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February 19, 2026

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February 19, 2026

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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is applauded after being reelected as prime minister in the Lower House on Wednesday.

JAPAN / Politics

Takaichi heads into parliament with key agenda points in mind

By Himari Semans

Passing the budget, setting up an intelligence agency, and cutting the consumption tax are all top priorities for Sanae Takaichi, who was reelected as prime minister.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is applauded after being reelected as prime minister in the Lower House on Wednesday.

From 2026, applicants in Japan without residence cards will generally be barred from taking the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in the country.

JAPAN

Tourists no longer allowed to take JLPT in Japan from 2026

By Jessica Speed

The change was driven by problems linked to overseas applicants using Japanese addresses without permission or submitting invalid phone numbers.

Trade minister Ryosei Akazawa said that some details of the first projects under Japan's $550 billion capital commitment still need to be worked out.

BUSINESS / Economy

Trump selects three projects to be funded under 91仓库 $550 billion pledge

By Francis Tang

Japan and the U.S. have agreed on the first round of projects to be funded by Japan, and a strategically important synthetic diamond factory is on the list.

Deputy Tokyo Gov. Manabu Miyasaka speaks during a SusHi Tech pre-event in Tokyo on Monday.

BUSINESS

SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 set to be largest yet

By Yukana Inoue

Tokyo鈥檚 annual startup convention will be held from April 27 to 29, with the first two days reserved for businesses and the final day open to the public.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara react after performing in the free skating at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan on Monday.

OLYMPICS / Figure skating

Tears, a pep talk and a nap: How Kihara and Miura rebounded to win gold

By Joel Tansey

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara overcame despair to stage a stunning free skate comeback, fueled by belief and a timely nap.

Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara react after performing in the free skating at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics in Milan on Monday.

A Ground Self-Defense Force's Type 19 155 mm self-propelled howitzer takes part in an annual training session near Mount Fuji at Higashifuji training field in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in August 2019.

Japan鈥檚 push for long-range weapons draws interest from foreign firms

By Gabriel Dominguez

There is a growing need for a long-range weapon that can be used flexibly as Tokyo looks to boost its overall counterattack capabilities.

A university survey has found that about 80% of voters who encountered false information spread during the campaign for the Feb. 8 general election perceived it as true.

Survey finds false info perceived as true by many voters in Feb. 8 election

The online survey was conducted by Toyo University professor Morihiro Ogasawara from the night of Feb. 8 to Feb. 10.

GSDF cancels Osprey dispatch to drill with U.S. in Okinawa

LDP busy educating dozens of Lower House rookies

Japan set to prohibit use of power banks on flights

By Francis Tang

Two women in Japan give birth after frozen ovarian transplants

The International Monetary Fund has issued a warning that a reduction of Japan's consumption tax would erode its fiscal space and add to fiscal risks.

IMF urges Japan to avoid cutting sales tax amid higher expected borrowing costs

By Erica Yokoyama and Toru Fujioka

The fund described such a move as 鈥渁n untargeted measure that would erode fiscal space and add to fiscal risks.鈥�

Japan鈥檚 exports rose 16.8% in January from a year earlier, the fastest pace since November 2022, driven by strong chip shipments to China and auto exports to the EU, the Finance Ministry said Wednesday.

Japan鈥檚 exports rise most in three years as AI underpins chips

By Yoshiaki Nohara, Erica Yokoyama and Toru Fujioka

The value of overall exports gained 16.8% in January from a year earlier, the sharpest increase since November 2022, the Finance Ministry said.

Accounting group seeks to ease rules on Japanese insurers' bond losses

By Nao Sano

Japan convenience store chain Lawson to branch out into India

Toshiba weighs reducing elevator unit stake as Kone circles

By Vinicy Chan, Aaron Kirchfeld, Taro Fuse and Yuki Furukawa

Spain to investigate X, Meta and TikTok over AI child sexual abuse material

By David Latona

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the country's presidency in 2028 during a news conference in Manila on Wednesday.

Philippine VP Sara Duterte announces 2028 presidential bid

The administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with whom Duterte is embroiled in a bitter feud, is now expected to become more openly hostile toward her.

U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner (right), and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 22. Some experts said the two lack the depth of knowledge and experience to go up against veteran negotiators like Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and their Russian interlocutors and that they were in over their heads in such complicated conflicts.

U.S. envoys juggle two crisis talks, raising questions about prospects for success

By Matt Spetalnick, Olivia Le Poidevin and Parisa Hafezi

The shuttle diplomacy by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner has raised questions about the likelihood of them resolving either of the crises, experts say.

