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November 27, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 27, 2024
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U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
BUSINESS / Economy
Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, deeper levies on China
By Jesse Johnson and Kathleen Benoza
The president-elect says he will sign executive orders to enforce the measures when he returns to the White House on Jan. 20.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, followed by Princess Aiko and Princess Kako, prepare to attend a funeral service for Princess Yuriko at Toshimagaoka Cemetery in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Society
Funeral held for Princess Yuriko at Tokyo cemetery
By Yukana Inoue
The princess had been hospitalized since early March due to a stroke and pneumonia. She died of natural causes on Nov. 15 at age 101.
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito, speaking to reporters in Tokyo on Monday, denies alleged election law violations.
JAPAN / Politics
Embattled Hyogo governor denies alleged election law violation
By Francis Tang
Embattled Gov. Motohiko Saito admitted Monday that he paid a PR agency to produce campaign posters, but he denied violating election law.
Akihisa Nagashima (center), a special adviser to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell during a recent visit to Washington in this image posted to Campbell's X account.
JAPAN / Politics
Key Ishiba adviser visits U.S. as Japan builds inroads to Trump camp
By Jesse Johnson
Akihisa Nagashima has held talks with Republican lawmakers and others close to President-elect Donald Trump.
The Marines' Roki Sasaki practices at Es Con Field in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, on Oct. 11.
BASEBALL / MLB
When Roki Sasaki signs his deal, Latin American amateurs will suffer
By Ken Rosenthal
His chosen team will likely use its entire bonus pool on him, breaking preexisting verbal commitments with some other amateur players.
The Marines' Roki Sasaki practices at Es Con Field in Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido, on Oct. 11.

JAPAN

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's direct approach appears to mark a shift in the Japanese government's stance on the deal.
Ishiba urges Biden to approve Nippon-U.S. Steel deal, sources say
By Tim Kelly, David Dolan and Aishwarya Jain
The prime minister sent a letter asking the U.S. president to avoid marring recent efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Cardboard beds at a designated evacuation shelter in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Jan. 31, following the Noto earthquake
Citing Noto quake, experts urge Japan to bolster disaster shelters
Key recommendations from a government task force include the provision of cardboard beds and adequate cooking and toilet facilities.
Many municipalities in Japan lack understanding of megaquake advisory system
False report on Yasukuni Shrine visit 'extremely regrettable,' top spokesperson says
Sapporo explosion leaves three injured
Japanese manicurist takes on plastic pollution, one nail at a time
By Tom Bateman

BUSINESS

The services producer price index rose 2.9% in October from a year earlier, the Bank of Japan data shows, accelerating from a 2.8% gain in September.
Japan's steady corporate service inflation bolsters BOJ rate-hike view
By Leika Kihara
The Bank of Japan is watching service-sector inflation for clues on whether demand-driven price gains are broadening enough to justify further raising interest rates.
Four House Republicans wrote to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Friday, saying that recent developments related to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) "have called into question the integrity of its decision-making process,” and demanding the preservation of records related to a potential sale of U.S. Steel to Japan's Nippon Steel.
U.S. Steel review targeted by Republicans for potential probe
By Josh Wingrove
GOP lawmakers are calling on U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration to preserve documents related to the proposed sale to Japan's Nippon Steel.
Ishiba renews pressure on companies to ramp up pay
By Erica Yokoyama and Yuki Hagiwara
Antitrust watchdog raids Amazon Japan over alleged price-fixing
Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children
By Renju Jose
Japan’s SBI follows Nomura in disclosing Adani funds exposure
By Takashi Nakamichi and Nao Sano

WORLD

A police officer drives a vehicle past burning trees during an evacuation of civilians from the outskirts of the Kurakhove town, in Donetsk region, Ukraine on Sept. 16.
Russia advances in Ukraine at fastest monthly pace since start of war, analysts say
By Guy Faulconbridge and Lidia Kelly
The war is entering what some Russian and Western officials say could be its most dangerous phase.
A satellite image shows a suspected missile assembly building under construction, visible in the lower central part of the image, at the "February 11" plant near the city of Hamhung in North Korea.
Satellite images may show North Korea expanding missile plant, researchers say
By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Josh Smith
The plant in North Korea's second-largest city is the only one known to produce solid-fuel ballistic missiles Ukrainian officials say have been used by Russian forces.
Trump prepares wide-ranging energy plan centered on gas and oil, sources say
By Jarrett Renshaw
Philippines-China tensions trigger money-making disinformation
By Ara Eugenio, Jan Cuyco, Lucille Sodipe and Nattakorn Ploddee
Hong Kong court affirms housing, inheritance rights for same-sex couples
By Holmes Chan
Hong Kong a ‘global leader’ in financial crime, U.S. lawmakers say

Sports

Kotozakura speaks during a news conference in Fukuoka on Monday
Kotozakura unburdened by weight of history after claiming first title
By John Gunning
Sumo's top-ranked ozeki has won his first Emperor’s Cup.
GM agrees deal to enter F1 with Cadillac in 2026
By Alan Baldwin
U.S. women's keeper Naeher to retire after Europe matches
Ronaldo takes Al Nassr to brink of Asian Champions League quarters
Tiger Woods to skip Hero World Challenge after back surgery

