The Japan Times

In a rare interview about his high school days, Shohei Ohtani opens up about his upbringing in Iwate Prefecture and how the Great East Japan Earthquake shaped both his youth and future. 👉 ebx.sh/qHLOfD

Japan adopts bill aiming to address regional gaps in public transport services According to the transport ministry, there were about 2,000 areas lacking transportation nationwide as of April 2025.

Japan's government adopted on Tuesday a bill designed to eliminate areas underserved by transportation services such as buses and taxis, with measures including calling on municipalities to provide financial support.

Trump and Putin talk of war and peace as U.S. weighs easing Russian oil sanctions Such a move would help ease a supply crunch due to conflict in Iran, but also complicate U.S. efforts to deprive Russia of revenue for its war in Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, discussed the war in Iran and prospects for peace in Ukraine in their first phone call of 2026.

CRA might join national council on consumption tax cut after all Like the Democratic Party for the People, the party fears the political cost of not taking part in talks over the proposed consumption tax cut for food items.

In an about-face, the Democratic Party for the People says it will join a panel on social security while the Centrist Reform Alliance is also seriously considering it after both parties snubbed its inaugural meeting.

New Zealand COVID-19 curbs saved lives but brought social and fiscal costs The Royal Commission made 24 recommendations for improving preparedness for future pandemics, including assessments of fiscal resilience and clearer decision-making during crises.

An inquiry into New Zealand’s Covid-19 response found that while the country’s strict strategy helped limit infections and deaths, prolonged lockdowns and vaccine mandates imposed significant social and economic costs.

Seoul can't stop U.S. forces from redeploying weapons to Middle East, says Lee U.S. and South Korean militaries have been discussing possible redeployment of some U.S. Patriot missile defense systems based in South Korea.

South Korea can't stop U.S. forces in Korea from redeploying some weapons, President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday, after reports some U.S. Patriot missile defense systems were being sent to the conflict in the Middle East.

Second morning-after pill now available over the counter in Japan Lesoeru 72, which went on sale on Monday, joins NorLevo as the country’s only two emergency contraceptive medications that do not need a doctor’s prescription.

A second morning-after pill is now available over the counter in Japan following the commencement of sale of Lesoeru 72.

Spate of missile deployments point to ‘division of labor’ with Taiwan Japan, the U.S. and the Philippines are sending advanced missiles to sites that they hope will deter Chinese forces or keep them at bay in a conflict.

The Japanese, U.S. and Philippine deployment of advanced missiles near Taiwan are being welcomed in Taipei as a tacit “division of labor” designed to keep Chinese forces at bay in the event of a conflict.

Trump says he won't sign new bills into law until Republicans enact voting curbs The SAVE America Act would require those registering to vote to prove citizenship, and emerged in response to false claims people in the U.S. illegally were voting.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed Republican lawmakers to enact sweeping new voting restrictions to "guarantee" victory in November's midterm elections, saying he would not sign new bills into law until they do.

Fukushima industrial parks show successes and struggles 15 years on The 21 sites were built in coastal municipalities to revitalize the region, with the government offering lavish incentives.

Fifteen years after a major earthquake and tsunami devastated Fukushima, 21 industrial parks built in the prefecture’s coastal municipalities are exhibiting varying degrees of success.

Government panel to compile groundwater report that includes users’ nationalities In response to whether the panel might consider restricting foreign nationals’ access to groundwater, a land ministry official said discrimination was not the goal.

A Japanese government panel tasked with discussing groundwater use, including by foreign nationals, plans to compile a report by this summer amid concerns over foreign acquisitions of land and groundwater.

Mitsubishi Chemical cuts ethylene output due to possible supply issues Output of ethylene, used for plastics and other industrial products, is being reduced due to possible shortages of raw materials from the Middle East.

Mitsubishi Chemical has reduced output of ethylene, a material for plastics and other industrial products, to avoid a production halt due to possible supply shortages of raw materials from the Middle East.

Japan still struggles with disaster-related deaths 15 years later Fifteen years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake, but the government's declared goal of reducing indirect deaths to zero still appears far from being achieved.

As of the end of 2025, the cumulative number of deaths indirectly linked to the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake had reached 3,810, with little sign such losses will cease anytime soon.

G7 nations prepared for joint release of oil reserves amid Middle East strife If carried out, such a move would be the first in about four years since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The Group of Seven major industrialized nations are prepared for a joint release of oil reserves to address surging crude oil prices amid the war in Iran, their finance ministers say.

Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake The long-term consequences of disasters are often understudied once media attention shifts to newer crises elsewhere.

Commentary: Fifteen years after 3/11, we need to reassess the importance of sustained engagement in disaster recovery.

Takaichi says Iran war not a ‘survival-threatening situation’ for Japan Scrutiny of the Takaichi administration’s position on the conflict is increasing as she prepares for her summit with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month.

The Iran war does not constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan under its security legislation, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says.

Japan visa fee cap to surge more than tenfold under new immigration bill The Cabinet on Tuesday approved legislation to sharply raise the upper limit on fees for foreign nationals in the biggest revision of its kind in more than four decades.

Japan’s Cabinet has approved a bill to sharply raise the legal cap on immigration-related residence fees for foreign nationals — the biggest revision of its kind in more than four decades.

How one of Japan's deadliest disasters shaped Shohei Ohtani's life A global baseball icon opens up about his upbringing in Iwate and how a cataclysmic disaster shaped both his youth and future.

In a rare interview about his high school days, Shohei Ohtani opens up about his upbringing in Iwate Prefecture and how the Great East Japan Earthquake shaped both his youth and future.

Memorial event held to mark 81st anniversary of Tokyo air raid The massive U.S. air raid during World War II is believed to have killed about 100,000 people.

Japan on Tuesday marked the 81st anniversary of the massive U.S. air raid on Tokyo during World War II that is believed to have killed about 100,000 people.

Japan confirms economy expanded as Takaichi urges investment Gross domestic product rose at an annualized pace of 1.3% versus the prior quarter in the three months through December.

Japan’s economy expanded in the final quarter of 2025 more than initially reported thanks to stronger corporate investment, as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi urges further spending to develop key industries.

Ships brandish China links to weave through Strait of Hormuz Vessels are linking themselves to Iran’s most important economic partner in an attempt to reduce the risk of being targeted for Iranian attacks.

Ships anchored in the Persian Gulf or transiting the Strait of Hormuz are changing their tracking data to boast links to China in an attempt to evade Iranian attacks.

Five Iranian women’s soccer players granted humanitarian visas in Australia The remaining teammates are in a hotel on the Gold Coast, as Australia’s prime minister says help is available to the other players but it is up to them to accept it.

Australia on Tuesday granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women's soccer team players after they sought asylum fearing persecution in their home nation.

Asian airlines raise fares and mull groundings as fuel crunch looms Carriers in the region aren’t as well hedged against high oil prices as rivals in Europe or the U.S., making them more vulnerable to sudden surges in jet fuel prices.

Airlines in Asia are raising ticket prices and mapping out contingency plans that include grounding planes as the escalating Middle East conflict threatens to trigger the worst oil shock since the 1970s.

From 17th-century merchants to Meiji fiction, the humble umbrella traces commerce, belief and loneliness across Japanese history. 👉 ebx.sh/CVIRnY

Trump says war could be over soon as Iran rallies behind new hard-line leader The conflicting signals sent markets on a roller coaster, with oil prices surging and stock markets nosediving before swinging in the other direction.

Donald Trump predicted the war in the Middle East could be over soon, even as Iran's hard-liners staged a show of loyalty to new Supreme Leader.

15 years after the Tohoku quake, the road home remains uncertain for many In once-abandoned communities, life is cautiously returning as policymakers confront the staggering price of future recoveries.

I covered the 2011 Tohoku quake and nuclear disaster when it happened. 15 years later, I visited communities still shaped by displacement — from the still-sparsely populated town of Futaba to a new inland neighborhood built for tsunami survivors. My story: www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/03...

Japan’s Fukushima cleanup offers a blueprint for nuclear recovery The tsunami-devastated plant is taking a pioneering approach to the critical next phase of the world’s most complex cleanup operation.

Japan’s Fukushima cleanup offers a blueprint for nuclear recovery

Oil’s dramatic rally sends Japanese stocks, bonds and currency down Prices recovered later on Monday on reports of possible intervention.

Oil’s dramatic rally sends Japanese stocks, bonds and currency down

Trump's China visit likely won't yield breakthrough, with stability key goal Beijing has been frustrated with the Trump administration's last-minute planning for an event that normally takes months of painstaking preparations.

Trump's China visit likely won't yield breakthrough, with stability key goal

In unequivocal message to Trump, Iran elevates Khamenei son as successor Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment locks hard-liners firmly in control in Tehran, which could reshape Iran's war with the U.S. and Israel and reverberate far beyond the Middle East.

In unequivocal message to Trump, Iran elevates Khamenei son as successor