Japan may have a global image of a high-tech country where extremely disciplines citizens walk the roads just as Yakuza, the dreaded Japanese mafia does! But the country is in news for an interesting reason. Milk!

Japanese politicians are urging people to drink milk. Ministers are drinking glasses of milk during news conferences to drive home the point. A major brand has roped in a celebrity to encourage consumption of milk and even the prime minister has joined the chorus urging the Japanese to take a nourishing sip.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-hangs-3-defends-capital-punishment-calls-it-necessary-for-atrocious-crimes-438987">Japan hangs 3, defends 'capital punishment', calls it necessary for 'atrocious crimes'</a>

“We’d like the population to cooperate in drinking an extra cup of milk than you’d normally do and make use of milk products when cooking,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday. He was speaking at a news conference that was held at the end of the parliamentary session.

Kishida is not alone in this milk crusade. On December 17, Japan's farm minister Genjiro Kaneko and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike drank glasses of milk in their press conferences.

All this effort is on to avoid huge wastage of milk. Government statistics have been quoted in news reports saying that Japan stares at a massive 5000 tonnes of milk wastage just this winter.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-supply-chain-disruption-hits-mcdonalds-in-japan-french-fries-take-a-hit-439149">Now, supply chain disruption hits McDonald's in Japan; French fries take a hit</a>

Japanese farmers have joined forces to prevent this wastage. They have pledged to buy 1 litre of milk from December 25 to January 3. They are drawing attention to their effort through social media by using the hashtag #1Lperday.

The industry and dairy giants have stepped up as well. Lawson Inc's convenience store chain is offering a discount of 50 per cent on a steaming cup of hot milk. They are targetting new year celebrations and offering the discount on December 31 and January 1.

Meiji Holdings Company, a dairy industry giant has gone one step ahead. It has roped in Saori Yoshida, an Olympic wrestling champion and running a campaign to increase milk consumption

The reason behind it all

Japan sees weaker demand for milk this time of the year. Schoolchildren are usually given boxes of milk in Japan. However, with kids ar home due to holiday season nationwide, huge amount of milk is unutilised.

In addition to this, major retailers temporarily close around this time of the year.

Covid pandemic has added another dimension to this. With hospitality industry still recovering from the downturn, demand for milk is slow in this sector. 
&nbsp;

Japan may have a global image of a high-tech country where extremely disciplines citizens walk the roads just as Yakuza, the dreaded Japanese mafia does! But the country is in news for an interesting reason.

Japan may have a global image of a high-tech country where extremely disciplines citizens walk the roads just as Yakuza, the dreaded Japanese mafia does! But the country is in news for an interesting reason. Milk! Japanese politicians are urging people to drink milk. Ministers are drinking glasses of milk during news conferences to drive home the point. A major brand has roped in a celebrity to encourage consumption of milk and even the prime minister has joined the chorus urging the Japanese to take a nourishing sip. Also read | Japan hangs 3, defends 'capital punishment', calls it necessary for 'atrocious crimes' “We’d like the population to cooperate in drinking an extra cup of milk than you’d normally do and make use of milk products when cooking,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday. He was speaking at a news conference that was held at the end of the parliamentary session. Kishida is not alone in this milk crusade. On December 17, Japan's farm minister Genjiro Kaneko and Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike drank glasses of milk in their press conferences. All this effort is on to avoid huge wastage of milk. Government statistics have been quoted in news reports saying that Japan stares at a massive 5000 tonnes of milk wastage just this winter. Also read | Now, supply chain disruption hits McDonald's in Japan; French fries take a hit Japanese farmers have joined forces to prevent this wastage. They have pledged to buy 1 litre of milk from December 25 to January 3. They are drawing attention to their effort through social media by using the hashtag #1Lperday. The industry and dairy giants have stepped up as well. Lawson Inc's convenience store chain is offering a discount of 50 per cent on a steaming cup of hot milk. They are targetting new year celebrations and offering the discount on December 31 and January 1. Meiji Holdings Company, a dairy industry giant has gone one step ahead. It has roped in Saori Yoshida, an Olympic wrestling champion and running a campaign to increase milk consumption The reason behind it all Japan sees weaker demand for milk this time of the year. Schoolchildren are usually given boxes of milk in Japan. However, with kids ar home due to holiday season nationwide, huge amount of milk is unutilised. In addition to this, major retailers temporarily close around this time of the year. Covid pandemic has added another dimension to this. With hospitality industry still recovering from the downturn, demand for milk is slow in this sector.

