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December 18, 2024
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December 18, 2024
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Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida (left) and Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe hold a news conference in Tokyo in March. Both automakers have been working together for months on a deal of some sort.
BUSINESS / Companies
Honda and Nissan might combine to form world’s No. 3 auto group
By Kazuaki Nagata and Yukana Inoue
Mitsubishi, which has been working closely with Nissan since 2016, also might join the grouping.
Nissan President and CEO Makoto Uchida (left) and Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe hold a news conference in Tokyo in March. Both automakers have been working together for months on a deal of some sort.
People remove snow from a sidewalk in Sapporo after a heavy snowstorm in January 2022. A team of Japanese scientists has concluded that global warming was what caused Hokkaido to receive up to 20% more snow than usual in December 2021.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Japanese study links heavy Hokkaido snowfall in 2021 to climate change
By Tomoko Otake
Global warming caused Hokkaido to receive up to 20% more snow in December 2021 than usual, a team of Japanese scientists concluded.
Space One's Kairos No. 2 rocket is launched in Wakayama Prefecture on Wednesday. The launch subsequently failed.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Tokyo startup's second satellite launch attempt ends in failure
By Kathleen Benoza
Space One was again bidding to become the first private Japanese company to place a satellite into orbit.
Police guard the scene early Sunday morning of a stabbing incident at a McDonald's store in Kitakyushu's Kokuraminami Ward.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
What we know so far about the Kitakyushu stabbings
Authorities are analyzing surveillance and dashcam footage from the area in an effort to identify and locate the attacker.
Miyagino (left), or former yokozuna Hakuho, alongside a young medalist at the Hakuho Cup in February 2023
SUMO
Amateur sumo world caught by surprise as Hakuho Cup set to go ahead
By John Gunning
It was widely assumed that the tourney would be put on hiatus in the wake of an abuse scandal that resulted in the shuttering of Hakuho's Miyagino stable.
Miyagino (left), or former yokozuna Hakuho, alongside a young medalist at the Hakuho Cup in February 2023

JAPAN

Police inspect the scene of a stabbing at Sannomiya subway station in Kobe's Chuo Ward on Wednesday.
Police detain woman in Kobe stabbing incident　
By Jessica Speed
The suspect, Yuko Yamamoto, of unknown address and occupation, was detained on the spot on suspicion of attempted murder, according to local media.
Dutch air force F-35 fighter jets take part in drills with NATO countries in March 2023.
Dutch eyeing F-35 Indo-Pacific deployment in 2026, Japan envoy says
By Gabriel Dominguez
Rising geopolitical tensions are driving the Netherlands to work “more closely than ever before” with Indo-Pacific countries, particularly Japan.
Nihon Hidankyo members make Nobel visit to Hiroshima cenotaph
Government not liable for nuclear evacuations, Osaka High Court rules
Japan breaks annual visitor record with 33.4 million in just 11 months
Guilty sentence for ex-lawmaker Akimoto to become final

BUSINESS

Nobuo Hayasaka, president of Kioxia Holdings, reacts after striking a bell during the company's listing ceremony at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Chipmaker Kioxia surges 12% in Tokyo debut after jumbo IPO
By Yasutaka Tamura
Shares in the producer of NAND memory chips extended gains in afternoon trading after initially dropping, valuing the firm at ¥877 billion ($5.7 billion).
Honmoku pier in Yokohama. While the value of exports has risen, trade is giving limited support to the economy.
Weak yen helps Japan’s exports rise ahead of BOJ meet
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Exports measured in value rose 3.8% from a year earlier led by chipmaking machinery and nonferrous metals.
Japan household financial assets post first fall in eight quarters
Japan to support Rapidus even if it delays goal, chip czar says
By Yoshiaki Nohara and Yuki Furukawa
Bain to make $4.2 billion hostile bid for Fuji Soft against KKR
By Lisa Du
Nissan and Honda consider merger to take on world's biggest carmaker
By Siddharth Philip, Albertina Torsoli and David Welch

WORLD

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Commander-in-Chief Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami reviews military equipment during an IRGC ground forces military drill in the Aras area, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, on Oct. 17, 2022.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards extend control of oil exports, sources say
By Jonathan Saul and Parisa Hafezi
All aspects of the oil business have come under the growing influence of the Guards.
Investigators gather by a body at a blast scene after an explosion killed the commander of Russian armed forces' chemical, biological and radiation defense troops and his assistant, in Moscow on Tuesday.
Russia detains suspect in killing of chemical weapons chief Igor Kirillov
Russia said the suspect, a Uzbekistan national, had been recruited by Ukrainian security services to carry out the assassination.
Macao's civil society 'falls silent' after 25 years of Chinese rule
By Holmes Chan
For Waltz, advising isolationist Trump is a Taiwan-sized challenge
By Jenny Leonard
Ukraine has inflicted casualties on North Korean forces, U.S. says
By Natalia Drozdiak and Jon Herskovitz
South Korea’s ‘hurry hurry’ culture helps bring down a president
By Min Jeong Lee and Sangmi Cha

