Japan

Ireland’s Nations Championship fixture against Japan will take place at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia on 11 July (11:00 BST).

Andy Farrell’s side open the inaugural tournament against Australia in Sydney on 4 July and will face the Brave Blossoms before travelling to New Zealand to take on the All Blacks at Auckland’s Eden Park on 18 July.

Ireland have won 10 out of 11 Tests with Japan, the sole defeat coming at the 2019 Rugby World Cup at Shizuoka Stadium. Ireland won the last meeting 41-10 in Dublin last November.

After July’s fixtures, Ireland will host Argentina, Fiji and South Africa in November at Aviva Stadium.

The biennial 12-team Nations Championship comprises six rounds of matches across the summer and autumn Test windows before a ‘finals weekend’ on 27-29 November at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.

After each team has played the other six from the opposing hemisphere once, they are ranked within their own hemisphere.

The finals weekend in London will start with the sixth-placed northern hemisphere side taking on their southern hemisphere equivalent, and culminate in the two group winners taking each other on for the title.

The results on the finals weekend will also contribute to a north v south overall score and title.

Ireland’s fixtures (times BST)

4 July

Australia v Ireland, Allianz Stadium, 11:00

11 July

Japan v Ireland, McDonald Jones Stadium, 11:00

18 July

New Zealand v Ireland, 08:10

6 November

Ireland v Argentina, Aviva Stadium

14 November

Ireland v Fiji, Aviva Stadium

21 November

Ireland v South Africa, Aviva Stadium

Finals weekend

27 November

Sixth-place North v Sixth-place South

Third-place North v Third-place South

28 November

Fifth-place North v Fifth-place South

Second-place North v Second-place South

29 November

Fourth-place North v Fourth-place South

First-place North v First-place South

Japan could soon sell weapons overseas, including fighter jets, in major shift from pacifist policies introduced after World War II.

The cabinet of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has lifted a ban on exporting lethal weapons, including fighter jets, in a major shift to Japan’s pacifist post-World War II constitution.

In a post on X announcing the changes on Tuesday, Takaichi did not specify which weapons Japan would now sell overseas. However, Japanese newspapers said the changes would encompass fighter jets, missiles and warships, which Japan has recently agreed to build for Australia.

“With this amendment, transfers of all defence equipment will in principle become possible,” Takaichi said, adding that “recipients will be limited to countries that commit to use in accordance with the UN Charter”.

“In an increasingly severe security environment, no single country can now protect its own peace and security alone.”

At least 17 countries will be eligible to buy weapons manufactured in Japan under the changes, Japan’s Chunichi newspaper reported, adding that this list may be expanded if more countries enter into bilateral agreements with Japan.

Previous rules, introduced in 1967 and enacted in 1976, had limited Japanese military exports to non-lethal arms, such as those used for surveillance and mine sweeping, Japan’s Asahi newspaper reported.

Asahi also reported that Japan will still restrict exporting weapons to countries where fighting is currently taking place, but exemptions are allowed under “special circumstances” where Japan’s national security needs are taken into account.

Countries interested in buying Japanese-made weapons include Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines and Indonesia, which recently signed a major defence pact with the United States, Chunichi reported, citing Japan’s Ministry of Defence.

Tokyo’s change in policy comes soon after Japan and Australia signed a $7bn deal that will see Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries build the first three of 11 warships for the Australian navy.

Takaichi sends offering to controversial war shrine

The changes announced by Takaichi on Tuesday come amid reports that the Japanese prime minister had sent a ritual offering to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on the occasion of its spring festival.

Built in the 1800s to honour Japan’s war dead, the shrine includes the names of more than 1,000 convicted Japanese war criminals from World War II, including 14 who were found guilty of “Class A” crimes.

Visits by Japanese officials to the shrine have long been considered insensitive to the people of China, South Korea, and other countries that Japanese soldiers brutalised during the war.

After the defeat of Axis countries, including the bombing of Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, Japan introduced a new constitution renouncing participation in war.

However, Takaichi, considered a China “hawk” and sometimes referred to as Japan’s “Iron Lady”, is among a number of recent Japanese leaders to have pushed back against the country’s pacifist stance.

Defence deal is latest example of deepening ties between Canberra and Tokyo amid shared concerns over China’s rise.

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of 11 warships set to be delivered to the Australian navy under a landmark $7bn defence deal, as the two close US allies in the Asia Pacific region deepen defence cooperation.

Australia’s Defence Minister Richard Marles and Japanese Defence Minister Koizumi Shinjiro made the announcement in Melbourne on Saturday at the signing ceremony for the Mogami-class warships.

The “Mogami Memorandum” pledges to deepen military ties, including through “closer industrial cooperation” in defence.

Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build three of the stealth frigates in southern Nagasaki Prefecture, while Australia’s Austal will build eight in Western Australia.

The first of the Japanese-built warships is scheduled to be delivered in 2029 and enter service in 2030.

“Our surface fleet is more important than at any time in decades,” Marles said in a statement.

“These general-purpose frigates will help secure our maritime trade routes and northern approaches as part of a larger and more lethal surface combatant fleet.”

Shinjiro said closer defence coordination was becoming more important as Australia and Japan faced an “increasingly severe security environment”.

Australia’s government last year announced that it had chosen Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to build its fleet of next-generation warships, following a bidding war between the Tokyo-based firm and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp.

Australia has committed to a record $305bn in military spending over the next decade, as part of a widespread defence overhaul aimed at boosting the country’s naval power to levels not seen since World War II.

Under the plans, Canberra’s defence spending is set to rise to 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 3033, from about 2 percent now.

Australia and Japan, two of the United States’ closest allies, have ramped up military cooperation in recent years amid shared concerns about shifts in the regional security environment, particularly China’s rising influence. Tokyo and Canberra are also members of the Quad security bloc led by the US.

Destinations loved by Brits are actually paying people to move there. If you fancy a life in the sun, you could make some extra cash while topping up your tan in Spain or Italy

Many people may dream of moving abroad, but you might not realise that some countries will actually pay you to do so. If you fancy living in the glorious sunshine, and making some money in the process, you could actually embark on the travel adventure of a lifetime by packing your bags for good.

Countries like Spain, Italy and Greece will actually pay Brits “thousands” to relocate and start a new life abroad. If you’re fed up of the weather, fancy starting a fresh chapter or simply want to move to somewhere totally different, it may be something worth considering to liven things up.