Drink milk, Japan urges people as huge wastage looms

A screen that tastes good developed in Japan

Even after a case of community spread infection from the Omicron variant was reported in Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno has said that the government is not considering any immediate change in current restrictions.

Even after a case of community spread infection from the Omicron variant was reported in Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno has said that the government is not considering any immediate change in current restrictions. As per reports by news agency Jiji, the government has started preparations to expand free testing to people who are not showing any symptoms. This is being done to prevent the Omicron variant from spreading. This comes a day after Health minister Shigeyuki Goto said that three infections of the Omicron variant in Osaka were cases of community transfer. The infection route, however, is not yet clear. Also read | Japan reports first case of community spread of Omicron "I believe this counts as a case of community transfer. I think this will become the first in Osaka prefecture and the first in the country," Yoshimura said. Omicron, which was detected in late November, has now spread to many parts of the world. Meanwhile, the Japanese government has told the US military to comply with coronavirus rules after US Marine corps camp Hansen in central Okinawa Prefecture were hit with multiple Covid cases. Matsuno told the US officials that in case of a violation, strict measures will be taken "including some form of punishment" while urging the US military to comply with "instructions on behavioural management". (With inputs from agencies)

Even after surge in Omicron cases, Japan rules out changes in existing curbs

Japan hanged three death-row inmates, its first executions in two years, amid growing criticism by human rights groups of the country’s use of the death penalty. Executions are carried out in high secrecy in Japan, where prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning they are hanged.

Three death row inmates hanged in Japan in first executions since 2019

Japanese authorities executed three prisoners on Tuesday, the first executions in two years. The government justified the executions by saying "atrocious crimes" require the continuation of capital punishment.

Despite international criticism, including from human rights groups, Japan remains one of the few developed countries that still practice capital punishment.

There are currently more than 100 death row inmates in Japan, most of them accused of mass murder. In most cases, executions by hanging are carried out many years after sentencing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sierra-leone-lawmakers-vote-to-abolish-death-penalty-400273">Sierra Leone lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty</a>

Yasutaka Fujishiro, 65, was one of the three executed on Tuesday. He had killed his 80-year-old aunt, two cousins and four others in 2004 with a hammer and knife.

Two others were Tomoaki Takanezawa, 54, who killed two clerks at an arcade game parlour in 2003, and his accomplice Mitsunori Onogawa, 44.

It was the first execution under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October.

"Whether to keep the death sentence or not is an important issue that concerns the foundation of Japan's criminal justice system," deputy chief cabinet secretary Seiji Kihara said.

"Given that atrocious crimes keep occurring one after another, it is necessary to execute those whose guilt is extremely grave so it is inappropriate to abolish capital punishment."

Tadashi Ara, president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, said members "strongly protest" Tuesday's executions.

He called on the government to "abolish capital punishment and stop all executions until it is abolished".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-via-zoom-several-in-indonesia-given-capital-punishment-via-virtual-hearings-379546">Death via Zoom: Several in Indonesia given capital punishment via virtual hearings</a>

According to Amnesty International, at least 483 people were executed worldwide last year in 18 countries.

This represents a drop of about a quarter from the previous year, which fits with a downward trend since 2015.

However, this figure does not include the "thousands" of executions believed to have taken place in China, North Korea, and Vietnam, which keep such data secret.

In the G7 group of developed countries, only Japan and the United States still use the death penalty.

In 2019, Japan executed three death row inmates and 15 in 2018 -- including 13 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.

It is not uncommon for authorities to notify inmates just hours before execution.

The government is being sued by two prisoners for the system, which they claim is illegal and causes psychological distress.

Additionally, the pair is seeking $22 million for the distress caused by not knowing when their execution will take place.

Watch |&nbsp;Japan defends capital punishment to combat 'Atrocious Crimes' as it executes 3 death row inmates

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/japan-defends-capital-punishment-to-combat-atrocious-crimes-as-it-executes-3-death-row-inmates-438938/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In December 2020, Japan's top court overturned a ruling prohibiting the retrial of a man regarded as the world's longest-serving death row prisoner, giving the 85-year-old new hope.

After being convicted in 1968 of robbing and killing his boss, the man's wife, and their two teenage children, Iwao Hakamada has been living under the threat of death for more than half a century.

