TOKYO -
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Damage reports from Chiba rain disaster grow, death toll stands at 10
CHIBA, Japan - Reports of flood damage continue to grow three days after torrential rain pounded Chiba Prefecture east of Tokyo, with the prefectural government saying Sunday that some 1,300 homes were flooded, 10 people were killed and one remained missing.
Reports of flooded houses due to the record rainfall from Thursday evening to Friday morning increased from the around 1,000 announced by the local government the previous day.
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Holidaymakers rush home on final day of Japan's "Bon" holidays
TOKYO - People returning from domestic and international trips crowded major train stations and airports on Sunday, the final day of Japan's summer "Bon" holiday period.
Many shinkansen bullet trains bound for Tokyo were full on Sunday afternoon, according to Central Japan Railway Co., which links the Japanese capital with places such as Nagoya and Osaka. Traffic was also heavy on expressways.
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Japan ruling party executive Kobayashi visits war-linked Yasukuni shrine
TOKYO - Takayuki Kobayashi, a senior executive of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, visited the war-linked Yasukuni shrine on Sunday, a day after other top party members -- but not Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi -- went to the site to mark the 81st anniversary of the end of World War II.
LDP policy chief Kobayashi did not join other party executives who visited the controversial shrine Saturday so that he could deal with the aftermath of the heavy rain that hit areas in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo where he has his constituency.
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Future of trains delivering fresh onions across Japan uncertain
SAPPORO - "Onion trains" that transport fresh onions harvested in Hokkaido, northern Japan, across the Japanese archipelago are now facing an uncertain future as a local train operator reviews its business.
The potential termination of a local train route that is a critical link in the transport network that delivered nearly 29,000 tons of onions in fiscal 2025 from Kitami, the largest producer of the vegetable in Japan, could affect consumers seeking seasonal produce at affordable prices.
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Japan makers roll out new UV protection products for men amid severe heat
TOKYO - Japanese consumer goods makers have rolled out a new wave of UV protection products targeting men this year as scorching heat persists across the country, emphasizing smooth and non-sticky textures to appeal to male consumers.
Although sunscreens have traditionally been marketed as unisex, manufacturers are now trying to tap into the expanding market by offering products that address body odor and provide moisture using tea extracts, amid increasing interest among younger, middle-aged and older men in maintaining healthy skin.
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Pickleball boom arrives in Japan amid push to add sport to 2032 Olympics
TOKYO - Pickleball has recently been finding a home among Japanese players, growing over sevenfold domestically in the past year, with Tokyo hosting its first Tour Asia games in July as enthusiasts push for its inclusion as an Olympic sport.
Originally created in the United States, pickleball involves using a paddle to hit a perforated, plastic ball across a net on a court the same size as those used for badminton.
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Football: Former Japan manager, atomic bomb survivor Shimomura dies at 94
TOKYO - Sachio Shimomura, a former manager of the Japan national football team who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, has died of old age, the Japan Football Association said Sunday. He was 94.
A former Japan goalkeeper, Shimomura became coach of Toyo Kogyo, now J.League first-division club Sanfrecce Hiroshima, in 1965 and guided them to five Japan Soccer League titles and three Emperor's Cup triumphs.
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Gymnastics: Japan's rhythmic group secures 1st 2028 Olympic berth
FRANKFURT - Japan finished second in the rhythmic gymnastics group all-around at the World Championships on Saturday to secure the country's first qualification berth across all sports for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The defending champion Japanese team of Hisano Taguchi, Megumi Nishimoto, Natsumi Hanamura, Yuna Tanaka, Kaseno Tanabe and Rin Manabe scored a combined 56.700 points from two routines to take the silver medal in Frankfurt.
