Japan
- World News
“Drink more booze” Japan urges youth with new contest
Japan’s alcohol sales have gone way down since Covid-19 restrictions, and the government is desperate to bring them up again. Numbers show that Japan’s young drink quite significantly less than its old. While about 30% of people in their 40s to 60s drink regularly, only 7.8% of people in their 20s do. Meanwhile, sales at Japan’s pubs were cut in…
- Crime News
Wanted Taiwanese call centre scammer extradited from Albania to Thailand
A Taiwanese man wanted for allegedly scamming Thai victims from a call centre operation in Dubai arrived at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday afternoon to face Thailand’s justice system after being arrested in Albania in September. Tzu Yuan Kuo – or “Ayen” – was the “deputy leader” of a call centre gang scamming victims in Thailand, Japan and Malaysia from Dubai…
- World News
Japan keeps hitting new records in Covid-19 cases
Japan keeps hitting new records in its number of Covid-19 cases. Yesterday (Friday), there were over 190,000 cases in the island nation. On Thursday, there had been 186,246 cases. Last week, Japan hit a record of 110,600 cases. This news comes as Japan faces a seventh wave of Covid, caused by the BA.5 Omicron sub-variant. BA.5 makes up nearly 100%…
- Tourism News
Three Asian countries have the most useful passport
For years, Europe has had the most powerful passports for travelling, but as the world emerges in the post-Covid-19 era, three countries in Asia hold the top spots now. Japan holds the top spot, with Japanese passport holders having easy access to 193 different countries. Singapore and South Korea are tied for second with 192 countries easily accessed with a…
- World News
Thai Vietjet launches new route between Thailand and Japan
Budget airline Thai Vietjet has commenced services between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Fukuoka Airport, located on the north shore of Japan’s Kyushu island. The route is the airline’s only service linking Thailand and Japan. The airline will operate the route three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays with an approximate flight duration of 5 hours 30 minutes. The…
- World News
Japan hits record high in Covid-19 cases
Japan’s number of Covid-19 infections climbed to a new record yesterday. While Japan’s previous peak was 104,169 cases in February, yesterday, there were 110,600 cases. In Tokyo, 18,919 new cases were confirmed. The city’s metropolitan government raised its Covid alert to the highest of four levels. Most cases are mild and don’t require hospital treatment. As the country moves on…
- World News
Thailand flies flags at half-mast today in memory of Shinzo Abe
Thailand’s PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered all government agencies and state enterprises to fly their flags to half-mast today in memory of former-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated while campaigning in the city of Nara in western Japan on Friday. The request was announced this morning by government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana. PM Prayut has asked all government agencies…
- World News
Man who shot former Japanese PM reveals hateful motivation
The man who shot former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has told investigators that he thought Abe was linked to a group that he hated. The man, 41 year old Tetsuya Yamagami, shot Abe during a campaign speech in Nara, western Japan, on Friday. Police have not yet named the group that Yamagami says he hates. Japanese media reported, however, that…
- Crime News
UPDATE: Former Japanese PM dies after being shot – VIDEO
BREAKING: Shinzo Abe dies WARNING: Video of the shooting may be disturbing for some people. UPDATE: Reports are circulating that the former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe is in critical condition after being shot at a campaign event in the city of Nara. The BBC describes his current condition as ‘grave’. Abe was shot at twice, the first allegedly missed with…
- World News
Mobile app in Japan will delete explicit kid photos
To avoid sexual abuse and exploitation, a mobile application from Japan will automatically delete kids’ explicit photos from their phones. Kids The artificial intelligence-powered app was developed in response to the rapid rise in incidents of adults requesting children’s explicit photos on social media. The application will also send messages to the parents and delete any images it finds to be…
- World News
Thais taking Cannabis to Japan will face punishment
Thai nationals heading to Japan should avoid taking cannabis, hemp, and cannabis-related products into the country because they could face being arrested under Japanese laws, according to the Thai embassy in Japan. “The Thai embassy in Tokyo would like to warn Thai people not to bring in cannabis, hemp, or products containing these plants into Japan. Violators could face punishment…
- World News
Thailand seals the deal for emergency support loan from Japan
The Thailand deal for a long-term multi-billion baht loan with Japan was formally announced today. Last month the government made the announcement to approach Japan for the loan. On May 3, the Thai Finance Minister, Akom Termpittayapaisit, explained to Thai media that he signed the agreement on Covid-19 Crisis Response Emergency Support Loan with a representative from JICA Morota Takahiro.…
- World News
Record breaking amount of methamphetamine pills seized in Asia
More than one billion methamphetamine pills were seized in East and Southeast Asia last year, according to a report released by the United Nations. The illicit synthetic drug market is constantly evolving in East and southeast Asia, with every country in the region reporting methamphetamine as their drug of greatest concern, according to the UN. The UN’s report says most…
- Tourism News
Japan tour packages more expensive due to Covid restrictions
The Japan National Tourism Organisation announced entry rules for tour companies allowed to enter Japan with their groups on June 10 for the first time since the pandemic in 2020. With immigration restrictions and requirements, Covid-19 screenings, and increasing operating costs, it’s predicted the prices will be 30 to 40% higher than packages offered before the outbreak, according to the…
- Thailand News
Japan provides the key to open Thai EV door
PM Prayut Chan-o-cha says Japan holds the key to Thailand becoming world’s largest electric vehicle production hub. The Thai PM yesterday told the 27th International Conference on the Future of Asia, organized by Nikkei Inc, in Tokyo, that with Japan’s support and investment Thailand could realise its EV dream. The 68 year old revealed plans to upgrade the country’s digital…
- Tourism News
Japan lifts travel advisory for Thailand, 35 other countries
Japan has lifted a travel advisory for Thailand, which had requested that citizens avoid non-essential travel to the kingdom. A similar advisory was lifted for 35 other countries, including the UK, Canada, Hong Kong and the US. According to a Kyodo News report, Japan’s foreign ministry has downgraded Thailand and the other 35 nations from Level 2 to Level 1…
- World News
Fowl play by Malaysian cartels forces government to ban export of poultry
The Malaysia government yesterday revealed it is banning the export of all poultry from the country while it investigates the illegal activity of cartels controlling the price and shipment of its produce. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob made it known Malaysia will halt the exports of 3.6 million chickens a month from June 1, to investigate the cartel pricing allegations.…
- China News
The QUAD Summit in Tokyo – what is QUAD, who’s attending and what are they talking about?
