LDP lawmakers call for cautious approach to constitutional amendment

July 6, 2017

TOKYO- A number of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers called for a cautious approach to revising Japan’s constitution at a meeting of the ruling party’s task force on the issue on Wednesday, in the aftermath of its historic defeat in Sunday’s Tokyo metropolitan assembly

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Honda N-Box top-selling car for 1st time in Jan.-June

July 6, 2017

TOKYO- Honda Motor Co.’s N-Box minivehicle topped Japan’s new vehicle sales rankings for the first time on a half-year basis in January-June, industry data showed Thursday. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius hybrid retreated to second place. Nissan Motor Co.’s Note subcompact

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Kishida, Tillerson agree to increase pressure on North Korea

July 6, 2017

BRUSSELS- Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Wednesday agreed that the international community should increase pressure on North Korea to stop its provocations. In their telephone talks, the two ministers shared the view that North

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Upper House deliberations on favoritism scandal Mon.

July 6, 2017

TOKYO- The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Democratic Party agreed Wednesday to hold off-session House of Councillors deliberations on Monday, mainly to discuss alleged favoritism by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over a controversial school plan. The deliberations will take place

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Search operations start in 2 southwest Japan prefectures after record rainfall

July 6, 2017

FUKUOKA/OITA- Self-Defense Forces troops, police officers and others started their search operations in full scale in the small hours of Thursday in the southwestern Japan prefectures of Fukuoka and Oita, where around 10 people remain unaccounted for after record rainfall

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North Korea claims ICBM test-firing successful

July 5, 2017

SEOUL- North Korea has succeeded in test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile, called Hwasong-14, state-run Korean Central Television reported Tuesday. If the report is true, this would be the first time for North Korea to have successfully tested an ICBM, sources familiar

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Japan to use part of casino profits to fight gambling addiction

July 5, 2017

Tokyo- The Japanese government on Tuesday proposed the creation of a system to collect some of the profits from casinos, to be set up as part of so-called integrated resorts, and use part of the money for measures to fight gambling addiction.

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EU likely to abolish tariff on Japanese cars over 7 years

July 5, 2017

Tokyo- The European Union has decided to scrap its 10 pct tariff on passenger cars made in Japan over seven years under an envisaged bilateral economic partnership agreement, informed sources said Wednesday. The EU has also agreed to eliminate its

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