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January 03, 2025
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January 03, 2025
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Members of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials gather in front of the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Seoul on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
South Korea investigators in standoff to arrest President Yoon
By Hailey Jo and Claire Lee
Yoon Suk Yeol would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the warrant is carried out.
Members of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials gather in front of the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Seoul on Friday.
A birth notification document issued by Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward. Family registers, which record and certify citizens' familial relationships from birth to death, currently do not include the phonetic readings of names.
JAPAN / Society
Family registers to incorporate phonetic readings of names from end-May
Citizens who wish to register readings that differ from those listed on certificates of residence must notify municipal governments within a year.
Yasushi Dozen, chief investment officer at Kepple
BUSINESS
Japan's ¥10 trillion startup investment target more improbable than ever
By Kazuaki Nagata
Investors and startup supporters say Japan is still in the seed-planting phase of startup development and must address some structural issues.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has said forming a grand coalition of major ruling and opposition parties to stabilize his administration will likely be an option.
JAPAN / Politics
Grand coalition of ruling and opposition parties likely an option, Ishiba says
The prime minster said forming a grand coalition of major ruling and opposition parties may be an option to stabilize his administration.
One of the themes in American guitarist Marty Friedman’s autobiography “Dreaming Japanese” is that while he has become a star in his own right in Japan, he still feels that he doesn’t “belong.”
CULTURE / Books
Guitarist Marty Friedman goes to bat for J-pop in new autobiography
By Philip Brasor
"Dreaming Japanese" tells the story of how the Megadeth guitarist navigated Japan's music industry.
One of the themes in American guitarist Marty Friedman’s autobiography “Dreaming Japanese” is that while he has become a star in his own right in Japan, he still feels that he doesn’t “belong.”

JAPAN

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attend a New Year ceremony at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday.
Emperor wishes for peaceful year for those affected by disaster
Emperor Naruhito expressed his wish on Thursday for a peaceful year for people affected by disasters, following a strong earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula a year ago.
People offer silent prayers in the Asaichi-dori morning market area in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, at 4:10 p.m. on Wednesday, the time a huge earthquake hit the prefecture on Jan. 1, 2024.
Remembering the victims of the Noto Peninsula earthquake
The death toll from the New Year's Day quake came to 504, including those who died during evacuation or from other indirect causes.
Advanced medical and AI technologies to be showcased at Osaka Expo
App helping visually impaired in disasters gains traction one year on
Japanese icebreaker Shirase reaches Showa Station in Antarctica
Japan-EU strategic partnership agreement takes effect

BUSINESS

Elon Musk speaks with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket in Brownsville, Texas, in November.
As Musk gains influence, questions hover over U.S. probes into his empire
By Mike Spector, Rachael Levy, Marisa Taylor and Chris Prentice
Musk’s potential to have extraordinary clout with the new administration raises questions about the fate of federal investigations affecting his business empire.
A Tesla Cybertruck
Tesla annual deliveries fall for first time as incentives fail to drum up demand
By Akash Sriram
CEO Elon Musk had earlier predicted "slight growth" in 2024 deliveries and offered a range of promotions including interest-free financing and free fast-charging to boost sales.
Economists see continued rise in Japan's wages and prices in fiscal '25
BYD chalks up new record as it narrows EV sales gap with Tesla
By Danny Lee
Inside luxury goods' broken audit system
By Elisa Anzolin, Emilio Parodi and Silvia Ognibene
Investors hope for U.S. stock market trifecta in 2025 after back-to-back boom years

WORLD

Members of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials gather in front of the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Seoul on Friday.
South Korea investigators in standoff to arrest President Yoon
By Hailey Jo and Claire Lee
Yoon Suk Yeol would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be arrested if the warrant is carried out.
Police officers investigate the scene after 15 people were killed by a man driving a truck in an attack during New Year's celebrations, in New Orleans on Thursday.
New Orleans attack shows enduring influence of Islamic State group
By Courtney McBride
Since 2019, when then-U.S. President Donald Trump declared the group’s so-called caliphate had been defeated, Islamic State has "metastasized” elsewhere.
Texas man behind New Orleans attack acted alone, FBI says
By Brian Thevenot and Ned Randolph
Investigators seek clues to New Orleans attacker's path to radicalization
By Jonathan Landay and Ted Hesson
Police identify driver of exploded Tesla Cybertruck as U.S. Army soldier
By Rich McKay and Hannah Lang
‘No terrorist to me’: Relatives and friends saw few signs before attack
By Maria Jimenez Moya, Shannon Sims, J. David Goodman and Mike Baker

Sports

U.S. star Ilona Maher has the largest social media following of anyone in rugby.
World Rugby chief says U.S. star Ilona Maher will help fuel World Cup fever
The versatile American back — a breakout star at the 2024 Paris Olympics —  is the world's most popular rugby player on social media
World's oldest Olympic champion Agnes Keleti dies at 103
Lions and Vikings to determine No. 1 seed in winner-take-all showdown
Justin Thomas 'fully capable' of year like Scottie Scheffler had in 2024
Gabriela Dabrowski reveals run to Olympic bronze came amid cancer treatment

