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January 05, 2025

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U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Steel Works in Braddock, Pennsylvania, in December 2019. The Biden administration blocked the $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel on Friday, citing grounds that the sale posed a threat to national security.

BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS

Biden’s decision on Nippon Steel deal followed divide in his orbit

By Joe Deaux and Josh Wingrove

The split was emblematic of so many shifts in U.S. policy — including of Biden’s pledge to build trust with allies and the race against China.

Nippon Steel rejection shows national security means whatever you want

What's next for the Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel deal?

U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson Steel Works in Braddock, Pennsylvania, in December 2019. The Biden administration blocked the $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel on Friday, citing grounds that the sale posed a threat to national security.

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.

JAPAN / FOCUS

Taking a page from Ukraine war, SDF carves out growing role for drones

By Gabriel Dominguez

Whether for use in the air, on land or at sea, the SDF is gradually integrating these increasingly capable and often autonomous systems into their units.

Tomiko Itooka died of old age in a nursing home for the elderly in the city of Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture.

JAPAN / Society

Tomiko Itooka, the world's oldest person, dies at 116

Itooka was born on May 23, 1908, in the commercial hub of Osaka — four months before the Ford Model T automobile was launched in the United States.

A woman in her 60s talks about her son who became addicted to online gambling and committed a crime through an illegal part-time job.

JAPAN / Society

Online gambling addiction becoming serious issue in Japan

The number of consultation requests received by one aid group has surged 11-fold in five years.

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.

MORE SPORTS

Tokyo falconers keep ancient traditions soaring

By Jessica Speed

While a recent showcase was all about fun and education, like other sports involving animals, falconry is also serious business for competitors at the upper echelons of the sport.

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.

Solar panels, which typically last 20 to 30 years, will begin to reach the end of their service life in the next decade.

Disposal of used solar panels emerging as challenge in Japan

The annual amount of solar panels discarded as waste is seen peaking at some 500,000 tons in the early 2040s, putting a major strain on industrial waste treatment facilities.

Residents and bomb squad members stand in front of a house destroyed by a Russian missile strike in Chernihiv, Ukraine, on Saturday. Japan plans to help Ukraine with measures to fight corruption.

Japan to help Ukraine eradicate corruption

Ukraine was 104th among 180 countries and regions in the 2023 corruption perceptions rankings by Transparency International.

Bluefin tuna fetches ¥207 million at Toyosu first auction of the year

CDP chief Noda rejects grand coalition with LDP

Safety board to further analyze JAL jet collision at Haneda

Three people found dead in Kobe home

Yasushi Dozen, chief investment officer at Kepple

Japan's ¥10 trillion startup investment target more improbable than ever

By Kazuaki Nagata

Investors and startup supporters say Japan is still in the seed-planting phase of startup development and must address some structural issues.

A 2024 Toyota Prius Prime during the 2024 New York International Auto Show in New York last March

U.S. new car sales rose to five-year high in 2024, helped by hybrids

Sales continued to rise from their pandemic lows, bolstered by replenished inventories, higher incentives and surging demand for hybrid vehicles.

Meiji Yasuda girds to be more daring in global M&A hunt

By Nao Sano

Biden blocks Nippon Steel’s $14.1 billion takeover of U.S. Steel

Brooklyn brewers take on sake, America's new hip tipple

By Elizabeth Beattie

Biden to block U.S. Steel sale to Nippon Steel, source says

An Israeli soldier sits atop a tank as it drives into the U.N.-patrolled buffer zone in the Golan Heights, near the Druze village of Majdal Shams, on Dec. 13.

U.S. plans $8 billion arms sale to Israel

Some of the munitions deliveries could be furnished through current U.S. stock, while the majority would take up to several years to deliver.

A demonstrator holds a placard that reads "I will fight with President Yoon Suk Yeol" during a rally in support of the impeached South Korea president in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul on Saturday.

South Korea's political crisis: what could happen next?

By Claire Lee

From another arrest attempt to waiting for a Constitutional Court decision, the scenarios that could decide President Yoon Suk Yeol's fate are numerous.

South Koreans protest in snow as Yoon arrest deadline nears

Cartoonist quits Washington Post over rejected sketch mocking owner and Trump

Blinken wades into political crisis with stop in South Korea

Zelenskyy reports heavy Russian and North Korean troop losses in Kursk

Kei Nishikori hits a return to China's Shang Juncheng during their semifinal match at the Hong Kong Open on Saturday.

Resurgent Nishikori reaches first ATP final in six years

A wildcard at the tournament, Nishikori beat third-seeded Russian Karen Khachanov, Britain's Cam Norrie and Denis Shapovalov on the way to the last four.

Hideki Matsuyama holds 1-shot edge on Collin Morikawa at The Sentry

Arsenal and Chelsea both drop points as Newcastle's surge continues

By Martyn Herman

Iga Swiatek carries Poland into United Cup semifinals

Luke Littler beats 'The Bullet' to reach World Darts Championship final

Then-economy minister Yasutoshi Nishimura marks the opening of the carbon credit market at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in October 2023. The GX League, which includes the emissions trading system, already covers over half of Japan’s emissions.

Japan poised to lead in a brighter carbon market era

Phil Cohn

The patchy, voluntary nature of carbon markets around the world is finally changing after world leaders agreed to a new system for trading emissions reductions across borders.

'Guernica' is always with us

By Annie Cohen-Solal

AI has not yet destroyed democracy

By Sergei Guriev

The olive oil crisis is over — but fears continue to linger

By Javier Blas

We need energy for AI, and AI for energy

By Eric Schmidt

People cover themselves with umbrellas during a hot summer day in Tokyo's Ginza district in August. Temperatures shot up in early July, even before the official end of the rainy season, and the high temperatures persisted well into the fall.

Japan’s weather in 2024: Record temperatures hurt people’s health and wallets

By Tomoko Otake

Average temperatures across the nation and surrounding seas exceeded last year’s record-breaking levels "by a significant margin," affecting everything from well-being to farming.

Great things can grow in small places

By Laura Pollacco

After a year of hard climate talks, ‘minilateralism’ is an alternative

By Aaron Clark

Is Japan finally ready to tap its abundant geothermal energy potential?

By Eric Johnston

The mighty Mekong River's growing plastic problem

By Anton L. Delgado

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

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

Still sounding young at 85, Midori Kato is the voice of old Japan

By Motoko Rich and Hisako Ueno

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.

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

From Michelin stardom to humble meals, Tokyo dining had an eclectic 2024

By Robbie Swinnerton

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

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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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