Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced.

The comments from the two countries' top diplomatic officials marked the 60th anniversary of the current treaty, which was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi.

"While honouring the achievements of the past 60 years, we reiterate our unshakeable commitment to strengthen the Alliance and to uphold our common values and principles towards the future," said a joint statement by Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono, and US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Mark Secretary Esper.

The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by Washington to project power deep into Asia.

Kishi was forced to resign afterwards following a huge public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would suck their country into conflict.

Echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense, Trump last June told a news conference in Japan that the treaty was "unfair" and should be changed, at a time when China is flexing its regional military muscle and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes.

Abe since taking office in 2012 has boosted Japan's defence spending by 10 per cent&nbsp;after years of decline and in a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two.

But public wariness about putting troops in harm's way and fear of entanglement in US-led wars has hampered Abe's push to revise the postwar constitution's pacifist Article 9.

Article 9, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been interpreted to allow armed forces for self-defence.

Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about entanglement in US-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4 per cent&nbsp;opposed Tokyo's decision to send forces to the Middle East to help ensure the safety of merchant ships.

Trump's administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for US&nbsp;forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to boost its spending for US&nbsp;forces stationed there by 1.4 per cent&nbsp;over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen per year on average.

Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced.

Japan and the United States on Friday lauded the decades-old security treaty that is the bedrock of their alliance, but which US President Donald Trump has criticised as "unfair" and imbalanced. The comments from the two countries' top diplomatic officials marked the 60th anniversary of the current treaty, which was first signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 under Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's grandfather, then-premier Nobusuke Kishi. "While honouring the achievements of the past 60 years, we reiterate our unshakeable commitment to strengthen the Alliance and to uphold our common values and principles towards the future," said a joint statement by Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Taro Kono, and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Mark Secretary Esper. The treaty obligates the United States to defend Japan, which under its US-drafted constitution renounced the right to wage war after World War Two. Japan in return provides military bases used by Washington to project power deep into Asia. Kishi was forced to resign afterwards following a huge public outcry from Japanese critics who feared the pact would suck their country into conflict. Echoing his long-held view that Japan is a free-rider on defense, Trump last June told a news conference in Japan that the treaty was "unfair" and should be changed, at a time when China is flexing its regional military muscle and North Korea is pursuing nuclear and missile programmes. Abe since taking office in 2012 has boosted Japan's defence spending by 10 per cent after years of decline and in a historic shift in 2014, his government reinterpreted the constitution to allow Japanese troops to fight overseas for the first time since World War Two. But public wariness about putting troops in harm's way and fear of entanglement in US-led wars has hampered Abe's push to revise the postwar constitution's pacifist Article 9. Article 9, if taken literally, bans the maintenance of a standing military but has been interpreted to allow armed forces for self-defence. Although generally supportive of the alliance, Japanese voters remain concerned about entanglement in US-led conflicts. A recent survey by Kyodo news agency showed 58.4 per cent opposed Tokyo's decision to send forces to the Middle East to help ensure the safety of merchant ships. Trump's administration has also pushed for Japan to pay more for US forces stationed in the country. Under an agreement reached in 2015, Japan pledged to boost its spending for US forces stationed there by 1.4 per cent over the following five years to 189.3 billion yen per year on average.

Japan, US reiterate 'unshakeable commitment' to security treaty

&nbsp;North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States.

The launch on Wednesday was the most provocative by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-missiles-ahead-of-nuclear-talks-253157">North Korea</a> since it resumed dialogue with the United States in 2018 and a reminder by Pyongyang of the weapons capability it has been aggressively developing, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, analysts said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "sent warm congratulations" to the defence scientists who conducted the test, state news agency KCNA said, indicating he did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems.

The new type of SLBM, called Pukguksong-3, was "fired in vertical mode" in the waters of the eastern city of Wonsan, KCNA said, confirming an assessment by South Korea's military on Wednesday that the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory.

"The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," KCNA said.

DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The test "had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries," KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch.

Photos released in the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, whose front two pages featured the test, showed a black-and-white painted missile clearing the surface of the water, then the rocket engine igniting to propel it into the sky.

A State Department spokeswoman called on Pyongyang to "refrain from provocations" and to remain committed to nuclear negotiations.

South Korea expressed strong concern and the Japanese condemned&nbsp;the launch, saying it was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea rejects U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology, saying they are an infringement of its right to self-defence.

Talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes have been stalled since a second summit between Kim and US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-slams-impeachment-probe-as-hoax-as-democrats-seek-white-house-documents-253356">Donald Trump</a> in Vietnam in February broke down in disagreement over nuclear disarmament.

Watch Video: North Korea says successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile

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'Nuclear-Capable'

The Pukguksong-3 appeared to be a new design that has enhanced range and stability compared with a version tested in 2016, three analysts said.

It was probably launched from a test platform and not a submarine, which would be the final stage of testing, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul.

State news agency KCNA released photos and a report in July of leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a large, newly built submarine, but an unnamed South Korean military source said on Thursday that the submarine appears to be still incomplete, Yonhap news agency reported.

Leader Kim Jong Un's absence at the test is "extremely unusual," Kyungnam University's Kim said, probably meant to contain the political fallout that could result in the upcoming talks falling apart before they even start.

On Wednesday, South Korea's military said the missile flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910 km (565 miles). It was likely a Pukguksong-class weapon, as the North's earlier submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) under development were known.

South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said the Pukguksong, or Pole Star in Korean, would have had a range of about 1,300 km (910 miles) on a standard trajectory.

North Korea had been developing SLBM technology before it suspended long-range missile and nuclear tests and began talks with the United States that led to the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore on June 2018.

The latest version of the Pukguksong may be the longest-range North Korean missile that uses solid fuel and the first nuclear-capable missile to be tested since November 2017, Ankit Panda of the US-based Federation of American Scientists said.

North Korea has been developing rocket engines that burn solid fuel, which has advantages in military use compared with liquid fuel because it is stable and versatile, allowing it to be stored in missiles until they are ready for launch.

North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States.

North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States. The launch on Wednesday was the most provocative by North Korea since it resumed dialogue with the United States in 2018 and a reminder by Pyongyang of the weapons capability it has been aggressively developing, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, analysts said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "sent warm congratulations" to the defence scientists who conducted the test, state news agency KCNA said, indicating he did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems. The new type of SLBM, called Pukguksong-3, was "fired in vertical mode" in the waters of the eastern city of Wonsan, KCNA said, confirming an assessment by South Korea's military on Wednesday that the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory. "The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," KCNA said. DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The test "had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries," KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch. Photos released in the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, whose front two pages featured the test, showed a black-and-white painted missile clearing the surface of the water, then the rocket engine igniting to propel it into the sky. A State Department spokeswoman called on Pyongyang to "refrain from provocations" and to remain committed to nuclear negotiations. South Korea expressed strong concern and the Japanese condemned the launch, saying it was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea rejects U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology, saying they are an infringement of its right to self-defence. Talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes have been stalled since a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Vietnam in February broke down in disagreement over nuclear disarmament. Watch Video: North Korea says successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile × 'Nuclear-Capable' The Pukguksong-3 appeared to be a new design that has enhanced range and stability compared with a version tested in 2016, three analysts said. It was probably launched from a test platform and not a submarine, which would be the final stage of testing, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. State news agency KCNA released photos and a report in July of leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a large, newly built submarine, but an unnamed South Korean military source said on Thursday that the submarine appears to be still incomplete, Yonhap news agency reported. Leader Kim Jong Un's absence at the test is "extremely unusual," Kyungnam University's Kim said, probably meant to contain the political fallout that could result in the upcoming talks falling apart before they even start. On Wednesday, South Korea's military said the missile flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910 km (565 miles). It was likely a Pukguksong-class weapon, as the North's earlier submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) under development were known. South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said the Pukguksong, or Pole Star in Korean, would have had a range of about 1,300 km (910 miles) on a standard trajectory. North Korea had been developing SLBM technology before it suspended long-range missile and nuclear tests and began talks with the United States that led to the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore on June 2018. The latest version of the Pukguksong may be the longest-range North Korean missile that uses solid fuel and the first nuclear-capable missile to be tested since November 2017, Ankit Panda of the US-based Federation of American Scientists said. North Korea has been developing rocket engines that burn solid fuel, which has advantages in military use compared with liquid fuel because it is stable and versatile, allowing it to be stored in missiles until they are ready for launch.

Successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile: North Korea

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-22-dialogue-us-japan-discuss-enhancing-ties-with-india-212049">Japanese Minister of Defence Takeshi Iwaya</a> said on Friday South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact was regrettable and showed it failed to appreciate the growing security threat posed by North Korea.

