Tokyo, 1 August, /AJMEDIA/
Japan Cabinet support sags to record low 51% after Abe funeral plan
TOKYO – The approval rating for Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet has dropped to a worst-ever 51.0 percent from a record high of 63.2 percent just weeks ago amid controversy over the proposed state funeral for former leader Shinzo Abe and lawmakers’ possible ties to the Unification Church, a Kyodo News survey showed Sunday.
The survey found 53.3 percent of respondents opposed the state funeral, while 61.9% said a parliamentary debate on holding the event is necessary.
———-
Japan PM seeks to add impetus to nuke-free world push at NPT confab
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday he will seek to add momentum to global efforts toward a world free of nuclear weapons amid Russia’s war in Ukraine by attending a U.N. review conference on a nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
Kishida, who will become the first Japanese leader to participate in the conference, is expected to stress that nuclear weapons should not be used and call for nuclear powers to enhance transparency in their arsenal.
———-
U.S. House Speaker Pelosi to visit Asia, no mention of Taiwan
WASHINGTON – U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she will travel to Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia from Sunday but made no mention of Taiwan after reports of her potential trip to the island sparked an outcry from China.
Pelosi said the congressional delegation she is leading will discuss security, trade, the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, human rights and democratic governance during the tour.
———-
Japanese man detained by Myanmar police at anti-coup protest: reports
YANGON – Myanmar police on Saturday detained a Japanese man who was taking part in an anti-coup protest in Yangon, local media reported.
The Japanese Embassy in Myanmar said Sunday it has requested the release of the man in his 20s, reported to be documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota. He is being held for questioning at a police station in Yangon, the embassy said without confirming his identity.
———-
Baseball: Murakami’s 3 homers sink Tigers in Swallows’ win
NISHINOMIYA, Japan – Munetaka Murakami’s home run hat-trick rescued the Central League-leading Yakult Swallows on Sunday in a 4-2, 11-inning win over the Hanshin Tigers.
The come-from-behind win at Hanshin’s historic Koshien Stadium outside Osaka prevented the Swallows from suffering a three-game sweep.
———-
Top Japan chefs group to open Japanese cuisine theme park in China
TOKYO – A group formed by top Japanese chefs will open a theme park in China as part of efforts to further popularize Japanese food culture in the world’s second-largest economy.
Chefoodo said in a recent press release that it would collaborate with leading Chinese food conglomerate Bright Food (Group) Co. to bring the interactive facility to life, providing visitors with the opportunity to learn about and sample different styles of Japanese cuisine.