He and his supporters contend that he confessed only after an allegedly brutal police interrogation, which included beatings, and that evidence was planted in the case.

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese authorities executed three prisoners on Tuesday, the first executions in two years. The government justified the executions by saying "atrocious crimes" require the continuation of capital punishment.

Japanese authorities executed three prisoners on Tuesday, the first executions in two years. The government justified the executions by saying "atrocious crimes" require the continuation of capital punishment. Despite international criticism, including from human rights groups, Japan remains one of the few developed countries that still practice capital punishment. There are currently more than 100 death row inmates in Japan, most of them accused of mass murder. In most cases, executions by hanging are carried out many years after sentencing. Also read | Sierra Leone lawmakers vote to abolish death penalty Yasutaka Fujishiro, 65, was one of the three executed on Tuesday. He had killed his 80-year-old aunt, two cousins and four others in 2004 with a hammer and knife. Two others were Tomoaki Takanezawa, 54, who killed two clerks at an arcade game parlour in 2003, and his accomplice Mitsunori Onogawa, 44. It was the first execution under Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who took office in October. "Whether to keep the death sentence or not is an important issue that concerns the foundation of Japan's criminal justice system," deputy chief cabinet secretary Seiji Kihara said. "Given that atrocious crimes keep occurring one after another, it is necessary to execute those whose guilt is extremely grave so it is inappropriate to abolish capital punishment." Tadashi Ara, president of the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, said members "strongly protest" Tuesday's executions. He called on the government to "abolish capital punishment and stop all executions until it is abolished". Also read | Death via Zoom: Several in Indonesia given capital punishment via virtual hearings According to Amnesty International, at least 483 people were executed worldwide last year in 18 countries. This represents a drop of about a quarter from the previous year, which fits with a downward trend since 2015. However, this figure does not include the "thousands" of executions believed to have taken place in China, North Korea, and Vietnam, which keep such data secret. In the G7 group of developed countries, only Japan and the United States still use the death penalty. In 2019, Japan executed three death row inmates and 15 in 2018 -- including 13 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult responsible for the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway. It is not uncommon for authorities to notify inmates just hours before execution. The government is being sued by two prisoners for the system, which they claim is illegal and causes psychological distress. Additionally, the pair is seeking $22 million for the distress caused by not knowing when their execution will take place. Watch | Japan defends capital punishment to combat 'Atrocious Crimes' as it executes 3 death row inmates In December 2020, Japan's top court overturned a ruling prohibiting the retrial of a man regarded as the world's longest-serving death row prisoner, giving the 85-year-old new hope. After being convicted in 1968 of robbing and killing his boss, the man's wife, and their two teenage children, Iwao Hakamada has been living under the threat of death for more than half a century. He and his supporters contend that he confessed only after an allegedly brutal police interrogation, which included beatings, and that evidence was planted in the case. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan hangs 3, defends 'capital punishment', calls it necessary for 'atrocious crimes'

Japan hanged three death-row inmates on Tuesday, its first executions in two years, amid growing criticism by human rights groups of the country’s use of the death penalty. Executions are carried out in high secrecy in Japan, where prisoners are not informed of their fate until the morning they are hanged.

Japan defends capital punishment, hangs three death-row inmates

Japan has defended their use of capital punishment to combat 'Atrocious Crimes' as it executes three death row inmates convicted of mass murder.

Japan defends capital punishment to combat 'Atrocious Crimes' as it executes 3 death row inmates

As the world is battling with the surge of covid-19 variant, Japan is gearing up for the worst-case scenario possible with the third case of the variant reported.

Covid-19 Latest News: Japan reports third case of Omicron variant

Japan on Tuesday confirmed its first case of infection from the new Omicron COVID-19 variant. This means that the new strain has now spread to 17 countries.

Japan becomes latest country to detect new Omicron COVID-19 variant

In a disastrous event, fire engulfed a building in a commercial district in Japan's Osaka. 27 people are being feared dead in the unfortunate incident.

Japan: Fire engulfs building in a commercial district in Osaka

In a disastrous event, a fire engulfed a building in a commercial district in Japan's Osaka. 27 people are being feared dead in the unfortunate incident.

Japan: Police probes arson as a possible cause for a building fire in a commercial district in Osaka

An inflatable e-scooter compact enough to be stored inside a commuter's backpack has been unveiled in Japan. The Poimo, developed by the University of Tokyo, can be inflated in just over a minute, using an electric pump.

