日: 2025年1月7日

1. The historical TV series “Shogun” has triumphed at the 2025 Golden Globes, taking Best Television Series –Drama and three other awards. Lead actor Sanada Hiroyuki, who also produced the series, won Best Performance by an actor in the TV drama category. “Shogun” was produced by the US pay TV channel FX. Set during Japan’s Sengoku Warring States period, it features a samurai warrior and a British navigator who became his subordinate. Dialogue in the 10-episode drama is mostly in Japanese, which is unusual for a US production. 2. Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have wrapped up their meeting in Tokyo. The two top diplomats met over lunch at a Tokyo hotel on Tuesday. At the start of their talks, Iwaya expressed hope for thorough discussions on regional affairs and the state of bilateral relations to elevate the Japna-US alliance to new heights. 3. The Canadian prime minister announced on Monday that he will resign, after leading the country for almost a decade. Justin Trudeau said he is stepping down as head of the Liberal Party and prime minister at a press conference in the capital of Ottawa.

1. Japanese golfer Matsuyama Hideki clinched his 11th career PGA Tour victory at the season-opening event on Sunday in the US state of Hawaii. Matsuyama finished with a PGA Tour record total of 35-under par. The season opener featured 59 players, including Matsuyama, who won two PGA events last year and a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics. 2. A ceremony to distribute traditional round rice cakes was held on Monday at Hikone Castle in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan. The castle is designated as a national treasure. Eleven members of the castle’s management center gathered in the morning to divide the two glutinous rice cakes, called “kagami mochi.” The cakes were displayed over the New Year holidays at the castle museum and gardens.
3. Economists predict that Japan’s economy will grow more than 1 percent in inflation-adjusted terms in fiscal 2025. They see wage increases giving a boost to consumer spending.