Sports

Nils Nielsen coaches Switzerland during the a match in September 2022. On Wednesday, the Dane was introduced as the next coach of Nadeshiko Japan.
New Nadeshiko Japan coach Nils Nielsen targets World Cup glory
The 53-year-old Dane becomes Japan's first foreign-born women's coach and succeeds Futoshi Ikeda, who left at the end of his contract in August.
Jets' draft pick Kevin He becomes first Chinese-born player to sign pro contract
Giannis Antetokounmpo stars as Bucks beat Thunder to win NBA Cup
NBA All-Star Game to have mini-tournament format in 2025
Tampa Bay Rays secure new stadium deal as county approves bonds

Opinion

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea leader James Marape address a news conference in Sydney on Dec. 12.
Australia shows how smart diplomacy is done
Brad Glosserman
Recent deals reflect the laser focus the Australian government is devoting to its closest neighbors and a bureaucratic reorganization that translates into action.
Yoon’s martial law order divides South Korea, may alter foreign policy direction
By Stephen R. Nagy
Japan's security assistance does not match its ambitions
By Raymond Yamamoto and John F. Bradford
Cartels are conglomerating. Governments must too.
By Juan Pablo Spinetto
Europe needs to swiftly fulfill its aid pledges to Ukraine
By Marc Champion

ENVIRONMENT

The entrance of the Sodegaura LNG Terminal, operated by Tokyo Gas, in Sodegaura, Chiba Prefecture
Japan's draft climate strategy spurs calls for bolder cuts in carbon emissions
By Makiko Yamazaki and Ritsuko Shimizu
The government last month presented a draft plan to aim for a 60% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 from 2013 levels.
Companies challenged by fewer weeks of winter
By Ethan M Steinberg
Indigenous people in Canada weigh costs of a gas windfall
By Max Bearak
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

CULTURE

Tokyo Comic Con took place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Dec. 6, 7 and 8.
Comic cons are far more than just cosplay
By Howard Chua-Eoan
The conventions allow fans of comics to meet their heroes — both actors and authors — with manga and anime playing an increasingly bigger role each year.
Zakir Hussain, peerless Indian tabla player, dies at 73
By Yan Zhuang
Jay Rubin takes us back to Haruki Murakami's world
By Kris Kosaka
'Into the New World': the K-pop song that became South Korea's protest anthem
By Claire Lee
Big franchises and bold voices dominated anime in 2024
By Matt Schley

LIFE

A screen shot from YouTube user @lagelda shows the simplicity of going viral in Japan in 2024: A cat dancing to EDM in front of a green screen.
Curiosity didn’t kill the meme: Why cats still rule Japanese YouTube
By Patrick St. Michel
Cat memes continued to thrive and evolve in 2024. In Japan, they're not just for jokes — they’re for storytelling, venting and a little therapy.
Silent night? Not if you want to impress your Christmas Eve date.
By Yuko Tamura
Glass half full: Japan’s sake industry celebrates a brighter 2024
By Phoebe Amoroso
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

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

LIFE
Curiosity didn’t kill the meme: Why cats still rule Japanese YouTube
By Patrick St. Michel
A screen shot from YouTube user @lagelda shows the simplicity of going viral in Japan in 2024: A cat dancing to EDM in front of a green screen.
ASIA PACIFIC
With rare Asia carrier deployment, France seeks greater interoperability
By Gabriel Dominguez
The flight deck of the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier during a stop at Changi Naval Base in Singapore in May 2019
BUSINESS
Taiwan’s bullet train a testament to shinkansen’s export potential
By Kazuaki Nagata
A Taiwan High Speed Rail bullet train arrives at Nangang Station in the city of Taipei.
LIFE
Looking for ways to be charitable in Japan? Give the gift of reading.
By Yuko Tamura
Book Santa is a program that delivers books to children in need for Christmas, but it also operates year-round.
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.

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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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono
The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

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
BUSINESS
Taiwan’s bullet train a testament to shinkansen’s export potential
By Kazuaki Nagata
A Taiwan High Speed Rail bullet train arrives at Nangang Station in the city of Taipei.
JAPAN
Fatal knife attack in Kitakyushu McDonald’s took less than 30 seconds
Flowers and offerings are placed outside a McDonald's restaurant in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, where two junior high school students were stabbed by a man on Saturday, one fatally.
JAPAN
New fencing installed to help manage tourists at Mount Fuji photo spot
By Kathleen Benoza
New fencing was installed along the sidewalk near a convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Monday to prevent tourists from jaywalking and to improve safety.
JAPAN
Japan to let investigators go undercover to crack down on yami baito
By Karin Kaneko and Francis Tang
A flyer created by the Metropolitan Police Department to warn people about <i>yami baito</i>, or "dark" part-time jobs