Electric scooter made up of thermoplastic polyurethane can fit into back pack

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

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

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

Japan overstated some construction order data for years, PM says

In a protest against China's human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, Top Japanese officials are likely to skip Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japan likely to join US, Australia, UK & Canada in boycotting Beijing Winter Olympics diplomatically

The US embassy in Tokyo has claimed that foreign tourists were being stopped by the Japanese Police in a suspected case of racial profiling.

The embassy in a tweet said it had received reports that a number of foreigners were detained and questioned by the police.

It asked the US citizens to carry proof of immigration and request consular notification if detained.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The U.S. Embassy has received reports of foreigners stopped and searched by Japanese police in suspected racial profiling incidents. Several were detained, questioned, and searched. U.S. citizens should carry proof of immigration and request consular notification if detained. <a href="https://t.co/a8BkAU7eCR">pic.twitter.com/a8BkAU7eCR</a>
— U.S. Embassy Tokyo, ACS (@ACSTokyo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ACSTokyo/status/1467629914857816065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The tweet is being perceived as an unusual move from the United States, a key Japanese ally.

Reacting to the warning, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told Reuters that police are questioning suspicious individuals only based on various factors, but that those decisions are not based on a person’s ethnicity or nationality.

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/omicron-scare-japan-imposes-strict-quarantine-rules-for-travellers-from-india-434255">&nbsp;Omicron scare: Japan imposes strict quarantine rules for travellers from India</a>

A US Embassy spokesperson said the embassy had nothing further to add to the tweet, and the National Police Agency could not immediately comment, reports&nbsp;Reuters.

The embassy’s message comes a week after Japan closed its borders to all non-resident foreigners in one of the strongest global measures taken to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/for-nearly-30-years-this-japan-hospital-used-toilet-water-for-drinking-427965">For nearly 30 years, this Japan hospital used toilet water for drinking</a>

The Japanese government has announced strict quarantine rules for people coming from India, Greece, Romania and four US states.

While, foreign residents, as well as Japanese nationals travelling from Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York to Japan, will have to mandatorily spend three days of their two-week quarantine at government-designated facilities, reported Kyodo News.

The list for three-day mandatory quarantine at government-designated facilities already includes countries such as Austria, Ecuador and France. While many are being subject to stringent quarantine requirements, such as staying in government-designated facilities for over 10 days, reported Kyodo News.

The first Omicron case was reported on Tuesday in Japan, causing it to deny re-entry of all foreigners, including residents with long-term visas, who have recently been to any of 10 African countries likely to have widespread infections of the variant.

(With inputs from agencies)

The US embassy in Tokyo has claimed that foreign tourists were being stopped by the Japanese Police in a suspected case of racial profiling. The embassy in a tweet said it had received reports that a number of foreigners were detained and questioned by the police.

The US embassy in Tokyo has claimed that foreign tourists were being stopped by the Japanese Police in a suspected case of racial profiling. The embassy in a tweet said it had received reports that a number of foreigners were detained and questioned by the police. It asked the US citizens to carry proof of immigration and request consular notification if detained. The U.S. Embassy has received reports of foreigners stopped and searched by Japanese police in suspected racial profiling incidents. Several were detained, questioned, and searched. U.S. citizens should carry proof of immigration and request consular notification if detained. pic.twitter.com/a8BkAU7eCR — U.S. Embassy Tokyo, ACS (@ACSTokyo) December 5, 2021 × The tweet is being perceived as an unusual move from the United States, a key Japanese ally. Reacting to the warning, top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told Reuters that police are questioning suspicious individuals only based on various factors, but that those decisions are not based on a person’s ethnicity or nationality. Also read | Omicron scare: Japan imposes strict quarantine rules for travellers from India A US Embassy spokesperson said the embassy had nothing further to add to the tweet, and the National Police Agency could not immediately comment, reports Reuters. The embassy’s message comes a week after Japan closed its borders to all non-resident foreigners in one of the strongest global measures taken to prevent the spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19. Also read | For nearly 30 years, this Japan hospital used toilet water for drinking The Japanese government has announced strict quarantine rules for people coming from India, Greece, Romania and four US states. While, foreign residents, as well as Japanese nationals travelling from Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York to Japan, will have to mandatorily spend three days of their two-week quarantine at government-designated facilities, reported Kyodo News. The list for three-day mandatory quarantine at government-designated facilities already includes countries such as Austria, Ecuador and France. While many are being subject to stringent quarantine requirements, such as staying in government-designated facilities for over 10 days, reported Kyodo News. The first Omicron case was reported on Tuesday in Japan, causing it to deny re-entry of all foreigners, including residents with long-term visas, who have recently been to any of 10 African countries likely to have widespread infections of the variant. (With inputs from agencies)

US embassy claims ‘racial profiling’ of foreigners by Japanese police

The Japanese government is considering raising its economic growth forecast for fiscal 2022 to take into account the effects of its record $490 billion stimulus package.

