Politics of Japan

In Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his government move decisively to fight against the tradition of self-sacrificing work, after a study has shown that one-fifth of Japanese are in danger of dying from too much work.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on May 2 he was committed to building all of a new Australian submarine fleet in Australia, apparently contradicting the French contractor who said last week the deal would create jobs in France. 

Five Japanese journalists accused Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government on March 24 of pressuring broadcasters to reduce criticism of its policies, but also lamented what they called a failure by media to live up to their convictions.

China's February trade performance was far worse than economists had expected, with exports tumbling the most in over six years, days after top leaders sought to reassure investors that the outlook for the world's second-largest economy remains solid. 

Japan's economy minister Akira Amari said on Jan. 28 he was stepping down over graft allegations, dealing a major blow to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who faces a key leadership vote later this year.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet on Dec. 24 approved Japan's biggest ever annual defense budget, as the country bolsters its military amid territorial rows and concerns over China's expanding naval reach.

Japan will boost its spending for U.S. forces stationed there by 1.4 percent for the next five years, the Japanese government said on Dec. 16, supporting the U.S. military's Asian presence in the face of a rising China. 

Japan will build India's first bullet train under a sweeping tally of agreements made following talks in New Delhi on Dec. 12, deepening a partnership Prime Minister Narendra Modi said would "shape the course of Asia."

China recorded its highest trade surplus on record last month, official data showed yesterday, as plunging imports highlighted the country's continued struggle to boost domestic demand and prop up sagging growth.

Not one Japanese company applied for a subsidy program aimed at promoting more women to senior jobs, an official said Sept. 28, an embarrassing blow for Tokyo's push to boost the economy with female workers.

Hundreds of firms had been expected to apply for cash rewards in exchange for reaching targets to place women in high-ranking jobs and train female workers for senior positions.