Japan's hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup were dashed by Argentina on Sunday as a hat-trick of tries by wing Mateo Carreras helped the Pumas to a 39-27 win in a highly entertaining game in front of 33,624 fans at Stade de la Beaujoire. The reward for Argentina is a game against Pool C winners Wales in Marseilles next Saturday for a place in the semifinals, while Japan fly home with their heads held high following a valiant display against a side that has the benefit of playing regularly in a top-tier tournament.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/290c9352033b-urgent-japan-lose-39-27-to-argentina-fail-to-reach-world-cup-qfinals.html

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The 19th Asian Games ended Sunday with a closing ceremony in Hangzhou, China, after more than two weeks of competition involving 12,000 athletes from 45 countries and regions. Chinese Premier Li Qiang attended the wrap-up event in this eastern China city, whereas at the Sept. 23 opening ceremony, President Xi Jinping was present to declare the start of the Games. The games were held almost completely without face masks, for not only athletes but also spectators and organizing staff, after a one-year postponement caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/cdd81086a46e-asian-games-19th-asian-games-come-to-end-in-hangzhou-china.html

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Over 2,000 people died in western Afghanistan on Saturday following a series of earthquakes, some reaching a magnitude of 6.3, The Associated Press reported on Sunday, citing a Taliban government spokesman. The spokesman, Abdul Wahid Rayan, also reportedly said about six villages in hardest-hit Herat province were destroyed and hundreds of people remained buried under rubble. A series of powerful earthquakes hit around noon Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Taliban authorities expressed condolences to the families of the dead and injured and vowed prompt aid.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/42961ac97b44-update1-strong-quake-in-afghanistan-leave-over-2000-dead-ap.html

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Japan's Shigeyuki Nakarai won the men's gold medal battle for breaking, also known as breakdancing, while China's Liu Qingyi claimed women's gold at the Asian Games on Saturday. Their titles qualified the two dancers for next summer's Olympics in Paris, where the sport is set to make its Olympic debut. Japan's Shigeyuki Nakarai competes in the men's breakdancing gold medal battle against South Korea's Kim Hong Yul at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Oct. 7, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Nakarai, whose dance name is Shigekix, edged South Korea's Kim Hong Yul 2-1, with collected votes being 14-13 at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium on the penultimate day in Hangzhou, China.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/1712ce9af553-asian-games-shigekix-nakarai-dances-to-breaking-gold-olympic-spot.html

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Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday he aims to get a fiscal 2023 supplementary budget for funding a new economic package passed during an extraordinary parliamentary session, to be convened on Oct. 20. As the extra budget is expected to be passed by parliament in late November at the earliest, and given his government's diplomatic and domestic policy schedules for December, Kishida has little room left to call a snap election by the year-end. There had been speculation that Kishida would dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election early in the upcoming session before the budget passed, as he had said he intended to submit it to the session while not providing a timescale for its passage.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/5fb0ba3fe02c-japan-pm-says-aiming-to-pass-extra-budget-in-upcoming-diet-session.html

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KYODO NEWS - 27 minutes ago - 08:51 | Others BREAKING NEWS: Big Japanese nonmanufacturers' sentiment up to 27 from 23: Tankan ==Kyodo 27 minutes ago | KYODO NEWS

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Shohei Ohtani made his first public appearance Saturday since undergoing elbow surgery earlier in the month, attending a ceremony to accept the Los Angeles' Angels Most Valuable Player award for the third year in a row. The two-way star received the award, voted by teammates, from Angels General Manager Perry Minasian at Angel Stadium. Right-hander Carlos Estevez was honored as the team's pitcher of the year. Shohei Ohtani (2nd from R) holds the Los Angeles Angels' team MVP award at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on Sept.

