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Japan halted an engine test for one of its flagship rockets after a fire broke out at the launch site on Tuesday, marking the latest setback in the country’s efforts to establish a foothold in the growing market for vehicles capable of launching satellites into orbit. Japan’s space agency had been testing the engine combustion of its Epsilon S rocket when what it described as an “abnormality” occurred shortly after ignition. Footage from NHK, the public broadcaster, showed a blaze erupting at the test site in southwestern Japan. The failed test of JAXA’s Epsilon S rocket, codeveloped with Japanese heavy-industry manufacturer IHI, follows a similar issue in 2023 that led to months of reviews and delays. JAXA has previously said it planned to launch a demonstration model of the rocket by the end of March.

Organizations: Epsilon, NHK, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, JAXA Locations: Japan

☆ Japan’s ‘love hotels’: Delving beneath the surreal facades of UFOs, boats and castles
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Oscar Holland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“And many, many of them are castles,” he added of the facades of around 200 love hotels captured in his new photography series. The kind of distinctive architecture Prost documented, however, emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, as the establishments became more upmarket. Considered one of the first modern love hotels, Osaka's Hotel Love opened in 1968. Francois ProstOne of the most famous 1970s love hotels, the Meguro Emperor, was designed to resemble a European castle. A neon-lit love hotel in the city of Numazu.

Persons: François Prost, ”, Prost, Francois Prost, they’re, Francois Prost Prost, Francois Prost One, ” Prost, Kiss, Francois Prost The, Mark D, West, Francois Prost He’s, “ Organizations: CNN, Everyday, ” Locations: France, Chiba, ”, Honshu, Shikoku, Tokyo, Hamamatsu, Okayama, Japan, Okayama —, Himeji, Everyday Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Shibuya, United States, Numazu, Spain, Ivory Coast

☆ ‘Doomsday fish:’ A rare oarfish returns to California shores for the second time this year
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-18 | by ( Dawn Sawyer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The elusive deep-water oarfish – considered to be a harbinger of bad news – was spotted yet again on the shores of Encinitas, California. “We took samples and froze the specimen awaiting further study and final preservation in the Marine Vertebrate Collection,” Ben Frable, manager of the Scripps Oceanography Marine Vertebrate Collection, said in the post. “Like with the previous oarfish, this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology, anatomy, genomics and life history of oarfish,” Frable said in the post. The fish was found in good condition according to the release, and it was taken in for examination and preservation to become a part of the organization’s Marine Vertebrate Collection. “It may have to do with changes in ocean conditions and increased numbers of oarfish off our coast,” Frable said.

Persons: Alison Laferriere, ” Ben Frable, ” Frable, ” Scripps, Santa Ana, ”, Dahiana Organizations: CNN, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, Scripps, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science, Scripps Oceanography, Obscura, Ocean Conservancy, GeoScience Locations: Encinitas , California, Grandview Beach, San Diego, Japan’s, Japan, Ocean, La Jolla, Huntington Beach, Santa

☆ A mythical harbinger of doom washes up on a California beach
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Hannah Peart | Hannah Peart Is An Intern In The Nbc News London Bureau. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The legendary “doom fish” has returned to California. A long, ribbon-shaped oarfish, rarely seen and believed to signal disaster, has washed up on California’s shores for the second time this year. PhD candidate Alison Laferriere from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego discovered the nearly 10-foot-long oarfish on a beach in Encinitas, in southern California, last week. According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, oarfish are incredibly rare. Since 1901, only 21 oarfish have been documented washing up on California shores, according to the institution.