Schemes people can use were recently highlighted on TikTok by History On A Map to tell people what they need to know. It’s incredible to think you can be paid to relocate to these beautiful countries.

Italy

Italy is one country that pays people to relocate. If you fancy tucking into pasta, enjoying gorgeous wine and immersing yourself in history a little more, you can actually be paid to move here. It explained: “Regions like Calabria, Molise and Sardinia are suffering from massive depopulation.

“To revive these ghost towns, the local governments are offering between €10,000 (£8,705.50) to €30,000 (£26,116.50) to people under 40 who are willing to settle there.”

It turns out Italian regions such as Calabria, Molise and Sardinia offer financial incentives to boost declining populations in rural areas. There are reported to be schemes that offer up to €30,000 to people willing to move to towns with fewer than 2,000 to 3,000 residents.

Usually, to benefit from the scheme, applicants need to be under 40, start a business or renovate a home. There are some guidelines people need to follow to be able to benefit.

Spain

Again, towns in rural areas are looking for people to move there, such as Ponga in Asturias. The video detailed: “As part of the empty Spain initiative, the town of Ponga is offering €3,100 per person just to move there.”

According to reports, this figure is actually claimed to be between €2,971 and €3,000 per person (often reported as roughly £2,600) to new residents. However, there are additional incentives for couples and families to boost its dwindling population.

If you fancy taking the leap, the scheme requires a five-year commitment to live in the area. In other words, you need to be sure before you apply to move.

Greece

You can also move to the tiny island of Antikythera in Greece. It’s said people can be paid up to €500 per month for the first three years.

The relocation package aims to repopulate the area, providing new residents with a house, a plot of land and the monthly payments. The initiative primarily targets families and skilled professionals such as bakers, builders and farmers to support the local community.

Other options

The video also highlights that people can be paid to move to Japan. The amounts people can be paid differ, as every scheme has its own set of guidelines, and may not be as much as detailed in the video.

While people can’t be paid for simply moving to Ireland, grants are available for people who move to renovate properties on its remote offshore islands. There are all sorts of schemes people can benefit from, but it’s not as easy as packing your bags.

There are rules people need to follow to benefit, and they vary depending on where you want to apply to move. Do your research to find out more.

April 17 (Asia Today) — Japan is moving to strengthen a government-wide system to boost defense exports, including creating a centralized control structure and easing restrictions on what military equipment can be sold overseas, according to media reports.

The government plans to establish a director-general-level coordination body involving key ministries to oversee arms export policy and execution, the Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday.

Tokyo is also considering revising guidelines tied to its Three Principles on Defense Equipment Transfers to remove restrictions on five categories – rescue, transport, patrol, surveillance and mine countermeasures – that have limited exports so far.

According to Reuters, the government could move as early as this month to revise the guidelines, with the ruling Liberal Democratic Party already approving the direction at a party meeting Sunday.

The policy shift reflects a broader strategy with two main goals: expanding the range of weapons Japan can export and overhauling how those exports are managed.

Japan has effectively limited defense exports to non-lethal equipment in the past but is now moving to include systems with lethal capabilities. At the same time, the new coordination body would bring together the foreign, defense and industry ministries, along with private companies, to align export approvals, regulatory changes and sales support.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in parliament that easing arms export restrictions would contribute to economic growth, signaling a shift toward treating defense exports as part of industrial policy rather than solely a security measure.

Japanese officials have argued that expanding exports is necessary to sustain the domestic defense industry, maintain production capacity and secure supply chains that are difficult to support through domestic demand alone.

Analysts say the move goes beyond regulatory changes and represents a broader effort to build a national system designed to facilitate arms sales.

If implemented, the revisions would significantly lower barriers to exporting finished weapons, marking a major shift from Japan’s traditionally restrictive defense export framework.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260417010005454

Top naval commanders of South Korea, the United States and Japan gathered in Seoul on Wednesday to hold a series of talks aimed at strengthening their trilateral maritime security cooperation, the South’s Navy said.

The gathering brought together Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander Adm. Stephen Koehler and Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, for bilateral talks and a trilateral dinner meeting, according to the armed service.

The meetings came amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, raising speculation over whether their talks would address the ongoing U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

U.S. President Donald Trump earlier called on South Korea, Japan and others to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to help secure shipping lanes.

In the bilateral talks between Kim and Koehler held earlier in the day, both sides exchanged opinions on the robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture as well as cooperation in the area of naval maintenance, repair and operations, the Navy said.

Kim and Saito, meanwhile, held in-depth discussions on expanding personnel exchange and resuming joint maritime search and rescue exercises (SAREX) as discussed in a ministerial meeting between their defense chiefs earlier this year, it added.

In January, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, met in Japan and agreed to resume joint SAREX drills for the first time in nine years as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

The top admirals of the three countries were set to attend a dinner meeting later Wednesday to likely discuss trilateral coordination measures to respond to and deter North Korea‘s advancing nuclear and missile threats.

Copyright (c) Yonhap News Agency prohibits its content from being redistributed or reprinted without consent, and forbids the content from being learned and used by artificial intelligence systems.

Relief for global markets comes after Trump says Iranian officials are keen on a deal.

Asia’s main stock markets have surged, and oil prices have declined amid renewed hopes for ceasefire talks between the United States and Iran.

The relief for global markets on Tuesday came after US President Donald Trump said overnight that Iranian officials had reached out to his administration and expressed their openness to a deal.

“We’ve been called by the other side, and they would like to make a deal very badly,” Trump said in remarks at the White House.

Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 rose as much as 2.5 percent on Tuesday, while South Korea’s KOSPI gained about 3.7 percent.

Singapore’s Straits Times Index climbed about 0.6 percent.

In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng Index was up about 0.4 percent in the early afternoon, while the SSE Composite Index in Shanghai was about 0.5 percent higher.

The rally in Asia followed gains on Wall Street, with the benchmark S&P 500 finishing up 1 percent overnight.

Brent crude, the benchmark for global oil prices, dipped nearly 1.5 percent, falling below $98 a barrel.

The positive turn for markets came despite the US following through on its threat to impose a naval blockade on Iranian ports, a move that analysts warn is likely to exacerbate the energy shortage that is roiling the global economy.

Brent had surged above $103 per barrel after Trump on Sunday threatened to impose a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies.

The US military later clarified that the blockade would only apply to vessels entering and exiting Iranian ports, in an apparent scaling back of Trump’s threat to fully close the waterway.

