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A Japanese newspaper reported that the country’s ruling party lawmakers visited the Sado mine located on the island of Sado in Niigata Prefecture where Koreans were subject to forced labor during the colonial period.
The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper said Saturday that 20 lawmakers of the Liberal Democratic Party toured the mining facility on Friday.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, former foreign minister Hirofumi Nakasone said it’s an astonishing feat to produce quality gold for such a long period by relying on only traditional skills. He expressed hope that Japan’s bid to list Sado mine as a UNESCO world heritage site will be successful.
The Tokyo government formally recommended the mine as a candidate for world heritage designation in February, prompting South Korea’s protest.
Over a thousand Koreans are believed to have been forced into labor at the gold mine, which shifted to producing war materials such as copper, iron and zinc during the Pacific War.
When recommending the site for heritage listing, Japan left out that part of history linked to wartime forced labor.
Japanese lawmakers tour Sado mine in push for UNESCO bid
KBS – May 07
A Japanese newspaper reported that the country’s ruling party lawmakers visited the Sado mine located on the island of Sado in Niigata Prefecture where Koreans were subject to forced labor during the colonial period.
Kishida announces new sanctions on Russia
NHK – May 06
Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced additional sanctions on Russia, freezing the assets of about 140 more individuals, as well as more assets of Russian banks.
Russia bans entry of Japan PM, 62 others indefinitely
Nikkei – May 05
Russia said Wednesday it will ban the entry of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and many high-ranking officials for an indefinite period in a fresh round of sanctions against Japan, amid rising tensions between the two countries over the crisis in Ukraine.
Japan and Thailand sign defense, economic agreement
washingtontimes.com – May 04
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida wrapped up a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia Monday with an announcement of a new defense agreement with Thailand and plans to improve economic relations between the countries.
Japan still divided on revising war-renouncing Constitution: survey
Kyodo – May 02
Half the respondents in a Kyodo News survey released Monday believe Japan needs to amend the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution to clarify the legal status of the Self-Defense Forces, with the level of support almost unchanged from a year ago despite growing concerns over regional security.
Australian troops not welcome in Japan, says Okinawa governor
afr.com – Apr 29
The governor of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa says Australian Defence Force personnel are not welcome on the 150 islands he administers, as fears grow that rising tensions between China and US allies will lead to conflict in the region.
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