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Sapporo White Illumination, a popular seasonal light event, begins at Odori Park in Sapporo in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Nov. 22, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan’s Ishiba shows intention to work with N. Korea’s Kim
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday showed his intention to work with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying “actions based on strategic decisions by the leaders” of the two countries would move forward the situation of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea.
Ishiba made the remark at a Tokyo event themed on the abduction issue. He said his government will tackle it with firm resolution and secure the return of all the Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s.
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Japan foreign minister planning China visit in late December
TOKYO – Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is planning to visit China in late December for talks with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, as the two countries seek to resume high-level bilateral exchanges, government sources said Saturday.
The two sides are also considering holding a ministerial-level human and cultural exchange dialogue during the visit by Iwaya, who assumed his post in October, they said. The dialogue has not been held since it was first held in November 2019 in Tokyo.
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South Korea to skip Japan’s Sado mine event to remember laborers
SEOUL – South Korea said Saturday it will not send any officials to a memorial event to be held on Japan’s Sado Island to commemorate laborers, including Koreans, who worked during World War II at the island’s gold and silver mine complex.
The announcement by Seoul came after Tokyo said Parliamentary Vice Foreign Minister Akiko Ikuina would attend Sunday’s event at the mine, which was designated as a World Heritage site earlier this year.
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Baseball: Japan holds off Taiwan in preview of Premier12 final
TOKYO – Japan relief pitcher Tatsuya Shimizu came up huge in a 9-6 Premier12 victory over Taiwan on Saturday in an appetizer for Sunday’s championship game.
Japan and Taiwan entered the game having already clinched their spots in the final by virtue of the United States’ 6-5 victory over Venezuela earlier in the day at Tokyo Dome.
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Japan libraries to trial book sales amid decline in bookstores
TOKYO – Some public libraries in Japan will trial sales of new books from fiscal 2025 to fill the void caused by a nationwide decline in the number of physical bookstores, industry officials said.
The program is aimed at increasing opportunities for people to buy books, particularly the elderly who may be unfamiliar with the process of using online shopping sites.
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Shinkansen services delayed due to maintenance problem
TOKYO – Some shinkansen bullet train services were delayed Saturday morning due to a malfunctioning maintenance vehicle, affecting around 4,900 passengers, railway operator JR East said.
Services were temporarily suspended between Omiya and Takasaki stations near Tokyo, resuming shortly after 7 a.m., according to the company.
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Speed skating: Takagi wins 1,000 for 2nd title at World Cup opener
NAGANO, Japan – Japan’s Miho Takagi won the women’s 1,000 meters Saturday at the speed skating World Cup in Nagano.
The Beijing Olympics 1,000 gold medalist clocked 1 minute, 14.60 seconds at M-Wave as she grabbed her second win at the season-opening meet, having also claimed Friday’s 1,500.
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Sumo: Ozeki Kotozakura, Hoshoryu set up final-day title showdown
FUKUOKA – Ozeki Kotozakura and Hoshoryu are set for a final-day, head-to-head title showdown after both improved to 13-1 with solid wins Saturday at the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Kotozakura, who turned 27 this week, will be bidding for his first Emperor’s Cup on Sunday, while the 25-year-old Mongolian-born Hoshoryu, the nephew of former yokozuna Asashoryu, will seek his second title after his first at last year’s July meet in Nagoya.
Video: Sapporo White Illumination begins at Odori Park in Hokkaido