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Several Japanese universities shot up in the latest annual ranking published by British magazine Times Higher Education, with the University of Tokyo rising to 29th, the highest position for a Japanese institution since 2015. In its World University Rankings 2024, the University of Tokyo climbed from 39th place in the previous ranking while Kyoto University jumped from 68th to 55th place. The magazine said the notable rise in the rankings of Japanese institutions was due to a newly added metric on patents.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/1746a8a15f17-japan-universities-climb-rankings-in-times-global-survey.html

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China's world No. 1 Sun Yingsha defeated Hina Hayata of Japan four games to one in the women's table tennis singles final at the Asian Games on Sunday. Sun won 11-5, 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 11-7 in front of a packed crowd at Gongshu Canal Sports Park Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China. The left-handed Hayata led 9-6 in the second game but Sun took five straight points to win it. World No. 9 Hayata reached the gold medal match by outlasting world No. 4 Wang Yidi 11-4, 3-11, 11-8, 7-11, 10-12, 15-13, 12-10 in their semifinal.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/7d7fd7b976d0-asian-games-sun-downs-hayata-in-womens-table-tennis-final.html

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HANGZHOU, China - World record holder Qin Haiyang won the men's 200-meter breaststroke in dominant fashion Thursday as...

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/a878f034b574-asian-games-world-record-holder-qin-helps-grow-china-swim-gold-tally.html

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KYODO NEWS - 26 minutes ago - 08:52 | Others BREAKING NEWS: Japan's Aug. industrial output remains flat on month ==Kyodo 26 minutes ago | KYODO NEWS

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Japan skills coach Riki Flutey said Saturday that a much-reduced error rate had helped the Brave Blossoms to beat Samoa at the Rugby World Cup on Thursday and had put the team in a good place ahead of their winner-takes-all clash with Argentina. "A lot of games, when we do play with speed, we do tend to have a high error rate, but against Samoa it was 30 percent, which is our best error rate for this year," he said after the team had held a very gentle training session at Stade Ernest Wallon. "It gives us confidence that we can play with speed, play fast and be really accurate," he responded when asked whether the pace at which Japan can produce good, clean ruck ball can increase even further.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/70f451af3c5a-rugby-reduction-in-errors-helping-japans-cause-at-world-cup.html

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Yoshihide Kiryu and Yuki Koike, two of Japan's top sprinters, failed to reach the men's 100-meter final at the Asian Games on Saturday, the second day for athletics. Later in the eight-man 100 final, China's Xie Zhenye stormed to the gold medal in 9.97 seconds, 0.05 ahead of Thai runner-up Puripol Boonson. Malaysia's Muhammad Azeem bin Mohd Fahmi rounded out the podium an additional 0.09 back. "I've waited for this gold since my first Asian Games at Incheon 2014," the 30-year-old Xie said. "Heaven rewards those who wait.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/c3f8978ad7d0-asian-games-japans-kiryu-koike-eliminated-in-mens-100m-semis.html

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Japanese swimmer Tomoru Honda won the men's 200-meter butterfly for his second gold medal of the Hangzhou Asian Games on Friday, while Rikako Ikee managed to claim bronze in the women's 50-meter butterfly won by Chinese star Zhang Yufei. Reigning world champion Qin Haiyang completed a sweep of the three breaststroke titles with a convincing victory in the 50 meters as China collected four of the seven gold medals contested on the final day of the swimming program. Japanese swimmer Tomoru Honda poses with the gold medal after winning the men's 200-meter butterfly final at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/6ca2974c8cf1-update1-asian-games-honda-wins-200-fly-ikee-gets-bronze-in-swim-finale.html

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Erika Hara jumps up to see ahead before hitting the second shot on the fifth hole during the second round of Japan Women's Open Golf Championship on Sept. 29, 2023, at Awara Golf Club in Awara, Fukui Prefecture, central Japan. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- TOKYO - The Japanese government plans to seek a court order to disband the Unification Church, a government source said Saturday, a move that comes after a months-long probe into the religious group over allegations of soliciting financially ruinous donations from members and other questionable practices.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/10/aa54ec196924-kyodo-news-digest-oct-1-2023.html

