since its peak in 1984. They should also make Japan more resilient if the United States tries, as Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has hinted, to pry open markets such as rice and beef that are protected by tariffs. Iwasa was running an IT company and getting an MBA in Tokyo when his coastal hometown of Yamamoto in the northeastern prefecture of Miyagi, an area famous for strawberries, was hit by the March 2011 tsunami. He rushed to help with relief efforts and later saw an opportunity to combine his tech skills with the specialised know-how of a local farmer. He now heads 6-year-old GRA, which has 20 full-time employees and 50 part-timers, including four dedicated to managing overseas orders. "Farmers' intuition and experience may not always result in a good harvest. So it's crucial that we capture that as explicit knowledge in technology and automation, and use that to increase productivity," Iwasa said. "Also nurturing professional farm managers is needed." By leasing surrounding land, Iwasa expanded his farm to two hectares (five acres), which is about 10 times the size of an average strawberry farm in Japan. Future of Farming Such larger-scale agri-businesses, many using new technologies, are the future of Japanese farming, says Kazunuki Ohizumi, professor emeritus at Miyagi University, who has been studying farming trends in Japan for decades. "Large-sized farmers are the ones to revitalise Japan's agriculture, which will be changed significantly," he said. "Of course, IT, robots and artificial intelligence are needed, which will generate jobs to handle such technologies." Japan is already seeing a shift toward company-run farms, whose numbers have jumped from 8,700 in 2005 to 20,800 last year. And the number of young people working in agriculture is slowly rising. The farm industry added just over 23,000 workers under the age of 49 in 2015, up from less than 18,000 five years ago. Ohizumi predicts that sales from large-sized farms - those with more than 50 million yen ($450,000) in sales - will rise to about three-quarters of total sales by 2030, up from 41 per cent in 2015. Shuichi Yokota, a 41-year-old rice farmer in Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, says Japan's rice farmers have been protected by government subsidies and tariffs for too long. Japan imposes a hefty 341 yen ($3.09) per kg tariff on imported rice, outside of its World Trade Organisation tariff-free obligations, while the government offers subsidies of up to 105,000 yen ($950) per 0.1 hectare (0.25 acre). Farmers should aim to become just as globally competitive as the country's famed car brands Toyota and Honda, Yokota said. "If you fail business management, you have to leave. It is the same in other industries," he said. "If you cannot lower production costs or secure clients, you will go bankrupt." When Yokota became a farmer after graduating from college 20 years ago, his family had about 16 hectares. As older farmers in the area retired, he started leasing their land. He now oversees a 140-hectare (346-acre) rice farming corporation, far bigger than the average three hectare (7.5 acres) farm. The company grows several different varieties so that planting and harvesting are spread out, and uses electronic sensors to measure water levels and temperature in the paddies as well as the condition of the rice. "Government subsidies will have to end eventually as it is not sustainable," Yokota said. "Farmers should produce goods that have a market."

Tech-savvy farmers will revive Japan's declining agriculture sector

Typhoon Noru dumped heavy rain on Japan Tuesday as it moved back out to sea, causing flooding and property damage while the number of injured reportedly rose to 51.&nbsp;

After making landfall in western Japan the previous day, the storm packing winds of up to 108 kilometres&nbsp;per hour ploughed across the main island of Honshu.&nbsp;

The typhoon was 40 kilometres off the coast of northern Niigata prefecture by 1:00 pm (0400 GMT) Tuesday, slowly moving towards the northeast, Japan&#39;s meteorological agency said. The storm earlier killed two people on outlying islands Saturday.

Public broadcaster NHK said the number of people injured in accidents related to the typhoon had reached 51.&nbsp;

Aerial footage showed a flooded river in western Japan&#39;s Shiga prefecture, while houses, rice paddies, and roads were submerged.

On Saturday, a man in his 60s on the southern island of Yakushima died after falling in strong gusts generated by Noru and hitting his head.

Another man in his 80s on neighbouring Tanegashima island drowned the same day after he went to check on his boat and was swept into the water.

A total of 65 flights were cancelled Tuesday due to Noru, NHK reported.

After making landfall in western Japan the previous day, the storm packing winds of up to 108 kilometres?per hour ploughed across the main island of Honshu.

Typhoon Noru dumped heavy rain on Japan Tuesday as it moved back out to sea, causing flooding and property damage while the number of injured reportedly rose to 51. After making landfall in western Japan the previous day, the storm packing winds of up to 108 kilometres per hour ploughed across the main island of Honshu. The typhoon was 40 kilometres off the coast of northern Niigata prefecture by 1:00 pm (0400 GMT) Tuesday, slowly moving towards the northeast, Japan's meteorological agency said. The storm earlier killed two people on outlying islands Saturday. Public broadcaster NHK said the number of people injured in accidents related to the typhoon had reached 51. Aerial footage showed a flooded river in western Japan's Shiga prefecture, while houses, rice paddies, and roads were submerged. On Saturday, a man in his 60s on the southern island of Yakushima died after falling in strong gusts generated by Noru and hitting his head. Another man in his 80s on neighbouring Tanegashima island drowned the same day after he went to check on his boat and was swept into the water. A total of 65 flights were cancelled Tuesday due to Noru, NHK reported.

Japan: Typhoon Noru brings heavy rain, 51 injured

The G-20 (Group of 20)&nbsp;is an international forum which was formed with the purpose of establishing international cooperation on global economic and financial&nbsp;issues. The forum plays an important role in decision making on issues of international relevance.

G20 countries account for three-quarters of global trade. The G-20 countries produce more than&nbsp;80 per cent of the global economic&nbsp;output.&nbsp;

Around two-third&nbsp;of the global population lives in G-20 member countries.&nbsp;

The G-20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis that sent shockwaves through the global economic community.

In 2008, the first G-20 Leaders&rsquo; Summit was held, and the group played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis that rattled world markets causing massive financial instabilty and leading to the collapse of financial institutions.&nbsp;Its decisive and coordinated actions boosted consumer and business confidence and supported the global&nbsp;economic recovery.&nbsp;

How it works 
Each year in December&nbsp;a different G-20 member country assumes presidency of the forum. To ensure continuity, the presidency is supported by a &ldquo;troika&rdquo; (Trio) made up of the current, immediate past and next host countries. Being an informal group, the group has no permanent secretariat.&nbsp;

The G-20 president is responsible for bringing together the G-20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. The summit and the preparatory processes &ndash; often including more than 60 ministerial and working group meetings per year &ndash; are coordinated by the respective host country.

Members of G20 
The twenty members of the forum are :

<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 500px;">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Argentina</li>
				<li>Australia</li>
				<li>Brazil</li>
				<li>Canada</li>
				<li>China</li>
				<li>France</li>
				<li>Germany</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>India</li>
				<li>Indonesia</li>
				<li>Italy</li>
				<li>Japan</li>
				<li>Republic of Korea</li>
				<li>Mexico</li>
				<li>Russia</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
			<td>
			<ul>
				<li>Saudi Arabia</li>
				<li>South Africa</li>
				<li>Turkey</li>
				<li>The United Kingdom</li>
				<li>The united States</li>
				<li>The European Union</li>
			</ul>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/1-20170707014700.JPG" />
<div class="media-description">
The map displays the member countries, which represent two-thirds of the world population (Image source: g20.org) (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

At the invitation of each Presidency, international organisations also regularly attend the G20 meetings. These organisations include the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). The German G20 Presidency has also invited the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017.

Spain attends the G-20 Summits as a permanent guest. The Presidency can also invite representatives of regional organisations and guests to the G-20 Summit.&nbsp;

India and G20

India has enacted a number of legislations and taken steps to tackle issues like black money, terror financing and food security which can be traced back to G-20. &nbsp;

For instance, India enacted the&nbsp;National Food Security Act with the objective to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to people.&nbsp;

India stands to gain from G-20 knowledge sharing and best practices of improving food security without increasing water consumption to unsustainable levels. The same can then also form part of implementation under the National Water Policy of India.

