A meeting between members of the Sri Lanka–Japan Friendship Association, led by its President Inoue Naoki, and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was held yesterday (12), with discussions centered on further strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

During the meeting at the Presidential Secretariat, President Naoki recalled that the Association had recently facilitated the provision of three ambulances to the North Western Provincial Council, and expressed the Association’s continued willingness to extend further assistance to Sri Lanka as required.

Secretary to the President Dr. Kumanayake conveyed his appreciation for the support extended by the Association, noting its role in reinforcing the enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and Japan.

The meeting was also attended by Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Dr. R. D. R. Perera, Assistant Secretary to the President R. A. Ruwanpathirana, and Association members M. R. Dissanayake, O. N. S. Amarasinghe, and G. W. Thissa Dayananda, among others. (Newswire)

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Police in Nagareyama City in Japan have arrested an 18‑year‑old Sri Lankan national on suspicion of murder after he allegedly stabbed a 21‑year‑old compatriot with a knife, according to a report by Japan Today.

Authorities said both men were international students living at the same residence. The incident occurred around 10:20 am Tuesday when the suspect stabbed the victim in the abdomen inside their shared home.

The suspect himself called emergency services (119), and the victim was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead. Police questioned the 18‑year‑old student at the scene, who admitted to stabbing his acquaintance.

Investigators quoted the suspect as saying: “I snapped and stabbed him because I was called a derogatory name for a gay man, my mother was insulted, and I was punched.”

Police confirmed that the two men were acquaintances and continue to probe the circumstances surrounding the fatal confrontation. (Newswire/ Japan Today)

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Three lions from a Tokyo zoo have died from suspected heatstroke and others are undergoing treatment, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, as the big cats struggle in Japan’s high levels of humidity.

Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year and parts of the country have hit 40C in recent weeks, qualifying for the new “cruelly hot day” designation.

Since mid-July, 10 of the 16 lions in Tama zoological park have suffered from “loss of appetite and decreased activity”, and three lionesses had died, the zoo said in a statement. One lioness died on Tuesday, another Friday, and the third on Sunday, it said.

The cause of the deaths is suspected to be heatstroke, as dehydration and multiple organ failure were observed by a veterinarian, the zoo said.

“Even though lions are thought to be resistant to heat, zoo keepers have been strengthening countermeasures to cope with Japan’s summer heat in recent years. Heat here comes with high humidity; that is different from heat with dry air in Africa,” a zoo spokesperson said.

“But this summer, heat arrived suddenly after the rainy season was over” in late July, they added.

“We are strengthening measures against the heat, sprinkling water, improving ventilation and installing spot air conditioners.” 

The zoo said several lions are still being treated.

About 18,600 people in Japan were taken to hospital for heatstroke between 20 and 26 July, with 45 of them pronounced dead on arrival, according to the fire and disaster management agency.

Authorities have adjusted the timings of a string of cultural and sporting events in recent years because of the heat, including the World Cosplay Summit in Nagoya, which held its last summer edition last weekend.

Japan experiences about 1,300 heat-related deaths annually and is aiming to halve that number by 2030. The country’s highest recorded temperature was registered in August last year: 41.8C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere. South Korea is currently engulfed by a heatwave, with the rising summer temperatures linked to at least 16 deaths. (The Guardian)

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The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau says there is no danger to Sri Lanka from a magnitude 7.1 quake in the Kumamota area of southern Japan today (28). 

According to the Japan Times, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in the Kyushu region on Tuesday, registering up to shindo 7, the highest level on the Japanese seismic intensity scale.

The weather agency issued a tsunami advisory for coastal areas of the Ariake and Yatsushiro seas, urging people to stay away from the coast.

The first tsunami wave was believed to have arrived in those seas shortly after the quake. More waves were expected to arrive soon.

A strong 6 on the shindo scale was observed in the cities of Yatsuhiro, Uto and the towns of Mashiki and Misato, as well as the city of Kumamoto’s Minami Ward.

Other cities in Kumamoto, as well as the neighboring prefectures of Nagasaki, Kagoshima, Fukuoka, Saga and Miyazaki, also felt strong shaking of a lower 5 or stronger on the Japanese scale.

The quake’s epicenter was in the city of Uki, just south of the city of Kumamoto, at a depth of 10 kilometers. (Newswire, Japan Times)

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More than 450 people received hospital treatment for heat-related issues in a single day in Tokyo – the highest number since records began 16 years ago, emergency services said on Thursday (Jul 23).

