Latest news with #KatsumiSaito
Japan Forward
06-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Forward
Japan to Import Canadian LNG in Bid to Diversify Energy Supply
このページを 日本語 で読む Amid rising geopolitical tensions, especially in the Middle East, Japan has received some welcome news on the energy front. Mitsubishi Corporation is preparing to begin importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Canada. These shipments will be primarily destined for the Japanese market. This will be the first major delivery of Canadian LNG to Japan, which currently depends on Australia and Malaysia for over half of its LNG imports. With limited domestic energy resources, Japan has been actively working to diversify its LNG supply. Australia, its largest supplier, is projected to face production declines in the coming years. This highlights the need for more stable and reliable sources. Canadian LNG, backed by geographic proximity and political stability, presents a strong alternative. It could play a key role in strengthening Japan's energy security. LNG is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, reducing its volume to about one-600th and making it much easier to transport by sea. Japan does produce some natural gas domestically, mainly in areas like Niigata and Chiba, but this supply falls far short of meeting national demand. Like oil, Japan relies almost entirely on imports for its natural gas. With delays in restarting nuclear power plants, Japan remains heavily dependent on thermal power, which generates around 70% of the country's electricity. Gas-fired power plants are the largest contributors. Compared to other fossil fuels, natural gas produces less CO₂, making it a relatively cleaner option. Because of its key role in electricity generation, any disruption in LNG supply could have serious consequences for the economy and daily life. In fiscal 2024, Japan imported 65.87 million tons of LNG, making it the world's second-largest importer after China. A tanker carrying LNG docking at a pier. (File photo) The new LNG supply will come from the LNG Canada project in British Columbia, a facility developed with investment from Mitsubishi Corporation, Shell, and other partners. Natural gas is extracted inland and transported via a 670-kilometer pipeline to the coast. There, it is liquefied and shipped overseas by tanker. The project represents a total investment of about $14 billion USD and has an annual production capacity of 14 million tons. Mitsubishi holds a 15% stake, giving it rights to around 2.1 million tons per year. If all of that were exported to Japan, it would cover roughly a quarter of the country's projected increase in LNG demand. Mitsubishi was the first major Japanese trading company to enter the LNG business, beginning in the 1960s. Today, it is involved in LNG projects across more than 10 countries. With the addition of Canadian supply, Mitsubishi's annual LNG production capacity has grown to around 15 million tons, the largest among Japanese companies. Katsumi Saito, Senior Executive Officer overseeing the fuel business and related operations, commented, "Our strength lies in the knowledge and development capabilities built on more than 50 years of experience." One of the key advantages of Canadian LNG is proximity. Shipping LNG from Canada's west coast to Japan takes about 10 days — much shorter than the roughly 30 days required from the US Gulf Coast via the Panama Canal. That route can take even longer when canal traffic is restricted by drought. Other shipping routes, such as around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, can take up to 60 days. LNG from the Middle East typically takes about 16 days. In contrast, Canadian LNG avoids major chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz, offering more stable and reliable delivery. Canada also has vast natural gas reserves — enough to meet Japan's current annual LNG demand for about 25 years. Its cold climate makes the liquefaction process more energy-efficient. Canadian LNG has a higher heat content than LNG from the United States. On top of that, there is strong political support in Canada for energy exports, ensuring long-term policy stability. As of fiscal 2024, Australia supplies 38% of Japan's LNG. Although shipping times from Australia are similar to those from Canada, slower gas field development — driven by climate change policies — has raised concerns about future supply. To reduce risks, Japan has also prioritized LNG imports from the United States, Qatar, which has massive reserves, and Russia. The US has significantly increased its LNG exports in recent years. Qatar, however, faces geopolitical risks, especially due to tensions with Iran. Japan continues to import LNG from Russia, but new projects have been put on hold under US sanctions. For instance, Japanese trading firms like Mitsui & Co are currently unable to engage with Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project. Japan's electricity demand is expected to grow as the number of data centers increases, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence technologies. If decarbonization efforts do not progress, the government estimates LNG imports could rise by 12% by 2040, reaching about 74 million tons. The LNG Canada project marks the first new LNG venture involving Japanese companies in around six years. With global instability highlighting the need for stronger supply chains, Canada's role as a new supplier is a major win for Japan. Further expansion of production capacity is also eagerly anticipated. ( Read the article in Japanese . ) Author: Katsufumi Sato, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
