SNA (Tokyo) — The following stories were reported today by the Shingetsu News Agency.

Politics

—The Liberal Democratic Party, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, and the Party of Hope jointly protest bizarre Kake Gakuen-related comments by Japan Innovation Party lawmaker Yasushi Adachi in a Diet Committee. Adachi is given warning by his own party and asked to give apology.

International

—The very political Admiral Harry Harris, head of the US Pacific Command, meets with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Kantei. They mutually pledge to enhance joint military exercises.

—US President Donald Trump: “Prime Minister Abe and I agreed on our absolute determination to remain united to achieve the goal of denuclearized North Korea.”

—Osaka Mayor Hirofumi Yoshimura lays down ultimatum that unless San Francisco’s mayor vetoes the city council resolution accepting the Comfort Women statue, he will terminate the decades-old sister city agreement.

—Foreign Minister Taro Kono urges the government of Myanmar to improve the conditions of Rohingya refugees. Says Japan is ready to offer support if positive initiatives emerge.

Society

—Ruling party conservatives and tobacco lobby appear to have won the battle to ensure that the new national anti-smoking law is close to meaningless. Most restaurants will still allow smoking under its terms.

—In his trial in Naha, former US Marine and civilian base worker Kenneth Franklin Shinzato admits raping Okinawan woman in April 2016 but says he didn’t intend to murder her. Judgment expected on December 1.

—Osaka District Court orders 2 million yen (US$18,000) against rightwing website Hoshu Sokuho (Conservative News) for persistently defaming a Korean resident of Japan. Judge denounces website as “discriminatory” and “defamatory.”

Note that the Shingetsu News Agency will take a hiatus from daily news coverage from November 17th to 22nd. 

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