G-20 has emerged as an important forum where global leaders come together to discuss issues of international significance. At a time, when countries like US are turning inwards and showing signs of protectionism, forums like G-20 have assumed all the more importance to steer the global economic community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

G20 is an international informal forum where India has made the mark of an emerging economy which aspires to take the world along with it towards development

The G-20 (Group of 20) is an international forum which was formed with the purpose of establishing international cooperation on global economic and financial issues. The forum plays an important role in decision making on issues of international relevance. G20 countries account for three-quarters of global trade. The G-20 countries produce more than 80 per cent of the global economic output. Around two-third of the global population lives in G-20 member countries. The G-20 started in 1999 as a meeting of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis that sent shockwaves through the global economic community. In 2008, the first G-20 Leaders’ Summit was held, and the group played a key role in responding to the global financial crisis that rattled world markets causing massive financial instabilty and leading to the collapse of financial institutions. Its decisive and coordinated actions boosted consumer and business confidence and supported the global economic recovery. How it works Each year in December a different G-20 member country assumes presidency of the forum. To ensure continuity, the presidency is supported by a “troika” (Trio) made up of the current, immediate past and next host countries. Being an informal group, the group has no permanent secretariat. The G-20 president is responsible for bringing together the G-20 agenda in consultation with other members and in response to developments in the global economy. The summit and the preparatory processes – often including more than 60 ministerial and working group meetings per year – are coordinated by the respective host country. Members of G20 The twenty members of the forum are : Argentina Australia Brazil Canada China France Germany India Indonesia Italy Japan Republic of Korea Mexico Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey The United Kingdom The united States The European Union The map displays the member countries, which represent two-thirds of the world population (Image source: g20.org) (Others) × At the invitation of each Presidency, international organisations also regularly attend the G20 meetings. These organisations include the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Financial Stability Board (FSB), the World Bank (WB), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations (UN). The German G20 Presidency has also invited the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2017. Spain attends the G-20 Summits as a permanent guest. The Presidency can also invite representatives of regional organisations and guests to the G-20 Summit. India and G20 India has enacted a number of legislations and taken steps to tackle issues like black money, terror financing and food security which can be traced back to G-20. For instance, India enacted the National Food Security Act with the objective to provide food and nutritional security by ensuring access to adequate quantity of food at affordable prices to people. India stands to gain from G-20 knowledge sharing and best practices of improving food security without increasing water consumption to unsustainable levels. The same can then also form part of implementation under the National Water Policy of India. G-20 has emerged as an important forum where global leaders come together to discuss issues of international significance. At a time, when countries like US are turning inwards and showing signs of protectionism, forums like G-20 have assumed all the more importance to steer the global economic community.

All you need to know about G-20

Japan&#39;s lower house of parliament passed a bill Friday that allows ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, as it also called for a rare debate on the role of women in the male-dominated monarchy.

Japan has not had an imperial abdication in two centuries and there was no law to deal with 83-year-old Akihito&#39;s surprise retirement request after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The popular monarch shocked the country last summer when he signalled his desire to hand the crown to his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, citing age and declining health -- he has been treated for prostate cancer and had heart surgery.

The one-off bill is widely expected to become law next week after passage through the upper house.

The abdication must take place within three years of the bill becoming law or it expires -- and it only applies to Akihito.

Some scholars and politicians feared that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan&#39;s future monarchs at risk of being subject to political manipulation.

Japan has had abdications in its long imperial history, but the last one was over 200 years ago and politicians had to craft legislation to make it possible because there was no provision for it in the law.

The status of the emperor is highly sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito&#39;s father Hirohito, who died in 1989.

The abdication issue has highlighted concerns over a potential succession crisis in one of the world&#39;s oldest monarchies.

A government panel in April issued a warning over the dwindling number of male heirs.

On Friday, the powerful lower house passed a non-binding resolution that called on the government to consider giving women a bigger role in the monarchy.

Female imperial family members lose their royal status upon marriage to a commoner.

The law does not apply to male royals, with Akihito and both his sons marrying commoners, and only men are allowed to become emperor, though Japan has been ruled by empresses in past centuries.

When Naruhito, who has a daughter, ascends the throne, his younger brother Akishino will be next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino&#39;s 10-year-old son.

But there are no more eligible males after that, meaning the centuries-old succession would be broken if Hisahito fails to have a son in the future.

News of the upcoming engagement of the emperor&#39;s granddaughter Mako, 25, to her college sweetheart has intensified a debate on whether the law should be changed so women born into the imperial family can continue in their royal roles.

That could help increase the number of potential male heirs.

Traditionalists, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, strenuously oppose such changes.

But the idea of female succession is popular among ordinary Japanese.

A Kyodo News agency survey last month showed 82 per cent of those polled were in favour of allowing a female member of the imperial family to succeed, while 62 per cent supported the creation of female imperial family branches.

(AFP)

The one-off bill is widely expected to become law next week after passage through the upper house

Japan's lower house of parliament passed a bill Friday that allows ageing Emperor Akihito to step down, as it also called for a rare debate on the role of women in the male-dominated monarchy. Japan has not had an imperial abdication in two centuries and there was no law to deal with 83-year-old Akihito's surprise retirement request after nearly three decades on the Chrysanthemum Throne. The popular monarch shocked the country last summer when he signalled his desire to hand the crown to his eldest son, Crown Prince Naruhito, citing age and declining health -- he has been treated for prostate cancer and had heart surgery. The one-off bill is widely expected to become law next week after passage through the upper house. The abdication must take place within three years of the bill becoming law or it expires -- and it only applies to Akihito. Some scholars and politicians feared that changing the law to allow any emperor to abdicate could put Japan's future monarchs at risk of being subject to political manipulation. Japan has had abdications in its long imperial history, but the last one was over 200 years ago and politicians had to craft legislation to make it possible because there was no provision for it in the law. The status of the emperor is highly sensitive in Japan given its 20th century history of war waged in the name of Akihito's father Hirohito, who died in 1989. The abdication issue has highlighted concerns over a potential succession crisis in one of the world's oldest monarchies. A government panel in April issued a warning over the dwindling number of male heirs. On Friday, the powerful lower house passed a non-binding resolution that called on the government to consider giving women a bigger role in the monarchy. Female imperial family members lose their royal status upon marriage to a commoner. The law does not apply to male royals, with Akihito and both his sons marrying commoners, and only men are allowed to become emperor, though Japan has been ruled by empresses in past centuries. When Naruhito, who has a daughter, ascends the throne, his younger brother Akishino will be next in line, followed by Hisahito, Akishino's 10-year-old son. But there are no more eligible males after that, meaning the centuries-old succession would be broken if Hisahito fails to have a son in the future. News of the upcoming engagement of the emperor's granddaughter Mako, 25, to her college sweetheart has intensified a debate on whether the law should be changed so women born into the imperial family can continue in their royal roles. That could help increase the number of potential male heirs. Traditionalists, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, strenuously oppose such changes. But the idea of female succession is popular among ordinary Japanese. A Kyodo News agency survey last month showed 82 per cent of those polled were in favour of allowing a female member of the imperial family to succeed, while 62 per cent supported the creation of female imperial family branches. (AFP)

Japan lower house passes emperor abdication bill, calls for bigger role of women in monarchy

Last week, China became the <a href="http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20170518/8050794.shtml#!language=1">first country</a> to stably and continuously produce gas from methane hydrate.

Methane hydrate is one of the world&#39;s largest untapped sources of energy, with reserves <a href="http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20170518/8050794.shtml#!language=1">twice</a> that of coal, oil and natural gas combined. It is usually found under the ocean bed, but because of difficulties involved in recovering it, it has not been exploited so far.

Countries such as China and Japan are increasingly making attempts to tap these reserves in their waters. Could India take a leaf out of their book and make use of this resource?

The motivation for China&nbsp;and Japan

China <a href="http://www.cctvplus.com/news/20170518/8050794.shtml#!language=1">produced</a> at least 10,000 cubic metres of methane for eight days in a row at&nbsp;their mining project in the South China sea. Japan is trying to better this by producing gas for <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/84abdc56-30b0-11e7-9555-23ef563ecf9a">four weeks</a> in a test well off the coast of central Japan.

Japan was actually the first to extract methane with an offshore platform <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/japan-methane-hydrate-idUKL3N1HI1KA">back in 2013</a>, but the flow lasted less than a week before problems crept in.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WCnXp_c9stg" width="560"></iframe>

China is especially motivated to&nbsp;develop&nbsp;this technology because it is the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-economy-trade-crude-idUSKBN1570VJ">second-largest</a> importer of crude oil in the world. Japan is in a similar predicament, as it is presently the world&#39;s <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/japan-methane-hydrate-idUKL3N1HI1KA">biggest importer</a> of liquefied natural gas.

Right now extracting methane is not technically viable, let alone being commercially viable. But the progress made by China and Japan shows that day is not far away. In fact, Japan is hoping to produce methane on a commercial scale 10 years from now, <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/japan-methane-hydrate-idUKL3N1HI1KA">by 2027</a>.

Why methane hydrate matters for India

Global reserves of gas stored in methane hydrate are <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8925cbb4-7157-11e3-8f92-00144feabdc0">estimated</a> to be in the range of 3,000 - 140,000 trillion cubic metres. Around 1,900 trillion cubic metres of methane are present in the seas around India, according to one <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/swaminathan-s-a-aiyar/tapping-massive-deposits-of-fire-ice-methane-hydrate-can-change-indias-energy-landscape/articleshow/19014438.cms">report</a>.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/india_reserves-20170523030645.png" />
<div class="media-description">
There are potential reserves of methane hydrate in these basins (WION)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

In fact, a gas reserve was <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ONGC-hydrates-discovery-may-be-4-times-bigger-than-RILs-gas-find/articleshow/50505577.cms">discovered two years ago</a> in 2015 in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the eastern coast of India. The reserve is said to have a potential four trillion cubic metres of gas and there are said to be <a href="http://dghindia.gov.in/index.php/page?pageId=39">more reserves</a> in the Mahanadi and Andaman basins in the Bay of Bengal.

Given how India could be the world&#39;s third-biggest consumer of energy <a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-to-be-world-s-3rd-largest-energy-user-by-2020-shinde-112042103005_1.html">by 2020</a>, it would do well to meet growing demand by tapping this huge resource just off its shores.