UPI
16-06-2025
- Sport
- UPI
Royal Ascot looms after a weekend of big races from France to Japan
1 of 2 | Meisho Tabaru wins Sunday's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, earning "Win and You're In" spots in both the Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar and the W.S. Cox Plate in Australia. Photo by and courtesy of Katsumi Saito June 16 (UPI) -- The Royal Ascot started taking firm shape this weekend even as the winners were cooling out from Sunday's "Win and You're In" qualifiers for the Breeders' Cup Turf, the W.S. Cox Plate and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Back in the States, some potentially late-blooming 3-year-olds took steps forward at Monmouth Park and Delaware Park. And Motorious started off his 7-year-old season with another convincing win. Oh boy! Royal Ascot. Around the world, around the clock Royal Ascot The five-day Royal meeting gets underway Tuesday, starting with a bang in the form of the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes. It's worth setting the alarm clock, as familiar foes Rosalion, Dancing Gemini, Lead Artist and Notable Speech top a quality field for the straight one-mile test. Also in the field is the first big American hope, Carl Spackler. The 5-year-old multiple Grade 1 winner, trained by Ciaron Maher, exits a win in the Grade I Maker's Mark Mile at Keeneland in April and has been prepping at Saratoga. Also on the Tuesday card are the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at 5 furlongs, the Group 1 St. James's Palace Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 mile and the Group 2 Coventry Stakes for 2-year-olds. Wednesday's traditional feature is the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes. A flock of retirements has left the Thursday centerpiece, the Group 1Ascot Gold Cup, a bit more open than in recent years. On Friday, it's the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup for 3-year-olds at 6 furlongs and the Group 1 Coronation Cup for 3-year-old fillies. The final Group 1, the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, wraps things up on Saturday. Japan Meisho Tabaru scored a front-running upset win in Sunday's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin Racecourse, turning back a late challenge by the favorite, Bellagio Opera, and running on to win by 3 lengths. The 4-year-old son of Gold Ship earned "Win and You're In" spots in both the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate in Australia and the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. Sadly, lacking a time machine he's not going to contest both, as the Cox Plate is Oct. 25 and the Breeders' Cup is Nov. 1. Meisho Tabaru, last seen finishing fifth in the Group 1 Dubai Turf in April, benefitted from jockey Yutaka Take's decision to go for the lead and see how far he could go. "I knew the other horses were going to make their bid early but my mount had good momentum going around the fourth corner and I was hoping that he would manage to push through," the veteran rider said. France Gezora rallied to the lead inside the 100-meter mark in Sunday's Group 1 Prix de Diane or French Oaks at Chantilly and held safe a late charge by Bedtime Story to win by 1 length. Gezora, an Almanzor filly racing for Peter Brant's White Birch Farm, scored her fourth win following a victory in the Group 2 Prix Saint-Alary at Longchamp on May 11. Bedtime Story, a Frankel filly, won her first four starts last season for trainer Aidan O'Brien, but had been up the course in three intervening starts. The race now is a "Win and You're In" for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October and Gezora's odds accordingly were whacked down for that race. Meanwhile, back in the States The 3-year-olds Bracket Buster returned to form, and then some, in Saturday's $150,000 NYRA Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. The Vekoma colt, trained by Vickie Oliver, finished second in the Grade III Lexington at Keeneland two starts back but then finished seventh in an optional claimer at Churchill Downs on Derby Day. In the Pegasus, he dueled for the lead, then took over and won off by 7 lengths. Admiral Dennis took a big step forward in Saturday's $200,000 Delaware Derby at Delaware Park, stalking the pace before kicking away to win by 3 1/4 lengths over Barbadian Runner. On the Triple Crown trail, he finished sixth in the Grade II Rebel at Oaklawn Park after a slow start, then finished fourth in the Grade I Blue Grass at Keeneland. Classic / Dirt Mile Bishops Bay rolled smoothly over a sloppy Monmouth Park track to win Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Salvator