Latest news with #TheYomiuriShimbun
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
PokéPark KANTO to Open in Spring 2026 Inside Japan's Yomiuriland; Pokémon Forest, Sedge Town Areas to House Over 600 Pokémon
Yomiuri Land Co. and The Yomiuri Shimbun announced on Tuesday that 'PokéPark KANTO,' an outdoor facility to be built within the Yomiuriland amusement park, will open in spring 2026. It will be the first permanent outdoor facility themed around Pokémon. It will be operated by PokéPark KANTO LLC, an enterprise jointly established between The Pokémon Company, Yomiuri Land Co., and The Yomiuri Shimbun. Yomiuriland straddles Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki in the lush green Tama Hills. PokéPark KANTO, which is to be accessed through Yomiuriland, will cover an area of about 2.6 hectares and contain 'Pokémon Forest,' an area which makes use of the surrounding natural environment, and 'Sedge Town,' where visitors will be able to enjoy activities including meet-and-greets with Pokémon and Forest will have walking trails spanning 500 meters where visitors can observe the expressions and movements of Pokémon living there up close. Sedge Town will feature two attractions and give fans, both from around Japan and overseas, opportunities to gather and interact with each other. Yomiuri group companies and The Pokémon Company have already collaborated in various fields. The Yomiuri Shimbun began running an educational column for children titled 'Pokémon to Issho ni Oboeyo! Kotowaza Daihyakka' (Let's memorize a proverb encyclopedia with Pokémon!) in its morning edition in 2009. 'The Pokémon Ryuosen' — a Pokémon gaming event named after the Ryuo, the most prestigious championship in shogi — was held for the first time in 2014. Tickets for the new facility are scheduled to go on sale around autumn, and further details will be announced at a later date. ©2025 Pokémon. ©1995-2025 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Junichi Masuda: PokéPark KANTO, Where Pokémon Are Always There; Tokyo Facility May Evolve After Opening in Spring 2026
'PokéPark KANTO,' an outdoor facility centered on the Pokémon franchise, will open in spring 2026 within the Yomiuriland amusement park that straddles Inagi, Tokyo, and Kawasaki. In an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun, Junichi Masuda, chief creative fellow at The Pokémon Company, who is leading the development of PokéPark KANTO, spoke about the facility and its main Yomiuri Shimbun: What inspired you to create PokéPark KANTO? Junichi Masuda: Next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of the first Pokémon video games, 'Pokémon Red' and 'Pokémon Green' (the latter sold as 'Pokémon Blue' overseas). Based on the original video games, the series has grown into a major franchise including anime and card games, creating a growing global fanbase. Whenever I've met fans at events in Japan and abroad, I've felt that it was wonderful how people were connected through Pokémon. As creators, ever since we made the first games, we have always valued communication through Pokémon. We wanted people to meet each other, trade Pokémon and become friends. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, people were unable to meet each other, and Pokémon events were almost completely canceled. At that time, I wanted to create a place where people could always gather. I wanted a space where people and Pokémon could enjoy themselves together. When I thought about how I could repay the fans who have loved Pokémon for 30 years, I thought, 'It would be fun to have a place where Pokémon are always there.'Yomiuri: Tell us about PokéPark KANTO Masuda: It consists of two areas: 'Pokémon Forest' and 'Sedge Town.' In the games, you travel through forests filled with wild Pokémon, so there's a real sense of relief when you finally arrive in a town and the atmosphere changes to one of safety. I think you'll get that exact feeling here. Pokémon Forest is a lush forest where Pokémon live. There are many Berries, attracting many Pokémon. As you walk through the forest, you will encounter many Pokémon, most of which are wild. We hope visitors will enjoy the adventure of feeling like Pokémon Trainers. Sedge Town is centered around Pokémon Trainers' Market where you can enjoy shopping for many kinds of merchandise. We want visitors to have fun like it's a festival, so we're planning a parade and greetings with Pokémon. There are two other attractions, which we also hope they'll also created a Pokémon Center, Poké Mart and Gym [modeled on those] that appear in the games. I was impressed when I saw the Pokémon Center. Yomiuri: What aspects did you focus on? Masuda: We deliberately separated this project from digital [technology] and focused on the idea of 'a world where Pokémon exist' and 'can be touched.' In Pokémon GO, when you hold up your smartphone, it looks like there are Pokémon in the real world. But when you reach out, they're not there. I thought that having Pokémon that are really there and that you can touch is something we haven't done before, so I wanted to give it a reason for choosing an outdoor setting is that wild Pokémon live in forests and other natural environments. They fly through the sky and move around freely. [In the forest,] you can feel the wind blowing and smell flowers, and Pokémon are there too. I thought that being in nature is very important