Iran has effectively halted shipping through the strait since the start of the war on February 28, throwing the global energy market into a tailspin.

Only 21 vessels transited the strait on Sunday, according to maritime intelligence provider Windward, compared with roughly 130 daily transits before the start of the conflict.

Japan’s producer prices increased by 2.6% year-on-year in March 2026, up from a revised 2.1% in the previous month and exceeding the expected 2.4%. This marked the fastest annual growth since November, driven by high-cost pressures.

Monthly, producer prices rose by 0.8%, improving

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with talks to finalise a peace deal set to begin in Pakistan’s Islamabad on Friday.

The truce, announced by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, will see Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor through which a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Countries around the world have welcomed the development.

Here’s a roundup of the reaction:

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on X that he supports Trump’s decision to suspend strikes on Iran, and the “US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran’s Arab neighbours and the world”.

Netanyahu said, however, that the ceasefire does “not include Lebanon“, where Israeli forces have launched a ground invasion and are fighting with the Iran-aligned Hezbollah.

Iraq

Iraq’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the news of the ceasefire but said that both the US and Iran must commit to the deal to achieve a lasting resolution.

“As the ministry asserts its support for regional and international efforts to contain crises and prioritise the language of dialogue and diplomacy, it stresses the need for full commitment to the ceasefire and refraining from any escalations,” the ministry said.

Iraq has been drawn into the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Tehran-backed armed groups and US forces trading fire in an escalating cycle of violence.

Egypt

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ceasefire “represents a very important opportunity that must be seized to make room for negotiations, diplomacy, and constructive dialogue”.

The ministry said in a statement on Facebook that a truce must be built upon with a full commitment to “stopping military operations and respecting freedom of international navigation”.

The post also said that Egypt will continue efforts with Pakistan and Turkiye “to promote security and stability in the region”, and that the talks between the US and Iran “must take into account the legitimate security concerns” of Gulf nations.

United Nations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement and called on all parties to abide by the terms of the ceasefire “in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region”, according to his spokesperson.

Guterres underscored “that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering”, and thanked Pakistan and other nations involved in facilitating the truce.

Japan

Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told reporters that Tokyo welcomes the news of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran as a “positive move” as it awaits a “final agreement”.

Minoru said the de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East remains a top priority, according to the Kyodo News Agency.

Indonesia

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry Yvonne Mewengkang said Jakarta welcomes a ceasefire deal and called on Iran and the US to respect the “sovereignty, territorial integrity and diplomacy” of each side, according to the Reuters news agency.

Mewengkang also called for a thorough investigation into the deaths of three Indonesian UN peacekeepers killed by explosions in Lebanon in late March amid fighting between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters.

Malaysia

Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ceasefire marks a “significant development [and] serves as a crucial step towards de-escalating tensions and restoring much-needed peace and stability” to the Middle East.

It also urged “all parties to fully respect and implement all terms of the ceasefire in good faith to prevent any return to hostilities”, while also avoiding any “provocative actions or unilateral measures that could negatively impact the fragile stability of the region or jeopardise global economic and energy security”.

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong issued a joint statement welcoming the news and expressing their hopes that the deal will lead to a long-lasting resolution.

“Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices,” they said.

“We have been clear that the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost.”

Albanese and Wong thanked Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye, and Saudi Arabia for their work as negotiators.

New Zealand

New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters said his government welcomes the news of a ceasefire, although many concerns remain.

“While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire”, as the war has had “wide-ranging impacts and disruptions” on the Middle East and beyond, he wrote in a post on X.

Peters praised countries like Pakistan, Turkiye, and Egypt for their work negotiating a deal.

In March, Bad Bunny performed his first-ever concert in Asia when he played in from of 2,300 fans in Tokyo as part of Spotify’s Billions Club Live series.

Starting April 8, a filmed version of that performance will be available on Spotify for the “Nuevayol” artist’s millions and millions of fans not in attendance.

The show, officially titled “Billions Club Live With Bad Bunny: A Concert Film,” was billed as a special stop in the Grammy-winning performer’s “Debí Tirar Más Fotos World Tour” — which kicked off with a November concert in the Dominican Republic and has since sold out stadiums across Latin America and Australia. He notably didn’t include dates in the United States as part of the tour.

Footage of the Japan concert swept social media, as it showed Bad Bunny doing a never-before-seen salsa rendition of his 2018 collaboration with Drake. He also notably sang his 2021 single “Yonaguni,” which features lyrics in Japanese.

The concert film will premiere two months after the “Callaíta” singer nabbed a historic album of the year win at the Grammy Awards and became the first fully Spanish-language act to headline the Super Bowl halftime show — which was lauded for its potent star power and political messaging.

Bad Bunny’s generational run looks to have no immediate end in sight, as he will kick off the European leg of his world tour with a May performance in Portugal before making stops in Spain, England, Sweden, France, Poland and Italy.

But the “Dakiti” artist’s newsworthy year hasn’t been limited to the music world.

In February, it was announced that Bad Bunny will star — alongside Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem and multiple-time nominees Edward Norton and Viggo Mortensen — in Puerto Rican rapper Residente’s directorial debut, “Porto Rico.” The film, which has yet to announce a release date, will explore the complicated colonial history of Puerto Rico through Western/historical drama storytelling devices.

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, at Wembley for BBC Radio 5 Live, said: “This is the exact situation no England fan wants. We’ve talked about it for over a season with this World Cup coming up. What do England do without Harry Kane?

“This is what England and Thomas Tuchel do not want. He doesn’t have an answer to this question. Hence why we’re seeing this new formation again, with the interchange and false nine.

“We’ve spoken about Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Dominic Solanke, Ollie Watkins. Nobody stuck their arm up and said, ‘I’ll be his replacement’. that’s why we’re seeing this.”

Robinson added: “It was a very disappointing evening for Thomas Tuchel. The experiment that he tried in the first half with the front four clearly didn’t work.

“It didn’t take him long in the second half to change it. You do give England credit because when those changes were made there was a lot more cohesion.

“The one area that Thomas Tuchel has got a problem is if there is a problem with Harry Kane. If that happens, then England have a real problem after watching that.”

Tuchel answered the question about an over-reliance on Kane, saying: “Well, why would Argentina not rely on Lionel Messi, or Portugal not rely on Cristiano Ronaldo? This is totally normal. Key figures left camp for us and we saw that a bit.

