Kyodo News Digest: May 3, 2025
Priests purify themselves during “Konomoto-sai,” the first of a series of rites for the “Shikinen Sengu” shrine building reconstruction every 20 years at Ise Jingu shrine in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, on May 2, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan PM vows to protect national interests in tariff talks with U.S.
TOKYO – Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Friday that Japan will not sacrifice its national interests to conclude ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, following the end of another round of ministerial-level talks.
Ishiba told reporters the talks were “very positive and constructive” but there remain gaps between the two nations, adding that “maximum efforts” are needed from both sides to reach any deal.
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Trump proposes hiking defense budget by 13% to deter China
WASHINGTON – The U.S. administration of President Donald Trump on Friday proposed an increase of 13 percent in defense spending to $1.01 trillion for fiscal 2026, telling Congress that the hike is needed to “deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”
In sharp contrast to its push for “historic increases for defense and border security,” the administration is calling for $163 billion in cuts to nondefense discretionary spending for the next fiscal year starting in October, down 22.6 percent from the 2025 enacted level.
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Victims of securities account hijacking to be compensated
TOKYO – The Japan Securities Dealers Association said on Friday that it has reached an agreement with 10 major securities firms to compensate victims of accounts that have been hacked and used in unauthorized stock trading.
The industry had been cautious about offering compensation but decided to shift its stance amid a growing number of account takeovers and concerns about customer attrition. Each company will determine specific compensation levels on a case-by-case basis, the association said.
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Japan, Canada leaders discuss U.S. tariffs, economic impact
TOKYO – The leaders of Japan and Canada discussed the impact of U.S. tariffs on the global economy and the multilateral trading system during a roughly 30-minute phone call on Friday.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba congratulated his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, on his party’s election victory and expressed hope to strengthen bilateral strategic ties and work closely together in addressing various challenges amid a “severe” international environment, according to the Japanese government.
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JAL posts highest sales of 1.84 tril. yen in FY 2024 on strong demand
TOKYO – Japan Airlines Co. said Friday its revenues rose 11.6 percent from the year before to 1.84 trillion yen ($12.7 billion) in the fiscal year ended March, a record high since its relisting in 2012, boosted by robust demand from domestic and international travelers.
The company said it remains vigilant over the possible effect of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs policy on travel and cargo demand, saying the latest earnings results have not reflected the impact of the “extremely uncertain” and fluctuating Trump policies.
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Baseball: Dodgers’ Yamamoto wins 1st NL Pitcher of the Month award
NEW YORK – Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been named the National League Pitcher of the Month for a series of strong outings from the season-opening games in March through the end of April, Major League Baseball said Friday.
Yamamoto, whose 1.06 ERA for the period led the majors, earned the monthly award for the first time since his major-league career started in 2024. He went 3-2 across six starts, racking up 43 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.
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British pavilion at expo improves afternoon tea set after online stir
OSAKA – The British pavilion at the World Exposition in Osaka has improved the quality of its 5,000 yen ($35) afternoon tea set, with the drinks now served in ceramics instead of paper cups, following online criticism.
“We have improved a part of our service after it has been brought to our attention that we failed to fully meet expectations,” Carolyn Davidson, Britain’s commissioner general at the expo, said in a video post on Thursday on the embassy’s account on X.
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Boxing: “Monster” Naoya Inoue aims to make big impact in U.S.
LAS VEGAS – Japanese boxing star Naoya Inoue is eager to make his name bigger in the United States as he prepares to defend his undisputed super bantamweight world championship against American Ramon Cardenas on Sunday.
Asked if he wants to succeed in the United States, Inoue, nicknamed “Monster,” said Thursday during an event hosted by fight promoter Top Rank, “That’s why I’ve come to Las Vegas for the first time in four years. I’m very excited.”
Video: Priests purify themselves as part of rite at Ise Jingu shrine
