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January 29, 2025
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January 29, 2025
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Firefighters and others work to rescue a truck driver who fell into a sinkhole at a Saitama prefectural road intersection in Yashio on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Massive sinkhole engulfs truck in Saitama, trapping driver inside
By Jessica Speed
The sinkhole is believed to have been caused by an underground sewage pipe rupturing.
Firefighters and others work to rescue a truck driver who fell into a sinkhole at a Saitama prefectural road intersection in Yashio on Tuesday.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits one of his country's nuclear material production facilities at an undisclosed location in this photo released Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
North Korea's Kim vows to 'indefinitely' bolster nuke program
By Jesse Johnson
Kim used a rare reported visit to two of his countries' secretive nuclear facilities to highlight Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.
Members of the media crowd the venue before the start of a news conference at Fuji TV's headquarters in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Society / First person
Yelling and random tangents: What it was like covering Fuji TV's 10-hour presser
By Karin Kaneko
The once-in-a-lifetime news conference showed what would happen when the Japanese press was given total freedom with no time limits.
Shinji Aoba is taken to Kyoto Prefectural Police in May 2020. His death penalty has been finalized after he dropped an appeal.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
KyoAni arson suspect's death penalty finalized after appeal dropped
An attack by Aoba in July 2019 at a studio run by the animation powerhouse caused the deaths of 36 people and injured 32 others.
Smoke from the Hughes fire billows outside of Castaic, California, on Jan. 22
WORLD / Science & Health
Climate change made Los Angeles 35% more primed to burn, scientists say
By Eric Roston
Greenhouse gas pollution raised temperatures, made drought more likely and extended the duration of fire season.
Smoke from the Hughes fire billows outside of Castaic, California, on Jan. 22

JAPAN

A volunteer responds an incoming call at a suicide hotline center in Tokyo. While the number of people who killed themselves in Japan marked the second-lowest level since 2019, such deaths among elementary, junior high and high school students were at their highest level since records began in 1980.
Suicides among school children in Japan at highest level since 1980
The total number of people who killed themselves in the country fell for the second straight year to the second-lowest level since 2019, the health ministry said.
Mayor Masanori Yamamoto of Kibichuo, Okayama Prefecture, announces the results of PFAS blood concentration tests on Tuesday.
PFAS blood test results in Okayama Prefecture town exceed U.S. standards
The Kibichuo town government announced the results of its first blood tests after PFAS were detected at a water purification plant in the town.
Japan #MeToo survivor says media are failing in wake of Fuji TV scandal
By Katie Forster
Tokyo Assembly LDP accountant fined ¥1 million over slush funds
Hong Kong fund to sue former Kobayashi Pharma execs
Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors invite Trump to visit on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing
By Jesse Johnson

BUSINESS

Engineers with Chinese startup DeepSeek built a competitive AI model despite U.S. attempts to curtail China’s tech development, raising questions about the effectiveness of Washington’s trade curbs.
DeepSeek’s AI model tests limits of U.S. restrictions on Nvidia chips
By Mackenzie Hawkins and Cagan Koc
Powerful AI software from the Chinese startup indicates its engineers built a competitive model despite U.S. attempts to curtail Beijing's tech development with trade curbs.
A worker at a Kongo factory in Kashima, Kumamoto Prefecture, carefully processes an aluminum plate using a forming press.
Companies in Kyushu struggle to enter TSMC’s supply chain
One report shows that firms in the region make up less than 10% of Japanese companies doing business with TSMC or its unit in Japan.
DeepSeek shows China playbook for even bigger U.S. shock on chips
By Gao Yuan and Vlad Savov
BOJ policymakers divided over additional easing in Oct. 2014
Sony names finance chief Hiroki Totoki as its next CEO
By Yuki Furukawa and Vlad Savov
Junglia Okinawa theme park to open July 25

