TOKYO - The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
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Former Japanese PM Fukuda, known for strengthening ties with China, dies at 90
TOKYO - Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, known for strengthening ties between Japan and China but who struggled to manage affairs in a divided Diet during his one-year stint through September 2008, has died, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Monday. He was 90.
Fukuda visited China three months after becoming prime minister in September 2007 and invited then Chinese President Hu Jintao to visit Japan. Hu came to the country in May 2008, becoming the first Chinese head of state to do so in a decade.
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Security concerns flagged within Japan firm GMO before breach: CEO
TOKYO - GMO Internet Group Inc. CEO Masatoshi Kumagai admitted Sunday night that internal engineers had flagged security issues before unauthorized access occurred to a foreign exchange trading service it provides and that the company's response to the concerns was insufficient.
In a post on his blog, Kumagai said the internet services firm was warned by in-house white-hat hackers of "issues that needed improvement" regarding security but that its response was inadequate in both depth and speed and the attackers took advantage of that vulnerability. He apologized, saying, "I deeply regret it."
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Nishiyama to become 1st female "kishi" in shogi main ranks
TOKYO - Shogi player Tomoka Nishiyama said Monday she will exercise her right to join the game's main professional "kishi" ranks as the first woman to do so.
The 31-year-old will be promoted to "yodan," the entry-level rank in the kishi system, on April 1.
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Manga artist sues gov't claiming revised imperial law is unconstitutional
TOKYO - Japanese manga artist and conservative commentator Yoshinori Kobayashi sued the government on Monday, arguing that a recent revision to the Imperial House Law allowing the imperial family to adopt men from its former branch families is unconstitutional.
In the lawsuit filed with the Tokyo District Court, Kobayashi is seeking the invalidation of the revised law and damages, claiming the new provisions admitting such adoptions violate the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on "family origin."
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Japan takes wildfire in Mongolia seriously, offers restoration cooperation
TOKYO - The Japanese government said Monday it takes seriously a large-scale grassland fire in Mongolia earlier this month and intends to cooperate in efforts to restore the damaged area, after the blaze occurred during activities by a Japanese telecom firm's subsidiary.
"We extend our heartfelt sympathies to the Mongolian people," Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference in Tokyo, adding that Japan will maintain close communication with Mongolia, while not touching on who was responsible for the fire.
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Sumo: 33-yr-old Churanoumi becomes 1st komusubi from Okinawa Pref.
TOKYO - Churanoumi became the first wrestler from Okinawa Prefecture to reach the three "sanyaku" ranks below yokozuna on Monday after he rose to komusubi in the latest rankings announced ahead of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament in November.
At 33 years and five months, Churanoumi is the fourth oldest wrestler to reach sanyaku in the post-war era, while his 63 meets fought before rising to the position is the most for those who began their pro careers after graduating universities.
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Wrestling: Debutant Gomi grabs Greco-Roman 60-kg gold at worlds
ASTANA - Japan's Koto Gomi staged a comeback Sunday to win the final of the Greco-Roman 60-kilogram division on his wrestling world championship debut.
The 22-year-old was down 7-1 against Ali Abdollah Ahmadi Vafa of Iran in the final in Astana but reeled off a one-arm shoulder throw before pinning him to win by fall.
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Figure skating: Miura rises to finish 2nd at Grand Prix de France
ANGERS, France - Japan's Kao Miura claimed second after a strong men's free skate at the Grand Prix de France on Sunday, the opening tournament of the Grand Prix Series in figure skating.
After coming ninth in Saturday's short program, Miura scored 175.29 points for 247.96 in total in Angers, placing him behind home favorite Adam Siao Him Fa of France, who topped both segments to win on 284.24. South Korea's Seo Minkyu was third on 244.90.