South Korea officially informed Japan on Friday of its decision to scrap the intelligence-sharing agreement, further straining ties amid a dispute over South Koreans pressed into forced labour during Japan's wartime occupation of Korea.

"We strongly urge them to make a wise decision."

Ties between the East Asian neighbours, both important US allies, were already at their lowest ebb in years before South Korea's decision to end the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).

The dispute over forced labourers has also spilled over into trade, with Japan putting restrictions on exports of semiconductor materials to South Korea and removing it from a list of nations given preferential trading terms.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday Japan still expected South Korea to keep its promises on the contentious issue of wartime forced labour and to work to rebuild trust.

Under the GSOMIA, which had been due for automatic renewal on Saturday, the two countries shared information on the threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes.

South Korea will share<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-korea-to-scarp-intelligence-sharing-pact-with-japan-244783"> intelligence with Japan</a> through a three-way channel involving the United States, South Korea's deputy national security adviser Kim Hyun-chong said on Friday, meaning Japan and South Korea are likely to revert to sharing intelligence through the US military.

The United States, which fears weakened security cooperation in the region, expressed dismay over South Korea's decision, announced on Thursday, to end the pact and urged the two countries to continue to engage with each other.

Kim said the decision to end the intelligence-sharing deal was inevitable as Japan had ignored South Korea's repeated offers of dialogue to resolve what Japan said was damaged trust between them.

"I think this situation will be an opportunity to upgrade the South Korea-US alliance, in close cooperation," Kim said,

The Trilateral Information-Sharing Agreement (TISA) between the United States, Japan and South Korea, which Japan and South Korea will revert back to after their GSOMIA ends, specifies a narrower range of information to be shared, Kim said. 
&nbsp;

Japanese Minister of Defence Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact was regrettable and showed it failed to appreciate the growing security threat posed by North Korea.

Japanese Minister of Defence Takeshi Iwaya said on Friday South Korea's decision to end an intelligence-sharing pact was regrettable and showed it failed to appreciate the growing security threat posed by North Korea. South Korea officially informed Japan on Friday of its decision to scrap the intelligence-sharing agreement, further straining ties amid a dispute over South Koreans pressed into forced labour during Japan's wartime occupation of Korea. "We strongly urge them to make a wise decision." Ties between the East Asian neighbours, both important US allies, were already at their lowest ebb in years before South Korea's decision to end the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA). The dispute over forced labourers has also spilled over into trade, with Japan putting restrictions on exports of semiconductor materials to South Korea and removing it from a list of nations given preferential trading terms. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday Japan still expected South Korea to keep its promises on the contentious issue of wartime forced labour and to work to rebuild trust. Under the GSOMIA, which had been due for automatic renewal on Saturday, the two countries shared information on the threat posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear programmes. South Korea will share intelligence with Japan through a three-way channel involving the United States, South Korea's deputy national security adviser Kim Hyun-chong said on Friday, meaning Japan and South Korea are likely to revert to sharing intelligence through the US military. The United States, which fears weakened security cooperation in the region, expressed dismay over South Korea's decision, announced on Thursday, to end the pact and urged the two countries to continue to engage with each other. Kim said the decision to end the intelligence-sharing deal was inevitable as Japan had ignored South Korea's repeated offers of dialogue to resolve what Japan said was damaged trust between them. "I think this situation will be an opportunity to upgrade the South Korea-US alliance, in close cooperation," Kim said, The Trilateral Information-Sharing Agreement (TISA) between the United States, Japan and South Korea, which Japan and South Korea will revert back to after their GSOMIA ends, specifies a narrower range of information to be shared, Kim said.

Japan says South Korea fails to grasp North Korea threat with scrapping of pact

US President Donald Trump arrived in Tokyo for a four-day visit to Japan on Saturday. Under the threat of potentially devastating US tariffs on cars, Japan is rolling out the newest phase of its charm offensive targeting Trump, as it welcomed him on a state visit tailor-made to his whims and ego.

Trump arrives in Japan for four-day visit

Japan's coincident indicator index declined in March and the government cut its assessment of the economy, a sign it may already be in recession as the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/americas/china-loves-ripping-off-america-says-us-president-donald-trump-218218">US-China trade war</a> and weak external demand hurt activity.

Worries about the economy have grown as Japan's exports and factory output was hit by China's economic slowdown and the escalating US-China trade friction, which had disrupted global supply chains.

The index of coincident economic indicators, which consists of a range of data including factory output, employment and retail sales, fell a preliminary 0.9 of a point in March from the previous month, the Cabinet Office said on Monday.

