U.S. Navy Assault Ship Arrives at Osaka Port

Feb 28, 2024 | News On Japan

OSAKA - The U.S. Navy's assault ship "America" entered the port of Minato in Osaka on Tuesday, its second visit to Osaka following last year for the purpose of goodwill and rest.

Assault ships are considered essential for landing operations. The "America" is 257 meters long and can carry over 3,000 people.

The U.S. military opened the deck, where helicopters transporting landing forces take off and land, to the press on February 27th. It can also carry the state-of-the-art stealth fighter "F-35B," capable of short take-offs and vertical landings.

Amid concerns over China's maritime advances and a potential Taiwan contingency, Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. Navy are currently conducting the Japan-U.S. joint exercise "Iron Fist," which assumes the recapture of remote islands. The assault ship "America" is scheduled to participate in March in Kagoshima and Okinawa.

Captain Manuel J. Pardo, Commander of the Assault Ship "America": "My wife and daughter will come from Sasebo Base to visit Osaka. My daughter likes Harry Potter and Mario, so we plan to go to USJ (Universal Studios Japan) first."

The assault ship "America" is expected to stay in Osaka for three to four days.

Source: YOMIURI

GMO Offers 150 Million Yen Reward to Identify Cyberattackers

GMO has announced a reward totaling approximately 150 million yen for information leading to the identification of hackers responsible for a cyberattack on its systems, while also pledging compensation to customers whose personal information has been exposed, as Japan faces a growing wave of cyberattacks targeting major companies.

Typhoon 31 Expected to Approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands This Weekend

Powerful Typhoon 31, known internationally as In-fa, is forecast to approach Japan's Ogasawara Islands over the weekend, potentially bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and dangerous seas, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency's latest advisory verified at 3:50 a.m. on October 28, with the storm expected to remain near the islands into early November.

Typhoon Threatens Island Flights and Ferry Services

Typhoon No. 31 is raising concerns about flight cancellations and ferry disruptions across the western Pacific later this week, with the Japan Meteorological Agency's 12:45 a.m. advisory on October 28 showing the very strong storm moving west toward the Mariana Islands before approaching Japan's Ogasawara Islands over the weekend.

Controversial Penalty Decision Ends Tokyo High School Soccer Match

A controversial penalty shootout decision during the Tokyo qualifiers for Japan's National High School Soccer Championship on October 24 has sparked debate after a team that believed it had secured victory was forced to continue playing and eventually lost, raising questions about whether a hole in the goal net contributed to an incorrect ruling.

Kanagawa Maglev Station Platform Unveiled for First Time

The underground platform of the planned Kanagawa Prefecture Station on Japan's Chuo Shinkansen maglev line was opened to the public for the first time on October 24, offering visitors a rare glimpse of the high-speed railway project under construction in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture, with demand for the tour exceeding available places by approximately 12 times.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Japan Demands Release of Journalist Detained in Russia

Japan has confirmed that a Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper reporter detained in Russia since October 13 is in good health following his first consular visit, with the government reiterating its demand for his immediate release.

Japan Plans New Laws to Strengthen Intelligence Capabilities

The Japanese government has outlined plans to introduce new legislation requiring individuals and organizations acting on behalf of foreign governments to disclose their activities, as part of efforts to strengthen Japan's intelligence capabilities and prevent improper foreign interference.

Former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda Dies at 90

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who became the country's 91st prime minister in 2007 and made history as the first son of a former prime minister to hold the country's highest political office, has died at the age of 90, leaving a legacy that includes navigating a divided parliament, advancing consumer protection reforms, and securing an international agreement on climate change at the 2008 G8 summit in Hokkaido.

US Marine Charged With Robbery and Murder of Woman in Okinawa

A 20-year-old US Marine stationed in Okinawa was indicted on October 25 on charges of robbery and murder after allegedly strangling a woman to death at a hotel in Naha and stealing her backpack containing a wallet and other belongings.

Takaichi Government Marks One Year With Approval Ratings Above 60%

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi marked the first anniversary of her administration on October 21 with approval ratings still above 60%, supported by her forceful political messaging and extensive use of social media, although growing dissatisfaction over rising prices and the slow delivery of economic policies is beginning to weaken support, particularly among younger voters.

Japan's Terra Drone Supplies Weapons to Ukraine as Russia Warns of Retaliation

Japanese drone manufacturer Terra Drone has delivered interceptor drones to Ukraine's Ministry of Defense for the first time, prompting Russia to threaten retaliatory measures on October 21, as Japan considers expanding domestic drone production and strengthening its coastal defenses through thousands of unmanned aircraft.

Revised Imperial House Law Takes Effect

Japan's revised Imperial House Law took effect on October 24, allowing female members of the Imperial Family to retain their royal status after marriage and permitting the adoption of male descendants from former imperial family branches, marking the first substantive amendment to the law's main provisions since its enactment in 1947.

PHP Security Flaw Forces Shutdowns Across Japan, Including Takaichi's Website

A critical security flaw discovered in PHP, a programming language used by an estimated 70% of the world's web systems, has triggered widespread disruptions across Japan since October 21, forcing banks, restaurant chains, government agencies and other businesses to suspend online services as a precaution against potential cyberattacks.

< 2 3 4 5 >