Main news(2025/05/23)
[Professional Baseball Results] Nippon Ham Fighters' Kanemura wins his third shutout victory of the season
2025-05-23 22:07:00
Five professional baseball games were played, and Nippon-Ham, the leader of the Pacific League, pitched by Naoma Kanemura, held the Rakuten batting line to five hits, earning their third shutout victory of the season. Rakuten's Hideto Asamura hit his first hit in five games, putting him one step closer to becoming the 56th player in history to hit 2,000 hits in his career.
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"Harvard University sues US government" over acceptance of international students
2025-05-23 22:02:00
Reuters reported that Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging that the Trump administration's decision to revoke Harvard University's accreditation to accept international students clearly violates the Constitution and other laws.
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US President Trump: "Recommending 50% tariffs on EU products from next month 1st"
2025-05-23 21:50:00
The Trump administration in the United States is negotiating with various countries, including Japan, over tariff measures. On the 23rd, President Trump posted on his social media that the trade deficit with the European Union exceeds $250 million a year and is completely unacceptable, and that "negotiations with the EU have reached an impasse. Therefore, I recommend that a 50% tariff be imposed on the EU from the 1st of next month." This appears to be an expression of strong dissatisfaction with the difficulties in trade negotiations between the United States and the EU.
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Agriculture Minister Koizumi: Retail price of stockpiled rice to be set at 2,000 yen for 5 kg through discretionary contract
2025-05-23 21:15:00
On the 23rd, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi appeared on NHK's "News Watch 9" and revealed his intention to sell stockpiled rice through discretionary contracts so that the retail price in stores would be around 2,000 yen for 5 kilograms.
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Fire at apartment in Toshima, Tokyo, 3 injured, no life-threatening injuries
2025-05-23 19:12:00
According to the Tokyo Fire Department, a fire broke out in a room on the sixth floor of an apartment building in Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, at around 6:00 p.m. on the 23rd, and firefighters are working to extinguish the fire. Three people have been injured so far, but none of them are in any danger of dying. Firefighters are currently checking to see if anyone else in the apartment building was unable to escape. The incident occurred in a residential area about 600 meters south of JR Otsuka Station.
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Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, there is a risk of very heavy rain from Okinawa to eastern Japan.
2025-05-23 18:31:00
Due to the influence of the front and low pressure, the atmospheric conditions will become unstable from Okinawa to eastern Japan from Saturday, the 24th to Sunday, the 25th, and there is a risk of very heavy rain of more than 50 mm per hour in some areas. The Japan Meteorological Agency is calling for caution against landslides, flooding of low-lying areas, and rising and overflowing rivers.
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Fire at factory near Haneda Airport in Ota Ward, Tokyo No reports of injuries
2025-05-23 18:07:00
According to the Tokyo Fire Department, a report was received at around 5:00 pm on the 23rd that a fire had broken out on a conveyor belt at a factory in Jonanjima, Ota Ward, Tokyo, near Haneda Airport. The fire broke out on the second floor of the four-story factory, and more than 50 vehicles, including fire engines, were dispatched to extinguish the fire.
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Ozeki Onosato wins, a big step towards promotion to Yokozuna in the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament
2025-05-23 17:57:00
Ozeki Onosato, who is competing for the title of yokozuna in the summer tournament of the sumo wrestling tournament, won his fourth consecutive tournament victory. With his second consecutive tournament victory as ozeki, Onosato has made great strides towards promotion to yokozuna after the tournament.
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Pepper spray-like substance fired at shopping mall in Chiba
2025-05-23 17:13:00
According to the police, at around 3:00 pm on the 23rd, police and firefighters were called to the shopping mall "AEON Mall Chiba New Town" in Inzai City, Chiba Prefecture, reporting a strange odor. 37 people complained of feeling unwell, and three of them were taken to the hospital.
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Seven young players selected for the first time for Japan's national soccer team, with the discovery of new talent also in sight
2025-05-23 16:10:00
The Japan national soccer team, which has qualified for next year's World Cup, will play the remaining two matches in the final Asian qualifying round next month. The 27 members of the team have been announced, with seven young players, including 18-year-old Ryunosuke Sato of J1 Fagiano Okayama, being selected for the first time, making this a lineup that is intended to unearth new talent.