Japan govt considering lifting FY2022 economic growth forecast

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 variant Omicron, Japan will add India, Greece, Romania and four US states under strict quarantine vigilance.

Japanese nationals and foreign residents travelling to Japan from India, Greece, Romania and four US states will have to undergo stringent quarantine regulations Sunday onwards, in order to control the spread of the Omicron variant, reported Kyodo news.

While, foreign residents, as well as Japanese nationals travelling from Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York to Japan, will have to mandatorily spend three days of their two-week quarantine at government-designated facilities, reported Kyodo news.

With emerging Omicron cases in the country and to curb the further spread, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Friday announced the expansion of the list addressing a press conference.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-capital-reports-first-case-of-omicron-variant-taking-countrys-total-to-5-434252">Also read |&nbsp;Indian capital reports first case of Omicron variant, taking country's total to 5</a>

A government task force made the decision to control the increasing number of new variant cases in Japan.

The list for three-day mandatory quarantine at government-designated facilities already includes countries such as Austria, Ecuador and France.

While many are being subject to stringent quarantine requirements, such as staying in government-designated facilities for over 10 days, reported Kyodo News.

The first Omicron case was reported on Tuesday in Japan, causing it to deny re-entry of all foreigners, including residents with long-term visas, who have recently been to any of 10 African countries likely to have widespread infections of the variant.

The country has further banned new entries by foreigners from around the globe.

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 variant Omicron, Japan will add India, Greece, Romania and four US states under strict quarantine vigilance. Japanese nationals and foreign residents travelling to Japan from India, Greece, Romania and four US states will have to undergo stringent quarantine regulations Sunday onwards, in order to control the spread of the Omicron variant, reported Kyodo news.

In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 variant Omicron, Japan will add India, Greece, Romania and four US states under strict quarantine vigilance. Japanese nationals and foreign residents travelling to Japan from India, Greece, Romania and four US states will have to undergo stringent quarantine regulations Sunday onwards, in order to control the spread of the Omicron variant, reported Kyodo news. While, foreign residents, as well as Japanese nationals travelling from Colorado, Hawaii, Minnesota and New York to Japan, will have to mandatorily spend three days of their two-week quarantine at government-designated facilities, reported Kyodo news. With emerging Omicron cases in the country and to curb the further spread, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno on Friday announced the expansion of the list addressing a press conference. Also read | Indian capital reports first case of Omicron variant, taking country's total to 5 A government task force made the decision to control the increasing number of new variant cases in Japan. The list for three-day mandatory quarantine at government-designated facilities already includes countries such as Austria, Ecuador and France. While many are being subject to stringent quarantine requirements, such as staying in government-designated facilities for over 10 days, reported Kyodo News. The first Omicron case was reported on Tuesday in Japan, causing it to deny re-entry of all foreigners, including residents with long-term visas, who have recently been to any of 10 African countries likely to have widespread infections of the variant. The country has further banned new entries by foreigners from around the globe.

Omicron scare: Japan imposes strict quarantine rules for travellers from India

Japan's former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe warned Xi Jinping against invading Taiwan, saying it would be economic suicide. What explains Japan's growing ties with Taiwan? Will it be enough to deter China's ambitions? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Japan's former PM warns China over Taiwan

Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance". Responding to it, China has now summoned the Japanese ambassador over Abe's comments.