Mile be new Steven y 5 lengths over Nelson Avenue. The 5-year-old son of Uncle Mo improved to seven wins and three seconds from 10 starts despite a 17-month, mid-career interruption. Since returning from that hiatus, he's 5-for-6. The 3-year-old fillies Fondly returned from a 13th place showing in the Kentucky Oaks, her first career loss, to win Saturday' $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks by 3 lengths after leading from the early going. The favorite, Margie's Intention, started last of nine and came on late to finish second. On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Take Charge Milady engaged in a tight stretch duel with odds-on favorite Immersive in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Stakes for 3-year-old fillies with Take Charge Milady prevailing by a neck at the wire. Immersive, last year's Breeders' Cup and Eclipse Award 2-year-old filly champ, entered undefeated in four previous starts. Distaff Majestic Oops, shipped in from Oaklawn Park, drew off from four rivals in the stretch run of Saturday's $150,000 Lady's Secret Stakes at Monmouth Park and won by 4 1/2 lengths over the favorite, Occult. Malibu Beauty led all the way to a 3-length score in Saturday's $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaward Park. Sprint Full Moon Madness enjoyed a bit of class relief in Saturday's $100,000 Alapocas Run Stakes at Delaware Park. The 5-year-old Into Mischief gelding came with a late surge to catch Buccherino and win by a neck. Turf Vote No got the thumbs up in Saturday's $200,000 Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park. The 4-year-old Divisidero gelding had some rough going early and raced well back in the field but swung four-wide into the lane and made up all the ground to win by 3/4 length over Harrow. Redistricting, the odds-on favorite, led virtually all the way to a 5-length victory in Saturday's $150,000 Monmouth Stakes. Rebel Red won Saturday's $200,000 Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs by 2 lengths. And Nitti came from last of five to win Sunday's 1 3/4-miles Grade III San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita by 2 1/2 lengths. Filly & Mare Turf Mrs. Astor, the odds-on favorite, had all she could do to handle long shot Mahina in the closing stages of Saturday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita. Both rallied from behind a moderate pace set by Kentucky Gal but Mrs. Astor got the better trip and won by a nose. Whiskey Decision, returning from seven months on the sidelines, won Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Eatontown Stakes at Monmouth Park by 2 lengths over the favorite Maggie Go. Turf Sprint Motorious kicked off his 7-year-old season with a convincing 1 1/4-length victory in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Daytona Stakes at Santa Anita. The British-bred Muhaarar gelding, second in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, swung outside rivals crossing the dirt track, rallied by the leaders and drove home first by 1 1/2 length. He's won three of his last four starts going back to last August. Gata Brazil won Sunday's $100,000 Stormy Blues Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Laurel Park by a nose over the pacesetting favorite, Roja. Super Chow took Sunday's off-the-turf $100,000 Get Serious Stakes at Monmouth Park by 1 3/4 lengths.
UPI
13-06-2025
- Sport
- UPI
England's Royal Ascot, Japan lead big weekend of horse racing
1 of 2 | Natural Rise wins Wednesday's Tokyo Derby, is poised to sweep Japan's dirt Triple Crown and could be a prospect for year-end U.S. races. Photo by and courtesy of Katsumi Saito June 13 (UPI) -- A big week of international racing promises to have some serious impact down the road in North America as Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" spots are up for grabs Sunday in Japan and throughout the coming week at Royal Ascot. Delaware Park and Monmouth Park take the limelight in domestic racing. But let's start with the global perspective. Around the world, around the clock England The carriages roll next Tuesday at Ascot, presumably with their Royal Highnesses in the lead. The meeting carries on for five days with the usual pomp and revelry, but with a bit of a reduced American presence this year as Wesley Ward, the pioneering U.S. invader of the meeting, is taking a pass. Look for a repeat of recent years' showdown between Coolmore and Godolphin and challenges by some of the new international powerhouse owners who have been spending freely to put together a brigade for the Royal meeting. There are four Breeders' Cup qualifying races --- Tuesday's Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes at a straight mile and Group I King Charles III Stakes at 5 furlongs, the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at 1 1/4 miles Wednesday and the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes for 2-year-olds at 5 furlongs Thursday. France She's Perfect has a chance for redemption -- if she actually needed it -- in Sunday's Group 1 Prix de Diane or French Oaks at Chantilly. The filly finished first in the Group 1 French Guineas