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Hamas' political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, attends a swearing-in ceremony for new Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the parliament in Tehran on Tuesday.
WORLD
Jul 31, 2024

Hamas says political chief Ismail Haniyeh killed in 'Zionist' strike in Tehran

The group said he was killed in a "Zionist strike on his headquarters in Tehran" after he joined the inauguration of the new Iranian president.
Teammates swarm Daiki Hashimoto after his gold medal-clinching performance on the horizontal bar on Monday.
OLYMPICS / Gymnastics
Jul 31, 2024

How Japan's gymnasts picked each other up and toppled China

With hope of a gold medal fading, the Japanese men's gymnastics team rallied around each other and simply refused to give up.
Hungary, which has increased its birth rate since 2010, has adopted policies that support those who want or have children, including financial incentives, housing subsidies and better work-life balance.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 31, 2024

Why do young people in Hungary want kids more than in Japan?

Marriage and birth rates are plummeting in Japan, while many young people in Hungary want families thanks to measures that support their choices in life and at work.
Kenta Izumi, head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 2, 2024

CDP Leader Izumi to seek re-election

Some CDP members are calling for a change of the leader, mainly due to delays in building a coalition of opposition parties for the next Lower House election.
Photographer Gaku Lange says Japan's film photography scene is growing, but it still lags behind overseas communities.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Aug 5, 2024

Looking at Japan’s ‘tribal’ photography scene through a new lens

More young people in Tokyo are ditching smartphones for film cameras, but the old guard isn't necessarily pleased about it.
Tigers players, including Ukyo Maegawa (center), celebrate their win over the Giants at Koshien Stadium on Thursday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 2, 2024

Tigers celebrate Koshien's 100th with victory over rival Giants

"Everyone understood the importance of this three-game series," manager Akinobu Okada said. "It's great to win in such a memorable way on this special day."
Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 2, 2024

Motegi shows readiness to run in LDP presidential race, but hurdles remain

He faces three leadership hurdles: the disbandment of factions, low public popularity and even his current position as the secretary-general.
Okinawan rapper Awich’s dynamic and emotional set proved her ability to headline any festival moving forward.
CULTURE
Aug 2, 2024

Why Fuji Rock is still the best party in Japan, no matter who headlines

Kraftwerk paid tribute to Ryuichi Sakamoto in a sentimental set, while Awich, Man with a Mission and Turnstile provided some of the weekend's most thrilling moments.
The dark side of artificial intelligence is that it could make deadly and low-cost bioweapons more accessible to nonstate actors.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 4, 2024

AI may save us, or may construct viruses to kill us

One reason biological weapons haven’t been much used is that they can boomerang. If Russia released a virus in Ukraine, it could spread to Russia.
Michael Olise of France celebrates after a goal from teammate Jean-Philippe Mateta on Monday.
OLYMPICS
Aug 6, 2024

France sets up Olympic men's soccer final against Spain

France is looking for its second Olympic men's soccer gold medal and first since 1984.
A soldier directs Israeli tanks near a border crossing to southern Gaza.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 6, 2024

U.S. and allies make last-minute push to avert full Middle East war

The U.S. conferred with top officials from Qatar and Egypt — the two countries helping lead Israel-Hamas cease-fire negotiations.
Ngun Nei Par, the general manager at Ginshotei Awashima in Numata, Gunma Prefecture, graduated from a university in Myanmar with a degree in geography.
JAPAN / Society
Aug 6, 2024

Japan needs foreign workers, but it might not want them to stay long

Japanese politicians remain reluctant to create pathways for foreign workers, especially those in low-skill jobs, to stay indefinitely.
The International Boxing Association holds a news conference in Paris on Monday, with the association's president, Umar Kremlev, appearing on a video feed from Moscow.
OLYMPICS
Aug 6, 2024

A chaotic news conference offers little clarity on an Olympic boxing dispute

The International Boxing Association’s Russian president delivered wild accusations, personal attacks and used questionable language when detailing the two women's cases.
An ultrasonographic checkup to detect Little League elbow (top). The image on the bottom left shows a healthy elbow while an arrow on the bottom right image shows damage.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 6, 2024

Japanese team develops AI program to detect Little League elbow

The researchers aim to develop diagnostic equipment using an AI program for practical use in about a year.
Kohei Saito, associate professor of philosophy at the University of Tokyo, in a "common forest" in Hachioji, Tokyo, in July
JAPAN
Aug 6, 2024

Slow down to save the planet, says Japanese philosopher Kohei Saito

Capitalism is the root cause of climate change, and we need to stop chasing growth, Saito argues.
The turmoil affecting global markets came on the heels of Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda’s decision to raise rates, but you can't fault him given the volatile worldwide economic conditions.
COMMENTARY
Aug 6, 2024

