Kyodo News Digest: March 20, 2025

Japan’s Ikuma Horishima meets the press after winning gold in the men’s moguls event at the freestyle skiing world championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, on March 19, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan marks 30 years since Tokyo subway sarin attack by AUM cult

TOKYO – Japan on Thursday marked the 30th anniversary of the nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system by the AUM Shinrikyo doomsday cult, with the relatives of the victims striving to keep alive the memory of the worst terrorist attack on Japanese soil.

At Kasumigaseki Station in the Japanese capital, officials observed a moment of silence at around 8 a.m., the time when the deadly sarin nerve agent was released in train cars on March 20, 1995.

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Mitsubishi Motors to ask Taiwan’s Hon Hai to produce EVs: sources

TOKYO – Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to ask electronics giant Foxconn to produce its electric vehicles as part of efforts to cut production costs, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday, as the Taiwanese firm is seeking a foothold in the EV market amid competition with Chinese companies.

The Tokyo-based automaker is expected to announce its plan with Foxconn, formally known as Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., in the coming weeks at the earliest, the sources said.

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Japan blocked ex-Taiwan leader Tsai’s 2024 visit over China concerns

TOKYO – The Japanese government did not approve a visit by former Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen last July to attend a memorial service for former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe due to concerns over a backlash from China, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The Japanese government, at the time led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, was working to lift China’s ban on imports of Japanese seafood, imposed in the wake of the release into the sea of treated wastewater from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and did not want to add to tensions, they said.

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SoftBank Group to acquire U.S. chip design firm Ampere for $6.5 bil.

TOKYO – SoftBank Group Corp. said Thursday it will acquire U.S. semiconductor design company Ampere Computing Holdings LLC for $6.5 billion as the Japanese tech giant broadens its infrastructure investments in artificial intelligence.

Under the transaction, which is expected to close in the latter half of 2025, SoftBank Group will make Ampere a wholly owned subsidiary and Ampere will retain its name, the two companies said. ———-

Japan opposition lawmakers meet with senior Chinese party official

BEIJING – A delegation of Japanese opposition lawmakers met Thursday in Beijing with a senior official of China’s ruling Communist Party as political and economic exchanges between the two countries grow despite ongoing tensions.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan group led by Executive Adviser Katsuya Okada held talks with Li Shulei, head of the Communist Party Central Committee’s Publicity Department, at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital.

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Southwestern Japan airport gets new runway to address congestion

FUKUOKA – A new runway began operating at Fukuoka Airport on Thursday to address increasing congestion at the hub for flights connecting southwestern Japan and other parts of Asia.

With two runways, including the new 2,500-meter one, the airport has increased its takeoff and landing slots to 188,000 from 176,000 per year, amid Japan’s inbound tourism boom. The new runway will be mainly used for international flight takeoffs.

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Sumo: Onosato beats Takerufuji, moves into 2-way lead with Takayasu

OSAKA – Ozeki Onosato and No. 4 maegashira Takayasu moved into a two-way tie for the lead at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament after advancing to 10-2 on Thursday.

Onosato narrowly beat the other joint overnight leader, No. 6 maegashira Takerufuji, while Takayasu overpowered sekiwake Oho on Day 12 at Edion Arena Osaka, where the tournament is taking place without a yokozuna following the injury withdrawal of newly promoted Hoshoryu (5-5-2).

Video: Snow in Tokyo and other parts of Japan