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Japan news from Japan Times

• Asian auteurs stole the show at this year's TIFF

  Zhang Lu and Pen-ek Ratanaruang delivered standout entries at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

• Osaka real estate scammer given 54-month prison sentence

  Judge Akira Kuranari ruled that the defendant, Ryohei Kume, took part in "a malicious crime with sophisticated tricks" by posing as a landowner.

• Tokyo police arrest fraud group head, 6 others

  The seven men are believed to be linked to at least 500 fraud cases in Tokyo and three prefectures since February 2023.

• Massage parlor operator arrested for forcing 12-year-old Thai girl into sex work

  Police are investigating the case as human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation of a child.

• Consumer watchdog warns of solar panel inspection scams

  The number of homes equipped with solar panels has skyrocketed in recent years, creating new targets for aggressive sales tactics.

• A 40-year wait for ‘Mishima’ ends at TIFF

  Paul Schrader’s banned biopic of the radical author Yukio Mishima finds its Japanese audience at last.

• Students from tsunami-hit Sendai speak at U.N. headquarters

  The high school students emphasized the significance of disaster prevention education.

• High-speed rail is expensive and difficult, but seen as a key to growth

  Train fanatic and former Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba praised shinkansen technology at a forum hosted by the International High-speed Rail Association.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Kalmaegi death toll climbs to 66 as Philippine survivors confront destruction

  Residents in the hardest-hit province of Cebu are confronting the devastation the typhoon has left behind: homes reduced to rubble, debris-filled streets and lives upended.

• U.S.-North Korea summit may be held in spring, South's spy agency tells lawmaker

  U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly called for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during his trip to South Korea last week, but Kim did not respond to his overtures.

• Myanmar scam hub sweep triggers fraudster recruitment rush

  Online scam hubs have mushroomed across Southeast Asia, draining victims of billions of dollars annually in elaborate romance and crypto cons.

• Australian spy chief says 'state sanctioned trolls' sowing social discord

  Australia faces a trend seen across Western democracies of declining trust and rising disinformation.

• Hegseth says ‘flexibility’ needed for U.S. forces in South Korea

  The U.S. defense secretary hinted that U.S. troops stationed in South Korea could be used in the event of a “regional contingency.”

• North Korea says former ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam has died

  Kim, the face of Pyongyang's diplomacy for decades and the only person outside of the ruling family dynasty to serve as North Korea's nominal head of state, was 97.

• Philippines inks military pact with Canada in bid to deter China

  The pact is the latest struck by Manila as it builds a coalition of allies to deter what it sees as Chinese aggression in the South China Sea.

• Trump says China’s Xi aware of ‘consequences’ of attacking Taiwan

  The U.S. president also again claimed that Chinese leader Xi Jinping would not invade democratic Taiwan as long as Trump remains in office.

Culture news from Japan Times

• Asian auteurs stole the show at this year's TIFF

  Zhang Lu and Pen-ek Ratanaruang delivered standout entries at this year’s Tokyo International Film Festival.

• A 40-year wait for ‘Mishima’ ends at TIFF

  Paul Schrader’s banned biopic of the radical author Yukio Mishima finds its Japanese audience at last.

• ‘The Obsessed’: Charming anime dances to its own tune

  "Crayon Shin-chan" director turns a 2001 novel into a quirky, rough-edged musical anime.

• ‘Two Seasons, Two Strangers’ captures the subtle sadness of Yoshiharu Tsuge’s manga

  Director Sho Miyake transforms two of the cult manga artist’s stories into a poetic film that’s hard to forget.

• Across borders and screens, Tokyo film festival finds humanity in migration

  Five films screened at this year’s TIFF put migration and its human impact front and center.

• Hokusai-themed opera 'The Great Wave' to premiere in Scotland

  The opera is the latest work by London-based composer Dai Fujikura and is a joint production with Scotland's Scottish Opera.

• Kenshi Yonezu, 'Chainsaw Man' and the art of pop ubiquity

  Top single “Iris Out,” featured in the nation's top film, prove that music and movies can unite Japan — and define a cultural moment.

• First European Photography Month in Tokyo

  With over two decades of photo festivals in Europe under its belt, the European Photography Month’s Tokyo excursion brings timely topics and aesthetic innovation in the art form.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Alex Ovechkin becomes first NHL player to reach 900 goals

  The 40-year-old Russian left wing, the NHL's all-time goal-scoring leader, notched the milestone tally in the second period of a blowout victory.

• Rory McIlroy appreciative after PGA chief apologizes for Ryder Cup abuse

  McIlroy was the center of attention for a hostile home crowd with incessant abuse and a beer even thrown at his wife.

• Australia's Pat Cummins hints at possible return for second Ashes test

  The 32-year-old has not played since suffering a lower back injury against the West Indies more than three months ago.

• Amanda Anisimova rallies past Iga Swiatek to reach semifinals at WTA Finals

  Anisimova improved her three-set record this season to an impressive 15-3 by posting her 10th top-10 win of the year.

• Phil Foden helps lift Manchester City over Borussia Dortmund in Champions League

  Phil Foden curled in two shots from outside the area, and Erling Haaland slammed home his fifth goal of the competition as City brushed aside Dortmund at Etihad Stadium.

• Thunder roll Clippers to stay unbeaten as SGA keeps streak alive

  Elsewhere, a titanic duel between the top two teams in the Eastern Conference saw the Chicago Bulls fight back from a 24-point deficit to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers.

• Game 7 of World Series draws highest ratings since 2017

  Fox Sports revealed that 27.3 million viewers across the United States tuned into the championship decider.

• These are the hottest lower-division <i>rikishi</i> to watch right now

  There are potential superstars and immense talent to be found up and down the banzuke.

Life news from Japan Times

• Learning to feel noh: The words that unlock its mystery and emotion

  Noh theater’s mystery and emotion unfold through careful understanding of the language used.

• How airlines are refining their in-flight food in Japan's tourism boom

  With chef collaborations, exclusive pours and vegan choices, the region’s top carriers are taking their meals for premium class passengers to new heights.

• A Sichuan-inspired classic gets an umami boost

  Toss in some shiitake mushrooms into your "mābō dōfu," a spicy stew of tofu and pork, for a savory boost.

• New generations of designers carry Issey Miyake's legacy

  From pleated garments to glowing lamps, the designer’s philosophy continues to evolve through new brands, collaborations and generations.

• Sun-dried and sustainable, Japan’s persimmon dye lives on

  Thanks to Japan's largest freshwater lake, Shiga Prefecture has long thrived as a production center of persimmon tannin dyeing.

• Renowned wine critic James Suckling brings Great Wines World back to Tokyo

  The event showcases more than 260 top-rated bottles from 150 producers, with a focus on Bordeaux.

• Tokyo’s first JW Marriott brings a whole floor of mindfulness

  The redeveloped Takanawa Gateway neighborhood gets the newest outpost of the hotel chain’s luxury brand.

• Trick or trade: Talking about the stock market's 'Halloween effect' in Japanese

  Japanese investors say Halloween is the best time to buy stocks — a seasonal trend known as the “Halloween effect.”

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