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TOKYO – The following is the most recent compilation of selected news briefs from Kyodo News.

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Japan begins releasing oil reserves to maintain supply stability during the conflict in Iran

TOKYO – On Thursday, the Japanese government began releasing oil held by the state to ensure stable supply levels, in response to the continuous conflict between the U.S. and Israel with Iran, as part of the most significant reduction of reserves accumulated within the nation.

The release of oil equal to 30 days of local consumption, approximately 8.5 million kiloliters, is expected to finish by the end of April and comes after the release of 15 days’ supply held by private companies, which started last week.

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Man kills woman employee at Pokemon shop in Tokyo

TOKYO – A man stabbed a woman employed at a Pokemon shop in Tokyo’s Ikebukuro area on Thursday night, and later died from injuries he caused himself, as reported by authorities.

The individual responsible was recognized as Taiki Hirokawa, 26, with no known occupation or address, while the victim was identified as Moe Harukawa, a 21-year-old part-time employee from Hachioji, Tokyo.

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Japan and the EU commit to collaborating on reducing tensions in the Iran conflict

CERNAY-LA-VILLE, France – Japan and the European Union announced on Thursday their intention to work together to achieve a swift reduction in tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran.

The deal was reached as Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with his EU counterpart, Kaja Kallas, in Cernay-la-Ville, near Paris, during the two-day gathering of G7 foreign ministers on Friday.

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Mitsubishi Electric, Toshiba, and Rohm are discussing a merger for their power chip operations.

TOKYO – According to sources who are aware of the situation, electronics manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric Corp., industrial conglomerate Toshiba Corp., and chipmaker Rohm Co. will start discussions to combine their power semiconductor device operations, as reported on Thursday.

The discussions occur as the Japanese government seeks increased acknowledgment and market presence for its companies within the semiconductor sector, following reduced demand for electric vehicles and the rising influence of Chinese enterprises.

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New price measurement published by BOJ considered an indicator of potential interest rate increase

TOKYO – On Thursday, the Bank of Japan introduced a new price index to better understand ongoing trends despite rising fluctuations, a step that is largely seen by financial markets as a sign of potential additional interest rate increases.

The updated inflation measure, which the BOJ intends to issue on a regular basis going forward, removes the impact of initiatives like free education programs and actions aimed at reducing expenses related to gasoline, electricity, and gas.

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Trump prolongs the hold on striking Iran’s energy infrastructure until April 6

WASHINGTON – On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that he is prolonging his hold on potential strikes against Iran’s energy facilities by 10 days, pushing the deadline to April 6.

This essentially implies that Trump’s deadline for Iran to re-open the Strait of Hormuz has also been delayed until that date. He additionally stated on social media that discussions with Iran are “proceeding very well,” even though Iran had rejected a U.S. ceasefire proposal the previous day.

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Former leader of the Taiwan opposition party Ko receives 17 years in prison for corruption charges

TAIPEI – Ko Wen-je, a former mayor of Taipei and the leader of the Taiwan People’s Party, which is the second-largest opposition party on the island, was handed a 17-year prison sentence by a court on Thursday for charges related to corruption and bribery.

The Taipei District Court stated that Ko received a bribe worth NT$2.1 million ($65,700) in 2020 concerning a property development initiative during his tenure as mayor of Taipei.

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Baseball: More than 60% preferred Japan’s WBC matches to be broadcast on over-the-air television, according to a poll

TOKYO – According to a survey conducted by Sanno University on Thursday, approximately 63.4 percent of participants expressed a desire for Japanese games to be broadcast on traditional television channels during the recent World Baseball Classic.

A major U.S. streaming platform, Netflix, held the exclusive rights to stream the tournament in Japan, and the research indicated that 11.5 percent of new subscribers signed up to watch the WBC.

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