“We lacked a punch in the last 20 metres in both matches. We encouraged the players. It was difficult for us.”

Kane’s potential absence is an immediate concern, leaving Tuchel short of viable alternatives when he needs them most, especially given these two toothless performances without him.

English strikers are suddenly a malaise.

Only 10 English strikers have appeared in the Premier League in the current campaign, with Chelsea’s 22-year-old Liam Delap the only one aged under 26.

Brighton’s Danny Welbeck, who turns 35 at the end of the month, might just have had a good international break by not being involved.

Welbeck and Calvert-Lewin are the only English strikers to have scored 10 or more Premier League goals this season – with 43 scored by English strikers.

It’s a far cry from the first season of the Premier League era in 1992-93, when 20 English strikers passed the 10-goal mark.

In recent years, however, what was already a steep decline has fallen off a cliff. Last season, only 67 goals were scored by English strikers, less than half the number in 2020-21.

Kane’s departure from Tottenham for Germany has played a part, of course, but he left for Bayern in 2023 and English strikers still scored 96 goals in 2023-24.

The cupboard is bare, underscoring just how indispensable Kane is.

This was a sobering night for England and Tuchel. This performance demonstrated that they simple cannot live without Harry Kane.

Three top-20 sides faced by Thomas Tuchel’s England – and still no wins.

The Three Lions breezed through qualification for the World Cup winning all of their eight games without conceding a goal.

But after losing 1-0 to Japan, the world’s 18th-ranked side, at Wembley in England’s last match before Tuchel names his World Cup squad, questions about whether the Three Lions struggle when they come up against elite nations are being asked.

After their loss at Wembley, which saw Japan become the first Asian side to beat England, the Three Lions end the March international break without a win.

There is an argument that Tuchel experiemented with his line-ups in last June’s 3-1 loss to 14th-ranked Senegal, the 1-1 draw with 17th-ranked Uruguay and in the Japan defeat, something he would not do at a major tournament.

But critics will suggest that the England manager should be using these games to find his best XI, and get them ready for the challenge that is coming at this summer’s World Cup, especially as the sides that England did not face the same tests in qualification.

Serbia, England’s toughest oppnent in qualification, are ranked 39th in the world, and were comfortably beaten 5-0 away by England and 2-0 at Wembley in November.

The biggest worry for England and for Tuchel is what they will do without captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane if he is not available.

Kane missed the game against Japan after picking up a knock in training and England, who lacked ideas in attack, do not have a candidate who is ready to be his back-up.

Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden was trialled as a false nine and did not have a good night but Tuchel has said this window has provided him “more clarity” than questions about his side.

“I am disappointed, everyone is.” Tuchel said. “I knew that we had a top exam in this window because our players are heavy in club football and in European football in the most physical toughest league that there is.

“We played against two top-20 teams, well drilled and very good opponents who arrived with their best line-up

“We had big changes in the middle of camp, suddenly after the [Uruguay] match we had seven or eight injuries who had to leave.

“It is not an excuse, it is just an explanation why things are not perfectly smooth and perfectly at the highest level we expect.”

Jordan Pickford: Japan’s opening goal was the first time Pickford had conceded for England in 922 minutes. He had to produce a smart save in the second half to keep the hosts in the game. 6

Ben White: Beaten once early on but showed the consistency he has done for Arsenal after that. A constant hard-working presence down the right-hand side. One particularly good overlapping run in the first half. 6

Ezri Konsa: In with a big chance of starting the first game at the World Cup. One crucial block to deny Ayase Ueda with the shot hitting the bar and going over. 6

Marc Guehi: Given the armband by Tuchel for the first time. A couple of shaky moments early on but after that as dependable as ever. 6

Nico O’Reilly: Another important game for O’Reilly as he makes the left-back position his own before the summer. He showed his ability on the ball and moved into midfield whenever he could. 7

Kobbie Mainoo: A bright start and some nice footwork when moving the ball around midfield. Beaten a couple of times on Japan attacks when trying to defend. 6

Elliot Anderson: A certain starter at the World Cup. Assured in midfield, provided a drive to England’s play and tried to make things happen. One of the better performers on the night and clipped the crossbar with a good effort. 7

Cole Palmer: The Chelsea attacker was given the nod as the number 10 over Phil Foden who played as a false nine. There was always a sense that something could happen when Palmer was on the ball. However, he was caught on the ball and punished for Japan’s opener. Came off just before the hour mark. 6

Morgan Rogers: Started on the right wing and asked to provide a threat through the middle with no natural striker in the starting line-up. Not his best position but did the job that was asked of him. 6

Anthony Gordon: Put in another energetic performance with lots of hard work but not many moments to threaten the Japan defence. 5

Phil Foden: The Man City forward started as a false nine as Tuchel looks for a position for him in England’s squad. It was not a good night for Foden who will be worried about his place on the plane for the World Cup. Replaced in the 59th minute. 5

March 29 (Asia Today) — China intensified an online influence campaign targeting Japan during the country’s February general election, sharply increasing English-language messaging aimed at shaping international opinion, according to a joint analysis cited by Japanese media.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported Sunday that the findings were based on a joint study with AI firm Sakana AI, which examined social media posts, including on X, from Jan. 19 through mid-February.

The analysis tracked what researchers described as the “flow of narratives” in China-linked criticism of Japan. It found that English-language posts outnumbered Japanese-language content by as much as four to one, indicating a strategic shift toward influencing global audiences rather than domestic Japanese opinion.

The surge followed remarks by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in November, when she described a potential Taiwan contingency as a “crisis threatening Japan’s existence.” After several days of relative silence, China-linked accounts escalated criticism of Japan.

The volume of such posts rose steadily during the election period. Researchers estimated roughly 1,400 posts on Jan. 19, increasing to about 1,700 by Jan. 23 and 1,800 by Jan. 27. On Feb. 8, the day of voting, the number surged to around 4,000, though still below levels seen during a larger campaign in November.

The messaging themes also shifted. Earlier narratives focused on criticizing Japan’s leadership and accusing Tokyo of interfering in Taiwan-related issues. During the election, however, posts increasingly framed Japan in terms of “militarization,” “revival of militarism,” and economic decline. As voting approached, criticism of political leadership again became more prominent.

A Japanese government official said the messaging may have been designed to influence voter behavior through pressure or intimidation.

