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December 26, 2024

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Japan Airlines jets at Haneda Airport in August. On Thursday, JAL announced its systems had been targeted by a cyberattack.

JAPAN

Japan Airlines reports cyberattack on system, impacting portion of flights

By Kanako Takahara

JAL announced Thursday morning that cyberattack on its system is impacting a portion of its domestic and international flights.

Japan Airlines jets at Haneda Airport in August. On Thursday, JAL announced its systems had been targeted by a cyberattack.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba shakes hands with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Nov. 15 during their meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Lima.

JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS

Japan and China to continue delicate diplomatic dance in 2025

By Jesse Johnson

While Tokyo and Beijing have touted the importance of thawing ties, experts say a number of issues are likely to mean continued hedging by both sides.

International students and others participate in a disaster preparedness drill in Osaka City, where disaster information was conveyed in foreign languages.

JAPAN

Noto quake inspires more focus on getting disaster info to non-Japanese

The earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula on Jan. 1 highlighted the need to help foreign nationals who do not speak Japanese be more informed.

In this handout picture released by Kazakhstan's emergency situations ministry, emergency specialists work at the crash site of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet near the western Kazakh city of Aktau on Dec. 25.

WORLD

Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, killing 38

By Mariya Gordeyeva, Gleb Stolyarov and Nailia Bagirova

A jet crashed near the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, killing 38 people.

"Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition" includes an installation of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”

CULTURE / Art

Step into ukiyo-e: A digital journey through Japan’s traditional art form

By Masaru Urano

"Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition" uses 3D animation and projection mapping to reimagine Edo-era woodblock prints for modern audiences.

"Ukiyoe Immersive Art Exhibition" includes an installation of Katsushika Hokusai’s “The Great Wave off Kanagawa.”

A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Type 10 main battle tank fires ammunition during a live fire exercise at the JGSDF's training grounds in the East Fuji Maneuver Area in Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture, in May.

Japan set to approve record budget, spending more on defense and regions

By Takashi Umekawa

While the government will have to lean heavily on debt issuance, record tax receipts will enable the cutting back of fresh bond issuance by almost a fifth.

Sho Zeniya, a 36-year-old former city employee, was selected as a mayoral candidate through the open application process and elected for the first time.

Osaka Prefecture city showcases electronic voting and open applications

The mayoral election in a Osaka Prefecture city was held following an open recruitment process for candidates over the internet.

Former Japanese judge indicted for insider trading

Chinese man sentenced for vandalizing Yasukuni Shrine

Japan pump price tops ¥180 per liter for first time in 15 months

Japan eyes more discretion for schools in upcoming curriculum revision

The latest sale plan of Japanese government bonds reflects the government's efforts to fill a huge hole left by the BOJ's diminishing presence in the JGB market.

Government plans to sell more JGBs for first time in four years, draft shows

By Takaya Yamaguchi

Much of the increase will be made in shorter-dated debt to tap demand from Japanese banks.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy on Thursday at the Prime Minister's Office.

Japan wage growth projected to outpace inflation in fiscal 2025

In fiscal 2025, nominal wages are projected to increase 2.8% from the previous year, while the overall consumer price index is forecast to rise 2.0%.

Japan's government expects 1.2% economic growth for fiscal 2025

Japanese comedian-turned-investor launches fund with 'stock geek'

By Mariko Katsumura

Hong Kong fund increases its stake in Kobayashi Pharmaceutical

Japanese government to invest ¥100 billion in Rapidus in 2025

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an address to the nation at the Presidential Office in Seoul on Dec. 12.

South Korea's Yoon defies second agency summons over martial law

By Minwoo Park and Hyunsu Yim

Yoon's repeated defiance of the summons and failures to appear for questioning have sparked criticism and calls from the opposition for his arrest.

A rescuer of the State Emergency Service works to put out a fire in a private house after a drone strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday.

Russia launches 'inhuman' Christmas Day attacks, Ukraine says

By Pavel Polityuk

Half a million people in the Kharkiv region were left without heating, in temperatures just a few degrees Celsius above zero.

Hamas and Israel blame each other for Gaza cease-fire delay

By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Maytaal Angel and Jana Choukeir

Sweeping Vietnam internet law comes into force

Russian state owner calls cargo ship blast a 'terrorist attack'

The real-life violence that inspired South Korea's 'Squid Game'

By Claire Lee

A full house at Dolphins Arena takes in a bout featuring Takarafuji during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in July.

New Nagoya arena won't ease sumo's ticket crunch

By John Gunning

A shiny new arena in Nagoya will seat 17,000 but capacity won't be nearly that high for sumo, meaning there's no relief on the horizon for ticket-hungry fans.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka hungry for more success in 2025

Chiefs secure AFC top seed with win over Steelers

Postecoglou says Spurs 'need to reinforce' in transfer window

Djokovic has sights set on more glory as Swiatek returns under doping cloud

By Martin PARRY

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House in October 2017. Canada, like other nations in the president-elect's crosshairs, is scrambling to blunt the impact of his threat to implement steep tariffs once he re-takes office.

The creep of national security threatens the WTO

Brad Glosserman

In Trump's mind, tariffs are the cure-all for virtually everything that ails the United States.

ASEAN's second renaissance is now

By Anwar Ibrahim

China is taking a page from Russia’s disinformation playbook

By Maya Sobchuk

Will stability rise from the Middle East rubble?

By Dennis Ross

Africans demand a bigger share of their natural resources wealth

By Justice Malala

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.

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

Japanese study links heavy Hokkaido snowfall in 2021 to climate change

By Tomoko Otake

Companies challenged by fewer weeks of winter

By Ethan M Steinberg

Tomoko Tabata brings verve and emotion as 11-year-old Renko in “Moving,” Shinji Somai’s forgotten classic from 1993.

‘Moving’: A profound, poetic coming-of-age masterpiece restored in 4K

By Mark Schilling

The 1993 film by Shinji Somai is rekindling interest in the late director as a generational talent.

‘The War of the Rohirrim’: Striking visuals, insipid storytelling

By Matt Schley

Demand for Japanese content booms after 'Shogun' success

By Mathias Cena

A year of ruin and renewal for Japan’s art world in 2024

By Jennifer Pastore

A year of Oscar wins and a quiet push for diversity

By Mark Schilling

Casual Japanese usage increasingly sees the "i" at the end of exclamations like "yabai" (dangerous) replaced by a small "tsu."

Small letter, big impact: A little 'tsu' makes all the difference

By Peter Backhaus

When reading the small "tsu," shorten the preceding vowel slightly and then start with the sound of the subsequent consonant.

True blue tradition: How Japan's coveted jeans are made

By Natsuko Fukue

'Don't mess with our mince pies,' some Brits plead

By Helen ROWE

The secret to living to 110? Bad record-keeping, says Ig Nobel Prize winner.

By Daniel Lawler

Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?

By Kathryn Wortley

Writer Baye McNeil and his wife, Miki, host a Kwanzaa gathering in Yokohama together. The end of the year at the McNeil’s home is a mix of several different holiday traditions, including those of Kwanzaa.

A holiday season built on creativity and care

By Baye McNeil

Fusing African heritage with Japanese spirituality, our columnist crafted a holiday season that celebrates cultural understanding.

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

Kumiko Shichijo: ‘Living abroad helped me appreciate Japanese etiquette’

By Ansel Swindells

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Visitors to Kyoto walk along a street near Kiyomizu Temple in April. A popular tourist spot, Kyoto has seen what locals feel to be an overwhelming amount of tourists in 2024.

Is Japan ready for 60 million tourists?

By Kathryn Wortley

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