News

Japan news from Japan Times

• Death toll in South Korea wildfires rises to 16

  The casualties included four people who were trying to escape the fire but their vehicle was overturned.

• Japan eyes ¥300,000 limit on daily ATM use for elderly

  Currently, banks voluntarily set the upper limit on cash withdrawals from ATMs at ¥500,000 per day, with no legal regulations.

• U.S. Osprey makes emergency landing at airport in Nagano Prefecture

  No injury has been reported regarding the developments, according to prefectural government officials and others.

• Ishiba plans price measures through existing budgets

  While no new spending appears to be planned, Ishiba’s comments on the price measures likely had the upcoming summer general election in mind.

• Tokyo court strips Unification Church of religious corporation status

  The order against the group, heavily criticized for its coercive tactics in soliciting donations, removes its tax-exempt status.

• Parties still at odds over corporate donations as deadline for agreement looms

  The prospect of reaching a decision on whether to ban, restrict or continue to accept donations by the end of the month appears slim.

• Hakamata gets ¥217M in compensation after acquittal in 1966 murder case

  The amount is the biggest such compensation granted in the country, according to the lawyers of ex-boxer Iwao Hakamata, who spent over 47 years in detention.

• NPB teams to fine 16 players for using online casinos

  The fines will be donated to organizations working to combat gambling addiction.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Death toll in South Korea wildfires rises to 16

  The casualties included four people who were trying to escape the fire but their vehicle was overturned.

• South Korea struggles to contain deadly wildfires

  More than a dozen different blazes broke out over the weekend, with the safety minister reporting thousands of hectares burned and four people killed.

• South Korean court reinstates PM Han Duck-soo as acting president

  Han, whose impeachment was struck down by the Constitutional Court, pledges to focus on steering Asia's fourth-biggest economy through a U.S. "trade war."

• Eighty years after the Battle of Manila, old foes forge new ties

  Amid rising tensions and possible changes to U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific, the relationship between Japan and the Philippines is even more crucial.

• Beijing simplifies marriages to encourage Chinese to wed

  Couples having children outside of marriage is rare in China, where there is social stigma and fewer protections for such families.

• Flights canceled and thousands evacuated after Indonesia volcano eruption

  Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a 1,703-meter twin-peaked volcano on the tourist island of Flores, erupted for 11 minutes and nine seconds late Thursday.

• Taiwan names Japan’s ex-SDF chief as Cabinet consultant

  China has lodged protests with the Japanese side in regards to the appointment of Shigeru Iwasaki.

• Indonesia parliament passes changes to military law amid protest and concern

  Civil society groups say the revisions could take the world's third-biggest democracy back to a draconian era when military officers dominated civilian affairs.

Culture news from Japan Times

• 'One Hundred Flowers': A moving exploration of loss, love and living with dementia

  Author Genki Kawamura drew inspiration from his grandmother's experiences to thoughtfully portray a woman suffering from dementia in his novel.

• Osaka’s kabuki fan culture fueled an elusive figure of the ukiyo-e scene

  In his new book, John Fiorillo partly lifts the veil on Shunbaisai Hokuei, who dominated the ukiyo-e art world in the Kamigata region during the early 19th century. 

• Avant-garde botanists AMKK illuminate the inner worlds of flowers

  The punk florists' latest exhibition immerses visitors in darkness, bathed only in the glow of X-rays and CT scans of plants and flowers.

• Virtual idols, real fans: Hololive’s bet on the future of pop

  Hololive CEO Motoaki Tanigo, whom fans affectionately refer to as “Yagoo,” has global ambitions for his virtual YouTuber sensations.

• ‘My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999’ shows that even stoic gamers can fall in love

  Yuka Yasukawa’s sweet rom-com with feather-light comedy offers more than a pastel-hued romantic fantasy.

• Indie films vie for views at Niigata animation festival

  From Satoshi Kon tributes to indie gems, this year's Niigata International Animation Film Festival continues its dedication to feature-length animation.

• Japanese singer and actor Ayumi Ishida dies at 76

  "Blue Light Yokohama," released in 1968, sold over 1 million copies.

• Augmented reality artist Omega C navigates a precarious scene for XR art

  Just this year, XR art featured heavily in the digital art festival Dig Shibuya and is the focus of the ongoing “Machine Love” exhibition at Mori Art Museum.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Raducanu happy to have found her spark again during Miami run

  The Briton has struggled with form and fitness issues since her only Grand Slam triumph as a teenager.

• Ozeki Onosato on doorstep of yokozuna promotion after latest title

  The Nishonoseki stable star was the class of the field once again in Kansai.

• Brazil soccer federation president re-elected after Ronaldo pullout

  Ednaldo Rodrigues, who was reelected until 2030, celebrated "the triumph of democracy."

• Partey time for Ghana as World Cup dream draws nearer

  The team has 15 points from six games in Group I, five ahead of second-placed Madagascar.

• So far so good for Tuchel as England earns back-to-back wins

  England already looks well on course to win a modest Group K and take its place in next year's World Cup finals.

• Dodgers hand ball to Blake Snell for domestic opener

  Left-hander Snell is one of two new additions to the starting rotation, along with right-hander Roki Sasaki.

• Watanabe stresses significance of his IOC presidency bid

  Watanabe, who became the first Japanese to seek the top IOC post, earned only four of the 97 valid votes in the election last week.

• Renard expecting no letup from Japan as Saudis eye World Cup spot

  The Saudis picked up their first win in five qualifiers when they beat China 1-0 at home last week.

Life news from Japan Times

• World’s first public bonsai museum reopens after renovations

  After a five-month refurbishment, the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum believes it’s better suited to care for its trees during intensifying summers.

• Now is the time to discover this Japanese mountain vegetable

  At its most flavorful now, the oddly shaped Japanese spikenard adds a juicy and crisp element to salads.

• At Osaka's Haraiso Sparkle, curry with a side of city pop

  What began as a simple spice curry shop has now morphed into an offbeat, funky eatery.

• Can we make it official? Language in the age of Trump.

  The United States made English its main language, but in Japan things seem to be heading in a different way.

• Assassin’s Creed Shadows puts samurai style over substance

  Ubisoft’s latest game is a gorgeous jaunt through feudal Japan entirely unworthy of the controversy surrounding it.

• Tokyo Creative Salon sees the city as both runway and canvas

  Through March 23, Tokyo’s streets, shopping centers and civic spaces will host an interdisciplinary celebration of creativity.

• At Ventinove, Tuscan specialties taken to new heights

  A former Italian favorite in Tokyo now enjoys a renaissance in a bucolic village in Gunma Prefecture.

• After a long winter, wild veggies can brighten up any dish

  Edible vegetables foraged in Japan's countryside can be an easy way to add texture and freshness.

 

 Singapore news from Today:

cURL error 18: transfer closed with 1 bytes remaining to read (see https://curl.haxx.se/libcurl/c/libcurl-errors.html)

J1 is a noncommercial educational provider that promotes Japanese and world culture and as such, the delivery of news feeds is intended to promote this education and culture.  J1 recommends that readers support these news providers by subscribing to their services.