Leaders of the US, Australia, Japan and India are meeting today at the QUAD Summit 2022 in Tokyo to discuss the ever-growing economic influence of China in the region, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and India’s ongoing trade war and relationship with Russia. US President Joe Biden yesterday stoked regional political fires, prior to today’s summit, during a media conference with…
- World News
Japan government says masks not needed outside if you don’t talk too much
Japan’s government is saying it’s not necessary for people to wear masks outside, as long as they aren’t talking to others a lot. On Friday, Health Labor and Welfare Minister Shigeyuki Goto, said that even indoors, masks aren’t necessary if people are not talking a lot, and they can properly socially distance. The recent change to the Japanese government’s position…
- World News
G7 countries commit to phasing out imports of Russian oil
In a virtual meeting yesterday, the Group of Seven nations gave an undertaking to phase out imports of Russian oil. It’s the latest move aimed at punishing Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine, with the US also unveiling sanctions against executives at Gazprombank and a number of other businesses. According to a Reuters report, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy,…
- World News
Japan’s PM says entry restrictions to ease by next month
Japan’s PM announced yesterday that in June, visitors can enter the country “as smoothly as other G-7 nations”. Apart from China, Japan is the last Asian country that still hasn’t opened its border to foreign tourists. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the country has only been letting in foreigners who are either studying abroad, foreign dignitaries, or people…
- Road deaths
Japanese expat dies in motorbike accident, 10 year old daughter seriously injured
A Japanese businessman died in a motorbike accident on a mountain in Chiang Rai province, northern Thailand, yesterday. His 10 year old daughter is seriously injured and is being treated at Mai Sai hospital. Yesterday, 52 year old Shimizu Masaeki was taking his 10 year old daughter up Doi Pha Hee mountain in Chiang Rai province when he is thought…
- Thailand News
Thailand and Japan sign defence transfer pact to counter China’s growing influence
Thailand and Japan have signed an agreement on the mutual transfer of defence technology and equipment, in a bid to counter growing Chinese assertiveness, according to a report in the Kyodo News. The Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, and Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha, have also agreed to work together in providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and its neighbours. The agreement, signed…
- World News
HRW urges Japan’s PM to raise human rights issues on Thailand trip
For the first time in 9 years, Japan’s Prime Minister plans to visit Thailand. Japan’s PM Fumio Kishida plans to visit Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha on May 1-2 (Sunday to Monday) next week. Now, Human Rights Watch is calling on Fumio to raise concerns with Prayut about freedom of expression and assembly. This is part of a larger call that…
- World News
“It was a human-made disaster”: 11 dead, 15 missing after tour boat sinks in Japan
A tour boat with 26 people on board sank off the coast of Hokkaido in Japan on Saturday. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of 11 passengers and rescue teams are still searching for the remaining 15 passengers. Given the near-freezing temperatures of the water, rescuers fear the death toll will wise. Scientists say the boat shouldn’t have been operating in…
- Economy News
Thailand’s labour ministry hopes to export 50,000 workers
Now that the Covid-19 situation across the world has calmed down a bit, Thailand’s Labour Ministry expects to send about 50,000 workers abroad this year. The Department of Employment’s PR office said now that restrictions have largely eased, Thailand’s labour exports are set to resume in large numbers. So far, labour export agreements have been signed with two countries, Saudi…
- Crime News
Thailand’s Defence Ministry says Yakuza member is not former PM’s son
Thailand’s Defence Ministry is calling ‘fake news’ on rumours that a former PM’s son is part of a yakuza gang after he was arrested in the US this month on suspicion of trafficking in drugs and weapons. The gang members were arrested for trafficking heroin and methamphetamine while trying to acquire surface-to-air missiles for rebel groups in Myanmar and Sri Lanka,…
- World News
US arrests 3 Thais, yakuza chief for planning to supply missiles to Burmese rebels
US authorities revealed yesterday that they have arrested three Thai men and a Japanese yakuza organised crime leader in New York City on April 4 – 5. The men are accused of trafficking heroin and methamphetamine, as well as attempting to acquire surface-to-air missiles for rebel groups in Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Takeshi Ebizawa, Sompak Raksaranee, Somphop Sigsiri and Suksan…
- World News
Russia conducts drills on territory disputed with Japan
Japanese media reported today that over 3,000 Russian troops are conducting military drills on Tokyo’s Kuril islands. Japan’s Foreign Ministry and Prime Minister’s Office could not be reached outside business hours to comment on the exercises. Russia calls the chain of four islands part of its Kuril chain, while Japan calls them part of its northern territory. In its drills,…
- World News
Japan earthquake kills 4, injures almost 100
A 7.4 earthquake hit the northeast coast of Japan late last night, killing at least four and injuring almost 100. About 36,400 houses had no electricity this morning, although an electricity firm said most houses are expected to have electricity again later today. Japan issued a tsunami warning, but canceled it early this morning. Parts of Tokyo also lost power…
