Japan

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Report: Trump Warns Japan Against Provoking China

WSJ reports that president spoke to Takaichi after Xi focused on Taiwan in phone call

(Newser) - President Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan's sovereignty following a heated call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing officials familiar with the discussions. The warning came after Takaichi suggested that Japan might respond militarily if China attacked...

As China Raises Stakes, Taiwan Unveils $40B Defense Spree

Taiwan cites China's military buildup in its announcement of new defense budget

(Newser) - As China ramps up military activity near Taiwan, the island's president announced a fresh $40 billion defense budget to shore up its defenses. President Lai Ching-te unveiled the plan for the supplementary budget on Wednesday, citing what he described as an "unprecedented military buildup" by Beijing and stepped-up...

What's Behind New Tensions Between Japan and China
Japan's New
Female PM
Ticks Off China
in a Big Way
the rundown
Nov 24, 2025 10:19 AM CST

Japan's New Female PM Ticks Off China in a Big Way

Sanae Takaichi remarks about Taiwan have set off a major diplomatic row

(Newser) - Japan's first female prime minister took office only last month , but Sanae Takaichi's reign already has been memorable: Her comments about Taiwan have brought Japan's relations with China to their lowest point in years, and the tensions have international implications. Coverage:
  • The start: Earlier this month, when
...

Japan's First Female PM Dodges a Sumo Controversy

Sanae Takaichi would likely not be allowed in the ring to present a trophy

(Newser) - It appears that Japan's first female prime minister will not be trying to upend a centuries-old tradition: the idea that women can't enter the sumo wrestling ring. Previous Japanese leaders have handed out the trophy at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo, which wrapped up on...

It's a Sign Things Are Getting Worse Between China, Japan

China on Wednesday halted recently restarted seafood imports from Japan

(Newser) - Japan in early November resumed exporting seafood to China—but those shipments look to be short-lived. As tensions rise between the two countries over new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Nov. 7 comments about potential military action against China if Taiwan were to be attacked, China on Wednesday said...

The Bomb Threats Bear His Name. He Didn't Make Them

The Japanese lawyer whose name appears on them isn't sending them

(Newser) - A mysterious wave of bomb threats signed "Takahiro Karasawa" has been confounding authorities in a number of Asian countries, and as the New York Times reports, the mystery is an odd one. For starters, the real Takahiro Karasawa is a Japanese lawyer who says he has no hand in...

The Monkey Chasing Squad Battles Problematic Primates

50 paid, part-time civil servants try to control the monkeys in Japan's Northern Alps

(Newser) - In the foothills of Japan's Northern Alps, people are chasing monkeys. Wearing bright orange vests, the humans ring bells, blow whistles, and strike rocks and trees with walking sticks as they weave through bamboo and brush. Using GPS trackers, they follow the monkeys' movements and radio teammates to close...

New Japan PM's 3am Staff Meeting Does Not Go Over Well

Sanae Takaichi's 3am 'study session' with aides is drawing criticism

(Newser) - Japan's new prime minister , Sanae Takaichi, is facing criticism after holding a staff meeting at 3am ahead of a budget appearance in the nation's parliament. Takaichi, known for her relentless work ethic and disdain for talk of work-life balance, convened what local media is calling a "study...

After Bears Kill 12 in 6 Months, Japan Sends In the Troops

Self-defense forces arrive in Akita to set traps as part of culling effort

(Newser) - Japan has deployed its military to assist in managing a record surge of bear attacks in the northern prefecture of Akita, where residents have grown increasingly alarmed by frequent encounters with the animals near schools, train stations, and supermarkets. "It has affected how people live their lives, forcing them...

New Player in US-Japan Talks: The Ford F-150
'Go Out and Buy a Toyota':
Trump Deploys Car Diplomacy
the rundown
Oct 28, 2025 11:05 AM CDT

'Go Out and Buy a Toyota': Trump Deploys Car Diplomacy

Japanese prime minister displays a Ford F-150 as Trump urges US troops to buy Toyotas

(Newser) - President Trump met with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, but Reuters notes that another American figure has emerged as a symbol of international trade talks—the Ford F-150. Coverage:
  • Takaichi made a point to have a shiny F-150 parked in the courtyard of Akasaka Palace, where the
...

