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TOKYO
April 02, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 02, 2025
Shigeru Ishiba
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing, as headlines from articles on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are displayed, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
White House says Trump to go ahead with tariffs as nervous world awaits trade war
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose duties on U.S. goods would take effect immediately after Trump announces them.

More coverage

Japanese businesses maintain optimism ahead of looming tariff storm
Trump tariffs may spell economic crisis for Japan, Onodera says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing, as headlines from articles on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are displayed, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Four Taiwan Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets prepare to take off from Hsinchu Airbase in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Wednesday, amid ongoing Chinese military drills around the democratic island.
ASIA PACIFIC
China continues military drills around Taiwan that U.S. says fuel tensions
By Jesse Johnson
The U.S. State Department said the drills, code-named “Strait Thunder-2025A," "put the region’s security and the world’s prosperity at risk."
People queue for food and relief supplies after a strong earthquake in Amarapura, Myanmar, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
U.N. urges aid to Myanmar quake survivors before monsoons hit as death toll nears 3,000
A civil war in Myanmar had already displaced more than 3 million people long before the quake struck.
Lawyer Akira Takeuchi (center), the head of a third-party panel commissioned by Fuji TV to investigate a series of scandals at the broadcaster, fields questions along with other panel members at a news conference on Monday in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
JAPAN / Media / FOCUS
What the Fuji TV third-party probe uncovered
By Yukana Inoue
The panel concluded that TV personality Masahiro Nakai committed "sexual violence" against a female newscaster and that there is a culture of harassment at the broadcaster.
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
JAPAN / Society
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
By Jessica Speed
The company is switching to paper cartons as a result of declining demand, environmental concerns and supply issues after its glass bottle supplier shut down.
Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.

JAPAN

A 37-year-old son of death-row inmate Masumi Hayashi, who goes by the pseudonym of Koji Hayashi, stands in front of the land of the family's previous house in January.
Family fights for death-row retrial under Japan's 'snail-paced' system
By Tomohiro Osaki
Japan's current retrial system is often labeled the "Unopenable Door" because the chances of being granted a legal do-over are so slim.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
No rest for weary Ishiba as challenges await in parliament
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
After finally securing passage of the country's budget earlier this week, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba now faces an uphill battle to win back the public's trust.
Japan infrastructure sector draws up contingencies for Nankai quake
ASDF's Blue Impulse set for Osaka Expo performance
Seven people injured after car runs into pedestrians in Nagoya
Aichi man arrested after woman's body found in closet

BUSINESS

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Ghibli effect: ChatGPT usage hits record after rollout of viral feature
By Akash Sriram
The viral trend saw users from across the globe flood social media with images based on the hand-drawn style of the famed Japanese animation outfit.
The Bank of Japan's tankan survey indicates that large business are still positive on their prospects.
Japanese businesses maintain optimism ahead of looming tariff storm
By Kazuaki Nagata
In the BOJ's latest tankan survey, the headline index for big manufacturers was 12, which indicates confidence in the business outlook.
Three reported dead after Xiaomi car with driver assistance crashes
By Linda Lew
Warburg purchases Tokyo rental houses, plans Japan office
By Lisa Du
Stakes are high for Switch 2 after Nintendo’s stock valuation surges
By Alice French
U.S. tariffs on Vietnam would be a blow to Nike and other sportswear brands
By Nicholas P. Brown and Helen Reid

WORLD

A F-18 jet lands on the runway of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier during military exercises in 2024.
Pentagon sends second aircraft carrier to Mideast as Iran tensions rise
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered additional forces to the Middle East, including the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group and aircraft.
Men stand at the scene of an Israeli strike in Beirut's southern suburbs on Tuesday.
Hezbollah official among four dead in Israeli strike on Beirut
By Lisa Golden
Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called the attack a "clear breach" of the Nov. 27 ceasefire.
Princeton's U.S. grants frozen, following Trump's moves against other schools
By Kanishka Singh
Liberal wins Wisconsin Supreme Court election in setback for Trump and Musk
Anti-American sentiment rises in Europe as Trump fuels anger
By Maggie Shiltagh
Once-rare fungal diseases are killing millions in an unprepared world
By Jason Gale

