China escalates tactics targeting Japan's control over Senkaku islands
On May 3, a helicopter took off from a China Coast Guard vessel that had entered Japanese territorial waters. A Japan Coast Guard patrol boat confirmed the sighting and issued a warning. Japan Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets scrambled from Naha Air Base in Okinawa prefecture.
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Kyodo News
5 minutes ago
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: July 26, 2025
TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- Over 50% of Japan's upper house lawmakers oppose LDP-led government TOKYO - A postelection survey conducted by Kyodo News showed Friday that 56.4 percent of House of Councillors members do not favor a ruling coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior partner Komeito party. Asked about the preferred form of government after the election, 23.3 percent supported an opposition-led coalition, while 33.1 percent called for a new political framework through realignment, indicating a desire for change from the current ruling structure. ---------- China lodges protest with Japan over Taiwan foreign minister's visit BEIJING - China has lodged a strong protest with Japan over a recent visit by Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung, criticizing it as an opportunity for the self-ruled island to engage in separatist activities. The protest was made by Liu Jinsong, head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry's Asian Affairs Department, in a meeting with Akira Yokochi, chief minister at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, on Friday. Liu criticized Japan for allowing Lin to visit as it sends a "wrong signal," according to China's Foreign Ministry. ---------- Hundreds gather to support Japan PM Ishiba amid calls for resignation TOKYO - Hundreds of people filled the streets outside Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's office on Friday, urging him not to step down in a rare show of support for the embattled leader, who is facing growing pressure from within his own party to resign following a crushing election loss. The hour-long rally in the sweltering summer heat in Tokyo was marked by a crowd of people holding up placards, chanting "Hang in there!" and "Don't quit!" ---------- Tokyo sushi worker killed at restaurant, allegedly by colleague TOKYO - A 32-year-old man was fatally stabbed Friday, allegedly by his colleague, at a sushi restaurant in Tokyo's busy Ikebukuro area where he worked, police said. The police arrested Masahito Ishioka on suspicion of murdering Tomoyuki Iwata at around 4:30 p.m., before opening time, they said, adding that the 56-year-old admitted to having killed him due to an interpersonal problem. ---------- Japan raises travel alert for Thailand, Cambodia border, amid clashes TOKYO - Japan's Foreign Ministry on Friday raised its travel alert for the Thailand-Cambodia border area following recent armed clashes between the two Southeast Asian countries, advising citizens not to visit the region. Under the updated travel advisory, the designated area has been placed under a level 3 alert, the second-highest on the four-point scale, urging nationals to "avoid all travel." ---------- Latvian staffer at Osaka expo goes viral with love of Japan OSAKA - A Latvian staff member at the World Exposition in Osaka has drawn over half a million social media followers after posting about his experience of engaging with Japanese language and culture as a foreigner. Artur Galata, 31, who has been posting on X and Instagram, said he was "very happy to work in my favorite country" after having visited 11 times since April 2017, traveling to more than 40 of the 47 prefectures. ---------- Kirin launches 20-yr whisky aging service for life milestones TOKYO - A new service launched by Kirin Brewery Co. lets customers purchase malt whisky at key life moments and age it for 20 years, offering tasting samples along the way to experience the flavor's evolution. The initial offering, launched June 6 on the crowdfunding platform Makuake, sold out the same day. The major Japanese brewer hopes to roll out the service on a larger scale next year. ---------- Baseball: Ohtani's homer streak ends, Imanaga roughed up BOSTON - Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani had his homer streak snapped at five games Friday, while Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga had his worst outing of the season. Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a single, a walk and two strikeouts in the Dodgers' 5-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. His five-game home run streak equals six other players in Dodgers history, most recently Max Muncy in 2019. ---------- Video: "Yamahoko" parade in Kyoto's Gion Festival
The Mainichi
5 minutes ago
- The Mainichi
Yoroku: Putting in two cents on nuclear weapons suggestions after Japan election
