Former Prime Minister Taro Aso, vice president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Wednesday dismissed the party's past electoral cooperation with its former coalition partner, Komeito, as "nonsense." https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/japan-aso-blasts-komeito/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #taroaso #ldp #komeito #cra #osaka
Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa has been hospitalized and underwent surgery for chronic subdural hematoma, the prefectural government has said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/kanagawa-governor-hospitalization/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #yujikuroiwa #kanagawa #hospitals
The British Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that diplomat Corin Robertson has been appointed as the U.K.'s next ambassador to Japan, succeeding Julia Longbottom. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/new-uk-ambassador-japan/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #corinrobertson #ukjapanrelations
Rice gaffe haunts ex-farm minister Eto on campaign trail https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/japan-lower-house-election-miyazaki/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #2026lowerhouseelection #miyazaki #takueto #agriculture #rice
Despite little debate on the matter during campaigning, attention is being paid to the fact that parties in favor of constitutional changes may secure two-thirds of Lower House seats, making major revisions possible. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/constitutional-revisions-key-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #ldp #sdf #constitution #2026lowerhouseelection #nipponishinnokai #dpp #cra #jcp #reiwashinsengumi #sanaetakaichi
Several parties are taking a hard-line stance in relation to foreign residents in Japan ahead of the country’s general election, including by proposing population caps. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/foreigner-measures-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #diet #expats #immigration #livinginjapan #nationality #foreignworkers #nipponishinnokai #sanseito #cra #2026lowerhouseelection
A video message from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, posted on YouTube by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has garnered over 100 million views — a rarity for a political video. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/takaichi-video-message/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #sanaetakaichi #2026lowerhouseelection #youtube #ldp #socialmedia
Ever since Japan’s Lower House election campaigning kicked off late last month, one question has lingered in the minds of many: Where will Komeito’s votes go? https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/05/japan/politics/reportage-hyogo-8-election/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #cra #ldp #nipponishinnokai #hyogo #amagasaki #2026lowerhouseelection
The Tokyo High Court will decide on March 4 whether to back a lower court's order for the Unification Church to disband itself, informed sources have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/unification-church-ruling/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #unificationchurch
Japan’s long experiment with massive government debt and suppressed interest rates is unraveling as inflation returns, bond yields rise and the yen weakens. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2026/02/04/japan/japan-bond-markets-warning-for-america/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #commentary #japan #bonds #markets #fed #boj #inflation #monetarypolicy #japaneseeconomy #useconomy
Charlie Stross
boosted
This 7-Eleven at the Ōzumi Parking Area in Niigata went viral for its message telling people exhausted from driving in the snow to use the store to warm up. "No need to buy anything. Your smile is the greatest gift. We wish you a safe trip." The sign was also posted in English.
2 media
This 7-Eleven at the Ōzumi Parking Area in Niigata went viral for its message telling people exhausted from driving in the snow to use the store to warm up. "No need to buy anything. Your smile is the greatest gift. We wish you a safe trip." The sign was also posted in English.
2 media
A month of heavy snowfall has revived Japan’s ski resorts after a slow start to the season, drawing renewed interest from Americans and other overseas visitors in search of fresh powder. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/ski-season-heavy-snow-visitors/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #snow #tourism #wintersports #hokkaido #meteorologicalagency #niseko #hakuba #us
Greg Lloyd
boosted
Tokyo police arrested a 40-year-old nursery school teacher on Wednesday on suspicion of indecent assault on an elementary school boy during an accommodation event hosted by an after-school child care center. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/crime-legal/nursery-teacher-sexual-abuse/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #crimelegal #sexcrimes #daycare #tokyo #japanesepolice
Japan warned of possible avalanches in the country’s northern regions on Wednesday as the temperature suddenly rose after two weeks of extreme snowfall that paralyzed traffic and collapsed houses. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/japan-avalanche-warning/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #snow #aomori #niigata
Team Mirai — a small, 9-month-old party — could win more seats in Sunday’s general election than its more established peers such as the Japanese Communist Party and Reiwa Shinsengumi, the results of a weekend poll show. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/team-mirai-takahiro-anno/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #teammirai #takahiroanno #ai #2026lowerhouseelection
A total of 117 lawmakers said they believed Japan should sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a survey by atomic bomb survivor group Nihon Hidankyo has shown. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/politics/hidankyo-survey-lawmakers-nuclear-ban-treaty/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #politics #nuclearweapons #surveys #atomicbombings #diet
A popular annual snow festival kicked off in Sapporo on Wednesday, showcasing 210 ice and snow sculptures across three venues. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/02/04/japan/sapporo-snow-festival/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #sapporo #hokkaido #snow #tourism #festivals