Japan weighs 'national shipyard' to revive shipbuilding sector

TOKYO -- The Japanese government and ruling Liberal Democratic Party are drafting policies to revitalize the country's shipbuilding industry, including a plan for the government to construct or rehabilitate shipyards.
The proposal will be submitted to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday by the LDP's Headquarters for Promoting Economic Security, chaired by Takayuki Kobayashi. It will urge that a detailed plan be produced by the fall that outlines specific support measures, a timeline for implementation, and the predicted levels of private and public sector investment.

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Japan Times

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Ishiba calls for expanding Japan-South Korea exchanges

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has called for expanding exchanges between Japan and South Korea as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two neighboring countries. "We want to pass on the baton of exchanges we have nurtured to the next generation while further broadening the scope of Japan-South Korea cooperation," Ishiba said in a speech at a reception hosted by the South Korean Embassy in Tokyo on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary. Ishiba said that he had very good discussions with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung when they met in Canada on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit. "As the strategic environment surrounding Japan and South Korea is becoming increasingly severe, let's take a new step toward a better future hand in hand," the prime minister stressed. Meanwhile, South Korean Ambassador to Japan Park Cheol-hee said that the bilateral relations have continuously deepened despite twists and turns in the past. Park called for further developing the friendly relations and continuing the efforts to make them sustainable. The reception was also attended by Fumio Kishida and Yoshihide Suga, both former prime ministers. Suga currently serves as head of the Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union.

Japan Times

an hour ago

• Japan Times

Japan hopes good-faith negotiations will buy it some time in U.S. tariff talks

Negotiating in good faith in tariff talks with the United States could buy Japan some time and delay the implementation of much higher rates, chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that as long as countries are engaged in "sincere negotiations, there's room for extensions and other possibilities,' Akazawa told reporters after a ruling Liberal Democratic Party meeting Friday. 'We, for our part, are negotiating in good faith. So we understand that things will likely proceed on that basis,' he added. Japan is subject to 25% tariffs on cars and car parts, 50% on steel and aluminum as well as a 10% baseline tariff that could rise back to 24% if no deal is struck by July 9 — the day when a 90-day grace period expires. Akazawa said at a news conference earlier in the day that while Japan sees July 9 as a critical juncture, it does not view the date as a hard deadline between the two countries. 'As the prime minister has said, there are numerous national interests — starting with the automotive sector — that Japan must protect,' Akazawa said. 'For each of these interests, we intend to negotiate in a way that ensures they are not compromised, and aim to reach agreements that will benefit both countries.' His remarks came after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump failed to reach an agreement on tariffs or a breakthrough of any kind when they met Monday in Canada, despite repeated suggestions of progress in recent talks over the past few weeks. 'We have been exploring the possibility of reaching an agreement until the very last moment. However, there are still points where our perceptions do not align, and therefore, we have not yet reached a comprehensive agreement as a whole,' Ishiba said after the meeting. Akazawa has so far made six trips to Washington since tariff negotiations started in April, four of them in as many weeks in the run-up to the Trump-Ishiba meeting during the Group of Seven gathering earlier this week. Akazawa said he has built a good rapport with his American counterparts, including Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, which he said could be a positive factor. 'Of course, each of us is responsible for protecting our respective national interests, so even if there's trust or friendliness, negotiations don't come together easily,' he said in reply to a question from The Japan Times. 'That said, as people engage in discussions, mutual understanding of each other's character and personality deepens, and being able to negotiate with someone you regard as trustworthy — I believe that's a very positive thing.' Akazawa also noted Nippon Steel's successful acquisition of U.S. Steel after an 18-month uphill battle, saying the deal carries enormous significance and is a job well done. 'Speaking as a fellow negotiator engaged in similar talks — I truly want to say, job well done. Reaching an agreement undoubtedly involved tremendous effort, and I sincerely respect that,' he said. 'I believe this is a highly meaningful and significant agreement, not only for the economic relationship but also for the future development of Japan-U.S. ties as a whole.'

2 hours ago

Japan Ruling, Opposition Parties Gearing Up for Upper House Poll

News from Japan Politics Jun 20, 2025 16:53 (JST) Tokyo, June 20 (Jiji Press)--Japanese ruling and opposition parties are gearing up for a House of Councillors election, expected to take place on July 20, as the current parliamentary session ends without an extension on Sunday. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is striving to lead his ruling Liberal Democratic Party to a victory in the Upper House election to keep himself in power after the LDP lost last year's election for the House of Representatives. Opposition parties, which together control the Lower House, aim to win a majority also in the Upper House. The Upper House election will focus on proposals to address rising inflation, including a consumption tax cut and a cash handout. Campaign issues also include political funds and a proposed dual surname system for married couples. In the election for the 248-seat Upper House, 125 seats--75 in constituencies and 50 under proportional representation--will be contested. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press