Kyodo News Digest: March 22, 2025

Flags of countries participating in the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka are hoisted at the event’s venue on an artificial island in the western Japan city of Osaka on March 21, 2025, ahead of its start in April. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

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

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Japan, China agree to push mutually beneficial, practical cooperation

TOKYO – Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Saturday that he agreed with top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi to promote “mutually beneficial and practical” cooperation in areas such as decarbonization and addressing low birthrates.

After talks with Wang in Tokyo, Iwaya told reporters that he conveyed concerns over intensifying Chinese military activities and other provocative moves while voicing Japan’s eagerness to host a trilateral summit involving South Korea “by the year-end.”

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Japan, China, South Korea agree to promote “future-oriented” cooperation

TOKYO – The top diplomats of Japan, China and South Korea agreed on Saturday to promote “future-oriented” cooperation during their meeting in Tokyo amid growing global uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade and security policies.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said after the trilateral talks that he and his Chinese and South Korean counterparts, Wang Yi and Cho Tae Yul, also decided to accelerate preparations to hold a summit “at the earliest convenient time,” which would follow one held last year.

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Japan ranks low in global survey on trust in scientists

TOKYO – Japan ranked low in a global survey on public trust in scientists, according to a study by an international research team published in a British scientific journal.

The survey, conducted between 2022 and 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic, asked around 72,000 people in 68 countries and regions to rate their trust in scientists on a scale of up to 5 based on factors such as competence, honesty and transparency.

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Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi opens 1st permanent store in Japan

TOKYO – Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi Corp. on Saturday opened its first permanent store in Japan, aiming to boost sales by offering customers the chance to interact directly with its high-end phones and other electronic appliances.

The store, located in a shopping mall operated by Aeon Retail Co. in Saitama near Tokyo, comes as Xiaomi aims to launch a total of five to ten stores in Japan by the end of this year.

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Sumo: Onosato wins, Takayasu loses to tie for lead ahead of final day

OSAKA – Ozeki Onosato regained a share of the lead Saturday at the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament by defeating sekiwake Daieisho after overnight leader Takayasu lost his battle with fellow rank-and-file wrestler Churanoumi.

The results leave Onosato and No. 4 maegashira Takayasu tied at 11-3 heading into the final day of the 15-day competition at Edion Arena Osaka, with lower-ranked maegashira Churanoumi, Aonishiki and Tokihayate one win back at 10-4.

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Baseball: NPB players found gambling online to be fined

TOKYO – Nippon Professional Baseball’s 12 clubs have decided to impose fines on players found gambling online, which is illegal in Japan, in cases deemed low-risk for addiction, sources familiar with the matter said Saturday.

The decision is apparently aimed at bringing a degree of closure to the issue before the regular season starts next Friday and is expected to be announced in the coming days.

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Hegseth to make 1st visit to Philippines, Japan as U.S. defense chief

WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will depart early next week for a series of meetings in Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines and Japan, the Pentagon said Friday, as it seeks to boost cooperation with two of its Asian allies amid Chinese military activity in the region.

It will be Hegseth’s first trip to Asia as Pentagon chief. Hegseth, a former Fox News host who has expressed an unstinting loyalty to President Donald Trump, could press Japan to raise its defense spending.

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Japan develops uranium-based battery to reuse radioactive waste

TOKYO – Japan’s national nuclear research and development institute has developed what it calls the world’s first uranium-based rechargeable battery that may pave the way for the use of massive stockpiles of radioactive material generated in the nuclear fuel manufacturing process.

According to the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, the research team confirmed the charging and discharging performance of a battery that uses uranium as an “active material” to trigger a chemical reaction and generate electricity.

Video: Opening ceremony of the southern building of Grand Green Osaka