In its view on the index, the government described the economy as "worsening". That compared with its previous assessment for February when it described the economy at "a turning point towards a downgrade".

The index for leading economic indicators is compiled using data such as job offers and consumer sentiment and is seen as a forward-looking gauge of the economy. It slipped 0.8 of a point from February.

Clouding the outlook are government plans to raise a sales tax to 10 per cent from the current 8 per cent in October unless a big shock on the scale of Lehman Brothers' collapse in 2008 hits the economy.

There is also speculation <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/agree-with-trump-that-north-korea-must-denuclearise-japan-pm-shinzo-abe-216498">Prime Minister Shinzo Abe </a>may postpone the sales tax hike as risks to demand to grow, having already twice delayed it.

There are concerns the sales tax increase will damage private consumption as it did so when Japan raised the tax to 8 per cent from 5 per cent in 2014.

Japan releases gross domestic product (GDP) data on May 20, which will give a clearer read on the state of the economy and whether the government will proceed with the tax hike as scheduled.

The economy likely contracted at an annualised 0.2 per cent in January-March as corporate and consumer spending weakened, a Reuters poll showed.

Japan's coincident indicator index declined in March and the government cut its assessment of the economy, a sign it may already be in recession as the US-China trade war and weak external demand hurt activity.

Japan's coincident indicator index declined in March and the government cut its assessment of the economy, a sign it may already be in recession as the US-China trade war and weak external demand hurt activity. Worries about the economy have grown as Japan's exports and factory output was hit by China's economic slowdown and the escalating US-China trade friction, which had disrupted global supply chains. The index of coincident economic indicators, which consists of a range of data including factory output, employment and retail sales, fell a preliminary 0.9 of a point in March from the previous month, the Cabinet Office said on Monday. In its view on the index, the government described the economy as "worsening". That compared with its previous assessment for February when it described the economy at "a turning point towards a downgrade". The index for leading economic indicators is compiled using data such as job offers and consumer sentiment and is seen as a forward-looking gauge of the economy. It slipped 0.8 of a point from February. Clouding the outlook are government plans to raise a sales tax to 10 per cent from the current 8 per cent in October unless a big shock on the scale of Lehman Brothers' collapse in 2008 hits the economy. There is also speculation Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may postpone the sales tax hike as risks to demand to grow, having already twice delayed it. There are concerns the sales tax increase will damage private consumption as it did so when Japan raised the tax to 8 per cent from 5 per cent in 2014. Japan releases gross domestic product (GDP) data on May 20, which will give a clearer read on the state of the economy and whether the government will proceed with the tax hike as scheduled. The economy likely contracted at an annualised 0.2 per cent in January-March as corporate and consumer spending weakened, a Reuters poll showed.

Japan's coincident index suggests economy may be in recession

In controversial shift, Japan aims to open door wider for foreign blue-collar workers

Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his nearly three decades on Japan&#39;s throne seeking to soothe the wounds of World War Two, will step down on April 30, 2019 - the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries.

A 10-member Imperial Household Council of lawmakers, royals and supreme court justices, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed on the timing on Friday.

Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties.

He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito.

&quot;This is the first abdication by an emperor in 200 years and the first under the (post-war) constitution,&quot; Abe told reporters after announcing the recommendation.

&quot;I feel deep emotion that today, the opinion of the Imperial Household Council was smoothly decided and a big step was taken toward the imperial succession.&quot;

The cabinet still has to sign off on the decision on the date, which it will likely do next week.

Once considered divine, Japan&rsquo;s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a &quot;symbol of the state and of the unity of the people&quot;, but has no political power.

Akihito, along with Empress Michiko, has spent much time trying to address the legacy of World War Two, which was fought in the name of his father Hirohito, and consoling victims of disasters or other woes.

He is widely respected by average Japanese.&nbsp;

&quot;Both the emperor and empress thought tirelessly about the people,&quot; said Taeko Ito, a 72-year-old caregiver. &quot;Now he is elderly and I wish from my heart that he can have a rest.&quot;

Akihito and Michiko, the first commoner to wed a Japanese monarch, have worked to reconcile ties across Asia, soured by Japan&#39;s aggression before and during World War Two, with numerous visits abroad.

In 1992, he became the first Japanese monarch in living memory to visit China, where bitter memories of the war run deep. During that visit the emperor said he &quot;deeply deplored&quot; an &quot;unfortunate period in which my country inflicted great suffering on the people of China&quot;.

