Japan

November 13, 2009 -- The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan welcome the renewed international attention and commitment to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons and confirm their determination to realize such a world.

They welcome, in this context, the recent United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Summit on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament and UNSC Resolutions 1540 and 1887, as well as the resolution of the Government of Japan, co-sponsored by the Government of the United States, to the United Nations General Assembly entitled "Renewed determination towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons."    » read more »

Letter urges Trade Ambassador Kirk to work toward opening South Korean and Japanese markets for U.S. automobile companies

November 6, 2009 -- (Washington D.C.) -- Congressman Sander Levin, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, released a letter today to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk urging that more be done to open South Korean and Japanese automobile markets.

During recent Korean and Japanese auto incentive programs, similar to the “Cash for Clunkers” program, market share for all foreign brands declined even further. The letter was signed by Senators Levin and Stabenow; Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel; Reps. Dingell, Upton, Ehlers, Kildee, McCotter, Peters, Sutton and Miller.    » read more »

TOKYO, Oct. 20, 2009 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said he looks forward to building on the strong U.S.-Japan security relationship during his meetings here with the new Japanese government, but that he plans to urge its leaders to leave intact security arrangements that have been years in the making.

Gates, the first U.S. Cabinet member to visit since the new Japanese Democratic Party government took office last month, told reporters he understands Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s interest in reviewing certain policies. “President [Barack] Obama’s administration has done the same thing,” he said.    » read more »

June 3, 2009 -- Tokyo — TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces it will lease a plug-in hybrid vehicle in Japan in collaboration with local governments selected under the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's EV & PHV Towns program1, which aims to promote the widespread use of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles.    » read more »

NEW YORK -- May 28, 2009 -- American International Group, Inc. (AIG) announced today that it has completed the sale of its prime real estate holding in the Otemachi District in Tokyo to Nippon Life Insurance Company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Nippon Life Insurance Company paid approximately $1.2 billion in cash (¥115,500mm) for the entire building and the approximately one acre of land on which it is situated.    » read more »

May 25, 2009 -- President Obama spoke today with Japanese Prime Minister Aso to review the situation following North Korea's nuclear test.

The President underscored that North Korea's nuclear test was a clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions and therefore warranted a collective response by the international community.

The two leaders agreed that continued close bilateral cooperation is imperative, and decided to intensify coordination with the Republic of Korea as well as with China and Russia. They pledged to work closely in the United Nations Security Council to obtain a resolution with concrete measures to curtail North Korea's nuclear and missile activities.    » read more »

Takeda will become the exclusive partner for Vaxem-Hib in Japan and pay Novartis 100 million Yen and milestone and royalty payments.

Basel, May 26, 2009 - Novartis announced today that it has entered an agreement with the Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in Japan for the distribution of the Novartis Vaxem-Hib® vaccine for the prevention of infection caused by Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

Through this agreement, Novartis will manufacture the vaccine and supply it to Takeda, which will obtain exclusive rights to license, market and distribute the vaccine in Japan.    » read more »

NEW YORK--May. 11, 2009-- American International Group, Inc. (AIG) announced today an agreement to sell its prime real estate holding in Tokyo for approximately $1.2 billion in cash (¥115,500mm) to Nippon Life Insurance Company. The property consists of approximately one acre of land on which The AIG Otemachi Building in Tokyo is situated.

The property’s Marunouchi 1 chome address is one of the most coveted in central Tokyo's downtown business district. Marunouchi, Tokyo’s business center, is the highest rent district in Japan with demand for Class A space typically exceeding supply. AIG’s property is unique within the district because of its location next to and overlooking the inner moat of the Imperial Palace.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, April 6, 2009 -- Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today said that he will attend the Group of Eight (G8) Agricultural Ministerial in Treviso, Italy, April 18-20.

"Hunger and malnutrition afflict more than one billion people around the world, causing human suffering, political instability and economic stagnation," said Vilsack. "This ministerial affirms our strong commitment to global food security and provides a unique opportunity to work with other agriculture ministers in developing a shared strategy to deal with food security issues."    » read more »

Approximately 100 Participants from 14 Countries Attending Second IP Crimes Enforcement Network Conference in Bangkok

March 11, 2009 -- BANGKOK, THAILAND – Building upon the successes of earlier efforts, the U.S. Department of Justice today announced the opening in Bangkok of a regional conference of approximately 100 key law enforcement and industry officials from more than a dozen nations with the goal of strengthening international cooperation in fighting large-scale intellectual property crimes.    » read more »

February 24, 2009 -- President Obama today held in-depth consultations with the Prime Minister of Japan on the global economic crisis and other areas for bilateral cooperation. The President underscored his firm commitment to the U.S.-Japan Alliance and called for continued progress in modernizing the Alliance by implementing the joint realignment initiative.

The two leaders agreed to work closely and urgently, as the world’s leading economies, to stimulate demand at home and abroad, to help other countries respond to the global crisis, to unfreeze credit markets, and to seek concrete results from the April London Economic Summit and through the G-8. They agreed fully on the need to resist protectionism.    » read more »

Lisbon, Portugal - 02/11/2009 - The Pew Whales Commission, a high level body of eminent diplomats, judges, lawyers, scientists and former Ministers, today called for government ministers to resolve the whaling stalemate.

"The Pew Whales Commission agreed on the need for a higher level of political muscle to move the International Whaling Commission (IWC) out of its current impasse," said Dr. Peter Bridgewater, Commission Chair and former chair of the IWC. "All agreed that the IWC must be preserved as the organization to conserve whales, but it needs to be brought up to date. The 1946 treaty simply does not protect whales from the threats of the 21st century."    » read more »

September 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - "I understand that Japanese Prime Minister Fukuda has offered his resignation today. Japan is our leading ally in Asia and a vibrant democracy.

I want to express to the Prime Minister my appreciation, which I believe is shared by the American people, for his leadership on climate change and the support that Japan's Self Defense Forces have offered U.S. operations in Afghanistan.

Our alliance with Japan is based on common values and interests, and I look forward to the opportunity to work with Prime Minister Fukuda's successor in the months and years ahead to strengthen and deepen cooperation between our two nations and to create a truly global partnership."

Source: Barack Obama campaign

Washington -- 10 June 2008 -- Astronauts from the U.S. space shuttle Discovery have finished their final jobs on the International Space Station, and held a news conference from space. The Discovery astronauts Monday flexed the robotic arm that is part of the Japanese science laboratory they helped to install on the space station.

Japanese Experiment Module, or JEM, also called Kibo: Japanese Experiment Module, or JEM, also called Kibo, in its new home on the International Space Station. This view depicts Kibo's exterior, backdropped by solar array panels for the orbital outpost and one of its trusses. NASA photo.    » read more »

7 May 2008 -- A series of strong earthquakes in the Pacific Ocean shook eastern Japan and Tokyo early Thursday. Early reports indicate the quakes caused no serious damage or injuries, and authorities say there is no risk of a tsunami.

Tokyo, Japan: Photo by Alex Masters (CC)

The strongest jolt, magnitude 6.7, hit shortly before 2 a.m., local time (12:45 p.m. Wednesday EDT / 1645 Wednesday UTC). It was centered about 35 kilometers below the surface, at a spot in the ocean about 160 kilometers east of Tokyo.    » read more »