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Japan Forward
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Forward
Pandas Exit, Taiwan Enters as Shirahama Charts New Course
このページを 日本語 で読む Shirahama Mayor Yasuhiro Oe has been giving serious thought to the town's future. Rather than lamenting the return of all four giant pandas from its well-known leisure facility, Adventure World, he's turning his focus toward a broader vision. The pandas are set to leave for China at the end of June, taking with them one of Shirahama's most iconic tourist attractions. In an interview with The Sankei Shimbun , Oe, formerly a member of the House of Councillors, outlined his intention to strengthen ties with Taiwan. "I want to engage with regions that share our values," he said. Read part one here It probably did. Nikai had such close ties to China that some said he could meet with President Xi Jinping more easily than even Japan's prime minister. If he were still in office, I doubt China would have made Adventure World return all the pandas simply because the contract had ended. Actually, on the night of April 24, right after the news broke, a Diet member friend called and said, "Moriyama and Yuko Obuchi are heading to China over Golden Week (the end of April). Should we ask them to request an extension for you?" I appreciated the offer, but I declined and said, "No, thank you." Because I don't believe we must absolutely get the pandas back. If Adventure World had asked for help lobbying for an extension, that would be one thing. But ultimately, this is a matter between Adventure World and China. During talks with Adventure World, I also sensed they didn't want to become politically involved in this issue. Hiroshi Moriyama (far right), chair of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentary League, shakes hands with Liu Jianchao, head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department. Beijing, April 28. (Pool photograph) I believe the timing was intentional. China likely wanted to maintain control of the situation and preserve its political leverage. Nevertheless, the shock was very real. During Golden Week, crowds rushed to see the pandas one last time before their departure. This past April, a Chinese Communist Party official from Chenghua visited and expressed interest in formalizing the partnership. I told them, "That could be difficult." I have no intention of pursuing a full sister-city relationship. My hope lies with Taiwan. It's a country that shares Japan's core values: freedom, democracy, and human rights. I want to build ties with partners who uphold those principles. Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (©Sankei by Kiyoshi Ouchi) I'm planning to visit Taiwan and meet with Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim on May 22. We've known each other since my days in the Diet. I intend to explain Shirahama's situation and ask her directly for support." As long as I'm mayor of Shirahama, I'll accept the reality that we no longer have pandas. I have no intention of asking the Ishiba administration to bring them back. But if Taiwan is willing to support us in other ways, I'd welcome that wholeheartedly." Author: Shimpei Okuhara, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
Yomiuri Shimbun
22-05-2025
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Visitors to Japan Hit Single-Month Record High in April
Yomiuri Shimbun file photo People in short sleeves take photos in the Asakusa district of Taito Ward, Tokyo, in February 2024. Tokyo, May 21 (Jiji Press)—The monthly number of foreign visitors to Japan hit a record high in April amid the cherry blossom season, a Japan National Tourism Organization report showed Wednesday. The number of inbound visitors is estimated to have risen 28.5 pct from a year before to 3,908,900 in April, topping 3.9 million for the first time for a single month. Demand for travel to Japan, especially from China, Hong Kong, the United States and Australia, surged as cherry blossoms bloomed in many parts of the country. The reporting month also included Easter holidays. By country or region, the number of visitors from mainland China jumped 43..4 pct to 765,100, followed by 721,600 visitors from South Korea, up 9.1 pct, 537,600 from Taiwan, up 16.9 pct, and 327,500 from the United States, up 43.1 pct. The record monthly figure 'seems to be attributed to brisk demand in China for visiting Japan and an increase in the number of flights,' Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner Naoya Haraikawa said at a press conference. Meanwhile, the number of Japanese nationals traveling overseas rose 8.2 pct to 961,000 in April, after tow consecutive months of double-digit growth. The slower increase is apparently because this year's Golden Week holiday period from late April to early May included several weekdays, and also due to a decrease in the number of travelers to Thailand following a major earthquake in neighboring Myanmar in late March.
