1. South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik has urged Japan to consider DNA testing for remains found at a 1942 coal mine disaster site in western Japan, where 136 of the victims were from the Korean Peninsula. 2. Woo expressed the need for both countries to address their shared history to foster economic cooperation and strengthen their relationship as peace partners in Northeast Asia. 3. Ambassador Mizushima indicated that arrangements would be made for Woo's visit to Japan, with both sides expressing continued support for strengthening the ties between their parliaments.

1. Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae's Cabinet approval rate has decreased by two percentage points, standing at 64%. 2. The disapproval rate increased by four percentage points, now at 19%. 3. In response to China's backlash over Taiwan comments, a majority of respondents (61%) approve or somewhat approve of the government's actions. However, 14% express great concern and 40% some concern about the potential impact on Japan's economy. Proposals have been made by ruling coalition partners to cut the number of Lower House seats by 10%. A majority (45%) favor quick implementation, while 35% prefer a discussion with due consideration.

1. A Tokyo court ruled that a man, who lied about his marital status to a woman he met through a dating app, must pay approximately 1.5 million yen in damages. 2. The man was found guilty of violating the woman's chastity rights by engaging in sexual relationships with her while hiding his married status. 3. The survey conducted by the Children and Families Agency in 2022 shows that dating apps are the most common way for people under 40 to find their marriage partners, with 25.1% of respondents meeting their partners this way. However, a separate survey by the Consumer Affairs Agency in 2021 found that 9.5% of people who used dating apps were cheated on by someone claiming to be single or not in a relationship with another partner.

1. A magnitude 7.6 earthquake has occurred off the coast of Aomori Prefecture, Japan. 2. The Japanese Meteorological Agency has issued a tsunami warning for Aomori, Iwate, and Hokkaido prefectures, with an advisory for Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. 3. The Japanese government has set up a crisis management task force to gather information and prepare precautions in response to the earthquake. The Japan Meteorological Agency will provide updates soon.

1. Japanese Nobel Prize winners Sakaguchi Shimon (Medicine) and Kitagawa Susumu (Chemistry) spoke at separate venues in Stockholm ahead of the Nobel Prize award ceremony on December 8, 2025. - Sakaguchi highlighted his discovery of regulatory T cells through experiments with mice, focusing on autoimmune diseases, and discussed potential treatments for allergies, immune disorders, cancer, and improving vaccine effectiveness. 2. Kitagawa emphasized the importance of investing in basic research for achieving economic growth during a news conference hosted by the Nobel Foundation. He explained that the results of basic research can take up to 25 years to be applied practically, and urged the Japanese government to increase funding for basic research. 3. Both laureates contributed items related to their research at the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm. The museum also displayed chairs signed by the laureates in its café.

1. Japan's economy shrank by 2.3% in annualized terms during the July-September quarter, according to revised government data, larger than the initial estimate of a 1.8% decline. 2. Sluggish corporate capital investment was a significant factor in the economic contraction, with spending decreasing by 0.2%, contrary to the initial prediction of a 1% increase. 3. Private consumption, which makes up more than half of Japan's economy, slightly increased by 0.2%. The rise can be attributed to increased spending on dining-out and food delivery services.

1. 3D Fruit Ice Creams, a popular dessert trend in China, Southeast Asia, the U.S., Australia, and now China, have been introduced to Japan. 2. These ice creams, made by Qihang Food Co., are available at major convenience stores and supermarkets. They replicate the appearance, taste, and aroma of various fruits like peach, grape, and mango. 3. Despite being slightly expensive (537 yen or approximately US$3.46), these ice creams have been well-received for their rich flavor and realistic look, with some suggesting they may become a long-term trend in Japan.

1. OpenAI's enterprise usage of AI tools has grown significantly over the past year, with ChatGPT message volume increasing by 8 times since November 2024 and workers saving up to an hour daily. 2. The majority of OpenAI's revenue still comes from consumer subscriptions, but it faces competition from Google, rival AI firm Anthropic, and open-source model providers for enterprise customers. 3. OpenAI's new findings suggest that larger enterprises are integrating its AI tools more deeply into workflows, leading to increased use of "reasoning tokens" (indicating complex problem-solving) and time savings for employees. However, this increase in usage could be expensive and unsustainable in the long term due to increased energy usage.

1. Export value from China to the US decreased by 28.6% in November compared to the same period last year, due to increased tariffs under the Trump administration. 2. Imports from the US also declined by 19.1%, despite Washington reducing some additional levies as part of a summit deal. 3. Despite China suspending additional tariffs on certain American products (such as soybeans), the overall trade contraction between the two countries continues.