Sports

Kaori Sakamoto performs her free skate during the world championships in Boston on Friday.
Kaori Sakamoto breathes sigh of relief after world championships
By Hiro Yoshida
Sakamoto finished in second place behind American Alysa Liu, who made a surprising run to the world title.
Elanga wonder-goal sinks Man Utd as Forest eye Champions League berth
Haaland sidelined by injury in major Man City blow
Kasatkina looks ahead to new chapter under Australian flag
By Shrivathsa Sridhar
NFL comeback star Damar Hamlin shares life-saving message in Tokyo
By Jason Coskrey

Opinion

A Buddhist monk walks past the damaged Mandalay Palace on Monday. The country's ruling military junta can repeat the mistakes of 17 years ago by blocking aid after Cyclone Nargis left 140,000 dead or allow urgent assistance to flow freely.
The quake in Myanmar should force the junta’s hand
Ruth Pollard
The ousted civilian administration initiated a two-week ceasefire in quake-hit areas to allow aid to reach victims. It doesn’t look like the junta will do the same.
Asia must unite to survive Trump 2.0
By Lee Jong-wha
Is this really how American exceptionalism ends?
By Allison Schrager
Contemplating victory and defeat in Ukraine
By Howard Chua-Eoan
What’s fueling America's gold bar conspiracy
By Stephen Mihm

ENVIRONMENT

Fluffy, low-hanging clouds generally have a cooling influence. They are big and bright, blocking and bouncing back incoming sunlight.
Clouds changing as world warms, adding to climate uncertainty
By Nick Perry
Cloud behavior is notoriously complex to predict and remains a great unknown for scientists trying to accurately forecast future levels of climate change.
Trump can't stop 'sustainability revolution': Al Gore
Without new countermeasures, Japan’s temperature could rise 4.5 C by 2100
By Jessica Speed
Why we should worry when whales stop singing
By Todd Woody
What the $660 million Greenpeace verdict means for U.S. activism
By Olivia Raimonde and Zahra Hirji

CULTURE

A figurine of the character Link from the Nintendo video game series The Legend of Zelda is displayed inside the Nintendo Tokyo store in the Japanese capital in November 2019.
Nintendo announces Legend of Zelda film for 2027
Nintendo made the announcement on "Nintendo Today!", a new app for fans that was launched on Thursday.
Yuki Tejima's metamorphosis from bookworm to literary translator
By Kris Kosaka
Cherry blossom-themed art to see this weekend in Tokyo
By Zoria Petkoska
Rise and shine with ‘The Wakey Show’
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Ravens’: Tadanobu Asano plays troubled photographer with scapegrace charm
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Graduation ceremonies in Japan will usually include a performance of the Japanese national anthem, “Kimigayo.”
Attempting the classics: The world of waka poetry
By Eric Margolis
The origins of this poetry style stretch back to at least the seventh century, when one of the emperor's wives composed it at court ceremonies.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks
The cold complexity of 'pure' Japanese cocktail ice
By Phoebe Amoroso
Feast your eyes on 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking'
By Simon Daly
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

Shogo Yamaguchi shares his love of traditional Japanese culture with an audience of nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers.
Shogo Yamaguchi: ‘Traditional culture thrives in a peaceful society’
By Laura Pollacco
The Kyoto-based content creator shares travel tips and reminisces on the path that led him to where he is today.
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
A tawny Kai Ken discovers his courage
A community of stories: Making space for reflection and dialogue in Tokyo and beyond
By Megumi Koiwai

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
By Jesse Johnson
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS
No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker
By Joel Tansey
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
BUSINESS
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
By Tim Hornyak
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
JAPAN
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Yamagata’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a classic beauty
Yamagata’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort is a classic beauty

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
As ‘Buy Canadian’ grows, more U.S. firms say retailers turning away products
Empty shelves with "Buy Canadian Instead" signs are seen in the American Whiskey section of the BC Liquor in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 10.
BUSINESS
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
By Francis Tang
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
JAPAN
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
JAPAN
Osaka Expo's Japan Pavilion completed
A ceremony is held to mark the completion of the Japan Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka on Saturday.