The figure was released as Japan sweltered in a heatwave that has killed at least 14 people over the past week.

A total 453 people had hospital treatment for heat-related issues on Wednesday, the most since records began in 2010, the Tokyo Fire Department said. 

Emergency callouts were also at the highest level since at least 1963.

“We are urging people to stay hydrated and use air conditioners,” a fire brigade spokesman told AFP.

The number of patients appeared to rise as temperatures climbed, with notable increases on Tuesday and Wednesday, the spokesman said.

In Tokyo prefecture – home to around 14 million people – one person had died in the current heatwave with four others in a critical condition and 18 in a serious state, he said.

Nick Estes, 35, an American tourist visiting the Asakusa area of Tokyo with his family, said Thursday the weather was “extremely hot”.

“We’ve been planning our trips around trying to make sure we can spend time in the metro to cool off, finding little shops to pop into to maybe buy a little souvenir that has air conditioning, doing everything we can to stay cool,” Estes told AFP.

“But especially with younger kids, it’s been absolutely brutal … I was here last summer, actually, and somehow it actually feels even hotter this year than it did a year ago.”

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency has dubbed the heatwave a “disaster”, reporting on Wednesday at least 14 deaths across the country over the previous week and 11,000 people seeking emergency medical care.

“DISASTER”

In the central region of Aichi, which includes Nagoya and is experiencing some of the most intense heat, 116 people were taken to hospital on Wednesday, officials said.

Heatstroke alerts have been issued for almost the whole country of around 125 million people.

“Temperatures have been rising since mid-July, and severe heat is expected to continue nationwide,” the disaster agency said.

“It is no exaggeration to call this extreme heat a ‘disaster’ with many people being rushed to hospitals or even dying as a result of heatstroke,” it said.

On Thursday, at least six places experienced 40°C temperatures or hotter by early afternoon, while the mercury rose to 39.9°C in three other locations.

The hottest place was Hamamatsu in the central Shizuoka region at 41.1°C.

It was followed by Toyota city – headquarters of the car giant – in the neighbouring Aichi region at 40.8°C and Kuwana in Mie at 40.7°C.

Japan’s highest recorded temperature was registered on Aug 5, 2025, at 41.8°C in Isesaki, north of Tokyo.

Japan introduced this year a new term to describe heat above 40C called “kokushobi”, which translates to “cruelly hot day”.

The new term was designed to draw greater public attention to heat-related warnings, although it does not trigger any official measures nationwide.

“HOTTER AND HOTTER”

Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme heat events in Japan and elsewhere.

Japan sweltered through its hottest summer on record last year.

“You leave the hotel at 8.30 … it feels as if it was noontime. And as the day progresses, it just gets hotter and hotter and hotter,” said Yesenia Gueta, 47, visiting from Los Angeles.

“Now I understand why (Japanese) clothing is loose, why they wear the umbrellas all the time. I mean, it is extreme. And I agree with that term,” Gueta said.

“Since it’s like this in mid-July, I wonder what’s going to happen in August. I’m worried,” said Japanese university student Nukochama, 24.

“I carry a big fan like this, fully charged, so I can turn it on anytime.” (CNA/ AFP)

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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a high‑level meeting on Monday (06) with a business delegation from Mitsui & Co. Ltd, Japan, led by Romesh David, CEO of APM Terminals Bangladesh, and Steen Knudsen, Chief Executive Officer of South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT).

According to Minister Herath, the discussions centered on potential cooperation in the fields of maritime and logistics, reflecting Sri Lanka’s strategic interest in strengthening partnerships across the sector.

The meeting was attended by Minister of Ports & Civil Aviation Anura Karunathilake and Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof, who also serves as the President’s Special Envoy for Foreign Investment. (Newswire)

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Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido announced that it has been forced to postpone its summer opening after a male employee admitted to disposing of his wife’s body in the zoo’s incinerator.

The city of Asahikawa, where the zoo is located, announced on Monday that it would be postponing the opening of the zoo until Friday as it cooperates with the investigation.

According to investigators, a person close to the employee’s wife lost contact with her in late March and contacted police on Thursday to file a missing person’s report.

Following this, police began voluntary questioning of the employee, who is in his 30s. He told police that he had “disposed of the body in the zoo’s incinerator and burned it for several hours,” according to Hokkaido Television Broadcasting. 

