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Japan Times
31 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
PSG and Inter Milan set for Champions League final showdown
Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan will lock horns in Saturday's Champions League final with the French side hoping to win European club soccer's biggest prize for the first time and the Italians eyeing their fourth title. The match, which kicks off at Bayern Munich's 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena at 9:00 p.m. (Sunday at 4:00 a.m. in Japan), pits an experienced Inter against a PSG team appearing in its second final since the transformative Qatari takeover of the club in 2011. Whoever wins will succeed Real Madrid as champions, and excitement is notably at a fever pitch back in Paris, where around 40,000 people will watch on giant screens at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium and a huge police presence is planned around the city. The climax to the European season has thrown up a mouthwatering clash of opposing styles and ideas of how to build a team, a contest between one of the continent's old guard and one of the state-owned modern superclubs. Despite enormous spending, PSG has never won the Champions League before, coming closest by reaching the final in 2020. That was during the pandemic, when PSG lost to Bayern behind closed doors in Lisbon, despite the presence of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar up front. The addition of Lionel Messi a year later did not help PSG in its quest to claim the trophy, and its brilliant run to Munich has come in the season after Mbappe followed the South American superstar duo out of the exit door. "There have been great times, difficult times, but we have a glorious opportunity to do something remarkable and historic for this club," captain Marquinhos said on Friday. Under Spanish coach Luis Enrique, an exciting young Paris side has taken Europe by storm in recent months, with a comeback win in January against 2023 champion Manchester City proving the catalyst. Since then PSG has knocked out three more Premier League sides — Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal — en route to the final, and has completed a French league and cup double. Paris Saint-Germain players participate in a training session ahead of the Champions League final on Friday in Munich. | AFP-JIJI Ousmane Dembele has been the team's star player with 33 goals, ably assisted by fellow forwards Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola and January signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Others like Achraf Hakimi, formerly of Inter, and Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma have also been superb. "My biggest motivation is to make history for Paris and give the city and club something to celebrate," said Enrique, who is looking to win his second Champions League title, 10 years after leading Barcelona to glory. Victory for PSG would make the club just the second French winner of the competition — Marseille's 1993 triumph also came in Munich, at the old Olympic Stadium, and against Inter's city rivals, AC Milan. Inter was the last Italian winner, when Jose Mourinho's side defeated Bayern in Madrid in 2010. It also won it twice in successive years in the 1960s. Coach Simone Inzaghi was already in charge when the Nerazzurri got to the final two years ago and lost narrowly to City. As many as eight of the team that started that night in Istanbul could do so again here, and an experienced lineup should feature three players age 36 or over. Inzaghi's side beat Bayern in the quarterfinals before getting the better of Barcelona in an epic tie in the last four. Captained by star Argentinian forward Lautaro Martinez, Inter will set up in a 3-5-2 formation that contrasts sharply with the 4-3-3 of PSG. "Last time against Manchester City we produced a top-class performance but didn't win, so this time we hope to be a bit more switched on," said midfielder Nicolo Barella, recalling the 2023 final. Inter Milan's Stefan de Vrij (left) and Benjamin Pavard participate in a training session on Friday in Munich. | AFP-JIJI "These matches come down to fine margins, but we will try to bring home the trophy, that is the dream for all of us. "After a season like this one I think we deserve to win this final," added Barella, whose side missed out to Napoli for the Serie A title on the last day of the campaign. It is, remarkably, the first ever competitive encounter between the teams. While fans flooded into the German city on Friday, back in Paris, fan zones have been set up at three locations beyond PSG's stadium. Police will deploy more than 5,000 officers in the city and its suburbs during the final after violence erupted following PSG's last-four victory against Arsenal. In Milan, meanwhile, tens of thousands will also watch the game at Inter's San Siro stadium.