Tokyo market rout — oops, the BOJ did it again

Japan’s central bank isn’t responsible for the bloodbath. But it’s reliving a terrible habit of hiking rates at the worst possible time.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at the White House in Washington on July 3.
WORLD / Politics
Aug 6, 2024

Harris picks Minnesota's Tim Walz for vice president, sources say

Walz is a progressive policy champion and a plain speaker from America's heartland who may help Harris win over rural, white voters.
South Korean Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik on during an interview in Seoul on Wednesday
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Aug 8, 2024

South Korean nuclear weapons would break U.S. ties, defense chief says

The idea of another term for former U.S. President Donald Trump, who complained about the cost of the U.S. military presence in South Korea, has fueled the debate.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks to reporters on July 3.
BUSINESS / Economy
Aug 8, 2024

Bank of Japan’s surprise rate rise a real head-scratcher for some analysts

Some analysts are skeptical about consumption actually being stimulated, saying that positive wage growth will not necessarily guarantee that.
A demonstrator carries a cross during the annual "March for Life" in Washington on Jan. 19.
WORLD / Society
Aug 8, 2024

U.S. public schools are becoming the new religious battleground

The religious movement is fueled by opposition to what conservatives call liberal curricula in school, including a focus on diversity and LGBTQ rights.
The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan decides the schedule of its presidential race, in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 8, 2024

CDP presidential election in September puts party future in focus

Key questions surrounding the election start with the issue of what the CDP's relationship should be with the Japanese Communist Party.
The Nagasaki Municipal Government, which is hosting the city's annual peace ceremony, said it did not extend an invitation to the Israeli ambassador due to security concerns.
JAPAN
Aug 8, 2024

Nagasaki peace ceremony overshadowed by diplomatic wrangling

Ambassadors of Group of Seven countries are set to skip Friday’s ceremony after the city’s decision not to invite the Israeli envoy to Japan.
Former Kobayashi Pharmaceutical President Akihiro Kobayashi (right) and Satoshi Yamane, the new president, bow in apology over health problems caused by its beni kōji products, during a news conference in the city of Osaka on Thursday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Aug 8, 2024

Kobayashi Pharma to withdraw from beni kōji product segment

The firm said it would offer compensation to those who suffered health problems linked to their products and prevent a recurrence of the incident.
Japan, once a secondary player in Southeast Asian regional integration, now needs to balance strengthening ties with ASEAN while navigating its position between the U.S. and China.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 8, 2024

Japan takes a soft diplomatic approach to ASEAN ties

Shifting dynamics in Southeast Asia are compelling Japan to carefully navigate its role amid intense U.S.-China competition.
Barley (right) has successfully made the move from pup waiting for his forever home to convincing his foster mom to take him permanently into her own house.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Aug 12, 2024

Barley has gone from foster pup to family member

Now at his new forever home, days are easy for Barley. A bit hard of hearing, this pup curiously has no problem hearing the rustle of a wrapper coming off a treat.
An electronic board displaying Topix and the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Aug 9, 2024

Tokyo’s Monday stock crash an afterthought by Friday

Concern remained, and the search for a coherent explanation as to why Tokyo stocks crashed and shook investors globally was ongoing.
A nature experience program at the Global Mizuiku Summit in Vietnam.
ESG CONSORTIUM
Aug 12, 2024

Suntory nurtures water, forests and future generations

Just like Suntory Holdings says in its corporate philosophy, “To inspire the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature,” the company contributes to the enrichment of people’s lives beyond merely selling food and beverages globally. Although responsive to...
Junya Ito (right) plays in a friendly match between Machida Zelvia and Stade de Reims at the Machida Gion Stadium in Tokyo on July 31.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 9, 2024

Japanese soccer player Ito avoids indictment over sexual assault

Two women filed a complaint in January accusing the 31-year-old soccer player of making them drunk and sexually assaulting them.
Ukrainian servicemen drive an infantry vehicle near the Russian border in the Sumy region on Saturday.
WORLD
Aug 11, 2024

Russia pushes back at Ukraine’s cross-border assault, but Kyiv presses on

The assault surprised both Moscow and Washington, as well as other Western partners and analysts who follow the war’s troop movements.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida canceled a four-day visit to Central Asia from Friday to prioritize responding to a higher quake risk.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 11, 2024

Concerns over Central Asia diplomacy after Kishida cancels trip

Some regret that Japan missed an important opportunity to increase its presence in Central Asia.

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