International relationsCompanies worry about losing to overseas rivals in Middle East, Ukraine reconstruction workThe Foreign Ministry has lowered travel advisory levels in such places as the Middle East and Venezuela. (Photo by Nikkei)RINTO HORIKOSHIJuly 10, 2026 02:56 JSTTOKYO -- The Japanese Foreign Ministry is taking a more flexible approach to lowering travel advisory levels for areas affected by armed conflict or political instability, part of an effort to help companies that had said the ministry's previous stance was overly cautious compared with other advanced economies.