Japan News Online

Japanese sentiment toward China worsens, only 32% feel positive

The Japanese people's sentiment toward China has worsened with a record-low 32.4 percent feeling good about the country, down 5.2 percentage points from a year ago, a Cabinet Office poll showed Saturday. As Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's visits to the war-linked Yasukuni Shrine have strained Japan's ties with other Asian countries, the number of people who have positive feelings about South Korea fell for the first time in four years to 51.1 percent.

Japan, N. Korea begin 2-day talks in Beijing

Japan and North Korea began a two-day meeting on Saturday afternoon which is expected to focus on the format for their future negotiations over issues that are preventing the two countries from normalizing diplomatic ties. Hopes that a deal can be struck were raised when North Korea's chief delegate said in the morning that he thinks Japan's idea to set up separate working groups to deal with issues of bilateral concern was a ''positive proposal.''