First Ramadan after truce brings flicker of joy to devastated Gaza

By Youssef Hassouna

South Korea says civilians sent drones to North Korea four times, harming ties

By Heejin Kim

Vatican says it will not participate in Trump鈥檚鈥楤oard of Peace鈥�

By Kanishka Singh

'Hell and back': Mass rape survivor Gisele Pelicot recounts her ordeal in memoir

By Charlotte Van Campenhout

Gold medalist Mari Fukada (left) and her teammate, bronze medalist Kokomo Murase display their Olympic medals on the podium after the snowboard women's slopestyle final on Wednesay in Livigno, Italy.

91仓库 Mari Fukada wins gold in women's slopestyle

Zoi 鈥婼adowski 鈥婼ynnott, 鈥宼he 2022 champion, took 鈥宻ilver for New 鈥媄ealand, 鈥媤hile 鈥婩ukada's 鈦燾ompatriot Kokomo Murase 鈥媏arned聽bronze.聽

91仓库 Taiga 鈥孒asegawa takes silver in men's slopestyle behind China's Su Yiming

Australia faces rebuild after T20 World Cup flop

By Ian Ransom

Defiant Sweden ready for blockbuster men's quarterfinal against U.S.

By Amy Tennery

Tales of perseverance abound in sumo鈥檚 hidden corners

By John Gunning

A carnival float depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin is displayed at the annual Rosenmontag carnival parade in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Monday. The display comes at a time of growing European unease over Washington鈥檚 shifting alliances and values.

American allies ask, without shared values, why not China?

Brad Glosserman

Europeans aren鈥檛 convinced. When they assess the transatlantic partnership that guided the world after World War II 鈥� a group often referred to as 鈥渢he West鈥� 鈥� they are dismayed.

Musk is wrong about AI and retirement: You still need to save.

By Allison Schrager

Time for Takaichi to tackle Japan鈥檚 political taboos

By Edo Naito

Lessons for Japan鈥檚 scientific community from Trump鈥檚 America

By Yuko Kakazu

Putin has weaponized the peace talks. The U.S. can stop him

By Marc Champion

A Yatsurugi Shrine worshipper (center) stands on the frozen surface of Lake Suwa, before measuring the ice, in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, on Jan. 29.

91仓库 'godless' lake warns of creeping climate change

By Harumi Ozawa

Climate change is disrupting a phenomenon that can occur at Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture when the surface freezes, which is traditionally believed to show the presence of a god.

Junk to high-tech: India bets on e-waste for critical minerals

By Arunabh SAIKIA and Uzmi ATHAR

Indonesia coal plant closure U-turn sows energy transition doubts

By Marchio Gorbiano

EU ill-prepared for worsening climate change, advisers say

By Kate Abnett

Trump revokes basis of U.S. climate regulation and ends vehicle emission standards

By Valerie Volcovici and David Shepardson

Composer Jung Jaeil began his career when he was a middle school student and has since become one of South Korea鈥檚 most sought-after film scorers.

Jung Jaeil composed for 鈥楽quid Game.鈥� Now, he steps on the stage as himself.

By Kris Kosaka

The South Korean composer returns to live music and is set to stop by Tokyo for a show with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

鈥楻ental Family鈥�: Performance becomes perilously real in Hikari's 'love letter' to Japan

By Mark Schilling

鈥楰okuho鈥� earns 楼20 billion at Japan box office

Robert Duvall, Oscar-winning star of 鈥楾he Godfather,鈥� dies at 95

Hasui鈥檚 versatility comes through in new art book

By Martin Laflamme

Collecting Pokemon cards is an expensive hobby 鈥� especially if you're interested in owning one of the rarest cards ever printed.

Rare Pokemon card sets record with $16.49 million sale

By Owen Ziegler

One of just 41 such cards in existence, the Pikachu Illustrator card is now the most expensive trading card in history.

How Yohan Da Costa is redefining Peter at The Peninsula Tokyo

By Weiwen Lin

Love, engineered in the age of AI

By Elizabeth Beattie

In Japan, Valentine鈥檚 Day has become a personal luxury

By Yuko Tamura

With XO sauce, a Nagasaki shrimp toast turns into a slice of heaven

By Simon Daly

Gordon Higgins and Chloe Douglas pose for a picture with Shorna-Kay Richards (center), Jamaica鈥檚 ambassador to Japan.

Tokyo LGBTQ fundraiser to raise money for Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa

By Kat Joplin

Organizers blend art, drag and Jamaican cuisine to support marginalized communities still recovering from last year鈥檚 devastating storm.

Games and gab at a French pub in western Tokyo

By Aviraj Gokool

Gentle spirit Cymbal seeks new home

Foreign residents breathe new life into bubble-era resort town

By Francisco Cheng

鈥楻eturnees鈥� reckon with a Japan that sets them apart

By Eri Yabe

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo鈥檚 Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo鈥檚鈥榮tadium of desire鈥�

Experts say emotional bonds with AI are often shaped by prior experiences 鈥� or disappointments 鈥� in human relationships.

Love, engineered in the age of AI

By Elizabeth Beattie

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