Tokyo, 9 January, /AJMEDIA/
Japan PM Kishida begins to pave way for G-7 by visiting Europe, U.S.
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will try to pave the way for a successful Group of Seven summit he is scheduled to host in May, by visiting Europe, Canada and the United States for talks with his counterparts from Monday.
Kishida is planning to visit France, Italy, Britain, Canada and the United States, as the leaders of all those countries are likely to attend the G-7 summit in Hiroshima.
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Tennis: Naomi Osaka withdraws from Australian Open
MELBOURNE – Two-time Australian Open tennis champion Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the tournament beginning Jan. 16, organizers said Sunday on Twitter without giving a reason.
The former world No. 1 last played on the WTA Tour in September 2022 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she pulled out ahead of her second-round match, citing abdominal pain.
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Prosecutors closer to murder indictment 6 months after ex-PM Abe shooting
NARA, Japan – Six months after the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, prosecutors are moving closer to indicting the man accused of the fatal shooting that brought to light links between politicians and the controversial Unification Church.
Abe, 67, was shot at close range by Tetsuya Yamagami during a campaign speech on July 8, two days ahead of a national election.
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Japan starts requiring negative COVID tests for travelers from China
TOKYO – Japan further tightened border controls for travelers from mainland China on Sunday, requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test amid a surge of cases in the neighboring country.
Since September 2022, travelers from abroad who have been vaccinated at least three times did not need to take coronavirus tests within 72 hours of departure to prove they are not infected.
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COVID-19 deaths in Japan top 60,000 since start of pandemic
TOKYO – Japan’s cumulative total of COVID-19 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic exceeded 60,000 on Sunday, a tally showed, in the midst of the eighth wave of coronavirus infections.
Compared with the total topping 50,000 on Dec. 1, Sunday’s figure highlights the increased pace of deaths at 10,000 in just around a month.
Research begins to generate electricity from snow in Japan
AOMORI, Japan – Research has started in a northeastern Japanese city to generate electricity from unwanted snow with the aim of securing a renewable energy source to cover potential power shortages.
The city of Aomori, which sees heavy snow every year, started a trial in a swimming pool at an abandoned elementary school in December to explore the feasibility of producing energy by utilizing the temperature difference between stored snow and the surrounding air.
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Japan’s Echizen forged knives sought after by chefs overseas
FUKUI, Japan – Echizen knives forged according to centuries-old methods are proving to be a hit abroad, with many chefs visiting workshops in the town in Fukui Prefecture, central Japan.
Handmade and appreciated for their sharpness and durability, their popularity has grown through overseas sales demonstrations including in the United States, their promoters say.
