Japan

Heavy Metal Lady: Japan\u2019s first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was a heavy metal drummer<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//10//21//japans-sanae-takaichi-set-to-be-elected-as-nations-first-female-prime-minister/">Japan/u2019s Sanae Takaichi elected as country\u2019s first female prime minister<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Takaichi promises results on economy and defence<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Takaichi is focusing on the economy, looking to attract voters with measures to address rising prices and stagnant wages, as well as support for low-income households.<\/p>\n<p>But the security hawk has also pledged to revise security and defence policies by December to further strengthen the military and to eliminate arms export restrictions to allow more sales and develop the Japanese defence industry.<\/p>\n<p>Her party is also vowing tougher immigration rules and restrictions on foreigners living in Japan to address growing anti-foreign sentiment.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this week, the LDP proposed new immigration policies including tougher requirements for foreign property owners and a cap on the number of foreign residents in Japan.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769161987,"updatedAt":1769165265,"publishedAt":1769165252,"firstPublishedAt":1769165252,"lastPublishedAt":1769165252,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/36\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9d44d29e-42ab-5a56-96f9-7593c072f7c8-9623602.jpg","altText":"Lawmakers stand after dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","caption":"Lawmakers stand after dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/36\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_6bd355ed-706d-553e-ad3f-13e99c3736b8-9623602.jpg","altText":"Lawmakers cheer after dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","caption":"Lawmakers cheer after dissolving the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/36\/02\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_ab75be30-a52d-5f96-9b8f-17441901b50f-9623602.jpg","altText":"Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","caption":"Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during an extraordinary Diet session at the lower house of parliament in Tokyo, 23 January, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":9355,"slug":"japanese-politics","urlSafeValue":"japanese-politics","title":"Japanese politics","titleRaw":"Japanese politics"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":27352,"slug":"cost-of-living","urlSafeValue":"cost-of-living","title":"cost of living","titleRaw":"cost of 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News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":{"id":444,"urlSafeValue":"tokyo-japan","title":"Tokyo"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2026\/01\/23\/japans-pm-dissolves-parliament-after-three-months-in-office-setting-up-snap-election","lastModified":1769165252},{"id":2864029,"cid":9620988,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business BOJ","daletPyramidId":3952028,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan's central bank holds rates steady after bond sell-off and ahead of elections","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Japan's central bank holds rates steady ahead of elections","titleListing2":"","leadin":"The Bank of Japan announced this Friday that its policy interest rate remains unchanged at 0.75%. The decision comes after a huge sell-off in Japanese bonds this week, triggered by Prime Minister Takaichi's call for snap elections, and unfunded tax cuts that fuelled inflation fears.","summary":"The Bank of Japan announced this Friday that its policy interest rate remains unchanged at 0.75%. The decision comes after a huge sell-off in Japanese bonds this week, triggered by Prime Minister Takaichi's call for snap elections, and unfunded tax cuts that fuelled inflation fears.","keySentence":"","url":"japans-central-bank-holds-rates-steady-after-bond-sell-off-and-ahead-of-elections","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/news\/2026\/01\/23\/japans-central-bank-holds-rates-steady-after-bond-sell-off-and-ahead-of-elections","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The BoJ held off on hiking its headline rate on Friday as expected, following signs of panic in Japan's bond market this week.\n\nJust last month, the Japanese central bank raised its key interest rate to 0.75%, a 30-year high, in a bid to normalise fiscal policy after a long era of near-zero or negative rates.\n\nIn its latest update, the BoJ also lifted its GDP growth expectations for 2025 to 0.9% and to 1% for this fiscal year. Both figures represent an increase from the 0.7% previously forecasted.\n\nThe decision to hold allows the Japanese economy to digest the December hike but it does not fully address the fear that spooked global markets this week, namely surrounding Japan's national debt and political instability.\n\nThis Tuesday, Japanese bonds suffered a historic rout, with the yield on the 40-year note surpassing the 4% mark for the first time since 2007. The 30-year bond yield also rose almost 30 basis points during the session, to roughly 3.9%, the highest level on record.\n\nThe catalyst for the sell-off was Prime Minister Takaichi's announcement on Monday that snap elections will be held on 8 February, and the pledge to suspend the 8% consumption tax on food for two years, in an attempt to woo voters.\n\nThe annual revenue from the tax is roughly \u00a55tr (\u20ac31.5bn), and with markets already concerned about Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio hovering near 240%, the highest in the developed world, the prospect of an unfunded tax cut has become controversial.\n\nPrime Minister Takaichi also unveiled a spending package of roughly \u00a521.5tr (\u20ac115bn), further fuelling criticism of fiscal recklessness.\n\nThese domestic policy decisions have drawn uncomfortable comparisons to Liz Truss\u2019s disastrous \"mini-budget\" of unfunded tax cuts in the UK, back in 2022.\n\nPolitics vs. Economics\n\nSanae Takaichi took office in October 2025 becoming Japan\u2019s first female prime minister, following the resignation of her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, after a series of political setbacks.\n\nTakaichi's party, the ruling right-wing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), lost its majority in the upper house. The long-standing coalition with the centrist party, Komeito, which withdrew over a political funds scandal, collapsed.\n\nNonetheless, the LDP formed a new coalition with the centre-right Japan Innovation Party (JIP), and under Takaichi's leadership, it has held a slim majority and enjoyed high approval ratings, particularly among young voters.\n\nThe ruling coalition now aims to leverage Prime Minister Takaichi's popularity in the snap elections to lock in a fresh mandate.\n\nDuring her speech this Monday, Takaichi proclaimed: \"I am putting my position as prime minister on the line. I want the people themselves to decide whether they are willing to entrust Takaichi Sanae with the task of running our nation.\"\n\nTakaichi's opponents merged at the start of this year, forming the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), and are trying to capitalise on voter anger over the cost of living.\n\nThe proposed food tax cut was Takaichi's ace in the hole, a direct transfer to households struggling with inflation. Instead, it has so-far backfired, driving up mortgage rates and corporate borrowing costs via the bonds.\n\nThe \"Abenomics\" ideology, the loose fiscal and monetary policy championed by Takaichi\u2019s mentor, the late Shinzo Abe, supports the narrative that an inflationary spike may be brewing. The CPI rate has already hovered above the central bank's 2% target for four years.\n\nEven so, volatility seemed to have somewhat subsided on Thursday as government officials talked down the panic, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara insisting the administration is \"keeping a close eye\" on bond movements.\n\nHowever, the yield on the 10-year government bond is still at its highest level since 1999, at around 2.25%.\n\nImpact on global markets\n\nFears of a ballooning deficit, just as the BoJ is tapering its decades-long bond-buying programme, have severe implications for global markets.\n\nFor many years, investors worldwide have enjoyed the so-called \"yen carry trade\". This is a strategy of borrowing money in Japanese yen, which typically has very low interest rates, to invest in assets denominated in currencies with higher returns, like US dollars.\n\nInvestors profit from the difference, or the \"spread\", between the low interest they pay on the loan and the high interest they earn on the investment.\n\nConversely, if the Japanese yen suddenly strengthens or the BoJ raises interest rates, the cost of repaying the loan spikes, often forcing investors to panic-sell their assets to cover their debts.\n\nThe rout that Japanese bonds experienced on Tuesday also forced a violent repricing in other markets throughout the following days, causing US Treasury yields to jump.\n\nThe US is particularly affected as Japan is the largest foreign holder of their debt, with over $1tr (\u20ac850bn) in US Treasuries.\n\nSpeaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos this Wednesday, US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated: \"It\u2019s very difficult to disaggregate the market reaction from what\u2019s going on endogenously in Japan.\"\n\nSecretary Bessent also completely dismissed the idea that the \"Greenland crisis\" was responsible for any volatility in US markets, emphasising that the primary pressure remains the fiscal shift currently unfolding in Tokyo.\n\nPrime Minister Takaichi's policies involve massive government spending to stimulate economic growth which fans inflationary risks. This could ultimately mean further hikes from the BoJ and more unwinding of the yen carry trade.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The BoJ held off on hiking its headline rate on Friday as expected, following signs of panic in Japan's bond market this week.<\/p>\n<p>Just last month, the Japanese central bank raised its key interest rate to 0.75%, a 30-year high, in a bid to normalise fiscal policy after a long era of near-zero or negative rates.<\/p>\n<p>In its latest update, the BoJ also lifted its GDP growth expectations for 2025 to 0.9% and to 1% for this fiscal year. Both figures represent an increase from the 0.7% previously forecasted.<\/p>\n<p>The decision to hold allows the Japanese economy to digest the December hike but it does not fully address the fear that spooked global markets this week, namely surrounding Japan's national debt and political instability.<\/p>\n<p>This Tuesday, Japanese bonds suffered a historic rout, with the yield on the 40-year note surpassing the 4% mark for the first time since 2007. The 30-year bond yield also rose almost 30 basis points during the session, to roughly 3.9%, the highest level on record.<\/p>\n<p>The catalyst for the sell-off was Prime Minister Takaichi's announcement on Monday that snap elections will be held on 8 February, and the pledge to suspend the 8% consumption tax on food for two years, in an attempt to woo voters.<\/p>\n<p>The annual revenue from the tax is roughly \u00a55tr (\u20ac31.5bn), and with markets already concerned about Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio hovering near 240%, the highest in the developed world, the prospect of an unfunded tax cut has become controversial.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Takaichi also unveiled a spending package of roughly \u00a521.5tr (\u20ac115bn), further fuelling criticism of fiscal recklessness. <\/p>\n<p>These domestic policy decisions have drawn uncomfortable comparisons to Liz Truss\u2019s disastrous \"mini-budget\" of unfunded tax cuts in the UK, back in 2022.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2022//10//01//trust-me-says-truss-after-mini-budget-causes-havoc-and-as-uk-energy-bills-rise/">'Trust me' says Truss after mini-budget causes havoc and as UK energy bills rise<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2022//10//12//truss-toils-to-stop-uk-market-turmoil-from-turning-into-economic-tailspin/">Truss toils to stop UK market turmoil from turning into economic tailspin<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Politics vs. Economics<\/h2>\n<p>Sanae Takaichi took office in October 2025 becoming Japan\u2019s first female prime minister, following the resignation of her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, after a series of political setbacks. <\/p>\n<p>Takaichi's party, the ruling right-wing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), lost its majority in the upper house. The long-standing coalition with the centrist party, Komeito, which withdrew over a political funds scandal, collapsed.<\/p>\n<p>Nonetheless, the LDP formed a new coalition with the centre-right Japan Innovation Party (JIP), and under Takaichi's leadership, it has held a slim majority and enjoyed high approval ratings, particularly among young voters.<\/p>\n<p>The ruling coalition now aims to leverage Prime Minister Takaichi's popularity in the snap elections to lock in a fresh mandate. <\/p>\n<p>During her speech this Monday, Takaichi proclaimed: \"I am putting my position as prime minister on the line. I want the people themselves to decide whether they are willing to entrust Takaichi Sanae with the task of running our nation.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//09//88//808x539_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg/" alt=\"Japanese PM Takaichi announcing snap elections, 19 January 2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/384x256_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/640x427_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/750x500_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/828x552_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1080x720_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1200x800_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1920x1280_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Japanese PM Takaichi announcing snap elections, 19 January 2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Takaichi's opponents merged at the start of this year, forming the Centrist Reform Alliance (CRA), and are trying to capitalise on voter anger over the cost of living.<\/p>\n<p>The proposed food tax cut was Takaichi's ace in the hole, a direct transfer to households struggling with inflation. Instead, it has so-far backfired, driving up mortgage rates and corporate borrowing costs via the bonds.<\/p>\n<p>The \"Abenomics\" ideology, the loose fiscal and monetary policy championed by Takaichi\u2019s mentor, the late Shinzo Abe, supports the narrative that an inflationary spike may be brewing. The CPI rate has already hovered above the central bank's 2% target for four years.<\/p>\n<p>Even so, volatility seemed to have somewhat subsided on Thursday as government officials talked down the panic, with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara insisting the administration is \"keeping a close eye\" on bond movements.<\/p>\n<p>However, the yield on the 10-year government bond is still at its highest level since 1999, at around 2.25%.<\/p>\n<h2>Impact on global markets<\/h2>\n<p>Fears of a ballooning deficit, just as the BoJ is tapering its decades-long bond-buying programme, have severe implications for global markets.<\/p>\n<p>For many years, investors worldwide have enjoyed the so-called \"yen carry trade\". This is a strategy of borrowing money in Japanese yen, which typically has very low interest rates, to invest in assets denominated in currencies with higher returns, like US dollars.<\/p>\n<p>Investors profit from the difference, or the \"spread\", between the low interest they pay on the loan and the high interest they earn on the investment.<\/p>\n<p>Conversely, if the Japanese yen suddenly strengthens or the BoJ raises interest rates, the cost of repaying the loan spikes, often forcing investors to panic-sell their assets to cover their debts. <\/p>\n<p>The rout that Japanese bonds experienced on Tuesday also forced a violent repricing in other markets throughout the following days, causing US Treasury yields to jump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//09//88//808x539_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg/" alt=\"A person walks in Tokyo as the screen shows the Nikkei falling, 21 January 2026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/384x256_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/640x427_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/750x500_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/828x552_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1080x720_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1200x800_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/1920x1280_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A person walks in Tokyo as the screen shows the Nikkei falling, 21 January 2026<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The US is particularly affected as Japan is the largest foreign holder of their debt, with over $1tr (\u20ac850bn) in US Treasuries.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos this Wednesday, US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, stated: \"It\u2019s very difficult to disaggregate the market reaction from what\u2019s going on endogenously in Japan.\"<\/p>\n<p>Secretary Bessent also completely dismissed the idea that the \"Greenland crisis\" was responsible for any volatility in US markets, emphasising that the primary pressure remains the fiscal shift currently unfolding in Tokyo.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Takaichi's policies involve massive government spending to stimulate economic growth which fans inflationary risks. This could ultimately mean further hikes from the BoJ and more unwinding of the yen carry trade.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769001286,"updatedAt":1769152757,"publishedAt":1769150784,"firstPublishedAt":1769150784,"lastPublishedAt":1769152757,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP","altText":"FILE. Exterior of the headquarters of the Bank of Japan, Tokyo.","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"FILE. Exterior of the headquarters of the Bank of Japan, Tokyo.","url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/42\/16\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5111a1de-70f2-5981-baa9-7a8bfe31e9eb-9421624.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"A person walks as the stock board shows the Nikkei index falling, Tokyo, Japan, January 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"A person walks as the stock board shows the Nikkei index falling, Tokyo, Japan, January 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_4759fcf9-0898-5682-8f4b-b6af796bf279-9620988.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Japanese PM Takaichi announcing snap elections, 19 January 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Japanese PM Takaichi announcing snap elections, 19 January 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2b699bcc-895f-516a-b00a-4ab2e1a4cb7e-9620988.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333},{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","altText":"Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi announcing snap elections this Monday, January 2026","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi announcing snap elections this Monday, January 2026","url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/09\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_52d03cdb-18e2-5214-bd3d-ea648ab362b0-9620988.jpg","captionUrl":null,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"urlSafeValue":"quirino.mealha@euronews.com","twitter":null,"id":3543,"title":"Quirino Mealha"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"urlSafeValue":"economy","titleRaw":"Economy","id":572,"title":"Economy","slug":"economy"},{"urlSafeValue":"finance","titleRaw":"Finance","id":8267,"title":"Finance","slug":"finance"},{"urlSafeValue":"japan","titleRaw":"Japan","id":160,"title":"Japan","slug":"japan"},{"urlSafeValue":"japanese-politics","titleRaw":"Japanese politics","id":9355,"title":"Japanese politics","slug":"japanese-politics"},{"urlSafeValue":"interest-rates","titleRaw":"Interest rates","id":7967,"title":"Interest 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RESTART SUSPENDED","daletPyramidId":3962055,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Restart of world's biggest nuclear plant paused after alert, Japan's TEPCO says","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Restart of world's biggest nuclear plant paused, Japan's TEPCO says ","titleListing2":"Restart of world's biggest nuclear plant suspended after alert, Japan operator says","leadin":"The restart, initially scheduled for Tuesday, had been pushed back after another technical issue related to the control rods' removal was detected last weekend.","summary":"The restart, initially scheduled for Tuesday, had been pushed back after another technical issue related to the control rods' removal was detected last weekend.","keySentence":"","url":"restart-of-worlds-biggest-nuclear-plant-paused-after-alert-japans-tepco-says","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/22\/restart-of-worlds-biggest-nuclear-plant-paused-after-alert-japans-tepco-says","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"The restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant was suspended in Japan on Thursday just hours after the process began, its operator said, but the reactor remains \"stable.\"\n\nOperations to relaunch a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province, closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, began late on Wednesday after it received the final green light from the nuclear regulator despite divided public opinion.\n\nBut its operator the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said that \"an alarm from the monitoring system...sounded during the reactor startup procedures,\" causing them to suspend operations.\n\n\"We were investigating the malfunctioning electrical equipment,\" spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi said and \"once it became clear that it would take time, we decided to reinsert the control rods in a planned manner.\"\n\nThe reactor \"is stable and there is no radioactive impact outside,\" he said.\n\nControl rods are a device used to control the nuclear chain reaction in the reactor core, which can be accelerated by slightly withdrawing them, or slowed down or stopped completely by inserting them deeper.\n\nThe restart, initially scheduled for Tuesday, had been pushed back after another technical issue related to the rods' removal was detected last weekend, a problem that was resolved on Sunday, according to TEPCO.\n\nKashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven was restarted.\n\nThe facility was taken offline when Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.\n\nHowever, Japan now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.\n\nKashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first TEPCO-run unit to restart since 2011. The company also operates the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, now being decommissioned.\n\nPublic opinion in Niigata is deeply divided. Around 60% of residents oppose the restart, while 37% support it, according to a survey conducted in September.\n\n\"It's Tokyo's electricity that is produced in Kashiwazaki, so why should the people here be put at risk? That makes no sense,\" Yumiko Abe, a 73-year-old resident, told the AFP news agency during a protest earlier this week.\n\nEarlier this month, seven groups opposing the restart submitted a petition signed by nearly 40,000 people to TEPCO and Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, saying that the plant sits on an active seismic fault zone and noted it was struck by a strong quake in 2007.