Persons: ”, Alison Laferriere, oarfish, Ben Frable, Frable Organizations: Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, NOAA's Fisheries Science Locations: California, Encinitas, Japan, Japan’s, La Jolla, San Diego

☆ Trump looms over Biden’s final meeting with Xi in Peru
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

In the end, looking backward may be more productive for Biden and Xi than trying to predict what’s next for their two nations. Biden administration officials acknowledge they have little insight into what a notoriously unpredictable leader might be planning. What Biden can do, they argue, is reiterate to Xi the value of maintaining communication, even amid the expected contention. A key counterweight could be Biden’s legacyHow Trump confronts those threats is not something he’s discussed at great length, at least as a candidate. It’s also an area his aides believe could — and should — be continued by the incoming Trump administration, though acknowledging they have little to go on when it comes to the president-elect’s intentions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Xi, Donald Trump’s, that’s, Biden, “, Trump, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Tulsi Gabbard, Pete Hegseth, Matt Gaetz, He’s, there’s, Xi’s, ”, Jake Sullivan, aren’t, China’s, —, Obama, he’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, It’s, Korea’s Yoon Suk, Shigeru Ishiba Organizations: Peru CNN —, Biden, White, APEC, Xinhua, Mar, Lima Convention Center, Trump Trump, Ukraine Locations: Lima, Peru, Chengdu, China, Washington, Beijing, United States, Bali, San Francisco, Taiwan, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Pyongyang, Japan, South Korea, Tokyo, Seoul, East Asia

☆ Japanese Princess Yuriko, oldest member of imperial family, dies at 101
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Associated Press | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo (AP) — Japanese Princess Yuriko, the wife of wartime Emperor Hirohito’s brother and the oldest member of the imperial family, has died after her health deteriorated recently, palace officials said. Yuriko died Friday at a Tokyo hospital, the Imperial Household Agency said. Imperial Household Agency/APThe 1947 Imperial House Law, which largely preserves conservative prewar family values, allows only males to take the throne and forces female royal family members who marry commoners to lose their royal status. She enjoyed exercise in the morning while watching a daily fitness program on television, the Imperial Household Agency says. Her overall condition deteriorated over the past week, the Imperial Household Agency said.

Persons: Yuriko, Emperor Hirohito’s, Prince Mikasa, Hirohito, Emperor Naruhito, Princess Yuriko, Prince Hisahito —, Emperor Naruhito — Organizations: Tokyo, Imperial Household Agency, Law Locations: Tokyo

☆ Four storms churning the West Pacific at the same time mean more bad news for the Philippines
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Helen Regan | Robert Shackelford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Four separate storm systems are churning their way through the West Pacific simultaneously, a rare occurrence resulting from warmer oceans that threatens to bring more misery to the storm-weary Philippines. Satellite images from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center show the four storms spanning the vast West Pacific basin, from Vietnam to Guam. They are Typhoon Yinxing, Typhoon Toraji, Tropical Storm Usagi and Tropical Storm Man-Yi. The fourth storm on the heels of Usagi is Tropical Storm Man-Yi, which is currently about 430 kilometers (265 miles) east of Rota, Guam. Man-Yi is expected to continue moving west, reaching typhoon strength Friday morning, and could potentially hit the northeastern Philippines by early next week.

Persons: It’s, Yinxing, Trami, Charism Sayat, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, we’re, ” Marcos, ”, Toraji, Yi, Usagi, Rey, Gaemi Organizations: CNN, West Pacific, Japan’s Meteorological Agency, Typhoon, Tropical, Getty, Typhoon Kong Locations: West, Vietnam, Guam, Philippines, Polangui, Albay, South, Manila, AFP, China, Hainan Province, Cagayan, Iloco Norte, Luzon’s Aurora Province, Luzon, Rota, Bato, Camarines Sur province South, Typhoon, Asia, Southeast Asia

☆ South Korean president takes up golf again to prepare for Trump’s second term
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Jessie Yeung | Yoonjung Seo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Seoul, South Korea CNN —As countries around the globe prepare for a second Trump presidency, one world leader is teeing up a carefully calibrated diplomatic strategy. In South Korea, President Yoon Suk Yeol “recently began practicing golf again for the first time in eight years, in preparation for ‘golf diplomacy’ with President-elect Trump,” the presidential office told CNN on Tuesday. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers a speech in Seongnam, South Korea, on October 1, 2024. Another potential headache for Yoon once Trump is in office is the future of the 28,500 US troops in South Korea. The troops serve as both a means to deter any potential attack from North Korea and to counter China’s aggression.

