Kyodo News Digest: May 30, 2025

Kyodo News

a day ago

KYODO NEWS - 14 hours ago - 23:00 | All, Japan, World
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
China agrees to begin steps to resume Japanese seafood imports: Tokyo
TOKYO - Japan's government said Friday that China has agreed to begin procedures to resume imports of Japanese seafood, lifting a ban imposed after the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant into the sea.
Chinese authorities are expected to issue a public notice easing the blanket ban that has been in place since August 2023 and soon open registration for Japanese facilities that process and preserve marine products, sources familiar with the matter said.
----------
Japan, U.S. tariff negotiators to hold another round of talks
WASHINGTON - Japan's chief tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, will hold another round of talks on Friday with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the two governments explore a possible agreement to be reached by their leaders next month.
On the eve of the talks, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump by phone, telling reporters afterward that each side was able to gain a better understanding of the views held by the other.
----------
Japan Diet begins debate on dual surname bill for 1st time in 28 yrs
TOKYO - Japan's parliament on Friday began its first deliberations in 28 years on legislation that would give married couples the option of keeping different surnames.
The passage of any of the three bills submitted separately by three opposition parties, however, looks unlikely during the current Diet session through late June, despite growing public acceptance of their push to change the longstanding rule requiring married couples to share a single family name.
----------
Report says N. Korea illegally gave 100 ballistic missiles to Russia
SEOUL - North Korea provided Russia with at least 100 ballistic missiles last year in exchange for air defense systems and electronic jamming equipment, in clear violation of U.N. sanctions, the first report by an international monitoring body showed Thursday.
The report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, led by Japan, the United States and South Korea, stressed that both countries are engaging in illegal arms transfers, urging the international community to strengthen monitoring and information-sharing efforts.
----------
Japan PM may attend NATO summit in late June in the Netherlands
TOKYO - Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering attending a NATO summit meeting to be held in late June in the Netherlands, government sources said Friday, as Japan moves to demonstrate its closer ties with the trans-Atlantic defense alliance.
If Ishiba attends, it will be the fourth straight year the sitting Japanese leader has done so. This year's gathering will be held on June 24 and 25 in The Hague.
----------
Japan's former Princess Mako gives birth to 1st child
TOKYO - Mako Komuro, Crown Prince Fumihito's eldest daughter who married out of the imperial family, gave birth to her first child, the Imperial Household Agency said Friday.
The 33-year-old mother and the child -- the first grandchild of the crown prince and the first great-grandchild of former Emperor Akihito -- are both in good health, a source close to the matter said.
----------
Japan, Bangladesh agree on defense equipment, tech transfer pact
TOKYO - Japan and Bangladesh on Friday agreed in principle to conclude a pact for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, reiterating their commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific region as China's influence grows, the Japanese government said.
In a joint statement after talks in Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, said they have instructed negotiators to speed up discussions on an economic partnership agreement.
----------
Japan eyes more rice exports as domestic consumption set to decline
TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday vowed to explore new overseas markets and provide support for more efficient production as part of efforts to increase rice exports in response to an envisioned long-term contraction in domestic consumption.
In the annual white paper on food and agriculture for fiscal 2024 approved by the Cabinet, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recommends increased rice exports despite the Japanese government recently introducing measures to curb soaring domestic prices, driven in part by shortages.
Video: Japan Business Federation appoints new chief