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SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a signboard with a SoftBank Group Corp. logo in front of the building housing its headquarters in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

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SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

SoftBank Group becomes biggest Japan firm in market cap

Photo taken on April 12, 2026, shows a building housing the headquarters of SoftBank Group Corp. in Tokyo. The tech conglomerate's market capitalization topped 47 trillion yen ($295 billion) on June 1, 2026, following recent stock price gains backed by the company's aggressive investments in AI, surpassing Toyota Motor Corp. as Japan's largest company in terms of total market value.

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Weed-eating goats on college campus

Weed-eating goats on college campus

Photo taken on May 11, 2026, shows free-roaming goats at a Chiba University campus in Chiba near Tokyo. The public university released four young goats on the campus in April as a way to prevent students from possibly developing allergic symptoms mainly from hogweed.

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Weed-eating goats on college campus

Weed-eating goats on college campus

Photo taken on May 11, 2026, shows free-roaming goats at a Chiba University campus in Chiba near Tokyo. The public university released four young goats on the campus in April as a way to prevent students from possibly developing allergic symptoms mainly from hogweed.

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Weed-eating goats on college campus

Weed-eating goats on college campus

Photo taken on May 11, 2026, shows free-roaming goats at a Chiba University campus in Chiba near Tokyo. The public university released four young goats on the campus in April as a way to prevent students from possibly developing allergic symptoms mainly from hogweed.

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China: Tiny Kitten Hops Around Fluffy Chick in Cute Encounter in Shanxi

A video from Shuozhou, Shanxi shows a gray-and-white kitten playfully pawing at a small chick, nudging it aside and hopping around it. The chick eventually fled to a mirror, with the kitten following closely before losing interest and wandering off.

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China: Parent Redstart Uses Food to Coax Chick Into Its First Flight in Zhejiang

An adult redstart in Zhejiang was filmed on April 15 coaxing its chick to fly for the first time by holding food just out of reach and slowly retreating along the rocks, until the young bird gained enough confidence to flutter across.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

CHITA, Japan, May 25 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., off Chita, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted. (Kyodo)

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Baseball: Giants manager Abe

Baseball: Giants manager Abe

File photo taken in April, 2026, shows Yomiuri Giants manager Shinnosuke Abe. The manager of the Japanese pro baseball team was arrested on the night of May 25, 2026, on suspicion of assaulting his daughter. He was released early the next day.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from Tahara in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the Idemitsu Maru (R), an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., sailing toward Ise Bay on May 25, 2026, after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from Tahara in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., sailing toward Ise Bay on May 25, 2026, after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., off Chita, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., off Chita, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

  •  
1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., off Chita, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

1st oil tanker to arrive in Japan passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on May 25, 2026, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., off Chita, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, following its arrival earlier in the day after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan having passed through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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First arrival to Japan of oil tanker passing Hormuz since Iran war

First arrival to Japan of oil tanker passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from Tahara in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., arriving in Ise Bay on May 25, 2026, after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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First arrival to Japan of oil tanker passing Hormuz since Iran war

First arrival to Japan of oil tanker passing Hormuz since Iran war

Photo taken from Tahara in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, shows the Idemitsu Maru, an oil tanker operated by a unit of major Japanese petroleum company Idemitsu Kosan Co., arriving in Ise Bay on May 25, 2026, after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in late April. It is the first oil tanker to arrive in Japan through the strait since the Iran war erupted and left traffic through the vital energy route heavily restricted.

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China: Pig Squeezes Through Herd to Answer Owner’s Call at Farm in Hebei

On April 26, 2026, at a pig farm in Tangshan, Hebei, China, a pig responded to its owner's gesture by pushing through a crowded herd and walking to the front to nuzzle the person's hand — behaving more like a pet than a farm animal.

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China: Dog Rides Perched on Scooter Riders’ Shoulders at Red Light in Yunnan

On April 12, 2026, in Pu'er, Yunnan province, a video captured a group of electric scooter riders waiting at a red light. Among them, one scooter carried a man in front, a woman behind him, and a dog perched between them — its paws resting on both riders' shoulders. From that elevated position, the dog surveyed the traffic with calm confidence, showing no sign of discomfort. Its composed stance made it look less like a pet and more like a passenger enjoying a view of the road.

