The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Japan's population falls under 125 mil., 12th year of decline
TOKYO - Japan's population shrank by 556,000 in 2022 from a year earlier to 124.9 million for the 12th straight year of decrease, as the number of Japanese nationals saw its largest drop on record, government data showed Wednesday.
As of Oct. 1, the population, including foreign residents, stood at 124,947,000, with the number of Japanese nationals down 750,000 to 122,031,000, the largest margin of decline since comparable data were made available in 1950, the data said.
----------
G-7 top diplomats to put pressure on Russia, China at Japan meeting
TOKYO - The Group of Seven foreign ministers are likely to reiterate their calls for Russia to immediately end its war against Ukraine and issue a tacit warning against China over attempts to change the status quo by force as they gather in Japan for a meeting starting Sunday, a source close to the matter said.
The meeting, to be joined by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, among others, will take place for three days in the central Japan resort town of Karuizawa, with arrangements under way to issue a joint statement following the discussions.
----------
Gov't to approve plan for Japan's 1st casino resort in Osaka
TOKYO - The government is set to approve a plan by Osaka Prefecture and city to open what will be Japan's first casino resort in 2029, government sources said Wednesday.
The development comes as movement restrictions introduced during the coronavirus pandemic are removed, leading some local governments to reassess the idea of attracting tourists to a so-called integrated resort, or IR, comprised of a large hotel, conference rooms and gambling areas.
----------
China to set no-fly zone north of Taiwan on April 16 for space activities
TAIPEI - China has notified Taiwan that it will establish a no-fly zone north of the island on Sunday morning for "aerospace activities," Taipei said, amid high cross-strait tensions that have seen the Chinese military continuously send warplanes and vessels near the territory.
China plans to close the airspace in an area about 85 nautical miles from the island's north shore for 27 minutes from 9:30 a.m., Taiwan authorities said Wednesday.
----------
Japan wholesale prices surge 9.3% in FY 2022, mark largest gain
TOKYO - Wholesale prices in Japan surged 9.3 percent in fiscal 2022 from a year earlier, marking the fastest pace of increase, as a weaker yen increased import costs of energy and materials already boosted by Russia's war on Ukraine, Bank of Japan data showed Wednesday.
The sharpest gain since comparable data were made available in fiscal 1981 came a year after the index tracking the prices of goods traded between companies rose 7.1 percent in fiscal 2021, then a record high.
----------
Japan startup lander may reach Moon on Apr. 26 in world 1st
TOKYO - A Japanese space startup said Wednesday its Moon lander may touch down on the celestial body as early as April 26, a move that would make it the first private company in the world to reach the Moon.
If successful, the touchdown by Ispace Inc.'s self-developed lander will also be the first by a private or public organization in Japan. Last year the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, failed to land its Omotenashi spacecraft on the Moon.
----------
Ex-J-pop hopeful alleges sexual abuse by late music mogul Kitagawa
TOKYO - A former member of Japan's top male talent agency and production company Johnny & Associates Inc. said Wednesday he was sexually abused on multiple occasions when he was a young teenager by the firm's late founder Johnny Kitagawa.
Kauan Okamoto, a 26-year-old Japanese-Brazilian singer and songwriter, claimed during a press conference that he had been subject to sexual abuse by Kitagawa about 15 to 20 times between 2012 and 2016, when he was still a member of the agency, adding he knew of at least three others who had gone through similar ordeals.
----------
Baseball: Shohei Ohtani earns win, passes mark of Angels great Nolan Ryan
ANAHEIM, California - Shohei Ohtani allowed one hit over seven innings, earning his second win in the Los Angeles Angels' 2-0 victory Tuesday over the Washington Nationals.
The two-way star has allowed two or fewer runs in 10 consecutive starts. According to MLB.com, this surpassed the previous team record set by Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan from 1972 to 1973. Ohtani lowered his season ERA to 0.47.
----------
Video: First graders in southwestern Japan
