Latest news with #HanedaAirport
Asahi Shimbun
8 hours ago
- General
- Asahi Shimbun
Imperial couple visits Okinawa for WWII's 80th anniversary
Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, visit Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on June 4 ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. (Koichi Ueda) Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter, Princess Aiko, visited Okinawa Prefecture on June 4 ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. This is part of the imperial couple's journey to commemorate the war dead and pass on memories of the deceased 80 years after the war's end. Naruhito and Masako visited Iwoto island, formerly known as Iwojima, in April for the same purpose. The family departed on the morning from Haneda Airport in Tokyo on a dedicated plane for a two-day trip in Okinawa Prefecture. This is the couple's first visit to Okinawa since 2022, the 50th anniversary of Okinawa's return to Japan after being under U.S. rule, and the second since Naruhito's accession to the throne. Aiko is visiting the prefecture for the first time. The Battle of Okinawa, which began in late March 1945 and lasted approximately three months, claimed the lives of more than 200,000 U.S. and Imperial Japanese Army troops and civilians, including 120,000 Okinawans. The southern part of Okinawa Prefecture's main island saw the largest number of casualties that June as retreating Japanese troops and displaced residents packed into the area. The remains of Japanese soldiers and residents are housed at the national war cemetery that the three visited, offering bouquets of white flowers, including lilies, in front of the ossuary. They said a few words to each of the officials of the prefectural bereaved families association who were present. The family next visited the 'Heiwa no Ishiji' (the Cornerstone of Peace) in the Peace Memorial Park, where the names of more than 200,000 war dead are inscribed, regardless of nationality and whether they were military or civilians. They were also scheduled to meet with survivors at the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum located in the same park.
Time Out
3 days ago
- Time Out
Survey: Tokyo has two of the world's top ten airports for 2025
With Tokyo home to two of the world's best airports for food, it's no surprise that the capital's international gateways also consistently rank among the best globally. In the 2025 World Airport Survey conducted by Skytrax, the Haneda and Narita international airports were once again ranked among the top ten in the world, solidifying Tokyo's status as a world-class travel hub. This year, Haneda Airport came in third place behind Singapore Changi Airport (No 1) and Doha's Hamad International Airport (No 2). In addition to securing a spot in the global top three, Haneda was ranked as the world's cleanest airport and the best airport by passenger numbers in 2025, a category in which it beat out all other airports serving over 70 million passengers – the busiest tier globally. Meanwhile, Narita International Airport in Chiba prefecture took fifth place, narrowly trailing Seoul Incheon (No 4). Here's the full top ten ranking of the best airports in the world in 2025: Singapore Changi Doha Hamad Tokyo Haneda Seoul Incheon Tokyo Narita Hong Kong Paris Charles de Gaulle Rome Fiumicino Munich Zurich For a more detailed look at this year's ranking, head to the Skytrax website. Tokyo ranked among the most affordable holiday destinations of 2025 Ghibli Park to stay open after dark for the first time this August
See - Sada Elbalad
3 days ago
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Japan, S. Korea Launch Fast-Track Tourist Entry Lanes
Israa Farhan In a move to strengthen bilateral relations and improve travel convenience, Japan and South Korea have introduced special fast-track immigration lanes for tourists traveling between the two countries. The initiative celebrates the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties, established on June 22, 1965. The new lanes opened on Sunday at four major airports: Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Fukuoka Airport in southwestern Japan, Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, and Gimhae International Airport in Busan. The dedicated lanes are designed to speed up the immigration process for eligible travelers and will remain in operation until June 30. To use the fast-track service, travelers must have visited the respective country within the past year and complete advance registration. The service is available for flights arriving between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. According to Japan's Immigration Services Agency, this is the first time a Japanese airport has designated an immigration lane for citizens of a specific country, highlighting the growing importance of tourism and cultural ties between the two neighbors. Tourism between Japan and South Korea has significantly increased in recent years, driven by shared interest in pop culture, drama, music, and cuisine. Despite long-standing historical and territorial disputes, both nations remain top destinations for travelers from the other side of the East Sea. A South Korean tourist visiting Japan with his family said he appreciates the ease of travel and expressed hope for even closer relations between the two nations. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan
The Star
5 days ago
- Automotive
- The Star
Japan says no easy concession on US tariffs, seeks another round in June
