Home page

 
Menu
Search
 
Menu
Search
Tokyo Weather 8℃
TOKYO
November 25, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 25, 2024
Yen
Japan tax cuts
Russia-Ukraine war
Latest News
Deep Dive
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks on Saturday in Tokyo at a rally that was held by a group of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago to demand the immediate return of all abductees.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba shelves proposal for liaison offices with North Korea amid rising tensions
The Prime Minister has expressed his commitment to resolving the abduction issue, as well as his willingness to hold talks with Kim Jong Un.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks on Saturday in Tokyo at a rally that was held by a group of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago to demand the immediate return of all abductees.
The National Consumer Affairs Center reports a growing number of consultations regarding "digital legacies" — data and online services left behind by the deceased.
JAPAN / Society
Are you leaving your loved ones digital legacies or headaches?
By Karin Kaneko
The National Consumer Affairs Center is getting an increasing number of consultations regarding data and online services left behind by deceased persons.
Japan starter Shosei Togo reacts after allowing a three-run home run against Taiwan in the fifth inning of the Premier12 final on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Taiwan stuns Samurai Japan to capture Premier12 title
By Jason Coskrey
Taiwan won the Premier12 crown for the first time.
A man walks past a gasoline station in Tokyo on Thursday.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
How Japan can exit the fossil fuel subsidies it can’t seem to quit
By Chris Russell
While offering relief to low-income households, such measures encourage the continued use of the fossil fuels driving climate change.
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, California. Replicas of the giant doughnut sculpture will be installed, where possible, at shops in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
An iconic 32-foot doughnut might give Randy’s an edge in Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie
The doughnut had a cameo in “2012,” where it is seen rolling down the street as an enduring symbol of end-time. Now the brand looks to tackle the tough Japanese market.
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, California. Replicas of the giant doughnut sculpture will be installed, where possible, at shops in Japan.

JAPAN

People offer a moment of silence during a ceremony held for the first time on Sunday to remember all those who worked at the now-defunct gold mines on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, including those from the Korean Peninsula.
First ceremony held to remember Sado gold mine workers
The event came after the Sado Island Gold Mines were designated a UNESCO World Heritage site earlier this year.
Health minister Takamaro Fukuoka in an interview last week
Government aims to ease care worker shortages through wage hikes
Staff shortages at care facilities are "very serious," Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Takamaro Fukuoka said.
PFAS blood tests start in Okayama Prefecture town
Ex-deputy mayor wins Nagoya mayoral election
Japan and U.S. to form missile plan in case of Taiwan emergency
Japan's foreign minister may visit China within this year

BUSINESS

A 7-Eleven convenience store in Tokyo
Seven & I founding family sounded out KKR and others about buyout: report
In addition to KKR, the founding Ito family also approached Bain Capital and Apollo Global Management.
Workers install a battery for a new electric vehicle model at Mitsubishi Motor's factory in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture.
Trump tariffs may target Japanese cars, economist says
The Moody's Analytics economist warned that this poses a huge risk to the Japanese economy.
China's startups suffer as investors exercise redemption rights
Chinese exports to hit record this year before second Trump term
JETRO draws up guidelines for wagyu labeling in U.S.
Nissan persuades U.S. court to decertify brake defect class actions
By Jonathan Stempel

WORLD

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden greet one another during a meeting in Washington in September.
Biden rushes to bolster Ukraine before Trump takes control
By Courtney McBride
Biden’s recent steps include, most notably, allowing Kyiv to hit military targets deeper inside Russia.
World leaders pose for a family photo during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima on Nov. 16.
Trump casts long shadow over summits as world holds its breath
By Rebecca Choong Wilkins
Officials raised worries about Trump’s specific threat to impose 60% tariffs on China, a measure that would force Beijing to reroute exports to other parts of the world.
Afghan women turn to entrepreneurship under Taliban
By Aysha Safi
Trump's son helping him pick most controversial Cabinet of modern times
By Alexandra Ulmer
Adani charges to test Trump’s desire to keep India in U.S. orbit
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen
Hezbollah rockets land near Tel Aviv after Israeli strike on Beirut

Sports

Brazil’s Rayssa Leal celebrates after winning the women's Street League Skateboarding competition on Saturday in Tokyo.
Rayssa Leal and Chloe Covell on Japan’s teen skaters: We are friends, not rivals
By Mai Yoshikawa
On Saturday, there were plenty of high-fives, fist bumps and hugs between “rivals” as Leal won Street League Skateboarding's Tokyo stop.
Star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to part ways with Eagles
By Jason Coskrey
U.S. finishes Premier12 on high note with victory over Venezuela for bronze
By Jason Coskrey
Verstappen wins fourth consecutive Formula One world title
Pride shut out Spirit to capture first NWSL championship