Persons: Yoon Suk, “, Trump, Yoon, Donald Trump, scrutinizing, Japan’s, Shinzo Abe, Kim Hong, Moon Jae, Kim Jong, ”, –, Kim Organizations: South Korea CNN, Trump, CNN, Reuters, South, North Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Trump, Florida , New Jersey, Virginia, Manhattan, Florida, Japan, Seongnam, Korea, North Korea, Russia, Pyongyang, Moscow, Ukraine

SEOUL, South Korea — As foreign governments prepare to deal with a second Trump administration, at least one key U.S. ally is hoping to make headway on the fairway. Last month, the U.S. and South Korea agreed on a new five-year cost-sharing plan for the U.S. troops. Maintaining a strong security alliance with the U.S. is especially important for South Korea given the growing hostility from nuclear-armed North Korea. That in turn could lead South Korea and even Japan to consider whether they need nuclear weapons of their own. Stella Kim reported from Seoul, South Korea, and Jennifer Jett reported from Hong Kong.

Persons: Trump, Yoon Suk, “, Donald Trump, Yoon, ”, Shinzo Abe, David Boling, Chung Sung, Abe, Abe “, Boling, ” Yoon —, ” Jeremy Chan, “ I’ve, Yoon doesn’t, he’s, ” Chan, Lydia Ko, Ko, Shigeru Ishiba, ” Boling, Chan, Choi Sang, mok, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Kim Jong, Stella Kim, Jennifer Jett Organizations: NBC, South, Eurasia Group, Trump, House, Paris Olympics, Japanese, U.S, South Korean Finance, Seoul, Getty Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, U.S, Florida , New Jersey, Virginia, North Korea, Japan, New York, Seoul, United States, East Asia, China, Northeast Asia, New Zealand, Scotland, Korea, Chiba, AFP, Hong Kong

TOKYO — Lawmakers in Japan voted Monday to retain the embattled Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister despite his long-governing party’s dismal showing in parliamentary elections last month. Ishiba, a straight-talking former defense minister, received 221 votes compared with 160 for Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party. Many Japanese officials assume Trump is going to be “more straightforwardly anti-China,” and that Japan will be “somehow miraculously left off the hook,” he said. Though Japan has already pledged to double defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product by 2027, “that’s probably not going to be enough to satisfy Trump,” Boling said. While Abe was “extraordinarily skillful” in dealing with Trump, Ishiba has a different personality, Boling said.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Ishiba, Donald Trump, Yoshihiko Noda, ” Ishiba, Yuichi Yamazaki, Trump, Koichi Nakano, Shinzo Abe, ” Nakano, David Boling, “ that’s, ” Boling, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Takahiro Mori, Abe, Boling, “, I’m, Jeff Kingston, ” Kingston, Arata Yamamoto, Jennifer Jett, Peter Guo Organizations: Lawmakers, Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party, Getty, Trump, Japan Relations, NBC News, U.S, Eurasia Group, Nippon, Pittsburgh, . Steel, Democratic, Nippon Steel, United Steelworkers, ”, Japan Locations: TOKYO, Japan, Washington, Tokyo, China, Russia, North Korea, U.S, York, Japanese, Pittsburgh, ” Japan, United States, Temple, Hong Kong

☆ Nissan stock slumps after it announces 9,000 job cuts and a plan to slash production
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Nissan Motor shares slumped 6% in Tokyo trade Friday, a day after the Japanese automaker said it would cut 9,000 jobs and a fifth of its manufacturing capacity as it struggles with sales in China and the United States. It said restructuring would cut costs by 400 billion yen ($2.61 billion) in the financial year to the end of March. Nissan is also challenged in the US where it lacks a line-up of hybrids just as that vehicle type is in strong demand. On Friday, Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto declined to comment to reporters when asked his views on potential government support for Nissan. “The company released its mid-term plan this spring, but in the end there was no meaning to that.

