Cruises are booming in Japan

Japan began welcoming foreign cruise ships again in 2023. Now, it hopes to welcome 2.5 million international cruisers in 2025, surpassing 2019 levels. ( read original story ...)

Japan’s Ishiba under fire for giving lawmakers gift vouchers

TOKYO -- Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Thursday that his office handed out gift vouchers to rookie lawmakers of his party and at his own expense, a revelation that could inflict a severe blow to his administration, given that his minority government needs opposition support to pass the budget and key bills.