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September 18, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 18, 2024
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Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates after a campaign event in Nagoya on Saturday
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
LDP leader candidates split on separate surnames for married couples
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
While party conservatives worry about damaging family unity, others say it’s time to push through a legislative change.
Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates after a campaign event in Nagoya on Saturday
A United Steelworkers sign is seen outside the Great Lakes Works U.S. Steel plant in River Rouge, Michigan.
BUSINESS / Companies
U.S. decision on Nippon Steel bid pushed back until after election
By Jeff Mason and Alexandra Alper
The move offers a ray of hope for the companies, whose proposed deal appeared set to be blocked on national security grounds.
China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sails in waters near Okinawa Prefecture on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Chinese carrier sails between Japanese islands near Taiwan for first time
By Jesse Johnson
China's Liaoning aircraft carrier passed through a narrow waterway between Yonaguni and Iriomote islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
French Ambassador Philippe Setton says that, despite previous differences over whether Japan should host a NATO liaison office, Paris aims to deepen ties with Tokyo "in all security areas."
JAPAN / Politics
France-Japan military pact expected by year-end, envoy to Tokyo says
By Gabriel Dominguez
Concerns over the worsening security situation in the Indo-Pacific are speeding up negotiations on a visiting-forces pact between France and Japan.
Onosato shoves out Mitakeumi on Sunday in Tokyo to continue his perfect run at the Autumn Basho. At 192-centimeters-tall and 177 kilograms, Onosato may be neither the tallest nor the heaviest wrestler in the makuuchi division, but he is very close to the top in each of those two categories.
SUMO
Onosato’s meteoric rise is stunning — but not surprising
By John Gunning
Well on his way to ozeki, for Onosato, further promotion to yokozuna has become a question of when, not if.
Onosato shoves out Mitakeumi on Sunday in Tokyo to continue his perfect run at the Autumn Basho. At 192-centimeters-tall and 177 kilograms, Onosato may be neither the tallest nor the heaviest wrestler in the makuuchi division, but he is very close to the top in each of those two categories.

JAPAN

Health ministry officials inspect the Wakayama factory of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical in March after reports of health damage surfaced among people who took the firm's red yeast rice supplements.
Puberulic acid confirmed as source of beni kōji health issues
By Tomoko Otake
The substance produced by blue mold was the cause of kidney problems suffered by consumers of the Kobayashi Pharma supplements, the health ministry said.
Economic security minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a debate with other candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential race in Tokyo on Saturday.
Takaichi's policy documents spark controversy in LDP leadership race
She argues that the materials are unrelated to the election and were mailed out before a ban was imposed, but some in the party describe them as "unfair."
Overseas visitors hit record high for August at 2.9 million
Ishii to head Komeito in first leadership change in 15 years
Japan briefs international community on release of treated water
JR Kyushu's ferry unit punished for water leak cover-up

BUSINESS

Rapidus' new semiconductor plant under construction in Chitose, Hokkaido, in July
New high-profile chip plants driving up nearby land prices across Japan
Expectations for growth in demand for semiconductors has boosted demand for commercial and industrial plots, and housing.
Sony last month officially unveiled a digital ledger, Soneium, while other Japanese firms like Toyota explore various blockchain-related initiatives.
Sony joins a crypto push in Japan as calls grow for looser rules
By Suvashree Ghosh
The question for the government is whether to heed requests from the crypto industry for less onerous rules to lower costs and spur growth.
Mitsubishi to provide H3 rockets for France's Eutelsat from 2027
By Kantaro Komiya
How Asia is bracing for Fed’s imminent shift to rate cuts
By Abhishek Vishnoi and Marcus Wong
Salesforce’s new AI strategy acknowledges that AI will take jobs
By Brody Ford
Neuralink gets FDA's 'breakthrough device' tag for Blindsight implant