Japan Times
an hour ago
- General
- Japan Times
Mao Saigo takes three-shot U.S. Women's Open lead
Mao Saigo took aim at a second straight major title on Friday, firing a 6-under-par 66 to grab a three-shot lead over a group including top-ranked Nelly Korda and compatriot Hinako Shibuno after two rounds of the U.S. Women's Open in Wisconsin. The Japanese golfer, who won a five-way playoff to lift her first major trophy at the Chevron Championship, shrugged off a spectacular piece of bad luck to build a 36-hole total of 136 at Erin Hills. Korda posted a 5-under-par 67 to headline a group of six players on 139. Saigo, 23, last year's LPGA Rookie of the Year, said her victory at the Chevron in April had given her new confidence but hadn't changed her fundamental approach. "I think that I was able to be more confident about my judgments that I make," she said. "However, I would like to play my play rather than thinking about changing myself." She teed off on 10 and gained ground quickly with birdies at 11 and 12, but needed all of her mental poise after disappointment at the par-5 14th, where her third shot hit the flagstick and bounced back into a bunker. Instead of a birdie she ended up with her only bogey of the day. "I thought that was not my mistake, I just thought to myself that it was unlucky and then I just changed my mind," added Saigo, who posted five more birdies, including three in a row at the 18th, first and second holes. Saigo can expect a strong weekend challenge from Korda after the American posted her best round score ever at a U.S. Open, a tournament in which her best finish was a tie for eighth in 2022. "I feel like I've had a very complicated relationship with U.S. Opens," Korda said. "But I'm happy to be in the position I am heading into the weekend." After just one birdie and one bogey in her even-par first round, Korda finally saw some putts drop in a 5-under effort that featured seven birdies. "Honestly, I was hitting really good putts yesterday," Korda said. "I was hitting it exactly where I wanted to and they just weren't falling. "Today I did the same thing, I didn't really try to do anything different ... so hopefully I can keep trending in the right direction heading into the weekend." Korda was tied with Shibuno, Americans Yealimi Noh and Sarah Schmelzel, South Korean Kim A-lim and Sweden's Maja Stark. Kim and Noh were among six players who shared the first-round lead, each carding a 1-under 71. Kim, the 2020 U.S. Open champion, shook off an early bogey to reach 6-under with birdies at the seventh, eighth and 14th. She was playing the 17th when thunderstorms halted play for almost an hour, returning to complete her par before a disappointing bogey at 18 where she was in the rough off the tee then found a greenside bunker. Schmelzel had reached 6-under with five birdies in her first seven holes, but gave a stroke back with a late bogey that left her with a 68. Former British Open champion Shibuno was 6-under through 17 holes but bogeyed the last for a 69. Noh capped her 1-under round with birdies at her last two holes, the eighth and ninth, while Stark had six birdies and three bogeys in her 69. The demanding Erin Hills layout claimed some notable victims. World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and defending champion Yuka Saso of Japan were well outside the projected cut line of even par when darkness halted play with a dozen players on the course.
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Japan Times
Carmakers warn China's rare-earth curbs could halt production
Global auto executives are sounding the alarm on an impending shortage of rare-earth magnets from China — used in everything from windshield-wiper motors to anti-lock braking sensors — that could force the closure of car factories within weeks. In a previously unreported May 9 letter to Trump administration officials, the head of the trade group representing General Motors, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai and other major automakers raised urgent concerns. "Without reliable access to these elements and magnets, automotive suppliers will be unable to produce critical automotive components, including automatic transmissions, throttle bodies, alternators, various motors, sensors, seat belts, speakers, lights, motors, power steering, and cameras," the Alliance for Automotive Innovation wrote the Trump administration. The letter, which also was signed by MEMA, The Vehicle Suppliers Association, added that, without those essential automotive components, it would only be a matter of time before U.S. vehicle factories are disrupted. "In severe cases, this could include the need for reduced production volumes or even a shutdown of vehicle assembly lines," the groups said. Both Alliance CEO John Bozzella and MEMA CEO Bill Long said on Friday the situation was not resolved and remained a concern. They expressed gratitude for the Trump administration's high-level engagement to prevent disruption to U.S. auto production and the supply chain. Bozzella noted that the automotive issue was on the agenda during Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Rep. Jamieson Greer's talks with their Chinese counterparts in Geneva earlier this month. Greer told CNBC on Friday that China had agreed to lift restrictions on the exports of rare-earth magnets to U.S. companies and was not moving fast enough to grant access for key U.S. industries. "We haven't seen the flow of some of those critical minerals as they were supposed to be doing." China — which controls over 90% of global processing capacity for the magnets used in everything from automobiles and fighter jets to home appliances — imposed restrictions in early April requiring exporters to obtain licenses from Beijing. Rare-earth magnet exports from China halved in April as companies grappled with an opaque application process for permits that sometimes require