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Parliament leaders adopt draft proposal for imperial succession

The draft calls for allowing female members of the imperial family to retain their status after marriage and male heirs to be adopted from former branches.

35 yrs after Japan's Mt. Unzen disaster, then rookie reporter teaches lessons to students

SHIMABARA, Nagasaki -- June 3 marked 35 years since a major pyroclastic flow on Mount Unzen's Fugen peak in Nagasaki Prefecture claimed the lives of 4

Editorial: As birth rate sinks to record low, Japan must review strategies

The decline in births in Japan shows no signs of stopping. The government needs to take this reality seriously.In 2025, the total fertility rate -- th

Takaichi still highly popular despite slide in approval ratings

The lower ratings in two of three recent media polls come amid concerns over rising prices and the availability of crude oil-derived naphtha due to the Middle East conflict.

Indian central bank holds firm on key rate as rupee suffers historic lows

A bleak prognosis for Japan’s demographic future

The most recent government statistics show fertility rates hitting record lows — again.

Nissan's annual debt payments hit $690m, slowing turnaround

Cancer Institute Updates Alcohol Guidance From Moderation to Avoidance

Japan's national cancer body now advises avoiding alcohol, citing evidence that even small amounts raise cancer risk, and lowers the BMI cap for men to 25. The post Cancer Institute Updates Alcohol Guidance From Moderation to Avoidance first appeared on JAPAN Forward.

Thailand plows $3.7bn into shopping subsidies as consumer confidence sags

Seeds from clone of pine tree that survived 2011 Japan tsunami to be stored in UK

TOKYO -- Seeds from a cloned successor of a single pine tree that initially survived a massive tsunami following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

Japan PM Takaichi says population decline 'a quiet emergency' as births hit record low

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said at a House of Representatives Budget Committee session on June 4 that the record-low number of Ja

LDP considering cutting 45 proportional representation seats in Lower House

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is said to be seeking consensus within the party on reducing Lower House seats through cuts to proportional representation seats.

South Korea pledges action to curb volatility as won nears 2009 low

South Korea joins authorities in Indonesia and the Philippines in stepping up measures to defend currencies as elevated oil prices hurt the region's importers.

Nissan considering building Chery vehicles in the U.K.

The agreement comes amid a sharp slowdown in the European car market since 2019.

Lower House set to pass ¥3.11 trillion extra budget to ease Mideast war impacts

The budget will create a new reserve fund to respond to developments in the conflict while aiding impacted energy users and replenishing the existing reserve fund.

The Mainichi News Quiz: Which nut allergies do Japanese researchers say can be treated?

How closely have you been following events in Japan? Try The Mainichi News Quiz for June 4 to test your news knowledge. Ready?What nut allergies did J

South Korea ruling party sweeps most seats in local elections but may lose in Seoul

The loss of Seoul, South Korea's largest city and top political prize, would deliver ⁠a symbolic blow to President Lee Jae Myung despite his party's broader gains.

Japan's fertility rate at record low; 10th straight year of decline

Japan births, fertility rate at record lows in 2025

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The number of babies born in Japan to Japanese nationals in 2025 fell to a record low of 671,236, while the country's total fertility

Japan’s births hit new low, but drop less severe than previous years

The 2.2% decrease in the number of births recorded in Japan was a relatively modest drop compared to the year-on-year 5% decline seen over the past several years.