Japan's suspected currency intervention

Japan's suspected currency intervention

Photo taken on May 3, 2026, shows Japan's Finance Ministry in Tokyo. The ministry and the Bank of Japan 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.

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.

Japan's intervention to stem yen's fall vs. dollar

Japan's intervention to stem yen's fall vs. dollar

A monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, shows a graph of dollar/yen exchange rate movements, including the dollar's sudden plunge on April 30. Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market that day to stem the dollar's surge to the upper 160 yen range, government sources said.

Japan's intervention to stem yen's fall vs. dollar

Japan's intervention to stem yen's fall vs. dollar

A monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo on May 1, 2026, shows a graph of dollar/yen exchange rate movements, including the dollar's sudden plunge on April 30. Japanese authorities intervened in the currency market that day to stem the dollar's surge to the upper 160 yen range, government sources said.

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

A financial monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo shows the dollar sinking to the 155 yen level on the evening of April 30, 2026, following a rise to the 160 yen range in the morning, in an apparent reaction to Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama's comments in support of stepping into the currency market to arrest the yen's further decline.

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

A financial monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo shows the dollar sinking to the 155 yen level on the evening of April 30, 2026, following a rise to the 160 yen range in the morning, in an apparent reaction to Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama's comments in support of stepping into the currency market to arrest the yen's further decline.

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

Dollar tumbles to 155 yen range

A financial monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo shows the dollar sinking to the 155 yen level on the evening of April 30, 2026, following a rise to the 160 yen range in the morning, in an apparent reaction to Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama's comments in support of stepping into the currency market to arrest the yen's further decline.

Finance minister's comments on currency market

Finance minister's comments on currency market

Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama meets the press in Tokyo on April 30, 2026, hinting at stepping into the currency market to arrest the dollar's further rise against the yen as the U.S. currency spurted to the mid-160 yen level earlier in the day.

Dollar tumbles to 156 yen range

Dollar tumbles to 156 yen range

A financial monitor at a currency trading company in Tokyo shows the dollar sinking to the 156 yen level on the evening of April 30, 2026, following a rise to the 160 yen range in the morning, in an apparent reaction to Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama's comments in support of stepping into the currency market to arrest the yen's further decline.

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike (front row, 3rd from L) poses for a photo during the opening ceremony of Tokyo Aqua Symphony, one of the world's largest fountains, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on March 28, 2026. The 150-meter-tall, 250-meter-wide fountain is expected to generate about 9.8 billion yen ($61 million) in annual economic activity, as around 30 million people are expected to visit.

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

150-meter-tall fountain completed in Tokyo

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks during the opening ceremony of Tokyo Aqua Symphony, one of the world's largest fountains, at Odaiba Marine Park in Tokyo on March 28, 2026. The 150-meter-tall, 250-meter-wide fountain is expected to generate about 9.8 billion yen ($61 million) in annual economic activity, as around 30 million people are expected to visit.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, examine an abandoned blue compact car near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing 420 million yen in cash were stolen by three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, examine an abandoned blue compact car near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing 420 million yen in cash were stolen by three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Robbers flee with 420 mil. yen in Tokyo

Police investigators work in the small hours of Jan. 30, 2026, near the scene of a robbery in central Tokyo in which suitcases containing around 420 million yen ($2.7 million) in cash were stolen by a group of three suspects the previous day.

Gold price tops 30,000 yen

Gold price tops 30,000 yen

An electronic board at the flagship shop of Tanaka Precious Metal Technologies Co. in Tokyo's Ginza district shows the benchmark retail gold price set by the Tokyo company (lower L) topping 30,000 yen ($196) per gram for the first time on Jan. 29, 2026.

Madame Tussauds BEIJING Closed

Madame Tussauds BEIJING Closed

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 - Wax figure of actor Donnie Yen in Madame Tussauds BEIJING, Beijing, China on September 30, 2025.

Government rice stockpile

Government rice stockpile

Photo taken on May 30, 2025, shows packaged rice from a government stockpile at a rice polishing plant in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, that is under contract with the company operating Don Quijote discount stores. The company has procured 15,000 tons of the stockpiled rice harvested in 2022 and plans to sell it at 2,000 yen per 5 kilograms, excluding tax, amid soaring prices.

