Kishida vows focus on COVID-19 response and 'new capitalism'
In his New Year’s address, Kishida also said he would step up summit diplomacy in 2022 and that constitutional reform would be a “major theme” of the year.
“I will further enhance prevention, testing and early treatment and reduce the risk that the novel coronavirus poses to society,” Kishida said.
The government is seeking to speed up the rollout of COVID-19 vaccine booster shots with the community spread of the omicron variant confirmed in some areas including Tokyo and Osaka. In such regions, free PCR and antigen tests are being provided
To support the pandemic-hit economy, parliament has passed a record Y36 trillion ($313 billion) extra budget for the current fiscal year to March.
The COVID-19 response has taken priority but once the country wins the battle against the virus, the government will focus on policies to achieve growth and wealth distribution, he said.
“Pursuing economic sustainability by creating a virtuous cycle of growth and distribution is the kind of new capitalism that I am aiming for,” he said, calling for further wage hikes and more investment in human resources by companies.
“I will realize more robust growth, countering intense challenges posed by an economic system operating under what can be described as state capitalism,” Kishida said in what was seen as a reference to the Chinese economy.

NHK - May 20
The Japanese government has decided to provide a fourth shot of coronavirus vaccine for people aged 60 or older and others with higher risks, starting on May 25.

NHK - May 19
The Japanese government has decided to grant Ukraine an additional 300-million-dollar loan to support the country, which continues to resist Russia's invasion.

newsonjapan.com - May 17
TOKYO, May 17 (NewsOnJapan) - The draft of measures to strengthen Japan's food security compiled by the Liberal Democratic Party will include increasing production of wheat and soybeans that rely on imports as a countermeasure against soaring raw material prices and to promote a switch to domestic production.

Kyodok - May 17
Japan signed a 13 billion yen ($100 million) loan agreement with Ukraine Monday, offering financial assistance as the country faces an economic crisis due to Russia's invasion.

asiasentinel.com - May 16
South Korea’s new President Yoon Suk-yeol is rushing to mend years of troubled relations with the country’s key neighbor Japan, but the road ahead to reconciliation is littered with detritus of history that won’t be easy to negotiate.

NHK - May 15
Okinawa marks the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan from US rule on Sunday.

NHK - May 14
People have taken part in a peace march in Okinawa and called for a reduction of US military facilities in the southern prefecture, ahead of the 50th anniversary of its return to Japan from US rule.

Jiji - May 14
Major Japanese ruling and opposition parties Friday agreed on an outline of a planned bill to protect people who ended up appearing in pornographic videos against their will.

Reuters - May 13
Japan's Okinawa is set to mark 50 years since the United States ended its occupation, but there are renewed fears the East China Sea island chain will become a battlefield again.

NHK - May 13
Japan's defense minister says North Korea fired three ballistic missiles on Thursday evening.

yahoo.com - May 11
The Japanese government's long-term debt has hit a record Y1 quadrillion (approximately $7.6 trillion) for the first time ever.

arabnews.com - May 10
The Japanese government on May 10 extended an Emergency Grant Aid of $10 million, in response to the food crisis in Yemen, and said this assistance was expected to be delivered to approximately 2.5 million people.

koreaherald.com - May 09
A Japanese foreign minister arrived in South Korea for the first time in four years on Monday ahead of the presidential inauguration ceremony for Yoon Suk-yeol, raising hopes for possible improvements in relations with the incoming conservative administration.

Reuters - May 09
Japan will ban Russian crude oil imports "in principle," as part of a Group of Seven (G7) campaign to counter Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after an online meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday.

NHK - May 07
Japanese Defense Ministry officials say North Korea has launched a projectile that is thought to have been a ballistic missile.

KBS - May 07
A Japanese newspaper reported that the country's ruling party lawmakers visited the Sado mine located on the island of Sado in Niigata Prefecture where Koreans were subject to forced labor during the colonial period.