People dressed as armored warriors compete in a horse race during the annual “Soma-Nomaoi” traditional horse festival in the Fukushima Prefecture city of Minamisoma, northeastern Japan, on May 25, 2025. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan to spend 900 bil. yen in 1st stimulus combating Trump tariffs
TOKYO – Japan’s government plans to spend 900 billion yen ($6.3 billion) on emergency economic measures to counter the negative impacts of higher U.S. tariffs, marking the nation’s first fiscal response to President Donald Trump’s trade duties, sources close to the matter said Monday.
The overall scale of the relief package is estimated to reach up to 2.8 trillion yen, including spending by local governments, in a bid to tackle a potential downturn in the broader economy, the sources added.
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Univ. of Tokyo mulls accepting Harvard foreign students if barred
TOKYO – The University of Tokyo said Monday it is considering temporarily accepting international students from Harvard University if they are affected by the U.S. government’s move to bar them from studying at the institute.
The university previously launched a program in 2022 to temporarily host researchers and students unable to continue their studies due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, offering research labs and accommodation free of charge.
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Japan starts revised rice stocks sales to cut prices by early June
TOKYO – Japan began sales of government rice stockpiles via direct contracts on Monday, aiming to slash soaring prices after the newly appointed farm minister pledged to bring them down to about 2,000 yen ($14) per 5 kilograms by early June.
The move comes as the government seeks to quell criticism it has been ineffective in preventing rice prices from skyrocketing at a time when inflation is outpacing wage growth and pressuring household budgets.
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Trump says U.S. Steel to remain under American control after deal
WASHINGTON – U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday that United States Steel Corp. will remain under American control even after a “planned partnership” is forged with Japan’s Nippon Steel Corp., which has aimed to acquire it.
“It will be controlled by the United States. Otherwise, I wouldn’t make the deal,” Trump told reporters in New Jersey. “It’s an investment and it’s a partial ownership, but it will be controlled by the U.S.A.,” he said.
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ASEAN leaders to show concern over U.S. tariffs, Myanmar
KUALA LUMPUR – Leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are set to show their deep concern over “unilateral tariff measures” without mentioning the United States at their meeting in Malaysia on Monday, according to a draft of the summit chairman’s statement obtained by Kyodo News.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who is chairing the meeting, said at the outset that ASEAN has displayed resilience amid “increasingly complex and sobering global developments,” adding, “The global trading system is under further strain, with the recent imposition of U.S. unilateral tariffs.”
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Japan family registry OKs listing of Taiwan as place of origin
TOKYO – Japan on Monday started allowing Taiwanese who marry Japanese to list their place of origin as Taiwan, instead of China, in the family registry system, a move that has been welcomed by the self-ruled island but opposed by Beijing.
When a Japanese marries a foreigner, the family register records the spouse’s nationality along with his or her name and other information. Previously, what was written in the nationality field was in principle the name of a country, leading people from Taiwan to be described as being from China.
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Osaka expo changes no-smoking policy, will set up 2 smoking areas
OSAKA – The organizer of the World Exposition in Osaka has recently decided to set up two smoking areas within the event’s venue by early June, reversing its earlier no-smoking policy.
Until now, those who wished to smoke had to leave the 155-hectare venue and go to one of two designated areas outside its east gate. The lack of accessible smoking spots prompted some staff and participants to smoke in unauthorized areas.
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Japan Post introduces online 7-digit codes in lieu of home address
TOKYO – Japan Post Co. on Monday introduced seven-digit codes using alphanumeric characters to replace home addresses for services such as online shopping.
Under the new service, a so-called “digital address” will be assigned to individuals, enabling them to use the same code even after they move, with the measure aimed at preventing incorrect addresses being entered.
Video: Traditional horse festival in Fukushima Prefecture
AloJapan.com