for living creatures. We are pursuing the appeal of the outdoors. Yomiuri: What points would you like visitors to pay particular attention to? Masuda: Pokémon are living creatures, so just like humans, each one has its own unique character. There are over 600 Pokémon in PokéPark KANTO, and we have created a story for each and every one of them. For example, if it's shy, it might be looking downward a little. We want [visitors] to pay attention to what each Pokémon is looking at, where its gaze is mannerisms are all different too. If two are standing side by side, they might be friends. If they have their backs turned to each other, they might be fighting. I hope visitors will talk about it with their friends and let their imaginations run wild. We hope that visitors will enjoy this facility in a way that is different from previous Pokémon experiences. Yomiuri: What is your message for children? I think that children today don't have many opportunities to play in the woods or touch the soil. In the woods, their feet may get dirty, but I want children to enjoy that. Some Pokémon are so big that visitors have to look up at them, so I want the visitors to compare the size of Pokémon to their own body. There are also Pokémon that visitors can ride on. Yomiuri: What future plans are there for PokéPark KANTO?Masuda: PokéPark KANTO will not be complete when it opens. The Pokémon available at the facility may change depending on the weather or season, and some may even evolve in the future. Since they are living things, they are not always the same. I think that some parts of the facility may change little by little over the years. Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to fans around the world who have continued to support Pokémon. I am truly grateful that we were able to create this facility to coincide with our 30th anniversary. I hope that visitors will find their favorite Pokémon and think, 'I'll come back to see them again.'Junichi Masuda Masuda was born in 1968 and is originally from Yokohama, Japan. As a founding member of GAME FREAK inc., he is one of the original authors of the Pokémon video game series. Masuda has been involved as a director, producer and video game composer for the Pokémon video game series since 1989. He has been in his current position since 2022. ©2025 Pokémon. ©1995-2025 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK ®, and character names are trademarks of Nintendo.
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Brics bloc slows down on de-dollarisation
Member countries made no new decisions on launching its own currency at the recent summit in Brazil. The technical, political and logistical hurdles of launching its own medium of exchange remain huge. Picture: Mika Otsuki / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP) Member countries of the Brics trading bloc seem to have backed down from their rather lofty ideal of establishing their own currency to counter the dominance of the US dollar and the euro, choosing to slow down the process by focusing on growing cross-border trade in national currencies – for now. Commentators noted that current economic and geopolitical uncertainties may have contributed to the new cautious approach while US President Donald Trump's trade war certainly led to it by pitting the US against everyone else. Although the creation of a Brics currency featured prominently at the 2024 Brics Summit in Kazan, Russia, it has become clear that ambitions for an immediate launch have cooled. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who once led the charge for de-dollarisation, appeared on stage at the summit holding what seemed to be a prototype Brics banknote, dubbed the Unit. Now even Putin has softened his tone, stating that the bloc's goal was not to break away from the US-dominated SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) financial system entirely but rather to reduce the dollar's 'weaponisation' and promote the use of local currencies for trade between the Brics members. ALSO READ: 'Trump is talking from the past': US president 'might regret' warning to Brics over dollar Since discussions around a new global reserve currency began in earnest during the 14th Brics Summit in 2022, progress has largely been rhetorical. Putin then said the Brics countries were ready to issue a new reserve currency backed by a basket of Brics currencies. Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva echoed this vision in 2023, but hopes of a major announcement at that year's summit failed to materialise. The latest summit, held in July 2025 in Rio de Janeiro, took a more measured tone. While the idea of launching a Brics currency – potentially backed by gold – remains on the table, there is no timeline for its implementation. Brazil, which holds the rotating presidency of the group this year, confirmed that no significant decisions on a new currency are imminent. Still, efforts to reduce reliance on the greenback continue. ALSO READ: 'They can find another sucker!': Trump warns Brics countries against replacing dollar The final declaration of the summit runs to 31 pages and outlines extensive plans to deepen cooperation across a range of issues, from global institutional reform and AI development to climate change and logistics infrastructure. The document reaffirms the bloc's commitment to using national currencies in cross-border