China miffed over Shinzo Abe's comments on Taiwan, summons Japanese envoy

With bonenkai or forget-the-year party season around the year, several people in Japan seem to avoiding the tradition of an evening of nomunication, which means drinking and communication, with colleagues, especially bosses. &nbsp;

With the number of coronavirus cases falling in the country after 18 months of the pandemic, there seems to be an opportune moment to party. The bars and restaurants in the country may also be fully open for business. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/santa-shortage-may-strike-us-festive-revellers-hard-this-christmas-432666" hreflang="en">Santa shortage may strike US festive revellers hard this Christmas</a>

The time-honoured tradition of drinking and eating with colleagues seems to have found only a few takers. &nbsp;

According to some surveys, several people are dreading the thoughts of celebrating bonenkai this year. &nbsp; &nbsp;

Recently, online readers of the ‘Asahi Shimbun’ newspaper were asked to share thoughts over the bonenkai season on its eve. In the survey, which looked to understand the mood of the nation, found that many people didn’t like the idea of partying alongside colleagues, especially bosses. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-lot-of-things-are-fabricated-japans-crown-prince-criticises-media-coverage-of-daughters-engagement-433033" hreflang="en">'A lot of things are fabricated': Japan's crown prince criticises media coverage of daughter's engagement</a>

The reason behind the outcome of the survey seems to be the pressure to mind their Ps and Qs in front of senior colleagues. &nbsp; &nbsp;

In another recent survey by Nippon Life Insurance, over 60% respondents think the tradition was “unnecessary”, while 11% looked it as an absolute necessity. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

With bonenkai or forget-the-year party season around the year, several people in Japan seem to avoiding the tradition of an evening of nomunication, which means drinking and communication, with colleagues, especially bosses.

With bonenkai or forget-the-year party season around the year, several people in Japan seem to avoiding the tradition of an evening of nomunication, which means drinking and communication, with colleagues, especially bosses. With the number of coronavirus cases falling in the country after 18 months of the pandemic, there seems to be an opportune moment to party. The bars and restaurants in the country may also be fully open for business. Also Read: Santa shortage may strike US festive revellers hard this Christmas The time-honoured tradition of drinking and eating with colleagues seems to have found only a few takers. According to some surveys, several people are dreading the thoughts of celebrating bonenkai this year. Recently, online readers of the ‘Asahi Shimbun’ newspaper were asked to share thoughts over the bonenkai season on its eve. In the survey, which looked to understand the mood of the nation, found that many people didn’t like the idea of partying alongside colleagues, especially bosses. Also Read: 'A lot of things are fabricated': Japan's crown prince criticises media coverage of daughter's engagement The reason behind the outcome of the survey seems to be the pressure to mind their Ps and Qs in front of senior colleagues. In another recent survey by Nippon Life Insurance, over 60% respondents think the tradition was “unnecessary”, while 11% looked it as an absolute necessity. (With inputs from agencies)

Japan gives thumbs down to party season as many won’t go drinking with boss

Former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that "a Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency, and therefore an emergency for the Japan-US alliance".

Former Japan PM Shinzo Abe tells China, ‘Taiwan emergency is Japanese emergency'

A 69-year-old man has been rescued in rough seas off Japan after spending 22 hours drifting in open water, with one official calling his survival a "miracle."

The man, whose name has not been released, was alone on a boat off southwestern Kagoshima prefecture and en route to the Yakushima resort island Saturday afternoon when his boat capsized.

He managed to call a colleague on the island to alert him, but was not found until nearly a full day later, the coastguard told AFP, when rescuers spotted him sitting on the engine of his capsized boat, clasping a propeller part.

"He was out in the sea alone for 22 hours. I am amazed by his survival skills," a coastguard official told AFP, declining to be identified.

Dramatic footage released by the coastguard showed a team approaching him by boat calling out: "We are coming! Just a little bit longer! Hold on tight!"

The man was able to wrap himself in a grey plastic sheet, helping him stay warm, officials said.

"It's a miracle he survived," a coastguard official told the Asahi Shimbun daily.

A 69-year-old man has been rescued in rough seas off Japan after spending 22 hours drifting in open water, with one official calling his survival a "miracle." The man, whose name has not been released, was alone on a boat off southwestern Kagoshima prefecture and en route to the Yakushima resort island Saturday afternoon when his boat capsized.

A 69-year-old man has been rescued in rough seas off Japan after spending 22 hours drifting in open water, with one official calling his survival a "miracle." The man, whose name has not been released, was alone on a boat off southwestern Kagoshima prefecture and en route to the Yakushima resort island Saturday afternoon when his boat capsized. He managed to call a colleague on the island to alert him, but was not found until nearly a full day later, the coastguard told AFP, when rescuers spotted him sitting on the engine of his capsized boat, clasping a propeller part. "He was out in the sea alone for 22 hours. I am amazed by his survival skills," a coastguard official told AFP, declining to be identified. Dramatic footage released by the coastguard showed a team approaching him by boat calling out: "We are coming! Just a little bit longer! Hold on tight!" The man was able to wrap himself in a grey plastic sheet, helping him stay warm, officials said. "It's a miracle he survived," a coastguard official told the Asahi Shimbun daily.