hundreds of pages of documents. In a social-media post Friday, President Donald Trump accused China of violating terms of a deal reached this month to temporarily dial back tariffs and other trade restrictions. "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH U.S.," Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. China's embassy in Washington responded by saying it was the U.S. that was abusing export controls in the semiconductor sector. A U.S. official with knowledge of the talks said that only tariffs and Chinese non-tariff countermeasures were covered in Geneva talks, and that U.S. export controls were not part of the deal. The official also expressed frustration that Beijing appeared to be moving slowly on promises to issue rare-earth export licenses, which could kick start export control retaliation by Washington if automakers vulnerable to shortages of the minerals are forced to halt production. While a handful of licenses have been granted, including to some Volkswagen suppliers, Indian automakers say they still have received none and will have to stop production in early June. German auto parts maker Bosch said this week that its suppliers have been bogged down by China's more-rigorous procedures to receive export licenses. A Bosch spokesperson described the process as "complex and time-consuming, partly due to the need to collect and provide a lot of information."
Japan Times
2 hours ago
- General
- Japan Times
SDF ramps up campus outreach amid recruitment slump
With Japan's Self-Defense Forces facing a growing shortage of new recruits, their provincial cooperation offices — responsible for public relations and recruitment — are stepping up efforts to engage students by setting up publicity booths at university festivals. Officials say the initiative is an effective way to foster a stronger connection between the public and the SDF. So far, many universities have responded positively to the outreach. Some experts argue, however, that "on-campus agreement" is needed to ensure that academic freedom is respected. Provincial cooperation offices have set up publicity booths at university festivals for years, but the overall picture of their activities has often been unclear because of limited public promotion. In a notable move, the Aichi Provincial Cooperation Office, based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, took the unprecedented step of publishing its booth exhibition schedule for October-November last year on its website. Following the move, the office set up booths at 21 campuses across 17 private universities in the central prefecture over the two-month period. Officials noted that similar efforts have been made at other times as well, suggesting that the publicity initiative is now well established. Lt. Col. Eishiro Ishii, head of the office's recruitment section, said the office is "actively doing" the schedule disclosure, while noting that there has been no significant opposition from inside or outside the universities. A typical SDF publicity booth, set up under a tent, features pamphlets introducing the roles and responsibilities of SDF personnel, along with displays of reconnaissance motorcycles and high-mobility transportation vehicles. Some booths also incorporate virtual reality technology, offering computer-generated experiences such as riding in a tank or performing a parachute descent. One university official said, "This is one of the attractions that add excitement to the school festival." A student serving on the festival committee at another university responded positively, saying, "The committee invited (the SDF booth) as one of the sponsoring organizations." At yet another university, an official welcomed the display of SDF vehicles, noting, "Children from the local community were happy to see them." According to Defense Ministry data, the Ground, Maritime and Air SDF invited applications for 19,598 positions in fiscal 2023, but only 9,959 were filled. This reduced the recruitment achievement rate to a record low of 51%, highlighting a severe shortage of qualified personnel — a situation attributed primarily to Japan's declining births. "I feel that (public) perceptions of the SDF have improved," Ishii said. Even so, he emphasized the need to further strengthen outreach efforts. "The public still tends to have a vague image of the SDF as a physically demanding workplace. In reality, the SDF offers a wide range of career options, but these are not widely known," he added. Some experts have raised concerns about universities cooperating with the SDF, citing the importance of safeguarding academic freedom as guaranteed under Article 23 of the Constitution. Their concerns stem from Japan's pre-World War II history, when state power infringed upon independent academic research. In October 2023, the ASDF's Western Air Defense Force Band performed at Tokushima University's school festival, held on the Josanjima campus in the southwestern city of Tokushima. On learning of the planned performance in advance, the university's faculty labor union submitted a letter of inquiry, arguing that the ASDF concert was "out of line with the original purpose (of the school festival)." In response, the university explained that the event was a one-off. The SDF did not participate in the following year's festival. Shun Ishihara, a professor of sociology and social work at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, expressed caution about uncritical collaboration between academia and state institutions. "Universities need to maintain a clear boundary between themselves and powerful state entities such as the SDF," he said. Still, Ishihara also suggested that cooperation is not inherently problematic. "It should not be ruled out if there is a clear agreement within the university," he said. In the case of Tokushima University, "the issue was that no such agreement was in place," he noted.