FILE PHOTO: Japan's Economic Revitalization Minister Ryosei Akazawa speaks to the press upon his arrival at Haneda Airport, a day after ministerial talks on tariffs, with U.S. President Donald Trump joining the negotiators, in Tokyo, Japan, April 18, 2025. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo (Reuters) -Japan and the U.S. on Friday agreed to hold another round of trade talks ahead of the G7 summit next month, Japan's top tariff negotiator said, stressing that no deal would be without concessions on all Washington's tariffs, including on autos. Japan's Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington for 130 minutes in a fourth round of the trade negotiations. "We agreed to accelerate the talks and hold another round ahead of the G7 summit in June, where the leaders from Japan and the United States are set to meet," Akazawa told Japanese media gathered at the Japanese embassy in Washington. Japan faces a 24% tariff rate starting in July unless it can negotiate a deal with the U.S. It is also scrambling to find ways to get Washington to exempt its automakers from 25% tariffs on automobiles, Japan's biggest industry. Akazawa said Japan's position has not changed that the tariffs are not acceptable and he is "strongly urging" the U.S. to immediately reconsider and drop all the tariffs, including those levied on automobiles, auto parts, aluminum and steel. "If our requests to do that are met, we may be able to come to an agreement," Akazawa told Japanese media gathered at the Japanese embassy in Washington. "But if that is not possible, then it will be difficult for us to agree to a deal." Japanese government sources said before the latest meeting that an immediate deal was unlikely, as they would never hastily seal a deal that would not benefit Japan, particularly the automobile sector. Akazawa declined to give details of the latest discussions, but said trade expansion, non-tariff barriers and cooperation in economic security have been on the agenda at every meeting. Semiconductor supply chains and rare earths are among economic security topics, he added. He also said, while he was closely monitoring Nippon Steel's possible deal for U.S. Steel, he could not yet comment on it due to a lack of any official announcement from the U.S. government. (Reporting by Makiko Yamazaki in Tokyo and Nathan Layne in New York; Editing by Hugh Lawson and David Gregorio)
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Business
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Airport Terminal Issue: Were Inappropriate Transactions Conducted Only at Haneda?
Opaque funds were flowing from a firm related to an operating company for Haneda Airport terminal buildings to a company headed by a family member of an influential politician. Why was the cozy relationship not cut off? A thorough investigation is needed, including looking into transactions at other airports. From 2006 to 2016, a wholly owned subsidiary of the operating company Japan Airport Terminal Co., which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market, provided more than ¥400 million to a company run by the eldest son of Makoto Koga, a former secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, over a project to set up massage chairs at Haneda Airport. The eldest son's company had entirely delegated the actual business operations to another company. The national tax authorities pointed out that the eldest son's company took no part in actual business operations and imposed additional taxes on the subsidiary. Even after that, the subsidiary continued to provide funds in different forms, and the national tax authorities noted the failure of the eldest son's company to report the income. Japan Airport Terminal is a highly public company that is allowed to operate on state-owned land based on the Airport Law and other legislation. It is unacceptable for the company to provide opaque funding that would arouse the suspicion of users. It can be said that the incident has exposed the malfunctioning of corporate governance. It is not surprising that the chairman as well as the president of Japan Airport Terminal, who led the provision of funds, both resigned to take responsibility in response to the revelation of the problem. In an internal investigation, the president of Japan Airport Terminal was quoted as saying that since the person in question was the son of a former member of the House of Representatives, the president was unable to end their long-standing personal relationship. The president also explained he had never asked for anything in return. The question remains as to whether the 'personal relationship' was the only reason for the massive provision of funds. The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has issued a stern reprimand, which amounts to administrative guidance, to Japan Airport Terminal. It also requested that 25 airport terminal operating companies nationwide investigate the actual situation, including their subsidiaries, to determine if there are any inappropriate funds being provided to business partners. The eldest son's company has already been found to have had dealings with operating companies at two airports in Fukuoka and Osaka prefectures as well. Each operating company must conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether any improper provision of funds similar to that which took place at Haneda Airport also occurred at other airports. The government has a responsibility to supervise operating companies for airport terminals under the Airport Law. If investigations are insufficient or inappropriate transactions are suspected, the ministry should launch its own investigation. The government is aiming to make Japan a 'tourism-oriented country,' but it is not doing enough to check airport operations, which are the key to achieving this goal. The reality is that the selection of tenants in airport terminals and business partners is left to the discretion of the operating companies. To prevent problematic transactions, it is necessary to require operating companies to report to the government about contract details between them and their business partners, and their actual business situation. For example, the introduction of a system in which the government conducts regular audits may also be something to consider. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 30, 2025)
