Latest news with #KYODONEWS
Kyodo News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Kyodo News Digest: May 31, 2025
KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 23:07 | All, Japan, World The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- 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. ---------- 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. ---------- 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. ---------- 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. ---------- Trump lauds Nippon Steel as "great partner" for U.S. Steel WEST MIFFLIN, Pennsylvania - President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on Nippon Steel Corp. over what he views as a partnership deal with United States Steel Corp., offering backing to the Japanese company's $14 billion investment into the iconic but struggling American producer. During a speech at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, Trump called Nippon Steel a "great partner" and said the two steelmakers will form a "tremendous relationship" without offering many details about the deal, which he has never described as being the buyout the Japanese company has desired. ---------- Japan, U.S. agree tariff talks making progress toward deal WASHINGTON - Japan's chief tariff negotiator said Friday that he and U.S. Cabinet members agreed in their talks that they are making progress toward a potential tariff deal as early as June. After a meeting in Washington with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's minister in charge of economic revitalization, told reporters that they plan to hold another round of negotiations before a Group of Seven summit in mid-June. ---------- 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. ---------- 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. Video: Universal Studios Japan's special performance at Osaka Expo
Kyodo News
4 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Japan's cheaper stockpiled rice starts hitting store shelves
KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 15:52 | All, Japan 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. At an Ito-Yokado store in Tokyo's Ota Ward, 500 bags of rice sold out in just 30 minutes since its opening at 10 a.m. Other Ito-Yokado stores will also start selling the rice on Sunday or later. At a home center operated by an Iris Ohyama group company in Sendai, northeastern Japan, some 250 people lined up before 8 a.m. in the rain to get numbered tickets to purchase the rice. "It's cheap, and that helps," Mitsuko Matsuura, 71, said, expressing her relief that she was able to purchase the rice. She also said its taste was "not so different" from newly harvested rice. An 82-year-old man was disappointed that he was not able to make a purchase. "We are a family of five, so it's quite tough. I would like to come again to buy (the rice)." In the latest effort to bring down the soaring price of rice that has been hitting households, the Japanese government began selling its stockpiles through direct contracts with retailers earlier this week. Subject to the direct contracts is 300,000 tons of rice from 2021 and 2022. Ito-Yokado secured 5,000 tons and Iris Ohyama 10,000 tons of the 2022 harvest. Supermarket giant Aeon Co. and discount store chain Don Quijote will also start selling the stockpiles they procured from Sunday. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries initially offered reserve rice through auctions. But it switched to selling it directly to retailers in the hope that doing so will be more effective in curbing rice prices. Related coverage: Japan consumer watchdog warns of rice scam websites as prices soar Japan eyes more rice exports as domestic consumption set to decline Japan opposition chief rebuked for calling gov't reserve rice "animal feed"
Kyodo News
6 hours ago
- Business
- Kyodo News
Trump lauds Nippon Steel as "great partner" for U.S. Steel
KYODO NEWS - 7 hours ago - 13:24 | All, World President Donald Trump on Friday heaped praise on Nippon Steel Corp. over what he views as a partnership deal with United States Steel Corp., offering backing to the Japanese company's $14 billion investment into the iconic but struggling American producer. During a speech at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania, Trump called Nippon Steel a "great partner" and said the two steelmakers will form a "tremendous relationship" without offering many details about the deal, which he has never described as being the buyout the Japanese company has desired. "Most importantly, U.S. Steel will continue to be controlled by the USA," said Trump, who was against Nippon Steel's $14.1 billion takeover bid of U.S. Steel during the 2024 election campaign. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have done the deal." After returning from Pennsylvania, Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington that he still has to approve "the final deal" between the two steelmakers. His remarks during a visit to the plant in West Mifflin for a rally with steelworkers came after he unexpectedly struck a positive note a week earlier on "a planned partnership" between U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel, welcoming the prospect of the at least 70,000 jobs it will create and $14 billion it will add to the U.S. economy. Trump also said he will raise tariffs on steel imports to 50 percent from the 25 percent that took effect in March along with the same rate charged on aluminum from most countries, citing national security. Trump later said on social media that the new tariff rate will go into effect on Wednesday. "Our steel and aluminum industries are coming back like never before," he said. Nippon Steel, the world's fourth-largest producer, has sought to make U.S. Steel a wholly owned subsidiary. The Tokyo-headquartered company has yet to provide details of the latest status of the deal. "A strong steel industry is not just a matter of dignity or prosperity and pride," Trump said. "It's above all, a matter of national security." Trump said Nippon Steel's investment is the largest of any kind in the history of Pennsylvania and that the $14 billion is unprecedented in the history of the steel industry in the United States. He said it is "an incredible deal" that will ensure all U.S. Steel workers keep their jobs and all the company's facilities in the country remain open and thriving. The attendees of the rally included U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt and Takahiro Mori, Nippon Steel's vice chairman, who played a central role in negotiating the takeover bid. In addition to praising Burritt, Trump extolled Mori's contribution to making the landmark investment happen, saying, "He's highly respected all over the world for what he's done with steel." Trump said U.S. Steel will maintain all its existing operating blast furnaces "at full capacity for a minimum of the next 10 years, and we have that as a commitment." Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel announced their merger plan in December 2023. However, then President Joe Biden in early January this year issued an order blocking the sale of U.S. Steel to the Japanese firm, citing national security grounds, following a recommendation by a panel of federal agencies. Trump, who took office for a second term in January, ordered the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to conduct another review of Nippon Steel's proposed acquisition. With the review now complete, although its outcome remains unknown, Trump has until Thursday to determine whether to approve Nippon Steel's set of proposals. During the 2024 presidential election cycle, Biden and Trump stated that U.S. Steel should remain in domestic hands, a view shared by the leadership of the powerful United Steelworkers union. Both U.S. Steel and the powerful union are based in Pennsylvania, which was a key battleground state in the Nov. 5 presidential election, and the planned acquisition became highly political, although the proposed buyout came from a leading company from Japan, a close U.S. ally. Founded in 1901, U.S. Steel was once a symbol of American economic prowess, but it has struggled to keep up with competition from Chinese and other foreign rivals. U.S. Steel and its shareholders were supportive of the takeover, which would make it more competitive globally and create the world's third-largest steelmaker by volume. Related coverage: U.S. gov't eyes "golden share" in U.S. Steel amid Nippon Steel buyout Trump says U.S. Steel to remain under American control after deal
Kyodo News
8 hours ago
- Kyodo News
Museum featuring Asian works opens on Japanese island of art
KYODO NEWS - 26 minutes ago - 19:02 | Arts, All, Travel/Tourism 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. Built low to blend into the surrounding landscape, the museum has one floor above ground and two below, with four galleries arranged around a stairwell illuminated by natural light. Many tourists and families with children visited on Saturday. Naoshima has gained fame for its extensive collection of contemporary art pieces and facilities. Since the 1980s, education services provider Benesse Corp. has played a central role in developing and managing the island's museums and related initiatives. Hideaki Fukutake, head of the foundation operating the facility, said at the opening ceremony, "One of the attractions of the Naoshima New Museum of Art is that it remains in a constant state of evolution, with works being added and exhibits regularly changed." The opening exhibition showcases works by 12 artists from across Asia, including Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia. The museum is considering future programs that visitors can participate in. Related coverage: Japan dinosaur museum identifies fossil as new pterosaur species Renowned art museum in central Japan to temporarily close for repairs Japan museum named "world's most beautiful" at French award ceremony
Kyodo News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Pentagon chief urges Asian allies to invest in defense to deter China
KYODO NEWS - 12 minutes ago - 17:46 | World, All U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday pledged his country's commitment to deter what he calls Chinese aggression during a key Asia security conference in Singapore, urging allies and partners in the region to invest more in defense to counter 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, saying that "Beijing is credibly preparing to potentially use military force to alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific." "To be clear, any attempt by Communist China to conquer Taiwan by force would result in devastating consequences for the Indo-Pacific and the world. There's no reason to sugarcoat it," he said. Noting that NATO members are pledging to spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, Hegseth said, "It doesn't make sense for countries in Europe to do that while key allies in Asia spend less on defense in the face of an even more formidable threat." "U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific can, and should, quickly upgrade their own defenses," he said. While the return of President Donald Trump to the White House has raised concerns over his go-it-alone approach to foreign affairs and transactional manner, Hegseth reassured that "America First" does not mean "America alone" and that the United States intends to focus more on the Indo-Pacific, calling it "our priority theater." Hegseth also warned of the risks of dual alignment with China and the United States, possibly with Southeast Asian nations in mind. "We know that many countries are tempted by the idea of seeking both economic cooperation with China and defense cooperation with the United States." "But beware the leverage that the CCP seeks with that entanglement," he said, using the acronym of the Chinese Communist Party. "Economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence and complicates our defense decision space during times of tension." Delegates from 47 countries are attending the three-day security event through Sunday, organized by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, according to the Singapore government. French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a keynote speech on Friday, becoming the first European leader to do so for the Shangri-La Dialogue that was established in 2002 as Asia's premier defense and security conference. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani has also been among the participants. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun, meanwhile, has skipped the event, with Beijing instead sending a delegation from the military's National Defense University.