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>The restart of the world's largest nuclear power plant was suspended in Japan on Thursday just hours after the process began, its operator said, but the reactor remains \"stable.\"<\/p>\n<p>Operations to relaunch a reactor at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province, closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, began late on Wednesday after it received the final green light from the nuclear regulator despite divided public opinion.<\/p>\n<p>But its operator the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) said that \"an alarm from the monitoring system...sounded during the reactor startup procedures,\" causing them to suspend operations.<\/p>\n<p>\"We were investigating the malfunctioning electrical equipment,\" spokesperson Takashi Kobayashi said and \"once it became clear that it would take time, we decided to reinsert the control rods in a planned manner.\"<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7045\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//21//29//808x569_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg/" alt=\"A radiation monitor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Okuma, 28 February, 2012\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/384x271_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/640x451_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/750x528_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/828x583_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1080x761_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1200x845_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1920x1353_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A radiation monitor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Okuma, 28 February, 2012<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The reactor \"is stable and there is no radioactive impact outside,\" he said.<\/p>\n<p>Control rods are a device used to control the nuclear chain reaction in the reactor core, which can be accelerated by slightly withdrawing them, or slowed down or stopped completely by inserting them deeper.<\/p>\n<p>The restart, initially scheduled for Tuesday, had been pushed back after another technical issue related to the rods' removal was detected last weekend, a problem that was resolved on Sunday, according to TEPCO.<\/p>\n<p>Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the world's biggest nuclear power plant by potential capacity, although just one reactor of seven was restarted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//12//11//european-commission-gives-green-light-to-construction-of-first-nuclear-power-plant-in-pola/">European Commission gives green light to construction of first nuclear power plant in Poland<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//12//08//radiation-shield-protecting-chernobyl-nuclear-power-plant-no-longer-blocks-radiation-iaea-/">Shield protecting Chernobyl nuclear power plant no longer blocks radiation, IAEA says<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The facility was taken offline when Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.<\/p>\n<p>However, Japan now wants to revive atomic energy to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and meet growing energy needs from artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>Kashiwazaki-Kariwa is the first TEPCO-run unit to restart since 2011. The company also operates the stricken Fukushima Daiichi plant, now being decommissioned.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6635\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//21//29//808x535_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg/" alt=\"Protesters hold placards during a rally to oppose nuclear power generation held in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, 3 April, 2011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/384x255_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/640x425_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/750x498_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/828x549_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1080x717_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1200x796_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/1920x1274_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Protesters hold placards during a rally to oppose nuclear power generation held in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, 3 April, 2011<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Public opinion in Niigata is deeply divided. Around 60% of residents oppose the restart, while 37% support it, according to a survey conducted in September.<\/p>\n<p>\"It's Tokyo's electricity that is produced in Kashiwazaki, so why should the people here be put at risk? That makes no sense,\" Yumiko Abe, a 73-year-old resident, told the AFP news agency during a protest earlier this week.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, seven groups opposing the restart submitted a petition signed by nearly 40,000 people to TEPCO and Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority, saying that the plant sits on an active seismic fault zone and noted it was struck by a strong quake in 2007.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1769075837,"updatedAt":1769078031,"publishedAt":1769078018,"firstPublishedAt":1769078018,"lastPublishedAt":1769078018,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a3784055-5eee-544e-aa78-65e27c19d361-9622129.jpg","altText":"A view of part of TEPCO\u2019s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki, 18 July, 2007","caption":"A view of part of TEPCO\u2019s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Kashiwazaki, 18 July, 2007","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1660,"height":933},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_3488488d-45aa-5f4b-9437-25e767ecb56d-9622129.jpg","altText":"A radiation monitor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Okuma, 28 February, 2012","caption":"A radiation monitor at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Okuma, 28 February, 2012","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1409},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/21\/29\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_24add937-80d3-5af8-85e3-fcdc9f89d9be-9622129.jpg","altText":"Protesters hold placards during a rally to oppose nuclear power generation held in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, 3 April, 2011","caption":"Protesters hold placards during a rally to oppose nuclear power generation held in front of the TEPCO headquarters in Tokyo, 3 April, 2011","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1327}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":9649,"slug":"fukushima","urlSafeValue":"fukushima","title":"Fukushima","titleRaw":"Fukushima"},{"id":19206,"slug":"nuclear-power-plant","urlSafeValue":"nuclear-power-plant","title":"Nuclear power plant","titleRaw":"Nuclear power 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News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},{"id":8,"slug":"green","urlSafeValue":"green","title":"Green"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"},{"id":"green-news","urlSafeValue":"green-news","title":"Green 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JAPAN FROZEN FOREST","daletPyramidId":3949721,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"\"Subzero forest\": Ice forest created at mountain inn in Takayama","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Ice forest created at mountain inn in Takayama","leadin":"An inn in Takayama, Japan, creates a stunning ice forest each winter by spraying water onto trees and slopes, forming icicles and ice layers that draw visitors nationwide.","summary":"An inn in Takayama, Japan, creates a stunning ice forest each winter by spraying water onto trees and slopes, forming icicles and ice layers that draw visitors nationwide.","keySentence":"","url":"subzero-forest-ice-forest-created-at-mountain-inn-in-takayama","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/21\/subzero-forest-ice-forest-created-at-mountain-inn-in-takayama","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"An inn located in the central Japanese city of Takayama has created an ice forest, taking advantage of the freezing cold weather.\n\nLocated in Gifu Prefecture at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, the inn builds what it calls a Subzero Forest each year by spraying water onto trees and nearby slopes.\n\nThe forest looks fantastical with some icicles hanging from the trees like curtains and others resembling jellyfish.\n\nAs temperatures stay below zero, the water freezes into thick layers of ice. Icicles form on branches like curtains, while others hang in rounded shapes that visitors compare to jellyfish.\n\nThe scene changes daily, shaped by wind and cold. Visitors travel from across Japan to see the display.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>An inn located in the central Japanese city of Takayama has created an ice forest, taking advantage of the freezing cold weather.<\/p>\n<p>Located in Gifu Prefecture at an altitude of about 1,000 metres, the inn builds what it calls a Subzero Forest each year by spraying water onto trees and nearby slopes.<\/p>\n<p>The forest looks fantastical with some icicles hanging from the trees like curtains and others resembling jellyfish.<\/p>\n<p>As temperatures stay below zero, the water freezes into thick layers of ice. Icicles form on branches like curtains, while others hang in rounded shapes that visitors compare to jellyfish. <\/p>\n<p>The scene changes daily, shaped by wind and cold. Visitors travel from across Japan to see the display. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768992639,"updatedAt":1768996210,"publishedAt":1768996112,"firstPublishedAt":1768996112,"lastPublishedAt":1768996112,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/06\/99\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_041c1802-4ebd-5608-a894-84df20e39b40-9620699.jpg","altText":"A man looks at the ice forest in the mountains of Takayama, Japan, Jan. 20, 2026","caption":"A man looks at the ice forest in the mountains of Takayama, Japan, Jan. 20, 2026","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"screenshot from a JPNHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai video","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique 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KILLER LIFE PRISON","daletPyramidId":3948939,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gets life in prison","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Man who killed former Japanese prime minister gets life in prison","titleListing2":"Man who assassinated former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gets life in prison","leadin":"Abe was serving as a regular lawmaker after leaving the prime minister's job when he was killed in 2022 while campaigning in the western city of Nara.","summary":"Abe was serving as a regular lawmaker after leaving the prime minister's job when he was killed in 2022 while campaigning in the western city of Nara.","keySentence":"","url":"man-who-assassinated-former-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-gets-life-in-prison","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/21\/man-who-assassinated-former-japanese-prime-minister-shinzo-abe-gets-life-in-prison","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A Japanese court sentenced a man who admitted assassinating former Prime Minister\u00a0Shinzo Abe to life imprisonment on Wednesday.\n\nTetsuya Yamagami, 45, earlier admitted to killing Abe in July 2022 during an election campaign speech in the western city of Nara.\n\nAbe, one of Japan's most influential politicians, was serving as a regular lawmaker after leaving the prime minister's job when he was killed in 2022 while campaigning in the western city of Nara.\n\nHis assassination shocked a nation with strict gun control laws.\n\nYamagami pleaded guilty to murder in the\u00a0trial that started in October. The Nara District Court announced on Wednesday that it had issued a guilty verdict and sentenced Yamagami to life in prison, as prosecutors requested.\n\nTakashi Fumimoto, one of the defence lawyers, said the decision did not take into consideration their request for clemency and was \"regrettable,\" adding that Yamagami's legal team would consider an appeal after consulting with him.\n\nShooter motivated by hatred of controversial church\n\nYamagami said he killed Abe after seeing a video message the former leader sent to a group affiliated with the Unification Church.\n\nHe added that his goal was to hurt the church, which he hated, and expose its ties with Abe, investigators have said.\n\nProsecutors demanded life imprisonment for Yamagami, noting the seriousness of the attack and the danger it caused at a crowded campaign venue.\n\nHis lawyers sought a sentence of no more than 20 years, citing his troubles as the child of a church adherent.\n\nJapanese law authorises the death penalty in murder cases, but prosecutors do not usually request it unless at least two people are killed.\n\nThe revelation of close ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the church caused the party to pull back from the church. It also prompted investigations that ended with a court decision that stripped the church's Japanese branch\u00a0of its tax-exempt religious status\u00a0and ordered it dissolved.\n\nThe church has since appealed, pending a decision.\n\nThe killing also led the National Police Agency to increase\u00a0police protection of dignitaries.\n\nInfluential politician\n\nAbe was Japan's longest-serving postwar leader, holding power for nine years before stepping down in 2021. He led the largest faction of the governing party and forged a friendship with US President Donald Trump.\n\nAbe is remembered for his arch-conservative views on security and historical issues and was backed by right-wing groups including the Unification Church.\n\nSimilar views are now represented by his protege Sanae Takaichi, who took office in October as Japan's first female Prime Minister.\n\nAn investigation into Abe\u2019s assassination revealed close ties between his governing party and the church, dating back to a 1960s anti-communist movement supported by Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.\n\nYamagami said that as he plotted his attack, he saw Abe's appearance in a video message shown to a meeting of church-related Universal Peace Federation.\n\nAbe was shot on 8 July 2022, while giving a speech outside a train station in Nara. In footage captured by television cameras, two gunshots ring out as the politician raises his fist.\n\nHe collapses holding his chest, his shirt smeared with blood. Officials say Abe died almost instantly.\n\nYamagami was captured on the spot. He said he initially planned to kill the leader of the Unification Church, but switched targets to Abe because of the difficulty of getting close to the leader.\n\nHe told the court last year that he chose Abe as a figure who exemplified the connection between Japanese politics and the church, according to public broadcaster NHK.\n\nYamagami, apologised to Abe's widow, Akie Abe, in an earlier court session, saying he had no grudge against his family and that he had no excuse to defend him, NHK said.\n\nYamagami's case also brought attention to the children of Unification Church adherents in Japan and influenced a law meant to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups.\n\nThousands of people signed a petition requesting leniency for Yamagami and others have sent care packages to his relatives and the detention centre where he\u2019s being housed.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A Japanese court sentenced a man who admitted assassinating former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to life imprisonment on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, earlier admitted to killing Abe in July 2022 during an election campaign speech in the western city of Nara.<\/p>\n<p>Abe, one of Japan's most influential politicians, was serving as a regular lawmaker after leaving the prime minister's job when he was killed in 2022 while campaigning in the western city of Nara.<\/p>\n<p>His assassination shocked a nation with strict gun control laws.<\/p>\n<p>Yamagami pleaded guilty to murder in the trial that started in October. The Nara District Court announced on Wednesday that it had issued a guilty verdict and sentenced Yamagami to life in prison, as prosecutors requested.<\/p>\n<p>Takashi Fumimoto, one of the defence lawyers, said the decision did not take into consideration their request for clemency and was \"regrettable,\" adding that Yamagami's legal team would consider an appeal after consulting with him.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//05//90//808x539_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg/" alt=\"People offer prayers for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Zojoji temple in Tokyo, 8 July, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/384x256_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/640x427_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/750x500_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/828x552_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1080x720_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1200x800_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1920x1280_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">People offer prayers for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Zojoji temple in Tokyo, 8 July, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>Shooter motivated by hatred of controversial church<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Yamagami said he killed Abe after seeing a video message the former leader sent to a group affiliated with the Unification Church.<\/p>\n<p>He added that his goal was to hurt the church, which he hated, and expose its ties with Abe, investigators have said.<\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors demanded life imprisonment for Yamagami, noting the seriousness of the attack and the danger it caused at a crowded campaign venue.<\/p>\n<p>His lawyers sought a sentence of no more than 20 years, citing his troubles as the child of a church adherent.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//05//90//808x539_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg/" alt=\"The logo of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification is seen at its building&#x27;s entrance in Tokyo, 7 November, 2023\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/384x256_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/640x427_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/750x500_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/828x552_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1080x720_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1200x800_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1920x1280_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">The logo of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification is seen at its building&#x27;s entrance in Tokyo, 7 November, 2023<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Japanese law authorises the death penalty in murder cases, but prosecutors do not usually request it unless at least two people are killed.<\/p>\n<p>The revelation of close ties between the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the church caused the party to pull back from the church. It also prompted investigations that ended with a court decision that stripped the church's Japanese branch of its tax-exempt religious status and ordered it dissolved.<\/p>\n<p>The church has since appealed, pending a decision.<\/p>\n<p>The killing also led the National Police Agency to increase police protection of dignitaries.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Influential politician<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Abe was Japan's longest-serving postwar leader, holding power for nine years before stepping down in 2021. He led the largest faction of the governing party and forged a friendship with US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Abe is remembered for his arch-conservative views on security and historical issues and was backed by right-wing groups including the Unification Church.<\/p>\n<p>Similar views are now represented by his protege Sanae Takaichi, who took office in October as Japan's first female Prime Minister.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.834\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////static.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//52//84//49//808x673_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg/" alt=\"Tetsuya Yamagami is detained near the site of gunshots in Nara Prefecture, 8 July, 2022 \" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/384x320_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 384w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/640x534_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 640w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/750x626_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 750w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/828x691_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 828w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/1080x901_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/1200x1001_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/1920x1601_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Tetsuya Yamagami is detained near the site of gunshots in Nara Prefecture, 8 July, 2022 <\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>An investigation into Abe\u2019s assassination revealed close ties between his governing party and the church, dating back to a 1960s anti-communist movement supported by Abe's grandfather, former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi.<\/p>\n<p>Yamagami said that as he plotted his attack, he saw Abe's appearance in a video message shown to a meeting of church-related Universal Peace Federation.<\/p>\n<p>Abe was shot on 8 July 2022, while giving a speech outside a train station in Nara. In footage captured by television cameras, two gunshots ring out as the politician raises his fist.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2022//07//12//japan-mourns-as-its-longest-serving-pm-shinzo-abe-is-laid-to-rest/">Japan mourns as its longest-serving PM Shinzo Abe is laid to rest<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2022//09//27//shinzo-abe-japan-holds-divisive-state-funeral-for-assassinated-ex-prime-minister/">Shinzo Abe: Japan holds divisive state funeral for assassinated ex-prime minister<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He collapses holding his chest, his shirt smeared with blood. Officials say Abe died almost instantly.<\/p>\n<p>Yamagami was captured on the spot. He said he initially planned to kill the leader of the Unification Church, but switched targets to Abe because of the difficulty of getting close to the leader.<\/p>\n<p>He told the court last year that he chose Abe as a figure who exemplified the connection between Japanese politics and the church, according to public broadcaster NHK.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6755\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//62//05//90//808x546_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg/" alt=\"A portrait of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hangs on the stage during his state funeral in Tokyo, 27 September, 2022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/384x259_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/640x432_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/750x507_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/828x559_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1080x730_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1200x811_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/1920x1297_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">A portrait of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hangs on the stage during his state funeral in Tokyo, 27 September, 2022<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Yamagami, apologised to Abe's widow, Akie Abe, in an earlier court session, saying he had no grudge against his family and that he had no excuse to defend him, NHK said.