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December 15, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
December 15, 2024
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2024 in review
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Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks during a rally in Seoul on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
South Korean opposition urges swift removal of impeached President Yoon
Yoon Suk Yeol has been suspended while South Korea's Constitutional Court deliberates, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo serving as interim leader.

More coverage

Yoon Suk Yeol: from rising star to impeachment
South Korean president impeached over martial law decree
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, speaks during a rally in Seoul on Saturday.
A boy who came to watch the launch of Space One's Kairos rocket in Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, on Sunday shows his disappointment after the liftoff was postponed again.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Japanese firm Space One postpones rocket launch again
Sunday's postponement was due to strong winds, according to the Tokyo-based company, which aims to launch 30 satellites annually by the 2030s.
A McDonald's in Kitakyushu where a junior high school student was stabbed to death on Saturday
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Schoolgirl stabbed to death in Kitakyushu
The students — one boy and one girl — were both rushed to the hospital where the girl died and the boy remained conscious.
U.S. Steel's Gary Works, the largest integrated steel mill in the country, in Gary, Indiana
BUSINESS / Companies
U.S. foreign investment panel split on Nippon-U.S. Steel deal, report says
The U.S. Treasury has informed Nippon Steel that the panel reviewing its proposed $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel has not yet come to an agreement on how to address security concerns, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
"Butter," Asako Yuzuki’s thrilling novel inspired by a real-life femme fatale, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2024.
CULTURE / Books / 2024 in Review
Women are writing a new chapter in Japanese literature in the 2020s
By Mike Fu
From the deadly serious and deeply weird to the fluffiest of diversions, a bounty of Japanese fiction in translation has delighted readers and critics this decade so far.
"Butter," Asako Yuzuki’s thrilling novel inspired by a real-life femme fatale, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2024.

JAPAN

The U.S. Air Force's CV-22 Osprey displayed during Japanese-American Friendship Festival at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo on May 18
U.S. and Japanese Ospreys grounded this month after precautionary landing
While the details about the precautionary landing are not known, the incident has raised concerns over the vulnerability in Osprey components.
George Glass in July 2017
Trump reportedly eyeing businessman George Glass as envoy to Japan
Glass, who served as ambassador to Portugal under Trump's first administration, is one of the biggest fund donors who supported his comeback as U.S. president.
Japan ready to team up with Trump over North Korea abduction issue
U.S. Marines begin to relocate from Okinawa to Guam
Tokyo police seek public's help on Setagaya family murder 24 years ago
Ishiba urges deeper G7 security cooperation as North Korea gets closer to Russia
By Kathleen Benoza

BUSINESS

A Hight Logistics electric BYD truck is loaded with a container at a seaport in Long Beach, California, in April 2023.
Chinese firms take on EV truck challenges
By Jing Xuan TENG and Rebecca Bailey
Fleets of electric heavy goods vehicles from China have been growing internationally, even as Western countries target the country's EV cars with heavy sanctions.
Lekh Juneja, chairman and CEO of Kameda Seika, at the company's headquarters in the city of Niigata in August
Indian-born CEO of Japanese company says nation needs immigration to thrive
By Simon STURDEE
Japan has very few foreign-born CEOs, and boardrooms are overwhelmingly male.
Forging a career through digital transformation and mindset change
By Nobuko Kobayashi
Britain joins trans-Pacific pact in biggest post-Brexit trade deal
How to buy a secondhand gift someone might actually want
By Olivia Rudgard and Zahra Hirji
Educated young Chinese turn to tour guiding as job market wavers

WORLD

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham fighters gather in Damascus on Saturday.
U.S. says it is in contact with new Syria rulers
Secretary of State Antony Blinken's comment on "direct contact" with the HTS rebels came despite the United States having designated the group as terrorists in 2018.
A damaged poster of Syria's ousted leader, Bashar Assad, in Aleppo on Nov. 30
Assad's final hours in Syria: Deception, despair and flight
By Samia Nakhoul, Maya Gebeily, Parisa Hafezi and Suleiman Al-Khalidi
Hours before he fled to Moscow, Assad assured army and security chiefs that Russian support was on its way and urged ground forces to hold out.
Australia says remaining 'Bali Nine' members have returned from Indonesia
Protesters in South Korea rejoice as lawmakers impeach Yoon
Who is Han Duck-soo, South Korea's acting president after Yoon impeachment?
By Joyce Lee
Observing a minute of silence for Ukraine's fallen soldiers
By Barbara WOJAZER

Sports

Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo takes the ball to the hoop during the first quarter of Milwaukee's NBA Cup semifinal win on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Bucks beat Hawks to reach NBA Cup final against Thunder
Greek star Antetokounmpo scored 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spark the Bucks over the Atlanta Hawks.
Man City boss Pep Guardiola says no regrets over contract extension
Lindsey Vonn hopes comeback gets her to 2026 Olympics
Gukesh Dommaraju's championship win fuels chess dreams in India
Verstappen collects his F1 trophy at ceremony in Rwanda

Opinion

Then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in August 2021. From Syria to Ukraine, Merkel and former U.S. President Barack Obama’s missteps still haunt the West.
Putin’s loss in Syria exposes Western failures
Martin Ivens
The West's indecision and failed liberal internationalist policies allowed Putin to bolster Assad’s regime and secure strategic advantages in Syria.
How India’s soft power led to a border deal with China
By Dalbir Ahlawat
Trump's election sets stage for new climate leaders to emerge
By Robert Mizo
The Syrians have a chance to be free. They need our help.
Syria’s kleptocratic rule and a house of cards
By Barak Barfi