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Australia: Rainbows Form Over Crashing Waves

On April 12, 2026, in Australia, a video recorded waves rolling along a rocky coastline under bright sunlight. Blue ocean water moved up and down against the rocks as sea spray filled the air. As sunlight passed through the mist above the waves, a colorful rainbow appeared over the ocean. Soon afterward, another incoming wave created a second rainbow nearby. The scene looked especially vivid because of the clear weather and high visibility along the coast. Rainbows forming directly above moving sea waves are not commonly seen.

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China: Rare Mirage Creates Floating Cityscape Above Sea off Hebei Coast

On April 29, 2026, a rare mirage was spotted above the sea off Aranya Gold Coast in Qinhuangdao, Hebei, creating the illusion of a floating cityscape on the horizon. According to a witness, the spectacle lasted over an hour and drew crowds of onlookers to the beach.

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China: Tired Lizard Revived With Refreshing Mist in Jiangsu

On April 2, 2026, in Jiangsu, a video recorded a lizard resting weakly on a platform. At first, the reptile appeared tired and inactive, lying still with little visible movement. The filmer then picked up a manual spray bottle and gently sprayed water over the lizard’s body. Almost immediately, the lizard became alert and lifted its head. It closed its eyes while receiving the mist, looking as if it were enjoying the moisture.

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China: Excited Dog Runs Straight Into Glass Door at Jiangsu Shop

On April 3, 2026, in Jiangsu, a video recorded a small dog running excitedly toward a shop. The glass door at the entrance was closed, but the dog did not seem to notice. It rushed forward and hit the glass directly. The collision appeared painful, and the dog stopped at the doorway looking stunned and pitiful. A shop employee quickly opened the door after seeing what happened. Once the entrance was clear, the dog hurried inside.

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China: Unmanned Forklift Reverses on Its Own and Crashes Into Ambulance

On April 15, 2026, a forklift at a company compound in Nanchong, Sichuan, China, suddenly reversed on its own and crashed into a parked ambulance. No one was operating the vehicle at the time. Staff suspected a short circuit in the forklift's electrical system triggered the unexpected movement.

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China: Clever Owner Lures Hiding Hamster Out With Help From Its Companion

On April 11, 2026, in Hubei, a video recorded an owner trying to bring a hidden hamster out from under a sofa. The owner kept two golden hamsters, but one of them had crawled underneath and refused to come out. The owner then came up with an unusual solution. A string was gently placed around the neck of the second hamster, and that hamster was lowered beneath the sofa. Not long afterward, the hidden hamster followed along and finally emerged from underneath the furniture. The owner’s method appeared to work surprisingly well.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

TOKYO, Japan, May 8 Kyodo - Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight. (Kyodo)

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China: Car Crashes Into Highway Barrier After Truck Tire Blowout in Hunan

On April 12, 2026, a car crashed into a highway barrier in Yueyang, Hunan, China, after a truck's front tire blew out as the car was overtaking. The blowout sent debris and air pressure toward the passing vehicle, causing the driver to lose control and swerve across multiple lanes before hitting the barrier.

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China: Driver Captures Powerful Lightning Strike on Camera During Heavy Rain in Guangxi

On April 27, 2026, in Yulin, located in southern China’s Guangxi region, a video recorded a driver traveling during heavy rain. As the car moved along the road, a bolt of lightning suddenly struck straight down ahead. The lightning appeared bright and powerful, hitting near a group of buildings in the distance. The filmer reacted with a surprised exclamation as the flash lit up the rainy scene.

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China: Massive Dust Whirlwind Spirals Into Sky Over Yongcheng, Henan

On April 29, 2026, in Yongcheng, Henan, a video captured a massive dust whirlwind forming on flat ground as strong winds swept across an open area. The towering column of dust rapidly spiraled upward, creating a long twisting shape that stunned people nearby. Witnesses said the dust tornado remained visible for more than ten minutes as it continued spinning intensely in the distance.

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China: Intense Rainfall Triggers Cliff Waterfall Along Hunan Mountain Road

On April 27, 2026, in Shaoyang, Hunan, a video captured an intense downpour that triggered a dramatic waterfall along a mountain roadside. As the man drove through the stormy weather, he was left stunned after spotting the powerful stream of water cascading down the rocky cliff face beside the road.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda poses for a photo in Tokyo on April 4, 2026, after being awarded four additional Guiness World Record certificates. With the four new awards, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Wheelchair Tennis: Oda awarded 4 additional Guinness records

Japanese wheelchair tennis player Tokito Oda receives certificates for his four additional Guiness World Record awards in Tokyo on April 4, 2026. With the four new records, including becoming the youngest player to complete a Career Grand Slam by winning all four major tournaments, his total Guinness youngest-winner records reached eight.