Opinion

The Clintons and Barack Obama engineered the disastrous situation in the 2024 election and have long dominated the Democratic Party, with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris serving as their appointees. 
How the Democrats sunk their own ship this year
James K. Galbraith
The Democratic leadership would far rather lose an election or two — or even become a permanent minority party – than open the party to people it cannot control.
Nintendo’s latest device, the Alarmo, is a $100 wake-up call
By Gearoid Reidy
Paranoia and Beijing trump democracy in Hong Kong
Like in Elden Ring, Sony must learn from its mistakes
By Gearoid Reidy
Has the age of populism finally reached Japan?
By Kuni Miyake

ENVIRONMENT

Titan Cement's factory in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, Egypt
How big fossil-fuel-producing countries export emissions abroad
By Mohamed Ezz and Valerie Volcovici
A loophole in the 2015 Paris accord has allowed countries to say they are making climate progress while also exporting fossil fuels at breakneck pace.
Climate finance's 'new era' shows new political realities
By Shaun TANDON
Developing nations blast $300 billion COP29 climate deal as insufficient
Wealthy countries' $300 billion offer seeks to end COP29 stalemate
At a climate conference in oil country, progress remains elusive
By Akshat Rathi

CULTURE

Emerging Gen Z J-pop group ME:I will perform on this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen," national broadcaster NHK’s New Year's Eve spectacle.
'Kohaku' still matters for J-pop bragging rights
By Patrick St. Michel
The recently announced 2024 lineup underlines how capturing a year of J-pop in one broadcast bonanza is impossible these days.
There's no room for wallflowers at Amapinight
By Kim Kahan
'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists
By Kris Kosaka
‘Angry Squad’: A caper comedy with a lot of heart
By James Hadfield
‘Performing Kaoru's Funeral’: Ambitious drama reflects on love that doesn’t die
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat
By Greg Dvorak
The modern sauna experience is more than just taking a seat in some steam — whisking, aufguss shows and spectacle all play a part.
A buttery pound cake to die — or kill — for
By Simon Daly
In rugged Yamanashi, a wild-goose chase for ‘real Japan’
By Owen Ziegler
You don’t need an onion bouquet to say thanks — just the right words
By Yuko Tamura
Healthy low-carb foods on the rise in Japan

COMMUNITY

After almost a decade of traveling around the world, a working holiday during the 2019 ski season in Nozawa Onsen was to be Rowie Geraerts’ last hurrah before she settled down in Australia.
How a solo yoga teacher built a wellness community in the Japanese Alps
By Samantha Mythen
A budding entrepreneur from Australia, Rowie Geraerts has created Shizen Collective in Nozawa Onsen — a new home for herself, locals and visitors.
Omar Nok: 'There are good people everywhere'
By Ansel Swindells
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
By Mike Fu
A bridge between kyogen and the world, Don Kenny dies at 88
By Rintaro Dainichi
Gary Perlman: ‘Kabuki is pure entertainment … the characters and themes are universal’
By Ansel Swindells

Editors' Picks

LIFE
Tokyo’s newest three-star chef wants ‘harmony across every detail’
By Haru Beaufort
British-born Daniel Calvert earned his third Michelin star last month — a stunning achievement considering his restaurant, Sezanne, has only been open for just over three years.
JAPAN
133-year-old Kyushu railway station remains to be partially preserved
By Francis Tang
The remains of the original Moji Station in Kitakyushu
LIFE
After Shohei Ohtani bump, Iwate ironware maker sees brighter future
By Jessica Kozuka
Kaito Kikuchi's decision to send superstar Shohei Ohtani one of his company's traditional ironware tea kettles has paid off with a surge of interest from general consumers.
BASEBALL
Shohei Ohtani wins National League MVP award
By Jason Coskrey
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the Padres during the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles last month.
CULTURE
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
By James Hadfield
A 19th-century warrior gets struck by lightning and wakes to find himself in 21st-century Kyoto in Junichi Yasuda’s surprise hit “A Samurai in Time.”

Podcast

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

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat
By Greg Dvorak

JT Directory Service

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Ex.Portal By Synergy Media Specialists

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono
The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

WHAT’S TRENDING

BASEBALL
Taiwan stuns Samurai Japan to capture Premier12 title
By Jason Coskrey
Japan starter Shosei Togo reacts after allowing a three-run home run against Taiwan in the fifth inning of the Premier12 final on Sunday.
JAPAN
Woman dies after train collides with car in Tochigi
A Moka Railway train car
BASEBALL
Japan beats Taiwan ahead of rematch in Premier12 final
By Jason Coskrey
Keita Sano celebrates with his teammates after scoring on Kotaro Kiyomiya's two-run triple against Taiwan during their Premier12 game at Tokyo Dome on Saturday.
LIFE
Tokyo’s newest three-star chef wants ‘harmony across every detail’
By Haru Beaufort
British-born Daniel Calvert earned his third Michelin star last month — a stunning achievement considering his restaurant, Sezanne, has only been open for just over three years.
CULTURE
'Kohaku' still matters for J-pop bragging rights
By Patrick St. Michel
Emerging Gen Z J-pop group ME:I will perform on this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen," national broadcaster NHK’s New Year's Eve spectacle.