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July 06, 2025
 

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Stephen Stapczynski
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2022
Japan’s power crisis was a decade in making and won’t go away
The world's third-largest economy has been running on a thinner supply of electricity since the triple meltdown at Fukushima in March 2011 shut its massive fleet of nuclear reactors.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 18, 2022
Energy shock hitting poorer nations reliant on imports hardest
Some countries don't have the fiscal buffer enjoyed by wealthier peers and can't count on increased revenue from their own exports.
BUSINESS
Mar 9, 2022
Japan resists pressure to follow Big Oil’s exit from Russia
Unless the situation with Russia drastically changes, Japanese companies and consortia have decided to keep their stakes in Sakhalin 1, Sakhalin 2 and Arctic LNG 2 projects.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2022
Japan’s LNG inventories slump to seven-month low on cold weather
The country has also received 10% fewer LNG deliveries in the one-month period through Monday compared to last year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 2, 2021
Japan backs oil and gas even after COP26 climate talks
Weeks after world leaders pledged to combat climate change at the COP26 summit, Japan is already showing signs of putting the brakes on divestment from fossil fuels.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Oct 27, 2021
Asia snaps up American shale gas to keep boilers and furnaces lit
While U.S. gas prices have more than doubled this year, they still are much lower than overseas markets in large part because of the bounty of North American shale fields.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2021
Coal prices rising worldwide as China struggles to meet its growing demand
The dirtiest fossil fuel, which was struggling against cleaner energy sources, is now seeing its biggest comeback ever, complicating climate talks just weeks away.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 16, 2021
Japan’s ‘carbon neutral’ liquefied natural gas shipments may not offset emissions
Measures such as preventing deforestation or supporting renewable energy projects actually do little to extract additional carbon from the air, and shouldn't contribute to net-zero claims.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Aug 12, 2021
The fictitious world of 'carbon neutral' fossil fuel
Climate experts say some offset deals do virtually nothing to decrease carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, falling far short of neutral.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 9, 2021
The era of cheap natural gas ends as prices surge by 1,000%
With few other options, the world is expected to depend more on cleaner-burning gas as a replacement to coal to help achieve near-term green goals.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 27, 2021
Japan’s green ambitions threaten the LNG market it helped create
The country, the world's top LNG importer, called for more renewables such as wind and solar to replace natural gas in a revised plan released last week.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 15, 2021
Japan joins U.S. in urging China to accelerate climate action
China's 'air pollution control could directly affect our people's health and society,' said Japan's Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / Remembering 3/11
Mar 8, 2021
To secure a green future, Japan must reckon with its nuclear past
The government panel shaping the nation's energy future sees the restart of almost every reactor halted after meltdowns in 2011 as necessary to meet climate goals.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2021
Fukushima plant owner says nuclear power needed to hit green goal
Tepco chief says nuclear energy is indispensable for the company to curb CO2 emissions 50% by fiscal 2030 from 2013 levels as boosting capacity of renewables takes time.
BUSINESS
Oct 30, 2020
Japan net zero plan hits speed bump as small utilities balk
Hokkaido Electric Power Co. and Shikoku Electric Power Co. said this week they can't set deadlines to become emissions neutral because it's too costly.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 13, 2020
Buffett-led share price boom short-lived for most Japan trading firms
The August announcement, among the largest investments ever made by Buffett in Japan, boosted investor interest in the trading companies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Aug 31, 2020
Berkshire Hathaway takes stakes topping $6 billion in Japan's top five trading companies
Shares in the trading houses leaped on news of the foray, one of billionaire Warren Buffett's biggest in Asia's second-largest economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 10, 2020
Energy markets need winter, and climate change is taking it away
Even before the deadly coronavirus struck, another menace confronted the global energy industry: the warmest winter anyone can remember.
JAPAN
Oct 15, 2019
Hidden gold and 'murky' payoffs threaten Japan's nuclear revival
A payoff scandal has struck Japan's nuclear world, threatening to delay the restart of idled reactors in what's becoming the industry's biggest crisis since the Fukushima meltdowns of 2011.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 16, 2019
Forecast of a cooler summer in Asia may add to expected LNG glut
Don't count on a summer heat wave to rescue Asia's liquefied natural gas prices. Weather forecasts signal lackluster demand in the largest importing region, raising prospects a global glut will deepen.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

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