News

The new regional political party Saisei no Michi, founded by Shinji Ishimaru, has received an overwhelming response with over 1,000 applicants for the upcoming Tokyo metropolitan assembly election. The party, which aims to field up to 60 candidates across all 42 electoral districts, will undergo a rigorous selection process involving document screening, written tests, and interviews.

A SpaceX crew capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station, delivering four new astronauts and replacing two NASA astronauts who had been stranded due to technical issues with their Boeing Starliner capsule. The newcomers will spend the next few days familiarizing themselves with the station's operations before taking over from the departing astronauts, who will return to Earth in a SpaceX capsule later this week.

A nationwide survey by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that most small businesses, especially those in rural areas, are concerned about the potential negative impact of the government's proposed rapid increase in the minimum wage. The survey found that many small businesses believe meeting the target would be difficult or impossible, and some fear they might have to close down or suspend operations due to declining profits...

Japan's economy grew at a slower pace than initially reported in the October-December quarter, with revised data showing an annualized growth rate of 2.2% instead of the initial 2.8%. This slower growth was primarily attributed to weaker consumption, raising concerns about the impact of U.S. tariffs and soft consumer spending on the Japanese economy.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed a potential 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, with Trump pushing for an immediate halt to hostilities and aiming to mediate a resolution. However, Putin has been noncommittal, seeking security guarantees before agreeing to a pause, while Ukrainian President Zelenskyy accuses him of prolonging the conflict.