The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.
----------
Trump backs Japan's Takaichi before election, unveils her March U.S. visit
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday gave his full endorsement to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi ahead of the country's general election and said he would welcome her to the White House on March 19.
While Trump is often an outlier, it is very rare for the leader of any country to back a specific political figure ahead of a national election in a foreign country. Calling Sunday's election "very important" for Japan's future, he praised Takaichi for already proving to be a "strong, powerful and wise" leader.
----------
Toyota CFO Kon to replace Sato as CEO from April 1
NAGOYA - Toyota Motor Corp. said Friday that its chief financial officer, Kenta Kon, will succeed Koji Sato as chief executive officer, effective April 1.
Sato will be appointed vice chairman and given the newly established title of chief industry officer.
----------
Japan PM's push for counter-espionage law splits parties in snap election
TOKYO - Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's resolve to enact a counter-espionage law has become a campaign issue, dividing parties into supporters who want to protect national security and opponents concerned about threats to privacy and civil liberties.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party led by Takaichi maintains such legislation is necessary to prevent sensitive state information from falling into the hands of foreign actors. As prime minister, she called the necessary legislative work a "pressing" issue.
----------
Toyota raises FY 2025 net profit outlook to 3.57 tril. yen
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. on Friday raised its net profit outlook for the business year to March 2026 to 3.57 trillion yen ($22.8 billion) due to cost improvements and strong demand for its vehicles.
Toyota previously forecast a net profit of 2.93 trillion yen for fiscal 2025 and the revised figure represents a 25.1 percent fall from a year earlier.
----------
Japan monthly household spending in 2025 up 0.9%, 1st rise in 3 yrs
TOKYO - Japan's average monthly household spending in 2025 increased a real 0.9 percent from a year earlier, marking the first rise in three years, as higher outlays on education, entertainment and cars offset a drop in food expenses amid inflation, government data showed Friday.
Households of two or more people spent an average of 314,001 yen ($2,000), the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said. The Engel's coefficient, which represents the proportion of household expenditure spent on food, reached 28.6 percent in 2025, the highest level in 44 years, it said.
----------
Heavy snowfall forecast through election day in north, west Japan
TOKYO - Heavy snowfall is forecast to hit northern and western regions along the Sea of Japan coast through the weekend, Japan's weather agency said Friday, as the country prepares for a general election on Sunday.
The Japan Meteorological Agency forecast blizzards in Hokkaido in the north and heavy snowfall in the Chugoku region around Hiroshima on Friday, warning of traffic disruptions.
----------
Trump says U.S. wants to seek better nuclear arms control treaty
WASHINGTON - The United States wants to seek a better nuclear treaty to replace the one it long had with Russia, President Donald Trump said Thursday.
Trump's statement on social media came after the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia expired, fueling concern over the risk of a new global arms race.
----------
"Due attention" needed to weak yen's impact on inflation: BOJ board member
TOKYO - The Bank of Japan should pay "due attention" to the impact of the yen's recent depreciation on underlying inflation, a board member said Friday, suggesting the central bank will pay growing attention to currency moves in deciding its next policy move.
While exchange rate policy is under the authority of the government, the bank is "carefully monitoring" foreign exchange moves and their effects on economic activity and prices in Japan, Kazuyuki Masu said in a speech in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan.
==Kyodo
© Kyodo News International, Inc., source Newswire
