Japan

[ad_1] Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka believes she can get back amongst the top spots in the rankings by the end of the year as the Japanese player draws inspiration from being a new mother.The four-time Grand Slam champion suffered an early Australian Open exit following 15 months out of the sport after having her first child but is confident of getting back to the top as she prepares […]

[ad_1] In a sign of voter backlash against the ruling Liberal Democratic Party over its political slush funds scandal, a novice candidate supported by major opposition parties defeated the ruling coalition’s choice in the Maebashi mayoral election in Gunma Prefecture on Sunday. Incumbent Mayor Ryu Yamamoto, 64, who was seeking a fourth term, lost to 41-year-old Akira Ogawa, a former prefectural assembly member, who will become Maebashi's first female mayor. […]

[ad_1] Heavy snow fell across Tokyo and the wider Kanto region on Monday, continuing until early Tuesday in some areas and impacting transportation networks during the morning commute. On Monday evening, the Meteorological Agency had issued a heavy snow warning for Tokyo's 23 wards and most of the Kanto-Koshin region, calling for caution over transportation disruptions, frozen roads and avalanches until Tuesday morning. The warnings were later downgraded to advisories. […]

[ad_1] Former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Koji Matsui won the Kyoto mayoral campaign Sunday with promises to tackle the city’s over-tourism problem, with his ideas including a new fare system for public transport that would make bus and subway rides cheaper for residents but more expensive for visitors.But in order to implement that idea, there needs to be a change in the national law, and how effective the plan would […]

[ad_1] Tokyo’s Shinjuku is a vibrant business and entertainment district that is home to skyscrapers, buzzing clubs and neon-lit alleyways, making it a popular place for a night out in the capital.But just out of sight of visitors filming the spectacle with their phones, between the newly built tourist hotspot Tokyu Kabukicho Tower and the Toho cinema, is the gathering point for the 21st century street children of Tokyo — […]

[ad_1] KYIV – President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a broad overhaul of Ukraine’s military and civilian leadership was needed to reboot the country’s war effort, suggesting that a major shake-up of his government was imminent.Zelenskyy’s comments, in a broadcast aired Sunday night, indicated that his plans went beyond replacing the top military commander, Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny. Tensions between the military and civilian leadership, which have been building for months, seemed […]

[ad_1] Karolina Shiino, the Ukraine-born winner of last month’s Miss Japan contest, has relinquished her title, the contest organizer said Monday, following a magazine report that she was having an affair with a married man. It is the first time a Miss Japan winner has relinquished their title. The organizer said the post will be vacant for the year. Shukan Bunshun reported on Wednesday that Shiino, 26, was dating a […]

[ad_1] Oita – The success of a Japanese man who took an onigiri (rice ball) sandwich — known for years as the soul food of Okinawa — and turned it into a booming franchise began when his wife cooked the pork and fried egg snack for him one morning at home.Shortly after his culinary revelation about a decade ago, Katsuaki Kiyokawa, 53, started a restaurant specializing in the pork tamago […]

[ad_1] Clashes between ruling and opposition parties over the release of an internal Liberal Democratic Party investigation into the recent political funds scandal continued Monday, causing an hourlong delay to the budget committee session.Opposition parties had demanded that the LDP publish a list of all party members responsible for the underreporting of political funds in the last five years, and voiced their dissatisfaction with the party’s efforts to uncover details […]