Horrors of war

Akihito has consistently urged the Japanese never to forget the horrors of war, remarks that have garnered increased attention since Abe took office in 2012 and sought to adopt a less apologetic tone over Japan&#39;s past military aggression.

&quot;He redefined the job. He wanted to modernise the monarchy and take care of the unfinished business ... and bring the imperial household closer to the people,&quot; said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University Japan.

&quot;He&rsquo;s been remarkably successful on all fronts. He is deeply admired and respected. His moral authority is unquestioned.&quot;

Once Akihito steps down a new &ldquo;imperial era&rdquo; will begin, replacing the current &ldquo;Heisei&rdquo; or &ldquo;achieving peace&rdquo; period which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne.

Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era.

The last time a Japanese emperor abdicated was in 1817.

Post-war law had not allowed for abdication, so a one-off law was adopted in June to let Akihito step down, but it left details such as the timing to be worked out.

An early proposal that he retires at the end of 2018, his 30th year on the throne, was rejected over worries it would conflict with rituals and other duties around then.

Another date considered was March 31, 2019, the end of the business year. But subsequent ceremonies would have coincided with a busy time for many people and nation-wide local elections in early April, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.

Some Japanese lamented that the process was taking too long.

&quot;It&#39;s the same for me - life is not so long,&quot; said a 79-year-old retiree, Asataro Nishizawa. &quot;They should have granted his wish sooner, while he is still vigorous.&quot;

The abdication law did not address the problem of the future of an ageing, shrinking imperial family and the related issue of whether women should be allowed to ascend the throne.

Eleven-year-old Prince Hisahito, the son of Akihito&#39;s younger son Prince Akishino, is the emperor&rsquo;s only grandson and will be second in line to the throne after his father following the abdication. Naruhito&rsquo;s daughter, Princess Aiko, who turned 16 on Friday, cannot inherit the males-only throne. 
&nbsp;

He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito

Emperor Akihito, who has spent much of his nearly three decades on Japan's throne seeking to soothe the wounds of World War Two, will step down on April 30, 2019 - the first abdication by a Japanese monarch in about two centuries. A 10-member Imperial Household Council of lawmakers, royals and supreme court justices, chaired by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, agreed on the timing on Friday. Akihito, who turns 84 on Dec. 23 and has had heart surgery and treatment for prostate cancer, said in rare remarks last year that he feared age might make it hard for him to fulfil his duties. He will be succeeded by his heir, 57-year-old Crown Prince Naruhito. "This is the first abdication by an emperor in 200 years and the first under the (post-war) constitution," Abe told reporters after announcing the recommendation. "I feel deep emotion that today, the opinion of the Imperial Household Council was smoothly decided and a big step was taken toward the imperial succession." The cabinet still has to sign off on the decision on the date, which it will likely do next week. Once considered divine, Japan’s emperor is defined in the post-war constitution as a "symbol of the state and of the unity of the people", but has no political power. Akihito, along with Empress Michiko, has spent much time trying to address the legacy of World War Two, which was fought in the name of his father Hirohito, and consoling victims of disasters or other woes. He is widely respected by average Japanese. "Both the emperor and empress thought tirelessly about the people," said Taeko Ito, a 72-year-old caregiver. "Now he is elderly and I wish from my heart that he can have a rest." Akihito and Michiko, the first commoner to wed a Japanese monarch, have worked to reconcile ties across Asia, soured by Japan's aggression before and during World War Two, with numerous visits abroad. In 1992, he became the first Japanese monarch in living memory to visit China, where bitter memories of the war run deep. During that visit the emperor said he "deeply deplored" an "unfortunate period in which my country inflicted great suffering on the people of China". Horrors of war Akihito has consistently urged the Japanese never to forget the horrors of war, remarks that have garnered increased attention since Abe took office in 2012 and sought to adopt a less apologetic tone over Japan's past military aggression. "He redefined the job. He wanted to modernise the monarchy and take care of the unfinished business ... and bring the imperial household closer to the people," said Jeffrey Kingston, director of Asian studies at Temple University Japan. "He’s been remarkably successful on all fronts. He is deeply admired and respected. His moral authority is unquestioned." Once Akihito steps down a new “imperial era” will begin, replacing the current “Heisei” or “achieving peace” period which began on Jan. 8, 1989, the day he took the throne. Japan uses the Western-style Gregorian calendar but has also preserved the ancient custom in which the reign of a new emperor ushers in a new era. The last time a Japanese emperor abdicated was in 1817. Post-war law had not allowed for abdication, so a one-off law was adopted in June to let Akihito step down, but it left details such as the timing to be worked out. An early proposal that he retires at the end of 2018, his 30th year on the throne, was rejected over worries it would conflict with rituals and other duties around then. Another date considered was March 31, 2019, the end of the business year. But subsequent ceremonies would have coincided with a busy time for many people and nation-wide local elections in early April, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said. Some Japanese lamented that the process was taking too long. "It's the same for me - life is not so long," said a 79-year-old retiree, Asataro Nishizawa. "They should have granted his wish sooner, while he is still vigorous." The abdication law did not address the problem of the future of an ageing, shrinking imperial family and the related issue of whether women should be allowed to ascend the throne. Eleven-year-old Prince Hisahito, the son of Akihito's younger son Prince Akishino, is the emperor’s only grandson and will be second in line to the throne after his father following the abdication. Naruhito’s daughter, Princess Aiko, who turned 16 on Friday, cannot inherit the males-only throne.