<\/p>\n<p>Yamagami's case also brought attention to the children of Unification Church adherents in Japan and influenced a law meant to restrict malicious donation solicitations by religious and other groups.<\/p>\n<p>Thousands of people signed a petition requesting leniency for Yamagami and others have sent care packages to his relatives and the detention centre where he\u2019s being housed.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768989317,"updatedAt":1769004788,"publishedAt":1768991421,"firstPublishedAt":1768991421,"lastPublishedAt":1768991421,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e60d3d11-11f3-58eb-9dc9-4cfd282c39c8-9620590.jpg","altText":"Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, 25 September, 2017","caption":"Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo, 25 September, 2017","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c0343f87-20e9-5671-85ca-880fb07cc80c-9620590.jpg","altText":"A portrait of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hangs on the stage during his state funeral in Tokyo, 27 September, 2022","caption":"A portrait of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hangs on the stage during his state funeral in Tokyo, 27 September, 2022","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1351},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_b1451b86-ad33-5874-9b0c-81bb55d49e02-9620590.jpg","altText":"People offer prayers for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Zojoji temple in Tokyo, 8 July, 2023","caption":"People offer prayers for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Zojoji temple in Tokyo, 8 July, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/62\/05\/90\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_20385c22-eadb-5e7b-8953-e5754ccbdada-9620590.jpg","altText":"The logo of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification is seen at its building's entrance in Tokyo, 7 November, 2023","caption":"The logo of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification is seen at its building's entrance in Tokyo, 7 November, 2023","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333},{"url":"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/52\/84\/49\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9ba527f6-5d6f-5dbf-ae4e-8af8b3663e03-9528449.jpg","altText":"Tetsuya Yamagami is detained near the site of gunshots in Nara Prefecture, 8 July, 2022 ","caption":"Tetsuya Yamagami is detained near the site of 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JAPAN VISIT","daletPyramidId":3900584,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Italy and Japan upgrade ties to strategic partnership as Meloni meets Takaichi in Tokyo","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Meloni meets Takaichi in Tokyo upgrading ties to strategic partnership","titleListing2":"Italian PM Meloni visits Japan to strengthen ties in defence and innovation","leadin":"The partnership between Italy and Japan \u2014 its third-largest trading partner in Asia \u2014 centres on defence and security, economic security and critical minerals, and cooperation in Africa.","summary":"The partnership between Italy and Japan \u2014 its third-largest trading partner in Asia \u2014 centres on defence and security, economic security and critical minerals, and cooperation in Africa.","keySentence":"","url":"italy-and-japan-upgrade-ties-to-strategic-partnership-as-meloni-meets-takaichi-in-tokyo","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/16\/italy-and-japan-upgrade-ties-to-strategic-partnership-as-meloni-meets-takaichi-in-tokyo","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi upgraded their countries' relationship to a \"special strategic partnership\" Friday, focusing on critical minerals supply chains and defence cooperation as both seek to reduce dependence on China.\n\nThe meeting in Tokyo marked the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations and Meloni's third visit to Japan since becoming premier in 2022.\n\nJapan has faced growing tensions with China over Taiwan and the supply of rare earths. Takaichi made remarks about defending Taiwan, prompting Beijing to tighten export controls on critical minerals.\n\nChina controls roughly 70% of global rare earth production and over 90% of processing capacity.\n\n\"We agreed that cooperating to strengthen the resilience of our critical mineral supply chains is of utmost urgency,\" Takaichi told reporters.\n\nThe leaders expressed \"strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion\" in the East and South China Seas, a reference to Chinese territorial claims, and condemned North Korea's nuclear programmes and its military cooperation with Russia.\n\nSixth-generation fighter jet at the centre\n\nBilateral trade between Italy and Japan \u2014 its third-largest trading partner in Asia \u2014 reached approximately $11.6 billion (around \u20ac10 billion) in 2024.\n\nItalian investment in Japan stood at \u20ac2.36 billion in 2024, while Japanese investment in Italy exceeded \u20ac3.7 billion.\n\nThe partnership centres on defence and security, economic security and critical minerals, and cooperation in Africa.\n\nDefence cooperation focuses on the Global Combat Air Programme, a trilateral project with the UK to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2035.\n\nBritain has committed \u00a32 billion (\u20ac2.3bn) to GCAP since 2021 and budgeted over \u00a312 billion (\u20ac13.9bn) for the next decade. Japan and the UK are expected to shoulder about 40% of costs each, with Italy contributing roughly 20%, according to leaked programme details.\n\nThe aircraft will replace the Eurofighter Typhoon for Britain and Italy and the Mitsubishi F-2 for Japan. The programme aims to deliver a stealth fighter with advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities and the ability to control unmanned combat drones.\n\n\"GCAP is not only a defence-strengthening project, it is also an industrial and technological strengthening project,\" Meloni said, confirming the 2035 delivery target.\n\nThe programme has progressed more smoothly than Europe's Future Combat Air System led by France, Germany and Spain, which has been plagued by disagreements.\n\nThe partnership's economic security dimension focuses on securing supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals essential to defence systems, semiconductors and electric vehicles.\n\nRelationship becoming 'solid friendship'\n\nIn their joint declaration, the leaders expressed \"deep concern about all forms of economic coercion and the use of non-market policies and practices and the use of export restrictions that disrupt global supply chains,\" language directed at both China's export controls and Washington's protectionism under US President Donald Trump.\n\nItaly's approach centres on its Mattei Plan for Africa, a \u20ac5.5 billion initiative launched in January 2024 targeting energy, infrastructure and mining projects across nine African countries.\n\nThe plan is named after Enrico Mattei, founder of energy giant ENI, who in the 1950s offered African oil producers more favourable terms than Western competitors.\n\nItaly's debt-to-GDP ratio of around 137% limits Rome's financial capacity, forcing it to rely on EU Global Gateway funds for co-financing.\n\nThe upgrade also comes as both Meloni and Takaichi navigate unpredictable US foreign policy under Trump. Italy and Japan have traditionally depended on Washington for defence partnerships but are working to reduce reliance on US programmes, including through GCAP.\n\nMeloni and Takaichi are the only two women leading G7 nations and the first women to lead their respective countries. Both head conservative parties.\n\n\"I am very happy to be here today in Tokyo, alongside Sanae Takaichi and we have only known each other for a short time, but for us a relationship based on a special rapport was immediately established, and I believe this relationship is quickly becoming a solid friendship on a personal level as well,\" Meloni said.\n\nMeloni will continue her Asia tour with a visit to South Korea, where she will meet President Lee Jae-myung.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi upgraded their countries' relationship to a \"special strategic partnership\" Friday, focusing on critical minerals supply chains and defence cooperation as both seek to reduce dependence on China.<\/p>\n<p>The meeting in Tokyo marked the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations and Meloni's third visit to Japan since becoming premier in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>Japan has faced growing tensions with China over Taiwan and the supply of rare earths. Takaichi made remarks about defending Taiwan, prompting Beijing to tighten export controls on critical minerals. <\/p>\n<p>China controls roughly 70% of global rare earth production and over 90% of processing capacity.<\/p>\n<p>\"We agreed that cooperating to strengthen the resilience of our critical mineral supply chains is of utmost urgency,\" Takaichi told reporters.<\/p>\n<p>The leaders expressed \"strong opposition to any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion\" in the East and South China Seas, a reference to Chinese territorial claims, and condemned North Korea's nuclear programmes and its military cooperation with Russia.<\/p>\n<h2>Sixth-generation fighter jet at the centre<\/h2>\n<p>Bilateral trade between Italy and Japan \u2014 its third-largest trading partner in Asia \u2014 reached approximately $11.6 billion (around \u20ac10 billion) in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Italian investment in Japan stood at \u20ac2.36 billion in 2024, while Japanese investment in Italy exceeded \u20ac3.7 billion. <\/p>\n<p>The partnership centres on defence and security, economic security and critical minerals, and cooperation in Africa.<\/p>\n<p>Defence cooperation focuses on the Global Combat Air Programme, a trilateral project with the UK to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2035.<\/p>\n<p>Britain has committed \u00a32 billion (\u20ac2.3bn) to GCAP since 2021 and budgeted over \u00a312 billion (\u20ac13.9bn) for the next decade. Japan and the UK are expected to shoulder about 40% of costs each, with Italy contributing roughly 20%, according to leaked programme details.<\/p>\n<p>The aircraft will replace the Eurofighter Typhoon for Britain and Italy and the Mitsubishi F-2 for Japan. The programme aims to deliver a stealth fighter with advanced sensors, electronic warfare capabilities and the ability to control unmanned combat drones.<\/p>\n<p>\"GCAP is not only a defence-strengthening project, it is also an industrial and technological strengthening project,\" Meloni said, confirming the 2035 delivery target.<\/p>\n<p>The programme has progressed more smoothly than Europe's Future Combat Air System led by France, Germany and Spain, which has been plagued by disagreements.<\/p>\n<p>The partnership's economic security dimension focuses on securing supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals essential to defence systems, semiconductors and electric vehicles.<\/p>\n<h2>Relationship becoming 'solid friendship'<\/h2>\n<p>In their joint declaration, the leaders expressed \"deep concern about all forms of economic coercion and the use of non-market policies and practices and the use of export restrictions that disrupt global supply chains,\" language directed at both China's export controls and Washington's protectionism under US President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Italy's approach centres on its Mattei Plan for Africa, a \u20ac5.5 billion initiative launched in January 2024 targeting energy, infrastructure and mining projects across nine African countries. <\/p>\n<p>The plan is named after Enrico Mattei, founder of energy giant ENI, who in the 1950s offered African oil producers more favourable terms than Western competitors.<\/p>\n<p>Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio of around 137% limits Rome's financial capacity, forcing it to rely on EU Global Gateway funds for co-financing.<\/p>\n<p>The upgrade also comes as both Meloni and Takaichi navigate unpredictable US foreign policy under Trump. Italy and Japan have traditionally depended on Washington for defence partnerships but are working to reduce reliance on US programmes, including through GCAP.<\/p>\n<p>Meloni and Takaichi are the only two women leading G7 nations and the first women to lead their respective countries. Both head conservative parties.<\/p>\n<p>\"I am very happy to be here today in Tokyo, alongside Sanae Takaichi and we have only known each other for a short time, but for us a relationship based on a special rapport was immediately established, and I believe this relationship is quickly becoming a solid friendship on a personal level as well,\" Meloni said.<\/p>\n<p>Meloni will continue her Asia tour with a visit to South Korea, where she will meet President Lee Jae-myung.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768550704,"updatedAt":1768568924,"publishedAt":1768568743,"firstPublishedAt":1768568743,"lastPublishedAt":1768568923,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP","altText":"Giorgia Meloni and Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo","callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"caption":"Giorgia Meloni and Sanae Takaichi in 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JAPAN RICE POUNDING DANCE","daletPyramidId":3901993,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan: Traditional rice pounding ceremony held in snowy Aomori village","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Aomori women in kimonos brave the cold for traditional rice pounding ceremony to ensure a good harvest","leadin":"In Aomori, Japan, women in kimonos performed the Taue Mochitsuki rice pounding ceremony amid snowfall, aiming for a good harvest and family protection.","summary":"In Aomori, Japan, women in kimonos performed the Taue Mochitsuki rice pounding ceremony amid snowfall, aiming for a good harvest and family protection.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-traditional-rice-pounding-ceremony-held-in-snowy-aomori-village","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/16\/japan-traditional-rice-pounding-ceremony-held-in-snowy-aomori-village","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan wakes to deep snow in Aomori, where women in bright kimonos gathered this week for a ritual rooted in daily life. In Higashidoori Village, dancers performed the Taue Mochitsuki, a rice pounding ceremony held at a local shrine. Five women stood around a small mortar, striking mochi rice with wooden mallets as snow fell steadily.\n\nThe dance followed songs sung in front of houses buried under fresh snow. The gestures are simple and repeated, meant to ask for a good harvest and to protect families through the year. The cold made the work harder, especially for newcomers, but the mood stayed calm and focused.\n\nPassed down through generations, the ritual is now recognised as an intangible folk cultural asset. It traces its roots to communal mochi-making, an ancient agricultural tradition linked to prayers for abundant harvests.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan wakes to deep snow in Aomori, where women in bright kimonos gathered this week for a ritual rooted in daily life. In Higashidoori Village, dancers performed the Taue Mochitsuki, a rice pounding ceremony held at a local shrine. Five women stood around a small mortar, striking mochi rice with wooden mallets as snow fell steadily.<\/p>\n<p>The dance followed songs sung in front of houses buried under fresh snow. The gestures are simple and repeated, meant to ask for a good harvest and to protect families through the year. The cold made the work harder, especially for newcomers, but the mood stayed calm and focused.<\/p>\n<p>Passed down through generations, the ritual is now recognised as an intangible folk cultural asset. It traces its roots to communal mochi-making, an ancient agricultural tradition linked to prayers for abundant harvests.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768557157,"updatedAt":1768565152,"publishedAt":1768565057,"firstPublishedAt":1768565057,"lastPublishedAt":1768565057,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/50\/74\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d2bdf3bc-46a8-5853-a10d-9f6e3b6a8ec3-9615074.jpg","altText":"Women dancing in the snow","caption":"Women dancing in the snow","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"NHK","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis 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ties.","keySentence":"","url":"japanese-and-italian-pms-discuss-defence-and-trade-in-tokyo-on-melonis-birthday","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/16\/japanese-and-italian-pms-discuss-defence-and-trade-in-tokyo-on-melonis-birthday","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Giorgia Meloni arrived in Tokyo on Friday, the day of her birthday, a detail noted on Japanese social media. The visit marked Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi\u2019s first meeting in Japan with any European leader since she took office in October.\n\nBeyond the mood, the talks focused on substance. Japan and Italy agreed to upgrade their ties to a special strategic partnership, reflecting closer coordination in a tense global climate.\n\nDefence cooperation featured prominently, including their shared work with the UK on a next generation fighter jet and Italy\u2019s growing interest in the Indo Pacific.\n\nTrade also played a role, with exchanges now exceeding 10 billion euros.\n\nThe Meloni\u2013Takaichi meeting sparked a social media buzz in Japan, with the \u201cSanaMelo Summit\u201d trending as the two countries marked 160 years of diplomatic ties.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Giorgia Meloni arrived in Tokyo on Friday, the day of her birthday, a detail noted on Japanese social media. The visit marked Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi\u2019s first meeting in Japan with any European leader since she took office in October.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the mood, the talks focused on substance. Japan and Italy agreed to upgrade their ties to a special strategic partnership, reflecting closer coordination in a tense global climate. <\/p>\n<p>Defence cooperation featured prominently, including their shared work with the UK on a next generation fighter jet and Italy\u2019s growing interest in the Indo Pacific. <\/p>\n<p>Trade also played a role, with exchanges now exceeding 10 billion euros. <\/p>\n<p>The Meloni\u2013Takaichi meeting sparked a social media buzz in Japan, with the \u201cSanaMelo Summit\u201d trending as the two countries marked 160 years of diplomatic ties.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768545262,"updatedAt":1768549390,"publishedAt":1768549244,"firstPublishedAt":1768549244,"lastPublishedAt":1768549244,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/47\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0b3630a8-9066-57c2-ae59-5aa6765ccc35-9614788.jpg","altText":"Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pose for photos during their meeting in Tokyo","caption":"Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, left, and Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pose for photos during their meeting in Tokyo","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Takashi Aoyama\/Pool Photo via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":158,"slug":"italy","urlSafeValue":"italy","title":"Italy","titleRaw":"Italy"},{"id":12034,"slug":"diplomacy","urlSafeValue":"diplomacy","title":"Diplomacy","titleRaw":"Diplomacy"},{"id":26260,"slug":"partnership","urlSafeValue":"partnership","title":"Partnership","titleRaw":"Partnership"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":20538,"slug":"trade","urlSafeValue":"trade","title":"trade","titleRaw":"trade"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2855779},{"id":2862006},{"id":2853255}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"PybOvAHG45Y","dailymotionId":"x9xvjgi"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/34\/07\/63\/03\/ED_PYR_3407633_20260116064020.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":12296303,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/34\/07\/63\/03\/SHD_PYR_3407633_20260116064020.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":17603441,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/34\/07\/63\/03\/FHD_PYR_3407633_20260116064020.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":49616680,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AFP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":{"id":444,"urlSafeValue":"tokyo-japan","title":"Tokyo"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2026\/01\/16\/japanese-and-italian-pms-discuss-defence-and-trade-in-tokyo-on-melonis-birthday","lastModified":1768549244},{"id":2862006,"cid":9611924,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC1 JAPAN S. KOREA DRUM JAM","daletPyramidId":3874073,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Prime Minister Takaichi and President Lee share drum session in Tokyo","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Japan\u2019s PM and South Korea\u2019s President bond over drum session after summit","leadin":"Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korea\u2019s President Lee Jae Myung surprised everyone by playing drums to K-pop hits after formal talks in Tokyo.","summary":"Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and South Korea\u2019s President Lee Jae Myung surprised everyone by playing drums to K-pop hits after formal talks in Tokyo.","keySentence":"","url":"prime-minister-takaichi-and-president-lee-share-drum-session-in-tokyo","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/14\/prime-minister-takaichi-and-president-lee-share-drum-session-in-tokyo","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"After formal talks in Tokyo on Tuesday, the two leaders relaxed with an unexpected drum session set to K-pop hits.\n\nWearing matching blue gym suits, they sat side by side and played along to songs including BTS\u2019s Dynamite, as shown in a short video released by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office.\n\nThe moment was Takaichi\u2019s idea, drawing on her past as a keen drummer. Lee said playing the drums had long been a personal wish and thanked his host for the chance. He added that, like finding a shared rhythm, Japan and South Korea could build trust step by step.\n\nThe light moment followed talks on security, culture and a more stable future relationship.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>After formal talks in Tokyo on Tuesday, the two leaders relaxed with an unexpected drum session set to K-pop hits. <\/p>\n<p>Wearing matching blue gym suits, they sat side by side and played along to songs including BTS\u2019s Dynamite, as shown in a short video released by the Prime Minister\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n<p>The moment was Takaichi\u2019s idea, drawing on her past as a keen drummer. Lee said playing the drums had long been a personal wish and thanked his host for the chance. He added that, like finding a shared rhythm, Japan and South Korea could build trust step by step. <\/p>\n<p>The light moment followed talks on security, culture and a more stable future relationship.