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Soyo Hinata (right) and Lillian Ono, members of Climate Case Japan, with a petition for human rights relief before submitting it to the Japan Federation of Bar Associations in Tokyo on Wednesday
JAPAN / Society
Jun 12, 2024

Activist group asks Japan's bar association for help on climate action

It will likely take more than a year for the association to scrutinize Climate Case Japan's petition before deciding what steps to take next.
Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike speaks to reporters Wednesday before declaring her candidacy for the gubernatorial election in the afternoon.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2024

It’s official: Koike will seek reelection as Tokyo governor in July

The incumbent governor finally declared her candidacy on the last day of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly session.
The Russian Olympic Committee's headquarters in Moscow
OLYMPICS
Jun 13, 2024

Vetting of Russian athletes for Paris Games ongoing, IOC says

Not having actively supported the war in Ukraine and not having been contracted to any military or security agency are among the criteria for qualified Russian athletes.
Fukushiro Nukaga, speaker of the House of Representatives (right), speaks during a news conference after the first meeting of ruling and opposition parties on imperial family succession in May.
JAPAN
Jun 13, 2024

Japan to put off agreement on imperial family measures

Parties are at odds over a proposal to allow female members to retain their status after getting married to commoners.
Tourists take pictures from a boat on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok.
BUSINESS
Jun 13, 2024

Thailand is already seeing signs of a 'White Lotus' travel bump

The series recently wrapped filming at several resorts and locations in the nation.
Pitcher Shohei Ohtani celebrates after he closed out the finals of the World Baseball Classic against the U.S. on March 21, 2023, in Miami.
BASEBALL
Jun 13, 2024

Baseball may have arrived in Japan in 1871, earlier than thought

An NPB historian has found that U.S. sailors may have had a baseball game with Japanese players in the early part of the Meiji Era (1868-1912) in Osaka.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Kenta Izumi will hold a parliamentary debate with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 13, 2024

First Diet debate among party leaders in three years set for June 19

The debate is expected to focus on political reform following the LDP slush fund scandal.
Germany's Toni Kroos during a friendly against the Netherlands on March 26
SOCCER
Jun 13, 2024

Germany braced for Euro 2024 kickoff with France and England favored

The hosts will be looking to make a surprise run on home soil despite the apparent strength of the French and English sides.
Fire rages after a Russian missile strike in Kyiv on Jan. 2.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jun 13, 2024

Study details emissions resulting from Russia's invasion of Ukraine

The 175-million-metric-tons estimate the report gave was the equivalent to the annual emissions produced by 90 million cars.
Fans of K-pop act BTS queue up for the annual BTS FESTA, organized by HYBE, the band's agency, in Seoul on Thursday.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jun 14, 2024

BTS mania hits Seoul ahead of 'huggathon' with Jin

Fans flew in from around the world to get a chance to win a hug from BTS member Jin, who finished his military service earlier this week.
A demonstration of Microsoft's Copilot artificial intelligence on screen during an event in Sydney on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jun 14, 2024

Microsoft pulls back wide release of criticized Windows AI tool

Recall, a Windows feature unveiled in May, creates a record of everything people do on their PCs.
The Liberal Democratic Party's Gen Nakatani (center) speaks at the Lower House Constitution Commission on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 14, 2024

LDP scraps plan for constitution revision this Diet session

The conservative wing of the party is likely to lash out against the failure to achieve constitutional revision.
Recently, Japan designated Hokkaido Prefecture (including its capital, Sapporo), Fukuoka, Tokyo and Osaka as special zones for financial and asset management businesses. Kumamoto Prefecture was also named a national strategic zone for semiconductors.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 14, 2024

International social infrastructure key to Japan’s high-tech future

Across the globe there is an ongoing search for talent, especially in high-tech sectors, and Japan is no different.
Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews the honor guard at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last month. China is likely to adopt limited and targeted retaliation against the European Union after the bloc unveiled tariff increases on Chinese electric cars.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 14, 2024

China likely to retaliate in targeted ways after Europe raises levies on EVs

Beijing is expected to avoid an excessive response that encourages further trans-Atlantic alignment against China.
Ukrainian fans attend a training session for the national team ahead of the start of Euro 2024, on Thursday in Wiesbaden, Germany.
SOCCER
Jun 14, 2024

Ukrainians in Germany rally to support team at Euros

More than 1,000 Ukrainians came out to cheer on the team at a public training session in the western city of Wiesbaden on Thursday ahead of the start of the tournament.
A photo supplied by a source shows Ryutaro Takarajima (right) talking with Seiha Sekine
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 14, 2024

