Japan

高市首相、初の災害対応に緊張感 地震発生から３５分後官邸入り

Tokyo Shimbun | Local Language | News | Dec. 11, 2025 | Natural Disasters

On the night of December 8, a strong earthquake with a seismic intensity of 6 struck Aomori Prefecture, prompting the Takaichi administration to convene an emergency assembly team in its first full-scale disaster response since taking office. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi arrived at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence 35 minutes after the quake, showing a tense demeanor as she coordinated the government’s response. The quake occurred around 11:15 p.m., leading to the immediate setup of a government countermeasures room and Prime Minister Takaichi issuing instructions.

The prime minister reached the residence at 11:50 p.m., traveling in a security vehicle rather than her usual car, while Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara arrived by taxi shortly before her. Despite fatigue from earlier parliamentary duties, Takaichi addressed reporters briefly before proceeding to her office to receive updates from Disaster Management Minister Jiro Akama and other officials managing the crisis at the Crisis Management Center.

At 12:10 a.m. on December 9, Kihara held an emergency press conference urging residents to evacuate, and the prime minister echoed this call on her social media platform at 12:28 a.m. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi provided updates on information gathering from the Ministry of Defense, and the government continued coordinated communications to ensure public safety.

In parallel political developments on December 9, Prime Minister Takaichi addressed legislation to legalize the use of maiden names after marriage and apologized for exceeding donation limits. Other political news included criticism from Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito on a bill to reduce House seats, discussions over the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines by Defense Minister Koizumi, and a joint plan by ruling parties to split costs for free elementary school lunches starting April 2026.

ストライプのブロックチェーン「テンポ」、テストネットをローンチ──カルシ、マスターカード、UBSがパートナー参加

Yahoo Finance | Local Language | News | Dec. 11, 2025 | UndeterminedBizdev-Partnering

Stripe and Paradigm have launched the public testnet for Tempo, a blockchain focused on payment solutions with an emphasis on stablecoin transactions. Tempo is designed to facilitate high-volume financial transactions with low fees, instant settlement, and native stablecoin support. The testnet launch enables developers and corporate partners to conduct real-world payments experiments on the blockchain.

New partners joining Tempo include Klarna, Kalshi, Mastercard, and UBS, expanding the network’s collaboration with previous design partners such as Deutsche Bank, Visa, Shopify, OpenAI, and Nubank. The network addresses blockchain finance challenges by charging a minimal transaction fee of approximately $0.001, paid in U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins, avoiding volatile gas fees typically associated with blockchain transactions.

This development aligns with the growing global adoption of digital dollars and the increasing importance of stablecoins, currently valued at around $300 billion. Stablecoins are projected to become critical in cross-border payment infrastructure, particularly in B2B, P2P, and card payment sectors. Separately, the Stripe-acquired stablecoin infrastructure firm Bridge will help Klarna issue its own digital dollar next year.

Japan Times | English | News | Dec. 11, 2025 | Shifting Geopolitical Alliances

Two Democratic members of the U.S. Congress, Ami Bera and Gregory Meeks, have called on President Donald Trump to support Japan amid China's increasing economic and military pressure on the country. They emphasized that Beijing's actions threaten Japan's economic stability and broader security interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

The lawmakers highlighted recent incidents where Chinese military aircraft used locked radar against Japanese Self-Defense Forces fighter jets near Okinawa, aligning with China's provocative behavior in the Taiwan Strait and the South and East China Seas. They urged the Trump administration to reconsider tariffs on Japan, particularly in sectors impacted by China's coercion.

Providing tariff relief to Japan, the lawmakers argued, would demonstrate U.S. support for its ally when targeted for exercising sovereign rights. The Japanese Defense Ministry confirmed that Chinese aircraft from the carrier Liaoning intermittently directed radar at Japanese jets near Okinawa Prefecture on the previous Saturday.