The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Sex abuse scandal-tainted Johnny's eyes setting up new firm
TOKYO - Johnny & Associates Inc., a leading Japanese talent agency embattled over a sex abuse scandal involving its late founder, is considering launching a new firm to manage its performers in a bid to mitigate the reputational fallout from the revelations, sources close to the matter said Sunday.
The move would come in the wake of criticism against the firm's initial decision not to change its name, derived from its founder Johnny Kitagawa, who abused aspiring teen pop singers for decades before his death in 2019.
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Japan, ASEAN to beef up private sector cybersecurity cooperation
TOKYO - Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will seek to beef up private sector cybersecurity cooperation amid China's growing regional influence, Japanese government sources said Sunday.
Stakeholders and relevant parties from both sides, including nongovernmental organizations, will sign an agreement in Tokyo this week ahead of a summit in the Japanese capital in December to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Japan-ASEAN friendship and cooperation, according to the sources.
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Japanese actor Tatsuya Fuji wins top lead actor prize at San Sebastian
SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain - Seasoned Japanese actor Tatsuya Fuji won the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance on Saturday for his performance in the movie "Great Absence" at the 71st San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain.
Fuji, 82, became the first Japanese national to receive the award, which he won this year alongside Marcelo Subiotto of Argentina for his role in the film "Puan."
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U.S. averts government shutdown at last minute with stopgap funding bill
WASHINGTON - A U.S. federal government shutdown was averted at the last minute on Saturday after the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a 45-day stopgap funding bill.
A shutdown had seemed almost certain, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy unexpectedly pivoted to accept Democratic support to fund government agencies through Nov. 17.
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Baseball: Ohtani named Angels' team MVP for third year running
ANAHEIM, California - 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.
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Myanmar residents of Japan vow to help 2 million displaced in homeland
TOKYO - Myanmar residents of Japan held a fundraising event in Tokyo over the weekend to help provide support for the approximately 2 million people displaced in the military's crackdown on the pro-democracy movement in the strife-torn country.
At the Federal Festival in Tokyo's Ikebukuro shopping and entertainment district, members of ethnic minority groups performed traditional music and dancing and offered local dishes and crafts to showcase Myanmar's diversity as a country with more than 100 ethnic groups.
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Japanese universities climb rankings in Times global survey
LONDON - 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.
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Luxury lockup: Former Japan prison to open as high-end hotel in 2026
OSAKA - A Japanese resort operator has said it will turn a historic former prison in the western Japanese city of Nara into a luxury hotel set to open in the spring of 2026.
While guests will have the opportunity to appreciate the facility's rich history that dates back to the early 20th century, Hoshino Resorts Inc. assures that they will not have to endure the confined conditions experienced by its inmates, as multiple cells are being combined to create its 48 guest rooms.
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Video: Ring-tailed lemurs at primate zoo in Japan's Aichi Prefecture
