Page 14 - Japan

Abe was 'phenomenal', believed in India-Japan friendship, recalls PM Modi

Shinzo Abe "was a great leader, a phenomenal individual and someone who believed in India-Japan friendship", Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled on Tuesday as he offered tribute to the slain former Japanese premier at his state funeral in Tokyo. Representatives from over 100 countries, including more than 20 heads of state and governments, attended Abe's funeral. Modi, who arrived here early in the morning, joined several global leaders to pay floral tribute to Abe who reshaped Japan's foreign policy, including setting out a bold vision for a quantum leap in ties with India. "When I was in Tokyo earlier this year, little did I imagine I would be back for the solemn programme of former PM Abe's state funeral. He was a great leader, a phenomenal individual and someone who believed in India-Japan friendship. He shall live on in the hearts of millions!," Modi tweeted, sharing a photograph of him paying tribute to Abe. Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs tweeted that the prime .

Former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe honoured at divisive state funeral

Japan's assassinated hawkish former leader, Shinzo Abe, was given a rare state funeral Tuesday that was full of military pomp and surrounded by throngs of mourners as well as by widespread protests, with thousands taking to the streets in opposition. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the publicly financed ceremony was a well-deserved honour for Japan's longest-serving modern political leader, but it has deeply split public opinion. The event was attended by US Vice President Kamala Harris, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and other foreign and Japanese dignitaries. It began with Abe's widow, Akie Abe, in a black formal kimono, walking slowly behind Kishida into the funeral venue, carrying an urn in a wooden box wrapped in a purple cloth with gold stripes. Soldiers in white uniforms took Abe's ashes and placed them on a pedestal filled with white and yellow chrysanthemums and decorations. Attendants stood while a military band played the Kimigayo national anthem, then observed a momen

Sri Lanka backs India, Japan's bids for permanent status at UNSC: President

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday said his government will back the bids of India and Japan for permanent member status at the UN Security Council. President Wickremesinghe is currently in Japan to attend the state funeral of the former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. During a meeting with Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Tuesday, Wickremesinghe "appreciated the support extended by Japan (to Sri Lanka) on the international stage and expressed the government's willingness to support both Japan's and India's campaign to become permanent members of the UN Security Council, the President's office said in a press release. India has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the Security Council saying it rightly deserves a place as a permanent member of the UN body, which in its current form does not represent the geo-political realities of the 21st century. At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent mem

Japan protests Russia's expulsion of official, denies spying allegations

Japan protested to Russia on Tuesday over the detention of a Japanese consulate official on espionage allegations, denying the allegations and accusing Russian authorities of abusive interrogation. The official was detained on Sept 22 and interrogated with his eyes covered, his hands and head pressed and immobilised, Japan's Foreign Ministry said, prompting it to lodge a protest and to demand an apology. On Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry notified Japan's Embassy in Moscow that the official had been declared persona non grata, or an undesirable person, on grounds he conducted illegal espionage activity and it ordered him to leave the country within 48 hours. The alleged illegal activity insisted by the Russian side is completely groundless, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters. Matsuno said Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Mori summoned Russia's ambassador and strongly protested, demanding a formal apology from the Russian government and measures to prevent

PM Modi attends Shinzo Abe's state funeral with 700 other foreign officials

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended the state funeral of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo

Latest news LIVE: 247 arrested in second round of nationwide raids on PFI

At least 247 people have been arrested across the nation so far in the second round of raids on the Popular Front of India (PFI)

A divided Japan holds funeral for assassinated former PM Shinzo Abe

A tense Japan prepared Tuesday for a rare and controversial state funeral for assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the longest-serving leader in his nation's modern history and one of the most divisive. Tokyo was under maximum security, with angry protests opposing the funeral planned around the capital and nation. Hours before the ceremony began, dozens of people carrying bouquets of flowers queued at public flower-laying stands at nearby Kudanzaka park. Thousands of uniformed police mobilized around the Budokan hall, where the funeral is being held, and at major train stations. Roads around the venue are closed throughout the day, and coin lockers at main stations were sealed for security. World leaders, including US Vice President Kamala Harris, were in town for the funeral. Opponents of the state-sponsored funeral, which has its roots in prewar imperial ceremonies, say taxpayers' money should be spent on more meaningful causes, such as addressing widening economic ...

Russia detains Japanese diplomat for exchanging sensitive information

Russia said Monday that it had detained a Japanese diplomat based in the eastern city of Vladivostok for soliciting "restricted" information, Russian news agencies reported. "A Japanese diplomat was detained red-handed while receiving, in exchange for financial reward, restricted information about Russia's cooperation with another country in the Asia-Pacific region," the FSB, the KGB's successor agency, was cited as saying through its press service, without specifying the country. The FSB also accused the diplomat, named as Vladivostok-based consul Motoki Tatsunori, of seeking out information on "the impact of Western sanctions" on the surrounding Primoriye region, according to news agencies. Russia's foreign ministry said Tatsunori had been declared persona non grata and ordered to leave the country within 48 hours. The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to Japan as a "hostile" country, a designation it shares with the US, EU countries and their Western allies, since Tokyo joined the

Japan prepares to bid farewell to Abe with controversial state funeral

About 4,300 are expected to attend Tuesday's ceremony and at least 48 current or former government figures, including US

PM Modi arrives in Japan to attend ex-premier Shinzo Abe's state funeral

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived here on Tuesday to attend the state funeral of former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. Modi will join several global leaders to pay tributes to Abe. Representatives from over 100 countries, including more than 20 heads of state and governments, are expected to attend Abe's funeral on Tuesday. The former prime minister reshaped Japan's foreign policy, including setting out a bold vision for a quantum leap in ties with India. "Landed in Tokyo," Modi tweeted, posting photos of him while deplaning. He also posted a similar tweet in Japanese. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted, "PM @narendramodi arrives in Tokyo. Will participate in the State Funeral of former PM Shinzo Abe later today. Will also hold a bilateral meeting with PM @kishida230, reaffirming commitment to further strengthening of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership." Earlier on Monday, Modi tweeted, "I am travelling to Tokyo tonight to ...