Separate analysis of posts from November through January showed a sharp rise in English-language output from accounts linked to the Chinese Communist Party. During a peak period in mid-November, English-language criticism reached roughly four times the volume of Japanese posts. In December, about 560 of roughly 900 posts were in English, and in January, more than half of approximately 300 posts were written in English.

Officials in Japan suggested the shift reflects a strategic recalibration. With the Takaichi administration maintaining relatively strong approval ratings despite earlier criticism, Chinese efforts may have pivoted toward shaping international narratives rather than domestic opinion.

A Chinese official was quoted as saying the campaign would continue to apply “tactical pressure” on Takaichi while seeking to prevent countries from aligning with Japan.

The report concluded that China’s social media operations during the election represented a coordinated effort to influence both domestic and global perceptions by leveraging political and security narratives.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260329010008715

March 29 (Asia Today) — Japan will establish a new Pacific-focused defense unit and expand surveillance and infrastructure in remote island areas as part of efforts to counter China’s growing military presence, officials said.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced Saturday that the Defense Ministry will create a “Pacific Defense Planning Office” in April, citing what he described as gaps in Japan’s current defense coverage across vast Pacific air and maritime zones.

Speaking after attending a joint U.S.-Japan memorial ceremony on Iwo Jima, Koizumi said strengthening Pacific defenses was an urgent priority.

Japanese media, including the Yomiuri Shimbun, reported that Tokyo plans a comprehensive review of the structure and deployment of the Self-Defense Forces. The initiative will be reflected in planned revisions to key national security documents, including the National Security Strategy, later this year.

The government also plans to expand port facilities and radar networks across the Pacific, particularly in the Ogasawara Islands, which officials view as strategically vulnerable.

About 400 Self-Defense Forces personnel are currently stationed on Iwo Jima, but shallow coastal waters limit the ability of large vessels to dock. Authorities plan to begin feasibility studies next year to upgrade port infrastructure and establish supply systems for fuel and ammunition to support rapid fighter jet deployments. Runway reinforcement and measures to address volcanic risks are also under review.

Japan is also considering establishing an air defense identification zone over the Ogasawara Islands, where no such zone has been formally set since World War II, leaving what officials describe as a surveillance gap. The Defense Ministry plans to deploy mobile radar systems and build a permanent monitoring network in the area.

The moves come amid increased Chinese naval activity in the Pacific. China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning entered the Pacific beyond the so-called second island chain for the first time last year, and there have been instances of simultaneous carrier deployments. Japanese officials have also cited incidents involving Chinese aircraft tracking Japanese military planes near Okinawa.

Koizumi said deepening the U.S.-Japan alliance would be key to maintaining regional stability, adding that the new office would serve as a central hub for reorganizing Japan’s Pacific defense posture.

Iwo Jima, the site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II, remains a strategic location. Nearly 29,000 casualties were recorded there during the 1945 battle between U.S. and Japanese forces. Today, it is being repositioned as a key forward base in Japan’s evolving defense strategy.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

© Asia Today. Unauthorized reproduction or redistribution prohibited.

Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260329010008723

KIM Kardashian has been accused of editing her sister Khloe’s face by fans as the family enjoy a trip to Japan.

The sisters have been living their best lives in Tokyo over the past week, along with Kim’s children, Saint, Psalm and Chicago and Khloe’s daughter True.

The Skims founder, 45, took to Instagram on Saturday to share a photo dump of their trip but soon came under fire for allegedly using editing tools to change the appearance of hers and Khloe’s faces.

In one snap, the pair are seen standing in front of a toy claw machine, as Khloe, 41, holds a stuffed toy in her arms.

The sister duo look flawless with their skin glowing and their make-up on fleek, but fans think she may have altered the pictures.

One person commented: “The amount of facetuning on khloe gaadammmm.”

Another social media user expressed: “We saw you at the Oscar party. We know you don’t look anywhere close to this. Nor does your sister.”

Somebody else said: “Ya’ll do not look like this in person. Kim embrace your age and imperfections. Especially Khloe.”

Yet another penned on Reddit: “Why does khloe look photoshopped in. It looks like she’s been pasted in and resized to be around Kim’s height lol.”

While a fifth added: “I hope those Instagram filters get overtime pay cuz they be working hard af.”

Kim’s new man Lewis Hamilton was spotted with the group in Tokyo earlier this week, before the start of the Japanese Grand Prix.

Things appear to be heating up for the pair as she introduced him to three of her children.

“It’s more than just a casual connection. It takes a lot to capture Kim’s interest and she’s definitely intrigued,” an insider told People.

“He’s just an easygoing guy with great energy.

“Her family likes him and Kim’s very into him. They are both busy with their careers, but see each other as much as possible.”

On Sunday, Kim and Lewis took a stroll around the streets of Tokyo before being sighted by fans.

Surrounded by security, Kim waved back as she walked in a full-body grey dress.

Linking arms with BF Hamilton, the American offered some PDA for those watching on.

Kim’s romance with Lewis became public knowledge after The Sun revealed she flew in from Los Angeles on her £100million private jet to spend an evening with him.

On January 31, the couple enjoyed a brief stay at the exclusive Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds, with insiders saying they had the spa to themselves, before enjoying a meal in a private room.

A source told The Sun: “It all appeared to be very romantic. Kim and Lewis made use of all the facilities on offer.

“She had two bodyguards with her and Lewis had a close protection officer but they remained in the background.

“Two of the three stood guard outside the door to their room, so no one could disturb them.”

Lewis was friends with her ­rapper ex Kanye West, who she divorced in 2022.

A source added: “They had a couple’s massage booked in and had full use of the facilities for just the two of them.

“It was all kept very quiet – they clearly wanted to have some time for just the two of them.”

They hard-launched their romance at the Super Bowl last month, when they were spotted in the stands alongside her sister Kendall Jenner.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver’s historic championship accomplishment came after he won his second F1 race in a row.

Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes won the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday for his second straight victory as the 19-year-old Italian became the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the world championship standings.

Antonelli took advantage of a mid-race safety car to leapfrog into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position at Suzuka and eventually led home McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

He whooped with delight as he crossed the line, telling his team, “The pace was unbelievable today.”

He leads the championship after three races, building on the first Grand Prix win of his career two weeks ago in China.

George Russell of Mercedes, who started the day on top of the championship standings, finished fourth.

