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April 01, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 01, 2025
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Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
On defense, Japan may avoid Trump's worst impulses — for now
By Jesse Johnson
In his first official trip to Japan, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared to have been looking to tamp down on concerns in Tokyo.

More coverage

In Tokyo, Pentagon chief provides assurances that Japan-U.S. alliance remains robust
Pentagon chief joins war memorial ceremony on first visit to Japan
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth chat after reviewing an honor guard during a welcome ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Sunday.
The headquarters of Fuji Media Holdings, Fuji TV's parent, in Tokyo's Minato Ward
JAPAN / Media
Fuji TV bears heavy responsibility over Nakai's 'sexual violence': panel
By Yukana Inoue
A third party panel's probe on a series of scandals involving the broadcaster and the TV star acknowledged the nature of his "trouble" with a woman for the first time.
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
JAPAN
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
A tsunami of over 20 meters would likely be observed in a total of 23 municipalities in Tokyo and seven other prefectures.
Japanese stocks declined on Monday as auto and electronics shares were hit hard.
BUSINESS / Markets
Japanese stocks fall about 4% ahead of Trump's 'Liberation Day'
By Kazuaki Nagata
Traders and analysts are expecting a week of volatility as the U.S. tariff situation becomes clearer and waivers, if any, are granted.
Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone. 
LIFE / Lifestyle / Longform
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks
A growing industry quietly erases the final traces of those who die alone, exposing deep societal fractures.
Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone. 

JAPAN

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
By Eric Johnston
Concerns over the stability of the LDP-Komeito minority government are fueling talk of a possible new arrangement, and maybe even a new prime minister.
A poster calling for the earlier extension of the Hokkaido Shinkansen line to Sapporo is seen in the city's Chuo Ward in May.
Hokkaido's rail network faces tough challenges
By Eric Johnston
Falling ridership is putting pressure on JR Hokkaido to close underutilized local lines even as it struggles to complete the Hokkaido Shinkansen.
Tokyo hospital opens city's first 'baby hatch'
Japan sends coordinating officials to Myanmar after earthquake
Japan's fiscal 2025 budget enacted just in time
Wildfire in Ehime Prefecture has been contained, mayor declares

BUSINESS

Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Since 2009, Ken Theriault has been keeping himself busy maintaining Costco's American charm and catering to the needs of the Japanese consumer as the wholesaler's boss in Japan.
Chip startup Rapidus is set to receive as much as ¥802.5 billion in additional subsidies from the government.
Japan earmarks another ¥802.5 billion for chip startup Rapidus
By Takashi Mochizuki
Rapidus is on track to get a pilot line online in April, executives said last week.
Prices for 4,225 food, beverage products set to rise in Japan
Seoul overtakes Paris in beauty boom with dealmakers rushing in
By Heejin Kim
Japan production rises most in 11 months ahead of new U.S. tariffs
By Erica Yokoyama
U.S. orders French companies to comply with Trump's DEI ban
By John Irish and Mathieu Rosemain

WORLD

A woman cries while offering morning prayers to start the Eid al-Fitr festival in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Monday, three days after a powerful quake hit the Southeast Asian nation.
Rescue hopes fading three days after deadly Myanmar quake
Intense heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 C, has exhausted rescue workers and accelerated body decomposition, which could complicate identification.
U.S. President Donald Trump departs for Washington from West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday.
Trump says he’s ‘not joking’ about seeking a third term in defiance of Constitution
By Erica L. Green
Any attempt to seek a third term would run afoul of the 22nd Amendment, which begins, 'No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice.'
In Turkey, new technologies reinforce repression
By Burcin GERCEK
After Duterte's arrest, Philippine drug war victims face abuse and online falsehoods
By Karen Lema and Poppy McPherson
Netanyahu offers Hamas leaders Gaza exit but demands group disarm
By Jay Deshmukh
Australia’s Albanese takes the lead in polls as election race starts
By Ben Westcott

Sports

Kaori Sakamoto performs her free skate during the world championships in Boston on Friday.
Kaori Sakamoto breathes sigh of relief after world championships
By Hiro Yoshida
Sakamoto finished in second place behind American Alysa Liu, who made a surprising run to the world title.
Australia open door for Kerr's return as Matildas captain
Teenager Jakub Mensik stuns Novak Djokovic in Miami Open final
Steelers keeping QB options open after meeting with Aaron Rodgers
Tomoyuki Sugano makes MLB debut in Orioles' loss to Blue Jays

