Kan OKs Group Leadership; Ozawa May Not Run in DPJ Race: Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Monday accepted a request from former PM Yukio Hatoyama Monday night that a troika-like group leadership structure including Democratic Party of Japan kingpin Ichiro Ozawa be introduced for the management of the Kan government. Mr. Ozawa now appears ready to hold talks with the prime minister over the matter and the DPJ’s leadership election on Sept. 14, and a possibility is emerging that Ozawa may withdraw his plan to run in the race in order to avoid a major showdown with Mr. Kan, sources familiar with the matter said. (Source: Jiji Press)

‘Cool Japan’ Seeks 2.7 Million Yen in Budget: The education, foreign and trade ministries will seek a total of 2.7 billion yen ($31.7 million) in next year’s budget to promote animation, manga, food and other “Cool Japan” culture products abroad. The money will be applied towards activities like conducting research in emerging economies to hone marketing strategies for selling Japanese products and establishing Japanese cooking classes and fashion seminars at Japanese embassies and other establishments abroad. (Source: Asahi)

Japan Sumo Association Issues Anti-Mobster Declaration: Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma pledged to permanently keep mobsters out of sumo, declaring the fight against the criminal underworld in an official vow Monday in an attempt to reshape the sport’s image since a gambling scandal tied to 10 wrestlers was uncovered this summer. Mr. Hanaregoma was under pressure to act fast with the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament scheduled to start Sept. 12. By then, the JSA is hoping NHK will consider broadcasting sumo live again. (Source: Kyodo)

Organ Donation Rate Up Under New Law: The organ-transplant rate has increased markedly following the introduction of revisions to the Organ Transplant Law on July 17 that eased the requirements for transplants from brain-dead donors. In the three weeks to Sunday, five cases of organ donation from brain-dead donors were reported, a figure greater than any monthly total recorded since the Organ Transplant Law was enacted in 1997. Before the law was revised, less than 10 cases of organ donation by brain-dead donors occurred per year on average. (Source: Yomiuri)