月: 2024年9月

1. The Japan-set historical series “Shogun” has won a record number of prizes at the 76th Emmy Awards in the US, including best drama and best actor. “Shogun” collected a total of 18 awards, the most-ever for a single season of a television series. It has already won 14 awards at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month. Sanada Hiroyuki won best actor for his role as Yoshii Toranaga in the drama, which was produced by the US pay TV channel, FX. Anna Sawai won for best actress, while Frederick Toye took the prize for directing a drama series. 2. US law enforcement is investigating an incident near a golf course as a possible assassination attempt against former president Donald Trump. The Republican presidential candidate is unharmed. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and others say a man possessing a firearm was detained near the golf course where Trump was playing in the state of Florida on Sunday afternoon. US media outlets say the 58-year-old man was involved in activities to support Ukraine.
3. One of Japan’s most famous Buddhist temples plans to raise its admission fees to cover the growing costs of management and staffing. The administrators of Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture say the coronavirus pandemic led to a drop in visitor numbers, while the costs of maintaining its cultural treasures and staff are rising. The UNESCO World Heritage site currently charges 1,500 yen, or about 11 dollars, for visitors of junior high school age and above. Starting next March, adults, university and senior high school students will pay 2,000 yen, or roughly 14 dollars.

1. The US ambassador to the United Nations says the United States supports the addition of two African countries to the UN Security Council as permanent members without veto power. Linda Thomas-Greenfield revealed this during a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday.
2. Japanese department store chain Sogo & Seibu says it has no plans to fire staff or close outlets under the management of a US investment fund. The major chain was sold to Fortress Investment Group in September last year. The company unveiled a management plan on Thursday. Under the plan, the firm will reduce the floor space by about half at its flagship store in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro district. The outlet is being renovated and will focus mainly on luxury goods, cosmetics and food when it reopens next year. 3. A panel of experts met Thursday to discuss revisions to Japan’s basic energy plan and efforts to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Topics included energy-saving measures at workplaces and in households, and the use of new energy sources such as hydrogen. Japan has been working to revise its basic energy strategy since May. These revisions include meeting future electricity demand using power-saving technology and promoting renewable energy.

1. A senior Russian military officer says his country’s troops have retaken 10 settlements from Ukrainian forces in Russia’s western border region of Kursk. On Wednesday, Russia’s state-run Tass news agency quoted the high-ranking defense ministry officials as saying that the situation is good, and Russian units have gone on the offensive. He said a total of about 10 communities were taken back in Kursk.
2. The race to select the new leader of Japan’s main governing Liberal Democratic Party has officially kicked off. Nine people are running, a record high under the current system. The winner is expected to become the country’s next prime minister.
3. The governor of California on Wednesday declared a state of emergency as a series of wildfires continued to tear through Southern California. State fire authorities and local media say three major fires that began in September have scorched more than 40,000 hectares in a matter of days.

1. US Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump have faced off in a high-stakes televised debate in Philadelphia. Over the course of 90 minutes, the candidates sparred over key issues including immigration, foreign policy, and the US economy. 2. US pop star Taylor Swift has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the country’s next president. She posted a message to Instagram on Tuesday shortly after a televised debate between the Democratic presidential nominee and Republican opponent Donald Trump. 3. The UN General Assembly has upgraded the rights of the representative of Palestine by allowing the envoy a seat among member nations. The ambassador has observer status and has yet to be given full UN membership.

1. The operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has launched a trial to retrieve nuclear fuel debris from one of the plant’s crippled reactors, after a delay caused by misaligned pipes. Tokyo Electric Power Company, or TEPCO, was due to begin the experiment at the No.2 reactor on August 22, only to call it off at the last moment. The work resumed on Tuesday. 2. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has hinted that Palestine may submit a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly as early as next week, calling on Israel to end its occupation of the Palestinian territories within six months.
3. At least 82 people have been confirmed dead in Vietnam, the Philippines and China as a powerful typhoon wreaked havoc in the region. Typhoon Yagi triggered landslides and floods in the region. According to media reports from the three countries, 58 people were confirmed dead in Vietnam, 20 in the Philippines and four in China.

