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December 17, 2024
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December 17, 2024
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Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda. The central bank's policy board meets this week.
BUSINESS / Markets
Uncertainty reigns as BOJ rate bets almost evenly split
By Kazuaki Nagata
Slightly less than half of surveyed economists expect the central bank to raise rates this week while just over half believe it will wait until January.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda. The central bank's policy board meets this week.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump embraces SoftBank cheif Masayoshi Son at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday.
BUSINESS / Companies
SoftBank pledges $100 billion U.S. investment at Trump event
SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son’s announcement this time marks the highest-profile commitment by a company to expand investment in the U.S. since Trump’s election win.
A Taiwan High Speed Rail bullet train arrives at Nangang Station in the city of Taipei.
BUSINESS
Taiwan’s bullet train a testament to shinkansen’s export potential
By Kazuaki Nagata
The line runs the length of Taiwan, over mountainous, unstable territory that makes the island a perfect test bed for the fast trains.
MUFG Bank CEO Junichi Hanzawa (left) and other senior officials bow in apology at a news conference in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Monday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
MUFG Bank apologizes for theft of ¥1 billion in valuables from deposit boxes
By Kathleen Benoza
The manager accused of the thefts allegedly used backup keys to access the boxes.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks to members of the media on the steps inside the National Assembly after an impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Dec. 7.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Yoon’s fall gives nemesis surprise path back to lead South Korea
By Sam Kim
The impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is giving his biggest political rival, Lee Jae-myung, a chance to finally win the country's top job.
Lee Jae-myung, leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, speaks to members of the media on the steps inside the National Assembly after an impeachment vote against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Dec. 7.

JAPAN

A variety of rice cookers at a home appliance store
Companies rush to high-end rice cookers as consumer tastes change
Appliance-makers are working with rice growers to boost demand, as well as debuting products that focus on flavor and features.
Students at Hiroshima University’s School of Dentistry offer silent prayers for the donors of bodies before they practice anatomy on the cadavers in late October.
In death, body donors become silent teachers for medical students
Practical training on cadavers significantly increases the understanding of the human body, says one professor.
Philippines ratifies key defense pact with Japan
Emperor and empress to attend Hanshin Quake Memorial on anniversary
DPP tax chief hints at termination of talks with Japan's ruling bloc
Finance Ministry official arrested over alleged 'upskirting' photo

BUSINESS

Disney and Oriental Land executives pose with Disney characters at the unveiling of an expanded cruise line, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, earlier this year.
Tokyo Disney Resort operator eyes cruises for new growth
The company plans to invest approximately ¥330 billion in the project, hoping to launch services in fiscal 2028.
Lekh Juneja, chairman and CEO of Kameda Seika, at the company's headquarters in the city of Niigata in August
Indian-born CEO of Japanese company says nation needs immigration to thrive
By Simon STURDEE
Japan has very few foreign-born CEOs, and boardrooms are overwhelmingly male.
Extradition of India's Gautam Adani seems unlikely, experts say
By Luc Cohen
Japan sees nuclear as cheapest baseload power source in 2040
By Shoko Oda
China's 'erotic clothing' capital braces for e-commerce crackdown
By Casey Hall, Florence Lo and Xihao Jiang
A booming and coal-heavy steel sector risks India’s green goals
By Lou Del Bello

WORLD

Workers stage a warning strike at the Volkswagen factory in Zwickau, Germany, on Dec. 2.
Germany is unraveling just when Europe needs it most
By Jana Randow and Martin Ademmer
Germany’s economy is now 5% smaller than it would have been if the pre-pandemic growth trend had been maintained.
Policemen set up barricades in front of the South Korean Constitutional Court in Seoul on Monday as the court kicked off its first meeting of its justices to review the parliamentary impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Top South Korean court begins Yoon impeachment trial
The Constitutional Court has around six months to determine whether to uphold the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Bashar Assad's prisoner #3006 tells his story
By Anne CHAON
Inside South Korea's right-wing YouTube world openly embraced by Yoon
By Ju-min Park and Tom Bateman
Le Pen takedown of Barnier holds lessons for next French PM
By Samy Adghirni and Ania Nussbaum
Afghan student nurses crushed as Taliban block last hopes of a job
By Bahaar Joya

Sports

Daizen Maeda (third from right) celebrates with his teammates during the shootout against Rangers in the Scottish League Cup final in Glasgow, Scotland, on Sunday.
Daizen Maeda strikes decisive blow as Celtic wins Scottish League Cup
The start of the match was briefly delayed due to flares in the stadium, and there were reports of clashes between fans in central Glasgow earlier on Sunday.
Female driver Abbi Pulling says it will take time before next woman reaches F1
Ryan Garcia-Rukiya Anpo exhibition postponed after American injures wrist
Southampton fires manager Russell Martin after 5-0 loss at home
Warriors acquire guard Dennis Schroder from Nets in trade