Japan's Emperor Akihito to abdicate on April 30, 2019

A Japanese man was killed in a truck collision involving a 21-year-old US&nbsp;marine who was well over the legal alcohol limit for driving, police said of a case that was likely to stoke resentment over the US&nbsp;military presence on the southern island of Okinawa.

In response to the Sunday&#39;s fatal accident, US&nbsp;forces in Japan banned, until further notice, all personnel in the country from drinking alcohol.

&quot;The Defence and Foreign Ministries have lodged a stern representation to the US&nbsp;forces in Japan and the US&nbsp;embassy in Japan, asking for the enforcement of discipline, prevention of recurrence and sincere response to the bereaved,&quot; Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference on Monday.

US&nbsp;Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty expressed his condolences and offered an apology, Suga said.

The accident occurred at an intersection in the city of Naha early Sunday morning. The marine was driving a military truck, and the 61-year-old crash victim was in a light truck.

The Japanese man was later pronounced dead, while the US&nbsp;serviceman, who was arrested for the fatal accident and driving under the influence of alcohol, suffered scratches, a police official in Naha said.

The official said a breath test showed the marine was as much as three times over the legal limit for alcohol.

&quot;When our service members fail to live up to the high standards we set for them, it damages the bonds between bases and local communities and makes it harder for us to accomplish our mission,&quot; a statement from the U.S. forces in Japan said.

Last year, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/japan-shinzo-abe-re-elected-prime-minister-after-big-election-win-23273">Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe</a> protested to then-US&nbsp;President Barack Obama about the killing of a young woman in Okinawa, for which a US&nbsp;base worker had been charged.

Obama, who was visiting Japan for a Group of Seven summit, expressed &quot;deepest regrets.&quot;

The case is under trial.

Residents in Okinawa, a reluctant host to the bulk of US&nbsp;bases in Japan, believe that they shoulder an unfair burden in supporting the US&nbsp;military presence in Japan.

A Japanese man was killed in a truck collision involving a 21-year-old US?marine who was well over the legal alcohol limit for driving

A Japanese man was killed in a truck collision involving a 21-year-old US marine who was well over the legal alcohol limit for driving, police said of a case that was likely to stoke resentment over the US military presence on the southern island of Okinawa. In response to the Sunday's fatal accident, US forces in Japan banned, until further notice, all personnel in the country from drinking alcohol. "The Defence and Foreign Ministries have lodged a stern representation to the US forces in Japan and the US embassy in Japan, asking for the enforcement of discipline, prevention of recurrence and sincere response to the bereaved," Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a regular news conference on Monday. US Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty expressed his condolences and offered an apology, Suga said. The accident occurred at an intersection in the city of Naha early Sunday morning. The marine was driving a military truck, and the 61-year-old crash victim was in a light truck. The Japanese man was later pronounced dead, while the US serviceman, who was arrested for the fatal accident and driving under the influence of alcohol, suffered scratches, a police official in Naha said. The official said a breath test showed the marine was as much as three times over the legal limit for alcohol. "When our service members fail to live up to the high standards we set for them, it damages the bonds between bases and local communities and makes it harder for us to accomplish our mission," a statement from the U.S. forces in Japan said. Last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe protested to then-US President Barack Obama about the killing of a young woman in Okinawa, for which a US base worker had been charged. Obama, who was visiting Japan for a Group of Seven summit, expressed "deepest regrets." The case is under trial. Residents in Okinawa, a reluctant host to the bulk of US bases in Japan, believe that they shoulder an unfair burden in supporting the US military presence in Japan.

