Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japan PM meets with Tokyo governor

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) shakes hands with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 7, 2026. Koike told the press afterward that she called for the central government to address the capital's expected tax revenue fall following the planned cut to 1 percent from the current 8 percent in the consumption tax on food and beverages for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan spent record 6.28 tril. yen in forex intervention on April 30

Japan spent record 6.28 tril. yen in forex intervention on April 30

A currency trading chart on a financial data monitor in Tokyo pictured on May 1, 2026, shows the dollar plunging against the Japanese yen after Japanese authorities' dollar-selling, yen-buying intervention on April 30. Japan spent a single-day record of 6.28 trillion yen in the intervention to strengthen the yen.

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

Photo taken on Aug. 6, 2026, shows a copy of the 2026 No. 36 edition of the "Weekly Shonen Jump" manga magazine. Circulation of Japan's most popular manga magazine, launched in 1968, averaged 985,000 copies during the April-June period, falling below 1 million for the first time since official statistics began in 2008.

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

Photo taken on Aug. 6, 2026, shows a copy of the 2026 No. 36 edition of the "Weekly Shonen Jump" manga magazine. Circulation of Japan's most popular manga magazine, launched in 1968, averaged 985,000 copies during the April-June period, falling below 1 million for the first time since official statistics began in 2008.

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

"Weekly Shonen Jump" circulation falls below 1 million

Photo taken on Aug. 6, 2026, shows a copy of the 2026 No. 36 edition of the "Weekly Shonen Jump" manga magazine. Circulation of Japan's most popular manga magazine, launched in 1968, averaged 985,000 copies during the April-June period, falling below 1 million for the first time since official statistics began in 2008.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japan Cabinet endorses 2-year consumption tax cut on food

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (C) and her ministers are pictured ahead of an extraordinary Cabinet meeting at the premier's office in Tokyo on Aug. 5, 2026. The Cabinet approved a plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japan to cut consumption tax on food to 1% from April 2027

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, during a press conference in Tokyo on July 30, 2026, explains the government's plan to cut the consumption tax rate on food and beverages to 1 percent from the current 8 percent for two years starting in April 2027.

US: Super Typhoon Bavi Slams Guam, Northern Marianas 2

Super Typhoon Bavi made landfall Monday, July 6, passing directly over Rota in the Northern Mariana Islands around 8 a.m. local time, with sustained winds over 150 mph. Guam and nearby islands also reported major damage from the storm.

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a signboard with a SoftBank Group Corp. logo in front of the building housing its headquarters in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a building housing the headquarters of SoftBank Group Corp. in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

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.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Labor Day holiday in China

Labor Day holiday in China

A sightseeing spot in Beijing is crowded with tourists on April 26, 2026, ahead of a five-day Labor Day holiday starting May 1.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

People watch a wildfire burning in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, as local authorities urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

People watch a wildfire burning in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, as local authorities urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

People watch a wildfire burning in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, as local authorities urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in woodland in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate. Another fire broke out in the same town earlier in the day.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

People watch a wildfire burning in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

People watch a wildfire burning in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

Wildfires in northeastern Japan

A wildfire burns in a mountainous area in the town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 22, 2026. Another fire broke out in the same town the same day, prompting local authorities to urge over 1,000 residents to evacuate.

Japan: Haneda Airport Flights Disrupted by ATC System Failure 2

A malfunction in the air traffic control system operated by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) struck Tokyo's Haneda Airport at early Tuesday morning, April 21, causing widespread flight disruptions that continued throughout the day. Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) alone had more than 200 domestic flights combined, affecting more than 31,600 passengers.

Football: ACLE

Football: ACLE

Japan's Machida Zelvia manager Go Kuroda (2nd from R) celebrates after advancing to the team's first Asian Champions League Elite final with a 1-0 win over United Arab Emirates' Shabab Al Ahli on April 21, 2026, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.