Government rice stockpile

Government rice stockpile

Photo taken on May 30, 2025, shows packaged rice from a government stockpile at a rice polishing plant in Nagaoka in Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, that is under contract with the company operating Don Quijote discount stores. The company has procured 15,000 tons of the stockpiled rice harvested in 2022 and plans to sell it at 2,000 yen per 5 kilograms, excluding tax, amid soaring prices.

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Fuji Television Network Inc. President Kenji Shimizu and Osamu Kanemitsu, president of its parent company Fuji Media Holdings Inc., attend a press conference in Tokyo on April 30, 2025, after Fuji Meida said it is projected to log a consolidated net loss of 20.1 billion yen (approx. $139.4 million) for fiscal 2024 following a scandal in which former TV personality Masahiro Nakai allegedly sexually assaulted a former Fuji TV employee that led sponsors to pull their commercials.

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Fuji Media Holdings Inc. President Osamu Kanemitsu speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on April 30, 2025, after the media group said it is projected to log a consolidated net loss of 20.1 billion yen (approx. $139.4 million) for fiscal 2024 following a scandal in which famed former TV personality Masahiro Nakai allegedly sexually assaulted a former employee of its subsidiary Fuji Television Network Inc. that has led sponsors to pull their commercials. Kanemitsu also announced his resignation.

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Scandal-hit Fuji Media Holdings logs loss

Fuji Television Network Inc. President Kenji Shimizu speaks at a press conference in Tokyo on April 30, 2025, after its parent company Fuji Media Holdings Inc. said it is projected to log a consolidated net loss of 20.1 billion yen (approx. $139.4 million) for fiscal 2024 following a scandal in which famed former TV personality Masahiro Nakai allegedly sexually assaulted a former Fuji TV employee that has led sponsors to pull their commercials.

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Photo taken on Jan. 30, 2025, shows the building housing the headquarters of leading Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Group Inc. in Tokyo. The Tokyo District Court fined the company 300 million yen ($1.94 million) the same day for its role in bid-rigging related to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows the building housing the headquarters of leading Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Group Inc. in Tokyo. The Tokyo District Court fined the company 300 million yen ($1.94 million) the same day for its role in bid-rigging related to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Ad giant Dentsu fined 300 mil. yen over Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows the building housing the headquarters of leading Japanese advertising agency Dentsu Group Inc. in Tokyo. The Tokyo District Court fined the company 300 million yen ($1.94 million) the same day for its role in bid-rigging related to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.

Meta faces $2.8 mil lawsuits in Japan over fake ads

Meta faces $2.8 mil lawsuits in Japan over fake ads

Lawyers attend a press conference in Osaka on Oct. 29, 2024, after filing a lawsuit with the Osaka District Court against Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc. over advertisements that fraudulently solicited investments with fake celebrity endorsements. The U.S. technology giant and its Japanese arm are facing lawsuits filed with district courts in Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba and Saitama, with 30 plaintiffs seeking a total of 435 million yen ($2.8 million) in damages.

Meta faces $2.8 mil lawsuits in Japan over fake ads

Meta faces $2.8 mil lawsuits in Japan over fake ads

Lawyers head to the Osaka District Court in Osaka on Oct. 29, 2024, to file a lawsuit against Facebook and Instagram owner Meta Platforms Inc. over advertisements that fraudulently solicited investments with fake celebrity endorsements. The U.S. technology giant and its Japanese arm are facing lawsuits filed with district courts in Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba and Saitama, with 30 plaintiffs seeking a total of 435 million yen ($2.8 million) in damages.

Tokyo stocks plunge

Tokyo stocks plunge

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ending over 1,900 points down from the previous trading day's close, on Sept. 30, 2024, with export-oriented shares sold off due to the stronger yen following Shigeru Ishiba's victory in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race late last week.

Tokyo stocks plunge

Tokyo stocks plunge

Screens at a currency trading company in Tokyo show the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average plunging over 2,000 points from the previous trading day's close, on Sept. 30, 2024, with export-oriented shares sold off due to the stronger yen following Shigeru Ishiba's victory in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race late last week.