Russell battled Piastri for the lead over the first half of the race but pitted just before the safety car to drop back out of contention for the win.

McLaren’s world champion Lando Norris was fifth ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly.

Red Bull’s four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who had won in Japan for the past four years, was eighth after starting from 11th on the grid.

Antonelli recovers from poor start

Antonelli was in pole position for the second straight race, having become the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history in China.

But the Italian had a shocking start, sinking to sixth by the first corner.

Piastri took the early lead ahead of Leclerc, with Norris, Russell and Hamilton all overtaking Antonelli.

Russell moved up the field to sit on Piastri’s tail as the game of cat and mouse began.

Antonelli also made up lost ground, but a crash from Haas driver Ollie Bearman brought out the safety car midway through the race.

Bearman was limping badly as race marshals helped him off the track, and his team later said he had “a right knee contusion”.

Antonelli dived into the pits moments after the safety car was deployed, a stroke of good luck that won him the race as he emerged at the head of the pack.

Russell slid out of contention, first being overtaken by Hamilton before watching Leclerc go past.

Antonelli increased his lead while Russell recovered, but Piastri held on to deny Mercedes a third successive one-two Grand Prix finish.

Haas said initial X-rays showed Bearman had no fractures after his crash, which saw him hit the barrier at high speed.

The 20-year-old had moved up the field after starting from 18th on the grid.

Formula One now takes an extended break until the Miami Grand Prix on May 3.

The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races scheduled for April have been cancelled because of the war in the Middle East. The 19-year-old Mercedes driver’s historic championship accomplishment came after he won his second F1 race in a row.

IT MIGHT feel like we have been waiting forever for spring and now you can enjoy it by seeing lots of different sights in bloom.

National Trust sites and properties across the UK are home to an abundance of plants and trees.

And with that, there’s a lot of blossom to see.

Whether it be an apple or cherry tree, here are some of the top National Trust sites to see blossom this spring.

Acorn Bank, Cumbria

Acorn Bank is known for having an extensive herb collection as well as sprawling orchards and a working watermill.

And tucked behind its 17th-century walls, visitors will find the orchard with over 175 apple varieties.

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From early May, many of the trees bloom with a soft pink-white blossom.

It costs £11 per adult and £5.50 per child to visit.

Anglesey Abbey, Cambridgeshire

Less than six miles outside of Cambridge, Anglesey Abbey features a country house that was built on the remains of a priory.

The house is surrounded by gardens, which is where you will find the blossom.

Back in 2021, Olympian Way was planted with cherry blossoms that bloom pink in March and April.

Visitors will also be able to find cherry blossom in the woodland and Rose Garden.

It costs from £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Ardress House, County Armagh

Found in the ‘Orchard County’ of County Armagh, Ardress House features a 17th-century house with 18th-century interiors, as well as a traditional farmyard.

Each May, the property’s apple blossom appears and visitors can also head on a walk which encircles the farmhouse to see more blossom.

Attingham Park, Shropshire

Attingham Park is an 18th-century estate with a mansion and around 200 acres of parkland.

Blossom appears on the apricot trees each year in the Walled Garden from around mid-March, and then other trees follow, such as peach, pear and apple.

Admission to the house and gardens costs from £18 per adult and £9 per child.

Bateman’s, Sussex

Bateman’s in Sussex is the family home of the writer of The Jungle Book, Rudyard Kipling, and was built in 1634.

Each year the orchard becomes alive with blossom from April to mid-May including apple trees and pear trees.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit the estate.

Beningbrough, Yorkshire

At Beningbrough, visitors can explore a hall and gallery, eight-acre garden and even a wilderness play area.

And during the spring, the blossom emerges in the walled garden.

The blossom comes from many traditional and newly planted fruit trees.

It costs £16 per adult and £8 per child to visit Beningbrough.

Blickling Estate, Norfolk

At Blickling Estate, visitors can see a Jacobean mansion which boasts a large collection of books as well as a 55-acre garden.

In the West Garden is where visitors will find magnolias blooming from March in shades of white and pink.

The orchard also features fruit trees which blossom.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Brockhampton, Herefordshire

Brockhampton estate features a medieval manor house and is home to the largest orchard in the National Trust, spanning more than 145 acres.

In the orchard, visitors will find prune damsons as well as apple varieties, all of which bloom between March and May.

There are also five interlocking ‘orchard rooms’ which have been designed to reflect the structure of an apple.

Admission to the entire estate costs £12 per adult and £6 per child.

Calke Abbey, Derbyshire

At Calke Abbey, visitors can see a Baroque-style mansion that has peeling paintwork and abandoned rooms, as well as the physic garden and a sprawling estate.

In the garden, there are around 50 varieties of rare and local apple trees which means by May the garden is full of pink and white flowers.

At the beginning and end of the season, visitors can also enjoy Calke’s Festival of Blossom with a number of activities.

To visit the house, it costs £15 per adult and £7.50 per child and to visit the park and gardens it costs £8.50 and £4.25 per child.

Coleton Fishacre, Devon

Coleton Fishacre is a 1920s country retreat which also has a tropical garden.

In the garden, visitors can see apple and cherry blossom on a number of self-led trails.

As part of the Festival of Blossom, visitors can also write haiku or tanka poems using blossom poetry cards.

And there are guided mindful walks on March 31, April 13 and 29.

Coleton Fishacre costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Cotehele, Cornwall

Cotehele in Cornwall is a Tudor house with a mill, garden and estate.

On the estate, the orchard is the earliest to bloom with apple, cherry, plum and pear trees.

Across spring the estate also hosts a number of events including walks, music, creative workshops and community activities.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Crook Hall Gardens, Durham

In the north of England, you can head to Crook Hall Gardens.

Here you will find a medieval hall with pretty gardens, just outside of Durham city.

In the orchard all the apple varieties bloom and as the season goes on, more species in the orchard flower.

It costs £10 per adult and £5 per child to visit the gardens.

Dunham Massey, Manchester

Dunham Massey boasts a Georgian house, garden and deer park.

In the spring, cherry blossom blooms and is often noted as one of the best places in Northern England to see blossom.

There is also the Orangery, with small waterways and seasonal flowers to explore.

It costs £20 per adult to visit and £10 per child.

Dunster Castle and Watermill, Somerset

Dunster Castle doesn’t just feature a castle, but also a country home and subtropical gardens.

Throughout spring, blossom inspired decorations welcome visitors as well as there being a blossom themed display at the Stables Shop.