WORLD

Ambulances and a crowd of people gather at the entrance of the American University of Beirut Medical Center on Tuesday after explosions hit locations in several Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon.
Israel planted explosives in 5,000 Hezbollah's pagers, sources say
By Laila Bassam and Maya Gebeily
The operation was an unprecedented Hezbollah security breach that saw thousands of pagers detonate across Lebanon, killing nine people and wounding nearly 3,000 others.
A firefighter stands near a wildfire in Veiga, Agueda, Portugal, on Tuesday.
Portugal combats ferocious wildfires as death toll rises to seven
By Levi FERNANDES and Thomas Cabral
Fanned by bellowing winds in the stifling heat, the three largest fires concentrated in the northern Aveiro region in Portugal have scorched some 10,000 hectares.
Taiwanese, Hungarian firms deny making Hezbollah pagers
North Korea fires off 'multiple' ballistic missiles in latest show of force
By Jesse Johnson
China’s ‘silver economy’ is thriving as birthrate plunges
By Claire Fu and Daisuke Wakabayashi
Modi faces new test in Kashmir after bruising election battle
By Debjit Chakraborty and Sudhi Ranjan Sen

Sports

Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run in the third inning of the Dodgers' loss to the Marlins on Tuesday in Miami.
Ohtani hits 48th home run as he nears 50-50 mark
Ohtani, who ranks second in the majors with 48 stolen bases, did not add to his steal total.
Energy companies have spent $5.6 billion on 'sportswashing': report
Runner-up Yokohama F. Marinos thrashed in AFC Champions League goal fest
Injured star Mike Trout acknowledges move from center field is possible
DraftKings sued by MLB Players Union for using names and images
By Jef Feeley

Opinion

Japan might have created the PlayStation brand, but the cost of the latest generation of the console will exclude all but the most hardcore fans.
PS5 Pro price is a sticker shock for the country that made the PlayStation
Gearoid Reidy
With even an entry-level PS5 now costing some ¥72,980 following the latest hike last month, an entire generation of Japanese could be cut off.
The forgotten impact of 9/11 on Japan
By Oliver Jia
Southeast Asia untroubled by China’s nuclear modernization efforts
By Brad Glosserman
Hezbollah pager attack looks like a decapitation strike
By Marc Champion
Ireland struck it rich with Apple. Others struck it poor.
By Lionel Laurent

ENVIRONMENT

Solar panels and wind turbines at a power plant in Hami in China's Xinjiang region. The U.S. and other countries have described China’s actions against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, a key cog in the cleantech supply chain, as a genocidal campaign aimed at erasing an entire culture.
How China’s dominance of solar and batteries is impacting Japan’s energy transition
By Nithin Coca
China has thrown its industrial might behind cleantech, putting Japan in a tough spot as it weighs human rights concerns against its climate targets.
'Disappeared completely': Melting glaciers worry Central Asia
By Bruno KALOUAZ
'Easy, convenient, cheap': How single-use plastic rules the world
Trump stalks global climate talks as COP29 draws near
By Nick Perry
A continent ablaze: South America surpasses record for fires
By Jake Spring and Stefanie Eschenbacher

CULTURE

Japanese actress Anna Sawai, winner of the outstanding lead actress in a drama series award for "Shogun," and Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, winner of the outstanding lead actor in a drama series award for the show, pose in the press room during the 76th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
'Shogun' becomes first non-English-language winner of best drama Emmy
By Alyssa I. Smith
Veteran leading man Hiroyuki Sanada and co-lead Anna Sawai also took home acting awards for their roles in the show.
Hiroyuki Sanada: the actor and producer driving TV's 'Shogun'
By Natsuko Fukue
'Groundbreaking' realism key to 'Shogun' success
By Natsuko Fukue
Amy Adams gets real about motherhood in 'Nightbitch'
By Susan Stumme
A potential reunited Oasis gig in Japan should have promoters salivating
By Patrick St. Michel

