Rappler's latest stories on Shinzo Abe
Wrong move: Japan prosecutor resigns over mahjong game
Hiromu Kurokawa has decided to step down after a magazine revealed he had played mahjong for money recently with 3 journalists – violating both the country's lockdown measures and potentially laws against gambling
Japan extends virus state of emergency until May 31
'I will extend the period of the state of emergency I declared on April 7 until May 31. The area covered is all prefectures in the nation,' Shinzo Abe says

Japan offers $930 virus stimulus payment to all residents
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says they are 'moving quickly to deliver cash to all people'

Shinzo Abe joins ‘Dancing on the Inside’ bandwagon
Musician Gen Hoshino launches a campaign urging Japanese people to stay home during the coronavirus pandemic, drawing big-name volunteers

Japan declares state of emergency over coronavirus
(UPDATED) The move allows governors in 7 affected regions including Tokyo to ask people to stay indoors and request businesses close

FULL TEXT: IOC, Japan postpone Tokyo Olympics to 2021
The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Japan will still keep the name 'Tokyo 2020'

Tokyo Olympics postponed over coronavirus pandemic
The Olympics will be the highest-profile event affected by the virus that has killed thousands and closed sports competitions worldwide

Japan's Abe pledges Olympics to go ahead despite virus havoc
'We want to hold the Olympics as planned without any trouble by overcoming the spread of infections,' says Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

China's Xi Jinping postpones state visit to Japan amid virus outbreak
The announcement of the postponement ends weeks of speculation of whether the Chinese president's trip would go ahead amid efforts to contain the coronavirus epidemic

Japan PM calls for closure of public schools over virus
Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe requests public schools to close temporarily from March 2 until their spring break

Japan's Abe 'deeply worried' by Middle East tensions
Japan walks a fine line in balancing its key alliance with Washington and its longstanding relations and interests with Iran

Shinzo Abe tells Xi Jinping: Hong Kong should remain 'free and open'
A Japanese spokesman says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is 'very much concerned' about Hong Kong
Duterte, Abe discuss comfort women, South China Sea in meeting
The two leaders also take up the Japan-funded Metro Manila Subway and plans to develop the Subic Bay area

Moon, Abe hold 'friendly' talks on ASEAN sidelines
Ties between Seoul and Tokyo are at rock-bottom over a dispute related to Japan's use of forced labor during World War II, with the countries trading retaliatory sanctions

Minor fire on Japan gov't jet with PM on board – reports
The fire has been put out, and there is no change to the itinerary of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is en route to the ASEAN Summit 2019

Japan trade minister resigns over donation scandal
'I bear responsibility in having appointed him. I deeply apologize to the Japanese people,' says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after accepting the resignation of the official accused of violating election law by offering voters money and gifts

Japan presses China on professor held for 'spying'
Abe 'strongly demanded a positive response from China regarding the detention of a Japanese national' when he met Wang Qishan on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga tells reporters

Japan's Abe shakes up cabinet, brings in rising star
Shinzo Abe appoints new foreign and defense ministers and promotes a political risings star in his cabinet reshuffling

Trump says 'not happy' about latest North Korea missile test
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe takes the opposite view, saying North Korea's latest missile test was a clear violation of UN rules

U.S., Japan agree on trade deal 'in principle'
(UPDATED) Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirms the US and Japan 'successfully reached consensus' after 'intense' negotiations

Japan's new emperor speaks of 'deep remorse' in 1st speech marking WWII
Emperor Naruhito's comments are monitored in Tokyo and throughout Asia for any change in tone but he closely echoed the language employed by his father Akihito

Japan urged to sign United Nations nuke ban on Hiroshima anniversary
Hiroshima's mayor urges Japan to sign a landmark UN treaty banning nuclear weapons as the city marks 74 years since being targeted in the world's first atomic attack

Japan's Abe vows to reform constitution despite no 'supermajority'
(UPDATED) Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition retains its majority in the upper house in Sunday's vote for around the half the seats in the chamber, but falls short of securing a two-thirds majority in favor of revising the constitution

Japan's Abe on course to retain majority in upper house election
A win means Shinzo Abe will be able to stay in power until November 2019, when he will break the record of the nation's longest-serving premiership