Two men arrested over murder of Tokyo couple found in Tochigi

Seiha Sekine, the 32-year-old suspected ringleader, and Ryo Maeda, 36, were arrested by a joint Tokyo-Tochigi investigation team.
Father's Day is said to have come to Japan around 1950, shortly after the establishment of Mother's Day.
JAPAN / Society / Longform
Jun 15, 2024

The evolving nature of fatherhood in Japan

Meiji Era fathers were stern, those from Showa had to be productive for the nation. Heisei dads were told to get involved at home. What will the "Reiwa Dad" look like?
Singapore goalkeeper Hassan Sunny tries to save a shot during his team's loss to Thailand in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday in Bangkok.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 14, 2024

Chinese soccer fans send money to Singapore goalkeeper for heroics

The keeper became a hero for China after his saves during Singapore's match at Thailand helped China squeeze into the next qualifying round.
Installation view of Calder: Un effet du japonais, Azabudai Hills Gallery, 2024 Photo: Tadayuki Minamoto
CULTURE / Art
Jun 16, 2024

Alexander Calder’s kinetic sculptures arrive to full Japanese embrace

With the first Calder solo exhibition in Tokyo in 35 years, it feels like the artist and his works have finally arrived.
Tomoyo (Mei Nagano)'s life is suddenly turned upside down when she learns about the suicide of a childhood friend, in Yuki Tanada’s “My Broken Mariko."
CULTURE / Film
Jun 15, 2024

Japanese Film Festival Online gives old and new titles a second life overseas

The festival will unfold in two sessions: the first from June 5 to 19 with 23 films, and the second from June 19 to July 3 with 25 films and two TV drama series.
People stand outside the Guangzhou Intermediate People's Court, where #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin and labor activist Wang Jianbing were sentenced, in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, China, on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jun 14, 2024

Chinese #MeToo activist sentenced to five years in prison, supporters say

Sophia Huang Xueqin wrote on social media about her experience of workplace sexual harassment as a young journalist.
Companies need to address health issues unique to women to ensure they build their career without having to leave their jobs, a government white paper said.
JAPAN / Society
Jun 14, 2024

Japan government urges firms to consider women's health

There is a correlation between health awareness and motivation for promotion for both men and women, according to the paper.
Ukrainian servicemen patrol in the heavily damaged town of Orikhiv in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine on May 20. It is time to stop wondering what is on Vladimir Putin’s mind and start making him fear a potential Western response to his aggression.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 14, 2024

NATO must not go wobbly on Ukraine

If Russian President Vladimir Putin wins his war of aggression in Ukraine, his next targets could be Poland and the Baltic states.
Despite the conservative center maintaining control of European Union institutions, a surge in far-right support in parliamentary elections is setting off alarm bells.
EDITORIALS
Jun 14, 2024

The center holds as Europe’s far right surges

A populist wave sweeps through the European parliamentary elections amid a strong showing by far right parties.
In Catan: New Energies, players must decide between fossil fuels and clean energy.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jun 15, 2024

In Catan: New Energies, the goal is avoiding climate catastrophe

When put to the test, players were racked by indecision, laying bare the complexity of solving climate change.
Environmental activists from the group Extinction Rebellion demonstrate outside the media center set up for the Group of Seven leaders' summit, in Bari, Italy, on Friday.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jun 15, 2024

Experts and activists slam 'pointless' G7 on climate

The Group of Seven rich democracies was assailed for having failed to deliver significant new progress on climate during a summit in Italy.
NBA legend Ray Allen high-fives children during a basketball clinic in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Saturday.
BASKETBALL / NBA
Jun 15, 2024

Former Celtics great Ray Allen says 'distractions' played role in Game 4 blowout

The two-time NBA champion, who ran a basketball clinic for children in Tokyo on Saturday, also stressed that learning defense is key for developing young players.
What's believed to be loudspeakers at the top of a hill on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 15, 2024

North Korea building roads and walls inside DMZ, report says

The construction activities are taking place north of the Military Demarcation Line that runs through the middle of the DMZ, the report said.
Tomohiro Fukuzawa, CEO of SkyDrive, shows a model of the firm's flying car during a news conference in February 2023.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 16, 2024

SkyDrive gives up commercial use of flying car at Osaka Expo

Three other Japanese companies — made by Japan Airlines, ANA Holdings and Marubeni — will also operate flying cars at the event.
The contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 16, 2024

Philippines submits U.N. claim to extended continental shelf

Manila claimed it was entitled to "establish the outer limits of its continental shelf" up to 350 nautical miles (648 kilometers) off the western island of Palawan.

Longform

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?