East Asian powers are trying to tap methane hydrate as a potential source of energy. Is India even in the conversation?

Last week, China became the first country to stably and continuously produce gas from methane hydrate. Methane hydrate is one of the world's largest untapped sources of energy, with reserves twice that of coal, oil and natural gas combined. It is usually found under the ocean bed, but because of difficulties involved in recovering it, it has not been exploited so far. Countries such as China and Japan are increasingly making attempts to tap these reserves in their waters. Could India take a leaf out of their book and make use of this resource? The motivation for China and Japan China produced at least 10,000 cubic metres of methane for eight days in a row at their mining project in the South China sea. Japan is trying to better this by producing gas for four weeks in a test well off the coast of central Japan. Japan was actually the first to extract methane with an offshore platform back in 2013, but the flow lasted less than a week before problems crept in. China is especially motivated to develop this technology because it is the second-largest importer of crude oil in the world. Japan is in a similar predicament, as it is presently the world's biggest importer of liquefied natural gas. Right now extracting methane is not technically viable, let alone being commercially viable. But the progress made by China and Japan shows that day is not far away. In fact, Japan is hoping to produce methane on a commercial scale 10 years from now, by 2027. Why methane hydrate matters for India Global reserves of gas stored in methane hydrate are estimated to be in the range of 3,000 - 140,000 trillion cubic metres. Around 1,900 trillion cubic metres of methane are present in the seas around India, according to one report. There are potential reserves of methane hydrate in these basins (WION) × In fact, a gas reserve was discovered two years ago in 2015 in the Krishna-Godavari basin off the eastern coast of India. The reserve is said to have a potential four trillion cubic metres of gas and there are said to be more reserves in the Mahanadi and Andaman basins in the Bay of Bengal. Given how India could be the world's third-biggest consumer of energy by 2020, it would do well to meet growing demand by tapping this huge resource just off its shores.

China, Japan way ahead of India in new gas race

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all sides to exercise restraint on Monday in a call with US&nbsp;President Donald Trump, as a nervous South Korea and Japan sought to join drills with a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group headed for Korean waters.

Reclusive North Korea said at the weekend it was ready to sink the US&nbsp;aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, which Trump had ordered to waters off the Korean peninsula as a warning to the nuclear-armed North.

Japan said on Sunday it had sent two Japanese destroyers to join the carrier group for drills, and South Korea said it was also in talks about holding joint naval exercises.

China is increasingly worried the situation may spin out of control, leading to war and a chaotic collapse of its isolated and poverty-struck neighbour.

Xi told Trump that China resolutely opposes any actions that run counter to UN&nbsp;Security Council resolutions, a Chinese foreign ministry statement said.

China &quot;hopes that all relevant sides exercise restraint, and avoid doing anything to worsen the tense situation on the peninsula&quot;, the statement paraphrased Xi as saying.

The nuclear issue can only be resolved quickly with all relevant countries pulling in the same direction, and China is willing to work with all parties, including the United States, to ensure peace, Xi said.

Tensions have risen sharply in recent months, with Washington and its allies fearing Pyongyang could conduct another nuclear missile test or launch more ballistic missiles in defiance of United Nations sanctions.

North Korea celebrates the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People`s Army on Tuesday, and has marked similar events in the past with nuclear tests or missile launches.

&#39;Repeated Provocation&#39; 
Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described his conversation with Trump as a &quot;thorough exchange of views&quot;.

&quot;We agreed to strongly demand that North Korea, which is repeating its provocation, show restraint,&quot; Abe told reporters.

&quot;We will maintain close contact with the United States, keep a high level of vigilance and respond firmly,&quot; he said.

Abe also said he and Trump agreed that China, North Korea`s sole major ally, should play a large role in dealing with Pyongyang.

A Japanese official said the phone call between Trump and Abe was not prompted by any specific change in the situation.

The US&nbsp;government has not specified where the carrier strike group is, but U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive &quot;within days&quot;.

South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun gave no further details about the South`s plans, other than saying Seoul was holding discussions with the US Navy.

&quot;I can say the South Korean and US militaries are fully ready for North Korea`s nuclear test,&quot; Moon said.

 
South Korean and U.S. officials have feared for some time that North Korea could soon carry out its sixth nuclear test.

Satellite imagery analysed by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea monitoring project, found some activity under way at North Korea`s Punggye-ri nuclear test site last week.

However, the group said it was unclear whether the site was in a &quot;tactical pause&quot; before another test or was carrying out normal operations.

Adding to the heightened tensions, North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country.

(Reuters)

&nbsp;

China is increasingly worried the situation may spin out of control, and lead to war

Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all sides to exercise restraint on Monday in a call with US President Donald Trump, as a nervous South Korea and Japan sought to join drills with a U.S. aircraft carrier strike group headed for Korean waters. Reclusive North Korea said at the weekend it was ready to sink the US aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, which Trump had ordered to waters off the Korean peninsula as a warning to the nuclear-armed North. Japan said on Sunday it had sent two Japanese destroyers to join the carrier group for drills, and South Korea said it was also in talks about holding joint naval exercises. China is increasingly worried the situation may spin out of control, leading to war and a chaotic collapse of its isolated and poverty-struck neighbour. Xi told Trump that China resolutely opposes any actions that run counter to UN Security Council resolutions, a Chinese foreign ministry statement said. China "hopes that all relevant sides exercise restraint, and avoid doing anything to worsen the tense situation on the peninsula", the statement paraphrased Xi as saying. The nuclear issue can only be resolved quickly with all relevant countries pulling in the same direction, and China is willing to work with all parties, including the United States, to ensure peace, Xi said. Tensions have risen sharply in recent months, with Washington and its allies fearing Pyongyang could conduct another nuclear missile test or launch more ballistic missiles in defiance of United Nations sanctions. North Korea celebrates the 85th anniversary of the foundation of its Korean People`s Army on Tuesday, and has marked similar events in the past with nuclear tests or missile launches. 'Repeated Provocation' Earlier, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described his conversation with Trump as a "thorough exchange of views". "We agreed to strongly demand that North Korea, which is repeating its provocation, show restraint," Abe told reporters. "We will maintain close contact with the United States, keep a high level of vigilance and respond firmly," he said. Abe also said he and Trump agreed that China, North Korea`s sole major ally, should play a large role in dealing with Pyongyang. A Japanese official said the phone call between Trump and Abe was not prompted by any specific change in the situation. The US government has not specified where the carrier strike group is, but U.S. Vice President Mike Pence said on Saturday it would arrive "within days". South Korean Defence Ministry spokesman Moon Sang-gyun gave no further details about the South`s plans, other than saying Seoul was holding discussions with the US Navy. "I can say the South Korean and US militaries are fully ready for North Korea`s nuclear test," Moon said. South Korean and U.S. officials have feared for some time that North Korea could soon carry out its sixth nuclear test. Satellite imagery analysed by 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea monitoring project, found some activity under way at North Korea`s Punggye-ri nuclear test site last week. However, the group said it was unclear whether the site was in a "tactical pause" before another test or was carrying out normal operations. Adding to the heightened tensions, North Korea detained a U.S. citizen on Saturday as he attempted to leave the country. (Reuters)

China's Xi calls Trump as carrier heads for Korea, calls for restraint

Their youth long gone, members of Japan&#39;s generation of &quot;parasite singles&quot; face a precarious future, wondering how to survive once the parents many depended on for years pass away.

Some 4.5 million Japanese aged between 35 and 54 were living with their parents in 2016, according to a researcher at the Statistical Research and Training Institute on a demographic phenomena that emerged two decades ago, when youthful singles made headlines for mooching off parents to lead carefree lives.

Now, without pensions or savings of their own, these middle-aged stay-at-homes threaten to place an extra burden on a social welfare system that is already creaking under pressure from Japan&#39;s ageing population and shrinking workforce.

Hiromi Tanaka once sang backup for pop groups, and epitomised the optimism of youth.

&quot;I got used to living in an unstable situation and figured somehow it would work out,&quot; Tanaka told Reuters as she sat at the piano in a small parlour of an old house connected to her elderly mother&#39;s next door.

Now aged 54, Tanaka relies on income from giving private singing lessons to a dwindling number of students, and her mother&#39;s pension to make ends meet. She has no pension plan of her own, and has used up most of her savings.

&quot;My father died last year so pension income was halved,&rdquo; she said. &quot;If things go on like this, my mother and I will fall together.&quot;

Tanaka is one of the growing ranks of &quot;life-time singles,&quot; whose numbers hit a record in 2015, according to data released this month that showed that among 50-year-olds, one-in-four men and one-in-seven women were unmarried.

&quot;During the &#39;bubble economy&#39; until the mid-1990s, the 20-somethings were happily amusing themselves. They thought by the time they were in their 30s, they&#39;d be married,&quot; said Masahiro Yamada, a Chuo University sociologist who coined the term &quot;parasite singles&quot; in 1997.

&quot;But one-third never married and are now around age 50,&quot; Yamada told Reuters in an interview.