Japan Times
3 hours ago
- Business
- Japan Times
K-pop and breakdance power South Korea's high-stakes presidential race
In South Korea's high-stakes presidential campaign, K-pop isn't just a cultural backdrop — it's a political strategy. Both major parties are leaning on Korean pop hits to energize voters, blending choreography and catchy lyrics with political messaging. Among the favorites at campaign rallies: Kim Jong-kook's Lovable and Young Tak's Next Door Oppa, are now fixtures in events across the country. But unlike the last U.S. presidential election, where Kamala Harris secured endorsements from Beyonce and Taylor Swift, South Korean artists have shied away from direct campaigning, which risks alienating fans. The opposition Democratic Party has deployed a 48-member "Shouting Korea' team, which travels nationwide in mobile units designed to create festive, street-level rallies. Their goal is to produce crowd-friendly events using choreography and classic Korean pop songs before and after the party nominee Lee Jae-myung takes the stage. The conservative People Power Party has taken a similar approach, with candidate Kim Moon-soo's campaign team choosing retro hits like Lovable, over songs by current idols. "Kim's frequent use of heart gestures inspired us to highlight a 'lovable' image, playing on the song's message to enhance his public appeal,' Kim Dong-hwan, a PPP campaign official, said. South Koreans head to the polls Tuesday after six months of political turmoil, hoping a new leader can begin to heal a fractured nation. The snap vote comes after impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol was removed by the Constitutional Court in April for his abrupt decision to declare martial law. Lee Jae-myung during an election campaign rally in Seoul on Thursday. | bloomberg The state of the economy and fighting U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are among the hot topics for voters, according to recent opinion surveys. Lee had 49% support while Kim trailed with 36% in a survey of 1,005 people commissioned by local media News 1 and released this week. "This election follows a period of martial law and impeachment,' said Kim Dae-young, a Democratic Party official. "There were debates about including strong political messages, but we decided instead to build a space where people could gather naturally — through music, dance, and video.' The campaign's setlist draws heavily on late-1990s and early-2000s pop acts chosen for their energy and broad appeal. They include Koyote's Pure Love, from 1999, diva Uhm Jung-hwa's Festival from the same year. Professional dancer Yim Young-hwan, who was hired by the liberal party to join the campaign, has choreographed several of the performances. The dance routines are deliberately simple, with occasional flourishes to grab attention, and to make it easy for people to follow. "We wanted people to say, 'Wow,' when they saw us,' Yim said. Lyrics are often adapted to highlight the candidate's character or policy goals. And choosing older tracks instead of licensing new idol music from the big K-pop companies such as SM Entertainment and Hybe reduces costs, according to Kim, the PPP campaign official. Licensing fees per song could reach around 3 million won ($2,170) to tens of million won, depending on its popularity. While TV and radio still play a role, Kim noted that digital content now dominates political engagement. Candidate Kim has appeared on major YouTube shows and launched a dedicated channel featuring a 13-song playlist to court online audiences. Yet despite the digital pivot, the energy of in-person street performances still resonates with many voters. "When young people perform like this, it lifts the older generation's spirits,' said Lee Soo-young, a Seoul resident, who joined Lee's campaign.
