S. Korea Military Begins Formal Procedures to Acquire Nuclear-Powered Submarines
South Korea’s navy has formally submitted a request to the Joint Chiefs of Staff to begin a nuclear‑powered submarine program, outlining desired capabilities, numbers and deployment timelines. The United States has already signaled approval and will assist with fuel‑sourcing arrangements under a post‑summit fact sheet. The plan envisions building at least four 5,000‑ton attack submarines after the mid‑2030s, pending final requirement reviews and a special nuclear‑material transfer pact. Funding, feasibility studies and budget authority consultations will follow the requirement finalization.
WHO Members Reject Proposal to Invite Taiwan to Participate in Annual Assembly
The World Health Assembly in Geneva voted to reject a proposal that would have invited Taiwan to participate as an observer, after China, backed by Pakistan, threatened to block any involvement. Delegates from Palau and other nations argued that excluding...
Kyodo News Digest: May 18, 2026
Japan’s government is weighing a supplemental FY2026 budget to offset soaring crude oil costs, extending subsidies that began in March and may soon cover household gas and utility bills. In Beijing, President Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping reaffirmed a...
Cat Feeding Habits Shaped by Smell: Japan Univ. Study
A study by Iwate University shows cats eat less when exposed repeatedly to the same food scent, but their intake rebounds when the smell changes, even if the food itself stays the same. Researchers fed twelve cats six times, noting...
Kyodo News Digest: May 13, 2026
SoftBank Group posted a fiscal 2025 net profit of 5.00 trillion yen ($31.7 billion), the highest ever for a Japanese firm, driven largely by its stake in OpenAI. Nissan Motor reported a fiscal 2025 net loss of 533.10 billion yen ($3.4 billion) despite an...
Kyodo News Digest: May 12, 2026
In a week of geopolitical and economic developments, President Donald Trump announced he will discuss U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with China’s Xi Jinping during their Beijing meeting, while G7 finance ministers plan to address AI‑driven cyber threats at their...
Trump Says He Will Discuss U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan with China's Xi
President Donald Trump announced he will raise U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Chinese President Xi during their upcoming Beijing talks. The discussion follows China’s objection to recent U.S. approvals, including a $11 billion weapons package approved in December. A senior...
3 Taken to Hospital After Unusual Odor Detected Inside JR Train Near Tokyo
A family of three was taken to hospital after a strange odor was reported on a JR Tokaido Line train traveling between Yokohama and Kawasaki on May 10, 2026. The 35‑year‑old mother experienced throat irritation, though no major injuries were recorded. Firefighters...
Kyodo News Digest: May 10, 2026
Japan’s iconic cruise ship Nippon Maru concluded a 35‑year service run, having ferried 600,000 passengers before docking in Yokohama for a farewell ceremony. The U.S. nuclear‑powered carrier George Washington departed its Yokosuka home port for a post‑maintenance voyage, underscoring the forward‑deployed naval...
Japan Cruise Ship Nippon Maru Bids Farewell to Fans After 35 Yrs of Sailing
The Nippon Maru, a 22,472‑ton cruise ship operated by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, completed its final voyage on May 10, 2026, ending a 35‑year career that carried roughly 600,000 passengers. Over 2,000 cruises, the vessel logged 5.3 million kilometres—about 133 trips around the globe—and...
Unmanned Lab Opens with Robots at Work as Researchers Push AI, Automation
Tokyo’s Institute of Science has inaugurated the Robotics Innovation Center, an unmanned laboratory staffed entirely by ten dual‑arm robots, including the humanoid Maholo LabDroid. The robots perform tasks such as reagent dispensing, equipment handling and cell‑culture operations, eliminating the need...
Japanese Cuisine Restaurant in Kyoto Awarded 3 Michelin Stars
Miyamaso, a Kyoto restaurant famed for its wild‑herb cuisine, has been awarded three Michelin stars in the 2026 Kyoto‑Osaka guide, marking the first three‑star rating in the region in six years. The promotion from two to three stars places Miyamaso...
