Premium watermelons in Hokkaido

Premium watermelons in Hokkaido

A Densuke watermelon, a specialty of Toma town in Hokkaido, is pictured after fetching 700,000 yen ($4,350) at the season's first auction at a wholesale market in the nearby city of Asahikawa on the northernmost main island of Japan on June 19, 2026.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (far R) stands after parliament enacted a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 in Tokyo on June 5, 2026.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japan's House of Councillors passes a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 5, 2026, marking its enactment as the budget was earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (front, R) stands after parliament enacted a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 in Tokyo on June 5, 2026.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (far R) stands after parliament enacted a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 in Tokyo on June 5, 2026.

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

FY2026 supplementary budget enacted

Japan's House of Councillors passes a 3.11 trillion yen ($19 billion) supplementary budget for fiscal 2026 during a plenary session in Tokyo on June 5, 2026, marking its enactment as the budget was earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

Japan's suspected currency intervention

Japan's suspected currency intervention

Photo taken on March 19, 2026, shows the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. The Finance Ministry and the BOJ likely spent an additional 4 trillion yen during the Golden Week holiday in early May to arrest the yen's further fall following a yen-buying operation on April 30.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates

YICHANG, CHINA - DECEMBER 19, 2025 - Japanese yen banknotes captured in Yichang City, Hubei Province, China on December 19, 2025.

Dollar tops 157 yen

Dollar tops 157 yen

A monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo shows the dollar topping 157 yen for the first time in about five months on Dec. 19, 2024.

US: Airport Fire Expands In Southern California, Destroys Homes 3

Airport Fire burning in Orange and Riverside Counties, Southern California has grown to more than 23,000 acres as of Wednesday morning, September 11. The fire injured at least seven people and destroyed homes.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

The World's Fourth Largest Payment Currency Chinese Yuan

YICHANG, CHINA - JULY 19, 2024 - Chinese Yuan is displayed in Yichang, Hubei province, July 19, 2024. On July 18, according to the latest data released by the Society for Worldwide Banking Financial Telecommunication (Swift), in June 2024, in the global payment currency ranking based on the amount of statistics, the RMB maintained the position of the fourth most active currency in the world, accounting for 4.61%, an increase from 4.47% in the previous month. This is the eighth consecutive month that the global payment ranking of RMB has remained the fourth place in the world, and it is also the eighth consecutive month that it has surpassed the yen.

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

TOKYO,Japan, June 19 Kyodo -The printing of new Japanese banknotes is shown to the media at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024, ahead of the issuance of new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills on July 3.(Kyodo)

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Photo shows a holographic image of Japanese industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa printed on a new 10,000 yen banknote at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024, ahead of its issuance on July 3. The image appears to rotate depending on the viewing angle.

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Combined photo shows holographic images of Japanese industrialist Eiichi Shibusawa that will appear on new 10,000 yen banknotes to be issued on July 3, at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024. The image appears to rotate depending on the viewing angle.

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

The printing of new Japanese banknotes is shown to the media at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024, ahead of the issuance of new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills on July 3.

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

The printing of new Japanese banknotes is shown to the media at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024, ahead of the issuance of new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills on July 3.

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

Printing of new Japanese banknotes

The printing of new Japanese banknotes is shown to the media at a National Printing Bureau plant in Tokyo on June 19, 2024, ahead of the issuance of new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen bills on July 3.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Japanese Yen

Japanese Yen

YICHANG, CHINA - JUNE 19, 2024 - Citizens display Japanese yen in Yichang, Hubei province, China, June 19, 2024.

Premium melons from Hokkaido

Premium melons from Hokkaido

A pair of premium melons, produced in Yubari in Hokkaido, fetch 3 million yen ($19,000) at the first auction of the year in Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japan prefecture, on May 24, 2024.

Premium melons from Hokkaido

Premium melons from Hokkaido

A pair of premium melons, produced in Yubari in Hokkaido, fetch 3 million yen ($19,000) at the first auction of the year in Sapporo, the capital of the northern Japan prefecture, on May 24, 2024.

Kirin to sell spoon to enhance salty taste

Kirin to sell spoon to enhance salty taste

Photo taken on May 20, 2024, shows a spoon developed by Kirin Holdings Co. that uses a faint electrical current to enhance salty and umami flavors, with online sales of the product to start the same day priced at 19,800 yen ($125). Meiji University Professor Homei Miyashita, who jointly developed the technology, won the Ig Nobel Nutrition prize in 2023.

Japan's 2023 core inflation hits 41-year high

STORY: Japan's 2023 core inflation hits 41-year high SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 19, 2024 DATELINE: Jan. 19, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cities in Japan STORYLINE: Japan's core consumer prices rose 3.1 pct in 2023 from the previous year, marking the fastest growth in 41 years, the government said in a report on Friday. The core consumer price index (CPI) for the year, excluding fresh food prices because of their volatility, came in at 105.2 against the 2020 base of 100, with its pace of increase fastening from 2.3 percent in 2022, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. The yearly increase, which remained above the Bank of Japan's 2 percent inflation target for the second consecutive year, marked the highest level since 1983. It came despite government subsidies to lower household utility bills, underscoring higher import costs that were inflated by a sharp drop of the yen, a byproduct of the Bank of Japan's monetary easing,

Japan OKs FY 2024 budget, defense spending reaches new high

STORY: Japan OKs FY 2024 budget, defense spending reaches new high SHOOTING TIME: Earlier footage DATELINE: Dec. 24, 2023 LENGTH: 0:01:48 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of cities in Japan 2. various of Japanese military exercises 3. various of Okinawa Self-Defense Force Military Base (taken on November 27 and 28, 2023) STORYLINE: The Japanese government on Friday adopted a draft budget of 112.07 trillion yen (about 787 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal year 2024, with defense spending hitting an all-time high for the 10th straight year. The figure approved by the cabinet for the fiscal period from April 2024 to March 2025 marked the first drop in 12 years amid shrinking emergency funding related to COVID-19. The budget, although smaller than the record 114.38 trillion yen allocated for the current business year to March, is still the second-largest, underscoring the urgency for debt-ridden Japan to rein in spending and restore its fiscal health, national news agency Kyodo reported

[Breaking News]Toshiba Corp. to delist from Tokyo Stock Exchange

TOKYO, Japan Kyodo - Video shows Toshiba Corp.'s closing price at 4,590 yen on an electronic signboard at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Dec. 19, 2023, the last day of trading on the exchange. The Japanese conglomerate will be delisted from the bourse on Dec. 20, ending its 74-year history as a public company. (Kyodo)

Toshiba Corp. to delist from Tokyo Stock Exchange

Toshiba Corp. to delist from Tokyo Stock Exchange

Photo shows Toshiba Corp.'s closing price (top, C) at 4,590 yen on an electronic signboard at the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Dec. 19, 2023, the last day of trading on the exchange. The Japanese conglomerate will be delisted from the bourse on Dec. 20, ending its 74-year history as a public company.