'Miracle' rescue of Japan man after 22 hours at sea

Japan's crown&nbsp;prince&nbsp;criticised the media on Tuesday for falsities and "terrible things" in its coverage of the engagement of his daughter, former&nbsp;princess Mako, who relinquished her royal status to marry a non-royal last month.

Mako, 30, postponed her marriage to Kei Komuro, 30, for roughly three years over opposition stemming from a scandal involving his mother. Mako was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder during that period.

In accordance with Japanese law, Mako relinquished her royal status when the two married by submitting paperwork at a local office and left to live in New York&nbsp;this month.

Crown&nbsp;Prince&nbsp;Akishino, the emperor's brother, made the remarks, unusually candid for a Japanese royal, at a news conference to mark his 56th birthday.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/twitter-ceo-parag-agrawal-said-this-in-his-very-first-e-mail-as-captain-of-the-ship-433002">Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said this in his very first e-mail as captain of the ship</a>

"If you read the tabloids, well - I'm not sure how to say this exactly - but there's a lot of things in there that are fabricated, although there are also some opinions we should listen to,"&nbsp;Akishino&nbsp;said when asked about the connection between media coverage and his daughter's diagnosis.

Though Japan was captivated when Mako and Komuro, who works in a law office in New York, announced their engagement in 2017, revelations of the scandal touched off intense media scrutiny and criticism.

"As for articles on the internet, there are also lots of comments ... and some of them say really terrible things,"&nbsp;Akishino&nbsp;added. "There are people who are deeply hurt by this slander."

Some royal watchers said the furore over Mako's marriage, which even sparked protests against the wedding, might have been toned down with more adept handling by the Imperial Household Agency (IHA), which runs the family's lives, pointing to how similar incidents are handled by royals overseas.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/was-omicron-brought-by-an-alien-heres-what-we-know-of-films-with-same-name-433015">Was Omicron brought by an alien? Here's what we know of films with same name</a>

Akishino&nbsp;said the IHA does sometimes correct "mistaken" information on its website but implied more might be needed.

"If you are going to argue against an article, you have to set proper standards and then protest when those are exceeded," he said. "Negative coverage may continue, so I think it is necessary to consider setting such standards in consultation with the IHA."

Akishino&nbsp;also said that the decision to forego all ceremonies for the marriage had been his, as he felt the scandal - about money loaned to the Komuro family by Komuro's mother's former fiance - had not been adequately explained.

But, he added, "I think it would have been appropriate if they could have been carried out as usual."

Japan's crown prince criticised the media on Tuesday for falsities and "terrible things" in its coverage of the engagement of his daughter, former princess Mako, who relinquished her royal status to marry a non-royal last month.

Japan's crown prince criticised the media on Tuesday for falsities and "terrible things" in its coverage of the engagement of his daughter, former princess Mako, who relinquished her royal status to marry a non-royal last month. Mako, 30, postponed her marriage to Kei Komuro, 30, for roughly three years over opposition stemming from a scandal involving his mother. Mako was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder during that period. In accordance with Japanese law, Mako relinquished her royal status when the two married by submitting paperwork at a local office and left to live in New York this month. Crown Prince Akishino, the emperor's brother, made the remarks, unusually candid for a Japanese royal, at a news conference to mark his 56th birthday. ALSO READ | Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said this in his very first e-mail as captain of the ship "If you read the tabloids, well - I'm not sure how to say this exactly - but there's a lot of things in there that are fabricated, although there are also some opinions we should listen to," Akishino said when asked about the connection between media coverage and his daughter's diagnosis. Though Japan was captivated when Mako and Komuro, who works in a law office in New York, announced their engagement in 2017, revelations of the scandal touched off intense media scrutiny and criticism. "As for articles on the internet, there are also lots of comments ... and some of them say really terrible things," Akishino added. "There are people who are deeply hurt by this slander." Some royal watchers said the furore over Mako's marriage, which even sparked protests against the wedding, might have been toned down with more adept handling by the Imperial Household Agency (IHA), which runs the family's lives, pointing to how similar incidents are handled by royals overseas. ALSO READ | Was Omicron brought by an alien? Here's what we know of films with same name Akishino said the IHA does sometimes correct "mistaken" information on its website but implied more might be needed. "If you are going to argue against an article, you have to set proper standards and then protest when those are exceeded," he said. "Negative coverage may continue, so I think it is necessary to consider setting such standards in consultation with the IHA." Akishino also said that the decision to forego all ceremonies for the marriage had been his, as he felt the scandal - about money loaned to the Komuro family by Komuro's mother's former fiance - had not been adequately explained. But, he added, "I think it would have been appropriate if they could have been carried out as usual."

