TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Imperial law revision bill to pass Japan lower house as Diet gridlock ends
TOKYO - Ruling and opposition parties have formally agreed to hold a House of Representatives plenary session on Friday to deliberate a bill to ensure the sustainability of the imperial family system, moving a step closer to bringing about the controversial changes.
The deliberation schedule was fixed on Thursday after a deal was struck to end a stalemate in the lower house over what opposition parties viewed as the government and ruling parties' high-handed way of handling parliamentary proceedings regarding other bills.
----------
BOJ maintains economic view on all 9 regions as Middle East fears ease
TOKYO - The Bank of Japan on Thursday maintained its assessments for all regions in the country, noting that fears the Middle East crisis will have a serious impact on exports and output have eased despite some supply disruptions.
In the quarterly Sakura report, the central bank said that although some weakness was seen in parts of the nine regions, all areas were either "recovering moderately," "picking up," or "picking up moderately" as demand for artificial intelligence-related products and services spread to a wide range of industries.
----------
Calbee to resume full-color packaging for some snacks from late July
TOKYO - Major Japanese snack maker Calbee Inc. said Thursday it will gradually resume full-color printing for the packaging of eight products, including its mainstay potato chips, from late July shipments after easing ink procurement concerns, while some other products will continue using monochrome packaging.
Frugra fruit granola will return to full-color printing across the entire package and start hitting store shelves from the week of July 27. Certain sizes of four varieties of the Potato Chips line as well as Kappa Ebisen shrimp crackers will feature color printing on the front side only starting August.
----------
Uniqlo operator raises FY 2026 net profit outlook to record 500 bil. yen
TOKYO - Fast Retailing Co., operator of the Uniqlo clothing chain, on Thursday lifted its net profit outlook for the year to August to a record 500 billion yen ($3.1 billion), helped by strong sales at home and abroad.
The latest projection compares with its earlier forecast of 480 billion yen and represents a 15.5 percent increase from the previous fiscal year.
----------
Neyagawa in Osaka Pref. passes citywide vacant-home tax ordinance
OSAKA - The city assembly of Neyagawa in Osaka Prefecture passed an ordinance Thursday to introduce a tax on owners of vacant houses, aiming to cope with an increasing number of such homes and bring them onto the housing market.
The municipal government said the vacant house distribution promotion tax will be imposed across the entire city starting in fiscal 2029, making it Japan's first such levy not limited to a specific area.
----------
Japan's Onitsuka Tiger unveils new flagship store in Tokyo, largest yet
OSAKA - Japanese footwear giant Asics Corp. on Thursday unveiled to the media its new flagship store for popular high-end sneaker brand Onitsuka Tiger in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, which stocks nearly all its products and is its largest store yet.
The four-story shop is set to open Friday with a total floor area of 1,837 square meters. It will sell apparel, bags and fragrances as well as shoes.
----------
N. Korean Premier Pak to visit China from Fri. for treaty anniv.
BEIJING - North Korean Premier Pak Thae Song will make a three-day visit to China from Friday to attend an event commemorating the 65th anniversary of the signing of a mutual assistance treaty, the two countries said Thursday.
The premier's trip follows Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Pyongyang in June. The China-North Korea Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, signed on July 11, 1961, includes provisions guaranteeing immediate military and other support in the event either nation comes under armed attack.
----------
Football: JFA sounds out Moriyasu on short-term extension as manager
TOKYO - The Japan Football Association has sounded out national team manager Hajime Moriyasu about the possibility of extending his term on a rare short-term contract, with the coach receptive to the idea, sources close to the matter said Thursday.
The JFA expects Moriyasu to manage the Samurai Blue through the upcoming Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for January and February, with a successor to take the helm after the event, according to the sources.
