TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan holds 1st panel meeting on anti-espionage measures
TOKYO - The government on Monday held the first meeting of a panel for discussions on how to strengthen Japan's intelligence capabilities including counterespionage legislation, amid concerns that such steps could lead to excessive surveillance of citizens.
The creation of a foreign intelligence agency is also on the agenda for the 17-member panel, which consists of scholars, media representatives and business leaders, government officials said.
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Tokyo rejects Russian claim Japan on path of militarization
TOKYO - Japan on Monday rebuked Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after he voiced opposition over the weekend to Japan's drive for permanent membership of the U.N. Security Council, claiming the country is on a "path of militarization."
Lavrov's comments came as the U.N. Security Council, tasked with safeguarding peace, is facing calls for reform amid accusations it failed to prevent recent conflicts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine, due largely to the veto power of its five permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
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Japanese screenwriter Kuramoto dies at 91
TOKYO - So Kuramoto, a Japanese screenwriter best known for the drama "Kita no kuni kara" (From the northern country), died earlier this month of multiple organ failure, his foundation said Monday. He was 91.
A native of Tokyo, Kuramoto, whose real name was Kaoru Yamaya, also founded the institution Furano Juku in 1984 to train aspiring screenwriters and actor. He died on Sept. 18 at his home in Hokkaido's Furano.
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BOJ member calls for nimble rate hikes to address price risks: July minutes
TOKYO - A Bank of Japan Policy Board member said at its July meeting that it was important to adjust its key interest rate nimbly to address upside risks to prices, the minutes of the meeting showed Monday.
One member said the market expected a policy rate hike once every six months but that the pace could exceed those expectations, given underlying inflation is approaching the BOJ's 2 percent target and upside risks to prices.
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Nissan to raise local output ratio in U.S. to 80% from 65% by around 2030
YOKOHAMA - Nissan Motor Co. said Monday it will raise its local production ratio in the United States to 80 percent from the current 65 percent by around 2030 in response to hefty U.S. tariffs.
The Japanese automaker also plans to expand its lineup of hybrid models in the U.S. market amid growing demand.
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Ex-Yokohama mayor to run for comeback after resigning over abuse of power
YOKOHAMA - Former Yokohama Mayor Takeharu Yamanaka, who stepped down earlier this month after admitting he bullied and verbally assaulted subordinates, told his supporters at a meeting Monday he will run in the Oct. 18 mayoral election, according to attendees.
Yamanaka, 54, was found by a third-party investigation to have abused his authority on multiple occasions, such as calling his subordinates "human scum" and abusing personnel authority. He told reporters after the meeting he will make an announcement at a press conference on Tuesday.
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Japan soy sauce shipments in 2025 hit 75-yr low amid westernized diet
NAGOYA - Shipments of domestic soy sauce fell to 670,159 kiloliters in 2025, the lowest level in 75 years and roughly half of the peak in 1973, due to the westernization of the Japanese diet, a soy sauce industry association said Monday.
Other ready-to-use condiments that contain soy sauce as a base, such as "tsuyu" soup base and "tare" sauces, have also become more common, further reducing demand for soy sauce as a raw ingredient in home cooking.
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Mister Donut returns to China with opening of new Shanghai shop
SHANGHAI - The Mister Donut chain on Monday opened a new store in Shanghai, reentering the mainland Chinese market after its withdrawal in 2019 due to sluggish customer traffic and rising labor costs.
Duskin Co., the Japanese operator of the U.S.-founded donut chain, said it aims to launch 30 outlets in Shanghai and nearby areas by the end of 2029.