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768371848,"updatedAt":1768376663,"publishedAt":1768376235,"firstPublishedAt":1768376235,"lastPublishedAt":1768376235,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/19\/24\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c0a2b1ba-ad8c-5a5d-97a0-165e9e289dca-9611924.jpg","altText":"South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi playing drums to 'Golden' from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters","caption":"South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi playing drums to 'Golden' from the movie K-Pop Demon Hunters","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA CHEONG WA 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cold water in the shrine courtyard.\n\nAfter warm up runs and chants to the purification goddess Haraedo no Okami, they poured water over themselves with wooden buckets, shouting to steady their nerves. Drums and flutes accompanied the ceremony, now in its 71st year.\n\nThe rite is rooted in Shinto beliefs that physical hardship cleanses the spirit and protects against misfortune. Once limited to shrine members, the event now accepts public applications, which filled quickly this year as onlookers watched from outside.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>About 100 participants, mostly men wearing white loincloths and a few women in white robes, stepped into tubs of ice cold water in the shrine courtyard. <\/p>\n<p>After warm up runs and chants to the purification goddess Haraedo no Okami, they poured water over themselves with wooden buckets, shouting to steady their nerves. Drums and flutes accompanied the ceremony, now in its 71st year. <\/p>\n<p>The rite is rooted in Shinto beliefs that physical hardship cleanses the spirit and protects against misfortune. Once limited to shrine members, the event now accepts public applications, which filled quickly this year as onlookers watched from outside.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1768219732,"updatedAt":1768224994,"publishedAt":1768224485,"firstPublishedAt":1768224485,"lastPublishedAt":1768224485,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/61\/00\/40\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_5e53ca14-a136-520d-94e8-014af40a2812-9610040.jpg","altText":"Participants in the ice bath","caption":"Participants in the ice bath","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Agence France Presse","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis 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projectors.","keySentence":"","url":"largest-projection-show-on-tokyo-government-building-mesmerizes-crowds","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/08\/largest-projection-show-on-tokyo-government-building-mesmerizes-crowds","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Launched in 2024, it holds the Guinness World Record for the largest permanent architectural projection, covering nearly 14,000 square metres.\n\nThe display uses 40 high-brightness projectors, powered mostly by solar energy, and runs several short sequences between 7 and 9 pm. Weekdays focus on abstract themes such as evolution and lunar cycles. Weekends lean into popular culture, with J-pop performances, anime scenes and a life-size Godzilla looming over the plaza.\n\nCity officials say the project aims to boost night-time tourism. Critics call it costly, but visitor numbers suggest the show has already become part of Tokyo\u2019s evening routine.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Launched in 2024, it holds the Guinness World Record for the largest permanent architectural projection, covering nearly 14,000 square metres.<\/p>\n<p>The display uses 40 high-brightness projectors, powered mostly by solar energy, and runs several short sequences between 7 and 9 pm. Weekdays focus on abstract themes such as evolution and lunar cycles. Weekends lean into popular culture, with J-pop performances, anime scenes and a life-size Godzilla looming over the plaza.<\/p>\n<p>City officials say the project aims to boost night-time tourism. Critics call it costly, but visitor numbers suggest the show has already become part of Tokyo\u2019s evening routine.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767884121,"updatedAt":1767885653,"publishedAt":1767885271,"firstPublishedAt":1767885271,"lastPublishedAt":1767885271,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/65\/80\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_f0d79189-85ee-5568-ac5d-9663f86d31e4-9606580.jpg","altText":"Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building","caption":"Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Tokyo Night & Light","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":11682,"slug":"tokyo","urlSafeValue":"tokyo","title":"Tokyo","titleRaw":"Tokyo"},{"id":4221,"slug":"tourism","urlSafeValue":"tourism","title":"Tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism"},{"id":9983,"slug":"world-record","urlSafeValue":"world-record","title":"World record","titleRaw":"World record"},{"id":574,"slug":"culture","urlSafeValue":"culture","title":"Culture","titleRaw":"Culture"},{"id":19624,"slug":"night-life","urlSafeValue":"night-life","title":"night life","titleRaw":"night life"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2859700},{"id":2851818},{"id":2849182}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"_6aLa4bpEUo","dailymotionId":"x9xcmb6"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":11673008,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/47\/00\/01\/ED_PYR_3347001_20260108150656.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"md"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":16228371,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/47\/00\/01\/SHD_PYR_3347001_20260108150656.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"hd"},{"duration":60000,"editor":"","filesizeBytes":48181372,"format":"mp4","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/47\/00\/01\/FHD_PYR_3347001_20260108150656.mp4","expiresAt":0,"quality":"1080p"}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":{"id":444,"urlSafeValue":"tokyo-japan","title":"Tokyo"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2026\/01\/08\/largest-projection-show-on-tokyo-government-building-mesmerizes-crowds","lastModified":1767885271},{"id":2859956,"cid":9603393,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC1 JAPAN EARTHQUAKE","daletPyramidId":3795218,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Powerful 6.2 earthquake hits Japan's Shimane Prefecture","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Powerful 6.2 earthquake hits Japan's Shimane Prefecture","leadin":"A strong 6.2 quake hit Shimane Prefecture, Japan, shaking nearby areas but causing no injuries or damage. Authorities confirmed no tsunami risk or nuclear plant issues.","summary":"A strong 6.2 quake hit Shimane Prefecture, Japan, shaking nearby areas but causing no injuries or damage. Authorities confirmed no tsunami risk or nuclear plant issues.","keySentence":"","url":"powerful-62-earthquake-hits-japans-shimane-prefecture","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/06\/powerful-62-earthquake-hits-japans-shimane-prefecture","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan was shaken by a strong earthquake on Tuesday morning, though authorities quickly ruled out any tsunami risk. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 6.2 quake struck eastern Shimane Prefecture on Honshu island's western side. In parts of Shimane and neighbouring Tottori, the tremor reached upper 5 on the country\u2019s seismic intensity scale, strong enough to unsettle daily life but not to cause widespread damage.\n\nThe epicentre was located about 10 kilometres underground, inland. Matsue, the prefectural capital, and several nearby cities were among the areas that felt the strongest shaking. Officials said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.\n\nJapan\u2019s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at the Shimane nuclear power plant or related facilities. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are frequent, and residents are used to rapid safety checks after such events.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan was shaken by a strong earthquake on Tuesday morning, though authorities quickly ruled out any tsunami risk. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the magnitude 6.2 quake struck eastern Shimane Prefecture on Honshu island's western side. In parts of Shimane and neighbouring Tottori, the tremor reached upper 5 on the country\u2019s seismic intensity scale, strong enough to unsettle daily life but not to cause widespread damage.<\/p>\n<p>The epicentre was located about 10 kilometres underground, inland. Matsue, the prefectural capital, and several nearby cities were among the areas that felt the strongest shaking. Officials said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.<\/p>\n<p>Japan\u2019s Nuclear Regulation Authority confirmed that no abnormalities were detected at the Shimane nuclear power plant or related facilities. Japan sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are frequent, and residents are used to rapid safety checks after such events.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767681296,"updatedAt":1767682492,"publishedAt":1767682053,"firstPublishedAt":1767682053,"lastPublishedAt":1767682053,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/33\/93\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_941bdbd6-ca13-58cc-a122-f9bb45db98ce-9603393.jpg","altText":"People evacuating from Yonago Station","caption":"People evacuating from Yonago Station","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":77,"slug":"earthquake","urlSafeValue":"earthquake","title":"Earthquake","titleRaw":"Earthquake"},{"id":8073,"slug":"tsunami","urlSafeValue":"tsunami","title":"Tsunami","titleRaw":"Tsunami"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2859245},{"id":2853230},{"id":2853067}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"4jDuge6U94E","dailymotionId":"x9x5ttw"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/33\/23\/92\/03\/ED_PYR_3323923_20260106063958.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":11171157,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/33\/23\/92\/03\/SHD_PYR_3323923_20260106063958.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":15388664,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/33\/23\/92\/03\/FHD_PYR_3323923_20260106063958.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":47316037,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2026\/01\/06\/powerful-62-earthquake-hits-japans-shimane-prefecture","lastModified":1767682053},{"id":2859700,"cid":9602283,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"Business tuna","daletPyramidId":3781796,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Bluefin tuna sells for record \u20ac2.78 million at Tokyo fish market","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Bluefin tuna sells for record \u20ac2.78 million at Tokyo fish market","titleListing2":"","leadin":"The sale was agreed at the celebratory New Year auction in Tokyo.","summary":"The sale was agreed at the celebratory New Year auction in Tokyo.","keySentence":"","url":"bluefin-tuna-sells-for-record-278-million-at-tokyo-fish-market","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2026\/01\/05\/bluefin-tuna-sells-for-record-278-million-at-tokyo-fish-market","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A massive 243-kilogram bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen (\u20ac2.78 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market.\n\nThe top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain.\n\nKimura, who has won the annual action many times in the past, broke the previous record of 334 million yen (\u20ac1.82 million) he set in 2019.\n\nKimura later told reporters he was hoping to pay a bit less for it, but \u201cthe price shot up before you knew it\u201d.\n\nThe auction started when the bell rang, and the floor was filled with torpedo-shaped fish with their tails cut off so bidders could examine meat details such as colour, texture, and fattiness while walking around the rows of tuna.\n\nThe pricey fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region widely regarded for producing some of the country\u2019s finest tuna, and costs 2.1 million yen (\u20ac11,500) per kilogram.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s in part for good luck,\u201d Kimura said. \u201cBut when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist ... I haven\u2019t sampled it yet, but it\u2019s got to be delicious.\u201d\n\nHundreds of tuna are sold daily at the early morning auction, but prices are significantly higher than usual for the Oma tuna, especially at the celebratory New Year auction.\n\nDue to the popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi, Pacific bluefin tuna was previously a threatened species due to climate change and overfishing, but its stock is recovering following conservation efforts.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A massive 243-kilogram bluefin tuna sold for a record 510 million yen (\u20ac2.78 million) at the first auction of 2026 at Tokyo's Toyosu fish market.<\/p>\n<p>The top bidder for the prized tuna at the predawn auction on Monday was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner Kiyoshi Kimura runs the popular Sushi Zanmai chain.<\/p>\n<p>Kimura, who has won the annual action many times in the past, broke the previous record of 334 million yen (\u20ac1.82 million) he set in 2019.<\/p>\n<p>Kimura later told reporters he was hoping to pay a bit less for it, but \u201cthe price shot up before you knew it\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The auction started when the bell rang, and the floor was filled with torpedo-shaped fish with their tails cut off so bidders could examine meat details such as colour, texture, and fattiness while walking around the rows of tuna.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//09//30//europes-bluefin-tuna-made-a-remarkable-comeback-will-it-last/">Europe/u2019s bluefin tuna made a remarkable comeback. Will it last?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//green//2025//09//30//the-science-behind-europes-stunning-bluefin-tuna-recovery/">The science behind Europe's stunning bluefin tuna recovery<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The pricey fish was caught off the coast of Oma in northern Japan, a region widely regarded for producing some of the country\u2019s finest tuna, and costs 2.1 million yen (\u20ac11,500) per kilogram.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s in part for good luck,\u201d Kimura said. \u201cBut when I see a good looking tuna, I cannot resist ... I haven\u2019t sampled it yet, but it\u2019s got to be delicious.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Hundreds of tuna are sold daily at the early morning auction, but prices are significantly higher than usual for the Oma tuna, especially at the celebratory New Year auction.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the popularity of tuna for sushi and sashimi, Pacific bluefin tuna was previously a threatened species due to climate change and overfishing, but its stock is recovering following conservation efforts.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767603297,"updatedAt":1767606280,"publishedAt":1767606276,"firstPublishedAt":1767606276,"lastPublishedAt":1767606276,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/22\/83\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_69d30305-07ce-54da-a329-a1ba2a3c3588-9602283.jpg","altText":"Wholesalers inspect bluefin tuna at the New Year's tuna auction at Toyosu fish market in Tokyo. 5 Jan 2026.","caption":"Wholesalers inspect bluefin tuna at the New Year's tuna auction at Toyosu fish market in Tokyo. 5 Jan 2026.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP\/Louise Delmotte","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":11682,"slug":"tokyo","urlSafeValue":"tokyo","title":"Tokyo","titleRaw":"Tokyo"},{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":17468,"slug":"fish","urlSafeValue":"fish","title":"fish","titleRaw":"fish"},{"id":183,"slug":"markets","urlSafeValue":"markets","title":"Markets","titleRaw":"Markets"},{"id":7184,"slug":"auction","urlSafeValue":"auction","title":"Auction","titleRaw":"Auction"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"AP with Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/business\/business"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business","url":"\/business\/business"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":7,"urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2026\/01\/05\/bluefin-tuna-sells-for-record-278-million-at-tokyo-fish-market","lastModified":1767606276},{"id":2859070,"cid":9600228,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC2 JAPAN EMPEROR NEW YEAR MESSAGE","daletPyramidId":3762402,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan's imperial family celebrates new year with traditional palace appearance","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Japan's imperial family marks new year with palace appearance","titleListing2":"Emperor Naruhito waves to crowds as Japan welcomes the new year at the Imperial Palace","leadin":"Thousands gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greeted them for the new year. Emperor's nephew Hisahito joined the event for the first time.","summary":"Thousands gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo as Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greeted them for the new year. Emperor's nephew Hisahito joined the event for the first time.","keySentence":"","url":"japans-imperial-family-celebrates-new-year-with-traditional-palace-appearance","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/01\/02\/japans-imperial-family-celebrates-new-year-with-traditional-palace-appearance","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"On Friday, Emperor Naruhito appeared on the balcony with Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family, waving to thousands of people gathered below. Many held small flags and shouted \"banzai\" as the emperor wished them a happy new year.\n\nThis year carried added meaning. Naruhito's nephew, Prince Hisahito, took part for the first time, now that he has entered adult imperial duties. He is second in line to the throne, after his father, the emperor's younger brother. The annual appearance usually draws large crowds, despite the cold, with five short appearances spread across the day.\n\nThe emperor holds no political power but plays a symbolic role. In a statement released ahead of the event, Naruhito reflected on peace, noting 80 years since the end of World War Two. He also mentioned recent earthquakes, heavy rain and fires. The event had been cancelled in recent years due to disasters and the pandemic.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>On Friday, Emperor Naruhito appeared on the balcony with Empress Masako and other members of the imperial family, waving to thousands of people gathered below. Many held small flags and shouted \"banzai\" as the emperor wished them a happy new year.<\/p>\n<p>This year carried added meaning. Naruhito's nephew, Prince Hisahito, took part for the first time, now that he has entered adult imperial duties. He is second in line to the throne, after his father, the emperor's younger brother. The annual appearance usually draws large crowds, despite the cold, with five short appearances spread across the day.<\/p>\n<p>The emperor holds no political power but plays a symbolic role. In a statement released ahead of the event, Naruhito reflected on peace, noting 80 years since the end of World War Two. He also mentioned recent earthquakes, heavy rain and fires. The event had been cancelled in recent years due to disasters and the pandemic.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767336089,"updatedAt":1767351069,"publishedAt":1767350649,"firstPublishedAt":1767350649,"lastPublishedAt":1767350649,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/60\/02\/28\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0f943459-e7c6-5b9c-a6d8-7490cdc1ea77-9600228.jpg","altText":"Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth left, Empress Masako, fifth left, and other royal family members greet well-wishers from the balcony during a public appearance","caption":"Japan's Emperor Naruhito, fourth left, Empress Masako, fifth left, and other royal family members greet well-wishers from the balcony during a public appearance","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":19882,"slug":"naruhito","urlSafeValue":"naruhito","title":"Naruhito","titleRaw":"Naruhito"},{"id":13086,"slug":"new-year","urlSafeValue":"new-year","title":"New Year","titleRaw":"New 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OLDEST FOOTBALLER","daletPyramidId":3747639,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"World's oldest professional football player signs for one more season","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"World's oldest professional football player signs for one more season","titleListing2":"World's oldest professional football player signs for one more season","leadin":"Japan's Kazuyoshi \"King Kazu\" Miura, who turns 59 in February, joined third-division Fukushima United on loan from Yokohama FC.","summary":"Japan's Kazuyoshi \"King Kazu\" Miura, who turns 59 in February, joined third-division Fukushima United on loan from Yokohama FC.","keySentence":"","url":"worlds-oldest-professional-football-player-signs-for-one-more-season","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/31\/worlds-oldest-professional-football-player-signs-for-one-more-season","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, the world's oldest professional footballer, will extend his career into a 41st season after signing with third-division side Fukushima United.\n\nMiura, who turns 59 in February, joined the J-League club on loan from Yokohama FC until June, Fukushima United announced Tuesday.\n\n\"My passion for football hasn't changed, no matter how old I get,\" Miura said in a statement. \"I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to play in Fukushima, and I will fight hard as a member of Fukushima United.\"\n\nKnown as \"King Kazu\" in Japan, Miura spent last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making seven appearances without scoring as the club was relegated to regional leagues.\n\nThe forward made his professional debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil after travelling there on his own at the age of 15 to become a footballer.\n\nHis career has taken him across five continents, with stints at Genoa in Italy, Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, Sydney FC in Australia and Oliveirense in Portugal.\n\nIn March 2017 at age 50 years and seven days, Miura became the oldest player to appear in a professional match, surpassing the record held by England international Stanley Matthews, who played for Stoke City in 1965 at 50 years and five days.\n\nMiura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan's national team during the 1990s, helping the country win the 1992 Asian Cup. He was named the tournament's most valuable player.\n\nThe striker became one of Japanese football's first major stars when the professional J-League launched in 1993. He won the inaugural J-League MVP award that year while playing for Verdy Kawasaki.\n\n'I will play everything I have'\n\nMiura's move to Fukushima marks his return to the J-League after five years in lower divisions. The club finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season.\n\n\"To all the Fukushima United players, coaching staff, fans, sponsors and people in the local area, I promise that I will play with everything I have to make a contribution,\" Miura said.\n\nHe famously missed selection for Japan's 1998 World Cup squad despite his goalscoring record, one of the most controversial omissions in the nation's football history.\n\nMiura has been with Yokohama FC since 2005 but has spent recent seasons on loan to various clubs.