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April 18, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 18, 2025
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Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, speaks to reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan and the U.S. begin tariff talks on good terms, but without breakthroughs
By Francis Tang
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said there are still gaps between the respective stances of Japan and the U.S.

More coverage

Japan’s exports rise at slower pace as Trump tariffs begin
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, speaks to reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao speaks during a news conference on Thursday in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
SBI Holdings CEO to 'fight to the end' if Fuji Media resists leadership rethink
By Yukana Inoue
Yoshitaka Kitao said he will increase SBI Holdings’ stake in Fuji Media Holdings depending on how the TV network responds.
Foreign tourists gather on a platform at Kyoto Station on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Society
Tokyo hotel operators face possible warnings over suspected price cartel
By Karin Kaneko
It is believed that information sharing among the hotels, such as occupancy rates and average room prices, may have influenced pricing.
Former CDP executive Kenji Eda discusses a possible reduction of the consumption tax rate, in Tokyo on April 10.
JAPAN / Politics
CDP divisions over proposed tax cut pose headache for Yoshihiko Noda
By Eric Johnston
The nation’s largest opposition party is preparing for the Upper House poll in July, in which it hopes to win enough seats to make a CDP-led coalition government possible.
Arata Hirano, owner of the restaurant Shokudou Arata, pours California-grown Calrose rice into a rice cooker at his restaurant in Tokyo.
JAPAN
More Japanese embracing foreign rice, even before it became a tariff topic
By Kaori Kaneko and Chang-Ran Kim
A change in mindset could allow Tokyo leeway to relax restrictions if rice becomes a thorny topic in tariff talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Arata Hirano, owner of the restaurant Shokudou Arata, pours California-grown Calrose rice into a rice cooker at his restaurant in Tokyo.

JAPAN

The bus stop in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China, where a Japanese mother, her child, and a Chinese woman were attacked in June 2024
China executes man over Japanese school bus stop murder
The Chinese Foreign Ministry informed the Japanese Embassy in China of the execution on Wednesday.
Sections of the outer loop of Tokyo's Yamanote Line and the Keihin-Tohoku Line will be shut down all day Saturday, and from the start of service through around noon on Sunday.
Parts of Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines to be suspended over weekend
By Jessica Speed
The suspensions come as JR East pushes ahead with its Haneda Airport Access Line project.
Bookings for climbing Mount Fuji this season to begin April 24
LDP has most support ahead of Upper House election, poll shows
Aichi man held over abandoning body possibly of a missing teen
Ishiba Cabinet approval sinks to 23.1% in new poll

BUSINESS

Bottles of Hakkaisan-brand sake for export
U.S. tariffs overshadow Japan's agriculture and food exports
Japanese goods need to be sold by "emphasizing that there are no alternatives" to them, said Kazuhito Yamashita, senior researcher at the Canon Institute for Global Strategies.
A drone view shows a cargo ship at Kwai Tsing Container Terminals in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
U.S. looks to box in China by recruiting other trading partners
By Jennifer A Dlouhy, Nancy Cook and Eric Martin
Washington is set to ask nations to limit Beijing’s might when they negotiate tariffs.
Seven & I proposes five new directors as part of board revamp
By Kanoko Matsuyama
They sold their likeness to AI companies — and regretted it
By Dounia MAHIEDDINE
Vietnam’s factory-based growth model at risk in global trade war
By Nguyen Xuan Quynh and John Boudreau
Meta saw TikTok as ‘highly urgent’ threat, Zuckerberg says at trial
By Josh Sisco and Kurt Wagner

WORLD

A police car enters Insein prison before the release of prisoners to commemorate the Buddhist New Year in Yangon on Thursday.
Myanmar junta to free nearly 5,000 prisoners in amnesty
The junta said 13 foreign nationals would also be pardoned and deported, without giving details of their identities or crimes.
A DJI drone. British officials have raised concerns that Chinese-manufactured drones are surveying critical national infrastructure sites in the U.K.
U.K. raises alarm on Chinese drones used to survey sensitive sites
By Alex Wickham
Using Chinese-made drones at key sites in Britain is a risk as Chinese law can compel its companies to share data with the state.
Xi urges ‘Asian family’ unity as Trump seeks to confine China
Cambodia seeking China's financial support as Xi visits amid U.S. tariffs
By Francesco Guarascio
Ex-New York cop sentenced to 1½ years' jail for acting as Chinese agent
By Luc Cohen
U.S. issues new sanctions targeting Chinese importers of Iranian oil
By Daphne Psaledakis

Sports

Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli celebrates after scoring against Real Madrid during the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal in Madrid on Wednesday.
Arsenal dethrones Real Madrid to reach Champions League semifinals
Inter Milan advanced from the night's other quarterfinal, earning a 4-3 aggregate win over Bayern Munich after an enthralling 2-2 draw in the second leg.
P. United continues mission as para sports groups unite to face shared challenges
Shohei Ohtani homers as Dodgers win tight game to sweep Rockies
Heat scorch Bulls in play-in contest; Mavericks rout Kings
Japan coach Eddie Jones at peace after messy exit from Australia