LIFE

The first season of 'Shogun' wraps up just prior to the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, where Tokugawa Ieyasu (Yoshii Toranaga in the TV show) faced off against Ishida Mitsunari (Ishido Kazunari) to determine the new ruler of Japan.
The real-world inspirations behind 'Shogun' are a shinkansen away
By Edward J. Taylor
“Shogun” has cleaned up at the Emmys, so why not pack a bag and see the real history behind the award-winning show?
‘MasterChef UK’ winner’s new cookbook puts Hokkaido cuisine on vivid display
By Simon Daly
The enduring allure of Kyoto’s Kamo River
By Shawn B. Swinger
Tokyo’s top fashion showcase pushes rising stars to the world stage
By Mike Fu
AI fried chicken, retro chic collabs: Retailers rebrand Japan's New Year's cuisine

COMMUNITY

American Kara Harris is on the verge of attaining a high-level certification in the world of kimono — and may possibly be the first Black woman to do so.
‘The people I’d seen in kimono didn’t have as much melanin as I do’
By Baye McNeil
A student of Kara Harris says the kimono instructor knows how to expertly fit the traditional garment to bodies with more curves than the stereotypical Japanese frame.
After a rough upbringing, Amber is looking for a loving home
Andreas Fuchs: ‘I love that no two days are the same’
By Louise George Kittaka
Philippine envoy highlights climate and smart farms
By Louise George Kittaka
Over half a century, seeds of change grow at a Tochigi farm
By Madeleine Cuckson

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
‘Shogun’ and the painstaking art of ‘getting it right’
By Thu-Huong Ha
Hiroyuki Sanada and the cast and crew of "Shogun" accept the award for best drama series at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, California.
JAPAN
Japan’s schools battle to keep kids cool, with or without AC
By Mai Yoshikawa
Students sit under a misting system during recess at Hikarigaoka Haru no Kaze Elementary School in Nerima Ward, Tokyo, on Sept. 6.
LIFE
Chris Broad's new bar puts cocktails first, YouTube second
By Patrick St. Michel
A self-proclaimed lover of great cocktails, YouTuber Chris Broad says his new Shibuya watering hole is more a place to get yourself a solid drink than it is anything related to his social media career.
JAPAN
In LDP presidential poll, three kingmakers hold all the cards
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters in Tokyo in January as former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (left) looks on.
ENVIRONMENT
How China’s dominance of solar and batteries is impacting Japan’s energy transition
By Nithin Coca
Solar panels and wind turbines at a power plant in Hami in China's Xinjiang region. The U.S. and other countries have described China’s actions against Uyghurs in the Xinjiang region, a key cog in the cleantech supply chain, as a genocidal campaign aimed at erasing an entire culture.

Podcast

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

Longform

A store clerk tries to cool things down in front of their shop by spraying a hose.
Is extreme weather changing the way Japan shops?
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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WHAT’S TRENDING

CULTURE
'Shogun' becomes first non-English-language winner of best drama Emmy
By Alyssa I. Smith
Japanese actress Anna Sawai, winner of the outstanding lead actress in a drama series award for "Shogun," and Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada, winner of the outstanding lead actor in a drama series award for the show, pose in the press room during the 76th Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
LIFE
Chris Broad's new bar puts cocktails first, YouTube second
By Patrick St. Michel
A self-proclaimed lover of great cocktails, YouTuber Chris Broad says his new Shibuya watering hole is more a place to get yourself a solid drink than it is anything related to his social media career.
JAPAN
Yamaha Motor president slashed with knife by daughter
Yamaha Motor said it would not comment on an alleged knife attack on its president as it is a private matter and the investigation is ongoing.
BUSINESS
Japan set to hold rates steady as yen rallies and LDP candidates stump
By Kazuaki Nagata
The Bank of Japan is holding its policy board meeting this week.
BUSINESS
How Intel lost the Sony PlayStation business
By Max A. Cherney
Intel in 2022 lost out on a contract to design and fabricate the chip for Sony’s next-generation PlayStation 6.