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December 27, 2024
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December 27, 2024
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Japan Airlines jets at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in August. On Thursday, JAL announced its systems had been targeted in a cyberattack.
JAPAN
Japan Airlines reports cyberattack on system, impacting flights
By Yukana Inoue and Francis Tang
JAL's systems appeared to have returned to normal after the router believed to have been causing the disruption was temporarily shut down.
Japan Airlines jets at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in August. On Thursday, JAL announced its systems had been targeted in a cyberattack.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Nov. 15 during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Japan and China to continue delicate diplomatic dance in 2025
By Jesse Johnson
While Tokyo and Beijing have touted the importance of thawing ties, experts say a number of issues are likely to mean continued hedging by both sides.
International students and others participate in a disaster preparedness drill in Osaka City, where disaster information was conveyed in foreign languages.
JAPAN
Noto quake inspires more focus on getting disaster info to non-Japanese
The earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on Jan. 1 highlighted the need to help foreign nationals who do not speak Japanese be more informed.
Education costs for children who attend private schools from kindergarten through high school have hit a record high of approximately ¥19.76 million, according to a survey released by the education ministry.
JAPAN / Society
Cost of private education through high school hits record high in Japan
By Kathleen Benoza
Total education costs for children who attend private schools from kindergarten through high school, including tuition and cram school fees, are approximately ¥19.76 million.
Riot police march in front of the main building of Ssangyong Motor in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 6, 2009.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
The real-life violence that inspired South Korea's 'Squid Game'
By Claire Lee
A struggling car giant in South Korea announcing in 2009 it was laying off more than 2,600 people resulted in an occupation of its factory.
Riot police march in front of the main building of Ssangyong Motor in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 6, 2009.

JAPAN

Education costs for children who attend private schools from kindergarten through high school have hit a record high of approximately ¥19.76 million, according to a survey released by the education ministry.
Cost of private education through high school hits record high in Japan
By Kathleen Benoza
Total education costs for children who attend private schools from kindergarten through high school, including tuition and cram school fees, are approximately ¥19.76 million.
A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Type 10 main battle tank fires ammunition during a live fire exercise at the JGSDF's training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in May.
Japan set to approve record budget, spending more on defense and regions
By Takashi Umekawa
While the government will have to lean heavily on debt issuance, record tax receipts will enable the cutting back of fresh bond issuance by almost a fifth.
Uranium detected in extracted Fukushima nuclear fuel debris
Chisako Kakehi, sentenced to death for cyanide murders, dies in custody
By Kathleen Benoza
Ex-PM Miyazawa aired doubts about China's democratization to Clinton in '93
Japan panel seeks law to have AI developers help in case of problems

BUSINESS

The latest sale plan of Japanese government bonds reflects the government's efforts to fill a huge hole left by the BOJ's diminishing presence in the JGB market.
Government plans to sell more JGBs for first time in four years, draft shows
By Takaya Yamaguchi
Much of the increase will be made in shorter-dated debt to tap demand from Japanese banks.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office.
Japan wage growth projected to outpace inflation in fiscal 2025
In fiscal 2025, nominal wages are projected to increase 2.8% from the previous year, while the overall consumer price index is forecast to rise 2.0%.
Nippon Steel extends closing date for U.S. Steel acquisition
Prices of 1,380 food items set to rise in Japan in January
Japan's government expects 1.2% economic growth for fiscal 2025
Japanese comedian-turned-investor launches fund with 'stock geek'
By Mariko Katsumura

WORLD

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Seoul on Dec. 12.
South Korea's Yoon defies second agency summons over martial law
By Minwoo Park and Hyunsu Yim
Yoon's repeated defiance of the summons and failures to appear for questioning have sparked criticism and calls from the opposition for his arrest.
A rescuer of the State Emergency Service works to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday.
Russia launches 'inhuman' Christmas Day attacks, Ukraine says
By Pavel Polityuk
Half a million people in the Kharkiv region were left without heating, in temperatures just a few degrees Celsius above zero.
India readies for 400 million pilgrims at mammoth festival
By Abhaya SRIVASTAVA
Morocco presents new women's rights legislation
South Korea opposition says it will vote to impeach acting President Han
By Jack Kim
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 38
By Mariya Gordeyeva, Gleb Stolyarov and Nailia Bagirova

Sports

New Nadeshiko Japan coach Nils Nielsen (center) poses for photos with JFA President Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (left) and Norio Sasaki, the JFA’s women’s soccer chair, during a news conference on Dec. 18.
JFA hopes Nils Nielsen's international focus leads Nadeshiko Japan back to glory
By Alex Bishop
Nils Nielsen was officially unveiled as the new Nadeshiko boss at a packed news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 18. 
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers deflects questions about future with Jets
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka hungry for more success in 2025
Chiefs secure AFC top seed with win over Steelers
New Nagoya arena won't ease sumo's ticket crunch
By John Gunning

