Japan

Japan to end reliance on Strait of Hormuz for oil imports from July

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan will source all of its crude oil imports from suppliers outside the Strait of Hormuz starting in July, as the country seeks to reduce its exposure to geopolitical risks, Bloomberg reported on June 11.

11 June, 07:02 PM

Japanese city closes nearly 100 schools as black bear roams its streets

All 94 primary and secondary schools in the Japanese city of Utsunomiya were shut down after a bear was spotted in the municipality for the first time, The Guardian reported on June 8.

8 June, 11:41 AM

Ukraine falls to Japan in women’s Volleyball Nations League

Ukraine’s women’s national volleyball team lost to Japan, ranked fifth in the world, in its third match of the 2026 Volleyball Nations League on June 5.

6 June, 03:40 PM

Japan makes first contribution to NATO’s PURL mechanism for Ukraine

Japan has made its first contribution to NATO’s PURL mechanism for supporting Ukraine, allocating nearly $14.7 million for the purchase of nonlethal equipment, Japan’s Foreign Ministry reported.

30 May, 11:39 AM

Japan resumes Azerbaijani oil imports after disruptions caused by Iran war

Japan is set to receive a tanker carrying Azerbaijani crude oil, marking its first oil shipment from Central Asia since the outbreak of war in Iran in February, according to Japan’s industry ministry and a Reuters report on May 11.

11 May, 03:01 PM

Japan turns to Kazakhstan for oil as Middle East supply risks mount

Japan is in talks to purchase Kazakh crude oil, Kazakhstan's national energy company KazMunayGas reported on May 4.

6 May, 01:52 PM

Kyiv offers Tokyo drone warfare expertise as Japan rethinks defense policy

Ukraine is open to cooperation with Japan on drones and unmanned systems, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in an interview published by Japan’s Kyodo News on May 2.

2 May, 07:13 PM

Japan turns to Russian crude as Middle East energy risks intensify

Japanese refiner Taiyo Oil has resumed purchases of Russian crude as Tokyo looks for alternatives to Middle Eastern supplies amid growing risks to global energy shipments, Nikkei Asia reported on May 2.

2 May, 11:18 AM

Japan’s Terra Drone invests in Ukrainian interceptor drones

Japanese drone company Terra Drone Corporation, through its subsidiary Terra Inspectioneering, has made strategic investments in Ukrainian defense firm WinnyLab, which develops and manufactures interceptor drones, the company said on April 28.

29 April, 03:42 AM

Japanese firm launches pilot project to turn debris into road materials in Ukraine

Ukraine has presented a pilot project by IKEE Group Ltd using recycled debris from demolition and destruction to produce materials for road construction and repair, officials said on Apr. 8.

8 April, 06:00 PM

Japan grants $1.3 billion to Ukraine for social spending

Ukraine received a nearly $1.3 billion grant from Japan, and the funds have been credited to the general fund of the state budget, Ukraine’s Finance Ministry said on April 1.

2 April, 01:24 AM

Japan, Europe pledge help to secure Strait of Hormuz

Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan announced plans to help stabilize energy markets and join efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported on March 19.

19 March, 08:31 PM

Japan weighs buying Ukrainian combat drones after battlefield success against Russia

Japan is considering purchasing Ukrainian-made combat drones for its Self-Defense Forces after their successful use in real combat conditions, Japanese outlets Kyodo News and 47news reported on March 14.

15 March, 02:11 AM

Zelenskyy offers Japan naval drone tech that crippled Russia’s Black Sea fleet

Ukraine is ready to cooperate with Japan in the defense sector, pursue joint production and exchange knowledge and technologies, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with the Japanese news agency Kyodo News, excerpts of which were published on his Telegram channel.

20 February, 02:04 PM

Japan to join NATO’s PURL initiative for Ukraine

Japan plans to join a NATO-led initiative to support Ukraine by financing the supply of US-made munitions and equipment, public broadcaster NHK reported on Feb. 10, citing alliance officials.

10 February, 05:58 AM

Tokyo alarms over Russian–Chinese bomber patrol near its islands

Japan scrambled fighter jets to monitor Russian and Chinese military aircraft that carried out a joint patrol, Reuters reported on Dec. 10.

10 December 2025, 11:59 AM

Olympic medalist recalls disappointment with competitions in Belarus

Bronze medalist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Alla Cherkasova, has opened up about the country that left the strongest impression on her, for better and for worse, in an interview with NV on Nov. 26.

26 November 2025, 02:45 PM

‘Absolutely unacceptable decision’: Russia bans entry to 30 Japanese citizens in response to Tokyo sanctions

Russia has banned 30 Japanese citizens from entering the country after Tokyo imposed sanctions against Moscow for its war on Ukraine, Reuters reported on Nov. 11. Japan called the move “absolutely unacceptable.”

12 November 2025, 11:14 AM

Japan balks at U.S. push on Russian fuel ban

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's request to halt imports of Russian liquefied natural gas, calling it a challenging task and urging understanding, Reuters reported on Oct. 29, citing two Japanese government officials.

29 October 2025, 05:42 PM

U.S. urges Japan to quit Russian LNG imports

President Donald Trump’s administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato on Oct. 15, Reuters reported.

16 October 2025, 08:27 AM

Japan

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