Latest news with #Asahi
Sydney Morning Herald
11 hours ago
- General
- Sydney Morning Herald
Wallabies legend reveals why he turned down Lions invite
Former Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper admits time has caught up with him after turning down the opportunity of a final playing farewell against the British and Irish Lions. Hooper was invited to play for the combined Australian and New Zealand XV against the Lions in Adelaide, but told Stan Sport's Inside Line podcast he felt his body was no longer up to the rigours of facing the world's best players. This masthead reported earlier this week that Hooper would not feature in the game, after the former Wallabies captain finished his eight-game stint with Japanese side Toyota Verblitz last month. 'I've played the Lions before, I know that they're a week out from a three-game Test series, and it's getting pointy end of that tour, and you've got probably a fully-fit starting team who's going to play against the Wallabies a week later, champing at the bit, battle-hardened,' Hooper said. 'And I looked at myself and I thought, 'Well, I've had a good time in Japan, they pour a good Asahi [beer], they make a nice rice ball at the local conveni [convenience store]. 'I'm about eight weeks to 10 weeks out of being battle-hardened, not in a Test environment. So I'd have to come home now, train by myself, maybe try and get a run for Manly – which would have been cool as well – but come up against those [Lions] guys in a team that you pulled together for a week. 'As a young guy? Perhaps two years, four years, five years, six years ago – oh my God, how good. 'As an almost 34-year-old who made a fleeting comeback? No, it didn't sound like a game that would be a fairytale ending for me. Not that I was ever after a fairytale ending.'
South China Morning Post
7 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump's call to Japan's Ishiba focused on Mideast trip, F-47s, self-praise, not trade: report
When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba took a surprise 45-minute call from US President Donald Trump last week, Tokyo braced for tough talk on tariffs. Instead, officials were reportedly met with a meandering monologue that some say reflected Trump's need for affirmation more than any real interest in Japan – or Ishiba. Advertisement According to insider sources cited in a report published by the Asahi newspaper on Tuesday, Trump spoke at length about his recent Middle East trip, digressed into a discussion about his new fighter jet initiative, and offered unsolicited praise for his own achievements – all while adopting a tone so casual that some in Tokyo felt it bordered on the surreal. A source from the Ishiba administration, quoted in the report, said the US contacted Japan on the morning of May 23 with a request from Trump to speak with the prime minister later that day. The request caused concern in Tokyo, as Japan's trade negotiator was about to depart for Washington to push for the removal of US tariffs on Japanese imports. Officials worried Trump would push for more American agricultural purchases instead of lifting sanctions. 01:00 Trump justifies 'China tariffs' as US effort to curb 'greatest job theft in the world' Trump justifies 'China tariffs' as US effort to curb 'greatest job theft in the world' When the two leaders were connected at 11am local time, 10pm in Washington, 'Trump's tone was so relaxed that the Japanese side was taken aback,' the Asahi reported. An official said it was as if Trump 'was lying down and talking'.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump administration asked Japan to increase share of costs of US troops, Asahi Shimbun says
TOKYO (Reuters) -The Trump administration asked Japan in early May to increase its share of costs for U.S. troops stationed there, prompting Tokyo to consider boosting facility funding by tens of billions of yen, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Thursday, citing government sources. The current annual average cost borne by Japan for the stationing of U.S. forces is about 211 billion yen ($1.45 billion). The Japanese government has started considering an increase in the budget for the construction of facilities provided to U.S. forces stationed in Japan, such as barracks, family housing, administrative buildings and disaster prevention facilities, the Asahi report said. Asked about the report after meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said national security and tariff policies are different matters. However, Akazawa said the purchase of defence equipment would contribute to the U.S. trade surplus, so "in that context, (the subject) could be considered to some extent" in the tariff talks. Akazawa is scheduled to visit the U.S. on Thursday for another round of tariff negotiations. ($1 = 145.3300 yen)
South China Morning Post
29-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Trump's surreal call to Japan's Ishiba focused on Mideast trip, F-47s, self-praise, not trade
When Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba took a surprise 45-minute call from US President Donald Trump on Friday, Tokyo braced for tough talk on tariffs. Instead, officials were reportedly met with a meandering monologue that some say reflected Trump's need for affirmation more than any real interest in Japan – or Ishiba. According to insider sources cited in a report published by the Asahi newspaper on Tuesday, Trump spoke at length about his recent Middle East trip, digressed into a discussion about his new fighter jet initiative, and offered unsolicited praise for his own achievements – all while adopting a tone so casual that some in Tokyo felt it bordered on the surreal. A source from the Ishiba administration, quoted in the report, said the US contacted Japan on the morning of May 23 with a request from Trump to speak with the prime minister later that day. The request caused concern in Tokyo, as Japan's trade negotiator was about to depart for Washington to push for the removal of US tariffs on Japanese imports. Officials worried Trump would push for more American agricultural purchases instead of lifting sanctions. 01:00 Trump justifies 'China tariffs' as US effort to curb 'greatest job theft in the world' Trump justifies 'China tariffs' as US effort to curb 'greatest job theft in the world' When the two leaders were connected at 11am local time, 10pm in Washington, 'Trump's tone was so relaxed that the Japanese side was taken aback,' the Asahi reported. An official said it was as if Trump 'was lying down and talking'.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Japan proposes to buy U.S. chip products in tariff talks, Asahi says
TOKYO (Reuters) -Japan has proposed purchasing billions of dollars worth of U.S. semiconductor products during ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States, the Asahi newspaper reported, citing an unidentified source. The Japanese government plans to subsidize domestic companies that buy the U.S. chips from companies such as Nvidia, with potential imports reaching up to 1 trillion yen ($6.94 billion), aimed at reducing America's roughly 10 trillion yen trade deficit with Japan, the report said. Japan's top tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa intends to visit the United States around May 30 for a fourth round of trade talks. ($1 = 144.1700 yen)
