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Japan places its military on alert over a possible North Korean ballistic-missile launch after detecting "increased activity" at a North Korean missile site. Japan's Minister of Defense, Gen Nakatani, has ordered Kongō-class destroyers stationed in the Sea of Japan, equipped with Aegis combat systems, to target any North Korean projectiles heading for Japan.
2016-01-29

Japan has delivered two more ships to Vietnam that will be refurbished into patrol boats. The ships, which arrived in the port city of Da Nang, are the second delivery of a 2014 deal in which Tokyo is to provide Vietnam with six used fishing vessels that will be converted into patrol boats for Vietnam's coast guard in the South China Sea.
2015-11-3

Scientists in Japan confirm the 2004 discovery of a 113th element, paving the way for it to be named and included on the periodic table.
2012-09-27

Jun Azumi, the Minister of Finance of Japan, says he is to step down and take on a senior function as the acting secretary-general of the Democratic Party of Japan. His announcement comes ahead of an expected cabinet reshuffle.
2012-09-24

"The New York Times" carries claims by anonymous sources that the Bank of Japan is said to be considering a further easing of monetary policy, and the government of Japan may intervene in markets to push the value of the yen down.
2011-08-21

Japan's government announces a 4 trillion yen emergency budget to deal with the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the country last month.
2011-04-22

The approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan improves to 34% following a cabinet reshuffle.
2011-01-16

The United States dollar reaches a 15-year low against the Japanese yen and depreciates against a range of other currencies due to concerns about further quantitative easing by the United States Federal Reserve.
2010-10-7

Japan intervenes in the foreign exchange market for the first time in six years to reduce the exchange rate for the yen in order to stimulate the Japanese economy.
2010-09-15

The entire cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan avoids visiting Yasukuni Shrine on the anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
2010-08-15