Carp streamers are flown at the Tokyo Skytree Town commercial complex in the Japanese capital on April 27, 2025, ahead of Children's Day on May 5. (Kyodo)
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Japan, Vietnam to launch vice-ministerial foreign, defense dialogue
HANOI - The leaders of Japan and Vietnam agreed Monday to establish a vice-ministerial-level foreign affairs and defense dialogue framework and work toward defense equipment and technology collaboration as they face China's increasing military presence.
In a joint press release issued after talks in Hanoi, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh also pledged to maintain and enhance multilateral free trade in an apparent response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff moves.
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Shinkansen services halted in western Japan after train hits person
HIROSHIMA - Shinkansen bullet train services in western Japan were halted Monday evening after a person was hit by a train in Hiroshima Prefecture, JR West said.
The incident, which occurred between Fukuyama and Shin-Onomichi stations, led to the suspension of bullet train operations between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations around 5:50 p.m., the operator said.
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Cross-party lawmakers ask China to lease giant pandas to Japan
BEIJING - A cross-party group of China-friendly Japanese lawmakers on Monday asked Beijing to lease some more giant pandas to the neighboring country, the head of the delegation told reporters, as four pandas currently at a western Japan zoo will return to China around late June.
The request was made during the group's meeting in Beijing with Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The lawmakers are on a three-day visit to China through Tuesday.
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Ticket sales for Osaka expo top 10 mil., most sold in advance
OSAKA - Admission ticket sales for the World Exposition in Osaka topped 10 million in about two weeks after its opening on April 13, organizers said Monday, with most of them sold in advance.
The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is aiming to sell 23 million tickets for the six-month expo, hoping to use the admissions to cover the event's running costs.
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Japan's oldest person dies at 115
GIFU, Japan - Okagi Hayashi, a 115-year-old woman in central Japan recognized as the country's oldest person, died at the weekend from heart failure, the health ministry said Monday.
Hayashi, who was born on Sept. 2, 1909, died Saturday morning at a hospital in her hometown of Toki, Gifu Prefecture, according to the ministry and other sources.
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Japanese action choreographer wins prize at Hong Kong Film Awards
HONG KONG - Japan's Kenji Tanigaki has won the best action choreography prize for his work on the Hong Kong film "Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In" at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Inspired by action star Jackie Chan, Tanigaki built his career as a stuntman in Hong Kong and served as action director of Donnie Yen's "Sakra" and Japanese film "Rurouni Kenshin."
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Military spending in 2024 rises unprecedented 9.4% to $2.72 trillion
LONDON - Global military expenditures in 2024 rose 9.4 percent from the year before to a record $2.72 trillion, an international security think tank said Monday, logging the steepest hike since it began compiling the data in 1988.
The figure climbed for the 10th consecutive year, with recent increases reflecting Russia's full-scale war on Ukraine that began in February 2022 and heightened tensions in the Middle East, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said.
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Boxing: Ioka vows to get revenge on Martinez in May 11 rematch
TOKYO - Former WBA super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka pledged Monday to get revenge on current title holder Fernando Martinez of Argentina on May 11 in Tokyo.
Martinez won the championship belt from Ioka by unanimous decision last July. Their rematch was originally scheduled for Dec. 31, but was canceled after Martinez contracted influenza.
Video: "Koinobori" carp streamers across Japan ahead of Children's Day