&nbsp;

FRAGILE FUTURE

The trend is not only a factor behind Japan&#39;s low birth rate and shrinking population. It also puts an extra damper on consumption since new household formation is a key driver of private spending.

And since about 20 per cent of the middle-aged stay-at-home singles rely on parents for support, they also threaten to weigh on social safety nets.

&quot;Once they use up inherited assets and savings, when nothing is left, they will go on the dole,&quot; Yamada said.

The rise in those shunning marriage, experts say, is due not only to more diverse life-styles but to an increase in low-paying, unstable jobs. Part-timers, temps or contract workers now account for nearly 40 per cent of the workforce compared to about 20 per cent in the 1980s.

Although recent tightness in Japan&#39;s labour market has meant a slight fall in the number of singles living off parents, the overall trend probably won&#39;t change, said Katsuhiko Fujimori, an economist at Mizuho Information and Research Institute.

&quot;That&#39;s because of the increase in irregular workers and the fact that more and more people cannot marry for economic reasons, even if they want to,&quot; he said.

Some middle-aged singles living with parents once had steady jobs but slipped off the career track due to illness or corporate restructuring as companies cut costs to compete.

&quot;Once you fall off the regular employment ladder, it&#39;s tough,&quot; said Hirotoshi Moriyama, a member of a non-profit organisation that tries to help middle-aged people find jobs.

&nbsp;

LEFT BEHIND

Akihiro Karube, 53, worked in the advertising business after graduation and by his 30s was earning a hefty salary. He moved back with his parents after a short-lived marriage but paid his own rent until, aged 43, he was diagnosed with Parkinson&#39;s disease and had to quit.

Efforts to find work as a qualified home helper for the elderly have failed and he says he now relies on his father&#39;s pension and a disability pension of his own.

&quot;I just wish I had a stable income, that&#39;s the main thing,&quot; said Karube, who lives with his widowed 84-year-old dad in public housing in a Tokyo suburb.

The future looks especially bleak for an extreme sub-set of people who not only live at home with their parents but also seldom venture out, living out their days in hermit-like seclusion. Known in Japan as &quot;hikikomori&quot;, and once stereotyped as mostly young men, these stay-at-homes are also ageing.

Fuminobu Ohashi was one himself, but now he works with a support group that last year began holding workshops for parents worried about their offsprings&#39; future.

&quot;The problem is what they will do after their parents pass away,&quot; Ohashi said. &quot;It is a quietly ticking time-bomb.&quot;

(Reuters)

Some 4.5 million Japanese aged between 35 and 54 were living with their parents last year, threatening to weigh on social safety nets

Their youth long gone, members of Japan's generation of "parasite singles" face a precarious future, wondering how to survive once the parents many depended on for years pass away. Some 4.5 million Japanese aged between 35 and 54 were living with their parents in 2016, according to a researcher at the Statistical Research and Training Institute on a demographic phenomena that emerged two decades ago, when youthful singles made headlines for mooching off parents to lead carefree lives. Now, without pensions or savings of their own, these middle-aged stay-at-homes threaten to place an extra burden on a social welfare system that is already creaking under pressure from Japan's ageing population and shrinking workforce. Hiromi Tanaka once sang backup for pop groups, and epitomised the optimism of youth. "I got used to living in an unstable situation and figured somehow it would work out," Tanaka told Reuters as she sat at the piano in a small parlour of an old house connected to her elderly mother's next door. Now aged 54, Tanaka relies on income from giving private singing lessons to a dwindling number of students, and her mother's pension to make ends meet. She has no pension plan of her own, and has used up most of her savings. "My father died last year so pension income was halved,” she said. "If things go on like this, my mother and I will fall together." Tanaka is one of the growing ranks of "life-time singles," whose numbers hit a record in 2015, according to data released this month that showed that among 50-year-olds, one-in-four men and one-in-seven women were unmarried. "During the 'bubble economy' until the mid-1990s, the 20-somethings were happily amusing themselves. They thought by the time they were in their 30s, they'd be married," said Masahiro Yamada, a Chuo University sociologist who coined the term "parasite singles" in 1997. "But one-third never married and are now around age 50," Yamada told Reuters in an interview. FRAGILE FUTURE The trend is not only a factor behind Japan's low birth rate and shrinking population. It also puts an extra damper on consumption since new household formation is a key driver of private spending. And since about 20 per cent of the middle-aged stay-at-home singles rely on parents for support, they also threaten to weigh on social safety nets. "Once they use up inherited assets and savings, when nothing is left, they will go on the dole," Yamada said. The rise in those shunning marriage, experts say, is due not only to more diverse life-styles but to an increase in low-paying, unstable jobs. Part-timers, temps or contract workers now account for nearly 40 per cent of the workforce compared to about 20 per cent in the 1980s. Although recent tightness in Japan's labour market has meant a slight fall in the number of singles living off parents, the overall trend probably won't change, said Katsuhiko Fujimori, an economist at Mizuho Information and Research Institute. "That's because of the increase in irregular workers and the fact that more and more people cannot marry for economic reasons, even if they want to," he said. Some middle-aged singles living with parents once had steady jobs but slipped off the career track due to illness or corporate restructuring as companies cut costs to compete. "Once you fall off the regular employment ladder, it's tough," said Hirotoshi Moriyama, a member of a non-profit organisation that tries to help middle-aged people find jobs. LEFT BEHIND Akihiro Karube, 53, worked in the advertising business after graduation and by his 30s was earning a hefty salary. He moved back with his parents after a short-lived marriage but paid his own rent until, aged 43, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had to quit. Efforts to find work as a qualified home helper for the elderly have failed and he says he now relies on his father's pension and a disability pension of his own. "I just wish I had a stable income, that's the main thing," said Karube, who lives with his widowed 84-year-old dad in public housing in a Tokyo suburb. The future looks especially bleak for an extreme sub-set of people who not only live at home with their parents but also seldom venture out, living out their days in hermit-like seclusion. Known in Japan as "hikikomori", and once stereotyped as mostly young men, these stay-at-homes are also ageing. Fuminobu Ohashi was one himself, but now he works with a support group that last year began holding workshops for parents worried about their offsprings' future. "The problem is what they will do after their parents pass away," Ohashi said. "It is a quietly ticking time-bomb." (Reuters)

Life's illusions catching up with Japan's middle-aged 'parasite singles'

A Chinese envoy arrives in South Korea on Monday to discuss North Korea&#39;s increasingly defiant weapons programme as a US&nbsp;Navy strike group heads to the region amid concerns Pyongyang may be readying a fresh nuclear test.

North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware.

The possibility of US&nbsp;military action against North Korea in response to such a test emerged as an option following last week&#39;s US&nbsp;strikes against Syria. It was further fuelled by comments from US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s top aides on the weekend.

In Tokyo, the feasibility of US&nbsp;military action was downplayed, while South Korea said the focus remained on deterrence and readiness.

&ldquo;It probably is not realistic for the US&nbsp;to attack North Korea,&quot; a Japanese defence ministry source said. &quot;If America says it is going to attack, both Japan and South Korea will probably put a stop to it,&quot; said the source who declined to be identified.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US&nbsp;military strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons was a warning to other countries including North Korea that &quot;a response is likely&quot; if they pose a danger.

&quot;(Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) clearly understands, and I think agrees, that the situation has intensified and has reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken,&quot; Tillerson said on CBS&#39;s Face the Nation.

China&#39;s Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei is expected to discuss the North&#39;s nuclear issue with his South Korean counterpart, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.

Wu&#39;s trip comes after Trump and Xi met in Florida, where Trump pressed his counterpart to do more to curb North Korea&#39;s nuclear programme.

&nbsp;

SHOW OF FORCE

The US&nbsp;Navy strike group Carl Vinson canceled a planned trip to Australia and is moving toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US&nbsp;official told Reuters over the weekend. &quot;We feel the increased presence is necessary,&quot; the official said.

South Korean and US&nbsp;forces are also involved in annual joint military drills that run until the end of April. The North calls the drills preparations for war against it.

Several North Korean anniversaries in April could be opportunity for Pyongyang to conduct nuclear or missile tests, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said.

North Korea has invited a large number of foreign media representatives to Pyongyang this week, likely to cover the so-called &quot;Day of the Sun&quot; birth anniversary on April 15 of the state founder Kim Il Sung.

Moon did not directly respond to a question about the possibility of a US&nbsp;military strike against the North.

&quot;Considering the possibility of North Korea&#39;s strategic provocations such as a nuclear test and missile launches, we have in place deterrence to the North&#39;s provocation and all readiness against them,&quot; he told a briefing on Monday.

Senior envoys of South Korea, Japan and the United State on the North Korea nuclear programme will soon meet to discuss their coordinated response, the South&#39;s foreign ministry said.

North Korea sounded a note of defiance on Saturday calling the US&nbsp;strikes against Syria &quot;an unforgivable act of aggression&quot; that showed its decision to develop nuclear weapons was &quot;the right choice&quot;.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that flew a short distance before spinning out of control and crashing into the sea, the latest of a number of missile tests defying UN&nbsp;sanctions.

