Kyodo News Digest: Nov. 4, 2024
A giant float is paraded during the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage-listed Karatsu Kunchi festival in Karatsu in Saga Prefecture, southwestern Japan, on Nov. 3, 2024. (Kyodo)
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan launches flagship H3 rocket carrying defense satellite
MINAMITANE, Japan – Japan launched a flagship H3 rocket carrying a Defense Ministry communications satellite Monday, its third consecutive successful liftoff following a botched debut in 2023.
The H3 series is the successor to the country’s current mainstay H2A vehicle, which has supported Japan’s space development for over 20 years and will be retired after a final launch, possibly by the end of March.
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China’s Wang, Japan security adviser agree to keep bilateral dialogue
BEIJING – China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, and Takeo Akiba, Japan’s chief national security adviser, held marathon talks in Beijing on Monday and agreed to maintain dialogue at various levels, including between their leaders, Akiba told reporters.
Their meeting was intended to lay the groundwork for the first summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who took office on Oct. 1, and Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an international gathering to be held in South America later this month, according to Japanese government sources.
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Japan nuclear reactor in 2011 disaster area stops days after restart
SENDAI – A nuclear reactor in northeastern Japan was halted Monday for checks, the plant operator said, just days after it became the first to restart in the region since the 2011 earthquake and tsunami disaster.
Tohoku Electric Power Co. is facing difficulties in sending in a device to confirm the condition of the No. 2 reactor at the Onagawa plant in Miyagi Prefecture.
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Nissan, M’bishi Corp. to set up EV battery, autonomous car service JV
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. and trading house Mitsubishi Corp. are considering setting up a joint venture by March 2025 to provide services using autonomous driving technology and electric vehicle batteries, sources familiar with the matter said Monday.
The venture aims to offer autonomous driving services in rural areas in Japan where labor shortages are more severe and public transportation options are limited due to the aging population.
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Japan gov’t-backed body opens Kyiv office to promote trade, business
TOKYO – A Japanese trade promotion agency has opened an office in Kyiv to facilitate private businesses’ entry into Ukraine, in one of Japan’s latest efforts to support the war-ravaged country’s economy amid Russia’s prolonged invasion.
The government-backed Japan External Trade Organization launched the office on Oct. 10, and it has already begun conducting research, providing information on local investment conditions and offering business-matching opportunities for Japanese firms.
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Japan business lobby urges China to facilitate conditions for trips
BEIJING – A Japanese business delegation urged Beijing on Monday to “facilitate conditions for China visits,” apparently referring to the detention of foreign nationals over spying allegations in the country, the head of the group told reporters after meeting with Vice President Han Zheng.
Takeshi Niinami, chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives, also said that the group, comprised of some 20 members, called on Beijing to ease visa conditions and expressed hope that many Chinese people will visit Osaka for the World Expo next year.
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33 changed gender in Japan without surgery after 2023 court ruling
TOKYO – At least 33 individuals changed their legal gender in Japan without surgery this year since the Supreme Court ruled against a law requiring transgender people to remove their reproductive capabilities for such alteration, a survey by the top court showed Sunday.
The data is the first comprehensive figure on gender changes since the top court declared in October last year that the controversial requirement was unconstitutional, as previous numbers were only based on individual reports.
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Candidates begin to register for Philippines’ Muslim region election
MANILA – Political parties and candidates began filing their candidacies Monday for the first parliamentary election of a Muslim-led autonomous region, set for May to fulfill a 2014 peace agreement between the central government and what was then the country’s largest Islamic rebel group.
The elected parliament members will choose a chief minister from among themselves to lead the Bangsamoro autonomous region which spans parts of Mindanao and nearby islands.
Video: Giant floats paraded at Karatsu Kunchi festival in Saga Prefecture