Persons: Japan’s, Makoto Uchida, Carlos Ghosn, Industry Yoji Muto, Seiji Sugiura, ” Sugiura, Nissan’s Organizations: Nissan Motor, Nissan, Renault, Japan’s, Economy, Trade, Industry, Tokai Tokyo Intelligence Laboratory Locations: Tokyo, China, United States

☆ Dow set to surge more than 1,200 points as Trump is reelected
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-06 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Markets, in particular, crave certainty, and the clear path forward will allow companies to adjust their business and hiring plans. But stocks may also be reacting to Trump’s victory, in particular. Trump flipped several swing states from President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory, and Republicans also took control of the Senate. So Trump’s victory, at least for now, appears to be keeping those rates somewhat higher. Other so-called Trump trades, including shares of his social media stock, Trump Media & Technology Group, surged Wednesday morning.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, Joe Biden’s, refocusing, Sam Stovall, Bitcoin, Crypto, Trump’s, Germany’s DAX, Australia’s, ”, Neil Newman, Hong, ” Daniel Murray Organizations: New, New York CNN —, Dow, Nasdaq, Republicans, Fed, JPMorgan, Democratic, CFRA Research, Gross, Treasury, Trump, Trump Media & Technology Group, CAC, Nikkei, Advisory, EFG Asset Management Locations: New York, Europe, Asia, China, Tokyo, Shanghai

☆ North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea ahead of U.S. election
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Ap-Live-Blog-Byline-Image.Png | The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Tuesday fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea, the South Korean military said, as the country continued its weapons demonstrations hours before the U.S. presidential election. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missiles flew about 250 miles but did not specify how many were fired. The launches came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised a flight test of the country’s newest intercontinental ballistic missile designed to reach the U.S. mainland. South Korea’s military intelligence agency said last week that North Korea has also most likely completed preparations for its seventh nuclear test. Experts say North Korea has yet to acquire some critical technologies to build a functioning ICBM, such as ensuring that the warhead survives the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba, Kim Jong Un, Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, Kim, Vladimir Putin’s, Matthew Miller, Moscow’s, Kim Song, Robert Wood, ” Wood, “ We’re, Anna Evstigneeva, “, ” Organizations: South Korean, U.S, Korea’s, Chiefs, Staff, North, United States, Republican, Democratic, Trump ., . State Department, Ukraine, European Union, Security, ” U.S, Korean Locations: SEOUL, South Korea, North Korea, Korea, Japan, Washington, South, U.S, Trump . ”, Russia, Ukraine, Russia’s Kursk, Ukraine’s, Seoul, United States, ”, Russian

☆ NYC Marathon: The Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye wins thrilling men’s race
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The Netherlands’ Abdi Nageeye won a thrilling men’s race at the New York City marathon on Sunday, while Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui marked her debut with a victory in the women’s race. Similarly, there was a thrilling finish in the women’s race as Chepkirui accelerated just before the finish to drop her compatriot Hellen Obiri, the defending champion. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/APIn the men’s wheelchair race, the USA’s Daniel Romanchuk took his first win at this marathon since 2019, ending Swiss star Marcel Hug’s domination of this event in recent years. Britain’s David Weir finished second, five seconds behind Romanchuk, while Japan’s Tomoki Suzuki finished another seven seconds back in third after a thrilling sprint finish. Meanwhile, Romanchuk’s compatriot Susannah Scaroni won the women’s wheelchair race by more than 10 minutes, marking the first time in the race’s history that Americans had won both wheelchair races.

Persons: Netherlands ’ Abdi Nageeye, Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui, Nageeye, Evans Chebet, Tamarit Tola, Kenya’s Albert Korir, Hellen Obiri, Chepkirui, Obiri, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, Daniel Romanchuk, Marcel Hug’s, Hug, Britain’s David Weir, Japan’s Tomoki Suzuki, Susannah Scaroni, ” Scaroni, “ Organizations: CNN, New York City, Runners, AP Locations: Netherlands, Kenya, New York City

☆ La Dolce Vita Orient Express: Eat your way around Italy in style
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-02 | by ( Maureen O'Hare | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World, CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. La Dolce Vita Orient ExpressNew details have been teased about the hotly anticipated La Dolce Vita Orient Express train and the upcoming Orient Express hotels in Rome and Venice, the first for the relaunched brand. The brand’s first Orient Express hotel will be the Orient Express La Minerva in Rome, followed by Orient Express Palazzo Donà Giovannelli in Venice. That follows the international gang-bust in France and Italy last month over counterfeit French wine being sold for $16,000 per bottle. In Japan, the alcoholic drink doburoku was once illegal “moonshine,” but this once controversial drink is now making a comeback.

