Tokyo, 4 September, /AJMEDIA/
At least 146 LDP lawmakers had dealings with Unification Church
TOKYO – At least 146 lawmakers from the Liberal Democratic Party have had dealings with the Unification Church or affiliated organizations, a Kyodo News survey and interviews revealed Saturday, once again highlighting the close ties between Japan’s main ruling party and the religious body.
Politicians’ connections to the church, formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, have become a source of controversy since former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was killed on July 8 over alleged links to the religious group by a gunman who harbored a grudge against the church.
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U.S. approves potential $1 bil. arms sale to Taiwan amid tensions
WASHINGTON/TAIPEI – The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $1.1 billion sale of military equipment to Taiwan, the government said Friday, in the latest show of support for the self-ruled island amid heightened tensions with China.
The sale involves logistics support for Taiwan’s surveillance radar program totaling $665.4 million, Harpoon anti-ship missiles worth $355 million, and Sidewinder missiles that can be used for air-to-air engagements and surface-attack missions at an estimated cost of $85.6 million.
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Japan, South Korea stress need for better ties before key court decision
SEOUL – The Japanese and South Korean foreign ministers on Saturday underscored the need for improving bilateral relations strained over wartime issues, as South Korea’s top court is expected to make a relevant decision soon.
“There has never been a time when progress in Japan-South Korea, Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation is more important than now,” Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s top diplomat, said in a speech at an online forum. The three nations have been working closely to address challenges, including threats from North Korea.
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Arrested ex-Tokyo Olympic exec may have been asked to favor Kadokawa
TOKYO – Haruyuki Takahashi, a former Tokyo Olympic organizing committee executive arrested in a bribery case involving a sponsorship contract for a clothes retailer, may also have been asked to favor publishing company Kadokawa Corp., a source familiar with the matter said Saturday.
The publishing company gave 70 million yen ($500,000) to an entity run by his acquaintance and prosecutors are looking into why the money was paid and whether all or part of the amount was transferred to anyone, the source said.
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Russia holds events on disputed isles to mark 1945 victory over Japan
TOKYO – Russia held military events on a group of disputed islands off Hokkaido on Saturday, commemorating the day designated by Moscow as the anniversary of its victory over Japan in the Pacific War in 1945.
The events, held on three of the four islands known collectively as the Northern Territories in Japan and the Southern Kurils in Russia, were also a demonstration of Russia’s effective control of the isles.
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Strikeout artist Yu Darvish credits success to getting good breaks
LOS ANGELES – Upon reaching his milestone 3,000th strikeout in elite pro competition Friday, Yu Darvish reflected on how having fun as a child in Japan’s rigid baseball culture by making the ball bend made him the pitcher he is today.
Darvish joined Hideo Nomo as just the second pitcher with 3,000 pro strikeouts and 1,000 each in Japan and MLB.
Famous in MLB for confounding hitters with a broad assortment of pitches, Darvish said that breaking pitches became his passion at an early age.