Japan's Top Tourist Destinations Concentrated in Kyoto, 6 Other Prefectures
Japan’s inbound‑tourism hotspots are concentrated in just seven prefectures, with Kyoto (17 sites) and Hokkaido (16 sites) together accounting for 33 of the top 100 destinations in 2025. A joint Unerry‑Kyodo survey using smartphone location data found that 25 prefectures...
Kyodo News Digest: May 9, 2026
Top diplomats from the United States, Japan, Australia and India will convene in New Delhi to discuss reducing reliance on China for critical minerals, marking the first Quad foreign‑minister meeting since July 2025. Meanwhile, Japanese steelmaker JFE Holdings warns of an...
Bus Driver in Fatal Highway Crash in Japan Had History of Accidents
A 68‑year‑old bus driver in Fukushima was arrested after his minibus carrying a senior high‑school tennis team crashed into a guardrail, killing a 17‑year‑old student and injuring 20 others. Police say the driver, Tetsuo Wakayama, had been involved in multiple...
Basketball: Amazon Seeks NBA Fan Expansion in Japan as Views Catch On
Amazon Prime Video has launched an 11‑year exclusive deal to stream NBA games in Japan, marking a shift from Rakuten’s long‑standing broadcast rights. The platform delivered 67 regular‑season games and full playoff coverage this season, with the Spurs‑Thunder matchup drawing...
Middle East Oil Producers Eye S. Korean Reserve Bases Amid Hormuz Crisis
South Korea’s nine underground petroleum reserve bases, with a combined 146 million‑barrel capacity, are attracting interest from Gulf oil producers seeking to park crude amid the prolonged Strait of Hormuz blockade. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and others face full storage...
UFO Footage Disclosed by U.S. Shows Football-Shaped Object Near Japan
The U.S. Department of Defense released infrared video showing a football‑shaped unidentified anomalous phenomenon over the East China Sea near Japan. The nine‑second clip, captured in 2024 by an Indo‑Pacific Command platform, is part of the first batch of UAP...
Sony, TSMC Agree to Cooperate on Next-Generation Image Sensor Development
Sony Semiconductor Solutions and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced a joint venture to develop and produce next‑generation image sensors at Sony's new plant in Kumamoto, Japan. Sony will hold a majority stake, leveraging its sensor design expertise while TSMC contributes...
4th S. Korean Oil Tanker Successfully Transits Through Red Sea
South Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries confirmed that a fourth Korean‑flagged oil tanker successfully transited the Red Sea on May 8, 2026, after loading crude at Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port. The vessel is part of a new routing strategy that bypasses...
OPINION: Japan Lifts Curbs on Weapons Exports, but Strict Safeguards Are Essential
Japan has eliminated the “five‑category” restriction on arms exports, permitting the sale of lethal weapons even to countries in active conflict when “special security circumstances” exist. The policy shift aims to expand Japan’s defense industrial base, improve emergency readiness, and...
Kyodo News Digest: May 8, 2026
Toyota Motor Corp. posted 50.68 trillion yen ($32.3 bn) in FY 2025 sales, the first Japanese firm to break the 50‑trillion‑yen barrier, but its net profit fell 19% to 3.85 trillion yen due to higher U.S. tariffs. Sony Group’s FY 2025 net profit slipped 3.4%...
Sony Group FY 2025 Net Profit Falls 3.4% to 1.03 Tril. Yen
Sony Group reported FY2025 net profit of ¥1.03 trillion ($6.6 billion), a 3.4% decline driven by a ¥44.9 billion ($286 million) loss from scaling down its electric‑vehicle joint venture with Honda. Despite the dip, operating profit surged 13.4% to ¥1.45 trillion ($9.3 billion) as music streaming...
Public Lodging for Foreigners in Busan Nearly Fully Booked Ahead of June BTS Concert
Busan’s municipal government opened 400 public‑run accommodations for foreign visitors ahead of BTS’s June 12‑13 concert, and reservations are now almost sold out. The city’s reservation platform Nol Universe reported a mid‑80% booking rate for June 11‑12 and a 99.56% fill...