Japan provides medical equipment to Ukraine

Japan provides medical equipment to Ukraine

Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda (L) and Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko attend a ceremony in Kyiv on Sept. 23, 2024, following Japan's decision to provide MRI and other medical equipment to 30 facilities across Ukraine through a 4.4 billion yen (about $31 million) grant-in-aid program.

Japan provides medical equipment to Ukraine

Japan provides medical equipment to Ukraine

Japanese Ambassador to Ukraine Kuninori Matsuda (L) and Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Liashko (C) attend a ceremony in Kyiv on Sept. 23, 2024, following Japan's decision to provide MRI and other medical equipment to 30 facilities across Ukraine through a 4.4 billion yen (about $31 million) grant-in-aid program.

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.

Bank of Japan cuts purchases of Japanese government bonds

STORY: Bank of Japan cuts purchases of Japanese government bonds SHOOTING TIME: April 30, 2024 DATELINE: May 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:44 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Bank of Japan 2. various of banks in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Bank of Japan (BOJ) on Monday announced a reduction of the amount of Japanese government bonds it offered to buy in a regular purchase operation. The central bank offered to buy 425 billion yen (about 2.73 billion U.S. dollars) in Japanese government bonds with five to 10 years left to maturity, down 50 billion yen from the previous such operation. The benchmark yield on the 10-year Japanese government bond subsequently climbed to a six-month high of 0.935 percent at one point. The reduction was the first since the BOJ in March adjusted its massive monetary easing, including ending its negative interest rate policy. Some market participants saw the move as the BOJ's latest effort to counter the weakening yen. BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda has said r

Yen briefly drops past 160 level vs USD in volatile trading

STORY: Yen briefly drops past 160 level vs USD in volatile trading SHOOTING TIME: Archives DATELINE: April 30, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:30 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street view in Tokyo STORYLINE: The Japanese yen briefly dropped to a new 34-year low in the 160 level against the U.S. dollar on foreign exchange markets on Monday morning. It marked the first time since April 1990 that the U.S. dollar has topped the 160 yen line. Monday is a national holiday in Japan, but trading remained very volatile as the Japanese currency began reversing its trajectory in the afternoon, strengthening to the 155 level. Some market participants suspected that Japanese authorities may have stepped into the currency market to stem the yen's dive. A senior Finance Ministry official declined to comment on the yen's sharp rise, Kyodo News reported on Monday. The Japanese currency also fell to around 171 against the euro at one stage, its lowest level since euro was introduced in 1999. Xinhua News

Rising gasoline prices in Japan

Rising gasoline prices in Japan

A price board at a gas station in Tokyo shows regular gasoline at 186 yen per liter on Aug. 30, 2023. Gasoline prices in Japan have been rising as the currency weakens and global oil prices also escalate.

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-SICHUAN-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-ARCHERY(CN)

(Chengdu Universiade)CHINA-SICHUAN-CHENGDU-WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES-ARCHERY(CN)

(230730) -- CHENGDU, July 30, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Bronze medalists Hsu Yen-hua, Lin Ming-ching and Lo Yi-hsuan (L to R) of Chinese Taipei react during the medal ceremony for the Archery Compound Women's Team event at the 31st FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, July 30, 2023. (Xinhua/Deng Hua)

Dollar tops 145 yen

Dollar tops 145 yen

A monitor at a foreign exchange firm in Tokyo shows the U.S. dollar topping the 145 yen line in Tokyo dealings on June 30, 2023.

1st Rolls-Royce electric vehicle

1st Rolls-Royce electric vehicle

Photo taken on June 30, 2023, in Tokyo shows Rolls-Royce Motor Cars' first electric luxury vehicle, Spectre, unveiled to the media the same day. The company began taking orders in Japan with prices from 48 million yen ($332,000).