The North is also seen to be ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site.

(Reuters)

'If America says it is going to attack, both Japan and South Korea will probably put a stop to it,' said a Japanese Defence Ministry source

A Chinese envoy arrives in South Korea on Monday to discuss North Korea's increasingly defiant weapons programme as a US Navy strike group heads to the region amid concerns Pyongyang may be readying a fresh nuclear test. North Korea marks several major anniversaries this month and often marks the occasions with major tests of military hardware. The possibility of US military action against North Korea in response to such a test emerged as an option following last week's US strikes against Syria. It was further fuelled by comments from US President Donald Trump's top aides on the weekend. In Tokyo, the feasibility of US military action was downplayed, while South Korea said the focus remained on deterrence and readiness. “It probably is not realistic for the US to attack North Korea," a Japanese defence ministry source said. "If America says it is going to attack, both Japan and South Korea will probably put a stop to it," said the source who declined to be identified. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US military strike against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons was a warning to other countries including North Korea that "a response is likely" if they pose a danger. "(Chinese) President Xi (Jinping) clearly understands, and I think agrees, that the situation has intensified and has reached a certain level of threat that action has to be taken," Tillerson said on CBS's Face the Nation. China's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Affairs Wu Dawei is expected to discuss the North's nuclear issue with his South Korean counterpart, according to the South Korean foreign ministry. Wu's trip comes after Trump and Xi met in Florida, where Trump pressed his counterpart to do more to curb North Korea's nuclear programme. SHOW OF FORCE The US Navy strike group Carl Vinson canceled a planned trip to Australia and is moving toward the western Pacific Ocean near the Korean peninsula as a show of force, a US official told Reuters over the weekend. "We feel the increased presence is necessary," the official said. South Korean and US forces are also involved in annual joint military drills that run until the end of April. The North calls the drills preparations for war against it. Several North Korean anniversaries in April could be opportunity for Pyongyang to conduct nuclear or missile tests, South Korean defence ministry spokesman Moon Sang-kyun said. North Korea has invited a large number of foreign media representatives to Pyongyang this week, likely to cover the so-called "Day of the Sun" birth anniversary on April 15 of the state founder Kim Il Sung. Moon did not directly respond to a question about the possibility of a US military strike against the North. "Considering the possibility of North Korea's strategic provocations such as a nuclear test and missile launches, we have in place deterrence to the North's provocation and all readiness against them," he told a briefing on Monday. Senior envoys of South Korea, Japan and the United State on the North Korea nuclear programme will soon meet to discuss their coordinated response, the South's foreign ministry said. North Korea sounded a note of defiance on Saturday calling the US strikes against Syria "an unforgivable act of aggression" that showed its decision to develop nuclear weapons was "the right choice". North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Wednesday that flew a short distance before spinning out of control and crashing into the sea, the latest of a number of missile tests defying UN sanctions. The North is also seen to be ready to conduct its sixth nuclear test at any time, with movements detected by satellites at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site. (Reuters)

China's nuclear envoy in South Korea amid talk of Trump action against North Korea

An avalanche Monday killed seven Japanese high school students and a teacher on a mountain-climbing outing, and injured 40 more.&nbsp;

More than 100 troops were deployed in a major rescue mission after the avalanche hit ski slopes in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo. Television footage showed rescuers climbing the mountainside as ambulances stood by.&nbsp;

A total of 52 students and 11 teachers from seven high schools were on a three-day mountaineering expedition when disaster struck.

A warning had been issued for heavy snow and possible avalanches from Sunday until Monday in the area, with the local weather agency forecasting snowfall of some 30 centimetres (about 12 inches).

In the latest update seven students and one teacher, mostly from Otawara High School in Tochigi, were found with no vital signs, an official with a prefectural disaster task force told AFP.

In Japan, deaths in such circumstances are not announced officially until doctors can confirm them.

Officials earlier said eight students had no vital signs.

Some 40 people have been injured, including two students in serious condition, the prefectural official said.

&quot;All the people have been carried down from the mountain and they are now being transported to hospital,&quot; he told AFP.

The avalanche struck in the town of Nasu 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Tokyo on the final day of the excursion, Tochigi authorities said, adding that soldiers were brought in at the request of the prefecture&#39;s governor.

Local media cited experts as saying it was likely a surface avalanche, caused by a heavy snowfall accumulating on a previous deposit of slippery snow.

&quot;This (outing) is an annual event and we never had a major accident before,&quot; one of the teachers told Jiji Press. &quot;I am really shocked.&quot;

The ski resort had been closed for the season, according to the operator&#39;s website, with the lift stopped and no skiers at the site.

But some of its facilities were made available for the high school mountaineering trip organised by local physical education authorities.

(AFP)

More than 100 troops were deployed in a major rescue mission after the avalanche hit ski slopes in Tochigi prefecture

An avalanche Monday killed seven Japanese high school students and a teacher on a mountain-climbing outing, and injured 40 more. More than 100 troops were deployed in a major rescue mission after the avalanche hit ski slopes in Tochigi prefecture north of Tokyo. Television footage showed rescuers climbing the mountainside as ambulances stood by. A total of 52 students and 11 teachers from seven high schools were on a three-day mountaineering expedition when disaster struck. A warning had been issued for heavy snow and possible avalanches from Sunday until Monday in the area, with the local weather agency forecasting snowfall of some 30 centimetres (about 12 inches). In the latest update seven students and one teacher, mostly from Otawara High School in Tochigi, were found with no vital signs, an official with a prefectural disaster task force told AFP. In Japan, deaths in such circumstances are not announced officially until doctors can confirm them. Officials earlier said eight students had no vital signs. Some 40 people have been injured, including two students in serious condition, the prefectural official said. "All the people have been carried down from the mountain and they are now being transported to hospital," he told AFP. The avalanche struck in the town of Nasu 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Tokyo on the final day of the excursion, Tochigi authorities said, adding that soldiers were brought in at the request of the prefecture's governor. Local media cited experts as saying it was likely a surface avalanche, caused by a heavy snowfall accumulating on a previous deposit of slippery snow. "This (outing) is an annual event and we never had a major accident before," one of the teachers told Jiji Press. "I am really shocked." The ski resort had been closed for the season, according to the operator's website, with the lift stopped and no skiers at the site. But some of its facilities were made available for the high school mountaineering trip organised by local physical education authorities. (AFP)

Japan: Seven students, one teacher killed in avalanche

South Korea&#39;s foreign minister said on Friday there was nothing wrong with erecting a statue in memory of women forced to work in Japanese brothels in World War Two, but its location outside a Japanese consulate was inappropriate.

The statue of the young &quot;comfort woman&quot; in the southern city of Busan has rekindled a feud over wartime history between South Korea and its past colonial ruler and prompted Japan to temporarily recall its ambassador.

The term &quot;comfort women&quot; is a euphemism for girls and women, from South Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere, forced to work in Japanese military brothels.

South Korean activists estimate that there may have been as many as 200,000 Korean victims.&nbsp;

&quot;The issue of a girl statue in Busan is unfortunate,&quot; Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told lawmakers, referring to the southern city.

&quot;Our government is not against the instalment of a girl statue... but I think we need to pool our wisdom on the issue of location.&quot;

He did not say if the statue would be moved.&nbsp;

The statue, which depicts a barefoot girl sitting in a chair, was erected near the Japanese consulate at the end of last year.

Japan said the statue violated an agreement to resolve the issue.&nbsp;

South Korean politicians, including expected presidential contenders, have called for renegotiation of the December 2015 agreement stating the comfort women issue would be &quot;irreversibly resolved&quot; if all conditions - including a Japanese apology and a fund to help the victims - were met.

(Reuters)

&nbsp;

'Comfort women' is a euphemism for girls and women, from South Korea?and elsewhere, forced to work in Japanese military brothels during WWII

South Korea's foreign minister said on Friday there was nothing wrong with erecting a statue in memory of women forced to work in Japanese brothels in World War Two, but its location outside a Japanese consulate was inappropriate. The statue of the young "comfort woman" in the southern city of Busan has rekindled a feud over wartime history between South Korea and its past colonial ruler and prompted Japan to temporarily recall its ambassador. The term "comfort women" is a euphemism for girls and women, from South Korea, China, the Philippines and elsewhere, forced to work in Japanese military brothels. South Korean activists estimate that there may have been as many as 200,000 Korean victims. "The issue of a girl statue in Busan is unfortunate," Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se told lawmakers, referring to the southern city. "Our government is not against the instalment of a girl statue... but I think we need to pool our wisdom on the issue of location." He did not say if the statue would be moved. The statue, which depicts a barefoot girl sitting in a chair, was erected near the Japanese consulate at the end of last year. Japan said the statue violated an agreement to resolve the issue. South Korean politicians, including expected presidential contenders, have called for renegotiation of the December 2015 agreement stating the comfort women issue would be "irreversibly resolved" if all conditions - including a Japanese apology and a fund to help the victims - were met. (Reuters)

'Comfort woman' statue outside Japan mission inappropriate: South Korean foreign minister

