Japan

Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has pledged that Japan will continue its support for Ukraine while imposing strict sanctions on Russia. The Group of Seven foreign ministers held a session on Ukraine on Thursday on the southern Italian island of Capri. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and NATO…

Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te has met with a bipartisan delegation from Kosovo. They agreed to further strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and Kosovo. The group of parliament members led by former prime minister Avdullah Hoti is visiting Taiwan from Tuesday.The members met with Lai on Friday at the…

Leaders in Iran are playing down the impact of a drone attack that struck the heart of their country. US media say Israel is behind the attack. But Israeli leaders have not claimed responsibility. Iranian state TV showed multiple drones being shot down over the central city of Isfahan on Friday. The area is home…

The Japanese consulate in Karachi, Pakistan, says one Japanese man suffered minor injuries when the car he was in came under attack in the southern port city on Friday. The consulate says the Japanese national is a resident of Karachi. It says he is being treated at a hospital, but that his condition is not…

The foreign ministers of Germany and Britain have called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise restraint to prevent further confrontations in the Middle East. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her British counterpart, David Cameron, met Netanyahu in Israel on Wednesday.…

Episode 41: Ride-hailing in Japan How often do you use ride-hailing services? Three Kyodo News reporters -- Horiuchi-san, Eduardo and Donican -- talk about ride-hailing services that were recently launched in Tokyo to address a shortage of taxi drivers. Listen as they discuss their own experiences using similar services…

Official campaigning for three Lower House by-elections on April 28 began in Japan on Tuesday. In the No.1 district of Shimane Prefecture, the by-election is being held following the death of former Lower House speaker Hosoda Hiroyuki in November. So far, two people have filed their candidacies.…

A trial has begun in Tokyo involving three foreign-born residents who are seeking compensation from the central and local governments over alleged racial profiling by police. A hearing opened at the Tokyo District Court on Monday for the lawsuit filed by the plaintiffs who say they have been repeatedly stopped by…

Japan's Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko has denounced Iran's drone and missile attacks against Israel. In a statement released on Sunday, Kamikawa said Japan believes the attacks have further aggravated the situation in the Middle East. She expressed the Japanese government's deep concerns and strong condemnation.…

Japan's total population, including foreign residents, decreased last year for the 13th year in a row. The internal affairs ministry estimates that the total population stood at 124,352,000 as of October 1. The figure is a decline of 595,000, or 0.48 percent, from a year earlier. Both the quantity…