TOKYO – The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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TEPCO restarts 1st nuclear reactor since Fukushima under close scrutiny
TOKYO – Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc. on Wednesday restarted its first nuclear reactor since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, with the utility’s safety measures set to be closely watched as it seeks to turn around its business amid ongoing cleanup efforts from the accident.
TEPCO brought back online the No. 6 reactor at the seven-unit Kashiwazaki-Kariwa complex in Niigata Prefecture — northwest of Tokyo and the world’s largest nuclear power plant by output when fully operational — after a last-minute control-rod alarm failure during a test forced it to delay the resumption initially set for Tuesday.
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Shooter of ex-Japan PM Abe given life term as sought by prosecutors
NARA, Japan – The man who fatally shot former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2022 was sentenced by a court to life imprisonment on Wednesday as sought by prosecutors, in a case that shed light on the harm caused by the Unification Church.
In the ruling on Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, the Nara District Court said, “The maliciousness of firing a gun at the scene of a large audience is significantly more serious than in other cases,” and rejected the defense counsel’s argument that his unfavorable upbringing influenced him to kill Abe.
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Japan’s ruling LDP renews push for aggressive fiscal stance for election
TOKYO – Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday renewed its commitment to “responsible yet aggressive” fiscal spending to prop up the inflation-hit economy in its campaign pledges ahead of a House of Representatives election next month.
The LDP will also consider a two-year suspension of the 8 percent consumption tax on food and beverage items to address rising living costs, according to the pledges. Opposition parties are expected to propose abolishing or lowering the tax rate.
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Japan air force to offer refueling to S. Korea military planes for 1st time
TOKYO – The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force said Wednesday it will offer refueling support to South Korean military planes for the first time, as an aerobatic team will make stopovers at a base in Okinawa in the coming weeks.
The move apparently aims to showcase the strengthening defense ties between the two U.S. allies. Tokyo and Seoul, meanwhile, are planning a meeting between their defense ministers by the end of this month in Japan, a source familiar with the matter said.
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Japan, Britain arranging Starmer visit Jan. 31 for talks with Takaichi
TOKYO – Japan and Britain are arranging for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to visit Japan for a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with his arrival eyed for Jan. 31, Japanese government sources said Wednesday.
The leaders are expected to confirm cooperation in defense and economic security, including on strengthening supply chains, following China’s recent tightening of export controls on dual-use items to Japan with both civilian and military applications.
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N. Korean leader Kim’s 2018 Seoul visit plan aborted at last minute: memoir
SEOUL – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un planned to visit Seoul in December 2018 but scrapped the trip just a day ahead of the official announcement due to security concerns raised by the ruling party’s highest policy-making body, according to a memoir released Wednesday.
South Korean lawmaker Youn Kun Young, who served as a close aide to former President Moon Jae In, wrote in his book titled “The Panmunjeom Project” that the two Koreas discussed Kim’s reciprocal visit to Seoul in response to Moon’s trip to Pyongyang during closed-door working-level talks.
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Japan weather agency warns of heavy snow, partial highway closures planned
TOKYO – Japan’s weather agency on Wednesday warned of heavy snow in areas stretching from northern to western regions through the weekend, with authorities saying some highways in the central part of the country could close in advance.
Heavy snowfall is likely along the Pacific coast in places that rarely see it, while areas along the Sea of Japan coast will experience even heavier snow on Thursday, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
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Sumo: Hoshoryu snatches win as Aonishiki retains share of New Year lead
TOKYO – Yokozuna Hoshoryu rode his luck to stay in the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament title race on Wednesday as new ozeki Aonishiki stayed among the leading pack with two defeats after 11 days of action.
Hoshoryu (8-3) secured a winning record thanks to a desperate arm bar throw at the edge against sekiwake Takayasu (7-4), who had the better of the opening clash and used his size advantage to advance before being sent out of the raised ring at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan.
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Video: Sightseeing helicopter goes missing in southwest Japan
AloJapan.com