trade and promoting financial systems independent of the US dollar, including the further development of the Brics Pay platform and consolidation of the Brics New Development Bank (NDB). The goal is clear: shift away from dollar dominance without destabilising global markets or member states' economies. ALSO READ: Analysts say Trump's bid to weaken Brics will fail as US influence declines Trump The return of Donald Trump to the White House on 20 January 2025 has added a new layer of complexity. Markets reacted immediately. The dollar strengthened and currencies such as the Chinese yuan, Russian ruble, Brazilian real, Indian rupee and SA rand depreciated sharply in the days following Trump's election and subsequant inauguration. While these initial losses were later reversed, the shock underscored the power the US still holds in global finance – and why Brics nations may be hesitant about provoking unnecessary volatility by launching a competing currency. Trump's renewed 'America First' rhetoric and ongoing trade disputes with China, Russia and other countries have reinforced the sense among Brics nations that economic resilience requires diversification. But even with this motivation, the technical, political and logistical hurdles of launching a shared Brics currency remain huge. The Atlantic Council, a grouping of US organisations that support the Atlantic Alliance, points out that the dollar continues to dominate the global financial system, as it is used in about 88% of currency trades and comprises 59% of all central bank reserves. While the share of world trade conducted in dollars has gradually declined, the dollar remains entrenched as the world's primary reserve and settlement currency. ALSO READ: Trump victory: Trouble for the rand and Brics allies, joy for crypto Patience In a report by the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), Advisory Board member and retired Romanian army general Corneliu Pivariu, offered a frank analysis of the summit's outcomes. He characterised the July 2025 Brics meeting as 'a turning point', and said there is potential to accelerate the process of de-dollarisation and the consolidation of a multipolar economic order. Yet he acknowledged that the movement remains cautious. 'The summit reflects the consolidation of Brics as an alternative, but cautious pole, without radical steps. The event marks a shift from ideological rhetoric to practical measures for building economic, financial, and technological autonomy,' said Pivariu. He noted that the summit took place against a backdrop of stagnating Western economic growth, the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war, rising tensions in the Middle East, and accelerating industrial development across Asia. ALSO READ: It's official: Brics welcomes new members to partnership Other 'more significant' moves While the Brics bloc reaffirmed its commitment to reforming global institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank, Pivariu says the bloc's more significant moves involve promoting independent payment systems, developing internal supply chains, and pursuing technological cooperation aimed at achieving medium-term autonomy. 'The 2025 Brics meeting will consolidate the trend of diversifying global economic and financial relations, offering member states and partners an alternative to dollar hegemony. 'Through energy and resource agreements, Brics will reduce its members' exposure to sanctions imposed by the USA and EU,' he said. He warned, however, that the West is taking notice. 'The US and the EU have expressed concerns regarding the accelerated de-dollarisation process, fearing the loss of global financial influence and the shift of trade flows towards Brics platforms,' Pivariu said in the report. He added that Europe may need to adjust its energy and industrial strategies to mitigate the risk of being edged out of key markets, especially in the Southern Hemisphere. ALSO READ: Brics bank approves over R20 billion in loans for South African infrastructure projects Idea to infrastructure It is becoming clear that Brics members are moving away from sensational headlines and emotional announcements towards the less glamorous and more practical tasks of building infrastructure to promote systems for financial and physical trade. Pivariu said the summit's emphasis on cross-border systems, local currency settlement, and digital payment integration shows that the member countries understand their limitations, but are 'willing to play the long game'. 'While a gold-backed Brics currency might grab attention, the immediate reality is that increasing the use of national currencies in trade, establishing sovereign payment rails, and strengthening institutions like the NDB offer far more practical benefits for now. 'The Brics strategy seems to be about laying the groundwork for autonomy rather than attempting to topple the dollar overnight,' Pivariu said. 'The summit confirmed that technological and industrial partnerships are becoming a strategic pillar of the bloc. 'In the medium term, Brics aims to create an integrated internal market and transform itself into a major global industrial-technological actor.' This ambition, if realised, would represent the most meaningful step yet toward a multi-polar world, with or without a shared Brics banknote. This article was republished from Moneyweb. Read the original here.
