Japan

TOKYO, January 15. /TASS/: Tsunami has reached the Amami Islands, with the waves of about 1.2 meters, the NHK TV channel reported on Saturday.

There were no immediate reports about damage. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the waves of up to three meters are expected to hit the islands.

Moreover, waves of 30 to 90 centimeters were observed along Japan’s Pacific coast.

According to the Kyodo news agency, the tsunami was triggered by a massive underwater eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai volcano in Tonga (the South Pacific) on Saturday.

Jan 15 (Reuters) - An underwater volcano off Tonga erupted on Saturday, triggering tsunami warnings and evacuation orders in Japan and causing large waves in several South Pacific islands, where footage on social media showed waves crashing into coastal homes.

Japan's meteorological agency issued tsunami warnings in the early hours on Sunday and said waves as high as three metres (9.84 feet) were expected in the Amami islands in the south. Waves of more than a metre were recorded there earlier.

TOKYO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- As a neighboring country with close relations with China, Japan should not blindly cooperate with the U.S.-led Western countries to contain China, but seek communication with China, a Japanese newspaper said in a recent opinion piece.

In a commentary released on Monday, Mainichi Shimbun said China and Japan face the challenge of rebuilding mutually beneficial relations as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan relations.

TOKYO, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Japan confirmed more than 10,000 daily nationwide COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, the first time since Sept. 9, 2021.

The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 2,198 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, doubling from 962 the previous day and logging the highest level in four months.

The infection case count in the capital increased by over five times from 390 the previous Wednesday, the first time to top 2,000 since Sept. 4, 2021.

TOKYO (AP) — The U.S. and Japan on Sunday agreed to keep American troops within their bases as worries grew about a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the country.

The restrictions starting Monday will last 14 days, confining U.S. military personnel to base facilities except for “essential activities,” a statement from the U.S. Forces in Japan said. The Japanese Foreign Ministry released the same statement.

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday that Japan and the U.S. have reached “a basic agreement” on banning the U.S. military from leaving its base grounds, amid growing worries about a sharp rise in coronavirus cases.

Kishida said American soldiers will stay on base “except when absolutely necessary,” which presumably means for emergencies or other security reasons. Details of the deal are still being worked out, he said on Fuji TV. The overall U.S.-Japan security alliance remains unchanged.

TOKYO (AP) — Asian benchmarks mostly slipped Wednesday as technology shares in the region echoed a similar drop in the sector on Wall Street.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1% to finish at 29,332.16. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 dipped 0.3% to 7,565.80. South Korea’s Kospi dropped 1.3% to 2,950.71. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng shed 1.3% to 22,985.05, while the Shanghai Composite lost 1.0% to 3,596.03.

Worries continue about COVID-19, as reports of the more contagious omicron keep growing in the region.

ENIWA, Japan (AP) — The dozens of Type 90, or “Kyumaru,” tanks rumbling through recent shooting drills on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido exemplify the challenge its arms makers face both at home and overseas as the country fortifies its defenses against strategic threats.

The Self Defense Force needs the more advanced aircraft and weaponry sold by U.S. arms manufacturers as Japan’s strategic focus shifts from Russia in the north to the south, where it faces incursions by Chinese fighter jets and naval vessels and North Korean missile launches.

TOKYO (AP) — Global shares advanced Tuesday following a rally on Wall Street as investors shrugged off concerns about the highly transmissible omicron variant of the coronavirus.

France’s CAC 40 edged up 0.2% in early trading to 7,155.68, while Germany’s DAX added 0.3% to 15,878.65. Britain’s FTSE 100 was little changed at 7,372.10. U.S. shares were set for gains, with Dow futures up nearly 0.1% to 26,200.00. S&P 500 futures were little changed, up less than 0.1% at 4,783.25.

TOKYO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Tuesday the government will consider providing COVID-19 vaccine booster shots for all people in the country as much as possible, Kyodo News reported.

Kishida said in an interview with Kyodo News that the country's anti-virus measures will be made as fully operational, so people can feel safe.

Japan has started giving third shots to health care workers since the beginning of December, and senior citizens will follow from February next year, and then the general people later.