Japan News

Obama vows to deepen ties at start of Asia tour

AFP - Saturday, November 14

TOKYO (AFP) - - Barack Obama insisted on Friday that the United States was a "Pacific" power and vowed to deepen its engagement in the region as he set foot in Asia for the first time as US president. More »

  • Obama says base issue must be solved quickly

    AP - Saturday, November 14

    TOKYO - President Barack Obama says the U.S. and Japan will work quickly to resolve a dispute over American military bases on Okinawa.

  • Japan drops child-snatching case against US man

    AP - Friday, November 13

    TOKYO - Japanese prosecutors confirmed Friday that they have dropped the case against an American man arrested in Japan when he snatched his children from his ex-wife.

  • US-Japan summit to focus on nuclear arms, climate: reports

    US-Japan summit to focus on nuclear arms, climate: reports

    AFP - Friday, November 13

    TOKYO (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama plan to call for a nuclear-free world and cooperation in fighting climate change when they hold talks here on Friday, reports said.

  • Japan's emperor marks 20th anniversary on throne

    AP - Friday, November 13

    TOKYO - Tens of thousands of well-wishers lined the streets of Tokyo on Thursday for a parade on the 20th anniversary of the coronation of Emperor Akihito, who urged Japanese not to forget the lessons of World War II.

  • US, Japan to call for nuke-free world: reports

    US, Japan to call for nuke-free world: reports

    AFP - Friday, November 13

    TOKYO (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama plan to issue a joint statement calling for a world without nuclear weapons when they hold talks Friday, reports said.

  • Japan suspect in Briton's murder stays silent: police

    Japan suspect in Briton's murder stays silent: police

    AFP - Thursday, November 12

    TOKYO (AFP) - - Japan's only suspect in the killing of a British woman who was arrested after more than two years on the run has stayed silent during initial questioning, police said Wednesday.

  • Japan ruling party chief: Christianity 'exclusive'

    AP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO - A powerful member of Japan's ruling party criticized Christianity as an "exclusive" religion that is weighing down Western society.

  • Japan pledges $5 billion for Afghanistan

    Japan pledges $5 billion for Afghanistan

    AFP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO (AFP) - - Japan said Tuesday it would give up to five billion dollars in new aid to Afghanistan over the next five years to help rebuild the war-torn nation.

  • Obama urges Japan to keep US bases pact

    Obama urges Japan to keep US bases pact

    AFP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama urged Japan's new centre-left government on Tuesday to keep a pact allowing US bases on its territory, as both sides laid the groundwork for his visit to Tokyo this week.

  • Japan police arrest suspect in UK woman's murder

    Japan police arrest suspect in UK woman's murder

    AFP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO (AFP) - - Japanese police said on Tuesday they had arrested 30-year-old Tatsuya Ichihashi, the only suspect in the 2007 killing of British teacher Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22.

  • Obama says he wants to visit Hiroshima in future

    AP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO - President Barack Obama says he wants to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki sometime during his presidency but won't have time during this week's trip to Japan to go to the cities devastated by U.S. atomic bombs at the end of World War II.

  • Japan plans additional $5 billion for Afghanistan

    AP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO - Japan on Tuesday announced $5 billion in fresh aid to Afghanistan even as it plans to bring home refueling ships supporting U.S.-led forces there.

  • Marine base debate clouds US-Japan relations

    AP - Wednesday, November 11

    TOKYO - The deepening debate over the future of a major U.S. Marine base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa has opened a broad rift in Washington's most important alliance in Asia ahead of President Barack Obama's visit to the region this week.

  • Obama: US bases pact are in Japan's interest

    Obama: US bases pact are in Japan's interest

    AFP - Tuesday, November 10

    TOKYO (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama thinks a US military bases pact with Japan, now under review by a new government in Tokyo, serves Japan's interest and will continue, he said in comments broadcast Tuesday.

  • US senators press Japan on parental abductions

    US senators press Japan on parental abductions

    AFP - Tuesday, November 10

    WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Nearly one-quarter of the US Senate asked President Barack Obama on Monday to press Japan on his upcoming visit about parental abductions, saying Tokyo's policies were an anomaly among developed nations.

  • Japan actress Noriko Sakai convicted of drug use

    AP - Tuesday, November 10

    TOKYO - Japanese actress Noriko Sakai, once hugely popular in Asia, was convicted of drug use Monday as thousands of people crowded outside the courthouse in anticipation of the verdict.

  • Japan pop star Sakai gets suspended jail term for drug use

    Japan pop star Sakai gets suspended jail term for drug use

    AFP - Monday, November 9

    TOKYO (AFP) - - Japanese pop star Noriko Sakai was on Monday handed a suspended jail term of 18 months for illegal drug use in a case that sparked a media frenzy and had thousands gathering outside the court house.

  • Japanese protest US base before Obama visit

    AFP - Monday, November 9

    GINOWAN, Japan (AFP) - - Tens of thousands of Okinawan residents rallied Sunday against a US military base on the island, raising the heat in a simmering row days before US President Barack Obama is due in Japan.

  • Japan urges Myanmar to release Suu Kyi before poll

    Reuters - Sunday, November 8

    By Yoko Nishikawa