Persons: Heinz Beck, Nizza, Giovannelli, Fraudsters, doburoku, poitín, There’s Organizations: CNN, Vita Orient, Vita Orient Express, Orient Express, Montalcino, Orient, Carolina, Fuji, Delta Air Lines Locations: Antarctica, Rome, Venice, Italy, Da Nang, Hue, France, Japan, Ireland, Germany, Turkey, Antalya, Western, North Carolina, Hurricane, French

☆ Sabae: The ‘eyeglasses capital’ of Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-31 | by ( Milly Chan | Karla Cripps | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Among them is the small city of Sabae, in Fukui prefecture, about a 3.5-hour train ride from Tokyo. An eyeglasses sculpture in Sabae, Japan. Fukui prefecture has four stations on the extended Shinkansen line – Awara Onsen Station, Fukui Station, Echizen-Takefu Station and Tsuruga Station. (Travelers can hop on a separate train from Fukui Station for the 15-minute ride to Sabae.) GI15702993/iStockphoto/Getty ImagesIn addition to being home to the eyeglasses capital of Japan, Fukui prefecture is filled with well-preserved ancient architecture, historic sites and temples, as well as newer attractions, including Nishiyama Zoo, famed for its red pandas.

Persons: Buddhika Weerasinghe, Sabae, Takeshi Yamae, “, ”, Futa Nagao, Takeshi, Sabae’s, It’s, There’s, sakura, Soto, you’re Organizations: CNN, CNN —, Bloomberg, Getty, Boston Club, Sabae’s Megane, Asahi Shimbun, Fukui, Takefu, Tsuruga, Nishiyama Zoo, Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Soto Zen, Food, Museum Locations: Sabae, Fukui prefecture, Tokyo, Japan, Honshu, Fukui, Japan’s Hokuriku, Toyama, Niigata, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Echizen, Maruoka, Tojinbo, Mikata, Wakasa, Tsuruga

Hello Kitty made her commercial debut the next year, appearing on a line of vinyl coin purses alongside several other new characters. There’s not much that doesn’t suit her… I think that when everyone talks to Hello Kitty, she probably answers them in some way.”Sales of Hello Kitty products flourished in Japan between the 1980s and mid-1990s. A North Korean child wears a Hello Kitty hairpin at a primary school in the country's capital, Pyongyang, in 2011. Hello Kitty superfan Asako Kanda shows CNN a room in her home that is dedicated to Hello Kitty. Daniel Campisi/CNNAfter more than 36 years of collecting, Kanda still buys around two Hello Kitty items every month.

Persons: Sanrio, Kitty White, Kitty, Pokémon, Mickey Mouse, Yuko Shimizu, ”, Bob Levey, Yuko Yamaguchi, Shimizu, Setsuko Yonekubo, Yamaguchi, Yoshikazu Tsuno, Kitty —, Tiny, “, Feng Li, Kanda, Daniel Campisi, Kitty’s, Beyblade —, Atsuo Nakayama, Astrid Stawiarz, —, ” Atsuo, Eduardo Verdugo Organizations: CNN, UNICEF, Japan’s Foreign Ministry, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Sanrio’s, Getty, ”, New York Times, America, Wall Street, Netflix Locations: London’s, Kitty’s, Houston , Texas, Sanrio’s Tokyo, Tokyo, AFP, San Francisco, Japan, Korean, Pyongyang, San Jose, New York City, London, American, America, Mexico City

OSHU CITY, Japan — In Oshu, the small rural town where Shohei Ohtani grew up, baseball is as much a part of the landscape as the farmers’ fields and low-rise hills surrounding it. As they watched Game 4, which aired at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning in Japan, Yasuo Sakamoto, 74, and his wife Keiko, 70, wore the Dodgers jerseys and hats they got when they visited Los Angeles this summer to see Ohtani play. “Even at my age, I’m really awed by him,” Yasuo Sakamoto said of Ohtani. “In Japan when there’s news about Ohtani, it’s bright news. The two teams will play Game 5 in the best-of-seven series at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday — and Japan will be watching.