Families can also head on the ‘Bees and Blossoms Spotter Trail’ and toward the end of April, there will be a new willow sculpture by artist Woody Fox.

Outdoors, blossom will also appear in the subtropical and riverside gardens.

It costs £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Dyffryn Gardens, Vale of Glamorgan

At Dyffryn Gardens, visitors can see a number of small themed gardens that reflect different countries and styles, as well as a kitchen garden, arboretum, glasshouse and natural play areas.

During the spring, visitors can expect Dyffryn Gardens has a self-led Blossom Watch Walk through the estate and Edwardian garden rooms.

Visitors can grab a dedicated map which helps to show the highlights of the gardens.

It costs £14 per adult and £7 per child to visit.

Erddig Hall and Garden, Wrexham

Erddig Hall is a late 17th-century country house with an 18th-century Grade I listed walled garden.

Across the 1,200 acre estate there are meadows, lakes, ponds and rivers, to explore.

During the spring, Erddig has blossom across its walled garden, orchards and lime tree avenues.

Visitors can also see cherry, plum, pear and apple blossom appearing in stages across the garden’s fruit trees.

It costs £19 per adult and £9.50 per child to visit.

Felbrigg Estate, Norfolk

Felbrigg Estate is home to a 17th-century Hall with one of the largest collections in the National Trust.

In the Walled Garden visitors can see blossom across fruit trees as well as historic varieties.

It costs £16 per adult and £8 per child to visit.

Gibside, Tyne and Wear

At Gibside – a Georgian landscape garden – visitors can explore pear, apple and apricot trees all blooming from March to May.

The Walled Garden is also colourful, with lots of pink blossom.

There are a number of events too including blossom bathing sessions, beekeeping demonstrations, pollinator counts, and creative workshops.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Greenway, Devon

Agatha Christie’s home in Devon is a great spot to explore the life of the crime writer as well as see blossom in spring.

Between March 21 and April 30, Greenway has its Festival of Blossom, with large magnolias blooming overhead, lots of fruit trees in bloom and wild hedgerow flowers appearing.

Admission to the whole property costs £18 per adult and £9 per child.

Gunby Estate, Hall and Gardens, Lincolnshire

Gunby Estate features an 18th-century country house with Victorian walled gardens near the Lincolnshire Wolds.

During the spring, visitors can expect to see the fruit trees in the walled gardens spring into bloom with different pastel pinks.

There is also a cherry walk which is great to visit in late April and pear blossom appears in the kitchen garden, alongside apple blossom in May.

Between March 29 and April 23, visitors can also catch some blossom indoors as the ‘Springtime Wonderland’ exhibition by Laura Andrew will be on.

And from April 13 to May 31, there is the Blossom Wellbeing Trail – a self-guided route to appreciate the sights, scents, and sounds of the season.

It costs £12 per adult and £6 per child to visit Gunby Estate.

Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire

At Hanbury Hall, there is an 18th-century house featuring original wall paintings by Sir James Thornhill as well as formal gardens.

The site is home to several species of blossom trees, including pear, apple, and cherry blossom, which all flower anytime from March to May.

Later in April and May, visitors can try out blossom bathing in the walled orchard, which has 56 varieties of heritage apple trees.

It costs £19 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Ham House, London

Ham House is a Stuart house situated on the banks of the River Thames and boasts a unique collection of antiques and furniture.

The house even has its own cherry garden, with lavender and a 17th-century statue of Bacchus.

In the Outer Courtyard, lots of new blossom trees have been planted and even though they are young, more and more sprigs of colour are appearing each spring.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Hinton Ampner, Hampshire

Following a fire in 1960, Hinton Ampner was rebuilt and today features a large house with a pretty garden.

During the spring blossom can be found across the orchard and wild garden.

And don’t miss the sweeping views of the Hampshire Downs.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Killerton, Devon

Killerton is home to a Georgian house as well a chapel and historic garden and the gardens are one of the first to awaken in Devon according to the National Trust.

Visitors can head on a waymarked blossom route, which is around one-mile.

Along the way, they can read gardener’s notes that highlight the different blossoms.

It costs £18 per adult and £9 per child to visit.

Lyme, Manchester

Lyme in Manchester features a 600-year-old house with 1,400-acre grounds.

Visitors can explore ornamental cherry trees with soft pinks as well as creamy white blossoms.

In the Vicary Gibbs area of the garden, there’s a mindful walk where visitors can bathe beneath the Japanese Mt. Fuji cherry tree.

It costs £19 per adult to visit and £9.50 per child.

Nostell, Yorkshire

Nostell in Yorkshire boasts a large Georgian house, landscaped gardens, parkland and stables courtyard.

Visitors can see blossom across the Kitchen Garden, orchard and pleasure grounds with the season beginning in March.

There’s also a nice walk from the rose garden and orangery to the orchard’s heritage pear espalier.

In the pleasure grounds, make sure to look out for the magnolia with large flowers budding overhead.

It costs £14 per adult and £7 per child to visit.

Paycockes House and Garden, Essex

Paycockes House and Garden is a Tudor merchant’s house and in the gardens this spring, visitors can see blossom across the entire garden,

It costs £12 per adult and £6 per child to visit.

Sissinghurst, Kent

Sissinghurst is a castle with a world-renowned garden, where you will find 1,100 fruit trees blooming each spring.

The garden also has a particularly large blossom tree, known for its fluffy white flowers.

It costs from £20 per adult and £10 per child.

Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire

Waddesdon Manor is a French Renaissance-style château, built by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, and it boasts Victorian-style gardens with statues and a wooded playground.

Between March 25 and April 12, visitors can head to Waddesdon’s Festival of Blossom which has fresh floral displays and a blossom trail inside the house.

In the gardens, visitors can see horse chestnut trees which have creamy-white or pink blossom in May.

It costs £27.50 per adult and £13 per child to visit.

Wimpole Estate, Cambridgeshire

Wimpole Estate is home to a 17th-century mansion with Georgian interiors, a walled kitchen garden, and parkland.

Visitors heading to Wimpole’s orchard will see over 300 fruit trees which blossom between April and May.

Also in the Walled Garden are a number of cherry trees which have soft pink blossom.

It costs £21 per adult and £10.50 per child to visit.

For more blossom spots across the UK, here are 10 of the best places to see cherry blossom across the UK for free this spring.