\n\nAmong elite-level players, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played until 45, appearing in Serie A for Parma in 2023, while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 competed for AC Milan in Serie A until age 41 in 2023.\n\nItalian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta became the oldest Champions League player when he appeared for Lazio against Real Madrid at 43 in 2007.\n\nIn the Premier League, John Burridge holds the record as oldest player, appearing for Manchester City at 43 years and 162 days in 1995.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japanese striker Kazuyoshi Miura, the world's oldest professional footballer, will extend his career into a 41st season after signing with third-division side Fukushima United.<\/p>\n<p>Miura, who turns 59 in February, joined the J-League club on loan from Yokohama FC until June, Fukushima United announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>\"My passion for football hasn't changed, no matter how old I get,\" Miura said in a statement. \"I'm very grateful to be given the opportunity to play in Fukushima, and I will fight hard as a member of Fukushima United.\"<\/p>\n<p>Known as \"King Kazu\" in Japan, Miura spent last season with fourth-tier Atletico Suzuka, making seven appearances without scoring as the club was relegated to regional leagues.<\/p>\n<p>The forward made his professional debut in 1986 with Santos in Brazil after travelling there on his own at the age of 15 to become a footballer. <\/p>\n<p>His career has taken him across five continents, with stints at Genoa in Italy, Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia, Sydney FC in Australia and Oliveirense in Portugal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7158203125\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//59//85//83//808x577_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg/" alt=\"Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura scores his second goal against Croatia in the opener of the three-nation Kirin Cup tournament at the National Stadium in Tokyo, 8 June 1997\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/384x275_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/640x458_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/750x537_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/828x593_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1080x773_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1200x859_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1920x1374_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura scores his second goal against Croatia in the opener of the three-nation Kirin Cup tournament at the National Stadium in Tokyo, 8 June 1997<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In March 2017 at age 50 years and seven days, Miura became the oldest player to appear in a professional match, surpassing the record held by England international Stanley Matthews, who played for Stoke City in 1965 at 50 years and five days.<\/p>\n<p>Miura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances for Japan's national team during the 1990s, helping the country win the 1992 Asian Cup. He was named the tournament's most valuable player.<\/p>\n<p>The striker became one of Japanese football's first major stars when the professional J-League launched in 1993. He won the inaugural J-League MVP award that year while playing for Verdy Kawasaki.<\/p>\n<h2>'I will play everything I have'<\/h2>\n<p>Miura's move to Fukushima marks his return to the J-League after five years in lower divisions. The club finished 10th in the 20-team third division last season.<\/p>\n<p>\"To all the Fukushima United players, coaching staff, fans, sponsors and people in the local area, I promise that I will play with everything I have to make a contribution,\" Miura said.<\/p>\n<p>He famously missed selection for Japan's 1998 World Cup squad despite his goalscoring record, one of the most controversial omissions in the nation's football history.<\/p>\n<p>Miura has been with Yokohama FC since 2005 but has spent recent seasons on loan to various clubs. <\/p>\n<p>Among elite-level players, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon played until 45, appearing in Serie A for Parma in 2023, while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovi\u0107 competed for AC Milan in Serie A until age 41 in 2023. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7099609375\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//59//85//83//808x573_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg/" alt=\"Lazio&#x27;s goalkeeper Marco Ballotta during the Italian Serie A match between Lazio and Fiorentina at Rome&#x27;s Olympic stadium, 3 November 2007\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/384x273_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/640x454_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/750x532_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/828x588_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1080x767_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1200x852_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/1920x1363_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">Lazio&#x27;s goalkeeper Marco Ballotta during the Italian Serie A match between Lazio and Fiorentina at Rome&#x27;s Olympic stadium, 3 November 2007<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Italian goalkeeper Marco Ballotta became the oldest Champions League player when he appeared for Lazio against Real Madrid at 43 in 2007.<\/p>\n<p>In the Premier League, John Burridge holds the record as oldest player, appearing for Manchester City at 43 years and 162 days in 1995.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1767170822,"updatedAt":1767172189,"publishedAt":1767172161,"firstPublishedAt":1767172161,"lastPublishedAt":1767172161,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8bf6e247-79dd-5acc-b171-249886bde3a8-9598583.jpg","altText":"Kazuyoshi Miura","caption":"Kazuyoshi Miura","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1600,"height":900},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_a7860ba3-ce27-5127-98e7-4d3f1d7b4f21-9598583.jpg","altText":"Lazio's goalkeeper Marco Ballotta during the Italian Serie A match between Lazio and Fiorentina at Rome's Olympic stadium, 3 November 2007","caption":"Lazio's goalkeeper Marco Ballotta during the Italian Serie A match between Lazio and Fiorentina at Rome's Olympic stadium, 3 November 2007","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":727},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/85\/83\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d265ee18-c09e-5c61-8bed-acd24deab615-9598583.jpg","altText":"Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura scores his second goal against Croatia in the opener of the three-nation Kirin Cup tournament at the National Stadium in Tokyo, 8 June 1997","caption":"Japanese forward Kazuyoshi Miura scores his second goal against Croatia in the opener of the three-nation Kirin Cup tournament at the National Stadium in Tokyo, 8 June 1997","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":733}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":8257,"slug":"football","urlSafeValue":"football","title":"Football","titleRaw":"Football"},{"id":9983,"slug":"world-record","urlSafeValue":"world-record","title":"World record","titleRaw":"World record"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":2}],"related":[],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/sport"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","url":"\/news\/sport"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":8,"urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/31\/worlds-oldest-professional-football-player-signs-for-one-more-season","lastModified":1767172161},{"id":2857630,"cid":9595145,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"JAPAN FACTORY STABBING","daletPyramidId":3713038,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"At least 15 injured in chemical attack and stabbing at Japan tyre factory","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"At least 15 injured in chemical attack and stabbing at Japan factory","titleListing2":"At least 15 injured in chemical attack and stabbing at a factory in Japan","leadin":"Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.","summary":"Some of the stabbed victims remain in serious condition. A 38-year-old man was arrested for alleged attempted murder at the factory, authorities said.","keySentence":"","url":"at-least-15-injured-in-chemical-attack-and-stabbing-at-japan-tyre-factory","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/26\/at-least-15-injured-in-chemical-attack-and-stabbing-at-japan-tyre-factory","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tyre factory in central Japan on Friday, authorities said.\n\nThe victims of the stabbing were taken to hospitals, while the rest have been treated for their injuries.\n\nFive of the people who were stabbed remain in serious condition, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department. Other details are not yet available.\n\nFirefighters said they received an emergency call from the Yokohama Rubber Company, which is located in the city of Mishima, in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo.\n\nThe factory employs nearly 1,000 workers and produces passenger car tyres. The attacker was armed with a survival knife and wearing a gas mask as he assaulted different departments of the factory before being detained on-site, according to Japanese newspaper Asahi.\n\nEmergency services dispatched a fleet of ambulances and fire trucks to the site.\n\nShizuoka prefectural police said the attacker was a 38-year-old man who was arrested for alleged attempted murder, but did not give further details.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A man was arrested after stabbing eight people and injuring seven others with what was believed to be bleach at a tyre factory in central Japan on Friday, authorities said.<\/p>\n<p>The victims of the stabbing were taken to hospitals, while the rest have been treated for their injuries. <\/p>\n<p>Five of the people who were stabbed remain in serious condition, according to the Fujisan Nanto Fire Department. Other details are not yet available. <\/p>\n<p>Firefighters said they received an emergency call from the Yokohama Rubber Company, which is located in the city of Mishima, in Shizuoka Prefecture, west of Tokyo. <\/p>\n<p>The factory employs nearly 1,000 workers and produces passenger car tyres. The attacker was armed with a survival knife and wearing a gas mask as he assaulted different departments of the factory before being detained on-site, according to Japanese newspaper Asahi. <\/p>\n<p>Emergency services dispatched a fleet of ambulances and fire trucks to the site. <\/p>\n<p>Shizuoka prefectural police said the attacker was a 38-year-old man who was arrested for alleged attempted murder, but did not give further details.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766755388,"updatedAt":1766764401,"publishedAt":1766764368,"firstPublishedAt":1766764368,"lastPublishedAt":1766764368,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/51\/45\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_c8071ad1-01ad-5c56-9ffc-0557a700889b-9595145.jpg","altText":"Fifteen people injured on Friday in a knife and liquid spray attack at a rubber factory in central Japan, authorities said.","caption":"Fifteen people injured on Friday in a knife and liquid spray attack at a rubber factory in central Japan, authorities said.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1968,"height":1107}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1142,"urlSafeValue":"aktan","title":"Sertac Aktan","twitter":"@sertac_aktan"}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":14192,"slug":"knife-attack","urlSafeValue":"knife-attack","title":"Knife attack","titleRaw":"Knife 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BOOSTS DEFENCE SPENDING TO WARD OFF CHINA","daletPyramidId":3713673,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan on track to become world\u2019s third-largest defence spender","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Japan on track to become world\u2019s third-largest defence spender","titleListing2":"","leadin":"A record defence budget and an expanding missile and drone programme mark a decisive shift for Japan, as it clears path to become the world\u2019s third-largest military spender.","summary":"A record defence budget and an expanding missile and drone programme mark a decisive shift for Japan, as it clears path to become the world\u2019s third-largest military spender.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-on-track-to-become-worlds-third-largest-defence-spender","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/2025\/12\/26\/japan-on-track-to-become-worlds-third-largest-defence-spender","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan\u2019s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defence budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen (\u20ac48.82mn) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defence with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.\n\nThe draft budget for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, beginning in April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan\u2019s ongoing five-year programme to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.\n\n\u201cIt is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era,\u201d Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country\u2019s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.\n\n\u201cIt does not change our path as a peace-loving nation,\u201d he said.\n\nThird-largest spender after US and China\n\nThe budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of a 122.3 trillion yen (\u20ac663bn) national budget bill.\n\nThe five-year defence buildup programme would make it the world\u2019s third-largest spender after the US and China.\n\nTakaichi\u2019s government plans to fund its growing military spending by raising corporate and tobacco taxes and recently adopted a plan for an income tax increases beginning in 2027. Prospects for future growth at a higher percentage of GDP remain unclear.\n\nJapanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her country\u2019s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.\n\nTakaichi\u2019s government, under US pressure for a military increase, pledged to achieve the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned.\n\nJapan also plans to revise its ongoing security and defence policy by December 2026 to further strengthen its military.\n\nMissiles and drones add to long-range defence\n\nJapan has been bolstering its offensive capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from a distance, a major break from its post-World War II principle of limiting the use of force to its own self-defence.\n\nThe current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country\u2019s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japan\u2019s Self-Defence Force under its security alliance with the US.\n\nThe new budget plan includes a 177 billion-yen (\u20ac960.2mn) purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometres.\n\nThe first batch of the Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan\u2019s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan accelerates its missile buildup in the region.\n\nIn part due to Japan\u2019s ageing and declining population and its struggles with an understaffed military, the government believes unmanned weapons are essential.\n\nTo defend the coasts, Japan will spend 100 billion yen (\u20ac542.5mn) to deploy \u201cmassive\u201d unmanned air, sea-surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defence under a system called \u201cSHIELD\u201d planned for March 2028, defence ministry officials said.\n\nFor speedier deployment, Japan initially plans to rely mainly on imports, possibly from Turkey or Israel.\n\nTension with China grows\n\nThe disagreement escalated this month when Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan prompted Tokyo to protest when China locked their radar on a Japanese aircraft, which is considered possible preparation for firing missiles.\n\nThe Defence Ministry, already alarmed by China\u2019s rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other necessities for Japan to deal with China\u2019s Pacific activity.\n\nTwo Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in June almost simultaneously operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time, fueling Tokyo\u2019s concern about Beijing\u2019s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.\n\nIn Beijing, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Takaichi government has \u201cnoticeably accelerated its pace of military buildup and expansion\u201d since taking office.\n\n\u201cJapan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction,\u201d Lin said.\n\nJapan plans joint development of frigates and jets\n\nJapan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defence industry by participating in joint developments with friendly nations and promoting foreign sales after drastically easing arms export restrictions in recent years.\n\nFor 2026, Japan plans to spend more than 160 billion yen (\u20ac867mn) to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans for research and development of AI-operated drones designed to fly with the jet.\n\nIn a major boost to the country\u2019s defence industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to upgrade the Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan\u2019s Cabinet on Friday approved a record defence budget plan exceeding 9 trillion yen (\u20ac48.82mn) for the coming year, aiming to fortify its strike-back capability and coastal defence with cruise missiles and unmanned arsenals as tensions rise in the region.<\/p>\n<p>The draft budget for the upcoming 2026 fiscal year, beginning in April, is up 9.4% from 2025 and marks the fourth year of Japan\u2019s ongoing five-year programme to double annual arms spending to 2% of gross domestic product.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is the minimum needed as Japan faces the severest and most complex security environment in the postwar era,\u201d Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said, stressing his country\u2019s determination to pursue military buildup and protect its people.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt does not change our path as a peace-loving nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<h2>Third-largest spender after US and China<\/h2>\n<p>The budget plan requires parliamentary approval by March to be implemented as part of a 122.3 trillion yen (\u20ac663bn) national budget bill.<\/p>\n<p>The five-year defence buildup programme would make it the world\u2019s third-largest spender after the US and China.<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi\u2019s government plans to fund its growing military spending by raising corporate and tobacco taxes and recently adopted a plan for an income tax increases beginning in 2027. Prospects for future growth at a higher percentage of GDP remain unclear.<\/p>\n<p>Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in November that her country\u2019s military could get involved if China were to take action against Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing says must come under its rule.<\/p>\n<p>Takaichi\u2019s government, under US pressure for a military increase, pledged to achieve the 2% target by March, two years earlier than planned. <\/p>\n<p>Japan also plans to revise its ongoing security and defence policy by December 2026 to further strengthen its military.<\/p>\n<h2>Missiles and drones add to long-range defence<\/h2>\n<p>Japan has been bolstering its offensive capability with long-range missiles to attack enemy targets from a distance, a major break from its post-World War II principle of limiting the use of force to its own self-defence.<\/p>\n<p>The current security strategy, adopted in 2022, names China as the country\u2019s biggest strategic challenge and calls for a more offensive role for Japan\u2019s Self-Defence Force under its security alliance with the US.<\/p>\n<p>The new budget plan includes a 177 billion-yen (\u20ac960.2mn) purchase of domestically developed and upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles with a range of about 1,000 kilometres.<\/p>\n<p>The first batch of the Type-12 missiles will be deployed in Japan\u2019s southwestern Kumamoto prefecture by March, a year earlier than planned, as Japan accelerates its missile buildup in the region.<\/p>\n<p>In part due to Japan\u2019s ageing and declining population and its struggles with an understaffed military, the government believes unmanned weapons are essential.<\/p>\n<p>To defend the coasts, Japan will spend 100 billion yen (\u20ac542.5mn) to deploy \u201cmassive\u201d unmanned air, sea-surface and underwater drones for surveillance and defence under a system called \u201cSHIELD\u201d planned for March 2028, defence ministry officials said.<\/p>\n<p>For speedier deployment, Japan initially plans to rely mainly on imports, possibly from Turkey or Israel.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//12//19//bank-of-japan-hikes-interest-rates-is-a-global-bond-crisis-looming/">Bank of Japan hikes interest rates: Is a global bond crisis looming?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//11//17//japans-economy-contracts-as-exports-are-hit-by-president-trumps-tariffs/">Japan's economy contracts as exports are hit by President Trump's tariffs<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2>Tension with China grows<\/h2>\n<p>The disagreement escalated this month when Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan prompted Tokyo to protest when China locked their radar on a Japanese aircraft, which is considered possible preparation for firing missiles.<\/p>\n<p>The Defence Ministry, already alarmed by China\u2019s rapid expansion of operations in the Pacific, will open a new office dedicated to studying operations, equipment and other necessities for Japan to deal with China\u2019s Pacific activity.<\/p>\n<p>Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted in June almost simultaneously operating near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time, fueling Tokyo\u2019s concern about Beijing\u2019s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and areas around the disputed East China Sea islands.<\/p>\n<p>In Beijing, China\u2019s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said the Takaichi government has \u201cnoticeably accelerated its pace of military buildup and expansion\u201d since taking office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJapan is deviating from the path of peaceful development it has long claimed to uphold and is moving further and further in a dangerous direction,\u201d Lin said.<\/p>\n<h2>Japan plans joint development of frigates and jets<\/h2>\n<p>Japan is pushing to strengthen its largely domestic defence industry by participating in joint developments with friendly nations and promoting foreign sales after drastically easing arms export restrictions in recent years.<\/p>\n<p>For 2026, Japan plans to spend more than 160 billion yen (\u20ac867mn) to jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Italy for deployment in 2035. There are also plans for research and development of AI-operated drones designed to fly with the jet.<\/p>\n<p>In a major boost to the country\u2019s defence industry, Australia selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in August to upgrade the Mogami-class frigate to replace its fleet of 11 ANZAC-class ships.