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April 17, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 17, 2025
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Shigeru Ishiba
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday in Washington.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Trump calls the U.S.-Japan alliance ‘one-sided.’ Tokyo says otherwise.
By Jesse Johnson
Some observers believe the U.S. president’s worldview is stuck in the 1980s, a time when trade deficits with Japan captured the attention of U.S. policymakers.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday in Washington.
Economic revitalization minister Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, responds to a question at Haneda Airport in Tokyo ahead of his visit to the United States on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Akazawa, Japan’s tariff czar, jets to Washington for mission impossible 
By Francis Tang
Tokyo realizes that achieving a satisfactory meeting of the minds with Washington will be a real challenge.
A night market in Taipei in April
JAPAN / Society
Japan is by far the favorite country among Taiwanese: survey
By Himari Semans
Japan has been the most popular country since the survey began in 2008.
Under the Economic Security Promotion Act, the government implements a range of measures to secure vital supply chains, from providing subsidies and low-interest loans to coordinating regulations, stockpiling essential goods and protecting advanced technologies.
BUSINESS / Economy
METI may list undersea cables and satellites as critical for economic security
By Karin Kaneko
The move comes amid an increasingly uncertain geo-economic climate, with global powers becoming more protectionist.
Sachiko Ishizuka, who was born via artificial insemination by donor (AID), tells her story to lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on April 9.
JAPAN / Science & Health / FOCUS
Privacy and transparency clash in debate over bill on artificial insemination
By Himari Semans
At stake is the thorny question of when children conceived through artificial insemination by donor can access information on their biological parents, and to what extent.
Sachiko Ishizuka, who was born via artificial insemination by donor (AID), tells her story to lawmakers from the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan on April 9.

JAPAN

Ryoko Hirosue was being detained at the Hamamatsu West Police Station in the city of Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Actor Ryoko Hirosue released from custody after alleged kicking incident
By Yukana Inoue
The 44-year-old actor was arrested for allegedly kicking and scratching a medical staff member while in a “panicked state” following a car accident.
A damages lawsuit, filed Tuesday in the Fukuoka District Court, names four defendants including the group’s boss, 83-year-old Kenichi Shinoda and his second-in-command, 77-year-old Kiyoshi Takayama.
Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza boss sued over fraud scheme in Fukuoka
The lawsuit names four defendants including the group’s boss, 83-year-old Kenichi Shinoda, better known as Shinobu Tsukasa.
Tokyo police refer Dewi Sukarno to prosecutors
Japan to hold third auction of stockpiled rice next week
Japan crosses 10 million visitors mark at fastest ever pace
Family mourns university student killed in 2016 Kumamoto earthquake

BUSINESS

A Bank of Kyoto branch in the city of Kyoto. Kyoto Financial Group has been a symbol of Japan’s old guard holding out against selling the stakes, given its historic ties to exporters based in the city including Nintendo, Nidec and Kyocera.
Kyoto bank shifts stance on mergers and cuts to cross-shareholdings
By Taiga Uranaka
Kyoto Financial has been a symbol of Japan’s old guard holding out against selling the stakes, given its historic ties to exporters based in the city.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda
Trump’s tariffs may spur policy response from BOJ, Sankei reports
By Alastair Gale and Toru Fujioka
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda's policy comments reinforce speculation that authorities aren’t likely to consider a near-term rate hike.
Renault chairman will leave Nissan’s board, sources say
By Masatsugu Horie
Honda to shift production of Civic from Japan to U.S. due to tariffs
By Nicholas Takahashi
Zuckerberg defends strategy behind Instagram, WhatsApp deals
By Kurt Wagner and Josh Sisco
Keyaki Capital starts first Japan online private asset platform
By Megawati Wijaya

WORLD

India's Akash missiles are displayed during a Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 2020.
India carving niche as budget-friendly arms maker for Russia's past buyers
By Shivam Patel
The effort aims to capitalize on a sourcing scramble since the outbreak of war in Ukraine by nations that had historically relied on Washington and Moscow for weapons.
Journalists Sergei Karelin, Antonina Favorskaya and Artem Kriger, accused of taking part in the activities of an "extremist" organization founded by late opposition politician Alexei Navalny, attend a court hearing in Moscow on Tuesday.
Russian journalists jailed for 5½ years for alleged extremist ties to Navalny
Moscow has intensified pressure on domestic and foreign reporters since the start of its war in Ukraine.
Hong Kong postal service halts U.S. parcels over tariff ‘bullying'
Seven rare earth metals that China is weaponizing against the U.S.
China's Xi meets Malaysian leaders in diplomatic charm offensive
By Isabelle Leong
USAID cuts rip through African health care systems
By Nicholas ROLL and Samad UTHMAN

Sports

Kirishima (behind) battles Atamifuji during a regional tour event in Hyogo Prefecture in 2023.
Sumo's throwback regional tours offer glimpse into sport's heart and history
By John Gunning
With tickets for grand tournaments tough to come by, regional tours are the best chances for fans to watch live sumo — and even interact with the sport's biggest names.
Skating 'Quad God' Malinin ready for Olympic favorite tag
Butler and 'Batman' Curry shine as Warriors down Grizzlies to reach playoffs
Baystars pitcher Jackson 'honored' to wear No. 42 on Jackie Robinson Day
By Jason Coskrey
PSG survives Aston Villa scare to reach Champions League semis