Most of us are just back from a long weekend, having celebrated the New Year with family and friends. The Gregorian calendar is generally accepted around the world, where January 1 is the standard first day of the year. &nbsp;

However, there are many countries that follow different calendars to kick-start their New Year. Did you know that Greece shifted to the Gregorian calendar only in 1923, while Thailand&rsquo;s conversion was as recent as 1941, and till then, they had different dates to mark New Year.&nbsp;

These are some of the days when New Year is celebrated around the world:

<h2>Chinese New Year&nbsp;</h2>

Celebrated on different dates every year, the New Year&rsquo;s date falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 21, depending on when the new moon of the first lunar month falls. The 15-day observance is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and is known as &lsquo;Spring Festival&rsquo;.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-510145756-20170103112229.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Chinese New Year (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Seollal</h2>

Several Southeast Asian cultures celebrate New Year&rsquo;s Day on the Lunar New Year on February 8. In South Korea, the New Year marks a three-day holiday where families give thanks to a bountiful year. Many dress up in colourful attire called hanbok, while others perform an ancient tea offering ritual called &#39;Charye&#39;.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-463828312-20170103112749.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Korean New Year (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Songkran</h2>

Songkran, Thai New Year, is celebrated from April 13 to 15. People celebrate the day by throwing water on each other, as it is symbolic of hope, and a call for rain. Buddha statues and images are also cleansed for good luck and prosperity.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-108798652-20170103113209.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Thai New Year (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Nyepi</h2>

Balinese New Year falls on March 9, marking the first day of the lunar-based Saka Calendar, which is followed by Balinese and Javanese cultures. The day is celebrated as a day of self-reflection and rest, but there are fire rituals that are practiced. Business in the regions comes to a standstill during the New Year.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-467034682-20170103113550.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Balinese New Year (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Nowruz&nbsp;</h2>

Nowruz is celebrated by both Zoroastrian and Baha&rsquo;i communities as New Year&rsquo;s Day. Celebrated on March 20, the date marks arrival of Spring. Iranian and Persian New Year is celebrated with people engaging in cleaning their homes and exchanging sweets.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-188009278-20170103114007.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Nowruz (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Ugaadhi</h2>

The southern Indian states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh celebrate Ugaadhi according to their lunar-based calendar as their New Year&rsquo;s Day. Gudi Padwa (in Maharashtra) and Cheti Chand (for Sindhi-speaking Indian communities) New Year&rsquo;s festivities also fall on this day.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/447165-gudi-padwa-reuters-20170103122051.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Gudi Padwa (DNA)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Aluth Avurudda</h2>

Aluth Avurudda is a Sinhalese festival, which coincides with Tamil New Year&rsquo;s Day and is celebrated by most people in Sri Lanka. &nbsp;Unlike other cultures, the day marks the end of the harvest season. It also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka. &nbsp;Locals celebrate the day by opening their front doors to encourage visits by family and friends.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-89287956-20170103121014.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Aluth Avurudda (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Puthandu</h2>

Puthandu, Tamil New Year, is celebrated every year on April 14. Tamil Nadu is a southern Indian state. People dress up in new clothes, with music, sweets and rice flour kolams (street art) a staple during the celebrations. April 14 is also New Year date for some areas of Sri Lanka and members of the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia and Singapore.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-187646051-20170103120318.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Rangoli made in Puthandu festival (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Enkutatash</h2>

The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, means the &lsquo;gift of jewels&rsquo;. Celebrated on September 11, it marks the start of Spring festival. Some cities in the country have religious celebrations, although it is not exclusively a religious holiday.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/enkutatash%201-20170103121241.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Enkutatash (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Diwali</h2>

Diwali is an important Hindu festival in India. The festival of lights marks the start of a new year. The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. Marwari and Gujarati communities in north India, celebrate the day by giving thanks to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-156335510-20170103114804.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Diwali (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Rosh Hashanah</h2>

The Jewish New Year is celebrated as Rosh Hashanah, a two-day holiday from October 2 to 4. It commemorates the end of the seven days of Creation from the Book of Genesis. Celebrated with a lot of fanfare, it is believed that in the days following the creation of the universe, God was yet to determine the fate of mankind.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-488173306-20170103114421.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Ra's as-Sanah al-Hijriyah&nbsp;</h2>

Islamic New Year is the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Calendar. It celebrates emigration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina, known as Hijra. &nbsp;According to the calendar each day begins at sunset, with the New Year itself ushered by the first sighting of the moon.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/gettyimages-630305432-20170103121716.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Islamic New Year (Getty)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>Aboriginal Murador New Year</h2>

The Western Australian Aboriginal tribe of Murador celebrates New Year&rsquo;s Day on October 30, as per the Gregorian calendar. An important day in the tribe&rsquo;s calendar, this marks a time for friendship, reconciliation, and giving thanks to the year that has gone by. The Murador people are now an extinct tribe, though their culture lives on in artifacts and text.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://wion.azureedge.net/photos/aboriginal-20170103120629.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
Aboriginal Murador New Year (Others)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

(Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

Different cultures follow different calendars, with the New Year even celebrated as late as on October 30

Most of us are just back from a long weekend, having celebrated the New Year with family and friends. The Gregorian calendar is generally accepted around the world, where January 1 is the standard first day of the year. However, there are many countries that follow different calendars to kick-start their New Year. Did you know that Greece shifted to the Gregorian calendar only in 1923, while Thailand’s conversion was as recent as 1941, and till then, they had different dates to mark New Year. These are some of the days when New Year is celebrated around the world: Chinese New Year Celebrated on different dates every year, the New Year’s date falls between Jan. 21 and Feb. 21, depending on when the new moon of the first lunar month falls. The 15-day observance is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays and is known as ‘Spring Festival’. Chinese New Year (Getty) × Seollal Several Southeast Asian cultures celebrate New Year’s Day on the Lunar New Year on February 8. In South Korea, the New Year marks a three-day holiday where families give thanks to a bountiful year. Many dress up in colourful attire called hanbok, while others perform an ancient tea offering ritual called 'Charye'. Korean New Year (Getty) × Songkran Songkran, Thai New Year, is celebrated from April 13 to 15. People celebrate the day by throwing water on each other, as it is symbolic of hope, and a call for rain. Buddha statues and images are also cleansed for good luck and prosperity. Thai New Year (Getty) × Nyepi Balinese New Year falls on March 9, marking the first day of the lunar-based Saka Calendar, which is followed by Balinese and Javanese cultures. The day is celebrated as a day of self-reflection and rest, but there are fire rituals that are practiced. Business in the regions comes to a standstill during the New Year. Balinese New Year (Getty) × Nowruz Nowruz is celebrated by both Zoroastrian and Baha’i communities as New Year’s Day. Celebrated on March 20, the date marks arrival of Spring. Iranian and Persian New Year is celebrated with people engaging in cleaning their homes and exchanging sweets. Nowruz (Getty) × Ugaadhi The southern Indian states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh celebrate Ugaadhi according to their lunar-based calendar as their New Year’s Day. Gudi Padwa (in Maharashtra) and Cheti Chand (for Sindhi-speaking Indian communities) New Year’s festivities also fall on this day. Gudi Padwa (DNA) × Aluth Avurudda Aluth Avurudda is a Sinhalese festival, which coincides with Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated by most people in Sri Lanka. Unlike other cultures, the day marks the end of the harvest season. It also coincides with one of two instances when the sun is directly above Sri Lanka. Locals celebrate the day by opening their front doors to encourage visits by family and friends. Aluth Avurudda (Getty) × Puthandu Puthandu, Tamil New Year, is celebrated every year on April 14. Tamil Nadu is a southern Indian state. People dress up in new clothes, with music, sweets and rice flour kolams (street art) a staple during the celebrations. April 14 is also New Year date for some areas of Sri Lanka and members of the Tamil diaspora in Malaysia and Singapore. Rangoli made in Puthandu festival (Getty) × Enkutatash The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash, means the ‘gift of jewels’. Celebrated on September 11, it marks the start of Spring festival. Some cities in the country have religious celebrations, although it is not exclusively a religious holiday. Enkutatash (Others) × Diwali Diwali is an important Hindu festival in India. The festival of lights marks the start of a new year. The festival is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains around the world. Marwari and Gujarati communities in north India, celebrate the day by giving thanks to Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. Diwali (Getty) × Rosh Hashanah The Jewish New Year is celebrated as Rosh Hashanah, a two-day holiday from October 2 to 4. It commemorates the end of the seven days of Creation from the Book of Genesis. Celebrated with a lot of fanfare, it is believed that in the days following the creation of the universe, God was yet to determine the fate of mankind. Annual Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage (Getty) × Ra's as-Sanah al-Hijriyah Islamic New Year is the first day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic Calendar. It celebrates emigration of Prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Medina, known as Hijra. According to the calendar each day begins at sunset, with the New Year itself ushered by the first sighting of the moon. Islamic New Year (Getty) × Aboriginal Murador New Year The Western Australian Aboriginal tribe of Murador celebrates New Year’s Day on October 30, as per the Gregorian calendar. An important day in the tribe’s calendar, this marks a time for friendship, reconciliation, and giving thanks to the year that has gone by. The Murador people are now an extinct tribe, though their culture lives on in artifacts and text. Aboriginal Murador New Year (Others) × (Contributed by: Zeba Khan)

January 1 is not New Year's Day for everyone

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at a hot spring resort on Thursday seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War Two.