Iran leader rejects Trump talks despite Japan PM's mission
(UPDATED) Iran 'has no trust in America and will not in any way repeat the bitter experience of the previous negotiations with America,' says Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Japan PM meets Rouhani on mission to ease Iran-U.S. tensions
Japanese government officials say Shinzo Abe will not present Tehran with a list of demands, or deliver a message from Washington, but instead wants to play the role of neutral intermediary

Japan's Abe in Tehran mission to ease Iran-U.S. tensions
Shinzo Abe is expected to arrive in Tehran at around 1120 GMT (7:20 pm, Manila time) and go straight into talks with President Hassan Rouhani

PH, Japan forge stronger cooperation on defense, maritime security
During their summit meeting in Tokyo, among the topics President Rodrigo Duterte and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discussed was 'advancing the rule of law, including in the South China Sea,' a Palace statement says

Duterte arrives in Japan for forum, meeting with Abe
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is set to deliver a speech at Nikkei's prestigious International Conference on the Future of Asia

Dovish Trump says not targeting regime change in Iran
'I really believe that Iran would like to make a deal. I think that's very smart of them and I think there's a possibility for that to happen also,' US President Donald Trump says

Trump becomes first foreign leader to meet Japan's new emperor
(UPDATED) Donald Trump's palace visit in the morning, followed by a royal banquet in the evening, is the main event in a feel-good trip
Trump tees up Japan summit with Abe golf match
While Abe and Trump are at the golf course, their wives Melania and Akie enjoy a display of 'digital art' at an exhibition that has been a smash hit in Tokyo

Trump arrives in Japan for sumo summit with Abe
Japanese and US officials hail as 'unprecedented' the relationship between Trump and his 'golf buddy', Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and the pair will again find time for a round to cement their diplomatic bromance

Trump to get royal treatment on Japan emperor visit
The decision by Japan to put Trump at the head of the line for Naruhito illustrates the unique bond between the one-time bitterest of enemies, while delivering rival China a timely reminder that the United States is not alone in Asia

Japan's Abe sends offering to Yasukuni war shrine
Yasukuni shrine, which honors 2.5 million war dead but also top World War II criminals, has frequently been a source of sour relations with countries that suffered from Japan's military atrocities

Japan's Abe to visit U.S., France on pre-G20 tour
The tour from April 22 to 29 will also include stops in Italy, Belgium and Slovakia, a foreign ministry official says

Japan's Shinzo Abe nominated Trump for Nobel after U.S. request – report
The report comes after US President Donald Trump's claim that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had nominated him for the prize

Merkel urges 'creativity', 'goodwill' in Brexit talks
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says 'we want to do everything to avoid a no-deal [Brexit] because that would increase the uncertainty'

Oil firms to hike prices for 4th straight time on January 29 | Evening wRap
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Abe vows Kim meeting to 'break shell of mutual distrust'
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promises to meet with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un and restore diplomatic relations between the two countries

Putin, Abe hold summit to break island impasse
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit marks the 25th time he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have met since 2013

Japan approves defense plan including 2 aircraft carriers
The new 5-year defense plan calls for the military to upgrade two existing 'helicopter carriers' so that they will also be able to launch fighter jets

Japan enacts controversial law to accept foreign workers
Opposition parties raise questions about the law, claiming that it fails to consider its potential impact on Japanese society and does not protect foreign workers' rights

G20 opens under assault from Trump on collective action
Shortly before the summit kicks off, Donald Trump's 'America First' charge will bear fruit with the signing in Buenos Aires of a successor to the North American free trade pact NAFTA

Labor shortage woes force Japan to pry open door to migrant workers
The Japan government wants to allow foreign workers as early as next April, granting visas for up to 5 years to those employed in industries facing chronic shortages such as agriculture, nursing and construction

Japan Cabinet approves bill to accept foreign workers
Among the sectors in Japan suffering from labor shortages are agriculture, construction, hospitality/tourism, and nursing

Japan denounces South Korean court ruling on wartime forced labor
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticizes a South Korean court ruling, saying it was 'impossible' under international law to order Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal to pay compensation over forced wartime labor

Japan's Abe begins a rare visit to China
Shinzo Abe's visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing relations in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012

Japan to accept 50,000 workers from PH under new hiring rules
‘Japan faces an aging society and lacks labor force, while the Philippines is abundant with young labor force with great potential,’ Ambassador Koji Haneda says

Japan protests China ships near disputed isles ahead of Abe visit
A Japanese government spokesman says China's intrusion was 'extremely regrettable' but said Tokyo is still hoping to 'take Japan-China relations to the next level'
