UK

Britain inks first big post-Brexit trade pact with Japan

Editorial Bureau October 23, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – In what is seen as a first major post-Brexit trade deal, Britain inked an agreement with Japan on Friday. This comes as the country is struggling to agree to a deal with its trading partners in the European bloc. “How fitting it is to be in the land of the rising sun

Asia

Indonesia, Japan look for stronger security

Editorial Bureau October 20, 2020

JAKARTA (JAPAN) – Japan and Indonesia agreed on Tuesday to fasten talks with the export of Japanese defence gear and technology to Indonesia. They will have both their defence and foreign ministers meet soon. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is on a four-day trip to Vietnam and Indonesia, his first after assuming office last month. […]

Asia

Japan, Vietnam reach agreement to boost trade, security

Editorial Bureau October 19, 2020

HANOI (VIETNAM) – Japan and Vietnam reached an agreement on Monday to bolster security and economic ties and this will pave the way for Tokyo to export military equipment and technology to Hanoi. This comes amid concerns about China’s rising clout in the region. “It is a big step in the field of security for […]

Sport

Japan to test pandemic countermeasures at near-capacity baseball stadium

Editorial Bureau October 16, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – In the wake of Japan examining ways to test its coronavirus countermeasures for mega events ahead of the Tokyo Games next year, it will conduct three baseball matches at Yokohama Stadium at around 80% capacity later this month. As part of efforts to stem the spread of the pandemic, professional sports arenas […]

Asia

Japan PM pledges to give his best to organise Tokyo Olympics next year

Editorial Bureau October 16, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga pledged on Friday to do “whatever it takes” to organise the Tokyo Olympics next year. He said he would be working closely with the International Olympics Committee and its Japan chapter. Speaking at a town hall at Kyodo News, Suga added that he would combine measures to […]

Asia

Foreign ministers of Japan, Australia and India discuss strategic ties

Editorial Bureau October 7, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – The foreign ministers of Japan and Australia held talks on Wednesday on broadening security measures and deeper cooperation in the wake of changing regional conditions. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held discussions with Australia’s Marise Payne a day after talks between the foreign ministers of Japan, the United States, Australia

Asia

Pompeo visits Tokyo to bolster support among Asian allies to counter Beijing clout

Editorial Bureau October 6, 2020

TOKYO/SYDNEY (JAPAN/AUSTRALIA) – In a bid to find support to tackle the dangerous regional clout of China, which is on the rise, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday to meet with Washington’s closest Asian allies – Japan, Australia and India. He was originally slated to visit Mongolia and South Korea. […]

Sport

Mikako Kotani is Tokyo Olympics sports director

Editorial Bureau September 30, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – Mikako Kotani, who won two bronze medals for Japan in the 1988 Olympics, was announced the sports director of the 2020 Tokyo Games. He will take over from October 1, the organising committee said on Wednesday. Kotani, 54, will be taking the place of Koji Murofushi, who was named the commissioner of […]

Asia

Japan health workers overlook COVID-19 database

Editorial Bureau September 30, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – Japanese health workers are overlooking the government’s real-time COVID-19 database, which was brought forth in the middle of the pandemic to effectively deal with outbreaks. This has indicated that the new prime minister’s goal of digitising the government would face new hurdles. A health ministry survey showed this week that only 40%

Tech

Labour-strapped Japan restaurants to get SoftBank’s food service robot

Editorial Bureau September 28, 2020

TOKYO (JAPAN) – In the wake of Japanese restaurants struggling with labour shortage and social distancing norms during the pandemic scourge, SoftBank’s robotics arm announced on Monday it will introduce a food service robot developed by Bear Robotics of California. Named Servi, the robot sports layers of trays and has 3D cameras and Lidar sensors […]