TOKYO: Dozens of Japanese lawmakers, including a government minister, visited a controversial war shrine on Friday, drawing protests from China and South Korea which see it as a painful reminder of Tokyo’s aggressive past.
Yasukuni Shrine honors millions of mostly Japanese war dead, but is contentious for also enshrining senior World War II military and political figures convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal.
Internal Affairs Minister Sanae Takaichi and 95 other members of parliament visited the Shinto religious facility in central Tokyo to mark the start of a three-day spring festival — roughly the same as last year’s figure.
Lawmakers, mostly conservative, say the pilgrimages are a chance to console the spirits of the dead and pray for peace. But North and South Korea and China consider them painful reminders of Japanese colonialism and invasion during the early 20th century.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who wants Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul to cooperate in countering the growing security threat from Pyongyang, did not visit the shrine but sent an offering in the form of a sacred tree.
South Korea’s foreign ministry said the visits and offerings were “deeply worrying and regrettable” while China’s foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Tokyo should “face up to” its “history of aggression.”
Abe has avoided the shrine since going in 2013. That visit sparked fury in Beijing and Seoul and even earned a diplomatic rebuke from close ally the United States.
Japan lawmakers visit controversial war shrine
Japan lawmakers visit controversial war shrine
Basketball legends hail impact of Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League after conclusion of fourth edition
- Arab News spoke to NBA legends Danny Green and Gary Payton after last week’s event at NYU Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Basketball legends Danny Green and Gary Payton praised the impact of the Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League after it recently concluded its fourth edition with the finals event at NYU Abu Dhabi.
The competition was launched in November by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and the National Basketball Association.
At the closing ceremony, Green and Payton presented awards to the champions of the fourth annual Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League, including the Raha International School Khalifa City Campus (Dallas Mavericks), the British International School (Milwaukee Bucks), ADQ (Golden State Warriors) and the ADQ (Boston Celtics). The associate vice president for global partnerships at NBA Europe & Middle East, David Watts, was also present at the event.
This season the Jr NBA Abu Dhabi League expanded to four leagues and 122 teams, with 1,830 players from Abu Dhabi and Al-Ain participating. The program is part of a multiyear partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi, which has included six preseason NBA games in Abu Dhabi since 2022.
The Jr NBA is the NBA’s global youth basketball program for boys and girls, focused on teaching fundamental skills and core values of the game — teamwork, respect, determination, and community — at the grassroots level. The league aims to promote these values and inspire youth to lead an active and healthy lifestyle through participation in sport.
Arab News spoke to Green and Payton after the event.
Danny Green
As a three-time NBA champion, what does it mean to you to see programs like the Jr NBA inspiring young athletes here in Abu Dhabi?
It truly means a lot. I remember being a kid with big dreams, and basketball gave me the opportunity to travel the world — to visit places I only imagined. Being in Abu Dhabi now, and seeing how the game is growing here, is incredibly humbling. The fact that young players are picking up a basketball because they’ve watched me play — that’s something I never expected. It’s surreal, and honestly one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
How important is it for you to help develop not just basketball skills, but also values like teamwork and respect, which the Jr NBA emphasizes?
It’s huge. The reality is not everyone will make it to the NBA — but the lessons you learn through basketball go way beyond the court. Things like leadership, communication, respect, and doing things the right way — those are values that apply to life in general. Those lessons translate into life and any career path. The leadership, the camaraderie, the ability to work with others — those are universal skills that can help shape your future in a meaningful way.
From your experience visiting Abu Dhabi, what potential do you see for basketball culture to grow in this region?
There’s real potential here. Every basketball nation has a starting point — look at France or Serbia, countries that weren’t always seen as global forces in the game. Now they’re among the best. Growth takes time, but with the passion I’ve seen in Abu Dhabi, and with initiatives like the Jr. NBA, there’s no doubt this region can become a serious player in the basketball world down the line. This is how it begins.
What advice would you give to young players who dream of following in your footsteps and making it to the NBA one day?
My biggest advice is: don’t give up. Stay focused, stay persistent, and don’t take no for an answer. Use your resources, work hard, and believe in yourself. I came from a small town in Long Island — nothing was handed to me. If I could make it, so can you. And it’s not always about being the most talented or athletic — look at guys like Steph Curry or Steve Nash. They weren’t the biggest or fastest, but they perfected their craft. If you’re putting in the work while others are sleeping, you’re already ahead.
Gary Payton
You played the game with incredible passion and grit — how important is it for young Jr NBA players here in Abu Dhabi to develop that same mindset early?
You know, that kind of mindset — the hunger to compete and love the game — has to come from within. You can’t force it on anyone. Kids have to grow into it and decide for themselves how much they want it. What helps is putting them in a competitive environment. When they’re on the floor, going up against each other, something clicks. They start wanting to win, they feel that drive — and that’s when the mindset starts to form. My advice is not to push kids into something they don’t love. Instead, create the space for them to be challenged and discover that passion for themselves.
As someone who came through tough basketball environments, how do you view the impact of organized grassroots leagues like the Jr NBA on a young athlete’s life?
Leagues like the Jr. NBA are everything for these kids. We're dealing with a different generation now — one that needs more structure, more guidance. That’s why having an organized system like this is so important. It teaches them how to play the right way, how to grow as competitors, and how to adapt to the way the game is constantly evolving. You only get better when you play against the best — and programs like this bring that level of competition and structure to young players in countries around the world. It gives them something to strive for.
What has impressed you most about the talent or enthusiasm you’ve seen from the kids here in Abu Dhabi?