WORLD

Protestors rally to oppose U.S. President Donald Trump's order to pause all federal grants and loans, in Washington on Tuesday.
Trump’s spending halt spawns day of chaos before getting blocked
By Steven T. Dennis, Alicia Diaz and Maeve Sheehey
Trump's order seemed to touch on a wide swath of programs running the gamut from anti-poverty initiatives to medical research.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown, Jr. salutes U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth as he arrives at the Pentagon in Washington on Monday.
Trump takes aim at DEI, COVID expulsions and transgender troops
Some of Trump's plans have been heavily criticized by advocacy groups, which say his actions would be illegal.
Russia set to test New Delhi by sending sanctioned oil and tankers to India
By Julian Lee
Israel defies U.N. and vows to cut ties with UNRWA, with U.S.' blessing
By Gregory WALTON
Scientists race to gauge Los Angeles fires’ impact on ocean life
By Todd Woody
Greenlanders reject Trump with 85% majority against joining U.S.
By Kati Pohjanpalo and Sara Sjolin

Sports

Hoshoryu answers questions from reporters after being recommended for the rank of yokozuna, in Taito Ward, Tokyo, on Monday.
Sumo avoids chasm at top as Hoshoryu picked for top rank
The 25-year-old will become only the 74th wrestler to reach the exalted rank in the history of the sport.
Rory McIlroy continues 'pivotal' year at Pebble Beach
Arsenal boss Arteta urges stop to abuse after red card rescinded
By Janina Nuno Rios
Antonelli, Hamilton's F1 replacement, passes his driving test
By Alan Baldwin
Sirianni revisits painful defeat as he fine-tunes Super Bowl strategy
By Amy Tennery

Opinion

Despite Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda’s efforts to explain his thinking, many struggle to grasp the BOJ's position as businesses face high costs and weak demand while consumers deal with rising prices and stagnant wages.
The Bank of Japan’s communication challenges
Sayuri Shirai
Despite limited developments that would justify a policy shift since December, Japan's central bank nevertheless went ahead to raise interest rates.
New era for U.S.-Japan depends on adapting to Trump’s America
By Joshua W. Walker
The Davos ‘vibe shift’ is no surprise
By Beth Kowitt
I spent Trump’s inauguration in Ukraine. This is what I saw.
By M. Gessen
Putin’s war is fueling Russian stagflation
By Anders Aslund

ENVIRONMENT

A pipe for transporting carbon dioxide to removal equipment at a carbon capture and storage (CCS) test site in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.
How Japan is looking deep underground to solve its carbon problem
By Annelise Giseburt
Japan is investing billions of yen to get carbon capture and storage off the ground, but the technology is dogged by high costs and uncertainty.
Oceans are warming faster and faster as the Earth traps more energy
By Danielle Bochove
Rubbish roads: Nepal explores paving with plastic
By Paavan MATHEMA
South Africa's patchwork climate plans risk widening inequality
By Kim Harrisberg
China’s surging power demand creates a climate conundrum

CULTURE

Aside from purely aesthetics, the flowers in Mika Ninagawa’s art carry deep cultural and spiritual meaning.
Mika Ninagawa transforms the Kyocera Museum into a vibrant dreamworld
By Erik Augustin Palm
The artist’s most expansive exhibition in the Kansai region to date is an experience that straddles the boundaries of photography, film and installation art.
The cartoon chaos of ‘Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi’ was ahead of its time
By Patrick St. Michel
'Emilia Perez' tops Oscar nominations in fire-hit Hollywood
By Paula Ramon and Andrew Marszal
‘Missing Child Videotape’: Subtle chiller may leave J-horror fans underwhelmed
By James Hadfield
‘Teki Cometh’ slides in and out of a hypnotic dreamworld
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Yellowtail caught during the coldest period of the year is delicious enough — but paired with a classic method of marinade and pan-searing, it's divine.
For two weeks only, cold-water yellowtail can give you chills
By Elizabeth Andoh
According to Japan’s hyperseasonal calendar, January brings with it the chance for yellowtail at the peak of flavor.
Of sake and spirits: Indulging in Yamanashi’s best
By Kimberly Hughes
Where to begin when it comes to Japanese wine
By Weiwen Lin
Japan’s love affair with Dragon Quest spreads worldwide
By Oliver Jia
Why tatami is going from the floor to the dining table
By Phoebe Amoroso

