News On Japan

2023 Lexus IS500 V8 to be built in right-hand drive – for Japan

Despite claims the IS500 would only be for North America, rumours suggest the V8-powered sedan is coming to Japan in right-hand-drive... but not Australia.

Jul 18 (drive.com.au) - The 2023 Lexus IS500 is expected to be announced for the Japanese market this week.

Lexus teased a photo of its IS sedan on social media late last week, with local media reporting the premium brand will soon launch a V8-powered IS500.

The IS500 made its debut in North America in early 2021, with Drive told at the time the model will “only [be] produced in left-hand-drive”.

It appears that has since changed, with Creative Trend reporting the IS500 F Sport Performance First Edition is set to be produced in a limited run for the right-hand-drive Japanese market.

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Six people are dead in the wake of torrential downpours in Japan's central Ishikawa Prefecture that have caused rivers to flood and mudslides across the Noto region. Some people living in temporary shelters following the New Year's Day earthquake are once again facing recovery efforts, this time from flooding. (NHK)

Signs of winter are already arriving. Mount Rishiri in Hokkaido recorded the first snowfall of the season on Sunday, making it the first observed in Japan this year.

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Shohei Ohtani returned to Dodger Stadium in spectacular fashion, hitting a home run and stealing a base in his first game back, raising his season total to 52 home runs and 52 stolen bases.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says Japan and China have reached an agreement that will lead to the resumption of China's imports of Japanese seafood. (NHK)

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