The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation in areas from medical technology to energy. But both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee" target="_blank">&nbsp;</a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

The two leaders will meet on Thursday at a mountainside inn at the hot spring resort of Nagato in Abe&#39;s home constituency in south-west Japan, and again in Tokyo on Friday.

Police wearing riot gear dotted the streets in Nagato, where one welcome banner showing a drawing of Putin and Abe shaking hands said &quot;A new start, from Nagato&quot;.&nbsp;

Abe has pledged to resolve the territorial dispute, in hopes of leaving a diplomatic legacy that eluded his foreign minister father, and of building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China.

&quot;I want to negotiate as the representative of Japan with the keen feelings of the former residents of the islands engraved in my heart,&quot; Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo.

But a deal to end the dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kuriles, carries risks for Putin, who does not want to tarnish his image at home of a staunch defender of Russian sovereignty.

&quot;The hurdles that remain to be cleared are still quite high,&quot; Yasutoshi Nishimura, an advisor to Abe, told Reuters. &quot;On the other hand, they are two strong leaders, so I hope that some broad path forward and direction will emerge.&quot;

Russia hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies as part of an Asian pivot in response to a decision by Western governments, including Japan, to impose sanctions in 2014 over Russia`s role in the Ukraine conflict.&nbsp;

Putin told the Yomiuri newspaper this week that the goal of a peace treaty would be harder to achieve if Russia remained subject to Japanese sanctions.&nbsp;

But Japan`s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, has ruled out any economic cooperation with Russia that would undermine Group of Seven unity on the sanctions.

Japan has long insisted its sovereignty over all four of the disputed islands off Japan`s northern island of Hokkaido be confirmed before a peace treaty is signed.

But there have been signs it has been rethinking its stance, perhaps by reviving a formula called &quot;two-plus-alpha&quot;, based partly on a 1956 joint declaration in which the Soviet Union agreed it would hand over the two smaller islands after a peace treaty was signed.&nbsp;

Over the decades, the two sides have at times floated the idea of joint economic activity on the islands, but how to do that without undercutting either side`s claim to sovereignty has never been resolved.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

They meet today. A territorial row between the two countries has prevented them from signing a treaty formally ending the war

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at a hot spring resort on Thursday seeking progress on a territorial row that has prevented their countries from signing a peace treaty formally ending World War Two. The two sides are likely to clinch some agreements on economic cooperation in areas from medical technology to energy. But both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee. Both have sought to dampen expectations of a breakthrough in the feud over the windswept islands in the western Pacific seized by Soviet forces at the end of the war, forcing some 17,000 Japanese residents to flee × The two leaders will meet on Thursday at a mountainside inn at the hot spring resort of Nagato in Abe's home constituency in south-west Japan, and again in Tokyo on Friday. Police wearing riot gear dotted the streets in Nagato, where one welcome banner showing a drawing of Putin and Abe shaking hands said "A new start, from Nagato". Abe has pledged to resolve the territorial dispute, in hopes of leaving a diplomatic legacy that eluded his foreign minister father, and of building better ties with Russia to counter a rising China. "I want to negotiate as the representative of Japan with the keen feelings of the former residents of the islands engraved in my heart," Abe told reporters before leaving Tokyo. But a deal to end the dispute over the islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and in Russia as the Southern Kuriles, carries risks for Putin, who does not want to tarnish his image at home of a staunch defender of Russian sovereignty. "The hurdles that remain to be cleared are still quite high," Yasutoshi Nishimura, an advisor to Abe, told Reuters. "On the other hand, they are two strong leaders, so I hope that some broad path forward and direction will emerge." Russia hopes to clinch deals with Japanese companies as part of an Asian pivot in response to a decision by Western governments, including Japan, to impose sanctions in 2014 over Russia`s role in the Ukraine conflict. Putin told the Yomiuri newspaper this week that the goal of a peace treaty would be harder to achieve if Russia remained subject to Japanese sanctions. But Japan`s trade minister, Hiroshige Seko, has ruled out any economic cooperation with Russia that would undermine Group of Seven unity on the sanctions. Japan has long insisted its sovereignty over all four of the disputed islands off Japan`s northern island of Hokkaido be confirmed before a peace treaty is signed. But there have been signs it has been rethinking its stance, perhaps by reviving a formula called "two-plus-alpha", based partly on a 1956 joint declaration in which the Soviet Union agreed it would hand over the two smaller islands after a peace treaty was signed. Over the decades, the two sides have at times floated the idea of joint economic activity on the islands, but how to do that without undercutting either side`s claim to sovereignty has never been resolved. (Reuters)

Soaking in hot spring, Putin & Abe could end World War II today

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday &nbsp;announced a $50 billion Japanese telecoms investment designed to create 50,000 US jobs, claiming another high-stakes personal win for the American economy before kicking off the second leg of a victory tour.

Trump provided no details on the jobs or investment, which he trumpeted following a meeting with Japanese self-made billionaire Masayoshi Son at his headquarters in New York.

The real estate tycoon whose election stunned the world first tweeted the announcement, then strode into the lobby of Trump Tower to brief reporters in&nbsp;person.

&quot;This is Masa of SoftBank from Japan and he&#39;s just agreed to invest $50 billion in the United States and 50,000 jobs,&quot; the president-elect told reporters, standing with his arm around a grinning Son.

&quot;He&#39;s one of the great men of industry, so I just want to thank you very much,&quot; added Trump before turning to shake the Japanese magnate&#39;s hand.

&quot;I just came to celebrate his new job,&quot; said Son, repeating his commitment and saying that SoftBank would be investing in startup companies in America.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Son said the money will be coming from a $100 billion investment fund that he is setting up with Saudi Arabia&#39;s sovereign wealth fund and other potential partners.

Trump, who defeated Hillary Clinton by promising to create jobs and campaigning as a political outsider who could shake up the system, claimed the Japanese investment as a personal coup.

&quot;Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!&quot; the maverick Republican wrote on Twitter.

It marked the second time in a week Trump has claimed to have acted personally to save or create American jobs -- allowing himself to make good on a key campaign promise -- after a deal to keep hundreds of manufacturing jobs in Indiana.

That agreement with air-conditioning plant Carrier was announced ahead of his inaugural victory rally in Ohio, and has raised his stock among Republican and Democrat voters alike, a Politico/Morning Consult poll found Tuesday.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(AFP)

Trump said the Japanese investment will create 50,000 US jobs

US President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a $50 billion Japanese telecoms investment designed to create 50,000 US jobs, claiming another high-stakes personal win for the American economy before kicking off the second leg of a victory tour. Trump provided no details on the jobs or investment, which he trumpeted following a meeting with Japanese self-made billionaire Masayoshi Son at his headquarters in New York. The real estate tycoon whose election stunned the world first tweeted the announcement, then strode into the lobby of Trump Tower to brief reporters in person. "This is Masa of SoftBank from Japan and he's just agreed to invest $50 billion in the United States and 50,000 jobs," the president-elect told reporters, standing with his arm around a grinning Son. "He's one of the great men of industry, so I just want to thank you very much," added Trump before turning to shake the Japanese magnate's hand. "I just came to celebrate his new job," said Son, repeating his commitment and saying that SoftBank would be investing in startup companies in America. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Son said the money will be coming from a $100 billion investment fund that he is setting up with Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and other potential partners. Trump, who defeated Hillary Clinton by promising to create jobs and campaigning as a political outsider who could shake up the system, claimed the Japanese investment as a personal coup. "Masa said he would never do this had we (Trump) not won the election!" the maverick Republican wrote on Twitter. It marked the second time in a week Trump has claimed to have acted personally to save or create American jobs -- allowing himself to make good on a key campaign promise -- after a deal to keep hundreds of manufacturing jobs in Indiana. That agreement with air-conditioning plant Carrier was announced ahead of his inaugural victory rally in Ohio, and has raised his stock among Republican and Democrat voters alike, a Politico/Morning Consult poll found Tuesday. (AFP)

Trump trumpets $50bn investment deal with Japan's SoftBank ahead of victory rally

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will become the first sitting Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor, as he announced on Monday a symbolic visit this month to the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that pulled the United States into World War II.

Abe said in a news conference that he would travel to the American naval base with outgoing US President Barack Obama during a trip to Hawaii on December 26 and 27, reports the New York Times.

By visiting Pearl Harbor, Abe will be reciprocating a trip President Obama made in May to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb at the end of the war with Japan in 1945.

&quot;We must never repeat the horror of war. I want to express that determination as we look to the future, and at the same time send a message about the value of US-Japanese reconciliation,&quot; said Abe.

Abe&#39;s visit will come just a few weeks after the 75th anniversary of the attack, which occurred on December&nbsp;7, 1941.

