2 SDF planes leave Japan for Djibouti for possible Mideast evacuation
KYODO NEWS - 10 hours ago - 17:46 | All, Japan
Two Self-Defense Forces planes departed Japan on Saturday for eastern Africa to stand by for a possible evacuation of Japanese nationals from the Middle East amid mounting safety concerns over the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran.
The C-2 transport planes left Miho Air Base in Tottori Prefecture, western Japan, carrying about 120 personnel, according to the Defense Ministry. They will stand by at a Self-Defense Forces base in Djibouti, with no specific airlift plans at present as major airports in Israel and Iran remain closed.
Since Israeli strikes on Iran on June 13, the two countries have exchanged attacks, with tensions further escalating after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested using military options to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.
On Friday, a total of 87 Japanese nationals and their family members were evacuated, with 66 traveling from Iran to Azerbaijan and 21 from Israel to Jordan on government-arranged buses, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Before the bus evacuation began, about 280 Japanese citizens were in Iran, and around 1,000 were in Israel, the ministry said.
On Tuesday, Japan raised the travel alert for all of Iran to its highest, Level 4, advising nationals to "evacuate and avoid all travel." Most of Israel has remained subject to the second-highest Level 3 advisory, which urges people to "avoid all travel."
Related coverage:
87 Japanese nationals, family members evacuated from Iran, Israel
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 22, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 10 hours ago - 00:26 | All, World, Japan The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- PM Ishiba's LDP set to post record-low results in Tokyo assembly vote TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party is expected to post record-low results in Sunday's Tokyo assembly election, regarded as a bellwether for the July House of Councillors race, as he struggles to steer a minority government in national politics. Tomin First no Kai, a regional party established by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, is likely to become the biggest force in the 127-member assembly, underscoring the appeal of her policies centered on quality of life. Tomin translates to Tokyoites. ---------- U.S. enters war with Iran, Trump says key nuclear sites wiped out WASHINGTON - U.S. airstrikes have "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's three key nuclear facilities, President Donald Trump said Saturday as Washington entered Israel's war against the Islamic Republic, threatening more attacks if Tehran does not change course. Trump said the U.S. objective in conducting "massive precision" strikes on the facilities was "the destruction of Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world's No. 1 state sponsor of terror." ---------- Japan vigilant amid Iran conflict, mum on support for U.S. attacks TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that Japan is monitoring with "grave concern" the developments in the Middle East after the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, though he refrained from expressing immediate support for the military action taken by its closest ally. Speaking to reporters, Ishiba underscored the importance of de-escalating the situation while stressing that Iran's nuclear development must be "blocked." ---------- Most Japanese worried about Mideast war's impact on daily lives: poll TOKYO - Most people in Japan are worried about how the outbreak of war in the Middle East could impact their daily lives, given the country's heavy dependence on the region for oil, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. In the nationwide telephone poll, a total of 83.7 percent of respondents said they have concerns about the repercussions of the escalating Israel-Iran war. ---------- 2 Japanese men among 14 prisoners released by Belarus MOSCOW - Two Japanese nationals have been released from detention in Belarus and are in good health, a Japanese government source said Sunday. Belarusian state-run media reported Saturday that President Aleksandr Lukashenko decided to pardon 14 people, including two Japanese citizens, at the request of U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. ---------- Chinese ships spotted near Senkakus for record 216th straight day NAHA, Japan - Chinese coast guard ships were spotted near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for the 216th consecutive day, the Japan Coast Guard said Sunday, marking the longest streak since Japan placed the islets under state control in 2012. The uninhabited islets, which China claims and calls Diaoyu, have remained a source of friction between the Asian neighbors. ---------- Mt. Shinmoe in southwestern Japan erupts, alert level maintained FUKUOKA - Mt. Shinmoe on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu erupted Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The 1,421-meter volcano straddling Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures erupted around 4:37 p.m. and spewed smoke as high as 500 meters, the agency said. Video: MSDF helicopter carrier Ise, destroyer Suzunami make port call in Manila
Kyodo News
an hour ago
- Kyodo News
Visitors satisfied with Kyoto sightseeing experience despite the crowds
