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Yomiuri Shimbun
14 hours ago
- General
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Rare Copies of Yomiuri's Wartime Paper Found in Nagano Pref. Library Bearing Forgotten Strips of Popular Manga
Copies of a newspaper published by The Yomiuri Shimbun during the latter years of the Pacific War have been found in a library in Nagano Prefecture, a discovery revealing of life on the home front at that time. Many of the Yomiuri's own copies of the daily were lost during a U.S. air raid. The wartime newspaper was aimed at laborers across the nation and carried articles about the war and other topics written from an everyday point of view. It also carried a four-panel comic called 'Norakuro,' which was a popular manga drawn by Suiho Tagawa before the war. These strips of 'Norakuro' had been forgotten, so the discovery of the wartime newspapers means there is a new trove of lost comics. Kyushu University Prof. Hiroki Nagashima found the newspapers in the Nagano Prefectural Library in Nagano City. Nagashima will report his findings at a meeting of the Japan Society for Studies in Cartoons and Comics that will be held in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, from Saturday. Record of life on the home front The Yomiuri's wartime edition was published for about 13 months from March 1, 1944, until the end of March 1945. The newspaper was edited separately from The Yomiuri Shimbun and issued in tabloid form, half the size of the regular Yomiuri. However, The Yomiuri Shimbun has hard copies of only about four months' worth of the wartime daily — from the first edition through to the end of May 1944, as well as those editions printed in September that year. The Yomiuri's head office in Tokyo's Ginza district burned down in an air raid and numerous documents were destroyed by the fire. It is believed that many copies of the wartime edition that had been kept at the head office were lost at that time. The copies recently found at the Nagano Prefectural Library were issued from June 1944 to March 1945, a span that neatly overlaps with the gap in the Yomiuri's own collection. As a result, there are now hard copies of almost every single issue, from the very first right through to issue No. 395. The Yomiuri's wartime edition was aimed at laborers working in factories, mines, agriculture, forestry and the fisheries industry under the country's total mobilization policy. The newspaper assumed that its readers had completed primary school. It carried easy-to-understand news as well as entertainment. The daily offers a valuable record of day-to-day life for average people on the home front through its many articles dealing with the war, such as those offering tips on how to get by. 'Norakuro' on hiatus'Norakuro''s four-panel comics were carried 224 times in the wartime paper, from the inaugural issue until October 1944. The manga was a major hit when it was published in a boys' magazine before the war, but it ended its run shortly before the Pacific War started. The manga resumed after the war, but even Tagawa's autobiography made no mention of the comic strip printed in the Yomiuri's wartime edition. Consequently, the wartime years had been considered a fallow period for his work. The 'Norakuro' comics in the recently discovered newspapers at times sprinkle humor into their depictions of the home front and are a valuable window into the wartime atmosphere in Japan. The comics also provide an important link between the prewar and postwar history of manga.
Miami Herald
19 hours ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
China Issues Update After Trump Reveals Trade Deal
China confirmed that it had agreed with the U.S. to approve the accelerated export of rare earths after President Donald Trump said he had made a trade deal with Beijing. The agreement relates to the earlier tariff-slashing U.S.-China trade talks in Geneva, which stalled over American concerns that Beijing was dragging its feet on exporting rare earths vital to manufacturing. They held further talks in London after a call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to break the deadlock, and the two sides kept talking until the news that a deal had finally been cemented. A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Friday, June 27, that leaders of the two countries had now approved the details of the agreement. They said the U.S. will also lift some of its restrictions. China hopes the two countries will continue to move toward each other, the spokesperson said. Trump, talking about negotiating trade deals during his reciprocal tariffs pause on Thursday, said we "just signed with China yesterday". "In the China deal, we're starting to open up China," Trump said. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. Related Articles China Sends Stark Warning to US AllyChinese Satellite Image Shows Destruction of Iran Drone FactoryChina to Hegseth: US on Path to 'Fire and Suffering'Key US Ally Quietly Prepares for China's Pacific War With America 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
South Korea Issues Update on Birth Rate Crisis