Police began an on-site investigation of the incinerator on Friday and began searching the man’s home on Sunday. So far, they have seized three vehicles, including a zoo car, which they believe might have been used to dispose of the body.

Mayor Hirosuke Imazu said the city is cooperating with the police investigation and explained that “the situation requires additional time to prepare to welcome visitors.”

He also issued an apology, saying, “We sincerely apologize for the great concern and inconvenience caused.” (Japan Times)

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A strong earthquake rattled Hokkaido early Monday, the U.S. and Japanese meteorological agencies reported, the latest in a series of powerful tremors to hit Japan.

The magnitude 6.2 quake struck shortly before 5:30 a.m. in Hokkaido’s southern region, at a depth of 83 kilometres, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

The quake registered an upper 5 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale in the town of Urahoro, Hokkaido, and a lower 5 in the town of Niikappu, also in Hokkaido, according to the JMA.

No tsunami alert was issued, and the U.S. Geological Survey predicted that property damage and threats to life were minimal, given the region’s limited population, some 200 km east of Sapporo.

Ayataka Ebita, a JMA official who briefed reporters early Monday, said the latest quake is unrelated to the JMA’s special advisory warning of the increased risk of a megaquake — magnitude 8.0 or stronger — after last Monday’s magnitude 7.7 earthquake off Iwate Prefecture.

“It is a one-off earthquake,” he said.

But “in areas that experienced strong shaking, the danger of falling rocks and landslides has increased,” the JMA official told reporters.

Six people were reported injured as a result of last week’s quake, which shook large buildings in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre.

In addition, 80-centimetre tsunami waves lashed a port in Iwate, while small waves also hit elsewhere in northern Japan.

The special advisory — which covers 182 municipalities from Hokkaido to Chiba Prefecture — expires at 5 p.m. Monday, though this doesn’t mean the risk will be entirely gone once it is lifted. (Japan Times)

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The Government of Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to Sri Lanka’s development journey by allocating USD 2.6 million under its Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) for two new projects. 

The initiatives aim to strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities and advance gender equality, underscoring Japan’s continued partnership in supporting Sri Lanka’s social and economic progress.

These initiatives, together with the Government of Sri Lanka and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Sri Lanka, will contribute significantly to sustainable recovery from the disaster and inclusive development across the country.

According to the UNDP, the first project, titled ‘Net-Zero, Nature-Positive Dairy – Climate-Smart Dairy Value Chains through Energy Transition & Nature-Based Solutions’, establishes a Climate-Smart Dairy (CSD) ecosystem, integrating inclusive green technologies, sustainable farming practices, and market-driven solutions to reduce emissions, enhance dairy yield, and build adaptive capacity among vulnerable communities. 

Together with the Ministry of Rural Development and Social Security, Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy for overall policy guidance, the initiative aims to directly benefit 750 smallholder farmers and indirectly reach over 5,000 people including family members, aspiring youth agri-entrepreneurs, veterinary officers, animal health professionals, local milk collectors, and other community members-particularly women and youth in the climate-vulnerable districts of Kilinochchi in the Northern Province and Nuwara Eliya in the Central Province, contributing to long-term livelihood and human security. 

With a funding envelope of USD 1.5 Million, the project builds on evidence and promising practices from previous initiatives, demonstrating the viability of renewable energy-based modernisation approaches for rural communities.

The second project, titled ‘Gender Responsive Advancement and Operational Enhancement of Women Deminers in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka’, will further enhance the capacity and operational effectiveness of women deminers in Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces, with a particular focus on Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. 

These districts remain among the most vulnerable in the country, according to UNDP’s 2023 Multidimensional Vulnerability Index, with vulnerability levels stand at 70% in Kilinochchi and 72% in Mullaitivu. 

The USD 1.16 Million project in partnership with the Ministry of Housing, Construction, and Water Supply, and in close collaboration with the existing mine clearance operators, empowers women to play a pivotal role in mine action, and aims to further promote greater gender equality and community development in regions deeply affected by multiple crises, including the past conflict, disaster and economic constraints. 

The project will support the deployment of advanced technologies to enhance the precision and efficiency of mine action operations. Through these efforts, the project aims to support greater efficiency in land clearance, facilitate resettlement, and enable sustainable livelihood recovery for the communities in the North and East of Sri Lanka.

