The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Gov't to submit new BOJ chief choice to parliament in Feb: Kishida
TOKYO - Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Sunday that Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda will leave his post after his tenure ends in April, increasing the prospect that the government will submit to parliament its choice for his successor next month.
The chief of the central bank "will be replaced," Kishida said on a television program, the clearest remark yet by the premier on the matter. "After deciding personnel affairs, (the government) will present to the Diet."
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World No. 1 wheelchair tennis player Shingo Kunieda retires
TOKYO - Japan's Shingo Kunieda, considered one of the greatest wheelchair tennis players of all time, said Sunday he has hung up his racket.
The 38-year-old Kunieda, a winner of 28 Grand Slam titles and three Paralympic gold medals in the men's singles, retired while at the top of the world rankings.
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Kishida may dissolve Japan's lower house before leadership election
TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has suggested that the dissolution of the House of Representatives and a general election may be held before his term as leader of the ruling party ends in September 2024.
Speaking on a TV program aired Sunday, Kishida expressed support for the view that he should begin his second term only after gaining public confidence in the lower house election for his policies, including implementing tax hikes to fund higher defense spending.
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4 killed, 3 feared dead in predawn fire at Kobe apartment complex
KOBE - Four people were killed with three others feared dead after a fire broke out early Sunday at an apartment building in Kobe, western Japan, authorities said.
Firefighters received a call around 1:35 a.m. from a neighbor of the three-story housing complex in Hyogo Ward of the city saying that black smoke was coming out of a window on the first floor.
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Sumo: Lone ozeki Takakeisho wins New Year meet, 3rd Emperor's Cup
TOKYO - Lone ozeki Takakeisho defeated rank-and-file opponent Kotoshoho in a winner-take-all battle Sunday to be crowned champion of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament.
The highest-ranked competitor while yokozuna Terunofuji remains sidelined after surgery, Takakeisho captured his third career Emperor's Cup with a 12-3 record by toppling unlikely contender Kotoshoho, fighting as a 13th-ranked maegashira.
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Basketball: Hachimura ties career-high 30 points in Wizards win
WASHINGTON - Japan forward Rui Hachimura tied his NBA career high with 30 points Saturday to steer the Washington Wizards to a 138-118 win over the Orlando Magic.
Hachimura led all scorers, shooting 13-of-22 from the field, including 3-of-5 from deep, while also logging five rebounds and two blocks without a turnover.
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Ski jumping: Kobayashi soars to season's 2nd World Cup win in Sapporo
SAPPORO - Things have finally begun to click for Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi, who won his second ski jumping World Cup event of the season and 29th overall on home snow Sunday.
Kobayashi earned his third straight podium finish with the win at Okurayama Hill in Sapporo. He registered the second-best opening jump of 141 meters before leaping 143 meters on his second effort to snatch the top spot with 280.9 points
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Golf: Hataoka moves into tie for 2nd at Tournament of Champions
ORLANDO, Florida - Japanese golfer Nasa Hataoka moved into contention for her seventh LPGA title at the season-opening Tournament of Champions, firing a 6-under 66 in Saturday's third round to close within three strokes of leader Brooke Henderson.
The 24-year-old Hataoka jumped three spots up the leaderboard, tying for second with American Nelly Korda at 11 under, after carding the lowest score of the round at Orlando's Lake Nona Golf and Country Club.
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Tennis: Nishioka stopped by Khachanov in Australian Open 4th round
MELBOURNE - Yoshihito Nishioka's career-best tennis Grand Slam run ended Sunday, the Japanese left-hander losing to Russian Karen Khachanov in the Australian Open fourth round.
The 18th-seeded Khachanov won 6-0, 6-0, 7-6(4), firing 15 aces and converting seven of 10 break points against the 31st-seeded Nishioka at Melbourne Park.