What stands out to me is their passion and willingness to learn. You can see it — they’re not just here to play for fun, a lot of them truly want to understand the game. And with the NBA bringing preseason games to the region and showing up in person, it’s helping these kids realize that this game is real, that it's something they can dream about and work toward. They watch these players on TV, use them on video games — and now they’re seeing them live, right here. That fuels their ambition. The skill level and potential I’ve seen here is impressive, and that’s why the NBA is investing in this region.
If you could give one piece of advice to the Jr NBA players today about chasing success both on and off the court, what would it be?
Honestly, my first piece of advice is about life off the court. Because the reality is, not everyone will make it to the NBA — and that’s the truth. So it’s about being well rounded. Focus on school, focus on your books. You can be successful in so many ways — not just through basketball. You can be great in business, in art, in anything you put your mind to. Basketball might not be the path life has planned for you, and that’s OK. But whatever you do, set goals and work hard, both on the court and off. Have something you’re striving for, no matter where life takes you.
Jennifer Lopez turns heads at F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix
JEDDAH: US superstar Jennifer Lopez turned heads at the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah ahead of her after-race performance.
The “Kiss of the Spider Woman” actress and singer made an appearance at the final practice on Saturday in a pink catsuit with a zipper down the front.
She performed on stage on Saturday night with a string of her most famous hits as part of an after-race concert lineup including Usher, Major Lazer, Peggy Gou and PartyNextDoor, alongside Arab stars such as Marwan Pablo, Tul8te, Hisham Abbas, Mostafa Amar and Hamid El-Shaeri.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential entertainers, Lopez has made her mark across music, film and television. She remains the only female artist to simultaneously top both the US box office and music charts, with over $3 billion in global box office earnings, more than 80 million records sold and billions of streams and views across her music catalogue.
German police launch manhunt after 2 people shot dead
- There was no information yet about the "circumstances, or the motive of the perpetrators", they said.
BERLIN: A large police operation was under way in Germany on Sunday to find one or more shooters who killed two men the day before in the center of the country, police said.
The bodies of the two victims, both with gunshot wounds, were found in front of a residential address in Bad Nauheim, a town north of Frankfurt, on Saturday afternoon, Giessen city police said.
“A big force deployment” of police from uniformed, plain clothes and special forces branches have fanned out, backed by a helicopter, to find the perpetrator or perpetrators, it said.
“The current understanding is that there is no danger for inhabitants or other people,” police said.
There was no information yet about the “circumstances, or the motive of the perpetrators,” they said.
Police and prosecutors have opened an investigation.
Bad Nauheim is 25 kilometers (15 miles) north of Frankfurt and has a population of around 33,000. It was famous for being where Elvis Presley did US military service between 1958 and 1960 and where he met his future wife, Priscilla Presley.
Japan’s Koji Yamamura brings expertise to Saudi Film Festival masterclass
DHAHRAN: Animation lovers attending the 11th Saudi Film Festival this week were treated to a masterclass by Oscar-nominated Japanese director Koji Yamamura.
Yamamura gave a masterclass titled “Giving Shape to Invisible Light” on Saturday.
While the Saudi Film Festival typically focuses on local and regional cinema, it also offers audiences a chance to engage with global voices. This year, Japan holds a special place in the lineup, with the festival running until April 23.
Masterclass attendees watched as Yamamura explained his process and shared several of his shorts, which he dissected, offering guidance and insight into his creative approach.
Yamamura, regarded as one of Japan’s most successful animation filmmakers, began creating films at just 13 years old. After six painstaking years and thousands of drawings, his 10-minute 2002 film “Mt. Head” earned him an Oscar nomination in the Best Short Film category.
The story follows a man who eats cherry pits to avoid waste, only to have a cherry tree sprout from his head. What begins as a nuisance quickly escalates into chaos as strangers flock to picnic and swim atop his head.
Narrated in the traditional rakugo style — with a single voice and sparse instrumentation — the work blends classical storytelling with modern themes. Beneath the dark humor lies a critique of isolationism, environmental degradation, and the illusion of control. The more the man tries to resist change, the more disorder he invites, leading to a haunting end.
Yamamura explained that many of his works were inspired by traditional tales that are over 150 years-old—stories where the beginning and end are already known — so the creative challenge lies in how he fills the space.
His work moves fluidly between absurdity and clarity, often occupying a Kafkaesque space that encourages the viewer to dive in until the narrative fully takes hold.
After the masterclass, he sat down to answer questions by moderator Naoures Rouissi of the Arab Film Festival Zurich, and the audience was invited to take part in a Q&A portion.
Abdulrahman Al-Qarzaee, a fluent Japanese speaker who is Saudi, translated.
“I’m very interested in Arabic culture. It is my first time in Saudi Arabia — I would like to sketch it. I think the landscape is very different from Japan,” Yamamura told Arab News after the session.
When Arab News asked if he might create a new work inspired by his visit to the Kingdom, he didn’t hesitate.
“Probably, yeah. This is a very special and different experience for me,” he concluded with a smile.
South Korea, US, to hold trade talks this week, Seoul says
- South Korea hopes to lower the 25% "reciprocal" tariff that President Donald Trump has announced for the country.
SEOUL: South Korea and the United States will hold trade consultations this week in Washington at the suggestion of the United States, Seoul’s trade ministry said on Sunday.
Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok and Trade Minister Ahn Duk-geun will meet with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on the sidelines of the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, the ministry said in a statement.
South Korea hopes to lower the 25 percent “reciprocal” tariff that President Donald Trump has announced for the country, which he has since paused along with high tariffs slapped on a string of countries.
Ahn will leave on Wednesday, the statement said. It did not specify the agenda or give other details.