Opinion

Houthi supporters hold a rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on Friday. A coordinated international military effort is needed to exploit Iran's weakened influence and neutralize the Houthi threat in Yemen.
The next Iranian proxy to target is the Houthis
James Stavridis
A coordinated international military effort is needed to neutralize the Houthi threat in Yemen, which disrupts global shipping and exploits Iran's weakened influence.
Bangladesh’s descent into Islamist violence
By Brahma Chellaney
Green tech and U.S.-China rivalry: Two sides of the same coin
By Akhil Ramesh
No, sanitizing cow burps won’t sour your milk or contaminate your cheese
By Lara Williams
How India’s soft power led to a border deal with China
By Dalbir Ahlawat

ENVIRONMENT

Crystal Smith, the elected chief of the Haisla people, stands on the shoreline of the Douglas Channel in Kitamaat, British Columbia, Canada, on Oct. 1.
Indigenous people in Canada weigh costs of a gas windfall
By Max Bearak
The promise of billions of dollars of gas investment has renewed a generations-old debate over Indigenous identity and environmental stewardship.
World falls short of drought deal at Saudi-hosted talks
By Robbie COREY-BOULET
Earthquakes and blowouts undermine case for carbon storage in Texas
By Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas
Climate change forged a new reality in 2024: 'This is life now'
By Clar Ni Chonghaile and Diana Baptista
As Japan nears new climate goal, criticism of policy process ramps up
By Tomoko Otake and Chris Russell

CULTURE

Jay Rubin’s new translation of Haruki Murakami’s “End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland,” in part set in a walled city where inhabitants’ shadows are forcibly removed, speaks to the author’s quirky, exhaustive attention to detail when rendering his imaginative world on the page.
Jay Rubin takes us back to Haruki Murakami's world
By Kris Kosaka
A new translation of “End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland” brings the fan favorite closer to the original Japanese text.
Zakir Hussain, peerless Indian tabla player, dies at 73
By Yan Zhuang
'Into the New World': the K-pop song that became South Korea's protest anthem
By Claire Lee
‘Cells at Work!’: Cellular shenanigans make for a fantastic voyage
By James Hadfield
‘Ainu Puri’: A vital portrait of indigenous culture in contemporary Japan
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Book Santa is a program that delivers books to children in need for Christmas, but it also operates year-round.
Looking for ways to be charitable in Japan? Give the gift of reading.
By Yuko Tamura
Book donations are just one of many ways you can give back to the community during the holidays.
From Florence to Osaka, Gucci’s newest concept bar oozes style
By Melinda Joe
A Christmas miracle? No, just brownies ‘baked’ sans oven.
By Makiko Itoh
USJ’s new Donkey Kong Country is a barrel of fun
By Joel Tansey
How often do Japan's buzzwords make it into the vernacular?
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Tokyo Union Church volunteers prepare food for unhoused individuals. The church helps people regardless of religion, race or sexuality.
From the stage to the streets, make a difference this holiday season
By Kimberly Hughes
Discover the joy of giving back through a variety of charitable efforts. Helping others helps you, too.
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
How a solo yoga teacher built a wellness community in the Japanese Alps
By Samantha Mythen

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Women are writing a new chapter in Japanese literature in the 2020s
By Mike Fu
"Butter," Asako Yuzuki’s thrilling novel inspired by a real-life femme fatale, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2024.
LIFE
The year that Shohei Ohtani achieved 'yokozuna' status … in the market
By Mark Schreiber
Shohei Ohtani's prowress on the diamond translated into an outsized influence on Japan's consumer trends this year.
CULTURE
Big franchises and bold voices dominated anime in 2024
By Matt Schley
In a year of anime hits, Kiyotaka Oshiyama’s “Look Back” stood out from the bunch.
LIFE
Glass half full: Japan’s sake industry celebrates a brighter 2024
By Phoebe Amoroso
Despite ongoing struggles, 2024 had plenty of bright spots for Japan's sake industry.
JAPAN
'Kin' selected as the kanji of 2024 after strong year for Japanese athletes
By Kathleen Benoza
The head priest of Kiyomizu Temple writes the kanji "kin," which was chosen by the public as the character that best represents 2024, on Thursday in Kyoto.

Podcast

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

Longform

Yasuyuki Yoshida stirs a brew in a fermentation tank at his brewery in Hakusan.
The quake that shook Noto's sake brewing tradition
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Indian-born CEO of Japanese company says nation needs immigration to thrive
By Simon STURDEE
Lekh Juneja, chairman and CEO of Kameda Seika, at the company's headquarters in the city of Niigata in August
JAPAN
Schoolgirl stabbed to death in Kitakyushu
A McDonald's in Kitakyushu where a junior high school student was stabbed to death on Saturday
COMMENTARY
How India’s soft power led to a border deal with China
By Dalbir Ahlawat
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese leader Xi Jinping meet at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, in October. India and China reached a border deal for Chinese forces to retreat from disputed territory and for India to resume border patrols.
WORLD
Latest scandal raises fresh questions about U.K.'s Prince Andrew
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew leave after Prince Philip's Thanksgiving Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2022. Revelations that a suspected Chinese spy became a confidant of Britain's Prince Andrew is renewing scrutiny of King Charles' disgraced brother.
CULTURE
Women are writing a new chapter in Japanese literature in the 2020s
By Mike Fu
"Butter," Asako Yuzuki’s thrilling novel inspired by a real-life femme fatale, was named the Waterstones Book of the Year in 2024.