Kyodo News Brief: Nov. 23, 2025

TOKYO - The following is the most recent compilation of selected news summaries from Kyodo News. ---------- Ukraine, a dominant force in t...

TOKYO - The following is the most recent compilation of selected news summaries from Kyodo News.

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Ukraine, a dominant force in the Deaflympics, is affected by the conflict with Russia.

TOKYO - Ukraine continues to be recognized as a leading force in deaf sports at this year's Tokyo Deaflympics, despite the significant effects of Russia's continuous invasion of the Eastern European nation on its athletes and their daily lives.

Ukraine secured first place in both gold medals and the total medal count during the last event held in Brazil, yet its athletes now express fear of Russian attacks and are frequently required to relocate their training sites.

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Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi and Britain's Starmer reach agreement on security collaboration

JOHANNESBURG - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and her British counterpart, Keir Starmer, pledged to maintain bilateral collaboration in security and economic fields during discussions held on the margins of the G20 summit in South Africa on Saturday.

At the beginning of the meeting, Starmer praised Takaichi for her appointment as prime minister. As reported by the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Takaichi appreciated his comments and stated her intention to collaborate with him in upholding and enhancing an international system founded on the rule of law.

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Japanese sushi restaurant chain breaks Guinness record with biggest tuna filleting demonstration

CHIBA, Japan - The Japanese sushi restaurant chain Choushimaru Co. has recently been recognized by Guinness World Records for the biggest synchronized tuna filleting event, which took place at 71 outlets in and around Tokyo.

After obtaining a bluefin tuna weighing approximately 40 kilograms from Nagasaki Prefecture for the event, chefs at each restaurant started slicing the large fish starting around 11:30 a.m. on November 1, which is celebrated as "sushi day" in Japan.

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Sumo: Onosato Withdraws, Hoshoryu Loses Victory, Possibly Affecting Title

FUKUOKA - Leading contender Onosato pulled out due to an injury from the final day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday, granting a walkover win to co-leader and fellow yokozuna Hoshoryu in their planned match.

A 25-year-old grand champion is thought to have injured his left shoulder the day before, finishing in a three-way tie for first place with Hoshoryu and Ukrainian sekiwake Aonishiki, each with 11 wins and three losses.

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More than double increase in foreign population across 10 Japanese prefectures over a decade

TOKYO - According to data released by Kyodo News on Saturday, the number of non-Japanese residents in 10 prefectures has more than doubled in the last ten years, highlighting the increasing migration of foreigners to these regions as a way to address labor shortages.

The number of foreign residents increased the most in Kumamoto Prefecture, located on Kyushu, Japan's southern main island, with its population more than tripling. Hokkaido, Okinawa, and two other Kyushu prefectures ranked in the top five.

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China delivers a letter to the U.N. head criticizing Prime Minister Takaichi's comments on Taiwan

BEIJING - The Chinese ambassador to the United Nations wrote a letter to U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, urging Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to withdraw her comments regarding Japan's possible role in a Taiwan-related situation, according to state-controlled media reporting on Saturday.

In a letter released on Friday, Fu Cong stated that Takaichi's remarks represented "the first instance where Japan has indicated intentions to get involved militarily in the Taiwan issue," as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

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PM Takaichi's comments on Taiwan cast doubt on the possibility of new pandas arriving in Japan

TOKYO - Comments made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi regarding a potential situation in Taiwan have angered China, affecting the chances of new pandas arriving in Japan as the deadline for returning the twin cubs currently at a Tokyo zoo nears in February.

Masses of visitors kept coming to Ueno Zoological Gardens on Saturday as the final moments approach for the giant pandas, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei. They are currently the sole pandas in Japan, generating considerable public attention.

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Restricted-network cybercafe allows Pyongyang residents to play Western games

BEIJING - Western video games like "Call of Duty" and "Counter-Strike," which are first-person shooting titles, have gained popularity among gamers at a newly opened cybercafé with a restricted network in Pyongyang, as reported on social media.

It is uncommon for games from countries outside of China to be allowed in North Korea, as the country tightly controls the entry of foreign cultural content.

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Video: Ayaka Sasaki from the idol group Momoiro Clover Z