Kyodo News Digest: May 7, 2026
The G7 trade ministers pledged to resist economic coercion, targeting China’s export controls on critical minerals, while China urged continued negotiations to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Japan demonstrated its maritime capabilities by firing anti‑ship missiles in the Balikatan...
FOCUS: As One Unit at Three Mile Island Eyes Restart, Decommission of Other Stalls
Three Mile Island Unit 1 is slated to restart in 2027 under a 20‑year power purchase agreement with Microsoft, aiming to supply AI data centers with carbon‑free electricity. The $1.6 billion project, backed by a $1 billion DOE loan, promises over 3,000 jobs...
1 Killed in Crash in Fukushima Involving Bus Carrying High School Students
A bus transporting 20 high‑school tennis players from Niigata to practice in Tomioka, Fukushima, crashed into a guardrail on the Banetsu Expressway on May 7, 2026. The 68‑year‑old driver sustained minor injuries; one 17‑year‑old student, Hiroto Inagaki, was killed and five others...
Kyodo News Digest: May 5, 2026
Japan and South Africa agreed to deepen cooperation on critical mineral supply chains, aiming to attract corporate investment and revive South Africa's lagging economy. In Washington, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said President Donald Trump will urge China’s Xi Jinping to...
Avocado Farming Rises as Citrus-Making Japan City Eyes Global Warming
Matsuyama, a city famed for citrus, is rapidly expanding avocado cultivation as rising temperatures make traditional fruit harder to grow. Avocado output surged from roughly 600 kg in FY2015 to about 7,300 kg in FY2024, a more than 12‑fold increase, with fruit...
Travel by Trading Cards Reveals Finest Views of Iwate in Japan's Northeast
Iwate Nippo, a daily newspaper in Japan’s Iwate Prefecture, launched a collectible trading‑card series called “100 Views of Iwate.” The first batch features 26 high‑quality photographs of landscapes, landmarks and festivals, sold in random five‑card packs for 500 yen (≈$3). Each...
Kyodo News Digest: May 4, 2026
Japan and Australia announced a deepened partnership to secure critical minerals and energy supplies, issuing five joint outcome documents amid China’s rare‑earth dominance and Middle‑East tensions. Denso Corp. disclosed plans to develop a road‑embedded, wireless charging system for moving electric...
Denso Aims to Build System to Wirelessly Charge Moving EVs by FY 2029
Japanese auto parts supplier Denso, a Toyota affiliate, announced it aims to commercialize a wireless charging system that powers electric vehicles while they are in motion by fiscal 2029. In a September 2024 test at its Aichi headquarters, the prototype...
Olympics: IOC Puts Esports Activities on Hold Under New President Coventry
The International Olympic Committee has suspended the work of its Esports Commission, a move announced by President Kirsty Coventry. The decision follows the cancellation of the 2027 Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia and a broader review of the Olympic...
1st Major Renovation Planned for Japan's 90-Yr-Old Parliament Building
Japan will begin the first major overhaul of its 90‑year‑old National Diet Building in fiscal 2030, with work slated to run for about eight years. The renovation, estimated at ¥60‑70 billion ($382‑$446 million), will install a seismic‑isolation layer beneath the foundations while...
FEATURE: Origami Artist Builds International Enterprise From Folded Paper
Japanese patent attorney Taro Yaguchi has turned the traditional art of origami into a cross‑border business, operating studios in New York, Philadelphia and Tokyo while preparing a London outpost. He leveraged his IP expertise to create a six‑level curriculum, a tablet‑based...
INTERVIEW: Ukraine Open to Cooperating with Japan on Drones: Foreign Minister
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv is open to cooperating with Japan on drones and unmanned systems, contingent on Japan’s readiness. Japan is considering importing Ukrainian‑made drones to boost its defence amid a shifting security posture under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi....
Kyodo News Digest: May 1, 2026
Japanese authorities stepped into the foreign‑exchange market on Thursday, marking the first yen‑support intervention in 22 months, and pushed the currency from the low‑157 range to the mid‑155 per dollar level. The move sparked rapid speculation, delivering a brief but...
