Former liberal democratic party lawmaker Mito Kakizawa has been arrested over allegations of vote-buying in a Tokyo ward mayoral election in April.

Japan: Lawmaker arrested over vote-buying allegations | Kakizawa Money Scandal

China's defence ministry on Thursday urged the Asia-Pacific to be on high alert as the United States steps up forward military deployment in the region, after reports of a U.S. plan to revive a Pacific airfield that launched atomic bombings of Japan.

China urges Asia-Pacific to be on high alert as US plans to reclaim Tinian airfield | WION

Japanese lawmaker Mito Kakizawa arrested over vote-buying allegations

India's National Centre for Seismology (NCS) informed that an earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Japan's Kuril Islands on Thursday (Dec 28).

Earthquake of magnitude 6.3 strikes Japan's Kuril Islands

Japan's SLIM lander entered the moon's orbit. As Japan strives to become the fifth country in the world to achieve a successful lunar landing. The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon is slated to execute the landing on the lunar surface on January 20.

Japan's 'SLIM' lunar craft in Moon's orbit

The Japanese government will freeze assets and impose sanctions on payments and capital transactions on three senior Hamas members, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Tuesday (Dec 26).

Japan to impose sanctions on three senior Hamas members

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) entered the Moon's orbit on Christmas Day. This has taken Japan close to its first successful landing on Earth's only satellite.

Japan's probe enters lunar orbit, what happens now?

Luxury Japanese department store Takashimaya issues an apology after delivering 807 collapsed strawberry Christmas cakes out of around 2,900, causing a social media uproar and disappointment among customers.

Japan: Luxury chain Takashimaya apologises for 807 collapsed Christmas cakes

Japan's moon lander 'Slim' enters Lunar orbit | Japan a step closer to becoming 5th nation on moon

Japan's nuclear power regulator has lifted an operational ban it imposed on Tokyo's Kashiwazaki-kariwa power plant. This will pave the way for the world's biggest nuclear plant to resume its path towards restart. It is a positive step for Tokyo Electric Power Company or Tepco. The power plant was banned from restarting due to security issues at the facility. Japan's nuclear watchdog earlier this month said that safety issues surrounding the plant have been corrected.

Japan's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant to restart

Asset managers are turning bullish on the Japanese's yen, marking the first optimistic turn since may. This change in sentiment comes as the U.S. Federal reserve and the bank of Japan are anticipated to reverse their monetary policy paths, narrowing the gap between the two. Hedge funds are also showing less pessimism towards the yen, and Morgan Stanley predicts record Japan revenue in the coming year due to the central bank's supportive policies.

Money managers bet big on the Yen for first time since May

Japan's Smart Lander for Investigating the Moon (SLIM), aptly nicknamed the "Moon Sniper" for its precision, successfully entered lunar orbit on Christmas (December 25), marking a significant step toward a historic touchdown on the lunar surface.

Japan's 'Moon Sniper' enters lunar orbit on Christmas, sets stage for landing on Jan 20 next year

In the Far East where tensions ran high this year North Korea's Relentless missile tests continued as South Korea and Japan got closer. The United States meanwhile increased its presence in the region with more drills and Military posturing in the Korean Waters. Let's take a look.

WION Rewind 2023: Tensions rose high across the Korean peninsula

Japan is on the verge of securing a deal to send its first astronaut to the moon by 2025 as part of the US-led Artemis project, media reports said citing sources.

Japan nears historic deal to land 1st astronaut on Moon by 2025 under US-led Artemis project

Latest in Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv has been urging western powers for air defence support. Japan to export Patriot air defence missiles to the United States. The Patriot missiles are a critical part of Ukraine's layer of defence. The US could send the Patriot missiles to Kyiv from its own stock.

Russia-Ukraine war: Japan to aid Ukraine via US

Japan says it will send Patriot air defence missiles to the US after changing its arms export rules, in a shift away from its pacifist policies.

Japan to send Patriot missiles to US which may aid Kyiv

With support dwindling from the Western allies, Ukraine is facing an ammunition and funding crunch. But now a silver lining could be seen emerging as Japan is now sending patriot air defence missiles to the United States. This could free the US to send weapons from its own stockpiles to Kyiv.

Japan to send patriot missiles to the United States

South Korea and Japan engaged in high-level economic talks on Thursday, marking the resumption of discussions that had been stalled for eight years, Reuters reported.

Diplomatic Thaw: South Korea and Japan renew economic talks after eight-year hiatus

Japan on Friday (Dec 22) agreed to sell its domestically produced Patriot missiles to the United States as the latter attempts fresh stock up after sending the weapons system to Ukraine.

Japan agrees to export Patriot missiles to US facing arsenal depletion

Breaking an eight-year silence, South Korea and Japan have resumed high-level economic talks in a diplomatic milestone. The meeting in Seoul signifies a thaw in relations driven by shared geopolitical concerns.

South Korea & Japan rekindle economic dialogue after 8-year pause

Japan is set to unveil an annual budget that maintains spending at historically high levels. The world's most indebted developed nation is expected to present a budget pegged at 112 trillion yen or $784 billion. The high spending plan will exert further fiscal stress on Japan.

Japan's budget to show spending at historical highs

As tensions build between Philippines and China, Philippines is boosting its maritime security with Japan-made air radars. The air radars have been installed to keep watch on the disputed waters.

Philippines installs Japan-made air radars amid tensions with China

Japan's Jaxaspace agency is preparing to conduct groundbreaking tests using its Hayabusa2 spacecraft to showcase its ability to intercept and redirect fast-moving asteroids on a potential collision course with Earth.

Japan's Jaxaspace agency tests spacecraft to deflect potential earth-colliding asteroid

Toshiba has bid farewell to the Tokyo exchange after 74 years, marking the end of an era marred by a decade of turmoil and scandal that tarnished one of Japan's major brands.

After delisting, Toshiba navigates an uncertain future with new owners

japan

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