決勝戦でのエースの登板回避が議論に【Resting ace in final sparks debate】
A high school baseball manager created a controversy for resting its ace pitcher in the prefectural final in late July. The school’s failure to reach the prestigious national tournament sparked a debate across Japan on whether a team should put a pitcher’s health ahead of its victory.
国会がバリアフリーの改修を実施【Diet conducts barrier-free renovations】
Japan’s upper house conducted renovation work last week to improve barrier-free access for two severely-disabled lawmakers. They won seats in the recent election as members of a new political party established by actor-turned-politician Taro Yamamoto.
京都アニメ放火の容疑者が恨みを持っていたと報道【Kyoto anime arson suspect reportedly has grudge】
Thursday’s arson attack on an animation studio in Kyoto, renowned for its high-quality works, sent shock waves across the world. The 41-year-old suspect, who is being treated in hospital for severe burns, told police that his novel was stolen.
安倍氏がハンセン病患者の親族に謝罪【Abe apologizes to kin of leprosy patients】
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe issued an apology on Friday to family members of former leprosy patients who suffered discrimination under the state’s segregation policy. The statement came after the government decided not to appeal a recent ruling ordering compensation payments.
日本が韓国への輸出規制を強化【Japan tightens curbs on exports to South Korea】
Japan on Thursday tightened curbs on technology exports to South Korea amid a growing dispute over wartime forced labor. In response, Seoul said it plans to take countermeasures, including filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
トランプ氏が北朝鮮に入境した初の米国大統領に【Trump becomes first U.S. president to enter North Korea】
After attending the G-20 Summit in Osaka, Japan, U.S. President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Sunday at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. He then became the first sitting American leader to step into North Korean territory.
八村選手がNBAで1巡目に指名【Hachimura selected in NBA 1st round】
Rui Hachimura became the first player from Japan to be selected in the first round draft of the National Basketball Association with the ninth pick by the Washington Wizards in New York on Thursday. His mother is Japanese and his father is from the West African nation of Benin.
日本で不正転売禁止法が施行【Anti-scalping law takes effect in Japan】
Japan enforced a stricter law on Friday ahead of this year’s Rugby World Cup in order to clamp down on ticket scalping. Those caught reselling tickets for a profit will face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen, or both penalties.
政府が老後への投資を国民に奨励【Government urges citizens to invest for retirement】
A council at the Financial Services Agency estimated that an elderly couple will need at least 20 million yen assuming they live until 95 years old. It urged workers to start investing earlier to better prepare for their retirement.