According to a UNDP statement, these ongoing partnerships build on evidence and promising practices, reaffirming UNDP and the Government of Japan’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s transition to a climate-resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agricultural sector, empowering smallholder farmers and vulnerable communities to build resilient livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s net-zero development goals.

The projects strengthen the capacity of women deminers in vulnerable districts, supporting enhanced safer land clearance, resettlement, and sustainable livelihoods, while enabling smallholder farmers to adopt climate-smart practices and green technologies, contributing to increased yields, reduced emissions, and enhanced human security. 

Together, these projects empower marginalised communities and drive progress towards Sri Lanka’s net-zero development goals and a more inclusive, sustainable future, the UNDP added. (Newswire)

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A tsunami warning, with the threat of waves of up to 3 meters, was issued Monday evening for Iwate Prefecture, Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido in northern Japan after a quake struck off the coast of Iwate.

An NHK anchor urged local residents to move to higher ground, away from rivers and coastlines, calling on people to “remember the 3/11 disaster.”

“Tsunami! Evacuate!” flashed on NHK in English for viewers who don’t speak Japanese. “Don’t turn back.”

The quake, which struck at a depth of 10 kilometres at 4:53 pm, registered a 7.4 magnitude, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Shaking was felt as far away as Tokyo, where buildings swayed for several minutes. (Japan Times)

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The Japanese government said Wednesday it will provide a total of $10 billion in financial support to other Asian nations to help them secure crude oil supplies as prices soar amid the Middle East conflict, aiming to ensure that petroleum-derived products made in those countries keep flowing into Japan.

The aid, announced by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following an online meeting with her counterparts mainly from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is aimed at beefing up energy supply chains across the region, such as through loans for procuring crude oil and petroleum products, as well as expansion of stockpiles.

“Japan is closely interconnected with each Asian country through supply chains and mutually dependent with them,” Takaichi told reporters, adding that oil shortages or supply disruptions in Asia could have a “significant negative impact” on her nation’s economy and society.

The planned financial aid is equivalent to up to 1.2 billion barrels — about one year of crude oil imports by ASEAN countries, she said.

Japan imports petroleum-derived products from Southeast Asia, including items used at medical facilities. Many countries in the region maintain limited oil reserves, so there have been concerns that supply shortages could eventually affect shipments to Japan.

The surge in oil prices on the back of the war that led to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global energy transportation, has raised concerns in some Southeast Asian countries over their ability to pay for imports.

Tokyo aims to address the risks through financial support, including loans via the government-backed Japan Bank for International Cooperation, according to government sources.

The Japanese prime minister emphasized that the latest supportive scheme does not include direct crude oil provisions from Japan’s reserves and therefore will not negatively affect domestic supplies.

Given its high dependence on the Middle East for crude oil imports, Japan keeps abundant oil stockpiles in the country.

Among the nations that joined the Japan-led virtual gathering were the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, East Timor, Bangladesh and South Korea. (Kyodo)

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The Japanese government on Thursday started releasing state-held oil to stabilize supplies amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, as part of the largest-ever drawdown of reserves stockpiled in the country.

The release of oil equivalent to 30 days of domestic demand, or around 8.5 million kiloliters, is set to conclude by the end of April and follows the freeing up of 15 days’ worth held by the private sector, which commenced last week.

There is growing concern about an oil supply shortage in Japan, which relies on the Middle East for over 90 percent of its crude oil imports, as Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz — a vital waterway for global energy supplies — following the attacks on Iran launched by the United States and Israel on Feb. 28.

To deal with the energy supply disruption, the Japanese government has decided to release about 80 million barrels of oil, equivalent to 45 days’ worth of domestic consumption and 1.8 times the amount released after the massive earthquake and tsunami in 2011 that devastated Japan’s northeast.

The release by the government from the national stockpile, stored at 11 locations across the country, commenced with oil from the Kikuma base in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, flowing through a pipeline to a neighboring facility operated by Taiyo Oil Co.

Oil will be released from eight more bases by the end of the month, including in Shirahima in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, with further releases from bases in Nagasaki and Kagoshima prefectures in early April.

The released oil, most of it in the form of crude oil to be refined into products such as gasoline and diesel, will be sold for around 540 billion yen ($3.4 billion) to four wholesalers, including Taiyo Oil and Eneos Corp.