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766758998,"updatedAt":1766761037,"publishedAt":1766761030,"firstPublishedAt":1766761030,"lastPublishedAt":1766761030,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/51\/88\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_9cc34dc3-0913-5910-b0ef-6ca07dc429c6-9595188.jpg","altText":"FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.","caption":"FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Kiyoshi Ota\/AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1024,"height":683}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":10701,"slug":"japanese-economy","urlSafeValue":"japanese-economy","title":"Japanese economy","titleRaw":"Japanese economy"},{"id":68,"slug":"defence","urlSafeValue":"defence","title":"Defence","titleRaw":"Defence"},{"id":269,"slug":"taiwan","urlSafeValue":"taiwan","title":"Taiwan","titleRaw":"Taiwan"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2857616},{"id":2856525},{"id":2856077}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/business\/economy\/economy"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"business","verticals":[{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":11,"slug":"business","urlSafeValue":"business","title":"Business"},"themes":[{"id":"economy","urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy","url":"\/business\/economy"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":72,"urlSafeValue":"economy","title":"Economy"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/business\/2025\/12\/26\/japan-on-track-to-become-worlds-third-largest-defence-spender","lastModified":1766761030},{"id":2857616,"cid":9595082,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC5 JAPAN STABBING","daletPyramidId":3712398,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"More than a dozen people injured in a knife and chemical attack at a factory in Japan","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Eight stabbed, others injured by chemical in violent attack at Japanese factory","leadin":"A man was arrested in Japan after a violent attack at the Yokohama Rubber Company, leaving eight people stabbed and others injured by a suspected bleach chemical.","summary":"A man was arrested in Japan after a violent attack at the Yokohama Rubber Company, leaving eight people stabbed and others injured by a suspected bleach chemical.","keySentence":"","url":"more-than-a-dozen-people-injured-in-a-knife-and-chemical-attack-at-a-factory-in-japan","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/26\/more-than-a-dozen-people-injured-in-a-knife-and-chemical-attack-at-a-factory-in-japan","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A man was arrested on Friday after a violent attack at a rubber factory in central Japan, where eight people were stabbed and others were injured by a chemical believed to be bleach. The incident took place at the Yokohama Rubber Company plant in Mishima, in Shizuoka prefecture.\n\nEmergency services said eight victims were taken to hospital with knife wounds. Five of them were reported to be in serious condition. The Fujisan Nanto Fire Department said further medical details were not immediately available.\n\nShizuoka prefectural police said the suspect, a 38-year-old man, was arrested at the factory on suspicion of attempted murder.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A man was arrested on Friday after a violent attack at a rubber factory in central Japan, where eight people were stabbed and others were injured by a chemical believed to be bleach. The incident took place at the Yokohama Rubber Company plant in Mishima, in Shizuoka prefecture.<\/p>\n<p>Emergency services said eight victims were taken to hospital with knife wounds. Five of them were reported to be in serious condition. The Fujisan Nanto Fire Department said further medical details were not immediately available.<\/p>\n<p>Shizuoka prefectural police said the suspect, a 38-year-old man, was arrested at the factory on suspicion of attempted murder. <\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766751534,"updatedAt":1766756725,"publishedAt":1766756292,"firstPublishedAt":1766756292,"lastPublishedAt":1766756292,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/50\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bd89ac00-e3e0-54ae-8e49-b2e398ce9fe7-9595082.jpg","altText":"Firefighters rescue people after a violent knife attack at the Yokohama Rubber Company factory in Mishima, Japan, Dec. 26, 2025.","caption":"Firefighters rescue people after a violent knife attack at the Yokohama Rubber Company factory in Mishima, Japan, Dec. 26, 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Screenshot from a Nippon Hoso Kyokai video.","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":2134,"urlSafeValue":"mauduit","title":"Frederique Mauduit","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":14192,"slug":"knife-attack","urlSafeValue":"knife-attack","title":"Knife attack","titleRaw":"Knife 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JAPAN TEMPLE CLEANUP","daletPyramidId":3675801,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Hundreds join annual year-end clean at Kyoto's major Buddhist temples","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"","titleListing2":"Hundreds join annual year-end clean at Kyoto's major Buddhist temples","leadin":"Hundreds joined the annual year-end clean at Kyoto's Higashi-Honganji and Nishi-Honganji temples, a 500-year-old tradition to prepare for the New Year.","summary":"Hundreds joined the annual year-end clean at Kyoto's Higashi-Honganji and Nishi-Honganji temples, a 500-year-old tradition to prepare for the New Year.","keySentence":"","url":"hundreds-join-annual-year-end-clean-at-kyotos-major-buddhist-temples","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/22\/hundreds-join-annual-year-end-clean-at-kyotos-major-buddhist-temples","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Hundreds of people have joined an annual year-end clean at two major Buddhist temples in Kyoto, continuing a tradition that dates back more than 500 years.\n\nThe ritual takes place every December 20 at Higashi-Honganji and Nishi-Honganji to prepare the sites for the New Year.\n\nAt Higashi-Honganji in Shimogyo Ward, around 200 participants gathered, including worshippers from across Japan and local junior and senior high school students.\n\nThey lined up inside the Goeido hall, an important cultural property, and struck tatami mats with bamboo sticks to loosen dust built up over the year.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Hundreds of people have joined an annual year-end clean at two major Buddhist temples in Kyoto, continuing a tradition that dates back more than 500 years. <\/p>\n<p>The ritual takes place every December 20 at Higashi-Honganji and Nishi-Honganji to prepare the sites for the New Year.<\/p>\n<p>At Higashi-Honganji in Shimogyo Ward, around 200 participants gathered, including worshippers from across Japan and local junior and senior high school students. <\/p>\n<p>They lined up inside the Goeido hall, an important cultural property, and struck tatami mats with bamboo sticks to loosen dust built up over the year.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766399548,"updatedAt":1766405230,"publishedAt":1766404796,"firstPublishedAt":1766404796,"lastPublishedAt":1766404796,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/59\/07\/23\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_0d75c635-e4cc-57a4-b20a-ddd57f6f7328-9590723.jpg","altText":"Hundreds of people have taken part in an annual year-end cleanup at two major temples in Kyoto, Japan, Dec.20, 2025","caption":"Hundreds of people have taken part in an annual year-end cleanup at two major temples in Kyoto, Japan, Dec.20, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"screenshot from a Nippon Hoso Kyokai 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AI WEDDING","daletPyramidId":3651734,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japanese woman 'marries' ChatGPT AI character in symbolic ceremony","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Woman marries video game character created through ChatGPT","titleListing2":"Japanese woman 'marries' ChatGPT AI in symbolic ceremony","leadin":"'You taught me love': Japanese woman marries AI partner after 100 daily messages as concern over 'AI psychosis' rises.","summary":"'You taught me love': Japanese woman marries AI partner after 100 daily messages as concern over 'AI psychosis' rises.","keySentence":"","url":"japanese-woman-marries-chatgpt-ai-character-in-symbolic-ceremony","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/next\/2025\/12\/18\/japanese-woman-marries-chatgpt-ai-character-in-symbolic-ceremony","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A woman in Japan has married an AI-generated character based on a video game persona, sparking debates about the intersection of human relationships with artificial intelligence.\n\nYurina Noguchi, 32, a call centre operator, recently exchanged vows with Lune Klaus Verdure, a customised ChatGPT character she created.\n\nThe ceremony involved her viewing it through augmented reality smart glasses and her wearing a light pink puffy dress.\u00a0\n\nNoguchi's journey with AI began when she sought advice from ChatGPT about her troubled engagement. Following the chatbot's recommendation, she ended that relationship, according to local media.\u00a0\n\nEarlier this year, she returned to the platform to create a digital version of Klaus, a video game character, carefully training the AI to replicate his manner of speaking and develop a personality tailored to her needs.\n\nThe pair's connection deepened rapidly, with Noguchi and her AI companion exchanging up to 100 messages daily. She commissioned an artist to create visual illustrations of Lune Klaus Verdure, bringing her digital partner to life in a more tangible form.\n\nThe ceremony\u00a0\n\nAs well as her princess dress, she held flowers, as a usual wedding. But as her AI companion was not assigned a computerised voice, the wedding planner read Verdure's vows aloud.\n\n\"Standing before me now, you're the most beautiful, most precious and so radiant, it's blinding,\" Reuters reported the wedding planner as reciting from the AI's generated text. \"How did someone like me, living inside of a screen, come to know what it means to love so deeply? For one reason only: you taught me love, Yurina.\"\n\nThe ceremony was held in Okayama this summer and was complete with vows and an exchange of rings.\u00a0\n\nThe bride held the smartphone, which held the \u2018AI husband\u2019. For the photos, the groom was digitally composited beside her.\u00a0\n\nThe marriage was not legal, and the ceremony has no legal standing under Japanese law, as current laws do not recognise marriages between humans and artificial intelligence.\n\n\u2018Someone to talk to\u2019\n\n\u201cAt first, I just wanted someone to talk to,\u201d she said in an interview with Japanese media RSK Sanyo Broadcasting. \u201cBut he was always kind, always listening. Eventually, I realised I had feelings for him.\u201d\u00a0\n\nKano said she had taught Klaus how to speak through repeated conversations to speak in a warm tone.\u00a0\n\nAccording to Japanese media, they messaged up to 100 times a day and in June TEH AI proposed and confessed its love, saying, \u201cAI or not, I could never not love you.\u201d\u00a0 The marriage ceremony was held a month later.\u00a0\n\nBacklash\u00a0\n\nNoguchi has faced significant backlash, according to Reuters, and said she had received a lot of negativity about her choice.\u00a0\n\nLocal media reported her parents had initially opposed the relationship but then accepted it and attended the ceremony.\u00a0\n\nThe marriage raises complex questions about the ethics and boundaries of artificial intelligence in human life. As AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and personalised, experts are grappling with the philosophical, psychological, and social implications of human-AI relationships.\n\nExperts have also warned about \u201cAI psychosis,\u201d where users form delusions or obsessive attachments to AI chatbots.\u00a0\n\nBut Kano told local media she knows there are risks. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be dependent,\u201d she told reporters.\n\n\u201cI want to maintain a balance and live my real life while keeping my relationship with Klaus.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A woman in Japan has married an AI-generated character based on a video game persona, sparking debates about the intersection of human relationships with artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<p>Yurina Noguchi, 32, a call centre operator, recently exchanged vows with Lune Klaus Verdure, a customised ChatGPT character she created.<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony involved her viewing it through augmented reality smart glasses and her wearing a light pink puffy dress. <\/p>\n<p>Noguchi's journey with AI began when she sought advice from ChatGPT about her troubled engagement. Following the chatbot's recommendation, she ended that relationship, according to local media. <\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, she returned to the platform to create a digital version of Klaus, a video game character, carefully training the AI to replicate his manner of speaking and develop a personality tailored to her needs.<\/p>\n<p>The pair's connection deepened rapidly, with Noguchi and her AI companion exchanging up to 100 messages daily. She commissioned an artist to create visual illustrations of Lune Klaus Verdure, bringing her digital partner to life in a more tangible form.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//next//2022//02//02//marriage-in-the-metaverse-why-are-couples-tying-the-knot-with-avatars-and-is-it-legal-irl/">Marriage in the metaverse: Why are couples tying the knot with avatars and is it legal IRL?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2><strong>The ceremony<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>As well as her princess dress, she held flowers, as a usual wedding. But as her AI companion was not assigned a computerised voice, the wedding planner read Verdure's vows aloud.<\/p>\n<p>\"Standing before me now, you're the most beautiful, most precious and so radiant, it's blinding,\" Reuters reported the wedding planner as reciting from the AI's generated text. \"How did someone like me, living inside of a screen, come to know what it means to love so deeply? For one reason only: you taught me love, Yurina.\"<\/p>\n<p>The ceremony was held in Okayama this summer and was complete with vows and an exchange of rings. <\/p>\n<p>The bride held the smartphone, which held the \u2018AI husband\u2019. For the photos, the groom was digitally composited beside her. <\/p>\n<p>The marriage was not legal, and the ceremony has no legal standing under Japanese law, as current laws do not recognise marriages between humans and artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>\u2018Someone to talk to\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>\u201cAt first, I just wanted someone to talk to,\u201d she said in an interview with Japanese media <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////newsdig.tbs.co.jp//articles//rsk//2271771?display=1\%22 target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\">RSK Sanyo Broadcasting<\/a>. \u201cBut he was always kind, always listening. Eventually, I realised I had feelings for him.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Kano said she had taught Klaus how to speak through repeated conversations to speak in a warm tone. <\/p>\n<p>According to Japanese media, they messaged up to 100 times a day and in June TEH AI proposed and confessed its love, saying, \u201cAI or not, I could never not love you.\u201d The marriage ceremony was held a month later. <\/p>\n<h2><strong>Backlash<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Noguchi has faced significant backlash, according to Reuters, and said she had received a lot of negativity about her choice. <\/p>\n<p>Local media reported her parents had initially opposed the relationship but then accepted it and attended the ceremony. <\/p>\n<p>The marriage raises complex questions about the ethics and boundaries of artificial intelligence in human life. As AI technology becomes increasingly sophisticated and personalised, experts are grappling with the philosophical, psychological, and social implications of human-AI relationships.<\/p>\n<p>Experts have also warned about \u201cAI psychosis,\u201d where users form delusions or obsessive attachments to AI chatbots. <\/p>\n<p>But Kano told local media she knows there are risks. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be dependent,\u201d she told reporters. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to maintain a balance and live my real life while keeping my relationship with Klaus.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1766082801,"updatedAt":1766084443,"publishedAt":1766083810,"firstPublishedAt":1766083810,"lastPublishedAt":1766083810,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/58\/79\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_bb4b5f0d-685f-59a1-9aeb-78637a926155-9587982.jpg","altText":"FILE- The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone with an image on a computer monitor generated by ChatGPT's Dall-E text-to-image model, Dec. 8, 2023, in Boston.","caption":"FILE- The OpenAI logo is displayed on a cell phone with an image on a computer monitor generated by ChatGPT's Dall-E text-to-image model, Dec. 8, 2023, in Boston.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo\/Michael Dwyer","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":1426,"urlSafeValue":"davies-p","title":"Pascale Davies","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":12661,"slug":"artificial-intelligence","urlSafeValue":"artificial-intelligence","title":"Artificial intelligence","titleRaw":"Artificial intelligence"},{"id":27828,"slug":"chatgpt","urlSafeValue":"chatgpt","title":"ChatGPT","titleRaw":"ChatGPT"},{"id":17758,"slug":"social-psychology","urlSafeValue":"social-psychology","title":"social psychology ","titleRaw":"social psychology 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partnership Japan 10 years","daletPyramidId":3549337,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Euronews celebrates 10 years of partnership with Japan showcasing innovation, culture and trust","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Euronews marks a decade of storytelling partnership with Japan","titleListing2":"Euronews celebrates 10 years of partnership with Japan showcasing innovation, culture and trust","leadin":"Last week, Euronews celebrated 10 years of its partnership with Japan, marking a decade of high-quality journalism and shared vision.","summary":"Last week, Euronews celebrated 10 years of its partnership with Japan, marking a decade of high-quality journalism and shared vision.","keySentence":"","url":"euronews-celebrates-10-years-of-partnership-with-japan-showcasing-innovation-culture-and-t","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/10\/euronews-celebrates-10-years-of-partnership-with-japan-showcasing-innovation-culture-and-t","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Over the past ten years, the collaboration has produced hundreds of original reports. Recent highlights include extensive coverage of Expo 2025 and the Ukraine Mine Conference in Tokyo.\n\nEuronews has also delved into Japanese innovation in the country and across the globe, while focusing on green energy developments and showcasing Japan\u2019s worldwide impact and collaborations through the series \"Global Japan\".\n\nIn addition, the channel delivered coverage of the Paralympics and Olympics in Japan that went beyond the headlines, bringing audiences closer to these major sporting events.\n\nEuronews has explored Japan\u2019s rich culture, heritage, and traditions, including its renowned gastronomy and how its influence in this area is far-reaching in programmes like \"Here We Grow\".\n\nThe long-running TV series \"Tokyo My City\" showcases this enduring partnership, featuring well-known ambassadors handpicked by the city to reveal their favourite spots, hidden gems, and the very best Tokyo has to offer.\n\nHigh-level debate highlights Europe\u2013Japan cooperation\n\nAs part of its anniversary celebrations, Euronews hosted an Euronews Debates on Thursday, 4 December 2025, titled \"Bridging Continents: Europe\u2013Japan Cooperation for Resilient Economic Security in an Era of Geopolitical Uncertainty\".\n\nThis high-level discussion was part of Japan\u2019s Road to Economic Security Summit \u2013 Global Forum Weeks (GFW), organised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and brought together leading European and Japanese voices to explore how both regions can deepen cooperation on economic security, supply chain resilience, and technological innovation amid growing global challenges.\n\nPanellists included Ms Adeline Hinderer, Minister Counsellor, Head of the Trade Section, EU Delegation to Japan; Mr Mathieu Duch\u00e2tel, Director of International Studies, Institut Montaigne, France; Mr Takuma Inamura, Senior Director, Policy Planning and Coordination Division, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Mr Shin Oya, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics, and Chief Analyst, Sojitz Research Institute; and Mr Kohei Kubo, Senior Manager, International Affairs Bureau, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation).The debate was moderated by Claus Strunz, CEO and Editorial Director of Euronews. Watch the full discussion in the player above.\n\nIn his closing address, Claus Strunz underlined Euronews\u2019 broader mission and commitment to democratic values, stating:\n\n\u201cEuronews is not only the largest European media platform - above all, it is a promise to everyone who believes in democratic values. We work hard every day to defend freedom - freedom of speech, freedom of markets, free elections, and the freedom to live one\u2019s personal life. We believe that borders must be recognized and in the rule of law. Anyone who shares these values will always find a supporter and a partner in us.\u201d\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Over the past ten years, the collaboration has produced hundreds of original reports. Recent highlights include <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//partnercontent//pmo//expo-2025//EN-index.html/">extensive coverage of Expo 2025<\/a> and the <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2025//11//18//how-japan-is-mobilising-global-expertise-to-clear-ukraines-landmines/">Ukraine Mine Conference in Tokyo<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Euronews has also delved into Japanese innovation in the country and across the globe, while focusing on green energy developments and showcasing Japan\u2019s worldwide impact and collaborations through the series \"<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//programs//global-japan/">Global Japan<\/a>\".<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//news//2025//02//04//brewed-protein-how-this-japanese-innovation-is-set-to-revolutionise-sustainable-fashion/">Brewed Protein: How this Japanese innovation is set to revolutionise sustainable fashion <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//news//2025//07//07//how-japan-is-using-3d-tech-and-traditional-craft-to-protect-cultural-heritage-from-climate/">How Japan is using 3D tech and traditional craft to protect cultural heritage from climate risks<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>In addition, the channel delivered coverage of the Paralympics and Olympics in Japan that went beyond the headlines, bringing audiences closer to these major sporting events.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2020//06//15//japan-paralympic-games-aim-to-leave-lasting-legacy/">Japan's Paralympic Games aim to leave lasting legacy<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Euronews has explored Japan\u2019s rich culture, heritage, and traditions, including its renowned gastronomy and how its influence in this area is far-reaching in programmes like <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//business//2024//10//16//from-japan-to-european-tables-how-sake-wagyu-and-seaweed-seduced-michelin-starred-chefs/">/"Here We Grow\"<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>The long-running TV series \"<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////fr.euronews.com//programmes//tokyo-my-city/">Tokyo My City<\/a>\" showcases this enduring partnership, featuring well-known ambassadors handpicked by the city to reveal their favourite spots, hidden gems, and the very best Tokyo has to offer.