ENVIRONMENT

Crystal Smith, the elected chief of the Haisla people, stands on the shoreline of the Douglas Channel in Kitamaat, British Columbia, Canada, on Oct. 1.
Indigenous people in Canada weigh costs of a gas windfall
By Max Bearak
The promise of billions of dollars of gas investment has renewed a generations-old debate over Indigenous identity and environmental stewardship.
World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks
By Robbie COREY-BOULET
Earthquakes and blowouts undermine case for carbon storage in Texas
By Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas
Climate change forged a new reality in 2024: 'This is life now'
By Clar Ni Chonghaile and Diana Baptista
As Japan nears new climate goal, criticism of policy process ramps up
By Tomoko Otake and Chris Russell

CULTURE

"Butter," Asako Yuzuki’s thrilling novel inspired by a real-life femme fatale, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2024.
Women are writing a new chapter in Japanese literature in the 2020s
By Mike Fu
From the deadly serious and deeply weird to the fluffiest of diversions, a bounty of Japanese fiction in translation has delighted readers and critics this decade so far.
'Into the New World': the K-pop song that became South Korea's protest anthem
By Claire Lee
‘Cells at Work!’: Cellular shenanigans make for a fantastic voyage
By James Hadfield
‘Ainu Puri’: A vital portrait of indigenous culture in contemporary Japan
By Mark Schilling
‘Hayao Miyazaki and the Heron’ documentary meditates on auteur's creativity and legacy
By Erik Augustin Palm

LIFE

Despite ongoing struggles, 2024 had plenty of bright spots for Japan's sake industry.
Glass half full: Japan’s sake industry celebrates a brighter 2024
By Phoebe Amoroso
Despite a general decline in consumption, new openings and greater awareness gave Japan’s sake lovers reason to cheers this year.
From Florence to Osaka, Gucci’s newest concept bar oozes style
By Melinda Joe
A Christmas miracle? No, just brownies ‘baked’ sans oven.
By Makiko Itoh
How often do Japan's buzzwords make it into the vernacular?
By Yuko Tamura
After 12 years, Designtide Tokyo returns with a lineup of sensory dialogue
By Erik Augustin Palm

COMMUNITY

Yurie Collins is a bilingual comedian based in Tokyo. In addition to being a prize-winning roast comic, her dating-themed "Tokyo Hoe Tales" shows have proven to be a hit with women of all nationalities.
Yurie Collins: ‘Everyone seems sedated, fed-up … that’s why they turn to comedy’
By Zoria Petkoska
Yurie Collins is a bicultural stand-up comedian who has opened for comedian Atsuko Okatsuka and the upcoming Iliza Shlesinger show in Tokyo.
Seven strangers and an algorithm: Can this new dinner app help you make friends?
By Phoebe Amoroso
Kumiko Shichijo: ‘Living abroad helped me appreciate Japanese etiquette’
By Ansel Swindells
How a solo yoga teacher built a wellness community in the Japanese Alps
By Samantha Mythen
Omar Nok: 'There are good people everywhere'
By Ansel Swindells

Editors' Picks

LIFE
The year that Shohei Ohtani achieved 'yokozuna' status … in the market
By Mark Schreiber
Shohei Ohtani's prowress on the diamond translated into an outsized influence on Japan's consumer trends this year.
CULTURE
Big franchises and bold voices dominated anime in 2024
By Matt Schley
In a year of anime hits, Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s “Look Back” stood out from the bunch.
LIFE
Glass half full: Japan’s sake industry celebrates a brighter 2024
By Phoebe Amoroso
Despite ongoing struggles, 2024 had plenty of bright spots for Japan's sake industry.
JAPAN
'Kin' selected as the kanji of 2024 after strong year for Japanese athletes
By Kathleen Benoza
The head priest of Kiyomizu Temple writes the kanji "kin," which was chosen by the public as the character that best represents 2024, on Thursday in Kyoto.
LIFE
USJ’s new Donkey Kong Country is a barrel of fun
By Joel Tansey
On Dec. 11, Universal Studios Japan officially unveiled its new Donkey Kong Country area, putting the iconic character in the spotlight for the first time in a while.

Podcast

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

Longform

People in cities across Japan will pop into their local convenience store for any number of products they believe will help them with a night of drinking.
Hangover cures are everywhere in Japan — but do they work?
By Thu-Huong Ha

JT Directory Service

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WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
South Korean president impeached over martial law decree
By Jesse Johnson
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at his official residence in Seoul on Saturday after the National Assembly voted to impeach him earlier in the day.
JAPAN
U.S. serviceman sentenced over sexual assault of underage girl in Okinawa
By Jessica Speed
The Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture. Brennon Washington was stationed at the base when he abducted a minor on Dec. 24, 2023.
WORLD
Macron names veteran centrist ally Francois Bayrou as France's prime minister
Francois Bayrou and French President Emmanuel Macron in Pau, France, in July 2023. On Friday, Macron named Bayrou as prime minister.
BUSINESS
Nippon Steel’s plan B now in focus as $14 billion U.S. deal falters
By Shoko Oda and Stephen Stapczynski
A Nippon Steel blast furnace building in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Dec. 6
JAPAN
Trilateral fighter project takes big step with joint venture deal
By Gabriel Dominguez
Attendees view a concept model of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) fighter plane at the BAE Systems pavilion at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, England, in July.