Shinzo Abe's Killer Confesses
Shinzo Abe's Killer Confesses
Oct 28, 2025 8:59 AM CDT

Shinzo Abe's Killer Confesses

Tetsuya Yamagami admits to 2022 assassination, will challenge firearms violation

(Newser) - The man accused of assassinating Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe pleaded guilty to murder on Tuesday, nearly three years after the shocking daylight killing rocked a nation unaccustomed to gun violence. "Everything is true," Tetsuya Yamagami declared in a Nara courtroom at the start of his...

Trump Praises Ultraconservative Japan PM

Two nations hail 'golden age' of alliance, cooperation

(Newser) - President Trump began one of his busiest days of his Asia trip on Tuesday by warmly greeting Japan's new, ultraconservative prime minister , with plans to later speak to US troops aboard an aircraft carrier and mingle with business leaders, the AP reports. Although Trump is visiting one of America'...

Japan Might Use Military to Cull Bears

Bear attacks have killed a record 9 people this year

(Newser) - A surge in bear attacks has pushed Japan's Akita prefecture to consider an unusual step: calling in the military to cull bears. Gov. Kenta Suzuki announced on social media that he plans to request military assistance as early as Tuesday, citing the "exhaustion" of local responders. The move...

On Trump's Trip, One Longshot Is a Meeting With Kim Jong Un

President leaves for Asia on Friday night

(Newser) - President Trump leaves for a high-profile tour of Asia on Friday night, his first visit to the region since returning to office. The big event is an expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, though Reuters notes that much uncertainty exists over how substantive it will be. Meanwhile, speculation is...

5 Things to Know About Japan's First Female Prime Minister

Sanae Takaichi is conservative, and also a heavy-metal drummer

(Newser) - Japan has its first-ever female prime minister after the nation's parliament elected 64-year-old Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday. A few highlights about her from various outlets:
  • Takaichi is nicknamed the "Iron Lady" of Japan because of her admiration of the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, reports the BBC
...

Japan Has Its First Female Prime Minister

Parliament elects ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi

(Newser) - Japan's parliament elected ultraconservative Sanae Takaichi, new leader of the country's long-governing conservative Liberal Democratic Party , as the country's first female prime minister Tuesday, a day after her struggling party struck a coalition deal with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the...

The Countries With the Most American Expats

Mexico tops the list of nations hosting the most Americans

(Newser) - Millions of Americans live outside of the United States, according to the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, which recently updated its stats to see which countries host the most former residents of the USA. AARO's analysis used census data culled by the UN and from the US Census Bureau,...

In Japan, a Bear Does His Grocery Shopping

And recent attacks highlight rising bear encounters in rural Japan

(Newser) - Arizona isn't alone with its bold ursine population : A bear wandered into a grocery store in Numata, Japan, on Tuesday, causing panic and leaving two men with minor injuries. The 4.5-foot animal, likely agitated and confused, entered through the front door and spent about four minutes inside,...

Japan's Likely New PM Is a Margaret Thatcher Fan

Hard-line conservative Sanae Takaichi, set to lead governing party, would be nation's first female PM

(Newser) - Japan's governing party on Saturday elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, a hard-line ultra-conservative and China hawk, as its new leader, making her likely to become the country's first female prime minister. In a country that ranks poorly internationally for gender equality, the 64-year-old Takaichi makes history...

Japan Braces for Shortage of Its Favorite Beer

Cyberattack has halted Asahi's operations

(Newser) - A major cyberattack has brought Asahi's Japanese operations to a halt, leaving convenience stores and supermarkets across the country bracing for a shortage of the nation's best-selling beer and bottled tea. The cyberattack hit ordering and delivery systems, forcing Asahi Group, the nation's largest brewer and...

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