Births in South Korea jumped 8.7 percent in April, the fastest monthly rise in 34 years, Seoul's statistics agency said Wednesday. This was good news to officials, who cited an increase in marriages and shifting demographics. South Korea holds the distinction of having the world's lowest birth rate, despite over $200 billion in pro-natal measures-from fertility treatment to subsidized housing. Policymakers worry this will further drag on Asia's fourth-largest economy, now struggling amid trade tensions and a technology sector slowdown. While the fertility rate ticked upward last year to 0.75 births expected per woman's lifetime from 0.72 in 2023, this is still far below the rate of 2.1 necessary to replace a population. Newsweek reached out to the South Korean embassy in the U.S. via emailed request for comment outside of working hours. South Korea recorded 20,717 births in April, an 8.7 percent increase over the same month last year and the largest year-on-year jump in births since 1991. Park Hyun-jung, director of population trends at Statistics Korea, credited the rebound to a sustained rise in the number of marriages, which climbed for the 13th consecutive month to reach 18,921. An increase in marriages is a strong indicator of a forthcoming rise in births, as childbirth outside of wedlock is uncommon in South Korea. Park also pointed to a growing proportion of women in their 30s as a key factor. The average age for a woman entering her first marriage is now 31.6. "Increase in marriages, a larger population of women in their 30s, and a more positive perception of having children all appear to be contributing to the recent rebound," Park said. Despite the surge in births, deaths in April totaled 28,785, up 0.8 percent from a year earlier, resulting in a net population decline of 8,067. South Korea has seen more deaths than births each quarter since late 2019, and last year joined Japan as a "super-aged" society, with more than 20 percent of the population now over 65. Joo Hyung-hwan, vice chairman South Korea's Presidential Committee on Low Birthrate and Aging Society, said of last year's baby bump during a February press briefing: "Given that marriages are a leading indicator of future births, it is very encouraging." "The increased births may have been affected by delayed marriages during the COVID-19 pandemic…But we believe substantive changes in people's perceptions on marriage and childbirth have been the main causes." South Korean officials are cautiously optimistic and expect births to continue to trend upward as long as marriages also rise. "As the number of births has been increasing significantly since July last year, it is not easy to predict whether the current increase or trend will continue in the second half of this year," one Statistics Korea official told Yonhap News Agency. Related Articles Key US Ally Quietly Prepares for China's Pacific War With AmericaPurple Heart Veteran Forced to Deport After Green Card RevokedUS Allies Ramp Up Sea Power as North Korea Threat RisesWhat North Korea's New Russian Weapons Tech Means for South Korea 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Japan Forward
3 days ago
- General
- Japan Forward
Okinawa Memorial Day a Timely Reminder of Horrors of War
On Okinawa Memorial Day, June 23, the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa passed with a solemn ceremony. It took place at Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni, Itoman City, on the island of Okinawa. The site was where the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) made its last stand. This is one of Japan's "four days" commemorating victims of the war. It is followed by the anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9), and finally, August 15, the day the Pacific War ended. Emperor Emeritus Akihito has dedicated himself to making these occasions for the Japanese people to engage in special commemoration of the dead since he was Crown Prince. On this Okinawa Memorial Day, the Emperor and Empress, as well as other members of the Imperial Family, observed a moment of silence. All Japanese should also take this opportunity to offer their sincere condolences to those who lost their lives. US troops land on Okinawa's Aguni Island in June 1945. (Courtesy of US National Archives via Okinawa Prefectural Archives.) The Battle of Okinawa was the bloodiest of the Pacific War. It began on March 26, 1945, when United States forces landed on the Kerama Islands, about 40 kilometers west of Naha City. An overwhelming number of American soldiers landed on Okinawa Island itself on April 1. Dug-in Japanese forces met them, putting up desperate resistance. The fierce ground battle ended up lasting for roughly three months. For the defense of Okinawa Prefecture, the IJA committed its newly formed 120,000-man 32nd Army. More than 2,500 kamikaze ( tokoki ) planes, airborne forces, and a fleet with the battleship Yamato as its flagship set out from mainland Japan. Many Okinawan volunteers and civilians, including middle school students and the famous Himeyuri detachment of student nurses, also lost their lives during the intense fighting. General Mitsuru Ushijima, commander of the 32nd Army, committed ritual suicide by seppuku in his cave headquarters at Mabuni on June 23. His act brought an end to the organized fighting. Around 188,000 Japanese soldiers and more than 12,000 US service members died during the Battle of Okinawa. We must not forget their sacrifices as we enjoy our peaceful lives today. