Home page

 
Menu
Search
 
Menu
Search
Tokyo Weather 18℃
TOKYO
April 16, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 16, 2025
Trump tariffs
Shigeru Ishiba
Osaka Expo
Latest News
Deep Dive
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
BUSINESS / Companies
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Japan Fair Trade Commission has accused the U.S. tech giant of violating the country's anti-monopoly law by forcing manufacturers to preinstall its apps in smartphones.
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Japanese Trade Union Confederation chief Tomoko Yoshino in a meeting Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Why Ishiba became the first prime minister to hold talks with Rengo in 16 years
By Himari Semans
The last time an official meeting was held between a prime minister and Rengo to discuss labor policies was in 2009.
Chinese H-6 bombers fly at the eastern edge of the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on March 24.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Philippines and China accuse each other of dangerous moves in disputed South China Sea shoal
China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a vital waterway for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.
A rendering of East Japan Railway's E10 series of bullet trains
BUSINESS / Companies
Japan to give India E5 and E3 shinkansen for free
The E10 trains are expected to be put into service in the South Asian country in the early 2030s.
Giants fans cheer during an exhibition game against the Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 15.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
NPB can learn from MLB amid backlash to its new social media policy
By Jason Coskrey
Arguing that the rights of NPB and its broadcasters are in peril because fans upload short videos from games is a hard sell.
Giants fans cheer during an exhibition game against the Dodgers at Tokyo Dome on March 15.

JAPAN

Ryoko Hirosue was being detained at the Hamamatsu West Police Station in the city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Actor Ryoko Hirosue released from custody after alleged kicking incident
By Yukana Inoue
The 44-year-old actor was arrested for allegedly kicking and scratching a medical staff member while in a “panicked state” following a car accident.
A damages lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Fukuoka District Court, names four defendants including the group’s boss, 83-year-old Kenichi Shinoda and his second-in-command, 77-year-old Kiyoshi Takayama.
Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza boss sued over fraud scheme in Fukuoka
The lawsuit names four defendants including the group’s boss, 83-year-old Kenichi Shinoda, better known as Shinobu Tsukasa.
Japan enacts bill to quickly restore ports damaged in disasters
Ishiba's expo diplomacy begins with hosting of Turkmen president
Four arrested over obscene AI images in Japan first
Japan unlikely to compile extra budget now

BUSINESS

A Bank of Kyoto branch in the city of Kyoto. Kyoto Financial Group has been a symbol of Japan’s old guard holding out against selling the stakes, given its historic ties to exporters based in the city including Nintendo, Nidec and Kyocera.
Kyoto bank shifts stance on mergers and cuts to cross-shareholdings
By Taiga Uranaka
Kyoto Financial has been a symbol of Japan’s old guard holding out against selling the stakes, given its historic ties to exporters based in the city.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda
Trump’s tariffs may spur policy response from BOJ, Sankei reports
By Alastair Gale and Toru Fujioka
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda's policy comments reinforce speculation that authorities aren’t likely to consider a near-term rate hike.
Zuckerberg defends strategy behind Instagram, WhatsApp deals
By Kurt Wagner and Josh Sisco
Keyaki Capital starts first Japan online private asset platform
By Megawati Wijaya
Ground zero of China trade boom reckons with decoupling from U.S.
TSMC and ASML outlooks to reveal depth of tariff pain and AI angst
By Henry Ren and Charlotte Yang

WORLD

India's Akash missiles are displayed during a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2020.
India carving niche as budget friendly arms-maker for Russia's past buyers
By Shivam Patel
The effort aims to capitalize on a sourcing scramble since the outbreak of war in Ukraine by nations that had historically relied on Washington and Moscow for weapons.
Journalists Sergei Karelin, Antonina Favorskaya and Artem Kriger, accused of taking part in the activities of an "extremist" organization founded by late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, attend a court hearing in Moscow on Tuesday.
Russian journalists jailed for 5½ years for alleged extremist ties to Navalny
Moscow has intensified pressure on domestic and foreign reporters since the start of its war in Ukraine.
China's Xi meets Malaysian leaders in diplomatic charm offensive
By Isabelle Leong
Australian politicians gifted sports tickets while weighing betting ban
By Byron Kaye
After Harvard rejects U.S. demands, Trump adds new threat
By Jonathan Allen
U.S. backs away from envoy saying Iran can keep enriching uranium
By Arsalan Shahla and Jonathan Tirone

Sports

Kirishima (behind) battles Atamifuji during a regional tour event in Hyogo Prefecture in 2023.
Sumo's throwback regional tours offer glimpse into sport's heart and history
By John Gunning
With tickets for grand tournaments tough to come by, regional tours are the best chances for fans to watch live sumo — and even interact with the sport's biggest names.
Baystars pitcher Jackson 'honored' to wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day
By Jason Coskrey
PSG survives Aston Villa scare to reach Champions League semis
LA Games announce venues, including baseball at Dodger Stadium
Team ownership could be next F1 step for Saudi Arabia
By Alan Baldwin

