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January 06, 2025
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A supporter of impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol holds a sign during a rally near Yoon's residence in Seoul on Monday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
South Korean authorities seek extended arrest deadline for Yoon
Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has refused questioning three times while an earlier arrest attempt failed, leaving the embattled leader holed up in his residence.

More coverage

North Korea fires off intermediate-range missile in first launch of 2025
Blinken wades into South Korea political crisis
A supporter of impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol holds a sign during a rally near Yoon's residence in Seoul on Monday.
Two people died and three others were missing after a fishing boat capsized off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture early Monday.
JAPAN
Two dead, three missing after fishing boat capsizes off Ibaraki coast
The capsized vessel was carrying 20 crew members, including 15 Japanese citizens and five Indonesian nationals.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks at the federal Liberal caucus holiday party in Ottawa on Dec. 17.
WORLD / Politics
Canadian PM Trudeau expected to announce resignation in coming days: report
Any decision would come amid a caucus revolt and dismal public opinion polls that show his party would likely lose in a landslide to the rival Conservatives.
A drone view shows Gary Works, the largest integrated steel mill in the U.S., which is operated by U.S. Steel, in Gary, Indiana, on Dec. 12.
BUSINESS / Companies
Rival CEO allegedly spread doubt about Nippon Steel deal to Wall Street
By Alexandra Alper
The private remarks the CEO made throughout 2024 about the deal process show the extent of his effort to cast doubt.
"Shogun" actors (from left) Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano pose in the press room with the award for best drama television series during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
'Shogun,' 'Hacks' win top TV honors at Golden Globes
By Danielle Broadway
FX's historical epic won four awards in total, including best actor and actress for Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai, respectively, and best supporting male actor for Tadanobu Asano.
"Shogun" actors (from left) Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Hiroyuki Sanada and Tadanobu Asano pose in the press room with the award for best drama television series during the 82nd annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.

JAPAN

Nagoya University researchers used processed images of newts overlaid with snake scales to determine how long it took three Japanese macaques born in captivity to differentiate a scaled newt from snakes as they did to find a snake among such newts.
Primates’ fear of snakes may be linked to reptiles’ scales, study finds
Nagoya University researchers conclude that snakes’ scales, rather than their elongated bodies, are what trigger fear among humans and monkeys.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi addresses a meeting held at the Liberal Democratic Party's headquarters in Tokyo on Nov. 21.
Japan's LDP lawmakers seen actively forming new groups
Moves to create fresh groups and hold gatherings may be seen as a revival of the factional politics at the core of the money scandal.
Japan government promotes laser forest terrain surveys
Japanese researchers develop method to break down PFAS 'forever chemicals'
Bird flu outbreaks strike Iwate Prefecture farms
Japan to map out defense export strategy within 2025

BUSINESS

This undated handout picture courtesy of Blue Origin shows the New Glenn rocket during a successful integrated vehicle hotfire at Launch Complex 36 (LC-36) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.
Bezos's Blue Origin poised for first orbital launch
By Issam AHMED and Gregg Newton
The NG-1 mission will carry a prototype of Blue Ring, a Department of Defense-funded spacecraft envisioned as a versatile satellite deployment platform.
Dai-ichi Life Insurance sold about ¥500 billion of Japanese government notes, mainly 20- to 40-year bonds, in the fiscal first half that ended in September.
Dai-ichi Life takes ¥140 billion loss selling off long bonds
By Nao Sano
The insurer sold about ¥500 billion of Japanese government notes, mainly 20- to 40-year bonds, in the fiscal first half ended September.
Japan’s top LNG buyer creates think tank to watch market trends
By Tsuyoshi Inajima
JR Central to let pet dogs ride on shinkansen
Japan stocks look set for new highs in 2025 on earnings and reforms
By Aya Wagatsuma
Singapore hospital operator targets wealthy boomers in China
By Karoline Kan

WORLD

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul in New York City on Sept. 23.
Blinken wades into South Korea political crisis
By Shaun TANDON, Hieun SHIN and Jack Moore
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip is meant to highlight President Joe Biden's efforts to build alliances.
Britain's Reform U.K. party leader Nigel Farage speaks during a news conference in London on Nov. 28.
Musk turns on U.K.'s Farage, saying he should quit as Reform party chief
By William Schomberg
The Tesla CEO, a close ally of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, said the Reform U.K. party leader "doesn’t have what it takes."
After year of big corruption crackdown, China promises more probes
By Ryan Woo
The quiet financier: Islamic State group's elusive strongman
By Didier LAURAS
MAGA's infighting sparks fears of a chaotic Trump White House
By Frankie TAGGART
Starmer’s travels outstrip past U.K. leaders, posing ratings risk
By Isabella Ward

Sports

Hideki Matsuyama celebrates after winning The Sentry at the Plantation Course in Kapalua, Hawaii, on Sunday
Hideki Matsuyama breaks PGA Tour scoring record on way to win at The Sentry
The win was the 11th for Matsuyama on the PGA Tour
Lions pull away from Vikings in second half to secure top seed in NFC
Naomi Osaka 'very optimistic' about playing at Australian Open
Pat Cummins expresses pride after Australia tops India to win 'everything'
Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz carry U.S. past Poland in United Cup final

