Firefighters in Tokyo have held their annual New Year's drill. They conducted the drill to prepare for a possible major quake, as this year marks the centennial of the magnitude-7.9 Great Kanto Earthquake.
A senior White House official says the United States is considering enhancing defense cooperation with Japan and South Korea amid North Korea's growing threats.
Holidaymakers and others who have spent the year-end and New Year period outside Japan are flying back in droves to a major airport near Tokyo. It was the first such extended holiday period since Japan drastically eased its border controls against the coronavirus.
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed relevant Cabinet ministers to strengthen measures to prevent the spread of bird flu amid outbreaks nationwide.
The Japanese government has revised its public safety strategy for the first time in nine years, focusing on stronger measures to prevent terrorism and protect VIPs.
In a surprise move, Japan's central bank has adjusted its monetary policy. The Bank of Japan decided to expand the yield on 10-year government bonds, saying the previous range could hurt market functions. The yield will now move in a range of around plus and minus 0.5 percent. The earlier range was plus and minus 0.25 percent.
Japan has announced a commitment of 117 billion yen, or about 850 million dollars, in financial aid over three years to help conservation initiatives by developing nations and others.
NHK has learned that the Japanese government plans to start a carbon pricing system for trading greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2026 as part of its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality.
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