TOKYO – The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Philippines to receive Japan’s security aid for 4th straight yr
TOKYO – The Filipino military will continue to be a recipient of Japan’s official security assistance framework for the fourth straight year, strengthening their defense partnership amid an increasingly assertive China, Japanese government sources said Sunday.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will convey the decision to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during their meeting in Tokyo on Thursday, the sources said.
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Japan eyes cyber patrols for tips on overstays, illegal work
TOKYO – Japan’s immigration authorities plan to crack down on visa overstayers and illegal foreign workers by monitoring social media and other platforms for information or leads.
The initiative is part of the country’s efforts to reduce the number of overstayers at a time when Japan is taking in more foreign workers due to labor shortages.
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Chinese leader condemned Japan PM as militaristic during U.S.-China summit
TOKYO – Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during the two-day summit earlier this month with U.S. President Donald Trump, criticizing her push to boost Japan’s defense capabilities as neo-militaristic, diplomatic sources said Sunday.
Xi and Trump met for the first time in Beijing between May 14 and 15 since Takaichi suggested in parliament last November that Japan could deploy its defense forces in the event of a conflict over Taiwan, the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing, escalating tensions between the two Asian neighbors whose diplomatic ties have long been strained by Japan’s wartime aggression.
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Sumo: Wakatakakage beats Kirishima in tiebreaker, claims 2nd Emperor’s Cup
TOKYO – Komusubi Wakatakakage clinched his second top-division championship with a tie-breaking victory over ozeki Kirishima at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday after both finished with 12 wins and three losses.
The former sekiwake from Fukushima Prefecture spoiled Kirishima’s bid for back-to-back titles at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan after the Mongolian-born technician earned promotion back to sumo’s second-highest rank with his championship in March.
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Nissan drops plan to build drive units for EVs in Britain
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. has withdrawn a plan to manufacture powertrains for electric vehicles in Britain, a source familiar with the matter said Sunday, as the struggling Japanese automaker reviews its production and factory numbers.
Jacto Ltd., a Nissan subsidiary that has been jointly developing drive units for EV models, had planned to build a factory in Sunderland in 2026 and supply its parts to a Nissan assembly plant.
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Horse racing: Female jockey Imamura makes history by winning Japanese Oaks
TOKYO – Seina Imamura became the first female jockey from the Japan Racing Association to win a Grade 1 race on Sunday by triumphing in the Yushun Himba, better known as the Japanese Oaks.
The 22-year-old from Shiga Prefecture steered fifth-favorite Juryoku Pierrot from the back of the pack to the front in the final stretch of the 2,400-meter race at Tokyo Racecourse, crossing in 2 minutes, 25.6 seconds in a stunning finish.
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Baseball: BayStars slugger Viciedo to retire mid-season
YOKOHAMA – DeNA BayStars slugger Dayan Viciedo will retire after Sunday’s Central League game against the Hiroshima Carp, his club announced.
The 37-year-old Cuban has been playing in Nippon Professional Baseball since 2016 and led the CL with both a .348 batting average and 178 hits in 2018 with the Chunichi Dragons.
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Japan’s Okamoto, Efira win best actress award at Cannes film festival
CANNES, France – Japan’s Tao Okamoto and Belgian-French performer Virginie Efira won the best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday, with Okamoto becoming the first Japanese actress to receive the recognition.
They both starred in the film “All of a Sudden,” or “Soudain” in French, directed by Oscar-winning Ryusuke Hamaguchi. The film depicts a theater director battling cancer, played by Okamoto, and a care facility director, played by Efira, who form a deep friendship.
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VIDEO: Shoma Uno and Marin Honda to form ice dance pair
