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November 26, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 26, 2024
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
BUSINESS / Economy
Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, deeper levies on China
By Jesse Johnson and Kathleen Benoza
The president-elect says he will sign executive orders to enforce the measures when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
Amazon Japan allegedly pressured sellers to lower prices of their products in exchange for advantageous placement on their “Buy Box” system, which highlights one seller’s product as the preferred choice on a product page.
BUSINESS / Companies
Antitrust watchdog raids Amazon Japan over alleged price-fixing
The investigation is focused on potential breaches of antitrust laws, including abuse of a superior bargaining position and restrictive trading practices.
According to Similarweb, average monthly user numbers for Bluesky on Android in Japan quintupled in the 12 months to October.
BUSINESS / Companies
Bluesky is booming in Japan — mainly for reasons other than U.S. politics
By Elizabeth Beattie
Average monthly user numbers for Bluesky on Android in Japan quintupled in the 12 months to October, while figures for X were down over that time.
Akihisa Nagashima (center), a special adviser to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell during a recent visit to Washington in this image posted to Campbell's X account.
JAPAN / Politics
Key Ishiba adviser visits U.S. as Japan builds inroads to Trump camp
By Jesse Johnson
Akihisa Nagashima has held talks with Republican lawmakers and others close to President-elect Donald Trump.
The national flag of Saudi Arabia at their pavilion at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 14
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
How Saudi Arabia turned back climate progress at COP29
By Akshat Rathi, Jennifer A. Dlouhy and John Ainger
After three decades of being the main opposition at the annual climate talks, the Saudis have developed a sophisticated playbook.
The national flag of Saudi Arabia at their pavilion at the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Nov. 14

JAPAN

Cardboard beds at a designated evacuation shelter in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 31, following the Noto earthquake
Citing Noto quake, experts urge Japan to bolster disaster shelters
Key recommendations from a government task force include the provision of cardboard beds and adequate cooking and toilet facilities.
The National Consumer Affairs Center reports a growing number of consultations regarding "digital legacies" — data and online services left behind when people die.
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.
Average vegetable intake among adults in Japan sinks to record low
Japanese panel suggests 60% emissions reduction target for 2035
By Shoko Oda
Japan's space agency halts Epsilon S rocket engine test after fire
Japan's government proposes raising future basic pensions by 30%

BUSINESS

The services producer price index rose 2.9% in October from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan data shows, accelerating from a 2.8% gain in September.
Japan's steady corporate service inflation bolsters BOJ rate-hike view
By Leika Kihara
The Bank of Japan is watching service-sector inflation for clues on whether demand-driven price gains are broadening enough to justify further raising interest rates.
Four House Republicans wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Friday, saying that recent developments related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) "have called into question the integrity of its decision-making process,” and demanding the preservation of records related to a potential sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel.
U.S. Steel review targeted by Republicans for potential probe
By Josh Wingrove
GOP lawmakers are calling on U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to preserve documents related to the proposed sale to Japan's Nippon Steel.
Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children
By Renju Jose
Japan’s SBI follows Nomura in disclosing Adani funds exposure
By Takashi Nakamichi and Nao Sano
Google arguments draw skepticism from judge in ad tech case
By Leah Nylen
Zoom fails to impress investors with sales forecast for expanded lineup
By Brody Ford

WORLD

A satellite image shows a suspected missile assembly building under construction, visible in the lower central part of the image, at the "February 11" plant near the city of Hamhung in North Korea.
Satellite images may show North Korea expanding missile plant, researchers say
By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Josh Smith
The plant in North Korea's second-largest city is the only one known to produce solid-fuel ballistic missiles Ukrainian officials say have been used by Russian forces.
Ukrainian cadets hold lit candles as they stand in attention before the Motherland Monument during a commemoration ceremony marking the 1,000th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Kyiv on Nov. 19.
For EU, North Korean troops add new dimension to war in Ukraine
By Gabriel Dominguez
Pyongyang's move and return of Donald Trump to White House further complicate EU efforts to end bloody conflict.
Hong Kong court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
By Holmes Chan
Hong Kong a ‘global leader’ in financial crime, U.S. lawmakers say
In memoir, Merkel defends her record on the refugee crisis and Russia ties
By Céline LE PRIOUX
Judge tosses Trump 2020 election case after prosecutors' request
By Andrew Goudsward

Sports

The Marines' Roki Sasaki practices at Es Con Field in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, on Oct. 11.
When Roki Sasaki signs his deal, Latin American amateurs will suffer
By Ken Rosenthal
His chosen team will likely use its entire bonus pool on him, breaking preexisting verbal commitments with some other amateur players.
GM agrees deal to enter F1 with Cadillac in 2026
By Alan Baldwin
U.S. women's keeper Naeher to retire after Europe matches
Ronaldo takes Al Nassr to brink of Asian Champions League quarters
Tiger Woods to skip Hero World Challenge after back surgery

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.
Will Trump change course on critical and emerging tech?
By Kousuke Saitou
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

ENVIRONMENT

A man walks past a gasoline station in Tokyo on Thursday.
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.
Rich countries provide no haven from climate doom, study finds
By Frances Schwartzkopff
Can the world unite to end the plastic pollution crisis?
By Aaron Clark and Leslie Kaufman
Surprise solar boom in Pakistan helps millions, but harms grid
By Faseeh Mangi
South Korea's mountain of plastic waste shows limits of recycling
By Joyce Lee

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.
Chinese films about COVID-19, gay romance win big at Taiwan awards
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
The slow-burn success of ‘A Samurai in Time’
By James Hadfield

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
After Shohei Ohtani bump, Iwate ironware maker sees brighter future
By Jessica Kozuka
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

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

JAPAN
Are you leaving your loved ones digital legacies or headaches?
By Karin Kaneko
The National Consumer Affairs Center reports a growing number of consultations regarding "digital legacies" — data and online services left behind when people die.
ENVIRONMENT
How Japan can exit the fossil fuel subsidies it can’t seem to quit
By Chris Russell
A man walks past a gasoline station in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Corporate donations remain sticky point in political reform talks
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba addresses a meeting at the Liberal Democratic Party headquarters on Thursday to discuss political reform.
BUSINESS
An iconic 32-foot doughnut might give Randy’s an edge in Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, California. Replicas of the giant doughnut sculpture will be installed, where possible, at shops in Japan.
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.

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

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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
Japan and U.S. to form missile plan in case of Taiwan emergency
A U.S. Marine Corps M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12SSM) system are put on display at a symposium at a base in Kisarazu, Japan, in June 2022.
JAPAN
Preparations for Osaka Expo well underway amid lack of excitement
The Grand Ring, a symbol of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka
JAPAN
Ishiba shelves proposal for liaison offices with North Korea amid rising tensions
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.
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.