In addition to the state and private sector reserve, oil stored jointly by three Middle Eastern producers in tanks in Japan will be tapped for the first time, with five days’ worth set for release.

As of the end of 2025, Japan’s oil stockpile stood at approximately 470 million barrels, equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption, of which 146 days’ worth was held by the government, 101 days by the private sector and the remainder jointly stored by oil-producing countries.

The average retail price of gasoline in Japan rose to a record-high 190.80 yen per liter in mid-March, with the government resuming state subsidies to bring down the price.

While the number of oil tankers arriving in Japan after passing through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen drastically, the chemical sector is also facing difficulties in procuring naphtha, a liquid derived from crude oil that is used to produce ethylene, a raw material for plastics and synthetic fibers. (Kyodo)

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is ready to facilitate the passage of Japanese vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy shipments, and that negotiations with Japan on the issue are ongoing.

“We have not closed the strait. It is open,” Araghchi said in a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday. He also stressed that Iran, which was attacked by the United States and Israel in late February, is seeking “not a cease-fire, but a complete, comprehensive and lasting end to the war.”

Araghchi said Iran has not closed the strategic waterway but has imposed restrictions on vessels belonging to countries involved in attacks against Iran, while offering assistance to others amid heightened security concerns.

He added that Iran is prepared to ensure safe passage for countries such as Japan if they coordinate with Tehran.

Japan relies on the Middle East for over 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which travel through the Strait.

The issue of navigation through the strait by Japanese vessels was discussed in his recent talks with Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, Araghchi said, noting that discussions are continuing but the details cannot be disclosed.

Araghchi, a former ambassador to Japan, has held phone talks with Motegi twice since the attacks on Iran were launched on Feb. 28. The top Iranian diplomat said he had discussed the passage of Japanese ships through the strait with Motegi.

In their most recent conversation earlier in the week, Motegi urged Iran to ensure the safety of all vessels in the strait.

The war has escalated into a broader confrontation that has raised concern about regional stability and the security of energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

In Tokyo, a Foreign Ministry official said Japan will carefully assess Araghchi’s remarks, adding even if Japanese vessels are able to sail through, the surge in energy prices will remain.

A Japanese government official said that “directly negotiating with the Iranian side” is the “most effective way” to lift the blockade of the strait, while noting the need to avoid provoking the United States.

Vessels from countries such as India, Pakistan and Turkey have reportedly passed through the strait.

Iran has rejected calls for a temporary truce, insisting that any resolution must include guarantees against future attacks as well as compensation for the damage inflicted during the conflict.

Araghchi described the war as “imposed on Iran,” saying Tehran had been engaged in negotiations with the United States when the attacks began.

“This was an illegal, unprovoked act of aggression,” he said, adding that Iran’s response constitutes self-defense and will continue “for as long as it takes.”

He called on the international community, including Japan, to take a stand against the attacks, while expressing appreciation for Tokyo’s traditionally “balanced and fair” position and long-standing friendly ties with Iran.

Araghchi said he was aware of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s visit to Washington for summit talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, expressing hope for the role that “Japan can play to end this aggression.”

Teh foreign minister noted that several countries are attempting to mediate an end to the conflict and said Iran is “open to any initiative” and willing to consider proposals.

At the same time, he suggested that while diplomatic efforts are ongoing, the United States has yet to demonstrate its readiness for a genuine resolution. (Kyodo News)

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A Japanese delegation of 11 members, in Sri Lanka for tourism promotion under the coordination of Connaissance De Ceylan, one of the country’s leading tourism companies, visited the Presidential Secretariat on Saturday (14).

According to the President’s Office, the primary objective of the delegation was to study and gain a deeper understanding of Sri Lanka’s people’s history, the introduction and development of Buddhism, traditional culture, Ayurveda, customary practices, food culture and key economic crops.

They also discussed possible initiatives to further develop the tourism industry between the two countries through such engagement and stated that they would share the knowledge and insights gained during the visit with the people of Japan. 

Discussions were also held on promoting Sri Lanka as a leading tourist destination in Japan and showcasing the country’s cultural heritage to the international community, focusing on locations such as Colombo, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Mahiyanganaya and Kandy.

In addition to the Presidential Secretariat, the delegation also visited a number of notable locations, including Sapugaskanda Purana Viharaya, Mihintale, Anuradhapura, Sigiriya, Dambana, Malwathu Maha Viharaya and the Port City Colombo. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a proposal to obtain eight used low‑floor buses donated by the Government of Japan to strengthen Sri Lanka’s public bus transport system.