Opinion

Greenpeace activists protest nuclear power in Berlin in April 2023, just as Germany was shutting down its three remaining nuclear power plants. 
It's time for Germany to admit its mistake on nuclear energy
Hoyer Katja
The main thing standing in the way of Germany rebuilding its nuclear sector is a stubborn insistence that it can’t be done.
China’s economy has not peaked
By Nancy Qian
ASEAN's second renaissance is now
By Anwar Ibrahim
Russia just lost its 'great power' status
By Galip Dalay
China is taking a page from Russia’s disinformation playbook
By Maya Sobchuk

ENVIRONMENT

The entrance of the Sodegaura LNG Terminal, operated by Tokyo Gas, in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture
Japan's draft climate strategy spurs calls for bolder cuts in carbon emissions
By Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu
The government last month presented a draft plan to aim for a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from 2013 levels.
Is Japan finally ready to tap its abundant geothermal energy potential?
By Eric Johnston
The mighty Mekong River's growing plastic problem
By Anton L. Delgado
Japanese study links heavy Hokkaido snowfall in 2021 to climate change
By Tomoko Otake
Companies challenged by fewer weeks of winter
By Ethan M Steinberg

CULTURE

Tomoko Tabata brings verve and emotion as 11-year-old Renko in “Moving,” Shinji Somai’s forgotten classic from 1993.
‘Moving’: A profound, poetic coming-of-age masterpiece restored in 4K
By Mark Schilling
The 1993 film by Shinji Somai is rekindling interest in the late director as a generational talent.
‘The War of the Rohirrim’: Striking visuals, insipid storytelling
By Matt Schley
Demand for Japanese content booms after 'Shogun' success
By Mathias Cena
A year of ruin and renewal for Japan’s art world in 2024
By Jennifer Pastore
A year of Oscar wins and a quiet push for diversity
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Casual Japanese usage increasingly sees the "i" at the end of exclamations like "yabai" (dangerous) replaced by a small "tsu."
Small letter, big impact: A little 'tsu' makes all the difference
By Peter Backhaus
When reading the small "tsu," shorten the preceding vowel slightly and then start with the sound of the subsequent consonant.
True blue tradition: How Japan's coveted jeans are made
By Natsuko Fukue
'Don't mess with our mince pies,' some Brits plead
By Helen ROWE
The secret to living to 110? Bad record-keeping, says Ig Nobel Prize winner.
By Daniel Lawler
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
By Kathryn Wortley

COMMUNITY

Writer Baye McNeil and his wife, Miki, host a Kwanzaa gathering in Yokohama together. The end of the year at the McNeil’s home is a mix of several different holiday traditions, including those of Kwanzaa.
A holiday season built on creativity and care
By Baye McNeil
Fusing African heritage with Japanese spirituality, our columnist crafted a holiday season that celebrates cultural understanding.
From the stage to the streets, make a difference this holiday season
By Kimberly Hughes
Yurie Collins: ‘Everyone seems sedated, fed-up … that’s why they turn to comedy’
By Zoria Petkoska
Seven strangers and an algorithm: Can this new dinner app help you make friends?
By Phoebe Amoroso
Kumiko Shichijo: ‘Living abroad helped me appreciate Japanese etiquette’
By Ansel Swindells

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Step into ukiyo-e: A digital journey through Japan’s traditional art form
By Masaru Urano
"Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition" includes an installation of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”
JAPAN
High levels of PFAS found in water from 44 private suppliers across Japan
By Tomoko Otake
The Self-Defense Forces facilities are believed to have become sources of PFAS contamination because they used firefighting foam containing the toxic chemicals in the past.
BASEBALL
For baseball fans, 2024 brought The Summer of Shohei Ohtani
By Jason Coskrey
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani reacts to a standing ovation from fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season, against the Marlins in Miami on Sept. 19.
JAPAN
Trump's Pentagon policy pick pushed for Japan to spend 3% of GDP on defense
By Jesse Johnson
Elbridge Colby (center) speaks at the Threat and the Strategy panel during the Air Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, in September 2019.
LIFE
A brief history of ‘osechi ryōri,' Japan's edible tradition for the new year
By Elizabeth Andoh
Japan's traditional New Year cuisine has a long history, though modern developments have led to slight changes in the way things work.

Podcast

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

Longform

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.
Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?
By Kathryn Wortley

JT Directory Service

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mission sustainability vol.14 : Unicharm Corp.Unicharm recycles diapers back into diapers
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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Human error caused JAL jet collision at Haneda Airport: safety board
By Kathleen Benoza
The wreckage of a Japan Airlines plane after a collision with a Japan Coast Guard aircraft, at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on Jan. 5, three days after the crash.
JAPAN
Japan Airlines reports cyberattack on system, impacting flights
By Yukana Inoue and Francis Tang
Japan Airlines jets at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in August. On Thursday, JAL announced its systems had been targeted in a cyberattack.
WORLD
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 38
By Mariya Gordeyeva, Gleb Stolyarov and Nailia Bagirova
In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on Dec. 25.
BUSINESS
Toyota to donate $1 million to Trump’s inauguration ceremony
By Kathleen Benoza
This is set to be the first time Toyota will donate to a U.S. inauguration ceremony.
JAPAN
Chinese man sentenced for vandalizing Yasukuni Shrine
The entrance to Yasukuni Shrine in central Tokyo on Dec. 1