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Child and Family Agency to "improve with AI and other tools" consultation service for bullying and school refusal
2025-05-23 14:40:00
A project team at the Agency for Children and Families, which is examining support measures for children suffering from bullying and school refusal, has compiled an interim report stating that it is necessary to improve consultation services, including by utilizing social media and AI, so that children can confide their concerns regardless of time or place.
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Wakayama pandas to be returned on June 28th, open to the public until the day before
2025-05-23 12:42:00
The four giant pandas being kept at a theme park in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, which is set to be returned to China, have been announced by the theme park to depart for China on the 28th of next month.
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Nagano mushroom producer Hokuto factory fire: "Battery explosion may have been the cause"
2025-05-23 12:23:00
Regarding the fire that broke out at a factory of Hokuto, a major mushroom producer, in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture, last October, the fire department has compiled a report stating that the cause was most likely the explosion of a lithium-ion battery that was being charged inside the work building.
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Princess Aiko to make first official overseas visit to Laos in November
2025-05-23 12:22:00
Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress, will visit Laos in Southeast Asia in November this year for her first official visit abroad.
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Prime Minister Ishiba speaks by phone with President Trump to exchange views ahead of cabinet talks
2025-05-23 12:12:00
Prime Minister Ishiba held a telephone conversation with US President Trump on the morning of the 23rd. It is believed that they exchanged views regarding US tariff measures ahead of ministerial negotiations to be held in Washington on the 24th (Japan time).
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Consumer price index rose 3.5% in April, with rice rising 98.4%, the highest ever.
2025-05-23 12:09:00
The April Consumer Price Index, which tracks the price movements of goods and services consumed at home, excluding fresh food, which is subject to large fluctuations due to weather, rose 3.5% from the same month last year. Of this, rice, which continues to be expensive, rose by more than 98%, the highest increase on record.
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North Korean media: "Judicial authorities begin investigation into destroyer accident"
2025-05-23 11:30:00
North Korean media reported that the judicial authorities have begun procedures to arrest and investigate those responsible for the accident in which a destroyer failed to launch. South Korean experts have suggested that this is also an attempt to strengthen the regime's control by punishing those responsible for the accident.
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CDP's draft pledge for the House of Councillors election: "Food consumption tax rate to be 0% for one year in principle, etc."
2025-05-23 11:23:00
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan has put together a draft of its campaign pledges for the upcoming House of Councillors election in the summer. The pledges include a reduction in the consumption tax rate on food products to zero percent for one year only, in principle, from April next year, and raising the pension base for the so-called "employment ice age" generation and beyond.
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House of Representatives Budget Committee votes by majority to summon Shimomura as witness over political funding issue
2025-05-23 11:10:00
Regarding the political funding issue of the LDP faction, the House of Representatives Budget Committee voted by a majority to call in former Abe faction leader and former Policy Research Council Chairman Shimomura as a reference person. The LDP opposed the request.
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Nippon Steel to report to Trump on CFIUS review of proposed US Steel acquisition
2025-05-23 10:57:00
Reuters reported that a US government committee that reviewed Nippon Steel's acquisition plan for US Steel again reported to President Trump that many members expressed the view that the security risks could be dealt with. However, it also said that opinions were divided, and attention is focused on what decision President Trump will make.
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Japan-U.S. tariff negotiations: Minister Akazawa departs to explore common ground for compromise
2025-05-23 10:14:00
Regarding the US tariff measures, Minister of Economic Revitalization Akazawa will depart for Washington on the 23rd to attend ministerial negotiations. As calls for an early agreement grow stronger due to concerns about the widespread impact on the economy, he plans to once again call for a review of the series of measures and to seek common ground that will lead to compromise between the two sides.
