Sports

Soccer: Japan-North Korea Matches Off the Table

TOKYO, Mar 24 (News On Japan) - During his farewell press conference on March 23, outgoing Japan Football Association President Kozo Tashima addressed the cancellation of the men's soccer World Cup Asian second-round qualifier between Japan and North Korea, which was scheduled for March 26.

Tashima indicated that considering the future schedule of the second-round qualifiers, it would be difficult to arrange a new match date. The match, which was supposed to take place in Pyongyang, North Korea, was announced by the Asian Football Confederation on March 22 as being unable to proceed as planned due to unforeseen circumstances. The matter will now be left to a committee involving FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football, with updates to be announced as soon as decisions are made.

In his press conference, Tashima touched on this issue, stating, "It is no longer possible to arrange a match date. We have two matches in June, and it is not feasible to schedule another one before then." He conveyed the difficulty of scheduling a new game considering the upcoming qualifiers. In the World Cup Asian second-round qualifiers, Japan, which is in Group B, was set to play North Korea in March, followed by matches against Myanmar on June 6 and Syria on June 11.

Source: NHK

Takaichi Becomes Japan’s First Female Prime Minister

A new chapter opened in Japan’s political history on October 21st as Sanae Takaichi was elected the nation’s first female prime minister. Following her appointment by the Diet, Takaichi declared that her new cabinet would be one of “decision and progress,” pledging to move swiftly on policies from the very first day.

Hokkaido Launches Mass Culling After Bird Flu Detected

Authorities in Shiraoi, Hokkaido, have begun culling approximately 460,000 laying hens after a poultry farm in the region’s Iburi area confirmed infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza, marking the first confirmed outbreak of the season in Japan.

Tourist Graffiti Threatens Kyoto’s Iconic Bamboo Forest

Kyoto’s world-famous Arashiyama district, a popular destination for both domestic and international tourists, is facing a growing problem of graffiti etched into the bamboo along its iconic “Bamboo Grove Path,” with more than 350 stalks now damaged — a practice that experts warn could eventually cause bamboo to weaken, fall, and even injure visitors.

Japanese Streaming Services Struggle Against Netflix

Japan’s streaming industry is under growing pressure as foreign giants tighten their grip on the domestic market, with Netflix’s latest move to secure exclusive broadcast rights in Japan for every game of the World Baseball Classic next March highlighting the widening gap.

Japan Tightens Rules on Foreign Business Visas

Investigators from the Immigration Services Agency conducted on-site inspections in Osaka on October 14th amid a surge in so-called 'paper companies' created by foreign nationals seeking residency.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Sadaharu Oh Receives Order of Culture,

Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh, 85, chairman of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, has been awarded this year’s Order of Culture, while voice actress Masako Nozawa, 88, known for voicing the protagonist Son Goku in the anime "Dragon Ball," has been named a Person of Cultural Merit — the first voice actor ever to receive the distinction.