TOKYO – The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan’s ruling LDP extends lead ahead of Feb. 8 election: Kyodo poll
TOKYO – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, has extended its lead from last week in a Kyodo News poll on the proportional representation race ahead of the Feb. 8 election, with 36.1 percent backing the party, up 6.9 percentage points, the survey showed Sunday.
The Centrist Reform Alliance, a new major opposition force, was second with 13.9 percent, up 2.0 points. At the single-constituency level, the survey conducted over two days from Saturday showed that 44.0 percent would vote for ruling camp-backed candidates in the House of Representatives election, while 26.5 percent would back opposition rivals.
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PM Takaichi clarifies remarks that could be seen as backing weaker yen
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Sunday sought to clarify remarks she made the previous day that could be seen as backing a weaker yen, amid concern over possible volatile currency moves before markets reopen.
In a speech at a street rally in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Saturday, Takaichi praised the yen’s recent depreciation for boosting exporters and returns from the government’s foreign exchange fund, while failing to address concerns about its negative impact on consumer prices.
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Half of 20 major Japanese cities face shrinking population
TOKYO – Half of 20 large Japanese cities, each with at least over 700,000 residents, have experienced a population decline compared to 10 years ago, partly due to a falling birthrate, analysis by Kyodo News showed Sunday.
An estimate for 2050 shows that the number of those cities that will see a population decline will expand to 18, despite their earlier success in having attracted young people from nearby areas.
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Australian woman dies after ski lift accident in central Japan
NAGANO, Japan – An Australian woman has died after a ski lift accident at a central Japan resort in which she was left hanging in midair, local police said Sunday.
Police identified her as 22-year-old Ella Day Brooke and are investigating the cause of her death.
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Voters less likely to support female politicians wearing masks: survey
TOKYO – Voters are less likely to support female politicians when they are wearing face masks, while there was no such effect for their male counterparts, a study by a Japanese university research team showed.
The findings, published last month ahead of the Feb. 8 general election, underscored the differences in how the public perceived politicians following the COVID-19 pandemic, when wearing masks became more common for politicians across the world.
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Japan main opposition co-leader vows responsibility for election outcome
TOKYO – Yoshihiko Noda, co-leader of Japan’s main opposition party, said Sunday during a street campaign speech in Tokyo that he would “take responsibility” for its outcome in the Feb. 8 House of Representatives election.
The Centrist Reform Alliance was formed in January by uniting lower house members of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Komeito party, which ended its decades-long coalition with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
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Japan’s election exposes divide over China after Takaichi’s Taiwan remarks
TOKYO – Japanese political leaders on Sunday offered differing views on how to handle relations with China ahead of the Feb. 8 general election, amid controversy over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on a potential Taiwan contingency.
On a TV program, Tetsuo Saito — co-leader of the new main opposition Centrist Reform Alliance — emphasized the importance of maintaining dialogue with China. China has lambasted Takaichi for voicing a willingness to intervene militarily in the Taiwan issue.
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Basketball: Japan’s Kawamura makes NBA season debut for Bulls in Miami
NEW YORK – Japan men’s basketball team guard Yuki Kawamura made his NBA season debut for the Chicago Bulls in Saturday’s 125-118 win over the Miami Heat, contributing six points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 11 minutes off the bench.
The 24-year-old re-signed with the Bulls on a two-way deal last month, having impressed for them in Summer League before his contract was terminated while he underwent treatment for blood clots in his right leg.
Video: Imperial Guard Headquarters’ school holds graduation ceremony
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