Opinion

After a dramatic 2024, where Japan saw political upheaval, a record stock market, a major quake and a plane crash and dramatic escape, 2025, with events like major anime sequels, the Osaka World Expo, rising foreign acquisitions, we should expect a transformative year.
Anime, M&A and the expo: What to watch for in Japan’s 2025
Gearoid Reidy
No doubt 2025 has more surprises in store for Japan after an unusually intense 12 months.
Our AI near-future
By Charles Ferguson
The world needs a pro-human AI agenda
By Daron Acemoglu
The world is ever more angry. That is not good.
By Brad Glosserman
Will the second Trump boom go bust?
By Kenneth Rogoff

ENVIRONMENT

People cover themselves with umbrellas during a hot summer day in Tokyo's Ginza district in August. Temperatures shot up in early July, even before the official end of the rainy season, and the high temperatures persisted well into the fall.
Japan’s weather in 2024: Record temperatures hurt people’s health and wallets
By Tomoko Otake
Average temperatures across the nation and surrounding seas exceeded last year’s record-breaking levels "by a significant margin," affecting everything from well-being to farming.
Great things can grow in small places
By Laura Pollacco
After a year of hard climate talks, ‘minilateralism’ is an alternative
By Aaron Clark
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

CULTURE

One of the themes in American guitarist Marty Friedman’s autobiography “Dreaming Japanese” is that while he has become a star in his own right in Japan, he still feels that he doesn’t “belong.”
Guitarist Marty Friedman goes to bat for J-pop in new autobiography
By Philip Brasor
"Dreaming Japanese" tells the story of how the Megadeth guitarist navigated Japan's music industry.
'Emilia Perez' heads into Golden Globes as strong favorite
By Romain FONSEGRIVES
The bond between the Japanese and animals as seen in ukiyo-e
By Aiko Imaizumi
Toru Fuyuki, composer of 'Ultraseven' theme song, dies at 89
Still sounding young at 85, Midori Kato is the voice of old Japan
By Motoko Rich and Hisako Ueno

LIFE

Incorporating modern technologies into your Japanese classes might be a way to connect with younger students.
Start the new year with a fresh approach to teaching Japanese
By Yaeko Kabe
It’s important for language instructors to update their methods to best appeal to their younger students.
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake
By Kathryn Wortley
Architect Sou Fujimoto says his 'Grand Ring' will be a symbol of unity at the Osaka Expo
By Natsuko Fukue
From Michelin stardom to humble meals, Tokyo dining had an eclectic 2024
By Robbie Swinnerton
How Hokkaido quietly became a culinary treasure trove in 2024
By Simon Daly

COMMUNITY

For the 20 Questions column this year, writers asked their interview subjects about everything from their lives in Japan to their thoughts on news topics.
There were plenty of hot topics to opine on in 2024
By Gendel Gento, Kimberly Hughes, Ora Margolis, David McElhinney, Zoria Petkoska, Justin Randall, Himari Semans, Patrick St. Michel and Ansel Swindells
We take a look back at some of the best answers that our interviewees gave for 20 Questions from throughout the year.
A holiday season built on creativity and care
By Baye McNeil
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

Editors' Picks

SUMO
Sumo’s brotherhood gets latest inductee
By John Gunning
Chugo Saito at Isenoumi stable on Friday. Saito has joined his older brother, Seigo, at the stable.
JAPAN
A year after a deadly earthquake, Noto Peninsula still faces long road to recovery
By Alex K.T. Martin
Photos taken from the same place but at different times in the Noto Peninsula towns of Wajima (left) and Suzu illustrate the progress made following the devastating earthquake that hit these areas of Ishikawa Prefecture on Jan. 1, 2024.
MORE SPORTS
A newcomer’s guide to the Hakone Ekiden experience
By Mai Yoshikawa
The start of the 2024 Hakone Ekiden in Tokyo's Otemachi district. Every year on Jan. 2 and 3, Hakone Ekiden brings millions of fans across Japan to a standstill.
BUSINESS
Japan’s go-slow approach to selling high-speed rail globally
By Kazuaki Nagata
At 60, the shinkansen has been mostly stuck in Japan, with only one system ever sold overseas.
JAPAN
Japan news images of 2024: Upheaval, resilience and breakthroughs
A person walks down a street in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the days following a magnitude 7.6 earthquake, which struck off the coast of the Noto Peninsula on Jan. 1, 2024. More than 500 deaths have been attributed to the event, which was the worst quake since the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011.

Podcast

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

Longform

A man offers prayers at Hebikubo Shrine in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. The shrine is one of several across the country dedicated to the snake.
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake
By Kathryn Wortley

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Site designer on why expos matter more than ever
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WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Japan’s go-slow approach to selling high-speed rail globally
By Kazuaki Nagata
At 60, the shinkansen has been mostly stuck in Japan, with only one system ever sold overseas.
WORLD
FBI probes New Orleans truck ramming as IS-inspired terrorist attack
By Brian Thevenot
Police investigators surround a white truck in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, on Wednesday.
LIFE
Shed your skin and reinvent yourself in the Year of the Snake
By Kathryn Wortley
A man offers prayers at Hebikubo Shrine in Tokyo's Shinagawa Ward. The shrine is one of several across the country dedicated to the snake.
WORLD
Tesla Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel, killing one
By David Shepardson and Karen Brettell
Investigators inspect he remains of a Tesla Cybertruck that burned at the entrance of Trump Tower Las Vegas on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Mother arrested after three children die in Kanagawa Prefecture
A woman was arrested for allegedly killing her son, who was found dead along with two other children of the suspect in their house in Ebina, Kanagawa Prefecture.