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Nintendo's sales in FY 2025 top 2 tril. yen

Nintendo's sales in FY 2025 top 2 tril. yen

File photo taken on April 3, 2025, in Tokyo shows the Switch 2 gaming console of Nintendo Co. The video game company reported on May 8, 2026, that its sales for the year ended March that year rose 98.6 percent from a year earlier to 2.31 trillion yen, the first time the company has topped the 2 trillion yen mark.

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China: Mysterious Black Object Captured Hovering Over Xi’an Skyline

On April 28, 2026, in Xi'an, Shaanxi, a video captured a huge black unidentified object hovering high above the city skyline. The object appeared to continuously roll, stretch and curl through the clouds while drifting slowly across the sky, creating an eerie scene that quickly caught the attention of local residents.

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Japan's suspected currency intervention

Japan's suspected currency intervention

Photo taken on May 3, 2026, shows Japan's Finance Ministry in Tokyo. The ministry and the Bank of Japan likely spent an additional 4 trillion yen during the Golden Week holiday in early May to arrest the yen's further fall following a yen-buying operation on April 30.

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Japan's suspected currency intervention

Japan's suspected currency intervention

Photo taken on March 19, 2026, shows the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo. The Finance Ministry and the BOJ likely spent an additional 4 trillion yen during the Golden Week holiday in early May to arrest the yen's further fall following a yen-buying operation on April 30.

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China: Pregnant Mare Rescued From Deep Ditch in Inner Mongolia

Residents and herders in Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China, rescued a heavily pregnant mare after it fell into a 1.5-meter-deep ditch on April 30. Rescuers secured the animal with wide bandages and used a tractor and forklift to lift her to safety. The operation required repeated adjustments to avoid injuring the mare. She was successfully rescued and walked away from the scene as onlookers watched in relief.

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China: Bystander Dives Into Lake to Save Toddler and Grandmother in Chongqing

A bystander rescued a two-year-old boy and his grandmother after both became stranded in a lake in Chongqing, China, on April 17. The child had fallen into the water at a tourist area, and his grandmother jumped in to save him despite being unable to swim. A man quickly dived in and kept the pair afloat while bystanders on shore extended poles to pull them to safety. Both were brought to shore without serious injuries.

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[Breaking News]Key bond yield hits 27-year high

TOKYO, Japan, April 13 Kyodo - A financial monitor in Tokyo shows the yield on the newly issued benchmark 10-year government bond rising to 2.515 percent, its highest level in about 27 years, on April 30, 2026. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]May Day gathering in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan, April 30 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a May Day gathering at Tokyo's Yoyogi Park on April 29, 2026. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]Boxing: world title bout between Inoue and Nakatani

TOKYO, Japan, April 30 Kyodo - Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan speaks during a press conference in Tokyo on April 30, 2026, before taking on countryman and challenger Junto Nakatani, a former unified bantamweight world champion, at Tokyo Dome on May 2. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]BOJ policy-setting meeting

TOKYO, Japan, April 28 Kyodo - Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda holds a press conference at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on April 28, 2026, following a two-day policy-setting meeting. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]"Balikatan"military exercise in South China Sea

TOKYO, Japan, April 30 Kyodo - The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's destroyer Ikazuchi takes part in the U.S.-Philippine annual "Balikatan" military exercise in Philippine waters in the South China Sea on April 28, 2026. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]Domestically developed humanoid robot

KYOTO, Japan, April 30 Kyodo - Video taken on April 28, 2026, shows a prototype of the fully domestically developed humanoid robot "Seimei" during a media demonstration in Kyoto. Waseda University and private businesses, including Murata Manufacturing Co., robot maker tmsuk and Aisin Corp., jointly developed the robot, standing 140 centimeters tall and weighing 49 kilograms. (Kyodo)

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[Breaking News]May Day gathering in Tokyo

TOKYO, Japan, April 30 Kyodo - Tomoko Yoshino, president of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo, speaks at a May Day gathering at Tokyo's Yoyogi Park on April 29, 2026. (Kyodo)

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