Yen Rises Sharply to 155 Level Vs. U.S. Dollar on Intervention Speculation
The Japanese yen surged to the mid‑155 per‑dollar level on Friday, spurred by speculation that authorities intervened after an overnight 5‑yen jump. A source close to the government confirmed yen‑buying action, pushing the currency from the upper‑160 range. The stronger...
Japanese Travelers to China Drastically Decrease Amid Diplomatic Row
Japanese outbound travel to China has collapsed, falling about 90% since Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s November remarks linking Japan to a potential Taiwan conflict. The sharp decline, driven by mass booking cancellations and airline flight cuts, coincides with a reciprocal...
ANA, JAL Eye Double-Digit Net Profit Drops in FY 2026 Amid Mideast Conflict
ANA Holdings and Japan Airlines both warned that FY 2026 net profit will tumble double‑digit percentages after posting record earnings last year. ANA expects a 43.2% plunge to ¥96 bn ($612 m), while JAL projects a 20.1% drop to ¥110 bn ($702 m), driven primarily...
Japan Seeks Iran's Assurance on Safe Hormuz Ship Passage: PM Takaichi
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urged Iran to guarantee safe passage for all vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, praising the recent transit of a Japanese‑owned oil tanker. She reiterated Tokyo’s strong hope for a swift resumption of U.S.–Iran negotiations...
Kyodo News Digest: April 30, 2026
Japan’s finance minister signaled that decisive action will be needed as the yen weakened past the ¥160 per dollar mark, its lowest since July 2024, amid heightened Middle East tensions. Japan Airlines reported a record FY2025 revenue of ¥2.01 trillion ($12.5 billion), a...
Kyodo News Digest: April 29, 2026
A Panama‑flagged Japanese‑owned tanker, Idemitsu Maru, loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, secured Iranian permission and transited the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, attending a May Day rally, vowed to sustain wage hikes as inflation pressures workers. Meanwhile, President...
Japan's Shizuoka Launches Unified Tea Brand, Logo to up Global Recognition
Shizuoka Prefecture unveiled a unified tea brand called “Japan Tea Shizuoka,” featuring a new logo that showcases Mt. Fuji over tea fields. The brand consolidates regional labels such as Kakegawa and Kawane and will market only first‑flush tea harvested, processed...
Hotel Stay Offers New Way to Support Animal Welfare in Northeast Japan
A new concept room at Yunomori Hotel Shidotaira in Hanamaki, Iwate, will let guests support animal welfare by staying in a nature‑themed space. The project, backed by Morioka Zoological Park Zoomo, seeks ¥5 million (≈ $31,300) through a crowdfunding campaign ending May 24....
Honda's P2 Humanoid Robot Recognized as "Milestone" For Smooth Walking
Honda announced that its 1996 P2 humanoid robot has been awarded an IEEE Milestone plaque, recognizing its pioneering smooth bipedal walking on uneven surfaces and stairs. The honor, given to technologies at least 25 years old, underscores P2’s role as the...
Kyodo News Digest: April 28, 2026
The Bank of Japan left its policy rate at roughly 0.75% but sharply lifted its FY 2026 inflation outlook, citing surging oil prices and hinting at a possible hike as early as June. Japan and Australia’s foreign ministers reconfirmed a free‑and‑open...
JAL, GMO to Test Using Humanoid Robots for Airport Ground Operations
Japan Airlines (JAL) and GMO Internet Group will launch a demonstration using humanoid robots to move passenger luggage at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport starting in May 2026. The trial, running through 2028, aims to assess labor‑efficiency gains amid rising travel demand...
Toyota Hits Record Global Sales for FY 2025, Lifted by Hybrid Models
Toyota Motor Corp. reported a record 10.48 million vehicles sold globally in fiscal 2025, a 2.0% increase over the prior year. The surge was driven primarily by strong demand for hybrid models in North America, where U.S. sales rose 7.7% to...
Philippine Officials Say 2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clash with Troops
Two American citizens were among 19 suspected New People’s Army (NPA) guerrillas killed in a clash with Philippine troops in Toboso, Negros Occidental on April 19. The anti‑insurgency task force identified the Americans and warned overseas Filipinos about “terror‑grooming” by left‑wing...