"May I put in my two cents?" A social media post that opens like this, responding to a controversial suggestion Japan should go nuclear has garnered attention. The post was made by Kazufumi Onishi, mayor of the city of Kumamoto in southwest Japan. Onishi tweeted on July 21, the day after the House of Councillors election, "An era has been ushered in where someone claiming 'Japan should arm itself with nuclear weapons' has been elected to the Diet. But let me clearly say this: Japan cannot possess nuclear arms either in legal, practical or humanitarian terms." He also explained the basis for his arguments. Saya, who won in the upper house poll as a newcomer backed by the minor opposition party Sanseito, spoke on Japan's security policy during the campaign period, arguing, "Nuclear armament is one of the most inexpensive and effective measures to strengthen security." Mayor Onishi is inherently conservative. When U.S. President Donald Trump justified the atomic bombings of Japanese cities during World War II, Onishi called on the Japanese government to take a resolute action as the world's only country to have suffered nuclear attacks. The mayor has since continued to post his comments by responding to criticism and questions regarding his July 21 post. He explained why nuclear armament is not "inexpensive" and refuted claims that Ukraine was invaded because it renounced nuclear armament. He also touched on security initiatives for non-nuclear nations. While Saya's remarks sparked a widespread backlash and repercussions, there appears to be a tendency online and elsewhere for people's sense of insecurity about the global situation and the Japan-U.S. alliance to boost nuclear armament theories. Onishi's posts display his attempts to deepen discussions, not just shun others' opinions. He also urged, "Please do not hesitate to express your complaints and demands about (the city's) politics." Social media is prone to emotional arguments and rejection of dialogue. His posts can be regarded as challenging this reality.
Yomiuri Shimbun
35 minutes ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Fiscal Confidence: Warnings from the Market Must be Taken Seriously
The ruling and opposition parties should recognize that the era when tax and fiscal policies could be implemented without much concern for the cost of interest payments on debts is over. Under the new power balance in the Diet, they must cooperate on responsible policies. As a result of the House of Councillors election, the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito has become a minority in both houses of the Diet. Therefore, the opposition parties, which have advocated such measures as consumption tax cuts, are expected to intensify their offensive, and there is a growing sense of caution in the market over fiscal deterioration. The fact that Japanese government bonds are being sold off, causing long-term interest rates to rise, may be a sign of this concern. The rate surged to 1.605% on July 25 — the highest level in about 17 years. During the 'lost 30 years' when the Japanese economy was stagnant for a prolonged period, wages and prices did not rise, and ultra-low interest rates were the norm. This likely helped keep interest payments on government bonds from rising and contributed to more relaxed fiscal discipline. However, the Bank of Japan ended its large-scale monetary easing policy in spring last year and has reduced its purchases of government bonds. Now the government is trying to shift to an economy where wages and investment both rise to bring the economy out of its prolonged stagnation. Amid such changes, the total amount of outstanding government bonds has reached about ¥1.1 quadrillion. If fiscal confidence continues to be neglected and thereby long-term interest rates rise, the risk of ballooning interest payments will also increase. The ruling and opposition parties will surely have to take the changes of the times and warnings from the market seriously. Regardless, under the new Diet power balance, tax cuts are likely to become the central focus of debate. Opposition parties aim to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate and are considering submitting a bill to the extraordinary Diet session to be convened on Aug. 1. In the last ordinary Diet session, a bill submitted by opposition parties to abolish the provisional gasoline tax rate was passed in the House of Representatives. However, in the upper house, where the ruling parties held a majority, the bill was not put to a vote and was scrapped. Completely removing the provisional gasoline tax rate would result in an annual reduction of ¥1.5 trillion in tax revenue for the central and local governments. How would the shortfall be covered? In addition, if the price of gasoline drops and consumption increases, it would run counter to the trend of decarbonization. There is likely to be intense debate over consumption tax cuts and cash handouts as measures against high prices. Tax cuts themselves are likely to be welcomed by many people, as they would ease the burden on household budgets. However, it would be irresponsible for the opposition parties to focus solely on the benefits. If they also factor in the burdens associated with the cuts, the public response is unlikely to be entirely positive. Consumption tax is a core revenue source for supporting the social security system, which includes pensions and medical care. Unless revenue sources are secured, cuts to social security services will be inevitable. Relying on government bond issuance passes the bill along to younger generations. If the future grows more uncertain, consumption will not be stimulated. The ruling and opposition parties should face these issues squarely and deepen discussions. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2025)