Asahi Shimbun
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Asahi Shimbun
EDITORIAL: Let Diet members vote freely on married couple surname system
Members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submit a bill to the Lower House in late April for a new surname system for married couples. (Takeshi Iwashita) One part of Hikaru Utada's latest song created a buzz on social media over the Golden Week of national holidays in early May because of lyrics that asked, 'In what year of the Reiwa Era (2019-present) will it be OK in this nation for married couples to use separate surnames?' While the lyrics can be interpreted in a number of ways, there is no doubt it shows the high interest in how surnames should be used by married couples. The proposed system for choosing separate surnames upon marriage gave couples the freedom to choose either using one of their surnames by both or continuing to use separate surnames that each used until marriage. The Justice Ministry's Legislative Council issued its recommendations about the surname system in 1996, so all the major points of debate have been placed on the table in the ensuing 29 years. Under current law, couples can choose between the surnames of the husband and wife, but in actual practice wives in 95 percent of the cases change their surname. The U.N.'s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has issued recommendations to the Japanese government on four occasions calling for legal revisions because the current provision forcing couples to use the same surname is 'discriminatory.' In 2024, Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) called for legal revisions as soon as possible. Above all, the sudden breach of the achievements and assessment built up through work before marriage is severe. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said in the Diet that there was no good reason for delaying reaching a conclusion to the issue. The legislative branch will be seen as negligent if the situation of the Diet not doing anything should continue. But the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has already decided not to summarize opinions among members in the current Diet session. The opposition parties that appeared to be more in favor of a new surname system are also not on the same page. In late April, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan submitted a bill in the Lower House that proposed having the couple choose a surname at marriage and using the same surname for all their children. The proposal more closely followed the recommendations of the Legislative Council because of concerns raised about the 2022 proposal compiled by five opposition parties that said the surname of children could be decided at their birth. There were concerns that proposal would lead to the possibility of siblings having different surnames. But support for the proposals has not spread. The Democratic Party for the People included a plank in its platform for the Lower House election last October that called for introducing a new surname system. But party leaders have made comments that are more cautious about pushing forward. While junior coalition partner Komeito's stance is that any legislation should be submitted by the government, it has not been aggressive in encouraging discussions within the LDP. Serious discussions should be held in the Diet on the proposals submitted by the opposition. And it would be preferable if parties allowed members to vote according to their conscience when the bill came up for a vote rather than forcing them to toe the party line. That would more appropriately reflect the views held by society as a whole. It is Diet members who are the representatives of the people and it has been pointed out that excessively forcing all party members to vote the same way interferes with active discussions in the Diet. There have been past cases in which parties allowed members to vote however they chose, particularly on legislation that was closely tied to the views of values and ethics held by lawmakers, including the bill on organ transplantation. Delaying Diet discussions just because the LDP cannot come up with an internal consensus is inexcusable. Each individual lawmaker will be asked to choose between overlooking the entrenchment of inequality or showing greater respect for the individual. --The Asahi Shimbun, May 17
Gulf Insider
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Pavilion Draws 500,000 Visitors in First 35 Days at Expo 2025 Osaka
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has welcomed over 500,000 visitors within just 35 days of opening, becoming one of the event's standout attractions. Since its launch on April 13, the Pavilion has hosted more than 175 events and welcomed over 400 VIP delegations. With an average of 14,000 daily visitors — peaking at 17,363 on May 4 during Japan's Golden Week — the Pavilion has attracted roughly 16% of the total Expo footfall. Located inside the West Gate in the Connecting Zone, the Pavilion operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors are treated to an immersive experience titled 'Meet Saudi,' exploring the Kingdom's heritage, transformation under Vision 2030, and its global impact. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Pavilion, said the turnout reflects growing global interest in the Kingdom's development story. 'We have received overwhelmingly positive reactions, particularly through our authentic Saudi hospitality offerings and positive feedback about our interactive pavilion spaces,' he noted. The Pavilion's cultural offerings include the 'Ahlan Wa Sahlan' welcome program, interactive AR installations like The Botanist, and daily performances at the Cultural Studios. Visitors journey through seven immersive galleries, highlighting the Kingdom's evolving cities, sustainable initiatives, human potential, and innovation frontiers. With more than 700 events planned during Expo 2025, the Saudi Pavilion continues to position itself as a central hub of engagement, culture, and innovation at the world fair.
Saudi Gazette
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Saudi Gazette
Saudi Arabia Pavilion draws 500,000 visitors in first 35 days at Expo 2025 Osaka
Saudi Gazette report OSAKA — The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka has welcomed over 500,000 visitors within just 35 days of opening, becoming one of the event's standout attractions. Since its launch on April 13, the Pavilion has hosted more than 175 events and welcomed over 400 VIP delegations. With an average of 14,000 daily visitors — peaking at 17,363 on May 4 during Japan's Golden Week — the Pavilion has attracted roughly 16% of the total Expo footfall. Located inside the West Gate in the Connecting Zone, the Pavilion operates daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors are treated to an immersive experience titled "Meet Saudi," exploring the Kingdom's heritage, transformation under Vision 2030, and its global impact. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Pavilion, said the turnout reflects growing global interest in the Kingdom's development story. 'We have received overwhelmingly positive reactions, particularly through our authentic Saudi hospitality offerings and positive feedback about our interactive pavilion spaces,' he noted. The Pavilion's cultural offerings include the 'Ahlan Wa Sahlan' welcome program, interactive AR installations like The Botanist, and daily performances at the Cultural Studios. Visitors journey through seven immersive galleries, highlighting the Kingdom's evolving cities, sustainable initiatives, human potential, and innovation frontiers. With more than 700 events planned during Expo 2025, the Saudi Pavilion continues to position itself as a central hub of engagement, culture, and innovation at the world fair.