Opinion

Economists fail to understand that Donald Trump's tariff policy is part of a broader strategy to prepare the U.S. for long-term competition with China, driven by national security concerns rather than traditional economic or trade policy.
What economists 'don’t get' about Trump tariffs
Kuni Miyake
My view is that the U.S. has started to prepare seriously for a long-term competition with China for global dominance.
Japan should challenge Washington in defense of justice
By Nathan Thomas
ASEAN should expand to counter Trump’s tariffs
By R.M. Manivannan
When will China start to devalue the yuan?
By Shuli Ren
King dollar’s reign looks secure — for now
By Daniel Moss

ENVIRONMENT

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, in October. Microsoft is set to use energy from new reactors at the plant.
AI surge to double data center electricity demand by 2030, report says
By Nathalie ALONSO
AI can also unlock opportunities to produce and consume electricity more efficiently, the International Energy Agency said in its first report on the technology's implications.
Clean streets versus business woes: Pollution charge divides Londoners
By Akshata Kapoor
Once-dying Mexican river delta slowly nursed back to life by conservationists
By Daniel Rook
As Chile revs up lithium plans, Indigenous people demand more control
By Daina Beth Solomon
Global temperatures at near-historic highs in March, says EU monitor

CULTURE

Hiroyuki Sanada poses with the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series for "Shogun" at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 5.
Actor Hiroyuki Sanada among Time's 100 most influential people
Contemporary artist Yoshitomo Nara and musician Yoshiki also made the list.
‘Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie’: J-pop spectacle goes heavy on performances
By Mark Schilling
'Bullet Train Explosion’: High-speed disaster movie doesn’t get the pulse racing
By James Hadfield
Music, revolution and Y2K: Coachella 2025 takeaways
By Maggy Donaldson
Two members of K-pop group Blackpink go solo at Coachella festival
By Danielle Broadway

LIFE

Marriage proposals in Japan look a lot like those in other countries, but there are traditions that are specific to the country that some people still adhere to.
Voicing intentions and a peek into a traditional Japanese engagement ceremony
By Yaeko Kabe
While the basics of a marriage proposal are similar to what happens in most countries, an extra ceremony requires specific gifts.
Dior shows fall fashion collection in gardens of ancient Kyoto temple
By Irene Wang
A new tour of Tokyo’s most underground attraction
By Owen Ziegler
In California, a Nikkei vintner finds his heritage and purpose
By Weiwen Lin
As rice prices rise, a bit of tea adds needed luxury
By Simon Daly

COMMUNITY

Customers line up patiently for some early-afternoon baked goods outside Truffle, which is located close to Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line.
How to spend the perfect day in Hiroo, Tokyo’s expat enclave
By Eric Margolis
A stroll through Hiroo reveals both the comforts of expat luxury and the quiet intrusions of a changing Tokyo.
Noriko Shakti: ‘Music reflects my journey and learnings’
By Miikka J. Lehtonen
Tokyo Humanities Cafe feeds hungry minds
By Jessica Kozuka
Montessori head educates Tokyo’s children for life
By Louise George Kittaka
How to navigate Japan’s e-commerce platforms and online flea markets
By Jessica Speed

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Privacy and transparency clash in debate over bill on artificial insemination
By Himari Semans
Sachiko Ishizuka, who was born via artificial insemination by donor (AID), tells her story to lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on April 9.
JAPAN
Why Ishiba became the first prime minister to hold talks with Rengo in 16 years
By Himari Semans
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Japanese Trade Union Confederation chief Tomoko Yoshino in a meeting Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office
BUSINESS
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
SUMO
Sumo's throwback regional tours offer glimpse into sport's heart and history
By John Gunning
Kirishima (behind) battles Atamifuji during a regional tour event in Hyogo Prefecture in 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC
China’s new bridge-forming barges offer new options for Taiwan invasion
By Gabriel Dominguez
This satellite image taken on March 25 shows three Chinese barges connected via extendable bridges in waters off Zhanjiang, in southern China's Guangdong province. Experts say the new barges could be used to land heavy equipment and thousands of personnel in a possible invasion of Taiwan.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.
By Tomoko Otake

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

BOARDING & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL DAY 2025 (Sunday, April 20)
BOARDING & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL DAY 2025 (Sunday, April 20)

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
BUSINESS
Japan and the U.S. begin tariff talks on good terms, but without breakthroughs
By Francis Tang
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, speaks to reporters in Washington on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Trump calls the U.S.-Japan alliance ‘one-sided.’ Tokyo says otherwise.
By Jesse Johnson
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday in Washington.
JAPAN
Japan is by far the favorite country among Taiwanese: survey
By Himari Semans
A night market in Taipei in April
BUSINESS
Japan to give India E5 and E3 shinkansen for free
A rendering of East Japan Railway's E10 series of bullet trains