September 1 is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan. The Japanese government held a drill on Thursday based on the scenario of a massive earthquake striking the Nankai Trough off Japan's Pacific coast.
Disaster Prevention Day commemorates the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which left more than 100,000 people dead in and around Tokyo.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government resumed its own travel subsidy program on Thursday to encourage residents to enjoy trips in Tokyo while taking thorough coronavirus prevention measures.
Tokyo initially launched the program in 2020 in a bid to support the tourism industry that has been hit hard by the pandemic.
People have rallied in Tokyo to protest against the government's decision to hold a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Abe was shot dead on July 8 while making a campaign speech for a candidate in the Upper House election.
Public opinion in Japan is split over whether Abe should be accorded such an honor.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has urged people to act to save their own lives in a mock news conference held as part of a national disaster drill.
Thursday's government-hosted disaster drill was based on the scenario that a magnitude 9.1 earthquake had occurred in waters to the south of Wakayama Prefecture at 7:10 a.m.
A powerful typhoon is bringing violent winds to the main island of Okinawa in southwestern Japan.
The Meteorological Agency says Typhoon Hinnamnor was advancing west-southwest over the seas 170 kilometers south of Naha City at 20 kilometers per hour as of 9 p.m. on Wednesday.
US rocket system and electronic warfare troops have for the first time taken part in exercises with Japan on the southwestern island of Amami Oshima.
A total of 2,100 personnel of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Army have been taking part in drills across the Kyushu region since mid-August. They are simulating defense of remote islands and believed to be aiming to deter China and its maritime ambitions.
Japan's Defense Ministry is requesting a record high budget allocation of nearly 5.6 trillion yen, or about 40 billion dollars, for next fiscal year.
The ministry made the budget request on Wednesday as part of its drive to drastically enhance Japan's defense capabilities over the next five years.
Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he will attend a session in the Diet, to explain why Japan is holding a state funeral for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. It comes as opposition members are demanding his government disclose the security costs for the event.
Kishida held his first in-person news conference since recovering from COVID-19. Speaking to reporters, he promised to inform the public of the importance of next month's funeral.
Japan's weather officials warn that Typhoon Hinnamnor may hit the country's southwestern islands with a force powerful enough to topple houses.
The Meteorological Agency says the typhoon was advancing west-southwest over the seas off the island of Minami Daitojima in Okinawa Prefecture at 30 kilometers per hour as of 7 a.m. Wednesday.
Japan's weather officials warn that Typhoon Hinnamnor may hit the country's southwestern islands with a force powerful enough to topple houses.
The Meteorological Agency says the typhoon was advancing west over the seas off the island of Minami Daitojima in Okinawa Prefecture at 30 kilometers per hour as of 1 a.m. Wednesday.
Inamori Kazuo, one of Japan's most influential business leaders and the founder of electronics company Kyocera, has died. He was 90 years old.
Inamori started the firm, then called Kyoto Ceramic, in 1959. He grew the company into a globally recognized brand with self-developed technology for industrial products.
Japan's Economy, Trade and Industry Minister says the government is thinking of creating a fund to assist local fisheries operators after treated water is released from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
The fund would help protect the operators from possible damage to their reputations caused by the release.
Japan's health minister says he will listen to the opinions of prefectural governors before he decides to introduce nationwide a revised system for reporting coronavirus cases.
Medical institutions in Japan are currently required to register all infected people that they have identified in a state-run system.
The founder of Japanese electronics company Kyocera Inamori Kazuo has died.
Inamori founded the firm in 1959 and grew the company into a globally recognized brand. He also helped rebuild Japan Airlines after it went bankrupt in 2010. He was 90 years old.