Kyodo News Digest: March 24, 2026
Japan will begin releasing oil from its strategic reserves on Thursday to blunt rising fuel prices triggered by the U.S.–Israel‑Iran conflict, while the cabinet also approved mandatory ID checks for data‑only SIM cards to curb fraud. At the same time, duty‑free sales to Chinese visitors plunged about 40% in February as diplomatic tensions deterred tourists. These actions illustrate Tokyo’s multi‑front effort to protect its economy and security amid heightened geopolitical risk.
Operator of X Denies Japan Gov't Request to Extend Data Retention Period
The Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications asked X Corp. to extend its data‑retention window for communication logs to three‑to‑six months to aid defamation investigations. X declined, saying its internal standard of one to two months would become costly...
Taiwan Mandopop Star Jay Chou Returns with Ambitious New Album
Taiwanese Mandopop icon Jay Chou is set to release his first album in nearly four years, Children of the Sun, his 16th studio record featuring 13 tracks. The digital launch arrives on Wednesday, with a physical edition slated for April,...
S. Korea, Mongolia Discuss Accelerating Economic Partnership Negotiations
South Korea and Mongolia are working to accelerate a stalled comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) that would deepen cooperation on critical minerals. Negotiations have been at an impasse since November 2024 over market‑opening concerns and rules of origin. Korean trade officials...
Japan PM Says to Mull Stopgap Measure in Case Budget Fails to Pass by March
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government will draft a stopgap spending measure if the FY2026 regular budget fails to secure upper‑house approval before April 1. The regular budget, worth ¥122.31 trillion (≈$773 billion), cleared the lower house but faces a minority...
North Korea to Nix Summit Talks with Japan if Abduction Issue on Agenda
North Korea’s senior official Kim Yo Jong warned that Pyongyang will not hold summit talks with Japan if the abduction of Japanese citizens is on the agenda. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, is seeking...
Kyodo News Digest: March 22, 2026
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signaled that Japan could dispatch Self‑Defense Forces minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz once a cease‑fire ends the Iran‑U.S./Israel conflict. The G7 jointly urged Iran to halt its retaliatory attacks on neighboring civilian and energy...
Japan Hints at SDF Dispatch for Minesweeping in Hormuz After Cease-Fire
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi signaled that Japan could dispatch Self‑Defense Forces minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz if a cease‑fire ends the Iran‑U.S./Israel conflict. He highlighted Japan’s world‑class minesweeping technology and tied the potential mission to the need for...
Kyoto Medical Firm to Launch Personal iPS Cell Storage Service
Kyoto-based iPS Portal Inc. will launch a personal induced pluripotent stem cell storage service in April, allowing individuals to generate iPS cells from their own blood for future clinical use. The service, developed with pharmaceutical experts, will cost between 10 million...
TEPCO Delays Commercial Operation of Recently Restarted Nuclear Reactor
Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) announced a delay in the commercial operation of its No. 6 reactor at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa plant, the first unit restarted after the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The postponement follows a small‑scale electricity leak detected on a power...
Kyodo News Digest: March 15, 2026
The United States and China launched high‑level trade talks in Paris, setting the stage for a Trump‑Xi summit in Beijing at the end of March. Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party signaled a cautious stance on a potential Self‑Defense Forces ship‑escort...
FEATURE: Japan Opens "Sky Paths" For Drones to Inspect Power Lines
Japan is establishing government‑approved "sky paths" for drones to patrol and inspect power‑line networks, targeting a 40,000 km corridor by fiscal 2035. Early routes already cut inspection time from over eight hours with two workers to about three hours with a...
U.S. Sanctions 2 Entities, 6 Individuals over Raising Money for N. Korea
The U.S. Treasury on March 13 sanctioned two companies and six individuals for operating overseas IT networks that funneled money to North Korea. The schemes, which included malware attacks and data theft, generated roughly $800 million for Pyongyang’s weapons programs in...
FEATURE: Beloved Station Melodies Fade as JR East Pursues Cost Cuts
East Japan Railway Co. (JR East) is phasing out its iconic station departure melodies as it expands one‑man train operations and upgrades broadcasting equipment. The change, already implemented on several Tokyo‑area stations such as Kawasaki and Noborito, replaces locally‑crafted tunes...
Kyodo News Digest: March 13, 2026
Japan and the United States announced plans to broaden classified information sharing between their defense forces, aiming to boost deterrence and response capabilities. In parallel, the United States and China will hold high‑level talks in Paris ahead of a Trump‑Xi...
Fragrant Flower Lei, Synonymous with Hawaii, Face Competition From Cheaper Imports
Hawaii’s iconic purple lei are largely composed of odorless orchids cultivated in Thailand rather than locally grown blooms. State lawmakers have introduced bills that would require labeling and a minimum percentage of Hawaii‑grown flowers for lei purchased by government agencies,...
40 Years on Stage, S. Korean Soprano Sumi Jo Says Music Can 'Change People'
South Korean soprano Sumi Jo commemorates four decades since her 1986 stage debut with the "Mad for Love" concert at London’s Cadogan Hall. The program spans baroque works, opera arias and Korean art songs, featuring young baritone Edward Nelson as...
OPINION: U.S. Top Court's Decision on Trump Tariffs Highlights Separation of Powers
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed by President Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are unconstitutional, emphasizing that taxing authority resides with Congress. The decision focuses on separation of powers rather than partisan ideology. It...
Japan Economy Grows 1.3% in Oct.-Dec., Revised up, on Stronger Investment
Japan’s October‑December GDP was revised up to an annualised 1.3 percent, reversing two quarters of contraction. The upgrade reflects stronger business investment, with capital spending rising 1.3 percent, and a modest lift in private consumption of 0.3 percent. Nominal GDP also jumped to...
Kyodo News Digest: March 10, 2026
Kyodo News highlighted several pivotal developments on March 10, 2026. Japan’s October‑December GDP was revised up to a 1.3% annualised gain, while household spending slipped 1% year‑on‑year in January. The G7 finance ministers discussed a coordinated oil‑reserve release to stabilise...
Tokyo Stocks Rise, Nikkei up 4%, on News of U.S.-Iran Cease-Fire Efforts
Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei index briefly spiked over 4% on Thursday, settling up 1.9% at 55,278 points, while the broader Topix also rose 1.9% to 3,702.67. The rally was sparked by reports that the United States and Iran were negotiating a...
Lee Orders Swift Execution of 100 Tln-Won Financial Package Amid Middle East Crisis
South Korean President Lee Jae‑Myung ordered an immediate rollout of a 100 trillion‑won (US $68.3 billion) financial package to stabilise capital markets amid the escalating Middle East conflict. The plan targets volatility in stocks and exchange rates while explicitly avoiding direct government share...
Japan's Consumption Tax Suspension May Not Result in Lower Food Prices
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi plans to suspend Japan’s 8 percent consumption tax on food for two years to ease inflation pressures. The proposal meets skepticism from economists and small‑business groups who argue the cut may not translate into lower retail prices....
Kyodo News Digest: Feb. 27, 2026
The Japanese government became Rapidus Corp.’s largest shareholder, acquiring 11.5% voting rights and a 40% economic stake for 100 billion yen to bolster domestic chip production. A China‑linked individual used ChatGPT to draft a disinformation campaign against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi,...
Kyodo News Digest: Feb. 16, 2026
Japan's economy posted a modest 0.2% annualized growth in Q4 2025, its first expansion in two quarters, as consumer spending rose slightly while exports fell under U.S. tariff pressure. TEPCO began trial electricity transmission from unit 6 at the Kashiwazaki‑Kariwa nuclear...