TOKYO (Reuters) - A Japanese submarine joined a naval drill in the South China Sea for the first time, the Ministry of Defence said on Monday, in an escalation of Japanese activity in the disputed waterway claimed by China and others. The Maritime Self Defense Force submarine Kuroshio conducted a naval exercise on Thursday with other Japanese warships in the South China Sea, including the Kaga helicopter carrier, which is on a two-month tour of Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. She said it was the first time a Japanese submarine had conducted drills there, confirming an earlier report in the Asahi newspaper. The exercise, which involved the submarine trying to evade detection, was conducted away from island bases constructed by China to push its claims in the strategic sea. However, it could still anger Beijing because submarines represent a greater potential menace to shipping than surface vessels. It came after a British Royal Navy amphibious … [Read more...] about Japanese submarine conducts first drills in South China Sea
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Japanese novelist Murakami pulls out of Sweden’s ‘new Nobel’
More than 32,000 people voted for Murakami and three other three writers to join the prize’s shortlist, which they could choose from a list of 47 writers selected by librarians in Sweden. But the Japanese magic realist, known for books such as The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, this week emailed the prize’s founders to ask to be withdrawn, so that he could “concentrate on his writing, away from media attention”. The prize’s organisers wrote on Facebook that Murakami had described his nomination as “a great honour” in his email and wished the organisers success. “The New Academy regrets but respects his decision,” they wrote on the group's Facebook page on Saturday. Murakami’s departure leaves a shortlist of three: the British novelist and comic-book creator Neil Gaiman, the Vietnamese-Canadian writer Kim Thúy, and the French Guadeloupian author Maryse … [Read more...] about Japanese novelist Murakami pulls out of Sweden’s ‘new Nobel’
Japanese deputy ambassador honoured with Hanoi’s insignia
The People’s Committee of Hanoi has presented the “for the cause of capital city construction” insignia to Katsuro Nagai, Japanese Deputy Ambassador in Vietnam, in recognition of his contributions to the growth of Hanoi and the development of ties between Vietnam and Japan. Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) presents “for the cause of capital city construction” insignia to Katsuro Nagai, Japanese Deputy Ambassador in Vietnam Nagai served as Minister at the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam from August, 2014. In February, 2018, he became Deputy Ambassador at the embassy. He has worked to enhance cooperation between Hanoi and Japanese localities, and connected leaders of the city and senior officials from Japan’s Government and socio-economic organisations. With the assistance of Nagai and the ambassador of Japan, many projects funded by Japan have been implemented in Hanoi, including line 2 of the Hanoi urban railway, … [Read more...] about Japanese deputy ambassador honoured with Hanoi’s insignia
Japanese supply run to space station delayed again
Marcia Dunn, Ap Aerospace Writer Updated 2:30 pm PDT, Friday, September 14, 2018 In this Sept. 14, 2018, photo, an H-2B rocket carrying the Kounotori 7 cargo spacecraft is seen at Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kagoshima. The Japanese supply run to the International Space Station has been delayed again. The countdown was halted Saturday, Sept. 15, in Japan, with only a few hours remaining before liftoff. Earlier in the week, a typhoon delayed the launch.(Kyodo News via AP) less In this Sept. 14, 2018, photo, an H-2B rocket carrying the Kounotori 7 cargo spacecraft is seen at Tanegashima Space Center in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Kagoshima. The Japanese supply run to the ... more Photo: è„èºó∫âÓ, AP Photo: … [Read more...] about Japanese supply run to space station delayed again
Japanese report reveals new details about death on ship in Felixstowe
PUBLISHED: 08:22 13 September 2018 Katy Sandalls A person died and another was seriously injured after the explosion on the Manhattan Bridge ship at the Port of Felixstowe Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN Archant More details have emerged about the death of a sailor on a ship in Felixstowe docks, ahead of his inquest. Celso Banas, 35, and from the Philippines, died in January 2017 aboard the Manhattan Bridge container ship.Mr Banas was working in the boiler room when an explosion took place killing him and leaving a colleague with severe burns. An inquest which opened last April found that Mr Banas had been struck by debris from the explosion. A post-mortem confirmed that he had died from multiple injuries. Now a report carried out by the Japanese authorities has shed more light on the event. The Japan Transport Safety Board launched the investigation to determine the cause of the incident which took place on the Japanese registered vessel. It suggests that … [Read more...] about Japanese report reveals new details about death on ship in Felixstowe