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Value of Auto Exports to U.S. Dives as Japanese Manufacturers Eat Tariff Costs to Maintain Current Prices
Three months after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump slapped additional tariffs of 25% on imported automobiles, the value of Japanese vehicle exports to the United States is plunging as Japanese automakers slash prices of their models in order to avoid increasing prices in the U.S. These automakers are absorbing the tariff costs and trying to preserve sales volume. However, if the high tariffs remain in place, the auto industry – the backbone of the Japanese economy – will inevitably suffer a punishing blow. According to June trade statistics released by the Finance Ministry on Thursday, the volume of Japanese vehicles exported to the United States increased 3.4% from the same month the previous year, but the value of these exports dropped 26.7%. The unit price per vehicle has become nearly 30% cheaper compared to the figure for June 2024. Many major automakers have made concerted efforts to lower the cost of vehicles exported to their U.S. subsidiaries, which in turn pay lower tariff duties to the U.S. government. According to U.S. market research company Cox Automotive, the average price of a new vehicle in the United States as of the end of June had risen 3% to about $49,000 (about ¥7.2 million) compared to June last year. Some automakers had slightly increased their prices, but the average price was similar to before the tariffs kicked in. While automakers are holding consumer prices largely unchanged, they are reducing costs and trying to squeeze out at least a small profit. 'We'll have no option but to implement some steps to address this issue, even if they are stopgap measures,' a senior official of a major carmaker told The Yomiuri Shimbun. Core element The U.S. auto tariffs are also having an impact on Japanese automakers' production networks. Nissan Motor Co. President Ivan Espinosa cited tariffs as one of the reasons, in addition to sluggish sales, for deciding to cease vehicle production at its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. 'Given the unpredictable nature of the U.S. tariff policies and other external factors, export operations face considerable uncertainty,' Espinosa said Tuesday. 'It is imperative to establish a production capacity that is … supported by a flexible manufacturing system capable of adapting swiftly to external changes.' In 2024, Japan's exports to the United States totaled about ¥21.29 trillion. Auto exports reached about ¥6.26 trillion and accounted for a hefty 30% of the total. About 20,000 to 30,000 components are used for each vehicle, so if auto manufacturers cut production, there also will be a significant impact on parts makers, materials suppliers and other companies involved in the process. The most straightforward method for automakers to lock in profits and maintain supply chains would be to pass on tariff costs through higher consumer prices. However, if one automaker hikes its prices while others do not, that automaker would inevitably face a slump in sales. 'Pricing strategy is a core element of our operations,' a senior official at a Japanese automaker said. 'In this business, quickly adding the full amount of the tariffs onto the price isn't easy to do.' Weaker yen U.S. inflation and fluctuations in foreign exchange markets make it challenging for companies to shift production to the United States to avoid the tariffs. Labor costs are surging in the United States, and investing in plants and equipment to boost production there would come with a huge price tag. As the yen against the U.S. dollar is about ¥40 weaker than it was in 2019 during the first Trump administration, many market observers believe exporting vehicles from Japan is more efficient, even when shipping costs are factored in. However, there are limits to what extent companies can continue to swallow the extra costs inflicted by the tariffs. Honda Motor Co. projects the tariffs will push down its operating profit in the fiscal year ending in March 2026 by ¥650 billion. According to figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Labor Department, the consumer price index in June rose 2.7% from the same month in the previous year. This was higher than May, when 2.4% was logged. The seasonally adjusted CPI for new vehicles dipped 0.3% from the previous month, but industry insiders do not expect this to continue. 'The time for price hikes isn't far away,' a senior official at a Japanese automaker said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Stars of Kabuki Adaptation of Online Game ‘Touken Ranbu' Share Thoughts About Their Newest Production
Touken Ranbu: Azuma Kagami Yuki no Midare ('Touken Ranbu: Disturbance in Snow as Described in Azuma Kagami'), a kabuki adaptation of the hugely popular online game 'Touken Ranbu Online,' which depicts the battles of Touken Danshi (historical Japanese swords in the form of young men), has opened at Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre in Tokyo's Higashi-Ginza district. This is the second kabuki adaptation after the first production in 2023, which was well-received. The story of the online game is that Touken Danshi are played until they grow into warriors who fight to protect history. Spirits that dwell in Japanese swords transform into the handsome young men as warriors and they fight a history retrograding force which aims to change Japanese history. The characters, which have unique personalities, have become highly popular and the storylines have also been adapted into musicals and first kabuki adaptation, titled 'Touken Ranbu: Tsuki no Tsurugi Enishi no Kiri no Ha' ('Touken Ranbu: Crescent Moon Sword associated with Paulownia') was planned and directed by Onoe Matsuya, who played the main character, Mikazuki Munechika, who is a personification of the sword of the same name. This work was themed