Persons: Ohtani, Ohtani’s, Yasuo Sakamoto, Keiko, I’m, ” Yasuo Sakamoto, it’s, “ They’re, ”, superfan Hironobu Kanno Organizations: CITY, Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Dodgers, Yankees, Yankee, League, National League MVP, Major League Baseball Locations: Japan, Oshu, Los Angeles, “, Japan’s Iwake

☆ Shohei Ohtani: World Series sparks major excitement in Japan, attracts viewership rivaling the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Hanna Park | Yumi Asada | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The appearance of Ohtani in this year’s edition of the World Series has captivated Japan and emerged as a television ratings phenomenon. Seth Wenig/APCustomers choose a T-shirt at a pop-up store for Major League Baseball star Shohei Ohtani ahead of the first World Series game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees, in Tokyo, Japan, on October 25, 2024. Everyone shouts Ohtani, Ohtani, and it makes me extremely happy. When combined with US viewership, the first two World Series games have averaged 29.7 million viewers across the two countries. MLB has shown a remarkable 225% increase in social media engagement, with views across various platforms rising by 229%, the league reported, reflecting the growing excitement surrounding the World Series and its star players.

Persons: Shohei Ohtani, “, ”, Ryosuke Matsumoto, Tomoyuki Masuda, Seth Wenig, Shohei, Kim Kyung, Mamoru Tanaka, Major League Baseball —, Matsumoto, Eugene Hoshiko, Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Yamamoto Organizations: Tokyo, CNN, — Baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Dodgers, Major Leagues, Yankees, Yankee, AP, Major League Baseball, Fox Sports, AP CNN, Los Angeles Angels, The Dodgers, MLB Locations: Japan, United States, Tokyo, Shibuya, Bronx, Kyoto, New York, Ohtani, Ohtani's, Oshu, Los Angeles

☆ North Korea launches suspected ICBM days ahead of US election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Helen Regan | Gawon Bae | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Tokyo and Seoul CNN —North Korea conducted a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile test on Thursday morning, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry, which said it was believed to be the longest flight time yet for a North Korean missile. The launch comes just days ahead of the United States presidential election, and follows warnings from the South Korean intelligence agency that Pyongyang was planning on launching an ICBM around the election to test its reentry technology. The missile is believed to be a long-range ballistic missile fired at “a lofted angle,” South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. It is suspected to have fallen outside of Japan’s exclusive economic zone, according to public broadcaster NHK, citing the country’s Defense Ministry. The US National Security Council described the launch as an intercontinental ballistic missile test, calling it “a flagrant violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions.”This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Gen Nakatani, ” Nakatani Organizations: Seoul CNN —, Japan’s Defense Ministry, United, Korean, Korea’s, Chiefs, Staff, NHK, country’s Defense Ministry, Japanese, “, US National Security Council, UN Locations: Tokyo, Seoul, Korea, Korean, Pyongyang

☆ Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji has yet to see snow this winter, breaking a 130-year record
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —November is just a few days away, but Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji remains snowless, marking the latest date without a snowcap since records began 130 years ago. The lack of snow as of October 29, beats the previous record of October 26, set in 1955 and 2016, he said. This aerial view shows climbers lining up to take a photo on the Kengamine summit of Mount Fuji on August 10, 2024. The unusual October heat Japan experienced was made three times more likely because of the climate crisis, Climate Central found. Straddling Japan’s Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures, the 3,776-meter Mount Fuji is a UNESCO World Heritage site and an icon of Japan.

