The Japanese premier wants the defence budget to reach 2% of GDP by 2027, up from a level that has long hovered around 1%

Japan ranked 118th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s 2025 Global Gender Gap Report, the same position as last year - the lowest among G7; political empowerment is the weakest area, while education and health register near gender parity

Japan came 14th among 36 developed countries in new child well-being survey, up from 20th in the previous survey released in 2020; the UNICEF Innocenti report comprehensively evaluates children's mental well-being, physical health and skills

Around 119.000 people visited the Osaka Expo on its opening day Sunday 14 April, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Expo said that over 140.000 people had made reservations 20.000 appear to have changed their dates to avoid bad weather