Gov't forum on trade policy

Gov't forum on trade policy

SAITAMA, Japan - Koichiro Gemba, national policy minister, speaks at a debate forum in Saitama on Feb. 26, 2011, organized by the Japanese government to enhance public understanding of its policy of pursuing freer trade. Japan plans to decide on whether to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations around June.

Hippies and freeters both hoping for freer lifestyles

Hippies and freeters both hoping for freer lifestyles

HACHIOJI, Japan - Musician Joker (right) makes a performance at an event held under the sponsorship of the city of Hachioji, western Tokyo, at the city's riverside.

Japanese painter Sotatsu exhibition begins in Washington

Japanese painter Sotatsu exhibition begins in Washington

Visitors look at "Waves at Matsushima," a pair of six-panel folding screens painted by Tawaraya Sotatsu, an early 17th century Japanese painter, at the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian Asian art museums, in Washington on Oct. 24, 2015, the opening day of a special exhibition collecting about 70 works by Sotatsu which will run through Jan. 31. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

China, C./E. Europe agree on scheme for freer economic exchanges

China, C./E. Europe agree on scheme for freer economic exchanges

Chinese President Xi Jinping (5th from front, L) hold talks with the leaders of 16 Central and East European countries (R) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Nov. 26, 2015. Xinhua news agency reported that the two sides agreed to deepen cooperation in creating the China-proposed "One Belt, One Road" initiative aimed at freer regional economic, trade and human flows. (Pool photo) (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Gov't forum on trade policy

Gov't forum on trade policy

SAITAMA, Japan - Koichiro Gemba, national policy minister, speaks at a debate forum in Saitama on Feb. 26, 2011, organized by the Japanese government to enhance public understanding of its policy of pursuing freer trade. Japan plans to decide on whether to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations around June. (Kyodo)

Hokusai ukiyo-e exhibition in Washington

Hokusai ukiyo-e exhibition in Washington

An exhibition of Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is shown to the press at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington on Nov. 20, 2019, three days before the show's official opening. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

BOJ should be more flexible on 2% inflation target: ex-policymaker

BOJ should be more flexible on 2% inflation target: ex-policymaker

Takahide Kiuchi, an economist who left the Policy Board of the Bank of Japan, gives an interview to Kyodo News in Tokyo on Aug. 14, 2017. Kiuchi said that the central bank should be more flexible in pursuing its 2 percent inflation target and gain a freer hand in adjusting monetary policy. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo