The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
-----------
Toyota, Nissan offer large pay hikes, fuel hope of beating deflation
TOKYO - Major Japanese companies, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co., on Wednesday offered their largest pay hikes in decades at annual wage negotiations that could determine whether the country can finally overcome its chronic deflation.
The development will likely pave the way for the Bank of Japan to phase out its unprecedented monetary easing. The central bank has indicated its policy decisions would depend on the outcomes of the negotiations.
----------
Japan's 1st satellite launch attempt by private firm fails
WAKAYAMA, Japan - A Space One Co. satellite-carrying rocket exploded Wednesday moments after liftoff from a spaceport in western Japan, dealing a setback to the company's aspirations of becoming the first private Japanese firm to place a satellite into orbit.
The company's 18-meter-long Kairos rocket failed in its launch from Space Port Kii in Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan's first commercial launch site. It was announced shortly after that "flight termination measures" had been safely implemented.
----------
U.S. forces to resume Osprey flights in Japan as early as March 14
TOKYO - The U.S. military plans to resume its Osprey aircraft flights as early as Thursday in Japan, a government source said, after lifting last week a worldwide flight ban following a deadly crash off a southwestern Japanese island in November.
U.S. Forces Japan has informed Tokyo of the plan and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government will explain it to local authorities in prefectures, including Okinawa, where U.S. Ospreys are based, the Japanese source said Wednesday.
----------
South Korea mulls "future-oriented" statement with Japan for anniversary
SEOUL - A senior South Korean official anticipates that leaders of South Korea and Japan may issue a joint statement incorporating future-oriented commitments when the two countries commemorate the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations next year.
The statement is likely to include "future-oriented commitments and hopes to overcome the past," the presidential office official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Kyodo News and other foreign media in an interview earlier this week, adding that more comprehensive bilateral cooperation would likely be stipulated.
----------
Japan to OK ride-hailing services in Tokyo, Kyoto areas from April
TOKYO - The transport ministry said Wednesday it intends to allow ride-hailing business in Tokyo, Kyoto and two other areas from April, with the Japanese version of the service to be operated by taxi companies in state-designated time slots and zones.
While more areas could be included later, the service is expected to initially cover the Japanese capital's 23 wards, the cities of Musashino and Mitaka in western Tokyo, and the Keihin region centered on Yokohama. Additionally, it will encompass Nagoya along with its nearby municipalities, as well as Kyoto and its vicinity.
----------
Japan court orders government to hand over AUM founder remains to daughter
TOKYO - A Japanese court ordered the government on Wednesday to hand over the hair and cremated remains of the executed AUM Shinrikyo cult founder Shoko Asahara to his second daughter after a top court ruled in 2021 that she can take them into her possession.
The government had urged during the trial at the Tokyo District Court that the daughter's request to have them handed over be rejected, stressing concerns that they could become objects of worship for followers of AUM Shinrikyo's successor groups, including one known as Aleph.
----------
Japanese man arrested over investment fraud after 4 years abroad
NAGOYA - A Japanese man who had been on an international wanted list for allegedly committing investment fraud was arrested Wednesday four years after he left Japan.
Yusuke Yamazaki, 43, was taken into custody by Japanese police on board a plane to Japan after he was deported from Indonesia. The former president of a farm company in Japan's western Okayama Prefecture is suspected of defrauding people in his home country who invested in an overseas fruit business.
----------
Ski jumping: Ryoyu Kobayashi flies to 2nd World Cup win of season in Norway
TRONDHEIM, Norway - Japan's Ryoyu Kobayashi won his season's second ski jumping World Cup event and the 32nd of his career on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old landed the day's longest jump of 106 meters with his first attempt and 99 meters with his second to earn 280.9 points, enough to seal the win on the new 105-meter hill's premiere in Trondheim, Norway.
Video: New observation platform commands view of Ghibli Park's Valley of Witches