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Japan's Yosuke Watanuki and China's Zhang Zhizhen acknowledge each other after Zhang's win in the men's tennis singles final at the Asian Games on Sept. 30, 2023. (Kyodo) Japan's Yosuke Watanuki missed a chance to qualify for next year's Paris Olympics tennis tournament with a straight-sets loss to Chinese giant killer Zhang Zhizhen in the men's singles final at the Asian Games on Saturday. Zhang, who upset then world No. 5 Casper Ruud of Norway in the second round of this year's U.S. Open, defeated Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(7) to earn his gold medal and Olympic berth.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/a003cd4a45ed-asian-games-zhang-defeats-watanuki-for-mens-tennis-gold-paris-spot.html

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A system failure in the air traffic control network occurred Friday, delaying flights mainly to eastern Japan, the transport ministry said. The problem started at around 11:40 a.m. at the ministry's Tokyo area air traffic control center in Saitama Prefecture, prompting departure restrictions at airports. The system was restored at around 12:20 p.m. During the disruption, information other than aircraft's location was not displayed on the control system screen, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/09/bf668ec5bfbb-flights-delayed-in-japan-due-to-glitch-in-air-traffic-control.html

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A high court upheld on Thursday a sentence of 15 years in prison given to a woman for manipulating a fellow mother to starve her 5-year-old son to death in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Fukuoka in 2020. In rejecting the appeal by the defendant Emiko Akahori, 50, the Fukuoka High Court supported a lower court ruling that said she psychologically controlled her friend, Rie Ikari, 41, and the two conspired to severely reduce Ikari's son's meals from around August 2019. By late March 2020, the boy, Shojiro, became severely malnourished and due to insufficient feeding, starved to death on April 18 that year.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/9196cf9c1d8c-court-upholds-15-yr-sentence-on-woman-for-starving-a-friends-son.html

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KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 08:00 | All , World , Japan , Coronavirus Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond:   Japan supporters celebrate after Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run double in the fourth inning of Japan's World Baseball Classic Pool B opener against China at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 9, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan Health ministry call center  COVID-19: 0120-565-653 (toll free) COVID-19 Vaccines: 0120-761-770 (toll free) -Interpreters available for English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish 9 a.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/ec7dd1e3a494-coronavirus-pandemic-latest-march-10-2023.html

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KYODO NEWS - 1 hour ago - 08:00 | All , Japan , Coronavirus , World Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond: Journalists line up to take PCR tests at their hotel in Beijing on March 2, 2023, amid concern about COVID-19 ahead of the National People's Congress opening at the Great Hall of the People on March 5. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan Health ministry call center  COVID-19: 0120-565-653 (toll free) COVID-19 Vaccines: 0120-761-770 (toll free) -Interpreters available for English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish 9 a.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/44149a4deaf3-coronavirus-pandemic-latest-march-7-2023.html

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North Korea conducted an "underwater launching drill" of strategic cruise missiles off its eastern coast, the country's official media reported Monday. The Korean Central News Agency said an 8.24 Yongung submarine launched two cruise missiles in an "underwater-to-surface offensive" operation drill Sunday morning, a day before the South Korean and U.S. militaries are scheduled to start their "Freedom Shield" joint exercise. Photo shows North Korea's "underwater launching drill" of strategic cruise missiles on March 12, 2023.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/3e022aa0451e-n-korea-conducted-submarine-launched-cruise-missile-drill-sun-kcna.html

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The president of the Tibetan government-in-exile has warned China not to interfere in selecting the successor to the Dalai Lama, the current spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism. "No government should have any role in this spiritual matter and I think it is much wiser for China (not to interfere)," Penpa Tsering said in a recent interview with Kyodo News, adding that the succession will ultimately be decided by the 14th Dalai Lama. Penpa Tsering, president of the Tibetan government-in-exile, speaks in an interview with Kyodo News on March 9, 2023, in Dharamsala, northern India.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/e172b1fab9ca-tibetan-exile-leader-urges-china-against-choosing-new-dalai-lama.html

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Shohei Ohtani returned to the Los Angeles Angels camp Friday, throwing 4-2/3 innings against Arizona Diamondbacks minor leaguers in preparation for Opening Day. The two-way star, fresh off leading Japan to the World Baseball Classic title, struck out eight and allowed one run on four hits with a walk in an 81-pitch outing on a practice field in Tempe, Arizona. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels pitches in a minor league game in Tempe, Arizona, on March 24, 2023. (Kyodo) Ohtani is scheduled to pitch the Angels' season opener Thursday against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Coliseum.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/03/d9cbf5bceea5-baseball-ohtani-tunes-up-in-minor-league-game-for-opening-day-start.html