'A lot of things are fabricated': Japan's crown prince criticises media coverage of daughter's engagement

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

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

Germany has increased the minimum wage, Japan is asking companies to give its workers a minimum of 3% salary hike. Countries and companies worldwide are rewarding employees for their hard work during the pandemic. Palki Sharma tells you all about it.

Gravitas: Germany increases minimum wage, Japan pushes for higher pay

The Biden administration has announced the release of strategic oil reserves but the US is not alone here. Joining Washington are India, Japan, South Korea, China, and the UK.

United States: Emergency oil release to lower fuel prices

United States: US plan could strain ties between Washington and Riyadh

Indian and Japanese officials are working their ways to lease national reserves of crude oil in tandem with the US and other major economies. However, the reports suggest that timings of the lease remains unclear.

India, Japan working on oil-stock release

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to meet European Council President Charles Michel on November 29 to discuss closer ties in the Indo-Pacific, reported Kyodo News citing government sources. As per the report, Kishida and Michel are expected to raise importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan strait and also increasing Chinese assertiveness in East and South China.

The European Union is already strengthening its commitment to Indo-Pacific region.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japan-announces-490-billion-stimulus-package-to-tackle-covid-knockdown-430557">Japan announces $490 billion stimulus package to tackle Covid knockdown</a>

The meet between Michel and Kishida will take place in Japan. This will be Michel's first visit to Japan since he took office in December 2019. His Japan visit is taking place after the EU released its new Indo-Pacific strategy in September that includes bolstering relations with Taiwan amid repeated intrusions of Chinese military planes into the self-governed island`s air defense identification zone, said the Japanese news outlet.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-taiwan-opens-de-facto-embassy-china-downgrades-diplomatic-relations-with-lithuania-430869">After Taiwan opens de-facto embassy, China downgrades diplomatic relations with Lithuania</a>

Earlier this month, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen held talks with a European Parliament delegation during their historic first visit to the democratic island. Taiwan is a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Despite being governed separately for more than seven decades, Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan. China has also threatened that "Taiwan`s independence" means war. On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to meet European Council President Charles Michel on November 29 to discuss closer ties in the Indo-Pacific, reported Kyodo News citing government sources.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is planning to meet European Council President Charles Michel on November 29 to discuss closer ties in the Indo-Pacific, reported Kyodo News citing government sources. As per the report, Kishida and Michel are expected to raise importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan strait and also increasing Chinese assertiveness in East and South China. The European Union is already strengthening its commitment to Indo-Pacific region. Also Read | Japan announces $490 billion stimulus package to tackle Covid knockdown The meet between Michel and Kishida will take place in Japan. This will be Michel's first visit to Japan since he took office in December 2019. His Japan visit is taking place after the EU released its new Indo-Pacific strategy in September that includes bolstering relations with Taiwan amid repeated intrusions of Chinese military planes into the self-governed island`s air defense identification zone, said the Japanese news outlet. Also Read | After Taiwan opens de-facto embassy, China downgrades diplomatic relations with Lithuania Earlier this month, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen held talks with a European Parliament delegation during their historic first visit to the democratic island. Taiwan is a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. Despite being governed separately for more than seven decades, Beijing claims sovereignty over Taiwan. China has also threatened that "Taiwan`s independence" means war. On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island. (With inputs from agencies)

Amid Chinese assertiveness, Japan PM to meet EU Council chief to discuss Indo-Pacific region

To cushion the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic, Japan has set to compile a record of $490 billion spending package, here's more.

Japan Plans Record $490 Billion Spending To Boost Covid Pandemic Recovery

Japan is looking to allow foreigners in certain blue-collar jobs to stay indefinitely starting as early as the 2022 fiscal year, marking a major shift for a country long closed to immigrants. If the revision takes effect, such workers — many from Vietnam and China — would be allowed to renew their visas indefinitely and bring their families with them.

Japan looks  to allow foreigners in certain blue-collar jobs

japan

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