Opinion

Hogwarts Castle at Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City, California. There are influential American works of fantasy like “The Wizard of Oz” and “American Gods,” but they lack the cohesive, enduring impact of European counterparts such as the “Harry Potter” and “The Chronicles of Narnia” series.
America needs a 'Great American Fantasy'
Ross Douthat
There is a lack of a distinctly "Great American Fantasy" in literature and popular culture.
Can Biden’s green boom survive Trump’s wrecking ball?
By Liam Denning
Supporting Ukraine is in Trump’s interest
By Michael Froman and Charles A. Kupchan
The uphill battle against poverty
'Guernica' is always with us
By Annie Cohen-Solal

ENVIRONMENT

A maintenance worker inspects solar panels at a power plant in southern India.
Where the smart climate tech venture money is going in 2025
By Brian Kahn
The prospect of more trade wars is scrambling the economy in ways that will determine which climate tech sectors to bet on.
Great things can grow in small places
By Laura Pollacco
After a year of hard climate talks, ‘minilateralism’ is an alternative
By Aaron Clark
Japan’s weather in 2024: Record temperatures hurt people’s health and wallets
By Tomoko Otake
Is Japan finally ready to tap its abundant geothermal energy potential?
By Eric Johnston

CULTURE

Ian Lynam's "Fracture" is the result of 15 years of research and production and excavates 100 years of Japanese graphic design history from the Meiji (1868-1912) to Showa eras (1926-89).
‘Fracture’ dissects 100 years of Japanese graphic design
By Ray Masaki
Ian Lynam puts his kaleidoscopic expertise to work examining Japanese graphic design from an internationalist and feminist perspective.
'Emilia Perez' heads into Golden Globes as strong favorite
By Romain FONSEGRIVES
Guitarist Marty Friedman goes to bat for J-pop in new autobiography
By Philip Brasor
The bond between the Japanese and animals as seen in ukiyo-e
By Aiko Imaizumi
Toru Fuyuki, composer of 'Ultraseven' theme song, dies at 89

LIFE

At the new L'Abysse Osaka, Yannick Alleno both pays homage to and casts aside the tradition around Japan's national dish.
Now in Osaka, Yannick Alleno wants ‘flavors people have never experienced’
By Melinda Joe
Opened in late October, Sushi L'Abysse Osaka is the Michelin-starred chef’s first outpost in Asia.
Japan’s ‘quiet revolution’ of luxury travel nears fruition
By Tan Pin Yen
Start the new year with a fresh approach to teaching Japanese
By Yaeko Kabe
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake
By Kathryn Wortley
Architect Sou Fujimoto says his 'Grand Ring' will be a symbol of unity at the Osaka Expo
By Natsuko Fukue

COMMUNITY

For the 20 Questions column this year, writers asked their interview subjects about everything from their lives in Japan to their thoughts on news topics.
There were plenty of hot topics to opine on in 2024
By Gendel Gento, Kimberly Hughes, Ora Margolis, David McElhinney, Zoria Petkoska, Justin Randall, Himari Semans, Patrick St. Michel and Ansel Swindells
We take a look back at some of the best answers that our interviewees gave for 20 Questions from throughout the year.
A holiday season built on creativity and care
By Baye McNeil
From the stage to the streets, make a difference this holiday season
By Kimberly Hughes
Yurie Collins: ‘Everyone seems sedated, fed-up … that’s why they turn to comedy’
By Zoria Petkoska
Seven strangers and an algorithm: Can this new dinner app help you make friends?
By Phoebe Amoroso

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
‘Fracture’ dissects 100 years of Japanese graphic design
By Ray Masaki
Ian Lynam's "Fracture" is the result of 15 years of research and production and excavates 100 years of Japanese graphic design history from the Meiji (1868-1912) to Showa eras (1926-89).
JAPAN
Taking a page from Ukraine war, SDF carves out growing role for drones
By Gabriel Dominguez
An Air Self-Defense Force airman sets up a drone during a bilateral live fire exercise at Draughon Range, near Misawa Air Base, in Aomori Prefecture in July 2023.
BUSINESS
Brooklyn brewers take on sake, America's new hip tipple
By Elizabeth Beattie
A brewer stirs the mix for making sake at a brewery in Tokyo.
MORE SPORTS
Tokyo falconers keep ancient traditions soaring
By Jessica Speed
A falconer during the Suwa Falconry Preservation Society's event in Tokyo on Friday. Falconry predates recorded history, originating, scholars believe, when nomadic herders observed birds of prey hunting and recognized their potential as partners.
LIFE
Traveling for sake's sake: The emergence of brewery tourism in Japan
By Yukana Inoue
Tonoike Sake Brewery has been gearing their brewery toward tourism since the late 1980s, attempting to lure tourists to the town of Mashiko.

Podcast

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

Longform

A man offers prayers at Hebikubo Shrine in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. The shrine is one of several across the country dedicated to the snake.
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake
By Kathryn Wortley

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WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
The real-life violence that inspired South Korea's 'Squid Game'
By Claire Lee
Riot police march in front of the main building of Ssangyong Motor in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 6, 2009.
LIFE
Japan’s ‘quiet revolution’ of luxury travel nears fruition
By Tan Pin Yen
Scheduled to welcome its first guests in early 2025, the Waldorf Astoria Osaka is just one of many luxury hotel openings Japan has seen in recent months.
JAPAN
Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest person, dies at 116
Tomiko Itooka died of old age in a nursing home for the elderly in the city of Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture.
BUSINESS
Nippon Steel rejection shows national security means whatever you want
By Eric Martin
An entrance sign for Nippon Steel's East Nippon Works Kashima Area facility is pictured in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, last month.
JAPAN
CDP chief Noda rejects grand coalition with LDP
Former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks during a news conference in Ise, Mie Prefecture, on Saturday.