The initiative follows discussions held in February 2025 between President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Japan’s Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs during his visit to Sri Lanka, where attention was drawn to ways Japan could support the country’s transport sector.

Subsequent talks with the Embassy of Japan in Colombo led to Japan’s agreement to provide the buses as a donation.

The proposal to receive the donation was submitted by the Ministry of Transport, Highways, and Urban Development and has now received Cabinet approval. (Newswire)

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Japan’s conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi swept to a landslide victory in a snap election on Sunday, marking a historic turnaround for her party, which had been hemorrhaging voter support in recent years — until she stepped to the helm.

Since she was elected more than four months ago – becoming Japan’s first female leader in a country where men have long dominated politics – Takaichi has enjoyed high approval ratings and a glowing endorsement from US President Donald Trump.

She won over many voters with her notoriously strong work ethic, savvy social media game and charisma, marked in viral moments such as a recent impromptu drum session with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung – stoking public enthusiasm to levels not seen since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

It was a gamble to call a snap election. But Takaichi hoped to translate her own popularity into a stronger mandate for her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) – which has been weakened in recent years by a scandal involving the misuse of political funds.

Her risky move paid off. The LDP won more than 310 of the 465 seats in Japan’s lower house of parliament, marking the first time since World War II that a single party has secured a two-thirds majority. The broader ruling coalition won more than 340 seats.

Crucially, the two-thirds supermajority in the lower house will allow Takaichi’s party to override votes in the upper house of parliament and to propose amendments to the constitution.

Putting her leadership on the line

Takaichi, a longtime lawmaker, rose to the top of Japanese politics last fall after her predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, resigned amid pressure from his own party following a series of bruising defeats for the LDP.

She won the LDP presidency on October 4, her third attempt at the job, and was elected prime minister on October 21 – a surprising triumph in Japan’s deeply patriarchal political system.

Her decision to dissolve parliament three months later, she said in a January 19 press conference, was a “profoundly weighty decision,” adding that “by doing so, I am also putting my position as prime minister on the line.”

Takaichi has enjoyed unusually high approval ratings during her short tenure, in which she has made waves for her relaxed, friendly interactions with other world leaders.

During a meeting with the US president just one week into her term, Trump and Takaichi looked more like old friends than world leaders.

“She is a delight,” Trump told business leaders after they met. “I got to know her pretty well in a short period of time.”

Days before the election, Trump gave his “total endorsement” of Takaichi, writing in a post to Truth Social that she “has already proven to be a strong, powerful, and wise Leader, and one that truly loves her Country.” He added he plans to welcome Takaichi to Washington in March.

Trump also enjoyed a close bond with Takaichi’s mentor, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was assassinated in July 2022.

Takaichi’s decisive leadership style and support for traditional values have drawn comparisons to Margaret Thatcher, whom she cites as inspiration.

But it hasn’t all been sunny for Japan’s first woman leader. She has been scrutinized for her relentless work schedule, which included calling a 3 a.m. meeting with aides.

Comments she made about Taiwan, the democratic island claimed by China, also cratered Tokyo’s relationship with Beijing.

Takaichi broke Japan’s long tradition of ambiguity on Taiwan when she told parliament in November that a Chinese attack on the island – which lies just 60 miles (97 kilometers) from Japanese territory – could trigger a military response from Tokyo. (CNN)

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The gunman who killed Japan’s former prime minister Shinzo Abe has been sentenced to life in prison, more than three years after the politician’s assassination in broad daylight shocked the world.

Judge Shinichi Tanaka handed down the sentence against Tetsuya Yamagami on Wednesday at a court in the city of Nara.

Yamagami, 45, had admitted to fatally shooting Abe in 2022 in a crime that convulsed Japan, where gun violence is extremely rare.

In Japan, a sentence of life imprisonment leaves open the possibility of parole, though experts say that many of those who receive the penalty die while incarcerated.

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Yamagami, calling the murder “unprecedented in our post-war history” and citing the “extremely serious consequences” it had on society.

At the opening of Yamagami’s trial in October, prosecutors argued that the accused had been motivated to kill Abe by a desire tarnish the image of the Unification Church.