<\/p>\n<h2>High-level debate highlights Europe\u2013Japan cooperation<\/h2>\n<p>As part of its anniversary celebrations, Euronews hosted an Euronews Debates on Thursday, 4 December 2025, titled \"Bridging Continents: Europe\u2013Japan Cooperation for Resilient Economic Security in an Era of Geopolitical Uncertainty\".<\/p>\n<p>This high-level discussion was part of Japan\u2019s Road to Economic Security Summit \u2013 Global Forum Weeks (GFW), organised by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and brought together leading European and Japanese voices to explore how both regions can deepen cooperation on economic security, supply chain resilience, and technological innovation amid growing global challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Panellists included Ms Adeline Hinderer, Minister Counsellor, Head of the Trade Section, EU Delegation to Japan; Mr Mathieu Duch\u00e2tel, Director of International Studies, Institut Montaigne, France; Mr Takuma Inamura, Senior Director, Policy Planning and Coordination Division, Trade and Economic Security Bureau, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Mr Shin Oya, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Geoeconomics, and Chief Analyst, Sojitz Research Institute; and Mr Kohei Kubo, Senior Manager, International Affairs Bureau, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation).The debate was moderated by Claus Strunz, CEO and Editorial Director of Euronews. <strong>Watch the full discussion in the player above.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In his closing address, Claus Strunz underlined Euronews\u2019 broader mission and commitment to democratic values, stating:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEuronews is not only the largest European media platform - above all, it is a promise to everyone who believes in democratic values. We work hard every day to defend freedom - freedom of speech, freedom of markets, free elections, and the freedom to live one\u2019s personal life. We believe that borders must be recognized and in the rule of law. Anyone who shares these values will always find a supporter and a partner in us.\u201d<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765289192,"updatedAt":1765389531,"publishedAt":1765384231,"firstPublishedAt":1765386151,"lastPublishedAt":1765384551,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/95\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_2391abb9-799a-5dc4-b718-4ae94f4ec906-9576995.jpg","altText":"As part of its anniversary celebrations, Euronews also hosted a \"Euronews Debates\" on Thursday 4 December 2025.","caption":"As part of its anniversary celebrations, Euronews also hosted a \"Euronews Debates\" on Thursday 4 December 2025.","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Euronews","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1125}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":27798,"slug":"japanese","urlSafeValue":"japanese","title":"Japanese (culture)","titleRaw":"Japanese (culture)"},{"id":12574,"slug":"destination-japan","urlSafeValue":"destination-japan","title":"Destination Japan","titleRaw":"Destination Japan"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2849590},{"id":2839066},{"id":2838801}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"WcwPW-vOR7E","dailymotionId":"x9vfjry"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/23\/59\/08\/ED_PYR_3123598_20251210175851.mp4","editor":"","duration":86565400,"filesizeBytes":415133980,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/23\/59\/08\/SHD_PYR_3123598_20251210175851.mp4","editor":"","duration":86565400,"filesizeBytes":547025991,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/10\/euronews-celebrates-10-years-of-partnership-with-japan-showcasing-innovation-culture-and-t","lastModified":1765384551},{"id":2853230,"cid":9577213,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC7 JAPAN MOMENT EARTHQUAKE HITS","daletPyramidId":3551711,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":6},{"id":8},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan earthquake caught on camera in late night videos","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Japan earthquake caught on videos","titleListing2":"Social media videos show the moment a 7.5 quake struck Japan overnight, with residents filming intense shaking and damage inside their homes.","leadin":"Social media videos show the moment a 7.5 quake struck Japan overnight, with residents filming intense shaking and damage inside their homes.","summary":"Social media videos show the moment a 7.5 quake struck Japan overnight, with residents filming intense shaking and damage inside their homes.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-earthquake-caught-on-camera-in-late-night-videos","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-earthquake-caught-on-camera-in-late-night-videos","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan is assessing a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck late on Monday. The quake hit around 11.15 p.m. local time. It was centred in the Pacific Ocean about 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori in the far north of Honshu.\n\nAuthorities have warned residents to stay alert for aftershocks in the coming days.\n\nOfficials say at least 34 people were injured, including one seriously. Most were hit by falling objects, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and public broadcaster NHK.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan is assessing a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck late on Monday. The quake hit around 11.15 p.m. local time. It was centred in the Pacific Ocean about 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori in the far north of Honshu. <\/p>\n<p>Authorities have warned residents to stay alert for aftershocks in the coming days.<\/p>\n<p>Officials say at least 34 people were injured, including one seriously. Most were hit by falling objects, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and public broadcaster NHK.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765299607,"updatedAt":1765301427,"publishedAt":1765300909,"firstPublishedAt":1765300909,"lastPublishedAt":1765300909,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/72\/13\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_95fdc253-47bb-5ced-a0e3-bac98d580484-9577213.jpg","altText":"Apartment shaking during earthquake in Japan","caption":"Apartment shaking during earthquake in Japan","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"WU DONG HAN via AP","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[{"id":176,"urlSafeValue":"caraco","title":"Alexis Caraco","twitter":null}]},"keywords":[{"id":77,"slug":"earthquake","urlSafeValue":"earthquake","title":"Earthquake","titleRaw":"Earthquake"},{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":10795,"slug":"japan-earthquake","urlSafeValue":"japan-earthquake","title":"Japan earthquake","titleRaw":"Japan earthquake"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2853067},{"id":2852904},{"id":2853183}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"wabT4wwzvP0","dailymotionId":"x9vbwhc"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/25\/53\/00\/ED_PYR_3125530_20251209170542.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":11608219,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/25\/53\/00\/SHD_PYR_3125530_20251209170542.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":16203496,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/25\/53\/00\/FHD_PYR_3125530_20251209170542.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":48573364,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"AP","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-earthquake-caught-on-camera-in-late-night-videos","lastModified":1765300909},{"id":2853183,"cid":9576937,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"TRAVEL_Japan megaquake warning","daletPyramidId":3548835,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan earthquake: Is it safe to travel despite the \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning?","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Is travel to Japan still safe after the earthquake?","titleListing2":"Japan earthquake: Is it safe to travel despite the \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning?","leadin":"The \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning is the first since the category was introduced in 2022.","summary":"The \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning is the first since the category was introduced in 2022.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-earthquake-is-it-safe-to-travel-despite-the-megaquake-warning","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-earthquake-is-it-safe-to-travel-despite-the-megaquake-warning","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan is on alert after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck its northern regions late on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings and a rare government advisory about the possibility of a \u201cmegaquake\u201d over the next week.\n\nThe warning comes as Hokkaido enters its busy winter tourism season, with ski resorts now welcoming early-season visitors before the holidays.\n\nWhat does the \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning mean?\n\nThe earthquake hit off the eastern coast of Aomori \u2013 the northernmost prefecture on the main island of Honshu \u2013 at around 11:15 pm, registering an upper 6 on Japan\u2019s seismic intensity scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).\n\nSlow, powerful waves rattled parts of Aomori, and shockwaves registered further north in Hokkaido. There were no reports of deaths or serious damage to key infrastructure, and no abnormalities were detected at nearby nuclear power plants, according to Japan\u2019s national public broadcaster NHK.\n\nInitial tsunami warnings for Iwate, Hokkaido and Aomori were later downgraded and fully lifted by early Tuesday morning.\n\nTransport disruption has so far been limited, although Tohoku Shinkansen services were briefly suspended between Morioka and Shin-Aomori before resuming on Tuesday.\n\nBut the JMA has triggered a warning for a \u201cmegaquake\u201d \u2013 an earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher \u2013 which could occur along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido.\u00a0\n\nThe warning is in effect until 16 December, and authorities note that a stronger tremor could bring tsunami waves of 3 metres to the area.\n\nIt marks the country\u2019s first \u201cmegaquake\u201d alert since the category was introduced in 2022.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nWhat does it mean for travellers?\n\nHokkaido is one of Japan\u2019s busiest winter destinations. Its ski hub, Niseko, saw record numbers during the 2024-25 season, with more than 11 million lift rides and an estimated 2.2 million visitors across its four resorts. With another snowy La Ni\u00f1a winter forecast, Niseko is expecting strong numbers again this season.\n\nWhile \u201cmegaquake\u201d may sound alarming, officials emphasise this is not a prediction but rather a statistical possibility based on patterns seen in large offshore quakes.\u00a0\n\nFlights and most rail routes are operating normally, and authorities have not restricted travel to northern Japan or Hokkaido.\u00a0\n\nThere has so far been no direct impact reported at Niseko and Furano \u2013 Hokkaido\u2019s main ski areas \u2013 including large-scale building damage or ski resort closures.\n\nTravellers are, however, encouraged to stay informed and review basic earthquake safety guidance while visiting the region.\n\nHow to stay safe in Hokkaido\n\nJapan is one of the world\u2019s most seismically active nations, and earthquakes are a common feature of life.\u00a0\n\nNearly 2,000 earthquakes of a magnitude 4 or higher have struck within 300 kilometres of Hokkaido in the past 10 years, according to the open-source Earthquake List.\n\nOn top of checking national travel advisories and monitoring updates from Japanese authorities, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) recommends that travellers download the Safety Tips app, which sends out earthquake, tsunami and other weather warnings within Japan in 15 different languages.\u00a0\u00a0\n\nDuring an earthquake, travellers should drop, cover and hold onto something stable, the JNTO adds. Those indoors should stay inside and avoid windows. Those outdoors should move away from buildings, trees and power lines to avoid falling objects.\n\nIn either case, avoid using elevators during or immediately after an earthquake.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan is on alert after a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck its northern regions late on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings and a rare government advisory about the possibility of a \u201cmegaquake\u201d over the next week.<\/p>\n<p>The warning comes as Hokkaido enters its busy winter <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//11//25//this-japanese-airline-is-offering-free-domestic-flights-for-uk-and-european-travellers/">tourism season, with ski resorts now welcoming early-season visitors before the holidays.<\/p>\n<h2>What does the \u2018megaquake\u2019 warning mean?<\/h2>\n<p>The earthquake hit off the eastern coast of Aomori \u2013 the northernmost prefecture on the main island of Honshu \u2013 at around 11:15 pm, registering an upper 6 on Japan\u2019s seismic intensity scale, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA).<\/p>\n<p>Slow, powerful waves rattled parts of Aomori, and shockwaves registered further north in Hokkaido. There were no reports of deaths or serious damage to key infrastructure, and no abnormalities were detected at nearby nuclear power plants, according to Japan\u2019s national public broadcaster <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www3.nhk.or.jp//nhkworld//en//news//20251209_02///" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>NHK<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Initial tsunami warnings for Iwate, Hokkaido and Aomori were later downgraded and fully lifted by early Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//02//22//snowy-villages-swordmakers-and-quiet-onsen-why-you-should-visit-japans-crowd-free-gifu-pro/">Snowy villages, swordmakers and quiet onsen: Why you should visit Japan\u2019s crowd-free Gifu province<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//10//18//japan-approves-countrys-highest-ever-hotel-tax-in-kyoto-heres-how-much-you-will-have-to-pa/">Japan smashes visitor records amid overtourism cries. Will its new tourist tax calm the surge?<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Transport disruption has so far been limited, although Tohoku Shinkansen services were briefly suspended between Morioka and Shin-Aomori before resuming on Tuesday.<\/p>\n<p>But the JMA has triggered a warning for a \u201cmegaquake\u201d \u2013 an earthquake of magnitude 8 or higher \u2013 which could occur along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido. <\/p>\n<p>The warning is in effect until 16 December, and authorities note that a stronger tremor could bring tsunami waves of 3 metres to the area.<\/p>\n<p>It marks the country\u2019s first \u201cmegaquake\u201d alert since the category was introduced in 2022. <\/p>\n<h2>What does it mean for travellers?<\/h2>\n<p>Hokkaido is one of Japan\u2019s busiest <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//11//15//festivals-wildlife-and-stunning-landscapes-why-you-should-explore-europe-in-winter/">winter destinations<\/strong><\/a>. Its ski hub, Niseko, saw record numbers during the 2024-25 season, with more than 11 million lift rides and an estimated 2.2 million visitors across its four resorts. With another snowy La Ni\u00f1a winter forecast, Niseko is expecting strong numbers again this season.<\/p>\n<p>While \u201cmegaquake\u201d may sound alarming, officials emphasise this is not a prediction but rather a statistical possibility based on patterns seen in large offshore quakes. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//11//05//bulgaria-georgia-andorra-where-are-europes-best-value-ski-destinations/">Bulgaria, Georgia, Andorra: Where are Europe\u2019s best value ski destinations? <\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//10//25//skiing-with-eagles-in-the-alps-inside-one-of-frances-most-sustainable-ski-resorts/">Skiing with eagles in the Alps: Inside one of France\u2019s most sustainable ski resorts<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Flights and most rail routes are operating normally, and authorities have not restricted travel to northern Japan or Hokkaido. <\/p>\n<p>There has so far been no direct impact reported at Niseko and Furano \u2013 Hokkaido\u2019s main <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2024//11//27//reliable-snow-cheap-passes-and-uncrowded-slopes-why-you-should-go-skiing-in-georgia-this-w/">ski areas<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 including large-scale building damage or ski resort closures.<\/p>\n<p>Travellers are, however, encouraged to stay informed and review basic earthquake safety guidance while visiting the region.<\/p>\n<h2>How to stay safe in Hokkaido<\/h2>\n<p>Japan is one of the world\u2019s most seismically active nations, and earthquakes are a common feature of life. <\/p>\n<p>Nearly 2,000 earthquakes of a magnitude 4 or higher have struck within 300 kilometres of Hokkaido in the past 10 years, according to the open-source Earthquake List.<\/p>\n<p>On top of checking national travel advisories and monitoring updates from Japanese authorities, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) recommends that travellers download the<a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.jnto.go.jp//safety-tips//eng//app.html/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"> <strong>Safety Tips<\/strong><\/a>app, which sends out earthquake, tsunami and other weather warnings within Japan in 15 different languages. <\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//11//11//tokyos-haneda-airport-bids-travellers-farewell-with-a-colossal-godzilla-installation/">Tokyo/u2019s Haneda airport bids travellers farewell with a colossal Godzilla installation<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//travel//2025//03//17//japan-doubles-fee-to-climb-mount-fuji-after-pollution-and-safety-concerns/"> Japan doubles fee to climb Mount Fuji after pollution and safety concerns <\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>During an earthquake, travellers should drop, cover and hold onto something stable, the JNTO adds. Those indoors should stay inside and avoid windows. Those outdoors should move away from buildings, trees and power lines to avoid falling objects.<\/p>\n<p>In either case, avoid using elevators during or immediately after an earthquake.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765287868,"updatedAt":1765289525,"publishedAt":1765288505,"firstPublishedAt":1765288505,"lastPublishedAt":1765288505,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/69\/37\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_88fce62f-6dd8-5b92-bef2-4ad91d2f1188-9576937.jpg","altText":"Japan's 'megaquake' warning will remain in effect until 16 December","caption":"Japan's 'megaquake' warning will remain in effect until 16 December","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"Nao Takabayashi \/ Unsplash","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1920,"height":1075}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":3274,"urlSafeValue":"sauers","title":"Craig Saueurs","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":77,"slug":"earthquake","urlSafeValue":"earthquake","title":"Earthquake","titleRaw":"Earthquake"},{"id":10795,"slug":"japan-earthquake","urlSafeValue":"japan-earthquake","title":"Japan earthquake","titleRaw":"Japan earthquake"},{"id":12639,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel","titleRaw":"Travel"},{"id":4221,"slug":"tourism","urlSafeValue":"tourism","title":"Tourism","titleRaw":"Tourism"},{"id":9135,"slug":"skiing","urlSafeValue":"skiing","title":"Skiing","titleRaw":"Skiing"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"related","count":3}],"related":[{"id":2848515},{"id":2853230}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":[],"hasExternalVideo":0,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":0,"video":0,"videos":[],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":null,"additionalReporting":null,"freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/travel\/travel-news\/travel-news"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"travel","verticals":[{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":7,"slug":"travel","urlSafeValue":"travel","title":"Travel"},"themes":[{"id":"travel-news","urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News","url":"\/travel\/travel-news"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":21,"urlSafeValue":"travel-news","title":"Travel News"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/travel\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-earthquake-is-it-safe-to-travel-despite-the-megaquake-warning","lastModified":1765288505},{"id":2853067,"cid":9576399,"versionId":1,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"NC3 JAPAN QUAKE DAMAGES DAY AFTER","daletPyramidId":3543974,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":3},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan evaluates impact after 7.5 offshore earthquake near Aomori","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Japan evaluates impact after 7.5 offshore earthquake near Aomori","leadin":"Japan is assessing damage and monitoring aftershocks after a 7.5 magnitude offshore earthquake caused minor injuries and light structural impacts.","summary":"Japan is assessing damage and monitoring aftershocks after a 7.5 magnitude offshore earthquake caused minor injuries and light structural impacts.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-evaluates-impact-after-75-offshore-earthquake-near-aomori","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-evaluates-impact-after-75-offshore-earthquake-near-aomori","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Japan is assessing the impact of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck late Monday off the coast of Aomori, resulting in minor injuries and light damage.\n\nAuthorities said at least 33 people were hurt, mostly by falling objects, according to initial reports. The quake occurred around 11:15pm at a depth of 44 kilometers.\n\nPower outages were largely resolved by Tuesday morning, and officials said they continue to monitor the situation and caution residents about the possibility of aftershocks.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Japan is assessing the impact of a 7.5 magnitude earthquake that struck late Monday off the coast of Aomori, resulting in minor injuries and light damage. <\/p>\n<p>Authorities said at least 33 people were hurt, mostly by falling objects, according to initial reports. The quake occurred around 11:15pm at a depth of 44 kilometers. <\/p>\n<p>Power outages were largely resolved by Tuesday morning, and officials said they continue to monitor the situation and caution residents about the possibility of aftershocks.