Tokyo, 7 June, /AJMEDIA/
Watchdog accuses MUFG bank of sharing info with brokerage affiliates
TOKYO – Japan’s securities watchdog is planning to call for a bank and two brokerage firms under Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. to be punished over allegations they shared confidential information about customer businesses despite being refused permission, a source familiar with the matter said Friday.
The Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission is considering recommending the Financial Services Agency take punitive action as early as next week against MUFG Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. and Morgan Stanley MUFG Securities Co.
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Japan political group head faces new arrest over campaign obstruction
TOKYO – The leader and other members of a Tokyo-based fringe political group were served with fresh arrest warrants Friday for allegedly obstructing a rival candidate’s campaign for a Diet by-election in April.
Atsuhiko Kurokawa, the 45-year-old leader of “Tsubasa no To,” Ryosuke Nemoto, 29, the group’s unsuccessful candidate in the April 28 election and Hayato Sugita, 39, allegedly chased one of their rival camps’ vehicles, police said.
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Japan PM mulls talks with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy next week
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is considering holding talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Europe next week on new economic cooperation, a government source said Friday.
At the planned meeting, possibly on the fringes of a three-day Group of Seven summit from next Thursday in Fasano in southern Italy, Kishida and Zelenskyy will likely sign deals on Tokyo’s fresh economic and reconstruction support measures for Kyiv, the source said.
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Japan household spending up 0.5% for April, 1st rise in 14 months
TOKYO – Japan’s household spending in April rose a real 0.5 percent from a year earlier for the first increase in 14 months, lifted by increased outlays on education and clothing amid warm temperatures, government data showed Friday.
While a three-day holiday in the reporting month also helped increase outlays, “As a trend, it’s hard to say that spending is moving upward,” a ministry official said.
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Japan PM vows to boost “active cyber defense” to prevent cyberattacks
TOKYO – Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday instructed a minister to craft a bill to boost Japan’s “active cyber defense” capabilities to prevent cyberattacks against the country by monitoring early warning signs.
“It is an increasingly urgent task to enhance Japan’s ability to deal with cyberattacks in light of the current security environment,” Kishida said at the first meeting of a government panel involving experts in the field.
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Trio arrested for “insulting” Chinese anthem at World Cup q’fier
HONG KONG – Three individuals were arrested Thursday night for allegedly insulting China’s national anthem during a 2026 World Cup Asian qualifier football match in Hong Kong before being released on bail the following morning, according to police.
The trio, aged 18 to 31, were seen turning their backs to the field and failing to stand during a broadcast of the Chinese national anthem “March of the Volunteers” at the beginning of the match.
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Japanese man indicted over putting girl in washing machine
MITO, Japan – A man was indicted Friday for allegedly injuring his girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter by putting her in a washing machine and turning it on.
The Mito District Public Prosecutors Office in Ibaraki Prefecture did not disclose whether Hideaki Masui, 30, had admitted to the allegation. The incident in May left the girl with injuries to her face and legs that took around two weeks to heal, according to the indictment.
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Toyota, Mazda halt production of 5 models amid certification scandal
TOKYO – Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. on Thursday paused production of a total of five vehicle models after the transport ministry said their certifications had been obtained improperly, affecting more than a thousand suppliers.
The move comes after the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism ordered shipments of Toyota’s Corolla Fielder, Corolla Axio and Yaris Cross, as well as Mazda’s Roadster RF and Mazda2 to be halted, saying their vehicle certification tests were carried out in ways that did not comply with government specifications.
