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April 09, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 09, 2025
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington on Tuesday. Trump allowed new tariffs — including a 24% levy on Japan — to go into effect as scheduled on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Trump’s 24% tariffs on Japan now in effect
By Francis Tang
Tariffs take time to actually affect prices and trade flows, but financial markets are already responding to the possibility of severe economic dislocation.

More coverage

Trump tariffs take effect hiking trade levies to a 100-year high
What is Japan's play on Trump's tariffs?
Japan and U.S. appoint tariff negotiators after Ishiba-Trump phone call
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he attends the National Republican Congressional Committee dinner in Washington on Tuesday. Trump allowed new tariffs — including a 24% levy on Japan — to go into effect as scheduled on Wednesday.
George Glass, U.S. President Donald Trump's pick to be ambassador to Japan, attends a Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing in Washington on March 13.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan gets a new U.S. ambassador — and he has his work cut out for him
By Jesse Johnson
The U.S. Senate has voted to confirm George Glass, whose top agenda items include resolving the tariff row and getting Tokyo to spend more on defense.
A man walks past an electronic board showing the numbers of the Nikkei stock average on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in the Japanese capital on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Japanese stocks decline in wake of wild U.S. pre-tariff volatility
The broader Topix index slid as much as 3.7% to 2,342.66, while the blue-chip Nikkei 225 stock average declined as much as 4% to 31,708.21.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte speaks during a forum at Keio University in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
NATO chief calls on allies, partners to ‘outproduce and outpace’ rivals
By Gabriel Dominguez
In Tokyo on Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte called on members of the alliance and its four Indo-Pacific partners to work more closely together.
Digital artist Polygon1993 revels in the physicality of nostalgic technology, making art out of materials such as miniature CDs, holographic prints layered with plexiglass shards and a giant custom-made floppy disk.
CULTURE / Art
Online art scene eager to go offline, at least for the moment
By Zoria Petkoska
From Beeple exhibiting a physical version of an NFT artwork to Polygon1993’s custom-made giant floppy disk, digital media artists are bringing their work into the physical world.
Digital artist Polygon1993 revels in the physicality of nostalgic technology, making art out of materials such as miniature CDs, holographic prints layered with plexiglass shards and a giant custom-made floppy disk.

JAPAN

Japan Coast Guard has introduced Starlink, a high-speed satellite internet service, on some of its patrol vessels.
Starlink brings internet to Japan Coast Guard ships in bid for new blood
The JCG hopes the upgrade will help appeal to younger generations amid growing concerns over rising retirement numbers and declining recruitment.
A research team found that brown fat, which encourages the body to burn fat, tended to be more active among those conceived during the colder months, meaning they are less likely to gain weight.
Japanese team finds people conceived in winter less likely to be overweight
The team analyzed the brown fat of 356 men between the ages of 18 and 29.
U.S. confirms new Pentagon No. 3 as Japan defense budget in crosshairs
By Jesse Johnson
The man who sent Japan's cherry blossoms out to the world
By Naoko Abe
Ex-member of 'Kanto Rengo' quasi-gang group arrested
Japan begins monitoring acute respiratory infections

BUSINESS

Shipping containers on the outskirts of Houston on Tuesday. China has vowed to "fight to the end" after Donald Trump further ramped up tariffs.
Trump tariffs take effect hiking trade levies to a 100-year high
The latest tariffs push levies imposed on China this year to as high as 104%, along with import taxes on roughly 60 trading partners that run trade surpluses with the U.S.
Hedge funds are trying to hire more in Japan, as traders look to power markets in the country with more green energy and uncertainties surrounding nuclear plant restarts.
Hedge funds eye volatile Asia power markets with new hires
By Yongchang Chin and Shoko Oda
They are pushing into the region with the aim of offsetting declining profits from mainstay commodities.
Hon Hai makes case to build EVs for Japan’s automobile industry
By Reed Stevenson and Tsuyoshi Inajima
BOJ's Ueda conveys wait-and-see stance on U.S. tariffs
By Toru Fujioka
U.S. Steel says activist investor now in favor of Nippon Steel deal
U.S. Justice Department disbands crypto enforcement team
By Sarah N. Lynch and Chris Prentice

WORLD

Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, during a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul on Monday. Lee is the top candidate for the next presidential election, with support of 34% respondents in a Gallup poll released April. 4.
South Korea opposition leader Lee steps down amid expectations of presidential run
The country holds a presidential election on June 3 after former president Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.
One of two Chinese soldiers Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said were captured by Ukrainian forces in the country's Donetsk region is seen in this image released Tuesday.
In a first, Ukraine captures two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia
The Chinese men were taken captive during fighting on Ukrainian territory in the Donetsk region.
Taiwan rattled by 5.8 magnitude quake, no immediate reports of damage
U.S. moves to restore some terminated foreign aid programs, sources say
By Jonathan Landay, Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk
Iran says it will start nuclear talks with U.S. this weekend
By Arsalan Shahla
U.S. will not let China disrupt Panama Canal: Pentagon chief
By Maria Isabel Sanchez

Sports

Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Monday.
Trump honors 'legendary' Dodgers at White House reception
Trump highlighted the achievements of several players, notably Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Shai scores 42, Doncic ejected as Thunder down Lakers
By Rob Woollard
Grizzlies' Jaylen Wells breaks wrist in face-first fall
Ukraine support groups call on NHL to reject Russia collaboration
By Amy Tennery
Villa's Emery relishes PSG clash but wants consistent European success
By Janina Nuno Rios

