Copyright kyodonews
TOKYO - New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Saturday left Tokyo for Kuala Lumpur, where she will make her diplomatic debut at summit meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Takaichi is making a three-day trip to the Malaysian capital, just days after being elected Japan's first female premier. The conservative leader hopes to make her presence felt on the international stage, prior to her meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday in Tokyo. WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on late Friday embarked on his first trip to Asia in his second term, visiting Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, as countries in the region and nearly everywhere else in the world continue to try to adapt to his transactional approach to diplomacy. Apart from trying to reassure wary allies and like-minded countries of U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific, the climax of Trump's tour through Thursday is expected to come at the end -- a face-to-face meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. KUALA LUMPUR - The United States and China began two days of high-level trade talks in Malaysia on Saturday, the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency said, aiming to pave the way for a summit meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in South Korea. The fifth round of negotiations between top trade officials including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng comes amid renewed tensions between the world's two largest economies. Toyota to inform Trump of plan to import U.S.-made vehicles to Japan NAGOYA - Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to inform the U.S. government of a plan to import to Japan vehicles it produces in the United States, a source familiar with the matter said Saturday, with the company to do so when President Donald Trump visits Tokyo next week. Toyota has been weighing the option of shipping vehicles built in America to its home market in an effort to reduce the U.S. trade deficit. Aparthotels in Japan attracting foreign tourists, investment TOKYO - Apartment hotels equipped with in-room kitchens and home appliances are on the rise in Japan on the back of their popularity among foreign tourists seeking stays in home-like environments, creating new business opportunities for construction and real estate companies. Suitable for families and groups of close friends traveling on medium- and long-stay trips, such accommodation facilities do not have restaurants or other common facilities and require less labor for front desk services and linen replacement than business hotels because of the length of stays. Chinese chefs compete for Japan cuisine glory in Beijing BEIJING - Three Chinese chefs showed off their cooking skills at the first Japan cuisine contest held at the Japanese Embassy in Beijing in mid-October, presenting creative dishes made with ingredients from both the Asian countries that pair well with sake. The contest organized by the embassy to promote Japanese foodstuffs in China pitted the three chefs from Japanese restaurants in Beijing, Changsha and Chengdu against one another. They all passed a preliminary competition between some 30 chefs in September to qualify for the final stage. Football: Hasegawa salvages Nadeshiko Japan draw away to Italy in friendly COMO, Italy - Yui Hasegawa scored the equalizer as Japan drew 1-1 with Italy away from home in a women's international football friendly on Friday. Nadeshiko Japan, ranked eighth in the world, had the Manchester City midfielder to thank for avoiding a defeat against the 12th-ranked Europeans as she looped her shot into the net in the 64th minute off Hinata Miyazawa's chipped through ball into the box. Baseball: Ohtani's 1st World Series HR not enough to stop heavy Game 1 loss TORONTO - Shohei Ohtani launched his first-ever World Series home run for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the Toronto Blue Jays had already done enough damage to claim an 11-4 Game 1 win Friday at Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays broke the game open with a nine-run sixth inning, chasing Los Angeles starter Blake Snell before attacking a shaky Dodger bullpen to draw first blood in the best-of-seven series. VIDEO: Tigers win negotiation rights to Tateishi of Soka University
