The arrest comes as bilateral relations have sharply deteriorated over the war in Ukraine and the territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands.

The arrest of a Marine has provoked impassioned protest at a time when the two countries are seeking to bolster security in the region.

Devin Jacob Ballard was arrested in the killing and robbing of Anna Yagi, police told Japan’s public broadcaster. He denied the allegations, a spokesman said.

Ultraconservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi left a subtle opening in remarks Thursday for rethinking Japan’s “Three Non-Nuclear Principles.”

President Donald Trump’s push for Japanese self-reliance aligns with the long-standing desire of conservatives in Tokyo to build intelligence capabilities.

President Donald Trump’s seeming ambivalence about the value of allies has created a sense of urgency among nations with close U.S. ties.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made revising the constitution a priority amid rising security threats in Asia, but any change is highly sensitive.

Japan’s super-popular prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, will visit the White House on Thursday, as President Donald Trump looks to allies for military help against Iran.

The unconventional leader — for starters, she’s a woman — has called an early election for Feb. 8 in an effort to win a broad public mandate for change.

Tetsuya Yamagami pleaded guilty to shooting the former prime minister with a homemade gun in 2022, an act he tied to struggles with the Unification Church.

Japan has accelerated plans to devote 2 percent of its GDP — and more — to its military as China grows more assertive and the U.S. urges allies to spend bigger.

Japan’s famous akoya pearls have never been more in demand but, as seas warm and younger generations move to the city, the industry’s future is uncertain.

Women aren’t permitted to enter the sumo ring. Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female leader, did not present the Prime Minister’s Cup at a major tournament.