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April 02, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 02, 2025
Shigeru Ishiba
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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing, as headlines from articles on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are displayed, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
White House says Trump to go ahead with tariffs as nervous world awaits trade war
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said reciprocal tariffs on countries that impose duties on U.S. goods would take effect immediately after Trump announces them.

More coverage

Japanese businesses maintain optimism ahead of looming tariff storm
Trump tariffs may spell economic crisis for Japan, Onodera says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a press briefing, as headlines from articles on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs are displayed, at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
People queue for food and relief supplies after a strong earthquake in Amarapura, Myanmar, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
U.N. urges aid to Myanmar quake survivors before monsoons hit as death toll nears 3,000
A civil war in Myanmar had already displaced more than 3 million people long before the quake struck.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
No rest for weary Ishiba as challenges await in parliament
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
After finally securing passage of the country's budget earlier this week, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba now faces an uphill battle to win back the public's trust.
Lawyer Akira Takeuchi (center), the head of a third-party panel commissioned by Fuji TV to investigate a series of scandals at the broadcaster, fields questions along with other panel members at a news conference on Monday in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
JAPAN / Media / FOCUS
What the Fuji TV third-party probe uncovered
By Yukana Inoue
The panel concluded that TV personality Masahiro Nakai committed "sexual violence" against a female newscaster and that there is a culture of harassment at the broadcaster.
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker
By Joel Tansey
New Red Bull driver Tsunoda tells The Japan Times he started to believe that a promotion to the senior team might never come — until it did.
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.

JAPAN

Meiji bottled milk lined up in a fridge at Kosugiyu, a bathhouse in Tokyo. The sticker urges patrons to enjoy the milk one last time before it’s gone.
Meiji says sayonara to bottled milk, a staple of Japan's bathhouses
By Jessica Speed
The company is switching to paper cartons as a result of declining demand, environmental concerns and supply issues after its glass bottle supplier shut down.
The Japan Institute for Health Security will be responsible for information analysis, research and crisis response related to infectious diseases.
Japanese version of U.S. CDC launched for future pandemics
The institute will be responsible for information analysis, research and crisis response related to infectious diseases.
ASDF's Blue Impulse set for Osaka Expo performance
Seven people injured after car runs into pedestrians in Nagoya
Aichi man arrested after woman's body found in closet
Tokyo police launch section for lone-offender terrorism

BUSINESS

The Bank of Japan's tankan survey indicates that large business are still positive on their prospects.
Japanese businesses maintain optimism ahead of looming tariff storm
By Kazuaki Nagata
In the BOJ's latest tankan survey, the headline index for big manufacturers was 12, which indicates confidence in the business outlook.
Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Itsunori Onodera said on Tuesday that tariffs announced by the U.S. could result in a big economic crisis for Japan.
Trump tariffs may spell economic crisis for Japan, Onodera says
By Yoshiaki Nohara and Sakura Murakami
Auto tariffs in particular would have a huge impact given the breadth of the sector's supply chain in the country, the Liberal Democratic Party's policy chief says.
Trump says he will be 'kind' with tariffs as deadline looms
Japan’s Rapidus starts test production in AI chipmaking gamble
By Takashi Mochizuki and Yuki Furukawa
SpaceX eyes Starlink hub with multiple ground stations in Vietnam, sources say
By Francesco Guarascio and Phuong Nguyen
OpenAI says new funding from SoftBank boosts valuation to $300 billion
By Glenn CHAPMAN

WORLD

In a series of meetings and calls over the weekend, officials inside U.S. President Donald Trump's White House and State Department acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is actively resisting Washington’s attempts to strike a lasting peace accord with Ukraine.
Trump officials eye a longer road to Ukraine peace as frustration mounts
At the start of his administration, the Trump team set out to reach a full ceasefire by April or May. They hoped to broker a lasting peace deal in the following months.
Myanmar's military chief, Min Aung Hlaing (center), arrives to meet earthquake survivors gathered on the compound of a hospital in Naypyitaw on Friday.
Deadly quake gives junta a chance to tighten hold over Myanmar
By Philip J. Heijmans, Khine Lin Kyaw and Nicholas Lua
Even as the damage of Friday’s quake was still being assessed, pro-democracy rebel groups reported fresh airstrikes in areas close to the epicenter.
China conducts joint military exercises aimed at blockading Taiwan
By Jesse Johnson
U.S. sanctions six Chinese and Hong Kong officials for rights abuses
By Michael Martina and Jessie Pang
France's Le Pen seeks to keep presidency hopes alive after election ban
White House says strikes killed Houthi missile expert, but questions linger
By Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali

Sports

Kaori Sakamoto performs her free skate during the world championships in Boston on Friday.
Kaori Sakamoto breathes sigh of relief after world championships
By Hiro Yoshida
Sakamoto finished in second place behind American Alysa Liu, who made a surprising run to the world title.
Haaland sidelined by injury in major Man City blow
Kasatkina looks ahead to new chapter under Australian flag
By Shrivathsa Sridhar
Wrexham reaps financial rewards of Hollywood tie-up
Vonn and Shiffrin fuel U.S. 2026 Winter Olympics hopes
By Suramya Kaushik

Opinion

A Buddhist monk walks past the damaged Mandalay Palace on Monday. The country's ruling military junta can repeat the mistakes of 17 years ago by blocking aid after Cyclone Nargis left 140,000 dead or allow urgent assistance to flow freely.
The quake in Myanmar should force the junta’s hand
Ruth Pollard
The ousted civilian administration initiated a two-week ceasefire in quake-hit areas to allow aid to reach victims. It doesn’t look like the junta will do the same.
Asia must unite to survive Trump 2.0
By Lee Jong-wha
Is this really how American exceptionalism ends?
By Allison Schrager
Contemplating victory and defeat in Ukraine
By Howard Chua-Eoan
What’s fueling America's gold bar conspiracy
By Stephen Mihm

ENVIRONMENT

Fluffy, low-hanging clouds generally have a cooling influence. They are big and bright, blocking and bouncing back incoming sunlight.
Clouds changing as world warms, adding to climate uncertainty
By Nick Perry
Cloud behavior is notoriously complex to predict and remains a great unknown for scientists trying to accurately forecast future levels of climate change.
Trump can't stop 'sustainability revolution': Al Gore
Without new countermeasures, Japan’s temperature could rise 4.5 C by 2100
By Jessica Speed
Why we should worry when whales stop singing
By Todd Woody
What the $660 million Greenpeace verdict means for U.S. activism
By Olivia Raimonde and Zahra Hirji

CULTURE

A figurine of the character Link from the Nintendo video game series The Legend of Zelda is displayed inside the Nintendo Tokyo store in the Japanese capital in November 2019.
Nintendo announces Legend of Zelda film for 2027
Nintendo made the announcement on "Nintendo Today!", a new app for fans that was launched on Thursday.
Yuki Tejima's metamorphosis from bookworm to literary translator
By Kris Kosaka
Cherry blossom-themed art to see this weekend in Tokyo
By Zoria Petkoska
Rise and shine with ‘The Wakey Show’
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Ravens’: Tadanobu Asano plays troubled photographer with scapegrace charm
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Graduation ceremonies in Japan will usually include a performance of the Japanese national anthem, “Kimigayo.”
Attempting the classics: The world of waka poetry
By Eric Margolis
The origins of this poetry style stretch back to at least the seventh century, when one of the emperor's wives composed it at court ceremonies.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks
The cold complexity of 'pure' Japanese cocktail ice
By Phoebe Amoroso
Feast your eyes on 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking'
By Simon Daly
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

Shogo Yamaguchi shares his love of traditional Japanese culture with an audience of nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers.
Shogo Yamaguchi: ‘Traditional culture thrives in a peaceful society’
By Laura Pollacco
The Kyoto-based content creator shares travel tips and reminisces on the path that led him to where he is today.
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
A tawny Kai Ken discovers his courage
A community of stories: Making space for reflection and dialogue in Tokyo and beyond
By Megumi Koiwai

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
By Jesse Johnson
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
MORE SPORTS
NFL comeback star Damar Hamlin shares life-saving message in Tokyo
By Jason Coskrey
Damar Hamlin poses with students at The American School in Japan in Chofu, western Tokyo, on Thursday.
BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
BUSINESS
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
By Tim Hornyak
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.

Podcast

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

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks

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WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
As ‘Buy Canadian’ grows, more U.S. firms say retailers turning away products
Empty shelves with "Buy Canadian Instead" signs are seen in the American Whiskey section of the BC Liquor in Vancouver, British Columbia, on March 10.
BUSINESS
Japan, South Korea and China vow to strengthen trade ties amid looming U.S. tariffs
By Francis Tang
Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoji Muto (left), South Korean Trade Industry and Energy Minister Ahn Duk-geun (center) and Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao during a trilateral meeting in Seoul on Sunday
BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
JAPAN
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
JAPAN
The U.S. says Japan has a 700% tariff on American rice. Is that the case?
By Yukana Inoue
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds up a piece of paper with information about tariff rates at the White House on Tuesday.