The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
Akira Toriyama, creator of "Dragon Ball" manga series, dies at 68
TOKYO - Akira Toriyama, a monumental figure in the Japanese manga and anime world best known for creating the "Dragon Ball" series, died of an acute subdural hematoma on March 1, the manga series' publishing firm said Friday. He was 68.
Launched in 1984, Dragon Ball, which follows the adventures of protagonist Goku and his explosive supernatural battles with his adversaries, became a worldwide success, with the manga selling over 260 million copies and spawning a franchise that includes anime series, films, video games and toys.
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Japan government OKs bill to introduce joint custody after divorce
TOKYO - The Japanese government on Friday approved a bill to allow joint custody after divorce amid calls for recognizing diversity in family relationships.
Current child custody rules allow only sole custody by one parent, but the bill would permit either sole custody or joint custody. A family court will intervene if there is a dispute.
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U.S. forces lift ban on Osprey flights after Nov. crash in Japan
TOKYO - The U.S. forces on Friday lifted a worldwide flight ban on its Osprey military aircraft, which had been grounded after a deadly crash off a southwestern Japan island in November, but stopped short of giving details on the cause of the accident.
The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command said in a press release that it is "issuing a flight clearance" for the tilt-rotor aircraft, saying the decision was based on "a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews."
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Joe Biden says he's handling China better than Trump in key address
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address Thursday that he is dealing with China better than his predecessor, Donald Trump, and stepping up cooperation with countries such as Japan and South Korea to maintain peace in the Indo-Pacific region.
Biden drew a clear distinction between him and Trump, emphasizing that the incumbent's defense of democratic values and the steps taken across various areas such as the economy, social welfare and climate change have been effective.
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12 file lawsuits against Japan gov't in support of separate surnames
TOKYO - Twelve people on Friday filed lawsuits against the Japanese central government, claiming legal provisions that force married couples to use the same surname are unconstitutional.
Ten people filed with the Tokyo District Court and two with the Sapporo District Court. They are seeking compensation and the right to get married without changing their surnames.
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Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" boosted popularity of Japan anime overseas
TOKYO - Akira Toriyama, who died on March 1 at age 68, mesmerized the world with his "Dragon Ball" series that not only boosted the popularity of Japanese manga and anime internationally but also introduced a host of unique and adorable manga and game characters born from his imagination.
Initially gaining popularity with "Dr. Slump," which featured a super-powerful girl robot, Arale-chan, a series that started in 1980 in a weekly comic magazine, Toriyama's work also garnered success in anime adaption, spawning a range of merchandise.
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Skiing: Ikuma Horishima 1st Japan man to win World Cup moguls season title
TOKYO - Japan's Ikuma Horishima became the first Japanese man to claim the freestyle skiing World Cup moguls title by finishing second in the season's final moguls competition Friday in Kazakhstan.
The Beijing Winter Olympics bronze medalist finished behind Canada's Mikael Kingsbury in Almaty but pipped the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics gold medalist in the season's rankings 610 points to 600 to lift the trophy.
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LDP chapter says held inappropriate party for junior members in Nov.
WAKAYAMA, Japan - A prefectural chapter of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in western Japan said Friday that it hosted an inappropriate party for its junior members, where female dancers, donning revealing dresses, were in attendance.
The LDP said Takashi Fujiwara, chief of its youth division, and Yasutaka Nakasone, deputy chief of the department, have offered to resign from their party posts. They both participated in the gathering for its junior national and local assembly members.
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Japan's January household spending down 6.3% as output halt hits autos
TOKYO - Japan's household spending in January fell 6.3 percent from a year earlier, the biggest margin of decline in nearly three years, after shipment halts at Toyota Motor Corp.'s small-car unit led to a shortage of stock, government data showed Friday.
Households of two or more people spent an average of 289,467 yen ($1,960), logging a decline for the 11th consecutive month, as price hikes continued to dampen spending on food, while outlays on utilities plunged due to unseasonably warm weather.
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Japan current account balance swings to 438 bil. yen surplus in Jan.
TOKYO - Japan logged a current account surplus of 438.2 billion yen ($2.9 billion) in January, returning to the black on record foreign investment returns and a sharp drop in imports, the Finance Ministry said Friday.
The turnaround from a whopping 2.01 trillion yen deficit in January 2023 came as Japan's trade deficit was roughly halved to 1.44 trillion yen. A revival of inbound tourism led to a record travel surplus of 415.9 billion yen.
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Hong Kong examines new stricter security bill
HONG KONG - Hong Kong's Legislative Council began Friday official deliberation over proposed security legislation intended to supplement the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020, amid fears that it could further erode freedom in the former British colony.
The new legislation will prohibit foreign groups from conducting political activities in Hong Kong and local organizations from establishing ties with them, a move designed to further crack down on dissent in the semiautonomous region of China. Its extra-territorial reach has also stirred concern among critics.
Video: Uber Eats starts delivering with robots