COMMUNITY

Rodgers (right) was a longtime managing editor of Kyoto Journal and, alongside colleagues like Susan Pavloska (left) and John Einarsen (center), helped make it one of Japan’s leading English-language publications.
Ken Rodgers, a fixture of the Kyoto literary scene, dies at 72
By Eric Johnston
Hailing from Australia, Rodgers made a home and community for himself in Japan’s ancient capital across more than four decades.
Kenny Colvin: ‘Work hard, drink hard, eat hard … relax hard’
By Mike Fu
Namnam reborn: A queer, anarchist space resettles in Tokyo's Koenji
By Aku Owaka-Haigh
Due north: Foreign-born guides introduce Hokkaido’s unique charms
By Justin Randall
Kaz Shiomi: ‘I want to show people … how to color outside the lines’
By Laura Pollacco

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
What we learned at Fuji TV's marathon Nakai scandal news conference
By Yukana Inoue
Members of the media raise their hands for questions as outgoing Fuji TV President Koichi Minato attends a news conference in Tokyo on Monday.
MORE SPORTS
Kanoa Igarashi dreams big as surfing championship tour gets underway
By Jason Coskrey
Kanoa Igarashi surfs in the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach competition in Oahu, Hawaii, on Feb. 18.
ENVIRONMENT
How Japan is looking deep underground to solve its carbon problem
By Annelise Giseburt
A pipe for transporting carbon dioxide to removal equipment at a carbon capture and storage (CCS) test site in Tomakomai, Hokkaido.
SUMO
Hoshoryu overcomes rank-and-file wrestlers to put yokozuna promotion in sight
By John Gunning
Hoshoryu dispatches Oho in a playoff to clinch the Emperor's Cup on the final day of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament on Sunday in Tokyo.
LIFE
Of sake and spirits: Indulging in Yamanashi’s best
By Kimberly Hughes
With abundant rains and formidable humidity in summer, Japan does not seem to be an ideal land for wine, but winegrowers in Yamanashi Prefecture have gradually been able to adapt.

Podcast

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

Longform

Ayumi Matsuki, a priestess at Yoshiwara Shrine, shows off some "o-mamori" charms. She says visitors to the shrine have increased since the NHK drama “Unbound” began airing this month.
Tracing Tsutaya Juzaburo, Edo’s media maverick
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Fuji TV president resigns over handling of Masahiro Nakai scandal
By Yukana Inoue and Karin Kaneko
Fuji TV President Koichi Minato (left) and Chairman Shuji Kanoh, also chairman of the broadcaster's parent company Fuji Media Holdings, bow during a news conference in Tokyo on Monday. The two have announced their resignations.
JAPAN
KyoAni arson suspect's death penalty finalized after appeal dropped
Shinji Aoba is taken to Kyoto Prefectural Police in May 2020. His death penalty has been finalized after he dropped an appeal.
WORLD
Rwandan-backed M23 militia enters eastern Congo's largest city
By Arlette Bashizi, Djaffar Al-Katanty, Yassin Kombi and Stanis Bujakera
Residents run away after seeing members of the M23 armed group walking through a street of the besieged Congolese city of Goma on Monday.
BUSINESS
Trump says Microsoft is in talks to acquire TikTok
U.S. President Donald Trump said last week that he was in talks with multiple people over buying TikTok and would likely have a decision on the popular app's future in 30 days.
SOCCER
Neymar and Al Hilal agree to terminate contract, club says
Al Hilal's Neymar during an Asian Champions League fixture against Al Ain, in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, on Oct. 21