Carried out by Japanese bombers and fighter planes launched from aircraft carriers that had quietly slipped within striking distance of Hawaii, the attack killed more than 2,000 Americans and sank a number of United States warships, including the battleship Arizona, whose wreck has become a memorial to the battle.

Obama&#39;s trip to Hiroshima this year was also a first by any sitting American president. In a statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that the two leaders would visit the Arizona memorial together to honour those killed at Pearl Harbor.

(ANI)

Abe will be reciprocating a trip President Obama made in May to the Japanese city of Hiroshima

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will become the first sitting Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor, as he announced on Monday a symbolic visit this month to the site of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that pulled the United States into World War II. Abe said in a news conference that he would travel to the American naval base with outgoing US President Barack Obama during a trip to Hawaii on December 26 and 27, reports the New York Times. By visiting Pearl Harbor, Abe will be reciprocating a trip President Obama made in May to the Japanese city of Hiroshima, where the United States dropped a nuclear bomb at the end of the war with Japan in 1945. "We must never repeat the horror of war. I want to express that determination as we look to the future, and at the same time send a message about the value of US-Japanese reconciliation," said Abe. Abe's visit will come just a few weeks after the 75th anniversary of the attack, which occurred on December 7, 1941. Carried out by Japanese bombers and fighter planes launched from aircraft carriers that had quietly slipped within striking distance of Hawaii, the attack killed more than 2,000 Americans and sank a number of United States warships, including the battleship Arizona, whose wreck has become a memorial to the battle. Obama's trip to Hiroshima this year was also a first by any sitting American president. In a statement, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said that the two leaders would visit the Arizona memorial together to honour those killed at Pearl Harbor. (ANI)

Shinzo Abe to be first Japanese leader to visit Pearl Harbor

Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea following the country&#39;s fifth nuclear test in September and consider further measures depending on Pyongyang&#39;s moves, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday.

Japan will expand a list of people prohibited from re-entering Japan after visiting North Korea, while also banning all ships that have called at ports in North Korea, Suga told a news conference.

Tokyo will also freeze the assets of more groups and individuals connected to North Korea&#39;s nuclear and missiles development, he said.

Japan&#39;s decision came after the UN&nbsp;Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea this week aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter.

South&nbsp;Korea also imposed fresh unilateral sanctions over Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and ballistic missile tests on Friday.

The South&nbsp;Korean government said in a statement it would ban entry by foreign missile and nuclear experts if their visits to&nbsp;North&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;were deemed to be a threat to the South&#39;s national interests.

(Reuters)

The decision comes after North Korea's fifth nuclear test in September. Japan will consider further measures depending on Pyongyang's moves

Japan will impose additional sanctions on North Korea following the country's fifth nuclear test in September and consider further measures depending on Pyongyang's moves, chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Friday. Japan will expand a list of people prohibited from re-entering Japan after visiting North Korea, while also banning all ships that have called at ports in North Korea, Suga told a news conference. Tokyo will also freeze the assets of more groups and individuals connected to North Korea's nuclear and missiles development, he said. Japan's decision came after the UN Security Council imposed new sanctions on North Korea this week aimed at cutting its annual export revenue by a quarter. South Korea also imposed fresh unilateral sanctions over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests on Friday. The South Korean government said in a statement it would ban entry by foreign missile and nuclear experts if their visits to North Korea were deemed to be a threat to the South's national interests. (Reuters)

Japan to impose additional sanctions on North Korea

&nbsp;Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte softened his remarks about a &quot;separation&quot; from long-time ally the United States on the eve of a visit to Japan, a country worried about Manila`s apparent pivot away from Washington and towards China.

&quot;The alliances are alive,&quot; Duterte told Japanese media in Manila on Monday, Kyodo News reported. &quot;There should be no worry about changes of alliances. I do not need to have alliances with other nations.&quot;

 
The remarks will be welcomed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to keep ties with the Philippines tight during Duterte`s visit to Japan, starting on Tuesday.

 
Duterte jolted the region last week on a trip to China when he announced a realignment towards Beijing, the latest in a series of outbursts against the United States.

 
Duterte and his aides later tried to clarify that he did not mean he was cutting ties with the United States and his remarks on Monday were the most conciliatory yet.

Duterte told Japanese media he had been expressing a personal opinion, not speaking for the government when he mentioned separating from Washington, the Nikkei newspaper said.&nbsp;

He said he only plans to have an &quot;alliance of trade and commerce&quot; with China, Kyodo reported.

The Yomiuri newspaper, however, said Duterte had repeated he wants to halt joint military exercises with the United States and end a military cooperation pact seen as crucial to projecting US power in Asia in the face of a fast-rising China.

 
Worried Japan 
Abe has sought to strengthen ties with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries as a counter-balance to Beijing.

 
&quot;It&#39;s certainly unfortunate and we are worried, but such things will not change Japan&#39;s commitment to the Philippines,&quot; said Narushige Michishita, a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and former defence official, referring to Duterte&#39;s comments.

 
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry, after talking to his Philippine counterpart on Sunday, is confident the two countries can &quot;work through&quot; a period of confusion caused by Duterte`s remarks the State Department said.&nbsp;

 
Duterte has railed against U.S. expressions of concerns about the high loss of life in his campaign against drugs and Washington&#39;s calls for due process.

 
Japanese officials said Abe would not overtly try to mediate between Tokyo and Washington but would probably explain the importance of the U.S. role in the region.

 
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will meet Duterte on Tuesday for a low-key dinner, and Abe will hold rare one-on-one talks with Duterte at his residence in Tokyo the next evening following a larger, more formal meeting with senior officials.

 
&quot;I believe ties between Japan and the Philippines are very important and that seeking to stabilise bilateral ties will lead straight to peace, stability and prosperity of the region as well as of the international community,&quot; Kishida told reporters.

 
He added he wanted to listen carefully to Duterte&#39;s views.

 
Duterte&#39;s predecessor Benigno Aquino angered China by lodging a case with an arbitration court in the Hague challenging the legitimacy of Beijing&#39;s maritime claims in the resource-rich South China Sea.

 
A ruling earlier this year emphatically favoured Manila but was rejected by China, which has repeatedly warned the United States and Japan to stay out of the dispute.

 
Duterte said the two countries had agreed not to discuss the international court`s ruling on his initial visit, but would have to talk about it at some point, the Nikkei reported.&nbsp;

 
(Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

Duterte jolted the region last week on a trip to China when he announced a realignment towards Beijing

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte softened his remarks about a "separation" from long-time ally the United States on the eve of a visit to Japan, a country worried about Manila`s apparent pivot away from Washington and towards China. "The alliances are alive," Duterte told Japanese media in Manila on Monday, Kyodo News reported. "There should be no worry about changes of alliances. I do not need to have alliances with other nations." The remarks will be welcomed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants to keep ties with the Philippines tight during Duterte`s visit to Japan, starting on Tuesday. Duterte jolted the region last week on a trip to China when he announced a realignment towards Beijing, the latest in a series of outbursts against the United States. Duterte and his aides later tried to clarify that he did not mean he was cutting ties with the United States and his remarks on Monday were the most conciliatory yet. Duterte told Japanese media he had been expressing a personal opinion, not speaking for the government when he mentioned separating from Washington, the Nikkei newspaper said. He said he only plans to have an "alliance of trade and commerce" with China, Kyodo reported. The Yomiuri newspaper, however, said Duterte had repeated he wants to halt joint military exercises with the United States and end a military cooperation pact seen as crucial to projecting US power in Asia in the face of a fast-rising China. Worried Japan Abe has sought to strengthen ties with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries as a counter-balance to Beijing. "It's certainly unfortunate and we are worried, but such things will not change Japan's commitment to the Philippines," said Narushige Michishita, a professor at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies and former defence official, referring to Duterte's comments. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry, after talking to his Philippine counterpart on Sunday, is confident the two countries can "work through" a period of confusion caused by Duterte`s remarks the State Department said. Duterte has railed against U.S. expressions of concerns about the high loss of life in his campaign against drugs and Washington's calls for due process. Japanese officials said Abe would not overtly try to mediate between Tokyo and Washington but would probably explain the importance of the U.S. role in the region. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will meet Duterte on Tuesday for a low-key dinner, and Abe will hold rare one-on-one talks with Duterte at his residence in Tokyo the next evening following a larger, more formal meeting with senior officials. "I believe ties between Japan and the Philippines are very important and that seeking to stabilise bilateral ties will lead straight to peace, stability and prosperity of the region as well as of the international community," Kishida told reporters. He added he wanted to listen carefully to Duterte's views. Duterte's predecessor Benigno Aquino angered China by lodging a case with an arbitration court in the Hague challenging the legitimacy of Beijing's maritime claims in the resource-rich South China Sea. A ruling earlier this year emphatically favoured Manila but was rejected by China, which has repeatedly warned the United States and Japan to stay out of the dispute. Duterte said the two countries had agreed not to discuss the international court`s ruling on his initial visit, but would have to talk about it at some point, the Nikkei reported. (Reuters)

Philippines:  Duterte eases stance towards US. before Japan visit

japan

Japan, News on Japan, stories on Japan, articles on Japan, Japan stories at Wion, Japan news, Japan latest news