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Japan news from Japan Times

• Japan to conduct mock cyberattack tests on local governments

  The measure aims to strengthen local governments' security by checking for system vulnerabilities.

• 7-Eleven parent's new security rating won't affect a buyout, minister says

  The finance minister's comments appeared aimed at easing investor concerns about the move.

• LDP presidential hopefuls lay out priorities for PM in online debate

  Regional revitalization, work-life balance and the clarification of the Self-Defense Forces' position in the Constitution count among candidates' top policy concerns.

• Deaths among elderly people using electric wheelchairs on the rise

  Accidents usually occur at railroad crossings, roadside ditches and on slopes, especially when elderly wheelchair-users are alone outdoors.

• Japanese average land price rises for third consecutive year

  Overall land prices showed the first increase in 32 years in locations outside the three metropolitan areas of Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka.

• U.S. gathers arsenal of anti-ship weapons to counter China

  China will still have a large advantage in sheer numbers of anti-ship missiles, however.

• Japan's arctic research vessel Mirai reaches sea ice area

  Mirai has arrived at what is known as the ice edge, where countless pieces of ice stretching across the horizon bob with the waves.

• Japan set to hold rates steady as yen rallies and LDP candidates stump

  A rate hike by the Bank of Japan right after an expected cut by the Federal Reserve would cause more turbulence, UBS Securities' chief Japan economist says.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• U.S. gathers arsenal of anti-ship weapons to counter China

  China will still have a large advantage in sheer numbers of anti-ship missiles, however.

• U.S. approves possible military sale of spare parts to Taiwan

  Taipei says the package, valued at about $228 million, will help maintain combat readiness in the face of China's gray-zone intrusions.

• Sri Lanka's leftist leader turns from bullets to ballots

  Anura Kumara Dissanayaka has emerged as a serious contender in the presidential polls on Sept. 21.

• First person convicted under Hong Kong's new national security law

  Under the new security law, the maximum sentence for the offense of "doing with a seditious intention an act" has been expanded from two years to seven years in prison.

• Philippines vows continued presence after South China Sea reef pullout

  Manila denied it has given up on Sabina Shoal, a day after it withdrew a ship that had been stationed there amid a five-month standoff with China.

• Shanghai slammed by biggest typhoon to hit city since 1949

  Shanghai, a mega city of 25 million people, initiated a top-level emergency response on Sunday, suspending railways, closing ports, bridges and highways.

• Volunteers rush to help as Myanmar flood toll surges

  Floods and landslides have killed more than 400 people in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand in the wake of Typhoon Yagi.

• Philippines withdraws ship from South China Sea flash point

  The Philippine vessel will resume her mission after it has been resupplied and repaired, an official said.

Culture news from Japan Times

• ‘Shogun’ and the painstaking art of ‘getting it right’

  The Emmys-sweeping period drama went to great lengths to achieve historical accuracy — but that's just one piece of a bigger puzzle.

• 'Shogun' becomes first non-English-language winner of best drama Emmy

  Veteran leading man Hiroyuki Sanada and co-lead Anna Sawai also took home acting awards for their roles in the show.

• Hiroyuki Sanada: the actor and producer driving TV's 'Shogun'

  Having started his acting career in Japan at the age of 5, the actor, now 63, is seeing decades of hard work pay off in the U.S. TV series "Shogun."

• 'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success

  The cast of the hit TV show learned how to walk without swinging their arms and rise from a seated position without crouching first.

• Amy Adams gets real about motherhood in 'Nightbitch'

  The film explores various facets of motherhood — the wonder and joy, but also the darkness and exhaustion — using equal doses of comedy, drama and magical realism.

• A potential reunited Oasis gig in Japan should have promoters salivating

  The British rock act has a huge Japanese following, one that could provide a much-needed shot in the arm for the country's summer festivals.

• The Tokyo Ballet marks year of rebirth with tributes to history and innovation

  Long-time collaborator Bejart Ballet Lausanne brings masterworks to Japan for The Tokyo Ballet's 60th anniversary celebrations.

• Tokyo Comedy Bar supersizes laughs with 11-night festival

  Spanning 46 different shows, this month’s comedy festival spotlights rising local talent and international names in both English and Japanese.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Japanese players in vogue as British clubs widen horizons

  "It feels like there is more interest in Japanese players from around the world," says Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo.

• The key to Agassi’s reentry: Don’t be too busy, and don’t be too bored

  One minute, the former player was in the tennis wilderness in Nevada. The next, he was at the Australian Open.

• IOC member Morinari Watanabe enters presidential race

  Watanabe, 65, is one of the seven candidates announced by the IOC to succeed Thomas Bach as president.

• League Cup still 'significant' for United boss Ten Hag

  Many leading English clubs regard the League Cup as an inconvenience that hampers their quest for more prestigious honors.

• Switzerland and U.S. win reprieves in America's Cup qualifiers

  The Swiss and U.S. teams had both been on the brink of elimination.

• Springboks wary of Argentina menace in Rugby Championship showdown

  Victory in Santiago del Estero will ensure a fifth title for South Africa and a first since 2019.

• Aston Villa returns to Champions League looking to shake up established order again

  Villa's 1982 European Cup final triumph against Bayern Munich still ranks as one of the most remarkable conquests in the history of the competition.

• Caitlin Clark sets WNBA rookie scoring record in win over Wings

  Clark achieved the feat with 2:54 to play in the third, drilling a 3-pointer that tied the game.

Life news from Japan Times

• The real-world inspirations behind 'Shogun' are a shinkansen away

  “Shogun” has cleaned up at the Emmys, so why not pack a bag and see the real history behind the award-winning show?

• Chris Broad's new bar puts cocktails first, YouTube second

  Elements of Lost hint at Broad's prolific content creation career, but it also wants to thrive on its merits as a place to find a decent drink.

• ‘MasterChef UK’ winner’s new cookbook puts Hokkaido cuisine on vivid display

  Tim Anderson's cookbook covers a lot, but its strength is in presenting Japan’s largest prefecture as a detailed tapestry via straightforward recipes.

• The enduring allure of Kyoto’s Kamo River

  Many foreign tourists seek advice online about how much time they should devote to lounging by the lazy currents of the Kamo River.

• Tokyo’s top fashion showcase pushes rising stars to the world stage

  Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo celebrated industry veterans while shining a spotlight on emerging talent.

• AI fried chicken, retro chic collabs: Retailers rebrand Japan's New Year's cuisine

  Major department stores and supermarkets are trying unorthodox methods to entice younger generations to buy traditional New Year's dishes in Japan.

• From kanji to math, what does a day at a Japanese elementary school look like?

  Head back to school with this week's language lesson and learn the basics of what's heard in a classroom, as well as the activities in between.

• 'Dream men': Female cosplayers in China fulfill fantasies for young women

  A trend called "cos commissioning" is allowing young women in China to perform idealized heteronormative relationships — with other women.

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