The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
-----------
Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
SAPPORO - A Japanese high court ruled Thursday the country's lack of legal recognition of same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in a move likely to further mount pressure on the government to do more to protect sexual minorities.
The Sapporo High Court upheld the lower court's landmark verdict in 2021 that said non-recognition of same-sex marriage violates the right to equality protected under the Constitution but rejected a total of 6 million yen ($40,600) in damages sought by three same-sex couples in Hokkaido against the state for emotional distress.
----------
U.S. forces resume Osprey flights in Japan amid local safety concerns
NAHA, Japan - Some U.S. military Osprey aircraft took to the air in Okinawa, southern Japan, on Thursday, amid lingering local concern over the safety of the tilt-rotor military planes following a crash last year.
The resumption of flights in Japan came after Washington last week lifted a worldwide flight ban on U.S. Ospreys, imposed after a U.S. Air Force CV-22 transport plane crashed off a southwestern Japan island on Nov. 29, killing all eight crew aboard.
----------
Nissan mulls EV cooperation with Honda
TOKYO - Nissan Motor Co. is considering cooperating with Honda Motor Co. in the electric vehicle business, sources close to the matter said Thursday, potentially creating a powerful domestic alliance to rival industry giant Toyota Motor Corp.
Nissan is weighing jointly procuring some parts and sharing major components for their respective EVs to lower costs, the sources said. Discussions within Nissan are still in the early stages and Honda's stance on the tie-up remains unclear.
----------
Member of LDP's biggest faction unaware when slush fund scheme began
TOKYO - Hiroshige Seko, a key lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's biggest faction, said Thursday that he did not know when the group began reimbursing portions of fundraising party revenue, regarded as a slush fund for its members.
At a session of the House of Councillors ethics committee, Seko admitted to having accepted around 15 million yen ($101,000) in total over five years through 2022. The statute of limitations under the political funds control law does not come into effect in this case.
----------
Japan to provide IAEA $20 million to support nuke watchdog's activities
TOKYO - Japan will provide the International Atomic Energy Agency some 18 million euros ($20 million) to support the agency's activities, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said Thursday.
The aid is intended to support a number of initiatives the IAEA is conducting in various areas that uses nuclear technology, such as cancer research and medicine, Grossi told a press conference in Tokyo following his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida who pledged the aid to the U.N. agency.
----------
Japan school bullying cases leading to police probes hit 10-yr high
TOKYO - The number of bullying cases involving students in Japan that led to individuals being probed by police hit 292 in 2023, a sharp rise from the previous year and the highest level in 10 years, police data showed Thursday.
The total cases among students of elementary, junior high and high schools increased by 116 from the year before, after the education ministry made a request last year for schools to work more closely with police on bullying-related incidents.
----------
Japan GSDF fails to determine exact cause of fatal 2023 chopper crash
TOKYO - Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force said Thursday that it has been unable to determine the exact cause of the engine troubles that caused a deadly crash involving one of its helicopters off an island in the southern prefecture of Okinawa in April 2023.
In its investigative report on the accident, which killed all 10 personnel on board, the GSDF described the nearly simultaneous engine failures as an "unprecedented event." However, it will fully resume operations of the same type of helicopter, although no date has been specified.
----------
Ex-lawmaker, YouTuber GaaSyy convicted of threatening celebs online
TOKYO - Former Japanese lawmaker and YouTuber GaaSyy was given a suspended prison term Thursday for charges including habitually intimidating celebrities online.
The Tokyo District Court sentenced the 52-year-old defendant, whose real name is Yoshikazu Higashitani, to three years in prison, suspended for five years. Prosecutors had sought a four-year prison term for the former upper house lawmaker.
Video: Fukushima town school holds 1st graduation ceremony in 13 years
