Kono to order SDF dispatch to Middle East

Jan 10, 2020 | News On Japan

Jan 10, 2020 (NHK) - Japan's Defense Minister Taro Kono will order the dispatch of a Self-Defense Force mission to the Middle East on Friday amid heightened tensions in the region.

The move is aimed at increasing intelligence-gathering capability to ensure that commercial ships with links to Japan can safely navigate waters in the Middle East.

Japan's Cabinet approved a plan late last month to send a destroyer and two patrol aircraft to the region.

A patrol plane unit will leave Japan on Saturday and start collecting information later this month. The destroyer will depart Japan in early February and begin its activities later in the month.

Japan plans to share the information it obtains in the mission with operators of Japan-related vessels and other nations, including the United States.

Kono observed a map exercise at an SDF facility in Tokyo on Thursday. The drill was meant to prepare the SDF mission for unpredictable situations.

He instructed SDF members to make thorough preparations for the operation.

Also on the same day, Kono told Iran's defense minister Amir Hatami by phone that Japan will go ahead with the dispatch as planned.

Triple Typhoons Form Near Japan, Threatening Three-Day Weekend

Three typhoons are now active in waters around Japan, raising concerns that the unusual cluster could affect the upcoming three-day weekend as Typhoon No. 27 approaches the Ogasawara Islands and two additional storms develop farther east. Satellite images from the Himawari weather satellite showed three distinct tropical systems around Japan on October 5. Typhoon No. 27 had a clearly defined eye and a broad cloud system, while Typhoon No. 28 was more compact but also had a distinct center. Typhoon No. 29 remained less organized.

Japan Holds Sleep Contest With 2.22 Million Yen Prize

A first-of-its-kind sleep competition was held in Tokyo on October 5, with contestants competing for a 2.22 million yen top prize by trying to achieve the deepest, fastest and most stable sleep during a 90-minute session.

Japan Ends Asian Games With Record 83 Golds and 269 Medals

Japan brought the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to a close on October 4 with a record 83 gold medals and 269 medals overall, finishing second behind China after 16 days of competition that produced historic victories in swimming, athletics, judo, wrestling, softball and other sports, while a closing ceremony in Nagoya marked the end of the first Asian Games held in Japan in 32 years.

Tokyo Court Recognizes Voice Rights in Landmark AI Ruling

A Tokyo court has recognized the commercial rights of performers over their voices for the first time, ruling that unauthorized use of AI-generated voices resembling those of celebrities can constitute an infringement of publicity rights in a landmark lawsuit brought by popular voice actor Kenjiro Tsuda against the operator of TikTok.

Danjiri Float Overturns in Osaka, Injuring 11 During Festival

Eleven men were injured when a traditional danjiri festival float overturned while attempting to make a sharp left turn at an intersection in Sakai, Osaka Prefecture, on the evening of October 3, with all victims conscious when transported to hospitals and none suffering life-threatening injuries.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Bar Owner Arrested Over Disposal of Girlfriend's Body in Mountains

A 36-year-old Tokyo bar owner was arrested on October 5 on suspicion of abandoning the body of his 25-year-old girlfriend in a mountainous area of Miyagi Prefecture, with police also investigating whether he was involved in her death.

Danjiri Float Overturns in Osaka, Injuring 11 During Festival

Fire Breaks Out at 'Haunted' Restaurant in Osaka

Police are investigating a possible case of arson after a fire broke out in the parking lot of a closed restaurant in Daito, Osaka Prefecture, early on October 3, damaging approximately 460 square meters of the property, which has become a popular gathering place for young people after being featured online as a haunted location.

Man Arrested Over Sexual Videos of 200 Schoolgirls in Online Sugar Dating Case

A 35-year-old man has been rearrested on suspicion of persuading a high school girl to expose herself during a video call on social media and recording the footage, in a case that has revealed the growing dangers of "non-meeting sugar dating," in which adults offer money to minors in exchange for sexual images and videos without ever meeting them in person.

Australian Tourist Falls From Bridge, Sues Hakodate for 400 Million Yen

An Australian tourist who suffered a spinal cord injury after falling from a bridge near a popular sightseeing area in Hakodate, Hokkaido, has filed a lawsuit against the city seeking 400 million yen in damages, claiming that the bridge's railing was dangerously low.

Man Steals 24 Medaka Fish and Throws Evidence From Car Window

A man suspected of stealing 24 medaka fish from an unmanned roadside shop attempted to destroy evidence by throwing the fish and their containers from his car window while fleeing police in an incident on September 25.

Former Gang Member Arrested Over Deadly Kobe Shootings

A 79-year-old former gang member was arrested on September 30 following two shootings in Kobe that left one man dead and another seriously injured, with police investigating the possibility that the suspect acted alone rather than as part of a conflict between organized crime groups.

Doctor Admits Dismembering Wife's Body in Bathroom

A 46-year-old doctor arrested on suspicion of dismembering his wife's body and dumping the remains in a river in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, has admitted to the allegations, telling investigators that he laid a blue plastic sheet in the bathroom before cutting up the body and transporting it by car.

< 2 3 4 5 >