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba hold a news conference at the White House in Washington on Feb. 7. Tokyo's focus on economic strength to promote security contrasts with Washington's current era of unpredictability.
For real national security, try a Japanese perspective
Brad Glosserman
Genuine national security starts from a strong economy, one that provides for its citizens, incentivizes growth, production and wealth, and invites foreign participation.
Why should Iran believe anything the U.S. threatens or promises?
By Andreas Kluth
How should Beijing respond to Trump’s tariffs?
By Huang Yiping
Unmarked vans and secret lists. The police state has arrived.
By M. Gessen
The very idea of LGBTQ+ health is under attack
By Lisa Jarvis

ENVIRONMENT

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, in October. Microsoft is set to use energy from new reactors at the plant.
AI surge to double data center electricity demand by 2030, report says
By Nathalie ALONSO
AI can also unlock opportunities to produce and consume electricity more efficiently, the International Energy Agency said in its first report on the technology's implications.
Clean streets versus business woes: Pollution charge divides Londoners
By Akshata Kapoor
Once-dying Mexican river delta slowly nursed back to life by conservationists
By Daniel Rook
As Chile revs up lithium plans, Indigenous people demand more control
By Daina Beth Solomon
Global temperatures at near-historic highs in March, says EU monitor

CULTURE

In the dystopian society of Sayaka Murata's latest book to come out in English, sex between married couples is considered incest and therefore taboo.
'Vanishing World': Sayaka Murata’s vision of a sex-hating society
By Thu-Huong Ha
In Sayaka Murata’s latest book to come out in English, sex between married couples is considered taboo, and humans reproduce predominantly via IVF.  
Indonesia's horror movie industry rises from the grave
By Baptiste Anse
Digital divas: Can Japan's virtual YouTuber craze crack America?
By Tomohiro Osaki, Paula Ramon and Gilles Clarenne
National Ballet of Japan takes its 'Giselle' to Royal Opera House in London
By Kris Kosaka
The band that turned a pandemic lockdown into a Tokyo dream
By Patrick St. Michel

LIFE

After focusing on cabernet sauvignon in Napa Valley, winemaker Eiji Daniel Akaboshi moved to make pinot noir at the renowned Freeman Vineyard & Winery in Sonoma County.
In California, a Nikkei vintner finds his heritage and purpose
By Weiwen Lin
The discovery of a distant relative's wine legacy in California led winemaker Eiji Daniel Akaboshi to look at his vocation in a new light.
As rice prices rise, a bit of tea adds needed luxury
By Simon Daly
Heaven from hells: The sulfuric pleasure of Unzen Onsen
By Erik Augustin Palm
Osaka Expo-bound? Take your pick of the city’s new luxury hotels.
By Jessica Kozuka
I’ve only just come back from Osaka, but I’m ready to hit the Expo
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Customers line up patiently for some early-afternoon baked goods outside Truffle, which is located close to Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line.
How to spend the perfect day in Hiroo, Tokyo’s expat enclave
By Eric Margolis
A stroll through Hiroo reveals both the comforts of expat luxury and the quiet intrusions of a changing Tokyo.
Noriko Shakti: ‘Music reflects my journey and learnings’
By Miikka J. Lehtonen
Tokyo Humanities Cafe feeds hungry minds
By Jessica Kozuka
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

Editors' Picks

SUMO
Sumo's throwback regional tours offer glimpse into sport's heart and history
By John Gunning
Kirishima (behind) battles Atamifuji during a regional tour event in Hyogo Prefecture in 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC
China’s new bridge-forming barges offer new options for Taiwan invasion
By Gabriel Dominguez
This satellite image taken on March 25 shows three Chinese barges connected via extendable bridges in waters off Zhanjiang, in southern China's Guangdong province. Experts say the new barges could be used to land heavy equipment and thousands of personnel in a possible invasion of Taiwan.
MORE SPORTS
The man who helps Japanese figure skaters stay sharp
By Mai Yoshikawa
Kimitaka Sakurai displays a sharpening stone for working on skate blades, in Yokohama on March 28. Regular sharpening is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and reducing skaters’ risk of injury on the ice.
JAPAN
Japan’s population shrinks for the 14th consecutive year
By Karin Kaneko
Japan’s population has been falling year on year since 2011 after peaking in 2008.
LIFE
A new tour of Tokyo’s most underground attraction
By Owen Ziegler
When you stare into the abyss at the bottom of the No. 3 shaft of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, the abyss stares back.

Podcast

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

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.
By Tomoko Otake

JT Directory Service

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Ex.Portal By Synergy Media Specialists

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

BOARDING & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL DAY 2025 (Sunday, April 20)
BOARDING & INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL DAY 2025 (Sunday, April 20)

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
COMMENTARY
'Chikan' incidents rise as Japan grapples with mental health and cultural challenges
By Takayuki Harada
Overcrowded trains and a lack of legal consequences for groping in Japan have led to a rise in "chikan," or groping, which has been linked to a mental condition and compounded by cultural stigmas.
BUSINESS
China halts critical rare earth exports as trade war intensifies
By Keith Bradsher
Workers transport soil containing rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, in China's Jiangsu province, in October 2010.
LIFE
A new tour of Tokyo’s most underground attraction
By Owen Ziegler
When you stare into the abyss at the bottom of the No. 3 shaft of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, the abyss stares back.
JAPAN
Japan’s population shrinks for the 14th consecutive year
By Karin Kaneko
Japan’s population has been falling year on year since 2011 after peaking in 2008.