Opinion

Palestinians take part in an anti-Hamas protest calling for an end to the war with Israel, in Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. 
Israel must not ignore the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza
Konstanty Gebert
Though still relatively small in scale, the anti-Hamas demonstrations in Gaza clearly indicate a shift in opinion.
Contemplating victory and defeat in Ukraine
By Howard Chua-Eoan
What’s fueling America's gold bar conspiracy
By Stephen Mihm
From advisers to autonomous 'agents,' how AI could reshape society
By Daron Acemoglu
Can the Jesus of history support the Christ of faith?
By Ross Douthat

ENVIRONMENT

Fluffy, low-hanging clouds generally have a cooling influence. They are big and bright, blocking and bouncing back incoming sunlight.
Clouds changing as world warms, adding to climate uncertainty
By Nick Perry
Cloud behavior is notoriously complex to predict and remains a great unknown for scientists trying to accurately forecast future levels of climate change.
Trump can't stop 'sustainability revolution': Al Gore
Without new countermeasures, Japan’s temperature could rise 4.5 C by 2100
By Jessica Speed
Why we should worry when whales stop singing
By Todd Woody
What the $660 million Greenpeace verdict means for U.S. activism
By Olivia Raimonde and Zahra Hirji

CULTURE

A figurine of the character Link from the Nintendo video game series The Legend of Zelda is displayed inside the Nintendo Tokyo store in the Japanese capital in November 2019.
Nintendo announces Legend of Zelda film for 2027
Nintendo made the announcement on "Nintendo Today!", a new app for fans that was launched on Thursday.
Yuki Tejima's metamorphosis from bookworm to literary translator
By Kris Kosaka
Cherry blossom-themed art to see this weekend in Tokyo
By Zoria Petkoska
Rise and shine with ‘The Wakey Show’
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Ravens’: Tadanobu Asano plays troubled photographer with scapegrace charm
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Graduation ceremonies in Japan will usually include a performance of the Japanese national anthem, “Kimigayo.”
Attempting the classics: The world of waka poetry
By Eric Margolis
The origins of this poetry style stretch back to at least the seventh century, when one of the emperor's wives composed it at court ceremonies.
The cold complexity of 'pure' Japanese cocktail ice
By Phoebe Amoroso
Feast your eyes on 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking'
By Simon Daly
'Better than real life': In China, virtual boyfriends are emotional aids
By Luna Lin
Michelin awards stars to 172 restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

Shogo Yamaguchi shares his love of traditional Japanese culture with an audience of nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers.
Shogo Yamaguchi: ‘Traditional culture thrives in a peaceful society’
By Laura Pollacco
The Kyoto-based content creator shares travel tips and reminisces on the path that led him to where he is today.
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
A tawny Kai Ken discovers his courage
A community of stories: Making space for reflection and dialogue in Tokyo and beyond
By Megumi Koiwai

Editors' Picks

BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.
BUSINESS
Tokyo tech failures lean into misfortune, mistakes and missteps
By Tim Hornyak
Tsuyoshi Domoto in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward on March 28. As an entrepreneur, Domoto experienced plenty of setbacks but maintains a positive attitude and continues to pursue his dreams.
JAPAN
Who among the opposition would join the ruling coalition?
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Friday.
LIFE
Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air
By Owen Ziegler
Scenes like this snow-covered bridge leading to the village of Shirakawa-go are what make the Three-Star Road worth traveling — its name notwithstanding.
JAPAN
Recent spate of wildfires in Japan and South Korea linked to climate change
By Tomoko Otake
Smoke and flames rise from a wildfire in Andong, South Korea, on Tuesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone. 
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan
By Johan Brooks

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Japan's biggest beef bowl chain Sukiya to shut nearly 2,000 stores after rat and bug contamination
Zensho Holdings, operator of fast-food chain Sukiya, said it will close all of its stores in Japan, except for a small number in shopping centers, between Monday and Friday following recent contamination incidents.
JAPAN
Alert raised for volcano in southwestern Japan
Shinmoedake, a volcano located between Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, in November 2019
BUSINESS
Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs
By Francis Tang
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
JAPAN
Nankai Trough earthquake could kill 298,000 people, government says
Residents participate in an evacuation drill held with West Japan Railway in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, in January 2024 to prepare for a Nankai Trough earthquake and a possible tsunami following the quake.
BUSINESS
A Canadian made a weekend trip to Costco a Japanese pastime
By Elizabeth Beattie
Under the watchful eye of Ken Theriault, Costco representative director and Japan country manager, the American membership-model wholesaler has flourished in Japan.