Kyodo News Digest: June 1, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 5 minutes ago - 09:09 | All, Japan, World
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan, U.S. vow to spur cybersecurity cooperation amid rising threats
SINGAPORE - Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth agreed Saturday to boost cybersecurity cooperation, following Japan's enactment of a law allowing the government to monitor online communications amid rising cyber threats.
After their talks in Singapore, meanwhile, Nakatani did not clarify whether Hegseth had requested Japan pay more for defense during their meeting. U.S. President Donald Trump views the long-standing security treaty with Japan as unfair and one-sided.
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Japan's cheaper stockpiled rice starts hitting store shelves
TOKYO - The Japanese government's stockpiled rice released through direct contracts with retailers began hitting store shelves Saturday, with consumers flocking to the cheaper products.
Major supermarket operator Ito-Yokado Co. and home appliance company Iris Ohyama Inc. were the first to start selling the rice at some of their shops, both setting a price tag of 2,160 yen ($15) including tax for a 5 kilogram-bag.
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Pentagon chief urges Asian allies to invest in defense to deter China
SINGAPORE - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday reaffirmed Washington's commitment to deterring what he called Chinese aggression, using a key Asia security conference in Singapore to urge regional allies and partners to boost their defense spending in response to the threat.
Delivering a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue for the first time as Pentagon chief, Hegseth outlined the threat posed by China, including toward Taiwan, warning that "Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific."
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Opposition chief sorry for calling gov't reserve rice "animal feed"
TOKYO - Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the increasingly popular opposition party in Japan, apologized Saturday for having referred to the government's rice stockpiles as "animal feed," days after drawing criticism on social media.
Tamaki, who heads the Democratic Party for the People, said on a TV program, "I regret that I caused discomfort to those who have been waiting for the government's stockpiled rice" amid soaring prices of the Japanese staple food, adding, "I would like to apologize."
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Seoul subway fire set by man, 400 passengers evacuate through tunnel
SEOUL - A man started a fire inside a moving subway train in Seoul around 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, forcing about 400 passengers to evacuate on foot through the tunnel, according to South Korean media.
The incident occurred near the center of the capital. The suspect fled the scene but was apprehended at a nearby station. Police are investigating his motives, as he appears to have started the fire using gasoline he brought with him.
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Museum featuring Asian works opens on Japanese island of art
NAOSHIMA, Japan - A museum dedicated to contemporary Asian works opened Saturday on Naoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, known as an island of art and the only Japanese destination to make the BBC's list of the 25 best places to travel in 2025.
The Naoshima New Museum of Art, designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando, is located in a hilltop village overlooking the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan. Featuring black plaster walls and stone fences, the building has a calm, subdued appearance.
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Chinese tourists returning to Japan with new travel style
TOKYO - Chinese tourists are driving a recent surge in inbound travel to Japan, with arrivals now exceeding pre-pandemic 2019 levels, though their travel habits are shifting noticeably.
Previously, Chinese tourism in Japan was defined by large group tours and shopping sprees known as "bakugai." Nowadays, however, more travelers are seeking immersive experiences related to Japanese cuisine, culture and scenery, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
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Japan consumer watchdog warns of rice scam websites as prices soar
TOKYO - Japan's consumer affairs center has called on people grappling with soaring rice prices to beware of websites claiming to sell the staple at heavily discounted prices.
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan said complaints related to such websites have spiked since March, with some claiming the rice was never delivered though payment had been made.
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