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Agriculture Minister Koizumi: Stockpiled rice to be "available in stores for around 2,000 yen per 5 kg"
2025-05-23 10:05:00
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 23rd, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi said about the government's consideration of revising the release of its stockpiled rice to discretionary contracts, "The basic direction at this point is to release it through discretionary contracts so that it can be sold in stores at around 2,000 yen," indicating his intention to proceed with preparations so that stockpiled rice can be sold on store shelves at supermarkets and other stores at around 2,000 yen per 5 kilograms.
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G7 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Statement Does Not Directly Mention Tariffs
2025-05-23 08:05:00
The meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors of the G7 countries, held in Canada, concluded with the adoption of a joint statement in the early hours of the 23rd (Japan time). The statement did not directly mention the US tariff measures, but expressed concerns about global imbalances in areas such as trade and investment.
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JR Yamanote Line inner and outer loop services suspended from the first train
2025-05-23 07:08:00
Due to an abnormality in the overhead wiring equipment, JR Yamanote Line has suspended all operations on both the inner and outer loops from the first train. The outer loop was scheduled to resume around 8:00 a.m., but it was later revealed that this would be delayed to around 9:00 a.m. The inner loop is scheduled to resume around 7:00 a.m.
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LDP, Komeito and Nippon Ishin no Kato to hold talks on reducing number of hospital beds to ease social insurance burden
2025-05-23 07:02:00
In order to realize the three-party agreement between the ruling party and the Japan Restoration Party, Prime Minister Ishiba has instructed the LDP to proceed with the discussions in good faith. On the 23rd, the three parties will hold specific discussions on the number of hospital beds that can be reduced in order to reduce the burden of social insurance premiums.
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[Earthquake Alert] Hokkaido experiences magnitude 4 earthquake, no risk of tsunami
2025-05-23 06:56:00
At around 6:28 am on the 23rd, an earthquake measuring magnitude 4 was observed in Hokkaido. There is no need to worry about a tsunami caused by this earthquake.
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Japanese government officials to be dispatched to local meeting for LNG development project in Alaska
2025-05-23 06:47:00
The Japanese government will be sending officials to an energy conference to be held in Alaska next month regarding a large-scale LNG (liquefied natural gas) development project in the state of Alaska, in which U.S. President Trump has expressed his hopes for Japanese investment. The government hopes to use this opportunity to gather detailed information about the project and assess its profitability.
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Nagano Electric Railway passengers killed and injured in accident after service was suspended due to bad weather and resumed
2025-05-23 06:38:00
On the 21st, a shed that was likely blown away by strong winds collided with a moving train in Suzaka City, Nagano Prefecture, resulting in three deaths and injuries. The train had temporarily suspended operations at the station two stops before due to bad weather, but resumed operations a few minutes later, according to an interview with the company. Police are currently investigating the circumstances at the time, including the train's operating status.
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Nissan President gives detailed explanation on status of cuts to seven factories in exclusive interview
2025-05-23 06:17:00
In an exclusive interview with NHK, Nissan President Ivan Espinosa said that no final decision has been made yet regarding the seven factories to be cut both in Japan and overseas. However, he emphasized that given the growing anxiety among employees and local stakeholders, the company intends to provide a detailed explanation of the progress of the review.
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Department of Homeland Security announces that students cannot study abroad at Harvard University
2025-05-23 05:59:00
The Trump administration in the United States has announced that it will revoke Harvard University's accreditation as an institution accepting international students. It explains that not only will new foreign students be unable to study at Harvard, but that current foreign students will lose their status of residence in the United States unless they transfer to another university.
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German troops begin stationing in Lithuania, the first time a single unit has been stationed abroad since the end of the war
2025-05-23 05:36:00
As Europeans become increasingly wary of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, German troops have been stationed in Lithuania, one of the Baltic states bordering Russia. This is the first time since World War II that the German army has stationed troops overseas on its own.
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Agriculture Minister Koizumi to announce new system for discretionary contracts for stockpiled rice soon
2025-05-23 05:25:00
On the evening of the 22nd, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Koizumi told reporters regarding the status of the consideration of selling stockpiled rice through discretionary contracts, "We are putting the final touches on the detailed design of the system. I think we'll be able to make an announcement in the near future," indicating his intention to announce the new system soon.
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