TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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4 dead after heavy rain pounds Chiba Pref. near Tokyo, roads flooded
TOKYO - Four people died and one remained unresponsive as heavy rain pounded eastern Japan on Thursday and continued into early Friday, with the weather agency issuing a Level 5 warning, the highest on its scale, for downpours in more than one-third of the municipalities in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo.
Road flooding occurred across the prefecture, while the cities of Chiba and Ichikawa, among others, urged citizens to immediately take safety measures.
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Putin pays 1st visit to Russia-held, Japan-claimed island off Hokkaido
TOKYO - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Etorofu Island in his first trip while in office to the Russian-held, Japanese-claimed island chain off Hokkaido, drawing a backlash from Tokyo, which called it "totally unacceptable."
The islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and by Russia as the Southern Kurils, have long been at the center of a territorial row between the countries. The visit came as ties between Japan and Russia remain strained in the wake of Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
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China-led spat on Japan aggression revealed over U.N. WWII anniv. document
LONDON - A China-led row at the U.N. Security Council in 1995 over Japan's atonement for World War II and Beijing's subsequent concession following Japan's release of a landmark apology statement have been disclosed by newly released files at the National Archives in London.
Documents showed that on the eve of Aug. 15, 1995, China was pushing to include the word "aggression" in the text of a proposed U.N. Security Council chair's statement marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the war in the Asia-Pacific.
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25% of Japan museums mull disposing of war materials amid lack of space
TOKYO - A quarter of 62 museums and facilities in Japan storing materials related to the two world wars said they need to consider disposing of some items due to deterioration or lack of space, a Kyodo News survey showed Thursday.
The survey also found that donations of materials are increasing as the population ages, leaving many facilities at or near capacity, and prompting calls for financial support to help avoid the "last resort" of disposal.
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Japan's crown prince makes 1st remark regarding dwindling family debate
TOKYO - Japan's Crown Prince Fumihito on Thursday commented for the first time since the government revised the Imperial House Law to address the issue of the shrinking royal family, sympathizing with Emperor Naruhito who said two months ago he hoped for a solution that gains public understanding.
"I too have much to think about. I believe (the emperor) has a point, and I agree with him," he said at a press conference at the Akasaka Estate, ahead of an official visit to Paraguay next week.
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1st Google Store outside U.S. opens in Tokyo
TOKYO - U.S. tech giant Google LLC opened its first official store outside the United States in Tokyo on Thursday, at which customers can purchase new Pixel smartphones, Nest products and exclusive goods.
"Japan is a highly critical market for the Google Pixel portfolio, where we are seeing rapid and enthusiastic growth in users," Mauria Finley, vice president of Google Store, said at an opening event.
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Japan wholesale prices up 7.2% in July amid Middle East tensions, AI demand
TOKYO - Japan's wholesale prices in July rose 7.2 percent from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan said Thursday, led by increases in electric power, gas and water, reflecting higher crude oil prices amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and strong artificial intelligence-related demand.
The growth in prices of goods traded between companies slowed for the first time in five months, decelerating from an upwardly revised 7.3 percent in June, the biggest rise since March 2023.
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Kumamoto Castle reopens after safety checks following M7.1 quake
KUMAMOTO, Japan - Kumamoto Castle reopened to visitors Thursday, just over two weeks after a magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan, following safety checks by the city.
The city said inspections through Tuesday found no safety issues that would prevent visitors from entering the nationally designated special historic site, although the July 28 quake left part of the main tower's floor uneven and caused stone walls in the castle's compound to collapse in 40 locations.