on the Eiroku incident of 1565, in which Ashikaga Yoshiteru, a shogun of the Muromachi shogunate who owned the sword, was assassinated. The performance featured one person playing two different roles. Some of the music was in gidayu style, and the koto was also used. The performance impressed not only fans of the game, but also kabuki enthusiasts. The new kabuki adaptation is set in the Kamakura period (late 12th century to 1333). Based on the historical chronicle 'Azuma Kagami,' the story revolves around the assassination of the third shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, Minamoto no Sanetomo, at Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine on a snowy day. In the midst of the chaos in which the plans of the Kamakura shogunate's central officials and senior vassals become intertwined, the grudges of those who lost their lives in the war are manifested. Matsuya is both directing and performing the roles of Mikazuki Munechika and his powerful enemy, Rasetsu Mijin. He is confident that Rasetsu Mijin has the potential to be a magnificent character, with an eye toward more productions in the future. Nakamura Kasho, who apparently made a direct appeal to Matsuya to join the production, plays the dual roles of Mutsu no Kami Yoshiyuki and Minamoto no Sanetomo. Nakamura Kangyoku reprises his role from the previous play, Higekiri, a character who is derived from a famous sword of the Genji clan. Nakamura Takanosuke, Kamimura Kichitaro and Kawai Yukinojo also reprise their roles as Touken Danshi. Nakamura Shido and Onoe Sakon have newly joined the cast. Ahead of the opening of the second kabuki adaptation, The Yomiuri Shimbun spoke to cast members Onoe Matsuya, Nakamura Kasho and Nakamura Kangyoku about the appeal of the kabuki play. Audience went wild The Yomiuri Shimbun: This is the second adaptation due to the positive reception of the previous play. Higekiri and Hizamaru, which are said to be 'brother swords,' have ties to the Genji clan, right? Matsuya: During the curtain call photo time of the first production, there were many people in the audience holding stuffed toys of Higekiri and Hizamaru so I could sense how popular the characters are. When Higekiri (portrayed by Kangyoku) simply said his signature phrase, 'Good boy, good boy,' there were tremendous cheers. Though the first production focused on Mikazuki Munechika and Ashikaga Yoshiteru, I would like to see various actors play the main roles from now on. Kangyoku: I think there were many people who were watching a kabuki performance for the first time because they like the 'Touken Ranbu' game. While the audience was quietly and concentratedly watching a scene, just one phrase characterizing Higekiri made the audience murmur. In kabuki, members of the audience can't help but laugh even if they know the next line. A 'pattern' of communication between the audience and actors was seamlessly formed. Yomiuri: Kasho, you joined the series from this production. Kasho: I was jealous every time they talked about the Touken Ranbu series. I directly asked Matsuya to let me join. Matsuya: During the New Year kabuki in Asakusa last January, he said to me, 'Please put me in the next production.' Kasho: As I graduated from the stages in Asakusa [which are mainly for young kabuki actors], I wanted to perform in something directed by Matsuya, as he has always guided me forward. Matsuya: I wanted to increase the number of actors who play Touken Danshi roles, so I thought I should not allow him to escape and decided quickly. Kasho: To understand the world of 'Touken Ranbu' more deeply, I began playing the game and watching the anime. There are collectible stickers that come with sweets, including one of Mutsu no Kami, who I portray. There are 35 total stickers and Mutsu no Kami is not so rare, but no matter how many sweets I bought, I couldn't find it. I finally found him around the 38th purchase. Kangyoku: You really had to work for it. Opinions exchanged for a fresh play Yomiuri: How will this adaptation be staged? Matsuya: I feel that the general direction of the play can be established without much trouble. However, there are some things that you don't know until the actors are in the role. When the actors do something that I had not expected, I sometimes discover that it is better to do it that way. Kangyoku: It has been suggested to me to try methods which I usually do not use and that surprise me. It is very fresh. In the first drama, I played the role of a princess who falls in love with Mikazuki Munechika, in addition to the role of Higekiri. In the world of Touken Ranbu, I did not imagine there could be love affairs with Touken Danshi, but it was an experiment which was possible because it is kabuki. Matsuya: I always tell them, 'I want to be told if you think something or have ideas.' Trying out different things will broaden our ranges as actors, don't you think? Yomiuri: Kasho, you directed your first [non-kabuki] play, 'Matsu to One,' which was performed at the Noto Engekido theater in March. Kasho: Even when I came up with ideas, more often than not they didn't work out … It was a big shock when I wasn't able to make my ideas a reality, because that was something I wasn't used to. But gradually I've gotten used to it. Yomiuri: What are the highlights of this new adaptation of Touken Ranbu that are unique to kabuki? Kangyoku: Stagecraft techniques originally created for kabuki are used skillfully. I think it will be a production that will make people proud to have seen kabuki when they see it. Matsuya: There are Touken Danshi that can only be seen in this kabuki. Kabuki also incorporates music and dance within the play. I would like to bring out that underlying power and generosity. * * * Shows are already ongoing and will be held at Shinbashi Enbujo Theatre until July 27. After that, they will be held at Hakataza Theater in Fukuoka from Aug. 5 to 11, and at Minamiza Theatre in Kyoto from Aug. 15 to 26.
