In this week’s news roundup we report on the ongoing spat between China and Japan. US President Donald Trump allegedly called Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi advising her not to antagonize China. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary has since denied this. China’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has warned Japan that it will pay a “painful price” if it steps out of line over Taiwan.
Official Claims Trump Never Advised Takaichi Not To Antagonize China
On Thursday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara denied reports that US President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan during a phone call this week. The claim was made in an article in the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. The New York City-based newspaper quoted unidentified Japanese officials and an American briefed on the call.
According to Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussed the Taiwan issue in a phone call with Trump on Monday. He reportedly told him that Taiwan’s return to China is essential for the nation’s vision for its “post-war international order.” Earlier this month, Takaichi asserted that a Chinese naval blockade on Taiwan would likely constitute a “survival-threatening situation” that could force Japan to respond.
Japan To Pay ‘Painful Price’ If It Steps Out of Line Over Taiwan Warns China
The fallout from Takaichi’s remarks continues. On Thursday, China’s Defense Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin said that Japan will have to pay a “painful price” if it steps out of line over Taiwan. This was in response to a question about Tokyo’s plans to put air defense missiles on Yonaguni, its westernmost island just 110 kilometers from Taiwan’s coast. According to Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, plans are “steadily moving forward.”
“Not only has Japan failed to deeply reflect on its grave crimes of aggression and colonial rule in Taiwan, it has instead, in defiance of world opinion, entertained the delusion of military intervention in the Taiwan Strait,” said Jiang. He added, “If the Japanese side dares to cross the line even half a step and bring trouble upon itself, it will inevitably pay a painful price.”
The Unification Church
Abe Assassin Feared Abe Support Would Legitimize Unification Church
Speaking in court on Wednesday, Tetsuya Yamagami, the man standing trial for the fatal shooting of Shinzo Abe, said that he felt “hopelessness and a sense of crisis” after watching a video message the former prime minister sent in 2021 to the South Korea-based Unification Church, the organization now formally known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.
Yamagami added, “Because he served as prime minister for a long time, I thought it would legitimize the organization… From the point of view of someone victimized by the group, this was extremely upsetting and unacceptable.” Yamagami sought revenge after his mother, who joined the religious group in 1991, was declared bankrupt. She reportedly donated around ¥100 million to the organization.
Maebashi Mayor Resigns Following Love Hotel Scandal
Akira Ogawa rendered her resignation as Maebashi mayor on Tuesday. Posting on X, she wrote, “I made the decision after thinking about this a lot. I’ve concluded that it’s best to leave the mayorship at this time and take responsibility for my actions.” The news comes after several assembly members repeatedly called for her to resign due to a love hotel scandal.
In September, Ogawa held an emergency press conference to deny reports that she was having an affair with a married employee. While admitting to visiting hotels with the man on several occasions, she said there was no sexual relationship. Ogawa was responding to claims made in the weekly magazine website News Post Seven about her secret rendezvous with the city official.
Chinese Tourist Falls to His Death at Kansai Airport
A Chinese tourist in Japan died on Tuesday after falling from a suspended roadside near the fourth floor of Terminal 1 at Kansai International Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. According to police reports, officers arrived at the scene after receiving reports by passersby about a man, believed to have been in his 20s, “sitting on the roadside railing.”
Upon arrival, officers found the man suspended from the barrier while clinging to the building’s edge. As the police attempted to rescue him, he let go voluntarily, falling to the second floor, before bouncing down to the first. Unconscious, he was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Aonishiki Arata portrait © NIHON SUMO KYOKAI
Aonishiki Promoted to Ozeki in Record Time
In 2022, Danylo Yavhusishyn escaped to Japan after his home country of Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Three years on and he is now a household name here after winning his first sumo championship on Sunday. Yavhusishyn, who goes by the ring name of Aonishiki, won the Emperor’s Cup at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center with a record of 12 wins and three losses.
Going into the final day, there was a three-way tie for the lead between Hoshoryu, Onosato and Aonishiki. After Onosato pulled out due to injury, it went to a playoff between Aonishiki and Hoshoryu, with the Ukrainian coming out on top. Following the triumph, Aonishiki won promotion to the second-highest rank of ozeki. He achieved the feat in record time, after just 14 tournaments.
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Updated On November 28, 2025