Opinion

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has sent a delegation to Washington for high-stakes tariff talks, as other nations watch to see if Tokyo can secure favorable terms from the Trump administration.
If Japan can’t get a good trade deal, can anyone?
Gearoid Reidy
The Asian nation is the canary in the tariff coal mine. If it can’t secure a good deal, there’s little hope for others.
Japan should challenge Washington in defense of justice
By Nathan Thomas
When will China start to devalue the yuan?
By Shuli Ren
No, Le Pen was not railroaded
By Jan-Werner Mueller
Taiwan is under siege with or without tariffs
By Karishma Vaswani

ENVIRONMENT

The Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Middletown, Pennsylvania, in October. Microsoft is set to use energy from new reactors at the plant.
AI surge to double data center electricity demand by 2030, report says
By Nathalie ALONSO
AI can also unlock opportunities to produce and consume electricity more efficiently, the International Energy Agency said in its first report on the technology's implications.
Clean streets versus business woes: Pollution charge divides Londoners
By Akshata Kapoor
Once-dying Mexican river delta slowly nursed back to life by conservationists
By Daniel Rook
As Chile revs up lithium plans, Indigenous people demand more control
By Daina Beth Solomon
Global temperatures at near-historic highs in March, says EU monitor

CULTURE

In the dystopian society of Sayaka Murata's latest book to come out in English, sex between married couples is considered incest and therefore taboo.
'Vanishing World': Sayaka Murata’s vision of a sex-hating society
By Thu-Huong Ha
In Sayaka Murata’s latest book to come out in English, sex between married couples is considered taboo, and humans reproduce predominantly via IVF.  
Indonesia's horror movie industry rises from the grave
By Baptiste Anse
Digital divas: Can Japan's virtual YouTuber craze crack America?
By Tomohiro Osaki, Paula Ramon and Gilles Clarenne
National Ballet of Japan takes its 'Giselle' to Royal Opera House in London
By Kris Kosaka
The band that turned a pandemic lockdown into a Tokyo dream
By Patrick St. Michel

LIFE

When you stare into the abyss at the bottom of the No. 3 shaft of the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel, the abyss stares back.
A new tour of Tokyo’s most underground attraction
By Owen Ziegler
From April, the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel will offer guided treks of areas previously inaccessible to the public.
In California, a Nikkei vintner finds his heritage and purpose
By Weiwen Lin
As rice prices rise, a bit of tea adds needed luxury
By Simon Daly
Heaven from hells: The sulfuric pleasure of Unzen Onsen
By Erik Augustin Palm
Osaka Expo-bound? Take your pick of the city’s new luxury hotels.
By Jessica Kozuka

COMMUNITY

Customers line up patiently for some early-afternoon baked goods outside Truffle, which is located close to Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line.
How to spend the perfect day in Hiroo, Tokyo’s expat enclave
By Eric Margolis
A stroll through Hiroo reveals both the comforts of expat luxury and the quiet intrusions of a changing Tokyo.
Noriko Shakti: ‘Music reflects my journey and learnings’
By Miikka J. Lehtonen
Tokyo Humanities Cafe feeds hungry minds
By Jessica Kozuka
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

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Why Ishiba became the first prime minister to hold talks with Rengo in 16 years
By Himari Semans
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Japanese Trade Union Confederation chief Tomoko Yoshino in a meeting Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office
BUSINESS
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
SUMO
Sumo's throwback regional tours offer glimpse into sport's heart and history
By John Gunning
Kirishima (behind) battles Atamifuji during a regional tour event in Hyogo Prefecture in 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC
China’s new bridge-forming barges offer new options for Taiwan invasion
By Gabriel Dominguez
This satellite image taken on March 25 shows three Chinese barges connected via extendable bridges in waters off Zhanjiang, in southern China's Guangdong province. Experts say the new barges could be used to land heavy equipment and thousands of personnel in a possible invasion of Taiwan.
MORE SPORTS
The man who helps Japanese figure skaters stay sharp
By Mai Yoshikawa
Kimitaka Sakurai displays a sharpening stone for working on skate blades, in Yokohama on March 28. Regular sharpening is crucial for maintaining optimal performance and reducing skaters’ risk of injury on the ice.

Podcast

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

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.
By Tomoko Otake

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

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
In a first, Japan issues cease-and-desist order against Google
By Yukana Inoue
The Google logo is seen at the company's Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Japanese authorities on Tuesday issued a cease-and-desist order to Google over an alleged violation of the country's anti-monopoly law.
BUSINESS
Japan to give India E5 and E3 shinkansen for free
A rendering of East Japan Railway's E10 series of bullet trains
ASIA PACIFIC
China’s new bridge-forming barges offer new options for Taiwan invasion
By Gabriel Dominguez
This satellite image taken on March 25 shows three Chinese barges connected via extendable bridges in waters off Zhanjiang, in southern China's Guangdong province. Experts say the new barges could be used to land heavy equipment and thousands of personnel in a possible invasion of Taiwan.
JAPAN
Four arrested over obscene AI images in Japan first
The suspects used free AI software to create images of naked adult women, who do not exist in the real world, using prompts that included terms such as "legs open," according to NHK.
COMMENTARY
'Chikan' incidents rise as Japan grapples with mental health and cultural challenges
By Takayuki Harada
Overcrowded trains and a lack of legal consequences for groping in Japan have led to a rise in "chikan," or groping, which has been linked to a mental condition and compounded by cultural stigmas.