Persons: Snowcaps, Shinichi Yanagi, Stringer Organizations: CNN, Mount, Fuji, NHK, Meteorological Office, Meteorological Agency, Mount Fuji, Kyodo, Climate, Northern, UNESCO Locations: Kofu, Japan, Mount, Central, Yamanashi, Shizuoka, overtourism

☆ Japan’s government in flux after election gives no party majority
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

TOKYO — The makeup of Japan’s future government was in flux on Monday after voters punished Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s scandal-tainted ruling coalition in a weekend election, leaving no party with a clear mandate to lead the world’s fourth-largest economy. The biggest winner of the night, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ), had 148 seats, up from 98 previously, but also still well short of the 233 majority. But days before the vote, a newspaper affiliated with the Japan Communist Party reported that the party had provided campaign funds to branches headed by non-endorsed candidates. “LDP’s payments to branches show utter lack of care for public image,” ran an editorial in the influential Asahi newspaper two days before the election. In one bright spot, a record 73 women were elected into Japan’s male-dominated parliament, surpassing 54 at the 2009 election.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba’s, “, Ishiba, Komeito, Keiichi Ishii, ”, Tobias Harris, Yoshihiko Noda, Fumio Kishida, Yuichiro Tamaki, Nobuyuki Baba, Rintaro Nishimura, Masakazu Tokura Organizations: U.S, Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Japan Foresight, LDP, Japan Communist Party, Asahi, Democratic Party for, People, Japan Innovation Party, DPP, Bank of Japan, Asia, Komeito Locations: TOKYO, China, North Korea, Japan

☆ Doburoku: once illegal, this Japanese alcohol is making a comeback
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-28 | by ( Jonathan Delise | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

To distinguish this type of turbid Japanese alcohol from that of the ubiquitous and transparent sake, there are two distinct if slightly misleading categories: seishu (清酒), or clear sake, and doburoku (濁酒). However, when making doburoku, they are all simultaneously placed in with the yeast starter, causing the resulting mixture to be comparatively overflowing with sugars. For nearly as long as rice has been cultivated in Japan, doburoku has existed. In essence, all doburoku made from then on came to be called mitsuzoushu (密造酒), “secretly produced alcohol,” or moonshine. The state of doburoku todayOpened in 2015, Tokyo’s Sake Hotaru was the first legal spot to offer doburoku in Japan’s capital.

Persons: Heiwa, doburoku, homebrewing, Utsunomiya Hitoshi, Utsunomiya, “, Hotaru, Norimasa Yamamoto, it’s, ”, Kato, Shinobu Kato, ” Kato Organizations: Tokyo CNN, Makers Association Locations: Tokyo, Nihombashi, Wakayama prefecture, Japan, Edo, Borne, doburoku, Japan’s, Brooklyn

It’s still unclear if his ruling coalition with the junior partner Komeito can retain a majority. Ishiba has set a goal of retaining a majority of 233 seats for the ruling coalition between the LDP and its Buddhist-backed Komeito. But analysts say Ishiba’s LDP was expected to remain the top party in Japan’s parliament as voters are skeptical about the opposition’s ability and inexperience. There could be regrouping attempts among opposition parties to decide whether to cooperate among themselves or join the ruling coalition, political watchers say. Ishiba is expected to last at least until the ruling bloc approves key budget plans at the end of December.

Persons: Shigeru Ishiba’s, It’s, Komeito, can’t, Ishiba, Fumio Kishida, “, ”, Yoshihiko Noda, Noda, won’t, Izuru Makihara, ” Makihara, Shinzo Abe, Rintaro Nishimura, Abe Organizations: NHK, Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party, LDP, Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, University of Tokyo, The Asia Group, Democratic Party of, Japan Innovation Party Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Japan’s

With most of the population gone, residents of one village in Japan have come up with a novel plan to make it less lonely — replacing people with puppets. Fewer than 60 people live in Ichinono, and most of them are past retirement age as younger people have moved away for jobs or education. So, using old clothes, fabrics and mannequins, residents have stitched together their own population of puppets to keep them company. “We’re probably outnumbered by puppets,” Hisayo Yamazaki, an 88-year-old widow, told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Hisayo Yamazaki standing next to the puppets outside her house in Ichinono.

Persons: “ We’re, Hisayo Yamazaki, Philip Fong, Yamazaki, ” Organizations: Agence France, Presse, Getty, Internal Affairs Ministry Locations: Japan, Ichinono, AFP

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