Japanese man dies in truck collision with US marine in drink driving case

Turmoil unleashed by Britain&#39;s vote to leave the EU engulfed the opposition Labour Party, while policymakers as far away as China, Japan and South Korea fretted today over the threat to global financial stability, hours before markets reopen. 
 
In the oldest parliamentary democracy, three million Britons have signed a petition calling for a re-run of Thursday&#39;s referendum that split the nation, and one opinion poll showed a strong majority of Scots now want to break with the United Kingdom rather than with the European Union. 
 
Labour&#39;s left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn sacked his foreign policy chief as the party plunged into open conflict. 
 
His health chief responded by resigning, calling for a new leader and reflecting accusations among pro-EU lawmakers that Corbyn&#39;s failure to win over traditional Labour voters had played a major role in the referendum result. 
 
Sacked foreign affairs spokesman Hilary Benn also called for Corbyn, who was elected last year largely by Left-wing party members and supporters, to go. &quot;He is a good and decent man but he is not a leader,&quot; Benn told BBC television. 
 
The 52-48 per cent referendum vote marked the biggest blow since World War II to the European project of forging greater unity across the continent. 
 
Sterling fell as much as 10 per cent against the Dollar on Friday to levels last seen in 1985, while world stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value. The weekend gave some respite from the turmoil, but with markets opening shortly in Asia, anxiety is growing. 
 
Prime Minister David Cameron resigned on Friday after Britons ignored his passionate appeals to stay in the EU, but left formally notifying Brussels of Britain&#39;s exit to his successor, who is unlikely to be in office for about three months. That signals a long period of limbo. 
 
Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the vote &quot;will cast a shadow over the global economy&quot;. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s difficult to predict now,&quot; he said at the first annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing. &quot;The knee-jerk reaction from the market is probably a bit excessive and needs to calm down and take an objective view.&quot; 
 
Japan likewise fretted over the effect on the global currency market and contemplated official action. &quot;Speculative, violent moves have extremely negative effects,&quot; said Tomomi Inada, policy chief of the ruling LDP party. &quot;If necessary, the government should not hesitate to respond, including currency intervention,&quot; Nikkei daily quoted him as saying. 
 
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tried to engineer a weaker Yen to encourage exports to help revive the Japanese economy. But after initial success, investors have sought safety in the Yen this year due to stock market turmoil and now the Brexit vote, pushing the currency back up. 
 
No respite 
 
South Korea&#39;s finance minister also said he feared international markets will remain volatile throughout negotiations on the British exit. 
 
The United States, which during campaigning made clear it wanted Britain to stay in the EU, also showed signs of unease. 
 
Secretary of state John Kerry will meet EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini in Brussels and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond in London on Monday. 
 
The visit is largely meant to offer symbolic reassurance at a critical juncture for Europe, but a senior US official said Kerry would also stress the importance of other members not following Britain&#39;s lead and further weakening the EU. 
 
Despite the international expressions of concern, respite from the uncertainty is unlikely for months, at the very least. 
 
Cameron has offered to stay on as a caretaker, but he has refused to invoke Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, which allows for two years of exit negotiations. Instead he left that job to his successor, who is due to be elected by his Conservative Party sometime before its annual conference in October. 
 
Only after the new leader has invoked can work on thrashing out Britain&#39;s new relationship with the bloc begin. The man widely tipped as the next prime minister is former London mayor Boris Johnson, the most prominent member of the campaign to leave the EU. 
 
No lying down 
 
Signs are growing that not all the 16 million Britons who voted to stay in the EU are willing to take the result lying down. Many flocked to back an online petition demanding a second vote, with signatures exceeding three million today morning, more than double the figure the previous afternoon. 
 
The petition, posted on Parliament&#39;s website before the referendum, said there should be another vote if the outcome was close on a turnout of less than 75 per cent - three points above Thursday&#39;s figure. 
 
It will have to be considered for debate by lawmakers, but has no legal force and its backers compare with the 17.4 million who voted &quot;leave&quot;. 
 
The referendum has also re-energised support for Scotland, which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, to break away from the United Kingdom instead. 
 
An opinion poll in The Sunday Post said 59 per cent of respondents backed independence, rocketing from 45 per cent of votes cast in a referendum in 2014. 
 
Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a fresh independence referendum is possible 
 
&quot;My challenge now as first minister is to work out how I best protect Scotland&#39;s interests, how I try to prevent us being taken out of the EU against our will with all of the deeply damaging and painful consequences that that will entail,&quot; she told the BBC&#39;s Andrew Marr show.&nbsp; 
 
(Reuters)

The 52-48% referendum vote marked the biggest blow since World War II to the European project forging unity across the continent

Turmoil unleashed by Britain's vote to leave the EU engulfed the opposition Labour Party, while policymakers as far away as China, Japan and South Korea fretted today over the threat to global financial stability, hours before markets reopen. In the oldest parliamentary democracy, three million Britons have signed a petition calling for a re-run of Thursday's referendum that split the nation, and one opinion poll showed a strong majority of Scots now want to break with the United Kingdom rather than with the European Union. Labour's left-wing leader Jeremy Corbyn sacked his foreign policy chief as the party plunged into open conflict. His health chief responded by resigning, calling for a new leader and reflecting accusations among pro-EU lawmakers that Corbyn's failure to win over traditional Labour voters had played a major role in the referendum result. Sacked foreign affairs spokesman Hilary Benn also called for Corbyn, who was elected last year largely by Left-wing party members and supporters, to go. "He is a good and decent man but he is not a leader," Benn told BBC television. The 52-48 per cent referendum vote marked the biggest blow since World War II to the European project of forging greater unity across the continent. Sterling fell as much as 10 per cent against the Dollar on Friday to levels last seen in 1985, while world stocks saw more than $2 trillion wiped off their value. The weekend gave some respite from the turmoil, but with markets opening shortly in Asia, anxiety is growing. Prime Minister David Cameron resigned on Friday after Britons ignored his passionate appeals to stay in the EU, but left formally notifying Brussels of Britain's exit to his successor, who is unlikely to be in office for about three months. That signals a long period of limbo. Chinese Finance Minister Lou Jiwei said the vote "will cast a shadow over the global economy". "It's difficult to predict now," he said at the first annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing. "The knee-jerk reaction from the market is probably a bit excessive and needs to calm down and take an objective view." Japan likewise fretted over the effect on the global currency market and contemplated official action. "Speculative, violent moves have extremely negative effects," said Tomomi Inada, policy chief of the ruling LDP party. "If necessary, the government should not hesitate to respond, including currency intervention," Nikkei daily quoted him as saying. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has tried to engineer a weaker Yen to encourage exports to help revive the Japanese economy. But after initial success, investors have sought safety in the Yen this year due to stock market turmoil and now the Brexit vote, pushing the currency back up. No respite South Korea's finance minister also said he feared international markets will remain volatile throughout negotiations on the British exit. The United States, which during campaigning made clear it wanted Britain to stay in the EU, also showed signs of unease. Secretary of state John Kerry will meet EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini in Brussels and British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond in London on Monday. The visit is largely meant to offer symbolic reassurance at a critical juncture for Europe, but a senior US official said Kerry would also stress the importance of other members not following Britain's lead and further weakening the EU. Despite the international expressions of concern, respite from the uncertainty is unlikely for months, at the very least. Cameron has offered to stay on as a caretaker, but he has refused to invoke Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, which allows for two years of exit negotiations. Instead he left that job to his successor, who is due to be elected by his Conservative Party sometime before its annual conference in October. Only after the new leader has invoked can work on thrashing out Britain's new relationship with the bloc begin. The man widely tipped as the next prime minister is former London mayor Boris Johnson, the most prominent member of the campaign to leave the EU. No lying down Signs are growing that not all the 16 million Britons who voted to stay in the EU are willing to take the result lying down. Many flocked to back an online petition demanding a second vote, with signatures exceeding three million today morning, more than double the figure the previous afternoon. The petition, posted on Parliament's website before the referendum, said there should be another vote if the outcome was close on a turnout of less than 75 per cent - three points above Thursday's figure. It will have to be considered for debate by lawmakers, but has no legal force and its backers compare with the 17.4 million who voted "leave". The referendum has also re-energised support for Scotland, which voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, to break away from the United Kingdom instead. An opinion poll in The Sunday Post said 59 per cent of respondents backed independence, rocketing from 45 per cent of votes cast in a referendum in 2014. Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said a fresh independence referendum is possible "My challenge now as first minister is to work out how I best protect Scotland's interests, how I try to prevent us being taken out of the EU against our will with all of the deeply damaging and painful consequences that that will entail," she told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. (Reuters)

British EU exit turmoil alarms Asia, rocks Labour opposition