Spotlight Japan - 14 minutes ago - 11:00 | Travel/Tourism, Spotlight The number of foreign visitors to Kyoto hit a record high of 10.88 million in 2024 with the city welcoming a total of 56.06 million visitors, the second highest on record after 2015, according to data published in a tourism survey by the Kyoto city government in June. Despite the continuing surge in tourists and the problems related to overtourism that have come with them, satisfaction with the Kyoto sightseeing experience among foreign and Japanese visitors remained largely high, according to the survey. Tourist-related records tumbled in the ancient Japanese capital last year, including a record 16.3 million visitors who stayed at least one night in the city. At 8.21 million, more than half of these were foreign visitors. But Kyoto's attractions continued to deliver visitor satisfaction. According to the survey, which targeted Japanese and foreign tourists, 97.2 percent of foreign respondents and 94.6 percent of Japanese respondents were at least fairly satisfied with their visit, largely unchanged from the previous year. Temples, shrines, and places of historic interest were at the top of the Kyoto sightseeing agenda for foreign visitors. Kiyomizu temple, Nijo-jo castle, Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine, the Gion area, and Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion temple) were the most visited sightseeing locations. Japanese visitors, however, were more put off by Kyoto's crowds than foreign visitors, with 48.4 percent of Japanese survey respondents left feeling disappointed at some point during their time in the city, compared to just 19.4 percent of foreign respondents. Crowds, manners, and issues related to public transportation were the most cited causes. A hike in lodging tax to include a maximum rate of 10,000 yen ($68.18) for stays costing 100,000 yen or more per person per night is due to take effect in March 2026. Revenue from the tax, the city said, will be put towards strengthening measures to tackle overtourism. The Kyoto tourism survey was carried out over four periods in 2024, gathering 5,572 responses, including 1,764 foreign visitors. People living outside of Kyoto who visited the city for purposes other than school or work were included in the survey. This article was submitted by a contributing writer for publication on Kyodo News Plus. Related coverage: Over 60% of train travelers annoyed by behavior of foreign tourists: survey Gov't pictograms target tourists behaving badly Gov't wants Japanese travelers to see more of their own backyard
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: June 23, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 09:00 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- LDP wins record-low seats in Tokyo assembly race, in blow to PM TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party suffered a record-low result in Sunday's Tokyo assembly election, seen as a prelude to July's House of Councillors race, further straining his minority government in national politics. Tomin First no Kai, a regional party established by Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, won 32 seats, the most in the 127-member metropolitan assembly, indicating the popularity of her public welfare and child-rearing policies. One affiliated independent is included in the figure. ---------- Japan vigilant amid Iran conflict, mum on support for U.S. attacks TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Sunday that Japan is monitoring with "grave concern" the developments in the Middle East after the United States attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, though he refrained from expressing immediate support for the military action taken by its closest ally. Speaking to reporters, Ishiba underscored the importance of de-escalating the situation while stressing that Iran's nuclear development must be "blocked." ---------- U.S. defense chief says strikes on Iran were not about regime change WASHINGTON - The U.S. military's strikes on Iran's key nuclear sites were not aimed at regime change and targeted neither its troops nor civilians, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Sunday. Speaking of Saturday's attacks against Iran, Hegseth touted U.S. President Donald Trump's "bold and visionary leadership, and his commitment to peace through strength," asserting that the United States has shown the world that its "deterrence is back." ---------- FOCUS: Tokyo rebuke puts Ishiba at risk in national election TOKYO - A sharp warning from voters for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's party in Sunday's Tokyo assembly election has signaled that his tenure could be at risk, with his ruling bloc in danger of losing its majority in the upcoming national vote. The House of Councillors election, expected to take place on July 20, is shaping up as a de facto referendum on Ishiba's leadership, as the ruling coalition led by his Liberal Democratic Party has already become a minority in the House of Representatives. ---------- Most Japanese worried about Mideast war's impact on daily lives: poll TOKYO - Most people in Japan are worried about how the outbreak of war in the Middle East could impact their daily lives, given the country's heavy dependence on the region for oil, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday. In the nationwide telephone poll, a total of 83.7 percent of respondents said they have concerns about the repercussions of the escalating Israel-Iran war. ---------- Chinese ships spotted near Senkakus for record 216th straight day NAHA, Japan - Chinese coast guard ships were spotted near the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea for the 216th consecutive day, the Japan Coast Guard said Sunday, marking the longest streak since Japan placed the islets under state control in 2012. The uninhabited islets, which China claims and calls Diaoyu, have remained a source of friction between the Asian neighbors. ---------- 2 Japanese men among 14 prisoners released by Belarus MOSCOW - Two Japanese nationals have been released from detention in Belarus and are in good health, a Japanese government source said Sunday. Belarusian state-run media reported Saturday that President Aleksandr Lukashenko decided to pardon 14 people, including two Japanese citizens, at the request of U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. ---------- Mt. Shinmoe in southwestern Japan erupts, alert level maintained FUKUOKA - Mt. Shinmoe on the southwestern Japanese island of Kyushu erupted Sunday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The 1,421-meter volcano straddling Kagoshima and Miyazaki prefectures erupted around 4:37 p.m. and spewed smoke as high as 500 meters, the agency said. Video: Promotion party for sumo grand champion Hoshoryu
