In this week’s news, we report on a WWII-era Shidenkai fighter salvaged from the sea after 81 years. The search continues for 11-year-old elementary school student Yuki Adachi, who has now been missing for nearly three weeks. Sanae Takaichi urges Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, while US President Donald Trump reiterates his criticism of Japan and other allies. The Unification Church establishes a new organization, and a Ukrainian karateka is reunited with the bronze medal he won at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.
Sunken for Eight Decades, Shidenkai Fighter Finally Recovered
On April 21, 1945, Lieutenant Yoshishige Hayashi was killed after engaging US B-29 bombers while piloting a Shidenkai fighter. He reportedly shot down one aircraft before being forced to make an emergency landing in the waters off Akune in Kagoshima Prefecture. Locals rushed out to rescue him, but it was too late. His plane remained submerged for more than 80 years.
On Wednesday, the aircraft was finally brought to the surface about 200 meters offshore in a salvage operation using a crane. Though the rear section of the fuselage is missing, the aircraft still retains its distinct shape. It will now undergo a year-long desalination process before being displayed as a “war heritage” artifact by the NPO that led the recovery mission. Only a handful of Shidenkai aircraft remain today.
Yuki Adachi, who has been missing since March 23 | Image: Kyoto Prefectural Police
Kyoto Police Widen Search for Missing 11-Year-Old Boy
It has been nearly three weeks since 11-year-old elementary school student Yuki Adachi went missing in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture. Police say his father drove him to the grounds of his school on March 23, but he never made it to class. Six days later, his backpack was discovered by a relative in a mountainous area roughly 3 kilometers from the school.
No further clues have been discovered since. On Tuesday, authorities expanded the search to include mountainous terrain near both his home and school, with more than 60 officers involved. Adachi was last seen wearing a black and gray fleece sweatshirt with “84” on the chest, beige pants and black sneakers. Police are urging anyone with information to contact them at 0771-62-0110.
Image: Wikimedia
Takaichi Urges Pezeshkian To Ensure the Safe Passage of Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz
On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time. Speaking to reporters shortly after their 25-minute phone call, Takaichi said she urged the Iranian leader to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which she described as a “key location for global logistics and an international public property.”
The call took place just a few hours after Tehran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire in the conflict with the US and Israel, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz. Israeli and US leaders, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, both insisted Lebanon was not included in the truce. Israel subsequently carried out a devastating bombardment in Lebanon, killing hundreds of people.
Trump Reiterates Criticism of Japan and Other Allies Over Iran Conflict
Earlier in the week, Trump once again criticized NATO, Japan and other allies for what he described as a lack of support in the Iran war. Describing NATO as a “Paper Tiger,” he said, “They’ve actually gone out of their way not to help. They didn’t even want to give us landing strips. Think of it. And it’s not just NATO.
“You know who else didn’t help us? South Korea didn’t help us,” continued Trump. “You know who else didn’t help us? Australia didn’t help us. You know who else didn’t help us? Japan. We’ve got 50,000 soldiers in Japan to protect them from North Korea. We have 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect us from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well.”
The Headquarters of the Unification Church in Tokyo | Wikimedia
Dissolved But Not Gone: Unification Church Reorganizes in Japan
On Wednesday, former executives of Japan’s dissolved Unification Church reportedly established a new organization under the name Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU), led by former head Masaichi Hori. Although the original body faced court-ordered liquidation, its successor aims to continue the movement’s religious activities, marking a potential new chapter in a case that has captured national attention.
In 2025, a district court in Tokyo ordered the church to disband after it was accused by the government of manipulating followers to make large donations. Last month, the Tokyo High Court upheld the decision, rejecting the organization’s claim that the donations were part of legitimate religious activities. Stripped of its status as a tax-exempt religious corporation, the church’s assets were placed under the control of a liquidator.
Courtesy of Tokyo 2020
Japanese Donor Returns Medal to Ukrainian Olympian
On Sunday, Ukrainian karateka Stanislav Horuna was reunited with the bronze medal he won at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. After finishing third in the men’s kumite under 75 kilograms division, Horuna auctioned his medal to raise money to support his country in its war with Russia. A Japanese bidder with ties to a Tokyo karate club purchased the medal for $20,500.
The buyer’s initial idea was to return the medal to Horuna free of charge once the war was over. However, with the Russian invasion still ongoing, the bidder decided to hand it back to Horuna earlier. The 37-year-old Ukrainian received the medal at a karate dojo training hall in Tokyo. Expressing his gratitude, Horuna said it was a moment he would never forget.