1. A district court in western Japan has ruled that some of those who were just outside the government-designated zone of radiation exposure from the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki should be officially recognized as hibakusha. The Nagasaki District Court on Monday ordered Nagasaki City and Nagasaki Prefecture to recognize some of the 44 plaintiffs as atomic bomb survivors and issue them a hibakusha certificate.
2. Osaka University and Japanese electronics firm Fujitsu say they have established a new calculation method to accelerate the realization of practical quantum computing. Quantum computers are said to be capable of calculating much faster than supercomputers. 3. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games have concluded, marking the handoff to Los Angeles, which will host the next Summer Games in four years. The closing ceremony of the 12-day Games was held on Sunday at the athletics venue of State de France, just outside Paris. Organizing committee president Tony Estanguet said, “Everyone can see what an inclusive world is like,” adding “Now there is no turning back.”

1. Rome is considering limiting access to the Trevi Fountain, one of the Italian capital’s most popular tourist attractions, in a bid to address problems associated with a surge in tourist numbers.
2. Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol will hold a summit meeting in Seoul on Friday. They are expected to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including national security.
3. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has indicated the United States and mediating partners Egypt and Qatar may make a fresh ceasefire proposal for Israel and Hamas “in the coming days.”

1. It has been one month since Bangladesh’s prime minister was forced to step down on August 5, following deadly clashes between police and student protesters. The interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus is now aiming to hold elections for a democratic transition. No dates have been announced.
2. The city of Himeji in Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, has decided to double or triple the admission fee for Himeji Castle for visitors from outside the city. The castle is a World Cultural Heritage site. City officials plan to introduce the revised fee in early 2026. They say the move will help secure funds to maintain and manage the castle that was built more than 400 years ago.
3. Foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Australia have agreed to strengthen security cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness. They discussed China’s increasing military activities in the region, evidenced by a recent intrusion by a Chinese military plane into Japanese airspace.

1. Nippon Steel has unveiled its plan for the management of structure of US Steel if a planned acquisition goes ahead. It says it would give a majority of the board seats to US citizens. Nippon Steel says it would also appoint Americans to key management roles. The Japanese company is hoping to win greater support for the takeover through such efforts. Many in the US have expressed strong opposition.
2. Kansai International Airport in Japan’s western prefecture of Osaka is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its opening. The airport was built by reclaiming land from the sea five kilometers off the coast in Osaka Bay to address noise and other problems. The ocean airport opened on September 4, 1994.
3. Tokyo Tower, a popular and symbolic landmark of Japan’s capital, has welcomed 190 million visitors. A ceremony was held on Wednesday to mark the occasion. The tower is located in Minato Ward and stands 333 meters tall. It was opened in 1958 as a radio tower.

1. In Major League Baseball, Ohtani Shohei of the Los Angeles Dodgers stole three bases on Monday to reach 46 for the season. Against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Ohtani’s first steal came in the fourth inning after he got a walk. In the seventh, Ohtani reached first base on a hit. He then stole second and third while Mookie Betts was at bat. 2. A Japanese government survey has found that nothing has yet been done about some 10,000 aging and dilapidated bridges. Inspections carried out up to fiscal 2018 found them to be in need of repair or removal within five years. Entities that manage tunnels and bridges are obliged to check them every five years following a fatal tunnel collapse in 2012. 3. The New Year is still months away, but department stores across Japan are already promoting their boxed sets of “osechi” food dishes eastern during the holiday. Major chain Takashimaya unveiled about 20 different selections last week. One set includes local specialties from the Noto Peninsula, which was hit by a deadly earthquake on New Year’s Day this year, such as oyster, white shrimp and firefly squid.