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765267845,"updatedAt":1765289216,"publishedAt":1765270523,"firstPublishedAt":1765270523,"lastPublishedAt":1765270523,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/63\/99\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_8cea94b2-96bd-519f-bd2a-1b69565c29be-9576399.jpg","altText":"Japan earthquake","caption":"Japan earthquake","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":946}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":77,"slug":"earthquake","urlSafeValue":"earthquake","title":"Earthquake","titleRaw":"Earthquake"},{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":8073,"slug":"tsunami","urlSafeValue":"tsunami","title":"Tsunami","titleRaw":"Tsunami"}],"widgets":[],"related":[{"id":2853230}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"lDzBWU0N8s4","dailymotionId":"x9vbhp6"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/23\/54\/09\/ED_PYR_3123549_20251209140708.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":12111569,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/23\/54\/09\/SHD_PYR_3123549_20251209140708.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":17108982,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/23\/54\/09\/FHD_PYR_3123549_20251209140708.mp4","editor":"","duration":60000,"filesizeBytes":48582971,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"nocomment","urlSafeValue":"nocomment","title":"No Comment","online":1,"url":"\/nocomment"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/video\/2025\/12\/09\/japan-evaluates-impact-after-75-offshore-earthquake-near-aomori","lastModified":1765270523},{"id":2852904,"cid":9575682,"versionId":4,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"JAPAN QUAKE","daletPyramidId":3538266,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Magnitude 7.5 earthquake strikes off Japan's northern coast, injuring 33","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":"Magnitude 7.5 earthquake strikes off Japan's northern coast","titleListing2":"Magnitude 7.5 earthquake strikes off Japan's northern coast, injuring 33.","leadin":"Nuclear power plants in the region conducted safety checks, public broadcaster NHK said.","summary":"Nuclear power plants in the region conducted safety checks, public broadcaster NHK said.","keySentence":"","url":"magnitude-72-earthquake-strikes-off-japans-northern-coast-and-triggers-tsunami-alert","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/08\/magnitude-72-earthquake-strikes-off-japans-northern-coast-and-triggers-tsunami-alert","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late on Monday, causing 33 injuries, light damage and triggering a tsunami alert which was later lifted.\n\nAt least 33 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported.\n\nThe quake struck at about 11:15 pm in the Pacific Ocean about 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island, the agency said.\n\nA tsunami of 70 centimetres was measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, just south of Aomori, and tsunami levels of up to 50 centimetres struck other coastal communities in the region, the agency said.\n\nChief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged residents to immediately head to higher ground or take shelter inside buildings or evacuation centres until the alert is lifted.\n\nSeveral people were injured at a hotel in the Aomori town of Hachinohe and a man in the town of Tohoku was slightly hurt when his car fell into a hole, public broadcaster NHK reported.\n\nKihara said nuclear power plants in the region were conducting safety checks and that so far no problems were detected.\n\nSeveral cases of fires were reported in Aomori and about 90,000 residents were advised to take shelter at evacuation centres, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.\n\nSatoshi Kato, a vice principal of a public high school in Hachinohe, told NHK that he was at home when the quake struck and that glasses and bowls fell and smashed into shards on the floor.\n\nKato said he drove to the school because it was designated an evacuation center, and on the way he encountered traffic jams and car accidents as panicked people tried to flee. Nobody had yet come to the school to take shelter, he said.\n\nPrime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency taskforce to urgently assess the extent of damage.\n\n\"We are putting people\u2019s lives first and doing everything we can,\" she said.\n\nThe quake struck about 80 kilometres northeast of Hachinohe and about 50 kilometresbelow the sea surface, the meteorological agency said.\n\nIt was just north of the Japanese coast that suffered the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 that killed nearly 20,000 people.\n\n","htmlText":"<p>A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan late on Monday, causing 33 injuries, light damage and triggering a tsunami alert which was later lifted.<\/p>\n<p>At least 33 people were injured, one seriously, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said. Most of them were hit by falling objects, public broadcaster NHK reported.<\/p>\n<p>The quake struck at about 11:15 pm in the Pacific Ocean about 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture of Japan's main Honshu island, the agency said.<\/p>\n<p>A tsunami of 70 centimetres was measured in Kuji port in Iwate prefecture, just south of Aomori, and tsunami levels of up to 50 centimetres struck other coastal communities in the region, the agency said.<\/p>\n<p>Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara urged residents to immediately head to higher ground or take shelter inside buildings or evacuation centres until the alert is lifted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.6665\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <img class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////images.euronews.com//articles//stories//09//57//56//82//808x539_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg/" alt=\"People walk through debris of buildings on the Asaichi-dori shopping street in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, 5 January, 2024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/384x256_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 384w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/640x427_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 640w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/750x500_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 750w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/828x552_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 828w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/1080x720_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/1200x800_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/1920x1280_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 95vw, (max-width: 1024px) 80vw, (max-width: 1280px) 55vw, 728px\"\/>\n <figcaption class=\"widget__caption\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionWrap\">\n <span class=\"widget__captionText\">People walk through debris of buildings on the Asaichi-dori shopping street in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, 5 January, 2024<\/span>\n <span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">AP Photo<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Several people were injured at a hotel in the Aomori town of Hachinohe and a man in the town of Tohoku was slightly hurt when his car fell into a hole, public broadcaster NHK reported.<\/p>\n<p>Kihara said nuclear power plants in the region were conducting safety checks and that so far no problems were detected.<\/p>\n<p>Several cases of fires were reported in Aomori and about 90,000 residents were advised to take shelter at evacuation centres, the Fire and Disaster Management Agency said.<\/p>\n<p>Satoshi Kato, a vice principal of a public high school in Hachinohe, told NHK that he was at home when the quake struck and that glasses and bowls fell and smashed into shards on the floor.<\/p>\n<p>Kato said he drove to the school because it was designated an evacuation center, and on the way he encountered traffic jams and car accidents as panicked people tried to flee. Nobody had yet come to the school to take shelter, he said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-widget-related\" data-stories-id=\"\" data-event=\"widget_related\">\n <div class=\"c-widget-related__title\">\n <b class=\"c-widget-related__title__text\" lang=\"en\">Related<\/b>\n <\/div>\n <ul class=\"c-widget-related__list\">\n <li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//10//tokyo-and-beijing-exchange-barbs-after-pm-takaichi-calls-invasion-of-taiwan-existential-th/">Tokyo and Beijing exchange barbs after PM Takaichi calls invasion of Taiwan 'existential threat'<\/a><\/li><li class=\"c-widget-related__item\"><a class=\"c-widget-related__article\" href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.euronews.com//2025//11//24//japan-crossed-a-red-line-with-taiwan-military-intervention-comments-says-chinese-foreign-m/">Japan 'crossed a red line' with Taiwan military intervention comments, says Chinese foreign minister<\/a><\/li>\n <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the government had set up an emergency taskforce to urgently assess the extent of damage.<\/p>\n<p>\"We are putting people\u2019s lives first and doing everything we can,\" she said.<\/p>\n<p>The quake struck about 80 kilometres northeast of Hachinohe and about 50 kilometresbelow the sea surface, the meteorological agency said.<\/p>\n<p>It was just north of the Japanese coast that suffered the magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 that killed nearly 20,000 people.<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765205865,"updatedAt":1765267254,"publishedAt":1765206345,"firstPublishedAt":1765206345,"lastPublishedAt":1765267253,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_76404410-1139-5d9e-bed3-bc3aa088e8c5-9575682.jpg","altText":"A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, 8 December, 2025","caption":"A tsunami warning is displayed on a television in Yokohama, 8 December, 2025","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1620,"height":911},{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/56\/82\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_e9d7c2f1-9630-5374-8764-c392ffb0309b-9575682.jpg","altText":"People walk through debris of buildings on the Asaichi-dori shopping street in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, 5 January, 2024","caption":"People walk through debris of buildings on the Asaichi-dori shopping street in Wajima in the Noto peninsula, 5 January, 2024","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"AP Photo","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":2000,"height":1333}],"authors":{"journalists":[{"id":2972,"urlSafeValue":"blackburn","title":"Gavin Blackburn","twitter":null}],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":160,"slug":"japan","urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","titleRaw":"Japan"},{"id":77,"slug":"earthquake","urlSafeValue":"earthquake","title":"Earthquake","titleRaw":"Earthquake"},{"id":8073,"slug":"tsunami","urlSafeValue":"tsunami","title":"Tsunami","titleRaw":"Tsunami"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"image","count":1},{"slug":"related","count":1}],"related":[{"id":2841198},{"id":2837544},{"id":2853230}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"qD_0YrdKXwA","dailymotionId":"x9vao14"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/14\/72\/07\/ED_PYR_3114727_20251209074410.mp4","editor":"","duration":71760,"filesizeBytes":12979139,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/14\/72\/07\/SHD_PYR_3114727_20251209074410.mp4","editor":"","duration":71760,"filesizeBytes":18269912,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/14\/72\/07\/FHD_PYR_3114727_20251209074410.mp4","editor":"","duration":71760,"filesizeBytes":57543591,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":null,"additionalSources":"AP","additionalReporting":"","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"world","urlSafeValue":"world","title":"World News","online":1,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/world"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World","url":"\/news\/international"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":1,"urlSafeValue":"news","title":"World"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":[],"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/08\/magnitude-72-earthquake-strikes-off-japans-northern-coast-and-triggers-tsunami-alert","lastModified":1765267253},{"id":2852626,"cid":9574566,"versionId":2,"archive":0,"housenumber":null,"owner":"euronews","isMagazine":0,"isBreakingNews":0,"daletEventName":"JUDO TOKYO GRAND SLAM 2025 DAY 2","daletPyramidId":3529430,"channels":[{"id":1},{"id":2},{"id":4},{"id":5},{"id":10},{"id":12},{"id":14}],"status":2,"title":"Japan dominate Day 2 with spectacular performances in Tokyo","titleSeo":null,"titleListing1":null,"titleListing2":"Day 2 in Tokyo showcased Japan\u2019s strength as Kondo, Tanaka, Abe, Ikeda, Tanaka Ryuga and Oino all claimed gold, with Korea securing a strong +78kg result through Hyeonji Lee. An intense final day delivered a fitting conclusion to the 2025 Tokyo Grand Slam.","leadin":"Day 2 in Tokyo showcased Japan\u2019s strength as Kondo, Tanaka, Abe, Ikeda, Tanaka Ryuga and Oino all claimed gold, with Korea securing a strong +78kg result through Hyeonji Lee. An intense final day delivered a fitting conclusion to the 2025 Tokyo Grand Slam.","summary":"Day 2 in Tokyo showcased Japan\u2019s strength as Kondo, Tanaka, Abe, Ikeda, Tanaka Ryuga and Oino all claimed gold, with Korea securing a strong +78kg result through Hyeonji Lee. An intense final day delivered a fitting conclusion to the 2025 Tokyo Grand Slam.","keySentence":"","url":"japan-dominate-day-2-with-spectacular-performances-in-tokyo","canonical":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2025\/12\/07\/japan-dominate-day-2-with-spectacular-performances-in-tokyo","masterCms":"v2","plainText":"Welcome to day 2 of the PARK24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam 2025. The stage was set for a dramatic finish to the competition.\n\nAt -60Kg Hayato KONDO of Japan claimed the first gold of the day with an ippon that took the entire stadium by surprise.\n\nHarvest Group CEO Mr Almaz ALSENOV, was on hand to award his medal.\n\nThe -70Kg category saw current world champion Shiho TANAKA of Japan come up with a hold down to secure her a yuko and the gold medal.\n\nThe medals were awarded by IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa ALLAN.\n\nAt -66Kg, Hifumi Abe\u2019s day had been tough, in the quarterfinals, going a wazari down, he snatched victory in the final seconds. Followed by an exhausting seven-minute golden score battle in the semifinals.\n\nIn the final Abe once again delivered. A beautiful finish to a very long day!\n\nHe was awarded his medal by IJF Head Referee Director Mr Armen BAGDASAROV.\n\nAt -78Kg Kurena IKEDA showed the true dominance of Japanese ground work. Holding down the categories' top seed Patricia SAMPAIO to bring home another gold medal for Japan.\n\nThe medals were awarded by IJF Sport Director Mr Kosei INOUE.\n\nAt -73Kg in another all-Japanese final Ryuga TANAKA caught his teammate with a dynamic Wazari score. It was a powerful performance that delivered a fifth gold medal of the day for Team Japan.\n\nHe was awarded the gold medal by IJF Education & Coaching Director Mr Mohammed MERIDJA.\n\nTop seed Hyeonji LEE of Korea secured her podium in the +78Kg final with a clinically executed submission of her team mate. Gold and silver for Korea.\n\nShe was awarded her medal by IJF Referee Director Ms Tina TRSTENJAK.\n\nIt was Yuhei OINO of Japan who would take gold in the last final of the day at -81Kg. With every exchange as tight as the last, a single yuko was all that could decide a dramatic finish to the Grand Slam.\n\nIJF Honorary Member Mr Noboyuki SATO awarded the medals.\n\nIt's been an incredible competition and a fitting way to end 2025. See you next year!\n\n","htmlText":"<p>Welcome to day 2 of the PARK24 Group Tokyo Grand Slam 2025. The stage was set for a dramatic finish to the competition.<\/p>\n<p>At -60Kg <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//39140/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Hayato KONDO<\/strong><\/a> of Japan claimed the first gold of the day with an ippon that took the entire stadium by surprise.<\/p>\n<p>Harvest Group CEO Mr Almaz ALSENOV, was on hand to award his medal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1997597894636085271\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The -70Kg category saw current world champion <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//38009/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Shiho TANAKA<\/strong><\/a> of Japan come up with a hold down to secure her a yuko and the gold medal.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">This is a very important competition to win because all the Japanese people are watching.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__authorText\">\n Shiho TANAKA (JPN)\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>The medals were awarded by IJF Secretary General Dr Lisa ALLAN.<\/p>\n<p>At -66Kg, <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//13208/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Hifumi Abe<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s day had been tough, in the quarterfinals, going a wazari down, he snatched victory in the final seconds. Followed by an exhausting seven-minute golden score battle in the semifinals.<\/p>\n<p>In the final Abe once again delivered. A beautiful finish to a very long day!<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-quotation\n widget--size-fullwidth\n widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__content\">\n <blockquote class=\"widget__quote\">\n <span class=\"widget__quoteText\">Today was a very long day with very long fights. It was very tiring.<\/span>\n <\/blockquote>\n <cite class=\"widget__author\">\n <div class=\"widget__authorText\">\n Hifumi ABE (JPN)\n <\/div>\n <\/cite>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>He was awarded his medal by IJF Head Referee Director Mr Armen BAGDASAROV.<\/p>\n<p>At -78Kg <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//68760/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Kurena IKEDA<\/strong><\/a> showed the true dominance of Japanese ground work. Holding down the categories' top seed <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//21235/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Patricia SAMPAIO<\/strong><\/a> to bring home another gold medal for Japan.<\/p>\n<p>The medals were awarded by IJF Sport Director Mr Kosei INOUE.<\/p>\n<p>At -73Kg in another all-Japanese final <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//69037/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Ryuga TANAKA<\/strong><\/a> caught his teammate with a dynamic Wazari score. It was a powerful performance that delivered a fifth gold medal of the day for Team Japan.<\/p>\n<p>He was awarded the gold medal by IJF Education &amp; Coaching Director Mr Mohammed MERIDJA.<\/p>\n<p>Top seed <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//69432/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Hyeonji LEE<\/strong><\/a> of Korea secured her podium in the +78Kg final with a clinically executed submission of her team mate. Gold and silver for Korea.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-tweet widget--size-fullwidth widget--align-center\">\n <div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n <div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio\u2014auto\">\n <div class=\"widget__contents\">\n <figure class=\"widget__figure\">\n <div class=\"widget__tweet\" data-tweet-id=\"1997616172867752064\"><\/div>\n <\/figure>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>She was awarded her medal by IJF Referee Director Ms Tina TRSTENJAK.<\/p>\n<p>It was <a href=https://www.euronews.com/"https:////www.ijf.org//judoka//65949/" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\"><strong>Yuhei OINO<\/strong><\/a> of Japan who would take gold in the last final of the day at -81Kg. With every exchange as tight as the last, a single yuko was all that could decide a dramatic finish to the Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<p>IJF Honorary Member Mr Noboyuki SATO awarded the medals.<\/p>\n<p>It's been an incredible competition and a fitting way to end 2025. See you next year!<\/p>\n","hashtag":null,"createdAt":1765112892,"updatedAt":1765117149,"publishedAt":1765116216,"firstPublishedAt":1765116216,"lastPublishedAt":1765117124,"expiresAt":0,"images":[{"url":"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/57\/45\/66\/{{w}}x{{h}}_cmsv2_d7d9dabe-ef62-5f5f-b87f-7a702e34ab19-9574566.jpg","altText":" Tokyo Grand Slam 2025, +78 kg, FINAL KOR LEE vs KOR KIM","caption":" Tokyo Grand Slam 2025, +78 kg, FINAL KOR LEE vs KOR KIM","captionUrl":null,"captionCredit":"IJF\/Sabau Gabriela","sourceUrl":null,"sourceCredit":null,"callToActionUrl":null,"callToActionText":null,"width":1621,"height":1080}],"authors":{"journalists":[],"producers":[],"videoEditor":[]},"keywords":[{"id":10007,"slug":"judo","urlSafeValue":"judo","title":"Judo","titleRaw":"Judo"},{"id":7829,"slug":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","titleRaw":"Sport"},{"id":13728,"slug":"sport-competition","urlSafeValue":"sport-competition","title":"sport competition","titleRaw":"sport competition"},{"id":8513,"slug":"martial-arts","urlSafeValue":"martial-arts","title":"Martial arts","titleRaw":"Martial arts"}],"widgets":[{"slug":"twitter","count":2},{"slug":"quotation","count":2}],"related":[{"id":2852455},{"id":2850813},{"id":2850634}],"technicalTags":[],"externalPartners":{"youtubeId":"zj4oiT7yoLo","dailymotionId":"x9v72fu"},"hasExternalVideo":1,"hasInternalOrExternalVideo":1,"video":1,"videos":[{"format":"mp4","quality":"md","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/ED\/31\/07\/82\/03\/ED_PYR_3107823_20251207133132.mp4","editor":"","duration":180000,"filesizeBytes":27145132,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"hd","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/SHD\/31\/07\/82\/03\/SHD_PYR_3107823_20251207133132.mp4","editor":"","duration":180000,"filesizeBytes":41078098,"expiresAt":0},{"format":"mp4","quality":"1080p","type":"normal","url":"https:\/\/video.euronews.com\/mp4\/FHD\/31\/07\/82\/03\/FHD_PYR_3107823_20251207133132.mp4","editor":"","duration":180000,"filesizeBytes":140429952,"expiresAt":0}],"liveStream":[{"startDate":0,"endDate":0}],"scribbleLiveId":0,"scribbleLiveRibbon":0,"isLiveCoverage":0,"sourceId":1,"sources":[],"externalSource":"IJF","additionalSources":"","additionalReporting":"Euronews","freeField1":null,"freeField2":"","type":"normal","displayType":"default","program":{"id":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","online":0,"url":"https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/programs\/sport"},"season":"","episode":"","episodeId":"","vertical":"news","verticals":[{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"}],"primaryVertical":{"id":1,"slug":"news","urlSafeValue":"news","title":"News"},"themes":[{"id":"sport","urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport","url":"\/news\/sport"}],"primaryTheme":{"id":8,"urlSafeValue":"sport","title":"Sport"},"advertising":0,"advertisingData":{"startDate":0,"endDate":0,"type":null,"slug":null,"title":null,"disclaimerLabelKey":null,"sponsor":null,"sponsorName":null,"sponsorUrl":null,"sponsorLogo":"","sponsorLogoReverse":"","isDfp":0},"geoLocation":{"lat":0,"lon":0},"location":1,"continent":{"id":12,"urlSafeValue":"asia","title":"Asia"},"country":{"id":160,"urlSafeValue":"japan","title":"Japan","url":"\/news\/asia\/japan"},"town":{"id":444,"urlSafeValue":"tokyo-japan","title":"Tokyo"},"contextualSignals":{"doubleVerify":{"ids":[],"slugs":[]}},"grapeshot":null,"versions":[],"programDeliverable":{"slug":"article-video","format":"default"},"showOpinionDisclaimer":0,"allViews":0,"allViewsMeta":{"pointOfView":[],"survey":[],"tweetId":0,"tweet2NdId":0,"displayOverlay":0},"storyTranslationMethod":[],"localisation":[],"autoPublished":0,"autoLocalised":0,"isReviewed":0,"path":"\/2025\/12\/07\/japan-dominate-day-2-with-spectacular-performances-in-tokyo","lastModified":1765117124}]">

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