Outspoken conservative Taro Aso took power as Japan's prime minister today after he overcame opposition forces in the split parliament, tasked with rejuvenating the ailing ruling party ahead of elections.

Nationalist Shinzo Abe, a proponent of a tight alliance with the US and a more assertive military, won election as Japan’s new prime minister today, scoring comfortable majorities in both houses.

Japan and Australia today became the first countries to take firm steps to punish North Korea for its missile tests this week, while Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Taiwan added their voices to the chorus of condemnation worldwide.

Japan today vowed to press ahead with a campaign to overturn a two-decade ban on commercial whaling, after a slim majority of nations in the International Whaling Commission voted to overturn the moratorium.

Japan should have more thoroughly inspected US cattle facilities before easing a ban on American beef last month, Japan’s agriculture minister said today.

Japan’s foreign minister today pledged to smooth ties with China and South Korea after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi enraged the two Asian neighbours and sparked business jitters by visiting a war shrine that critics say glorifies Japan’s militaristic past.

Japan unveiled plans today to release some of its strategic oil reserves held by refiners to the oil market.

Japan and France will jointly develop a new supersonic commercial aircraft to succeed the retired Concorde, Japan’s trade ministry has said.

CHINA told Japan bluntly yesterday that it had nothing to apologise for after weeks of anti-Japanese protests, some violent, in cities across the country.

A ROW between Japan and China intensified yesterday as the Asian powers each demanded protection for their nationals and Beijing insisted Tokyo did not deserve a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Japan’s Cabinet today approved a plan to keep Japanese troops in Iraq for another year.

Five Japanese abducted decades ago by North Korean spies will be allowed to return home briefly next week.