Kyodo News Digest: May 17, 2025
A traditional outdoor Noh play is performed at Kofuku-ji temple in the ancient capital of Nara, western Japan, on May 16, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Nissan mulls closing 2 Kanagawa Pref. plants in restructuring push
TOKYO – Nissan Motor Co. is considering closing two plants in Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo, as part of its restructuring plans, a company source said Saturday.
Japan’s third-biggest automaker by volume said earlier this week it will shut seven vehicle plants and cut 20,000 jobs globally after logging a net loss of 670.90 billion yen ($4.6 billion) for fiscal 2024.
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No. 2 Japan, U.S. diplomats agree to establish regular talks
WASHINGTON – The No. 2 diplomats of Japan and the United States agreed Friday to schedule regular talks, hopefully at least twice a year, to reinforce cooperation on security issues in the Indo-Pacific and on various other fronts, regardless of tensions over tariffs, a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said.
Takehiro Funakoshi, Japan’s vice foreign minister, held his first face-to-face meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau in Washington.
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Trump hints at tariff rate reset for many countries in 2 weeks
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday his officials will inform numerous countries over the next two to three weeks how much they need to pay to do business in the United States.
Trump’s comment, made in the United Arab Emirates as he wrapped up a four-day tour of Gulf states, could mean his administration plans to come up with new country-by-country tariff rates.
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Japan weather agency looks to improve forecasting with AI
TOKYO – The Japan Meteorological Agency is considering introducing artificial intelligence into weather forecasting to improve accuracy by using deep learning, according to a source close to the matter.
Preparations are underway, with a new team established in April to lead infrastructure and technological development to combine AI predictions based on historical weather data with the numerical forecasting models currently in use.
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Pakistan Islamic complex denies being used as terrorist hub
MURIDKE, Pakistan – The administrator of an Islamic religious and educational complex in Pakistan has denied a claim by India that the site is a terrorist hub, following a May 7 missile strike that killed three people, and called for peace and dialogue between the two nations.
The facility in Pakistan’s Punjab province, near India’s Punjab state, was one of six sites targeted by Indian missiles and airstrikes that day. New Delhi has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the April 22 shooting that killed 26 people in India-administered Kashmir.
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Historic Japan sake brewery offering courses for foreign sommeliers
OITA, Japan – A sake brewery in southwestern Japan with an over 150-year history has begun offering a seminar for foreign sommeliers on the traditional techniques for making the Japanese alcoholic drink, which were added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list last year.
The five-day seminar at Fujii Shuzo in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, is part of a course organized by the British-based Sake Sommelier Academy targeting experienced sommeliers, held in hopes of spreading awareness and appreciation about sake beyond Japan.
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Sumo: Onosato stays unbeaten, tied for lead with Hakuoho on Day 7
TOKYO – Ozeki Onosato stayed unbeaten atop the leaderboard at the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament on Saturday, wrapping up a flawless first week with victory over No. 4 maegashira Takerufuji.
The 24-year-old Onosato, aiming to clinch yokozuna promotion by winning a second straight championship, shares the top rung with No. 7 maegashira Hakuoho at 7-0 after seven days of competition at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.
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Baseball: Otake, Oyama bring Tigers back on top of CL
NISHINOMIYA, Japan – Kotaro Otake pitched 7-1/3 solid innings and Yusuke Oyama doubled in two runs as the Hanshin Tigers regained the Central League lead with a 5-2 win over the Hiroshima Carp on Saturday.
Otake (1-1) had a shutout until he gave up a two-run homer to Elehuris Montero with one out in the eighth at Koshien Stadium. The left-hander held Hiroshima to four hits without a walk.
Video: Emperor Naruhito plants rice seedlings
