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April 10, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 10, 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 tariff gambit leaves Asia stunned and scrambling
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

China raises tariffs on U.S. goods to 84% as trade war escalates
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.
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, who Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has appointed Japan's tariff negotiator, is one of his closest allies and busiest ministers.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Who is Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's tariffs negotiator?
By Eric Johnston
The man tasked with convincing the U.S. drop its tariffs on Japanese goods is one of the prime minister's closest allies and busiest ministers.
Stockpiled rice at a rice-polishing factory in Saitama Prefecture in March
JAPAN
Japan to release stockpiled rice monthly amid record high prices
By Yukana Inoue
The move comes after two previous releases appeared to have had little effect in stabilizing prices.
Foreign residents who fail to renew their residential statuses before their expiry may find that they won’t be able to withdraw cash from their bank accounts.
JAPAN / Society
Banks freeze withdrawals for foreign nationals upon expiration of visas
By Karin Kaneko
The move is part of a government initiative to combat scams and fraud, the Financial Services Agency says.
A large statue of Osaka Expo mascot Myaku Myaku sits near the east entrance of the event's venue in Yumeshima island, Osaka, on Wednesday.
JAPAN
After a tumultuous buildup, a first look at the Osaka Expo
By Joel Tansey and Tomoko Otake
Members of the media and other invited guests got a glimpse of the event's shiny pavilions spread over 155 hectares, and the signature Grand Ring overlooking them.
A large statue of Osaka Expo mascot Myaku Myaku sits near the east entrance of the event's venue in Yumeshima island, Osaka, on Wednesday.

JAPAN

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 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 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.
Ex-company president referred to prosecutors over 2024 truck accident
Japan Coast Guard raids operator of helicopter in fatal crash
NATO chief calls on allies and partners to ‘outproduce and outpace’ rivals
By Gabriel Dominguez
U.S. confirms new Pentagon No. 3 as Japan defense budget in crosshairs
By Jesse Johnson

BUSINESS

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.
A woman looks at cranes and shipping containers from an observation platform at Pyeongtaek port in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on April 2.
Trump optimistic after call about tariffs with South Korea
By Susan Heavey, Jihoon Lee and Ju-min Park
South Korea's trade minister is traveling to Washington to meet U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for tariff negotiations.
Seven & I’s guidance miss adds to pressure amid takeover bid
By Kanoko Matsuyama
Japan's Nikkei down nearly 4% at close
Trump tariffs take effect, hiking trade levies to a 100-year high
Hon Hai makes case to build EVs for Japan’s automobile industry
By Reed Stevenson and Tsuyoshi Inajima

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 earthquake
'Everything was stopped': USAID cuts hit hard in northern Kenya
By Rose TROUP BUCHANAN
U.S. company resurrects the extinct dire wolf, or some version of it
By Will Dunham
U.S. moves to restore some terminated foreign aid programs, sources say
By Jonathan Landay, Daphne Psaledakis and Humeyra Pamuk

Sports

Takayasu during the one-day Annual Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Feb 9, 2020
Takayasu’s latest heartbreak makes sumo history
By John Gunning
The former ozeki now has more second-place finishes without winning a championship than any other wrestler.
Japanese badminton ace Shida blasts 'stalker' Chinese fans
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

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
Japan gets a new U.S. ambassador — and he has his work cut out for him
By Jesse Johnson
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.
CULTURE
Online art scene eager to go offline, at least for the moment
By Zoria Petkoska
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
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.

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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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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

WHAT’S TRENDING

COMMENTARY
Wall Street will regret helping the world burn
By Mark Gongloff
Wall Street banks, under political pressure and tempted by short-term gains, are abandoning climate commitments and pouring billions into fossil fuels, risking both environmental catastrophe and massive future economic losses.
BUSINESS
Trump's tariff gambit leaves Asia stunned and scrambling
By Francis Tang
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
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
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.
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.