投稿者: tomoyasu

1. The Bank of Japan says it will raise its benchmark interest rate to around 0.75 percent. That’s the highest level in 30 years.
2. The European Central Bank has left its key interest rate unchanged amid signs consumer price increases are likely to hold near its target. The ECB’s Governing Council on Thursday said it will keep its benchmark deposit facility rate at 2 percent.
3. A Shinto shrine in central Japan has put up a huge “hagoita” wooden paddle bearing a picture of a horse. The horse is next year’s zodiac sign.

1. The Bank of Japan kicked off its two-day policy meeting on Thursday. Policymakers are considering raising interest rates to a level not seen in 30 years. Analysts expect the central bank to raise the policy rate to around 0.75 percent. This would mark the highest level since September 1995.
2. Finland’s prime minister has apologized to countries in East Asia over online posts by the winner of the country’s beauty pageant and some members of parliament that drew accusations of racism. The development comes after this year’s Miss Finland posted a photo on a social media app of her pulling the corners of her eyes with a caption that translates as “eating with a Chinese person.” She was stripped of her crown last week following criticism that she was being discriminatory against Asians.
3. A procession of about 1,000 people dressed in traditional Japanese attire took place Wednesday in the ancient capital of Nara, western Japan. The parade is the highlight of the annual Kasuga Wakamiya Onmatsuri, a tradition that dates back to 12th century.

1. The Japanese box office sensation “Kokuho,” an epic drama about the life and career of a celebrated kabuki actor, has been shortlisted in two categories for next year’s Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the shortlists for the 98th Academy Awards on Tuesday. “Kokuho,” directed by Lee Sang-il, was among the 15 films chosen in the International Feature Film category. It was also one of 10 films listed in the Makeup and Hairstyling category.
2. A top Japanese business association picked IBM Japan President Yamaguchi Akio as chairperson after his predecessor resigned. Yamaguchi is 61 years old and joined IBM Japan in 1987. Yamaguchi said: “I want to steadily proceed with passion about what I think is right. And also I want to attach my mind to the outcome.”
3. A hot spring spa in northern Japan has added yuzu citrus fruits to its bath in order to provide visitors with a special experience. The facility in Hokkaido’s Hokuto City began offering yuzu baths on Tuesday. It provides the special service every year before the winter solstice, which falls on December 22 this year.

1. Japan is moving to tighten its monitoring of residential real-estate purchases by non-residents. The decision reflects concern some buyers are acquiring such property for investment purposes rather than for living in the country.
2. European leaders have proposed creating a multinational force to guarantee Ukraine’s security once a ceasefire with Russia is in place. The joint statement released by leaders of Germany, France, the European Union and others says the multinational force would be led by Europe and supported by the United States. It would be launched with contributions from countries within the framework of the Europe-led “Coalition of the Willing.”
3. Children in western Japan took part in an annual kite flying event on Sunday. About 150 people, including children and their parents, gathered in the city of Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for the event. Helped by their parents, children pulled the lines of their kites in order to fly them as high as possible.

1. Sources say twin giant pandas at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens are expected to be returned to China in late January. Japan will then be without the iconic bears for the first time in 53 years. The deadline for returning the four-year-old pandas Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei is February 20, 2026. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has been discussing the timing of the move with China. The pair are the last two giant pandas left in Japan.
2. Japanese police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with Sunday’s stabbing attack in the western city of Fukuoka, which injured two people. The police say the suspect, Yamaguchi Naoya, who lives in Itoshima City, Fukuoka Prefecture, hinted at his involvement in the case in interviews conducted before the arrest. They say the instrument believed to be used in the attack has already been found.
3. A closely-watched survey of business sentiment in Japan shows a slight improvement among major manufacturers cam in at plus 15 – up for the third straight quarter. That’s 1 point higher than in the previous poll. A positive number indicates there are more companies feeling optimistic about business conditions than pessimistic.

1. The Japan Meteorological Agency has lifted its tsunami advisory for northern Japan’s Pacific coast. The advisory was triggered after a quake hit the region late Friday morning.
2. A survey has found that more than half of Japanese manufacturers with overseas operations say their business has been negatively affected by the Trump administration’s tariffs.
3. China’s new vehicle sales rose in November on the back of robust demand for electric models and soaring exports.

1. Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae has come in third on the Forbes list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2025. The US business magazine on Wednesday released its annual list of influential women in politics, business and other categories. It bases the ranking on marks such as the scale of countries or companies and media mentions.
2. Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, the winner of this year’s Noble Peace Prize, greeted her supporters in Oslo shortly after she arrived in the Norwegian capital on Thursday. Machado missed Wednesday’s award ceremony. But before dawn on Thursday, she appeared on a hotel balcony in Oslo and spoke with her supporters.
3. Two Japanese winners of this year’s Nobel Prizes took part in the award ceremony in Sweden on Wednesday. Kitagawa Susumu, an executive vice-president of Kyoto University, is among the three winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry.

1. The United States has criticized China after at least one of its fighter jets intermittently aimed its radar at Japanese Air Self-Defense Force aircraft. The incident took place on Saturday. A spokesperson for the US Defense Department commented on the issue on Tuesday, saying that that China’s actions are “not conducive to regional peace and stability.” The person added: “The US-Japan alliance is stronger and more united than ever. Our commitment to our ally Japan is unwavering, and we are in close contact on this and other issues.”
2. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine will be ready to hold a presidential election in the next 60 to 90 days if the United States and Kyiv’s European allies can ensure the security of the vote.
3. France’s Renault Group and US auto giant Ford Motor have formed a strategic partnership to develop electric vehicles for the European market. The companies said on Tuesday that the partnership agreement is primarily aimed at producing two distinct Ford-branded EVs for European customers. The new models will be designed by Ford and produced by Renault in northern France.

1. Japan is on alert for a possible mega quake after a magnitude 7.5 tremor hit northern regions late on Monday, prompting tsunami warnings. Authorities say the next few days will be critical. The city of Hachinohe recorded tremors with an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale of 0 to 7. Authorities in Hokkaido, Aomori and Iwate prefectures have reported 33 people injured, as of 5 p.m. on Tuesday.
2. Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa has called for national unity as the country marked a year since the fall of the autocratic regime of former President Bashar al-Assad. The Assad regime, which controlled Syria for more than half a century over two generations, collapsed on December 8, 2024. The country is trying to rebuild itself under Sharaa, who had been a leader of anti-government forces.
3. Group of Seven finance ministers say the nations will work together to diversify and derisk supply chains for critical minerals, including rare earths. They warned that export controls on the minerals used in a vast array of electronic devices are a threat to the global economy. The ministers issued a statement after an online meeting on Monday. The statement doesn’t mention any country by name, but China imposed export controls on rare earths this year.

1. A Tokyo court ruled Monday that a man who deceived a woman he met through a dating app must pay about 1.5 million yen, or nearly 10,000 dollars in damages. The married man had told the plaintiff, who lives in Kanagawa Prefecture neighboring Tokyo, that he was single, even though he was married. The woman sued and demanded about 50,000 dollars in damages after discovering he was a married father.
2. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said using search radar during training flights is normal to ensure safety. At a news conference Monday, Guo said Japanese fighter jets had entered the Chinese military’s training area without permission and had obstructed its activities. Guo also said Japan distorted the facts and blamed China. The spokesperson said China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition and lodged a strong protest.
3. This year’s two Japanese Nobel Prize winners spoke at separate venues in Stockholm ahead of Wednesday’s Nobel Prize award ceremony. Sakaguchi Shimon, a distinguished honorary professor of the University of Osaka, is one of the three winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. He gave a lecture at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on Sunday.