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August 19, 2025
 

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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in an online meeting focused on Ukraine, with leaders from the "coalition of the willing," a group of nations that have pledged support for Kyiv against Russian aggression, late Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan watches nervously as Trump ramps up pressure on Zelenskyy
The U.S. president is pushing the Ukrainian leader to reach a quick peace deal with Russia — an agreement that could have broad ramifications for Japan.
JAPAN / Politics
Top Japanese and German diplomats vow to boost economic security cooperation
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, have agreed to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.
JAPAN / Politics
Internal battle pits LDP's conservatives against liberals
Some in the party —mainly ex-members of the now-defunct Abe faction — are calling for it to more actively advertise conservative policies.
Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto (left) and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo in April 1996 announcing the decision to return to Japan the site for the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma air station in Okinawa Prefecture
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 17, 2025
Okinawa’s backers in LDP dwindle, prompting concern
At present, not many lawmakers are putting priority on Okinawa after measures taken by the government in the past for the development of the prefecture produced certain results.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba holds a news conference in Tokyo last month.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 16, 2025
Japan to accelerate development of logistics network in Africa
The planned corridor, which will link the inland African country of Zambia and a port in Mozambique, is aimed at enhancing supply chains for mineral resources.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung makes a speech at a news conference for foreign media in Taipei in July last year.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 16, 2025
Taiwan foreign minister's visit puts damper on Japan-China relations
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung's latest trip has put a damper on bilateral ties, with Beijing canceling a meeting in Japan at the last minute.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 16, 2025
On anniversary of WWII's end, China urges Japan to make the 'right choice'
"Only by remembering the past can straying onto the wrong path again be avoided," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was quoted as saying.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba lays a flower during the memorial service at the Nippon Budokan on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 15, 2025
As Japan marks 80 years since WWII surrender, Ishiba expresses remorse
By Himari Semans
The prime minister’s reflections about the war stood in contrast to those of his recent predecessors.
"Japan is our neighbor across the sea as well as an indispensable partner in our economic development,” South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in a speech commemorating the end of Japanese colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 15, 2025
South Korea’s Lee calls Japan indispensable partner before visit
By Soo-hyang Choi
The South Korean president has spoken harshly of Japan in the past, declaring in 2016 that "Japan is an enemy country.”
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during a news conference in Nagasaki on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Approval for Ishiba Cabinet rises to 27.3%, poll shows
Respondents who think Ishiba should not resign following the ruling party's setback in last month's House of Councilors election slightly outpacing those who think he should.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House in Washington on Feb. 7.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2025
After serving as bulwark for 80 years, Japan's U.S. ties continue to evolve
Under the U.S. security alliance, Japan has contained potential expansion of the Soviet communist bloc and China's hegemonic ambitions since the end of World War II.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday. Ishiba plans to launch a new economic initiative to strengthen ties with India, the Middle East and Africa at an event near Tokyo next week.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 14, 2025
Ishiba to launch new regional economic initiative
The initiative is aimed at helping Japanese companies expand operations in India, the Middle East and Africa.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's political survival likely hinges on whether a leadership race will take place within the Liberal Democratic Party following its decision to have its election committee canvass the opinions of party members and prefectural chapters on the subject.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Aug 13, 2025
Will Ishiba's critics be able to garner enough support for a leadership race?
By Eric Johnston
The only way to remove an LDP president from office — other than a resignation — is to invoke the recall clause and hold a leadership race.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a news conference at the Blue House in Seoul on July 3.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 13, 2025
South Korean President Lee to visit Japan for summit with Ishiba, Seoul says
By Heejin Kim
The leaders will discuss ways to improve regional peace and boost trilateral cooperation with Washington.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura addresses a meeting of Osaka Ishin no Kai on July 30.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 13, 2025
Osaka governor eager to make another bid for metropolis plan
The plan, which has been rejected twice in referendums, would scrap the city of Osaka and reorganize it into special administrative districts under Osaka Prefecture.
Agriculture and fisheries minister Shinjiro Koizumi (left) meets with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun in Seoul on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 12, 2025
Koizumi presses Seoul to lift fishery curbs and meets South Korea and China counterparts
South Korea suspended imports of fishery products from eight prefectures following the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito speaks to reporters in Tokyo after Upper House election voting finished on July 20.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 11, 2025
Komeito struggling after crushing Upper House election defeat
Some have been calling on Komeito to withdraw from costly races in constituencies and put resources into proportional representation.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during an LDP plenary meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 9, 2025
Ishiba says he will assess his responsibility based on election review
The LDP plans to release a summary report on the results of last month's election at the end of this month.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech during a news conference at the Blue House in Seoul on July 3.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 9, 2025
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung likely to visit Japan later this month
Lee's visit to Japan is being arranged to come just before or just after a reported trip to the United States on Aug. 25.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the Liberal Democratic Party's plenary meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2025
LDP panel to decide whether to hold party poll that could oust Ishiba
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The prime minister, who has long shown a strong appetite to stay in government, has said he will remain despite calls for him to resign.
Top officials from the Farm Ministry bow deeply to apologize for mistakenly saying that Japan has enough rice based on faulty data at a meeting on Aug. 8 at LDP headquarters.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2025
Farm ministry apologizes over erroneous rice supply and demand forecasts
By Himari Semans
The errors came to light when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba admitted that the government’s miscalculations had led to prices surging in the past year.
Fumitake Fujita, who was elected as Nippon Ishin no Kai's co-leader, speaks at a party meeting Friday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2025
Nippon Ishin picks Fumitake Fujita for co-leader position
By Eric Johnston
A former secretary-general, Fujita replaces Seiji Maehara, who resigned to take responsibility for the party’s underwhelming performance in July’s Upper House election.
Liberal Democratic Party youth division head Yasutaka Nakasone (center) and other members speak to reporters in Tokyo on July 25.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Aug 6, 2025
Will the movement seeking Ishiba’s resignation succeed?
By Eric Johnston
It is unclear whether the core personalities looking to unseat him have what it takes to make that happen.

Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
Two Japanese nationals shot dead in Manila
Commuters cross the street through traffic in Manila.
Osaka fire kills two firefighters and leaves four injured
Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in the Dotonbori district in the city of Osaka on Monday.
Trump’s peace-deal demands leave Ukraine's Zelenskyy with only bad options
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint news conference with the European Commission president in Brussels on Sunday.
Japan watches nervously as Trump ramps up pressure on Zelenskyy
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in an online meeting focused on Ukraine, with leaders from the "coalition of the willing," a group of nations that have pledged support for Kyiv against Russian aggression, late Sunday.
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
In Paris, chefs Chizuko Kimura and Kei Kobayashi make their mark
Chef Kei Kobayashi is France's only Japanese chef with three Michelin stars.
Top MLB prospect Rintaro Sasaki is committed to doing it 'the hard way'
Rintaro Sasaki hits a home run during a game against Duke at Stanford's Sunken Diamond on March 16.
In preserving Japanese hospitality, ‘details are everything’
Beniya Mukayu, a traditional "ryokan" inn located in Ishikawa Prefecture, considers itself at "the heart of onsen towns, local residents, farmers, fishermen, sake brewers and artisans" — all of which need new, sustainable methods of serving visitors to survive into the future.
A seaside hotel built on competitive Japanese cycling
In a region more associated with art, Keirin Hotel 10 takes a decidedly more athletic approach to attracting tourists.

Podcast

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

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers
By Tomoko Otake

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