Yamagami “thought if he killed someone as influential as former prime minister Abe, he could draw public attention to the Church and fuel public criticism of it,” a prosecutor said.

Yamagami’s lawyers had argued for a maximum punishment of 20 years imprisonment, citing hardship suffered by his family after his month donated her life savings to the church.

People queued for get tickets to enter the Nara courtroom on Wednesday morning, highlighting the intense public interest in the trial.

Yamagami’s killing of Abe exposed deep links between Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Unification Church, an organisation many consider a cult.

An internal party investigation found that more than a hundred lawmakers had dealings with the church, leading many voters to shun the LDP, which has ruled Japan almost continuously since World Word II.

Japanese media quoted Yamagami telling the court that he took out his anger on Abe because the former prime minister had once sent a video message to an event held by a group affiliated with the church.

Founded in South Korea in 1954, the Unification Church is famous for its mass weddings and counts Japanese followers as a key source of income.

While Abe was a divisive figure domestically, he was among the few global leaders to have a strong rapport with US President Donald Trump.

Abe was the first foreign leader to meet Trump after his 2016 election victory, and the two went on to forge a close bond over rounds of golf in the US and Japan.

Abe served as prime minister for 3,188 days over two separate terms, before stepping down in September 2020, citing health reasons.

His protegee Sanae Takaichi now leads Japan and the LDP, but the party’s grip on power has diminished following the loss of its majorities in both houses of parliament.

Takaichi has repeatedly referenced her friendship with Abe in her own dealings with Trump. (Al Jazeera)

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The Japanese police have arrested a Sri Lankan man for allegedly violating the Swords and Firearms Control Law.

The Sri Lankan man was arrested after he was seen carrying a utility knife and injuring himself in public on Monday. 

He was seen pressing a utility knife to his neck outside a Yoshinoya restaurant near Shinagawa Station in Minato-ku, Tokyo. 

The man sustained bleeding injuries to his hand and neck but remained conscious. 

The Japanese Police quickly cordoned off the area, engaged him in dialogue and persuaded him to drop the blade. (Newswire/ Dimsum Daily)

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Japan has sent a Japan Disaster Relief (JDR) Medical Team to Sri Lanka, reinforcing emergency humanitarian operations in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah and underscoring its continued solidarity with the nation.

The 27-member team, comprising doctors, medical experts, relief personnel and rescue specialists, arrived in Colombo last night (03), marking a significant contribution to Sri Lanka’s ongoing disaster-response and medical-assistance efforts. 

According to the President’s Office, with four members having been deployed earlier, a total of 31 JDR personnel are now engaged in supporting Sri Lanka’s post-cyclone relief efforts. 

The Japanese delegation was officially received by Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena, Director General of the East Asia and Oceania Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Savitri Panabokke and Director General of Health Services of the Ministry of Health Dr. Asela Gunawardane. 

Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, ISOMATA Aki,o along with Mr. Kiichiro Iwase, Head of the JDR Medical Team, formally handed over the 27 deployed personnel, including Medics, Doctors, Relief/Rescue Personnel, and others, to Sri Lankan authorities. 

The medical team will be working in coordination with national agencies to provide critical on-ground medical support, bolster relief operations, and assist in areas where health services have been severely disrupted due to the cyclone. (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Japanese Ambassador Akio Isomata engaged in an extensive discussion on the current disaster situation facing Sri Lanka, during a meeting at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament today.

During the discussion, Sajith Premadasa expressed his appreciation to the Government of Japan for dispatching relief and emergency service teams to assist Sri Lanka during this critical period.

He respectfully requested that Japan, as a longstanding and trusted friend who has always stood by Sri Lanka in times of crisis, extend its assistance once again. He further appealed for Japan’s specialized expertise, technology and workforce support to modernize the damaged road network and repair the severely affected railway system.

The Opposition Leader also briefed the Ambassador on the scale of the devastation, including widespread infrastructure collapse, the destruction of livelihoods, large-scale displacement and severe shortages of essential services. 

He noted that several major hospitals are still without water, posing a serious risk in controlling disease outbreaks that often follow such disasters. He therefore stressed that Sri Lanka urgently requires Japan’s support at this moment and requested an intensification of humanitarian assistance.

Sajith Premadasa also underscored the importance of establishing transparent, accountable and non-politicized mechanisms to ensure that all domestic and international aid reaches affected communities promptly and without discrimination. (Newswire)

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