in her last start, only to be set down to second for interference at mid-stretch -- a controversial ruling, nonetheless upheld on appeal, that was a crushing blow to the 38-member owning syndicate and trainer Charlie Fellowes. The syndicate reported this week it turned down a $2.5 million offer for the Sioux Nation filly. British commentators generally criticized that decision. However, assuming equal shares, $2.5 million divided by 38 comes out to a shade less than $66,000 syndicate member. That's still a tidy sum, but a more manageable gamble for a shot at glory and a potentially bigger payday down the road. Japan Sunday's Grade 1 Takarazuka Kinen, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Turf, is one of two races on the Japanese calendar that lets fans vote for horses they want to see in the field. This year, the top three vote-getters are expected to run and are likely be among the favorites. Look to Bellagio Opera, who is 4-for-4 over the Hanshin Racecourse turf, including the Grade 1 Osaka Hai in his last start. Meanwhile, back in the States The 3-year-olds Saturday's $150,000 NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park features some interesting late-bloomers who weren't quite ready to take advantage of their Triple Crown nominations. Garamond, a Chad Brown trainee, finished third in the Grade III Gotham, and then took a step back to win an optional claimer at Aqueduct in late April. He ranks as the morning-line pick. Valentinian and Bracket Buster also look copiable of taking a forward step for trainers Todd Pletcher and Vickie Oliver, respectively. Saturday's $200,000 Delaware Derby has a field of 11, many of whom are looking to get back on track after disappointment. Admiral Dennis, a Constitution colt trained by Brad Cox, is the morning-line favorite while returning from a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland in his last start. With the U.S. 3-year-old championship still up for grabs -- probably between Triple Crown warriors Sovereignty and Journalism -- could there be a foreign interloper? Natural Rise, whose veins carry American Classics blood, won Wednesday's Tokyo Derby at Oi Racecourse, the second leg of that country's dirt Triple Crown. The third leg is the Oct. 8 Japan Dirt Classic, which 2024 Kentucky Derby third Forever Young used to prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he also finished third. Stay tuned. Distaff Nine signed on for Saturday's $300,000 Grade III Delaware Oaks including the 1-2-3 finishers from the Grade II Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico -- Margie's Intention, Paris Lily and Kinzie Queen, respectively. Virginia Oaks winner Fondly, who reported 11th in the Kentucky Oaks, also is well fancied on the morning line. Gun Song, winner of last year's Black-Eyed Susan, is the morning-line pick among eight in Saturday's $150,000 Obeah Stakes at Delaware Park. She also is cross-entered and second-favorite, behind 2023 Monmouth Oaks winner Occult, in Saturday's $100,000 Lady's Secret. Watch out for Oaklawn Park refugee Majestic Oops in the latter race. Classic / Dirt Mile Bishops Bay, never worse than second in nine previous starts, stands out like the proverbial sore thumb in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Salvator Mile at Monmouth Park. The winner of his last three, with ascending speed figures, the 5-year-ol son of Uncle Mo probably won't get his 6-5 morning-line odds against eight lesser-accomplished rivals. Turf Two Chilean-bred veterans, Kay Army and Master Piece, top the morning line among 11 entered for Saturday's $200,000, 1 1/2-mile Cape Henlopen at Delaware Park. In an era of short careers and limited starts, there's as much data about these as any handicapper could want. Among them, the 11 have made 219 starts. Master Piece, owner of 34 of those, is cross-entered in the Monmouth Stakes. Redistricting has been doing his best in top-level heats for trainer Chad Brown but looks more likely with some serious class relief in Saturday's $150,000 Monmouth Stakes where he's the 7-5 morning-line favorite. Sunday's $100,000 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita, a 1 3/4-miles marathon on the Santa Anita grass, has three Jonathan Thomas-trained runners including Mrs. Astor. Should she start, the main opposition would be Divin Propos, trained by Phil D'Amato. Filly & Mare Turf Trainer Brown gives Argentine import Maggie Go her first spin on U.S. turf in Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Eatontown at Monmouth Park. The combo of the trainer's reputation and the filly's record make her the morning-line pick. D'Amato saddles half the six-horse field entered for Saturday's $100,000 Possibly Perfect at Santa, Anita but the morning-line favorite is Mrs. Astor, who has three wins and a second from her last four starts. Turf Sprint Motorious, Goliad and Bran top the morning line for Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Daytona down the Santa Anita hillside course. Motorious was second in last year's Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint and won the Grade II Joe Hernandez Stakes going down the hill in his 2025 debut.