Japan's real wages slump most in nearly decade

STORY: Japan's real wages slump most in nearly decade DATELINE: May 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:46 LOCATION: Tokyo CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of street views in Tokyo STORYLINE: Japan's real wages in the fiscal year 2022 registered the steepest decline since 2014 as price increases outpaced the growth in nominal wages, official data showed Tuesday. In the fiscal year from April 2022 to March 2023, inflation-adjusted real wages fell by 1.8 percent from the previous year, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. This marked the sharpest decline since a 2.9-percent drop in the fiscal year 2014 when an increase in consumption tax led to higher prices. Nominal monthly wages rose by 1.9 percent in the last fiscal year to an average of 326,308 yen, the fastest growth in over 30 years. However, inflation outpaced such gains by experiencing a climb of 3.8 percent due to surging prices in food, electricity, and gas. During the period, regular salary, including base pay, rose 1.1 percent, wh

Chugoku Electric Power Co. President to resign

Chugoku Electric Power Co. President to resign

Chugoku Electric President Natsuhiko Takimoto (C) announces his resignation in a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on March 30, 2023, to take responsibility for a cartel case over electricity sales. The Japan Fair Trade Commission ordered three major utilities, including Chugoku Electric, to pay a total of 101 billion yen ($763 million) in fines, the highest ever imposed by the antitrust watchdog.

Chugoku Electric Power Co. president to resign

Chugoku Electric Power Co. president to resign

Chugoku Electric President Natsuhiko Takimoto announces his resignation in a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on March 30, 2023, to take responsibility for a cartel case over electricity sales. The Japan Fair Trade Commission ordered three major utilities, including Chugoku Electric, to pay a total of 101 billion yen ($763 million) in fines, the highest ever imposed by the antitrust watchdog.

Chugoku Electric Power Co. President to resign

Chugoku Electric Power Co. President to resign

Chugoku Electric President Natsuhiko Takimoto announces his resignation in a press conference in the western Japan city of Hiroshima on March 30, 2023, to take responsibility for a cartel case over electricity sales. The Japan Fair Trade Commission ordered three major utilities, including Chugoku Electric, to pay a total of 101 billion yen ($763 million) in fines, the highest ever imposed by the antitrust watchdog.

Japan sends posters to Ukraine calling for fair election

Japan sends posters to Ukraine calling for fair election

TOKYO, Japan - This poster featuring ''maneki neko (beckoning cat believed to bring luck)'' will be put up at over 30,000 polling stations during the upcoming presidential election in Ukraine. It reads: ''I support a fair election. And you?'' The Japanese Foreign Ministry said on Dec. 22 that it is donating 4.5 million yen to a Ukrainian nongovernmental organization to help finance the campaign.

Toshiba to release high-pressure steam iron

Toshiba to release high-pressure steam iron

TOKYO, Japan - Toshiba Corp. says it will release Sept. 16 a high-pressure steam iron that the company says will raise the vapor penetration in cloth by 30 percent compared with existing Toshiba products. The iron, TA-GX100, is expected to retail for around 16,000 yen.

Welfare ministry official gets cars, cash from group overseen

Welfare ministry official gets cars, cash from group overseen

SAITAMA, Japan - Masaru Matsushima, who has just left the welfare ministry, speaks to reporters at his home in Saitama on Aug. 30. He admitted having received three used cars and several million yen in cash from the chief of a social welfare organization under the ministry's supervision from around 1992 until November 2005.

Harvesting of 20th Century pearl underway in Tottori

Harvesting of 20th Century pearl underway in Tottori

TOTTORI, Japan - Takashi Yamamoto, a 30-year veteran in the pear-growing business, checks out the 20th Century pear at his farm in Yurihama, Tottori Prefecture on Aug. 22. The pearl harvesting season in Tottori, the largest 20th Century pear-growing region in Japan, begins Aug. 22 and continues through mid-September. About 2,400 farmers in Tottori grow 20th Century pear on 790 hectares of pear farm. The harvest of 20th century pear in Tottori this year is projected at 9,500 tons worth a total of 2.85 billion yen.

Tokyo hotel offers 33.3-mil-yen Christmas stay

Tokyo hotel offers 33.3-mil-yen Christmas stay

TOKYO, Japan - The Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel shows a diamond valued at 30 million yen on Nov. 27, 2014, which will be a feature of a special Christmas stay for 33.3 million yen. The accommodation fee corresponds to the 333-meter high Tokyo Tower, viewable from the suite.