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2.
A conversation of the deaf after Trump’s tariffs
Brad Glosserman
Trump likes win-win scenarios, but his version is different from those of his trade partners.
Le Pen ruling unleashes wave of hypocrisy on populist right
By Thomas O. Falk
Trump’s tariffs will accelerate America’s economic decline
By Kaushik Basu
The U.K. is trying to fight social scams. The U.S. not so much.
By Paul J. Davies
AI resurrecting the dead threatens our grasp on reality
By Parmy Olson

ENVIRONMENT

Brine pools at the Atacama salt flat in Antofagasta region, Chile, in 2023. Local Chilean Indigenous communities are pushing for greater control over lithium extraction in the country just as the government plans to raise production.
As Chile revs up lithium plans, Indigenous people demand more control
By Daina Beth Solomon
Mining companies describe a potential system as "unprecedented" in Chile, adding that it would comply with international treaties on Indigenous rights.
Global temperatures at near-historic highs in March, says EU monitor
Artificial glaciers boost water supply in northern Pakistan
Rising seas test defenses of South American ports
By Axl Hernandez
'It's gone': conservation science in Thailand's burning forest
By Sara Hussein

CULTURE

Digital artist Polygon1993 revels in the physicality of nostalgic technology, making art out of materials such as miniature CDs, holographic prints layered with plexiglass shards and a giant custom-made floppy disk.
Online art scene eager to go offline, at least for the moment
By Zoria Petkoska
From Beeple exhibiting a physical version of an NFT artwork to Polygon1993’s custom-made giant floppy disk, digital media artists are bringing their work into the physical world.
Sasami is in her pop era, and she’s not overthinking it
By Patrick St. Michel
Authors hold London protest against Meta for 'stealing' work to train AI
By James PHEBY
‘Unreachable’: An attractive but half-baked fantasy
By James Hadfield
AI may be coming for anime, but Hayao Miyazaki is irreplaceable, son says
By Natsuko Fukue

LIFE

An ongoing shortage of rice has resulted in rising prices for Japan's main food staple.
Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it
By Alex K.T. Martin
Outdated government policy, changing diets and even an earthquake scare have had an impact on the national food staple.
‘Japanese pastry has matured into its own distinct identity’
By Haru Beaufort
In Los Angeles, Courtney Kaplan says sake is having a moment
By Melinda Joe
Can Japan's take on fandom help drive spending?
By Satoshi Sugiyama
Meeting new colleagues and introducing yourself in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Tokyo Humanities Cafe was launched in 2017 by Laurence Williams (left) and Alex Watson, professors at Sophia and Meiji Universities, respectively.
Tokyo Humanities Cafe feeds hungry minds
By Jessica Kozuka
A free quarterly event invites everyone to explore what it means to be human.
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
Shogo Yamaguchi: ‘Traditional culture thrives in a peaceful society’
By Laura Pollacco
A tawny Kai Ken discovers his courage

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
NATO chief makes Japan debut with focus on defense industry tie-ups
By Gabriel Dominguez
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte speaks after touring the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami frigate at the Yokosuka Naval Base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
CULTURE
Tottori takes a bold leap forward in the arts
By Jennifer Pastore
The city of Kurayoshi in Tottori Prefecture celebrated the opening of its public art museum with festivities such as a parade that drew 1,000 revelers.
CULTURE
Haruki Murakami TV adaptation revisits 30 years of watershed moments
By Mike Fu
Though Haruki Murakami's trademark whiff of offbeat existentialism is threaded throughout NHK's "After the Quake," the final episode — conceived as a sequel to the story "Super-Frog Saves Tokyo" — is the most stylized, featuring an anthropomorphic talking frog (voiced by Non) and his erstwhile associate Katagiri (Koichi Sato).
LIFE
Nintendo to launch the Switch 2 on June 5
By Sam Byford
The controllers for the Switch 2 will attach to the console magnetically rather than sliding on rails as with the original device.
JAPAN
A new human trafficking trend emerges from Myanmar scam centers
By Yukana Inoue
Victims of scam centers who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar gather at a compound inside KK Park, a fraud center on the country's border with Thailand, after a multinational crackdown in February.

Podcast

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

Longform

An ongoing shortage of rice has resulted in rising prices for Japan's main food staple.
Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

LIFE
Why Japan is running out of rice — and farmers to grow it
By Alex K.T. Martin
An ongoing shortage of rice has resulted in rising prices for Japan's main food staple.
BUSINESS
Japan and U.S. appoint tariff negotiators after Ishiba-Trump phone call
By Francis Tang and Gabriele Ninivaggi
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa enters the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Japan responds to Trump's tariffs with a polite phone call and request
By Francis Tang and Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a joint press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington on Feb. 7.
BUSINESS
Japan to avoid direct confrontation with the U.S. over Trump tariffs
By Francis Tang
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Japan does not intend to seek direct confrontation with the U.S. over the newly levied tariffs, during a parliamentary committee session in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN
Japanese makers rush to mitigate possible Nankai Trough earthquake damage
Toyota is considering transferring some production in the key Tokai region, which is expected to be hit hard in a Nankai Trough earthquake, to the Tohoku and Kyushu regions.