PM Modi leaves for Tokyo to attend Shinzo Abe's funeral on Tuesday

Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for Tokyo on Monday evening to attend the state funeral of Japan's former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who reshaped Japan's foreign policy including setting out a bold vision for a quantum leap in its ties with India. Representatives from over 100 countries, including more than 20 heads of states and governments, are expected to attend Abe's funeral on Tuesday at the Budokan, an indoor sporting facility. Modi will also hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Abe was shot dead while making a campaign speech three months ago in the southern Japanese city of Nara. India had announced a one-day national mourning on July 9 as a mark of respect for Abe. "I am travelling to Tokyo tonight to participate in the State Funeral of former PM Shinzo Abe, a dear friend and a great champion of India-Japan friendship," Modi tweeted hours before departing for Tokyo. "I will be conveying heartfelt condolences to Prime Minister Kishida and

Japan on high alert ahead of former PM Shinzo Abe's state funeral

The state-funded event on Tuesday has encountered growing criticism as it is expected to cost more than $11 million, with a large portion attributed to security costs

Here's why Japan is divided over late Shinzo Abe's state funeral

A rare state funeral for Shinzo Abe, the former prime minister who was assassinated in July, has split Japan. The hawkish Abe was one of the nation's most divisive postwar leaders, but it is the ruling party's cozy ties with the ultra-conservative Unification Church that has fired up much of the opposition to the funeral. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is battling a near-continuous political fallout from his handling of both the links to the church among his party's lawmakers and the state funeral he says Abe deserves. A look at some of the reasons why the state funeral on Tuesday is causing so much anger: ___ WHO GETS A STATE FUNERAL IN JAPAN? The tradition has roots in a ceremony performed by the emperor to honour those who made exceptional contributions to the country. The emperor before World War II was revered as a god, and public mourning for those honored with state funerals was compulsory. Most state funerals were for members of the imperial family, but political and milit

Crypto exchange Binance seeks permit to return to Japan market after 4 yrs

Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, is seeking a license to operate in Japan, four years after retreating from the country as it didn't have a permit

Japan bans chemical weapons goods export to Russia amid nuclear war threat

Japan expressed grave concern about Russia's possible use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine as the top government spokesman on Monday announced an additional ban on exports of chemical weapons-related goods to Russia. As the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks, we strongly demand that the threat or use of nuclear weapons by Russia should never happen, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told a regular news conference. Matsuno was responding to a question about US national security adviser Jake Sullivan's comments Sunday on CBS news that the United States will act decisively in case of a Russian nuclear attack on Ukraine. Asked if Japan approves of the possible use of nuclear weapons by the United States against Russia, Matsuno refused to comment on the grounds that it was a hypothetical question. Japan's government on Monday banned the export of materials that may be used for chemical weapons to 21 Russian organisations, including science laboratories. The .

2 killed, many left without power as typhoon Talas batters Japan: Report

Two people were killed and tens of thousands of households left without power after typhoon Talas lashed Japan's Shizuoka prefecture with heavy rain on Saturday

Yen soars after Japan intervenes in forex market for first time since 1998

The Japanese yen soared across the board on Thursday after monetary authorities intervened in the foreign exchange market to boost the battered currency

Yen breaches 144 mark against the dollar, Japan central bank steps in

Intervention is a 1st since 1998, helped stem 20% decline in the currency

For what reason, Japan, India, Ukraine not UNSC permanent member: Zelenskyy

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has questioned why countries like India, Japan, Brazil and his own nation are not permanent members of the UN Security Council and said the day will come when this will be resolved. There was a lot of talking about reforming the UN. How did it all end? No result, Zelenskyy said in his pre-recorded message to the world leaders at the UN General Assembly's General Debate on Wednesday. If you look carefully at our peace formula, you will see that its implementation is already becoming a de facto reform of the United Nations. Our formula is universal, and unites the North and the South of the world. It calls for the world's majority, and encourages to expand the representation of those who remained unheard. This is an imbalance when Africa, Latin America, most of Asia, Central and Eastern Europe comply with the right of veto, that they themselves never had, he said. And this is what Ukraine is talking about. And have you ever heard such words from .

Leaders of South Korea, Japan agree to mend ties frayed over colonial past

The leaders of South Korea and Japan agreed to accelerate efforts to mend ties frayed over Japan's past colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as they held their countries' first summit talks in nearly three years on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, both governments announced on Thursday. The meeting occurred after Tokyo denied Seoul's earlier announcement they had agreed on the summit, in a sign of the delicate nature of their current relations. During their 30-minute meeting on Wednesday in New York, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shared the need to improve bilateral ties and agreed to instruct their respective diplomats to step up talks for that, Yoon's office said in a statement. Kishida's office confirmed the meeting. A separate Japanese Foreign Ministry statement said the two leaders agreed to promote cooperation between the two countries as well as with the United States. It said the leaders shared the need to restore ..