Japanese National Returns Home After Release From Iran

Mar 22, 2026 | News On Japan

TOKYO - One of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has been released and returned to Japan on March 22nd, while diplomatic efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining individual.

Foreign Minister Motegi announced the release during an appearance on a television program on March 22nd, stating that he had strongly urged Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to address the matter, leading to the detainee’s release on March 18th.

Motegi: "Regarding one individual, I made a strong request to Foreign Minister Araghchi, and the detention was lifted, resulting in the individual’s release on March 18th."

The individual, who had been detained since June 2025, returned to Japan at around 8:30 a.m. and is reported to be in good health, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The second Japanese national, believed to be the Tehran bureau chief of NHK, was detained in January 2026. Motegi stated that efforts are ongoing to secure an early resolution, adding that the government is working closely with the individual and their family.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the released individual first traveled overland to neighboring Azerbaijan after being freed on March 18th local time, before boarding a flight and arriving in Japan on the morning of March 22nd.

The government continues to press for the release of the remaining detainee, with Motegi having held telephone talks twice this month with his Iranian counterpart to request the release of both individuals.

Source: FNN

Typhoon No. 24 Nears Minami-Daito Before Weakening Into Tropical Depression

Typhoon No. 24 (Krovahn) was near Minami-Daito Island, about 300 kilometers southeast of Okinawa, as of 3 a.m. on September 7, moving east-northeast at about 10 kilometers per hour and expected to weaken into a tropical depression by the afternoon, although strong winds and high waves were forecast to persist before its remnants move north and potentially intensify the autumn rain front over western and eastern Japan later in the week.

Heavy Rain Disrupts Tokyo Trains

Heavy rain disrupted rail services across the Tokyo metropolitan area during the morning commute on September 7, with some conventional lines suspended until the afternoon and many major routes operating 20% to 30% fewer trains, while the Tokaido Shinkansen was running normally from its first services of the day.

Tokyo Unveils Design for Symbol Tree at Shinjuku Station

Tokyo has unveiled the design for a major redevelopment of the plaza outside Shinjuku Station's west exit, with a landmark tree, water-play area and event space planned as part of a transformation centered on "greenery, light and people" that is scheduled for completion in 2035.

Japanese Researcher Wins Ig Nobel Prize

A late former professor at Asahikawa Medical University has won the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine for scientifically examining the proper way to blow the nose, extending Japan's streak of Ig Nobel winners to 20 consecutive years.

Shinkansen Takes on Overnight Travel

Night trains are making a comeback across Japan, with railway operators introducing new overnight services and even experimenting with overnight Shinkansen trains as demand grows for alternatives that combine transportation, accommodation and the experience of traveling through the night.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Politics NEWS

Putin Says Tax Incentives on Disputed Islands Have Been Successful

Russian President Vladimir Putin said tax incentives on the Russian-held islands claimed by Japan have been successful, using a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok to highlight economic development in Russia's Far East.

Japan Defends Fiscal and Growth Strategy After G20 Finance Talks

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said on September 3 that the economic policy of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government should not be equated with conventional reflationary policy, after returning from the Group of 20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in the United States and briefing the prime minister on the talks.

Putin Says Japan Responsible for Worsening Ties With Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on September 2 that Japan bears full responsibility for the deterioration in relations between the two countries, defending Moscow's approach following criticism from Tokyo over his first visit to Etorofu Island in August.

Three Opposition Parties Abandon Merger Plans

The leaders of the Centrist Reform Alliance, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito have agreed to abandon plans to merge their three parties, leaving the Centrist Reform Alliance effectively split.

Can Domestic Drone Production Transform Japan's Defense?

Japan is moving to strengthen its defenses against mass drone attacks after Terra Drone became the sole company to advance through a Defense Ministry program for a Japanese-made interceptor drone, drawing on battlefield technology and production methods developed in Ukraine while pushing for domestic production of critical components.

Takaichi Bond Cap Tests Fiscal Credibility As BOJ Pressure Builds

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi moved on August 28 to contain market concern over her government’s spending plans, saying Japan will aim to cap new government bond issuance at around 40 trillion yen in the fiscal 2027 budget while still pursuing food-tax relief, growth investment and measures to support households facing higher prices.

Japan Unveils New Energy Security Policy

Japan has drawn up a new policy package aimed at strengthening energy security in response to developments in the Middle East, including support for alternative oil pipelines that would bypass the Strait of Hormuz and greater use of nuclear power to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Fukuoka 'Don' Resigns as Questions Remain Over Money

Former Fukuoka Prefectural Assembly speaker Isao Kuranouchi, long regarded as the dominant power in the chamber, resigned as an assembly member on August 25, intensifying scrutiny of allegations involving financial transactions, costly overseas inspection trips and policies backed by public funds while raising broader questions about how he accumulated such influence.

< 2 3 4 5 >