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko pay their respects at the Cornerstone of Peace in Peace Memorial Park, Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture, on June 4. Ahead of Memorial Day, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako traveled to Okinawa. On June 4, they visited the National Cemetery of the War Dead within Peace Memorial Park. And on June 5, they laid flowers at the memorial for the Tsushima Maru . A US submarine sank the ship while it was evacuating over 1,600 children and other civilians to mainland Japan. On both occasions, the imperial couple comforted bereaved family members. Residents of Okinawa Prefecture warmly welcomed the Emperor and Empress, who conveyed a profound awareness of Okinawa's history of hardship. Unfortunately, however, some residents of the prefecture have accepted distorted opinions about the Battle of Okinawa. For example, some local newspapers repeatedly reported that the greatest lesson of the Battle of Okinawa is that "the military did not protect local residents." They also regularly criticized the activities of the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako, and Princess Aiko speak with war survivors and representatives during their visit to the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum. June 4 in Itoman City, Okinawa Prefecture. However, in reality, many Okinawans were also encouraged to survive by Japanese soldiers who helped them. And the current Self-Defense Forces are also essential for maintaining peace in Japan, including Okinawa. Meanwhile, China is intensifying its military pressure in the waters off Okinawa. This anniversary reminds us that, in addition to diplomacy, Japan absolutely must strengthen its defense capabilities and civil defense operations. (Read the editorial in Japanese .) Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Okinawa Memorial Day: Excessive Burdens of Bases Must Be Reduced
June 23 is designated as 'Memorial Day,' as that is the day on which systematic fighting by the former Japanese military in Okinawa Prefecture is deemed to have ended. This year Memorial Day fell on Monday, and a memorial service was held that day in the city of Itoman in the prefecture for all the war dead. Eighty years have passed since the end of the Battle of Okinawa, which took place during the final days of the Pacific War. The resolve never to repeat such a tragic war must be renewed, and this commitment needs to be passed on to future generations. Even as long as eight decades after the end of World War II, the wounds of battle have not become a thing of the past. On June 9, an unexploded ordnance believed to have been used by the U.S. military during the Battle of Okinawa exploded in the village of Yomitan, and four members of the Ground Self-Defense Force who were checking the ordnance were taken to the hospital. About 1,900 tons of unexploded munitions are estimated to remain in the prefecture. The Self-Defense Forces are urged to make every effort to eliminate the danger posed by unexploded ordnance while taking all necessary safety precautions. Over 200,000 people lost their lives during the Battle of Okinawa, including Japanese and American military personnel and Okinawan residents. One in four Okinawan residents are believed to have died. The Japanese military retreated to the southern part of the main Okinawa island as it continued to resist in an attempt to delay a decisive mainland battle. This is said to have increased the suffering of the residents. As a result, the people of Okinawa feel strongly that they sacrificed themselves for mainland Japan. In addition, 70% of U.S. military facilities in Japan are still concentrated in Okinawa Prefecture. Some of the U.S. military units stationed in Okinawa, such as those of the U.S. Marine Corps, are essential for the defense of the Nansei Islands. However, the situation in which 70% of the bases are located in Okinawa Prefecture, which accounts for only 0.6% of Japan's total land area, must be improved. The government must steadily work toward the reduction of U.S. military bases in the prefecture and the relocation of exercises outside the prefecture. It is important to empathize with the feelings of the people of Okinawa and strive to reduce their burden. At the same time, the government must face the reality that the security environment around Okinawa Prefecture is rapidly deteriorating. China is increasing its military pressure on Taiwan. It has repeatedly intruded into Japan's territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, and it does not hide its ambition to change the status quo by force. To prevent Okinawa Prefecture from again becoming a battlefield, it is important to strengthen the defense capabilities of the Nansei Islands to prepare for a contingency. The government is considering renovating the airport on Ishigakijima Island, including extending the runway, to enable the SDF to use it in a contingency. However, progress has not been made due to opposition from the prefecture, which manages the airport. Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki opposes the enhancement of defense capabilities, arguing that U.S. military bases and SDF camps could become targets of attack. However, merely asserting this theory of 'becoming embroiled in a war' will not ensure the safety of the people of Okinawa. The government also lacks sufficient willingness to engage in dialogue with the prefecture. It is important to persistently explain that strengthening deterrence is also in the interest of Okinawa. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2025)