Plus, a medieval English town has the largest Japanese cherry tree orchard in the world.

One hotel is offering a unique experience when it comes to its check-in staff. Instead of humans, guests at the hotel are greeted by robot dinosaurs to help them check-in to their room

Most of us like to encounter unique experiences when we travel, and one hotel based in Japan is certainly offering that with its check-in staff. Instead of humans, guests at the hotel are greeted by robot dinosaurs to help them check-in to their room. The unique experience was shared over on Instagram, with influencer Anna-Lynne posting a reel about it. Her video saw her walk in to a ocean-themed room as robot dinosaurs greeted her at the check-in desk.

Overlay text read, ‘POV, it’s 8pm in Japan, you’re tired and you just want to check in to your hotel…’ Following up in the caption, she wrote: “Booked this stay not knowing I’d be checked in by dinosaurs and low-key, I was terrified.

It was 8pm, I was exhausted after a flight, and I had to walk from the train station in pitch dark just to get here. Then these prehistoric receptionists welcome me and I was like uhhh the f**k.

“But real talk they were somehow more polite than some humans I know. The check-in was smooth, and this place is super clean and quirky in the best way.”

The hotel in question is Henn na Resort & Spa Kansai Airport in Japan.

The unique, high-tech hotel in the Izumisano area is famous for being the world’s first hotel brand staffed primarily by robots, including dinosaur receptionists.

It is located along the coast with scenic views of Osaka Bay and airplanes landing at the nearby airport.

As well as guests being greeted and checked in by multilingual dinosaur robots in the ocean-themed lobby, they can also make use of many facilities such as indoor and open-air baths with bay views, a mineral mist sauna, and a dry sauna.

The on-site restaurant, Seian (Aoi-an), serves Japanese cuisine made with local ingredients and is supervised by a Michelin 1-star chef.

In addition to standard rooms, the hotel offers unique concept rooms like Ninja, Pirate, and Peach Aviation collaboration.

The hotel is approximately 15 minutes by car or one train stop (6 minutes) from Kansai International Airport (KIX). It is a 10-minute walk from Rinku Town Station.

Attractions nearby include Rinku Premium Outlets, Rinku Park, and the Seacle shopping mall, which are all within walking distance.

The hotel is often highly praised for its magnificent views, clean modern rooms, and the fun novelty of the robot staff. However, some guests found the walk from the station difficult with heavy luggage and noted that the automated check-in may occasionally require human assistance.

People were loving the look of the robot dinosaur staff from Anna-Lynne’s video, with it racking up more than 811,000 likes.

One person exclaimed: “Wait this is so epic.”

While another added: “My introverted self would prefer the awkward robot dinosaurs.”

However, many others predicted they’d encounter a few issues too.

“Lol, this would send me over the edge of laughter and despair,” one person wrote.

While another added: “Imagine trying to complain about room service and staying serious.”

It was Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, when the grass outside the baseline and the bright red sign high above center field read “UNIQLO FIELD.” It will be Dodger Stadium on Thursday, when the defending World Series champions open their new season, and forevermore.

The official name of our summer home is now Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. The team announcers will say that, and so will some of the signs. The fans won’t, and the founder of the company that just spent nine figures on the name you won’t use said he completely understands.

“That’s a very natural reaction,” Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai told me through an interpreter. “We respect that.”

Yanai said his company’s deal with the Dodgers covers five years. He would say only that the total value was “more” than $125 million. That provides the Dodgers with an annual naming rights payment in line with the ones at Crypto.com Arena, Intuit Dome and Sofi Stadium, without the Dodgers having to sell naming rights to the actual venue.

Are the Dodgers baseball’s version of a gold mine? Yes. Do they spend big and win big? Also yes. Do you mind if Uniqlo essentially covers Freddie Freeman’s salary this season?

“We need a lot of revenue to put out the product that we do,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. “That’s not a secret. And we’re proud of everyone who helps us do it: all of our fans, all of our media partners, and all of our sponsor partners. They are all important. It is how this all comes together.”

While Uniqlo would be delighted if you used its name, whatever local fans choose to call the stadium is not critical to the success of the partnership.

For a Japanese company in pursuit of brand awareness and expansion in the United States and elsewhere, there might be nothing better than getting your name in front of millions of fans around the world watching Shohei Ohtani play on television.

Ohtani made an estimated $125 million in endorsements and sponsorships last year, Sportico reported, a larger annual haul “than any other athlete in the history of sports.”

“The Dodgers are such a popular team,” Yanai said. “I usually ask my wife, after I come back from the office, whether Shohei hit a home run. I think all the Japanese people do that.”

Uniqlo Field signs were unveiled Wednesday at Dodger Stadium in the wake of the team’s naming rights deal.

(Beth Harris / Associated Press)

According to Forbes, Yanai is the richest man in Japan, where baseball teams carry corporate names. Why not buy a team and call it, say, the Uniqlo Bears?

“I always keep saying that could be very interesting,” he said, “but my wife turned it down. She keeps telling me, ‘Tadashi, you are not cut out to manage sports teams.’”

Instead, he is managing Uniqlo, an apparel company that pitches itself as blending comfort with quality. “We do not make disposable clothing,” Yanai said in the company’s last annual report.

Uniqlo has 794 stores in Japan but only 77 in the United States, including 14 in the Southland. Koji Yanai, a senior executive officer and Tadashi’s son, said the company aspires to grow annual U.S. revenues from $6 billion to $30 billion.

He shared what might be a more challenging aspiration.

“The Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium name may be very new for everyone,” he said, “but I hope in the near future the fans will like it and will love it.”

United Airlines Field at the Coliseum? Yeah, no.

Jeff Marks, the chief executive of Los Angeles-based Innovative Partnerships Group, once brokered a naming rights deal in which the Cal football team would play on Kabam Field at California Memorial Stadium. He tried to find a receptive audience for the name.

“We educated a lot of freshmen, sophomores, and newcomers,” Marks said. “Are you going to go after alumni who have been calling it Memorial Stadium? No. So you didn’t focus on that. You focused on people that could be more impressionable, and it worked.”

With Dodger Stadium, we’ll see. For the 2026 season, it is now time for Dodgers baseball, but not before one reporter at a press conference Wednesday asked company officials whether Uniqlo would provide the Dodgers players with free clothing.

Kasten could not pass up the chance to interject.

“We pay them enough,” he said with a grin, “to shop at Uniqlo stores.”