Opinion

Sanae Takaichi (left) celebrates Shigeru Ishiba’s victory in becoming the head of the Liberal Democratic Party along with then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo in September. Takaichi appears to be the only woman in any party who is close to breaking the glass ceiling to become the nation’s first female leader. 
The derailing of potential female prime ministers
Edo Naito
Sanae Takaichi stands as the closest woman to breaking the glass ceiling and becoming Japan's first female prime minister.
Trump’s best hope for peace is to support Ukraine
By Tatyana Deryugina, Anastassia Fedyk, Yuriy Gorodnichenko and Ilona Sologoub
Will Trump change course on critical and emerging tech?
By Kousuke Saitou
Peak beef could already be here
By David Fickling
Shadow of the British Empire hangs over New Zealand's treaty debate
By KARISHMA VASWANI

ENVIRONMENT

A man walks past a gasoline station in Tokyo on Thursday.
How Japan can exit the fossil fuel subsidies it can’t seem to quit
By Chris Russell
While offering relief to low-income households, such measures encourage the continued use of the fossil fuels driving climate change.
How Saudi Arabia turned back climate progress at COP29
By Akshat Rathi, Jennifer A. Dlouhy and John Ainger
Rich countries provide no haven from climate doom, study finds
By Frances Schwartzkopff
Can the world unite to end the plastic pollution crisis?
By Aaron Clark and Leslie Kaufman
Surprise solar boom in Pakistan helps millions, but harms grid
By Faseeh Mangi

CULTURE

Emerging Gen Z J-pop group ME:I will perform on this year's "Kohaku Uta Gassen," national broadcaster NHK’s New Year's Eve spectacle.
'Kohaku' still matters for J-pop bragging rights
By Patrick St. Michel
The recently announced 2024 lineup underlines how capturing a year of J-pop in one broadcast bonanza is impossible these days.
French-Japanese series takes best drama at International Emmys
By Kathleen Benoza
‘From 0 to 1’: Aiku Kurotaki’s fabric of existence
By Ansel Swindells
Chinese films about COVID-19, gay romance win big at Taiwan awards
There's no room for wallflowers at Amapinight
By Kim Kahan

LIFE

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat
By Greg Dvorak
The modern sauna experience is more than just taking a seat in some steam — whisking, aufguss shows and spectacle all play a part.
Tokyo’s newest three-star chef wants ‘harmony across every detail’
By Haru Beaufort
A buttery pound cake to die — or kill — for
By Simon Daly
After Shohei Ohtani bump, Iwate ironware maker sees brighter future
By Jessica Kozuka
In rugged Yamanashi, a wild-goose chase for ‘real Japan’
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

After almost a decade of traveling around the world, a working holiday during the 2019 ski season in Nozawa Onsen was to be Rowie Geraerts’ last hurrah before she settled down in Australia.
How a solo yoga teacher built a wellness community in the Japanese Alps
By Samantha Mythen
A budding entrepreneur from Australia, Rowie Geraerts has created Shizen Collective in Nozawa Onsen — a new home for herself, locals and visitors.
Omar Nok: 'There are good people everywhere'
By Ansel Swindells
In Fukushima, a weekend of prose, poetry and translation
By Mike Fu
A bridge between kyogen and the world, Don Kenny dies at 88
By Rintaro Dainichi
Gary Perlman: ‘Kabuki is pure entertainment … the characters and themes are universal’
By Ansel Swindells

Editors' Picks

BUSINESS
Bluesky is booming in Japan — mainly for reasons other than U.S. politics
By Elizabeth Beattie
According to Similarweb, average monthly user numbers for Bluesky on Android in Japan quintupled in the 12 months to October.
ENVIRONMENT
How Japan can exit the fossil fuel subsidies it can’t seem to quit
By Chris Russell
A man walks past a gasoline station in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Are you leaving your loved ones digital legacies or headaches?
By Karin Kaneko
The National Consumer Affairs Center reports a growing number of consultations regarding "digital legacies" — data and online services left behind when people die.
MORE SPORTS
Rayssa Leal and Chloe Covell on Japan’s teen skaters: We are friends, not rivals
By Mai Yoshikawa
Brazil’s Rayssa Leal celebrates after winning the women's Street League Skateboarding competition on Saturday in Tokyo.
BUSINESS
An iconic 32-foot doughnut might give Randy’s an edge in Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, California. Replicas of the giant doughnut sculpture will be installed, where possible, at shops in Japan.

Podcast

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

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat
By Greg Dvorak

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WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Bluesky is booming in Japan — mainly for reasons other than U.S. politics
By Elizabeth Beattie
According to Similarweb, average monthly user numbers for Bluesky on Android in Japan quintupled in the 12 months to October.
BUSINESS
Trump pledges 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, deeper levies on China
By Jesse Johnson and Kathleen Benoza
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump attends a viewing of the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, in Brownsville, Texas, on Nov. 19. Trump on Monday threatened to slap China, Mexico and Canada with hefty tariffs upon his return to the White House.
BUSINESS
AI boom makes 139-year-old cable maker Japan’s hottest stock
By Aya Wagatsuma
Fujikura's headquarters in Tokyo's Koto Ward. The company's share price has surged by more than 400% this year.
LIFE
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat
By Greg Dvorak
Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
SUMO
Kotozakura unburdened by weight of history after claiming first title
By John Gunning
Kotozakura speaks during a news conference in Fukuoka on Monday