Japan

TOKYO (AP) — U.S. national security adviser John Bolton on Saturday called a series of short-range missile tests by North Korea earlier this month a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and said sanctions must be kept in place.

Washington’s position on the North’s denuclearization is consistent and a repeated pattern of failures to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons should be stopped, Bolton said, defending the recent U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship. The U.S., however, is willing to resume talks with North Korea at any time, Bolton said.

TOKYO (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump’s trip to Japan (all times local):

9:20 p.m.

Japanese sumo fans say they’re happy President Donald Trump took the opportunity during his visit to Tokyo to watch the national sport in person — even if his attendance caused some changes to the usual arrangement for fans.

Trump presented a special trophy to the winner of a tournament after Sunday’s match.

Shinichiro Idehara, a 54-year-old government employee, bought a ticket after learning Trump would be going.

TOKYO (AP) — Seemingly contradicting his national security adviser, President Donald Trump on Sunday played down North Korea’s recent missile tests and said they were not a concern for him. The comments tweeted during his trip to Japan were sure to unnerve leaders of the U.S. ally that, unlike America, is threatened by short-range weapons from its Asian neighbor.

Trump also said North Korea’s Kim Jong Un’s criticism of Joe Biden, the former vice president who is among the Democrats running for the White House in 2020, made him smile.

TOKYO (AP) — Golf never seems to be far behind whenever President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe get together.

Trump was headed to Mobara Country Club, south of Tokyo, on Sunday morning for a round with the Japanese leader — the fifth time they’ll play together.

It’s part of a continuing charm offense by Abe to stay on Trump’s good side amid trade tensions between the two countries and the continued threat of North Korea.

TOKYO, May 19 (Xinhua): The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) on Sunday raised its alert level for Mt. Hakone as seismic activity has been increasing in the popular hot-spring resort area near Tokyo.

On the JMA's alert scale that peaks at five, the agency raised its warning for the first time since 2015 from 1 to 2, advising people not to approach the volcano's crater.

The agency said it made the decision because the number of volcanic earthquakes increased to 45 on Saturday, compared with zero on the previous day.

17 May 2019; DW: The next-generation ALFA-X train is on course to become the fastest in the world. Testing will continue for three years, and the train is scheduled to go into use in 2030.

Japan's JR-EAST rail company unveiled a next-generation Shinkansen bullet train codenamed ALFA-X on Thursday. The company said the €82 million ($91 million) 10-car train, which was completed in early May, had already reached speeds of 320 km/h (198 mph).

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s trade negotiator said Friday Washington won’t be demanding any numerical restrictions on Japanese auto exports to the U.S.

Toshimitsu Motegi, the economy minister, told reporters he had confirmed this by speaking with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

The comments could not immediately be confirmed after office hours in the U.S. Earlier, media reports said this was a possibility.

TOKYO, May 15 (Xinhua): The Japanese government is planning to reduce the number of people with dementia by setting quantifiable targets to lower the ratio of patients in their 70s, over a six-year period until 2025, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

The government is hoping the initiative will help counter the rising social security costs involved with caring for sufferers and the scheme will involve the implementation of preventative measures and methods to delay the onset of dementia.

TOKYO, May 14 (Xinhua): Japan's Fast Retailing Co. said Tuesday that personal information from 461,091 customer accounts of its Uniqlo and GU shopping websites may have been breached through unauthorized access.

The two online shopping websites were hacked between April 23 and May 10 and customers' data including names, addresses, phone numbers and credit card information may have been leaked, according to the operator of the two fast-fashion brands.

"We deeply apologize to our customers and pledge to prevent this from happening again," the company said in a statement.

TOKYO, May 10. /TASS/: A group of Japanese citizens - the first in 2019 - has embarked on a visa-free trip to Kunashir Island, part of the southern Kuril Islands, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. The group, travelling by the Etopirika vessel, departed from the city of Nemuro on Hokkaido's east coast.

The group of about 60 people will stay on Kunashir Island until May 13. The Japanese will visit their family graves and meet with locals.