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Business confidence among major Japanese manufacturers worsened for the fifth straight quarter in March to its lowest level in over two years, dampened by higher raw material costs and the prospect of slowing global economic growth, the Bank of Japan said Monday. The reading of the key index measuring confidence among companies such as those in the auto and electronics sectors fell to 1 from 7 in December. It was weaker than the average market forecast of 3 in a Kyodo News survey and the lowest since minus 10 in December 2020.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/10b24fb071eb-update1-big-japan-makers-sentiment-worsens-for-5th-straight-qtr-to-2-yr-low.html

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The United States sees a "mood of optimism" in relations between Japan and South Korea and expects trilateral cooperation with its key Asian allies to expand into new areas such as humanitarian assistance, natural disaster response and outer space, a senior diplomat said recently. In a phone interview with Kyodo News on March 30, Mark Lambert, deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said the three countries also increasingly share traditional security challenges that threaten the peace and stability of the Asia-Pacific region.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/afd7f9c747b0-us-diplomat-sees-opportunity-in-renewed-japan-s-korea-cooperation.html

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New Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda speaks to reporters after holding talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the premier's office in Tokyo on April 10, 2023. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News. ---------- TOKYO - A Japanese government panel plans to propose scrapping the country's controversial trainee program for foreigners and creating a new system to address issues related to human rights violations, a draft interim report showed Monday.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/04/53892edeb1b6-kyodo-news-digest-april-11-2023.html

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Japan's currency intervention last week cost 2.84 trillion yen ($19 billion), the largest-ever amount spent to stem the yen's sharp slide against the U.S. dollar, Finance Ministry data showed Friday. The yen-buying, dollar-selling operation, Japan's first since 1998, was carried out on Sept. 22, shortly after the Japanese currency plunged past the psychologically-important 145 mark amid prospects that the monetary policies of Japan and the United States would further diverge. Friday's data covers the period between Aug.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/9b5defd4e7e0-breaking-news-japan-spent-record-284-tril-yen-in-intervention-to-stop-yen-fall.html

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NBA superstar Stephen Curry lauded Japan's "amazing fan base" after leading the Golden State Warriors to a 104-95 victory over the Washington Wizards in the second of two preseason exhibition games at Saitama Super Arena near Tokyo on Sunday. Curry scored a team-high 17 points in just 17 minutes, while Kristaps Porzingis scored 18, and local hero Rui Hachimura had 11 points and 10 rebounds for the Wizards in front of another sellout crowd following Friday's 96-87 win for the reigning NBA champion Warriors.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/10/f3d709696661-basketball-curry-sparks-warriors-to-win-over-wizards-in-japan.html

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KYODO NEWS - 18 minutes ago - 09:00 | All, Coronavirus, Japan, World Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from Japan and beyond: Japanese Princess Kako speaks (L) with a wheelchair basketball player after watching a game at a sports facility for the disabled in the western Japan city of Tottori on Sept. 24, 2022. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo Japan and beyond: Week in Photos - Sept. 17~23 Useful resources for foreign residents and visitors in Japan Health ministry call center COVID-19: 0120-565-653 (toll free)COVID-19 Vaccines: 0120-761-770 (toll free)-Interpreters available for English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish 9 a.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/f821767ab82b-coronavirus-pandemic-latest-sept-29-2022.html

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Ayaka Furue of Japan hits off the 11th tee during the third round of the AmazingCre Portland Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon, on Sept. 17, 2022. (Kyodo) Ayaka Furue of Japan shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday to move into a three-way tie for the lead after the third round of the AmazingCre Portland Classic. Furue sits at 13-under-par 203, along with Americans Andrea Lee and Lilia Vu. Japanese compatriot Hinako Shibuno fired a 66 and is tied for fourth at 12 under at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon.

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2022/09/d515d04f8189-golf-furue-tied-for-lead-shibuno-4th-at-portland-classic.html

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