Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.015 percent, its highest in about 26 years and four months, on Dec. 19, 2025, following a Bank of Japan raise earlier in the day in its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent.

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.015 percent, its highest in about 26 years and four months, on Dec. 19, 2025, following a Bank of Japan raise earlier in the day in its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent.

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.015 percent, its highest in about 26 years and four months, on Dec. 19, 2025, following a Bank of Japan raise earlier in the day in its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent.

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.015 percent, its highest in about 26 years and four months, on Dec. 19, 2025, following a Bank of Japan raise earlier in the day in its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent.

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 26-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.015 percent, its highest in about 26 years and four months, on Dec. 19, 2025, following a Bank of Japan raise earlier in the day in its key interest rate to a 30-year high of around 0.75 percent.

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025, shows the south-side corridor that is connected to the main hall (back) of Shuri Castle, now under reconstruction, in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa. The corridor, together with the west-side corridor and the main hall, is to be completed in the autumn of 2026, seven years after fire gutted the World Heritage-listed castle in October 2019.

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025, shows the south-side corridor that is connected to the main hall (back) of Shuri Castle, now under reconstruction, in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa. The corridor, together with the west-side corridor and the main hall, is to be completed in the autumn of 2026, seven years after fire gutted the World Heritage-listed castle in October 2019.

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025, shows the south-side corridor that is connected to the main hall (back) of Shuri Castle, now under reconstruction, in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa. The corridor, together with the west-side corridor and the main hall, is to be completed in the autumn of 2026, seven years after fire gutted the World Heritage-listed castle in October 2019.

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Shuri Castle under reconstruction

Photo taken on Dec. 15, 2025, shows the south-side corridor that is connected to the main hall (back) of Shuri Castle, now under reconstruction, in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa. The corridor, together with the west-side corridor and the main hall, is to be completed in the autumn of 2026, seven years after fire gutted the World Heritage-listed castle in October 2019.

Australia's social media ban for children under 16

Australia's social media ban for children under 16

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at an event marking the beginning of a social media ban for children under 16 years of age in Sydney on Dec. 10, 2025. (Kyodo)

Benchmark bond yield hits 18.5-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 18.5-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond ending at 1.935 percent, its highest in about 18 and a half years, on Dec. 4, 2025.

Benchmark bond yield hits 18.5-year high

Benchmark bond yield hits 18.5-year high

A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond ending at 1.935 percent, its highest in about 18 and a half years, on Dec. 4, 2025.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Photo taken from a drone shows Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Nov. 29, 2025, as restoration work continues nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Nearly 2 years after Noto earthquake

Restoration work continues at Wajima port in Wajima in Ishikawa Prefecture, central Japan, on Dec. 1, 2025, nearly two years after a power earthquake severely damaged the port on the Noto Peninsula.

Football: Pogba returns to pitch

Football: Pogba returns to pitch

Monaco's Paul Pogba meets the press after playing in a Ligue 1 football match against Stade Rennes in Rennes, France, on Nov. 22, 2025. The 32-year-old French midfielder, a former Manchester United and Juventus star, returned to the pitch for the first time in more than two years following a doping ban.

Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Vietnamese actress Do Phan Gia Han sings at a ceremony held at the Japanese ambassador to Vietnam's official residence in Hanoi on Nov. 14, 2025, to announce the production of Cong nu Anio, a history-based musical starring her and other actors from Japan and Vietnam. A love story based on romance between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant about 400 years ago, the musical will be played at a theater in Yokohama, near Tokyo, in September 2026, as part of efforts to deepen friendship between Japan and Vietnam.

Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Musical to deepen Japan-Vietnam ties

Vietnamese actress Do Phan Gia Han sings at a ceremony held at the Japanese ambassador to Vietnam's official residence in Hanoi on Nov. 14, 2025, to announce the production of Cong nu Anio, a history-based musical starring her and other actors from Japan and Vietnam. A love story based on romance between a Vietnamese princess and a Japanese merchant about 400 years ago, the musical will be played at a theater in Yokohama, near Tokyo, in September 2026, as part of efforts to deepen friendship between Japan and Vietnam.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

The icebreaker Soya's logo is painted over as a ceremony to decommission the ship, the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

JCG's oldest patrol boat retires

A ceremony to decommission the Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, is held in Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 12, 2025, after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship traveled about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth, and rescued over 1,450 people in more than 600 shipwreck cases.

Christmas parade at Tokyo Disneyland

Christmas parade at Tokyo Disneyland

People watch Tokyo Disneyland's Christmas parade at the theme park in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, on Nov. 10, 2025. The annual parade has been updated this year for the first time in 10 years.

Christmas parade at Tokyo Disneyland

Christmas parade at Tokyo Disneyland

People watch Tokyo Disneyland's Christmas parade at the theme park in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo, on Nov. 10, 2025. The annual parade has been updated this year for the first time in 10 years.

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

JCG's oldest patrol boat departs for final voyage

The Japan Coast Guard's oldest active patrol vessel, the icebreaker Soya, departs from its home port of Kushiro in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 4, 2025, for its final voyage after 47 years in operation. The 3,100-ton ship will be decommissioned on Nov. 12 after traveling about 1.91 million kilometers, equivalent to 48 trips around the Earth.

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

A fire drill is held at Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa in the early morning of Oct. 31, 2025, exactly six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo shows the main hall of Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Oct. 31, 2025, six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo shows the main hall of Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Oct. 31, 2025, six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo shows the main hall of Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Oct. 31, 2025, six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo taken from a drone on Oct. 25, 2025, shows the main hall (C) of Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa, six years after predawn fire on Oct. 31, 2019, that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

A fire drill is held at Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa in the early morning of Oct. 31, 2025, exactly six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

Fire drill at Okinawa's Shuri Castle

A fire drill is held at Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa in the early morning of Oct. 31, 2025, exactly six years after the 2019 predawn fire that destroyed its main buildings located on a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Reconstruction of Shuri Castle in Okinawa

Photo shows the main hall of Shuri Castle under reconstruction in Naha in the southern Japan island prefecture of Okinawa on Oct. 31, 2025, six years after a fire gutted the castle on the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record

Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record

Former Japan forward Kazuyoshi Miura (front) plays for Atletico Suzuka in the second half of a fourth-tier Japan Football League match against Veertien Mie in Toin, Mie Prefecture, on Oc. 18, 2025, beating his own record as the JFL's oldest player at 58 years and 234 days.

Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record

Football: Miura rewrites oldest-appearance record

Former Japan forward Kazuyoshi Miura plays for Atletico Suzuka in the second half of a fourth-tier Japan Football League match against Veertien Mie in Toin, Mie Prefecture, on Oc. 18, 2025, beating his own record as the JFL's oldest player at 58 years and 234 days.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

Photo shows the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 14, 2025, on the eve of the opening of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, opens at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 15, 2025.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, opens at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 15, 2025.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, opens at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 15, 2025.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

Photo shows the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 14, 2025, on the eve of the opening of the five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, opens at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 15, 2025.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

The five-day Grand Sumo Tournament, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, opens at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 15, 2025.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

Maegashira Atamifuji poses alongside the River Thames while sightseeing in London, with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in the background, on Oct. 14, 2025, as about 120 sumo wrestlers are set to take part in a five-day local tournament from Oct. 15, the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years, with the Royal Albert Hall hosting the event.

Sumo: London tournament

Sumo: London tournament

Yokozuna Onosato (C) is pictured sightseeing in London with fellow sumo wrestlers on Oct. 14, 2025. About 120 sumo wrestlers are set to take part in a five-day tournament from Oct. 15 at the Royal Albert Hall in the Japan Sumo Association's first overseas exhibition tour in 20 years.