Japan made history on Tuesday as Sanae Takaichi was appointed the country’s first woman prime minister after a decisive vote in the lower house of parliament. Her elevation marks a groundbreaking moment in a nation where political and corporate leadership remains overwhelmingly male. Takaichi, a prominent conservative and known China hawk, secured 237 votes in the 465-member House of Representatives, crossing the majority threshold in the first round itself. She is expected to formally assu

Chubby Cattle BBQ has officially brought its unique dining experience to Pleasanton, opening its first Bay Area location at Pacific Pearl Pleasanton on Stoneridge Drive. Known for blending Japanese barbecue traditions with modern, high-tech dining, the restaurant offers an immersive all-you-can-eat format that has quickly gained popularity in other U.S. cities. Guests can expect more than just steakhouse dining—th

For many NRI families, international travel is a regular part of life. Whether it’s visiting relatives in India, exploring new destinations, or moving between countries for work, travel brings both opportunities and responsibilities. One area that often raises questions is vaccination, especially when it comes to vaccines that are not part of the standard childhood immunization schedule. Yellow fever and a few other rare vaccines fall into this category, and understanding when they are

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his two-day Japan visit with a packed agenda that includes strengthening economic ties, advancing technology partnerships, and reinforcing India’s role in the Quad grouping. The visit comes at a time of rising trade tensions with the United States following President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. Against this backdrop, Tokyo is positioning itself as a stronger ally for New

Kyoto, a city that beautifully blends history with modernity, has just unveiled one of its most unique attractions the Future Train Restaurant. Built on an abandoned elevated railway line in the Umekoji district, this vibrant dining spot transforms three upcycled train carriages into a creative hub of food, art, and nostalgia. Designed by Sebastian Masuda, a celebrated Japanese artist known for his colorful “kawaii” world, the project is being haile

Australia and Japan have become the latest countries to suspend some parcel shipments to the United States after Washington ended its de minimis exemption that allowed packages valued under $800 to enter duty-free. The rule change, set to take effect Friday, has disrupted global postal services already struggling with rising tariffs and complex customs procedures. On Tuesday, Australia Post announced a temporary

Asia-Pacific markets moved lower on Wednesday as investors reacted to disappointing trade data from Japan and awaited China’s loan prime rate decision. The trend followed overnight losses in the United States, where a broad decline in technology stocks put pressure on indices. The movement across regional exchanges highlighted a cautious mood among global investors balancing weak export demand in Japan with uncertainty around Chinese policy actions.

Central Ohio’s dining scene is set to grow once again with the opening of a new ramen restaurant on Bethel Road. The upcoming location will be at 784 Bethel Road inside the Olentangy Square retail center. While an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, signage displaying the restaurant’s branding has already been placed at the site, signaling that preparations are well underway. This will be the chain’s third location in the region following its debut in

A powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Tuesday, sending shockwaves across the Pacific region and prompting immediate tsunami alerts. The epicenter was located approximately 136 kilometers east of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a shallow depth of 19 kilometers, a geological setup known to heighten the risk of tsunami generation due to the potential for significant sea-floor displacement. Following the earthquake, ts

In a striking turnaround that reshaped the San Jose political landscape, Anthony Tordillos claimed victory in the District 3 special election runoff after initially placing second in the April 8 primary. As chair of the San Jose Planning Commission, Tordillos entered the race with relatively low name recognition compared to his opponent, Gabby Chavez-Lopez, who had built her profile through leadership in a community-focused organization. Despite this, Tordillos secured a commanding win in the ru

In the latest Henley Passport Index update, India’s passport saw the most significant improvement, climbing eight spots from 85th to 77th position. This leap makes India the largest mover globally over the past six months, as its passport now allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 59 destinations. Countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Maldives, and Thailand are among the many that offer visa-free ac

President Donald Trump has triggered a new wave of international trade tension by announcing that the United States will impose steep import tariffs on 14 countries starting August 1. The new tariffs, set at a minimum of 25 percent, will affect both rivals and close allies, including Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, unless trade agreements are finalized before the deadline. This marks one of the most aggressive trade policy shifts under Trump’s renewed administration and represe

President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on all goods imported from Japan and South Korea starting August 1. The formal notification was delivered to the governments of both countries, accompanied by warnings that any retaliatory measures would lead to further tariff hikes above the 25% rate. The announcement sent global markets into a tailspin as investors weighed the potential fallout of rising trade tensions. The U.S. stock market opened the week with sharp declines. The

President Donald Trump has announced that he does not intend to extend the 90-day pause on tariffs beyond July 9, signaling a return to aggressive trade measures that could affect several countries unless individual trade agreements are secured. Speaking in an interview, Trump stated that his administration would begin sending formal notifications to countries soon, warning them of upcoming trade penalties unless they finalize deals with the United States. The president emphasi

Weeks after Japan’s ispace Mission 2 suffered a crash landing on the Moon, nasa’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has captured detailed images of the impact site, shedding light on the final moments of the ambitious Japanese lunar mission. The spacecraft was attempting a soft landing in the northern hemisphere of the Moon, specifically targeting an area within Mare Frigoris, also known as the Sea of Cold. However, the lander experienced a loss of communication with mission cont

Rice prices in Japan have experienced a dramatic surge, more than doubling in May with a year-over-year increase of 101.7%, marking the steepest rise in over 50 years. This significant increase follows a 98.4% spike in April and a 92.1% year-over-year rise recorded in March, underscoring the growing concerns over staple food affordability in the country. The Japanese government has attempted to curb the rapid price rise by releasing emergency rice stockpiles, aiming to stabiliz

In a significant move to strengthen international relations and improve connectivity, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced that efforts are underway to establish a direct flight route between Hyderabad and Kitakyushu, a prominent city in Japan. The proposal came during a high-level meeting in Hyderabad on June 2, when Kitakyushu Mayor Kazuhisa Takeuchi and his delegation visited the state to attend the Telangana Formation Day celebrations.

An earthquake’s effects are not confined to the ground—it can send invisible shockwaves high into the atmosphere, affecting even space-based technology. Researchers from a university in Japan have recently achieved a groundbreaking milestone by creating the world’s first 3D visualization of how seismic activity disturbs the ionosphere, the charged layer of the atmosphere that sits between 60 and 1,000 kilometers above the Earth’s surface. The study focused on the power

In a landmark economic achievement, India has officially become the world’s 4th largest economy, overtaking Japan, according to recent data shared by government officials and confirmed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The development comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s ambitious goal of becoming a $5 trillion economy by 2025. Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the milestone on social media platform X, stati

Japan's farm minister, Taku Eto, has issued a public apology after a controversial statement claiming he “never had to buy rice” triggered backlash among citizens struggling with record-high food costs. The comment, made during a political fundraiser on Sunday, was first reported by Kyodo News and quickly went viral, amplifying public frustration over rising staple prices and government inaction. Retail rice prices in Japan have doubled compared to the previous year,