Search - 2019

 
 
Originally debuting on a coin purse, Hello Kitty became a national phenomenon in Japan and is now the second highest-grossing media franchise worldwide.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 20, 2024

Hello Kitty looks pretty at 50 (and is worth more than ever)

Kitty’s broad appeal, especially to adults, helped popularize the Japanese concept of kawaii (cuteness), which has since become a global trend.
Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto in December 2023. Famous autumn leaf colors contributed to increased tourism demand last month from many markets across Asia, Europe and North America, the Japan National Tourism Organization has said.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2024

Japan's 3.31 million visitors in October set monthly record

Travelers spent ¥5.86 trillion in Japan through September of this year, preliminary figures show, eclipsing the ¥5.3 trillion they spent in all of 2023.
Jimmy Lai, publisher of Apple Daily, a pro-democracy newspaper, at his office in Hong Kong on Aug. 22, 2019. Accused of masterminding anti-government protests that swept across Hong Kong in 2019, Lai testified for the first time on Wednesday at his landmark national security trial.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 21, 2024

Apple Daily: The Hong Kong tabloid that dared to challenge China

Hong Kong's Apple Daily was once the city's most popular tabloid by punching up against the Chinese Communist Party. But Beijing had the last laugh.
Korea Zinc Chairman Yun B. Choi, a grandson of a co-founder, last week agreed to scrap a controversial plan to issue new shares in the zinc refiner to help fend off a takeover attempt.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 21, 2024

Korea Zinc takeover battle tests Seoul's resolve on tackling 'Korea discount'

South Korean firms tend to have lower valuations compared to their overseas peers due to low dividend payouts and the dominance of family-run conglomerates.
There have been confirmed cases across the country of fraudsters using credit card information stolen through phishing to obtain digital currencies managed by local governments.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 21, 2024

Japan's local digital currencies increasingly exploited by fraudsters

The fraudsters are believed to be targeting such currencies for the rewards that come with purchasing or making payments in the currencies.
Nissan Motor slashed its earnings outlook earlier this month and said it would cut 9,000 jobs and a fifth of its manufacturing capacity.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 21, 2024

Hedge fund Effissimo stirs speculation with its stake in Nissan Motor

News of the investment sent Nissan’s shares soaring 13% on Nov. 12.
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe compete during an event in Finland last year.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 21, 2024

'Sport will have the last word' as World Rally title goes down to the wire in Japan

The only certainty about this year's World Rally Championship is that a Hyundai driver will take the title.
Shizuo Aishima's son next to a photo of his father in March. Aishima was one of the executives of spray-dryer Ohkawara Kakohki arrested on charges of illegal exporting in 2020. The charges were later dropped by prosecutors.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 21, 2024

Ohkawara investigators referred to prosecutors over falsified documents

Executives at Ohkawara Kakohki were arrested in 2020 on suspicion of illegally exporting chemical machinery, but the charges were later dropped.
In Ko Shinjo's "Tokyo Swindlers," a group of con artists manipulates real estate giants into falsified deals within the highly competitive, quick market.
CULTURE / Books
Nov 21, 2024

'Tokyo Swindlers': Get deep into the minds of real estate con artists

Ko Shinjo’s novel, a bold exploration of the twisted psyches of criminals, is best appreciated as a companion work to the recent Netflix series of the same title.
Howard Lutnick, Chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, gestures as he speaks during a rally for then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden in New York on Oct. 27.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 21, 2024

Lutnick's China ties draw fire after Trump taps him for U.S. trade roles

The ties raise questions about whether Lutnick could be unduly influenced by Beijing when making decisions as U.S. trade representative and commerce secretary.
Japan's Kaito Kozono celebrates after hitting a three-run home run against the United States in the eighth inning at Tokyo Dome on Thursday.
BASEBALL
Nov 21, 2024

Kaito Kozono hits two homers to power Samurai Japan to win over U.S. at Premier12

Japan extended its winning streak in international games to 25.
A rocket is launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida to put an experimental space plane into orbit for the U.S. military. Washington is adopting a multipronged strategy to address security threats in space.
COMMENTARY / World / Geoeconomic Briefing
Nov 21, 2024

Biden’s track record in boosting U.S. space security

Japan needs to keep working with the U.S. to ensure growing threats from China and Russia in the space domain are met with the necessary security measures.
Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a Donald Trump rally at the Greensboro Complex in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Nov. 2
WORLD / Politics
Nov 22, 2024

Trump picks Pam Bondi for U.S. Attorney General after Gaetz withdraws

The president-elect moved swiftly to replace his former nominee Matt Gaetz after the embattled former congressman withdrew from consideration.
Drivers claimed they experienced "phantom" activations of the systems at low overpasses, parking garages and railroad crossings, instead of when collisions might be imminent.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 23, 2024

Nissan persuades U.S. court to decertify brake defect class actions

The company was accused of selling cars with defective automatic emergency braking systems that caused vehicles to stop suddenly for no reason.
Vissel Kobe players celebrate with the trophy after the club knocked off Gamba Osaka on Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo to secure the Emperor's Cup.
SOCCER
Nov 23, 2024

Paper tiger no more as Vissel Kobe collects another trophy

Over the years, Vissel made more headlines for signing aging European players, but now it's starting to accumulate trophies rather than stars.
Thierry Neuville and his co-driver, Martijn Wydaeghe, drive their Hyundai during Rally Japan, the final event of the World Rally Championships, in Ena, Gifu Prefecture, on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Nov 24, 2024

Neuville wins world title after Tanak crashes at Rally Japan

Tanak went off the road near the end of the opening stage on the final day, meaning he could not catch championship leader Neuville in the overall standings.
Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, California. Replicas of the giant doughnut sculpture will be installed, where possible, at shops in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 24, 2024

An iconic 32-foot doughnut might give Randy’s an edge in Japan

The doughnut had a cameo in “2012,” where it is seen rolling down the street as an enduring symbol of end-time. Now the brand looks to tackle the tough Japanese market.
U.S. manager Mike Scioscia (right) and pitcher Casey Lawrence speak during a postgame news conference after the bronze medal game at the Premier12 at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Nov 24, 2024

U.S. finishes Premier12 on high note with victory over Venezuela for bronze

The U.S. beat Venezuela for the second straight day behind a strong performance from Casey Lawrence.
Tehran's illuminated city skyline on Sept. 20. 2019
WORLD / Politics
Nov 24, 2024

Iran braces for Trump reset with economy buckling from sanctions

With Iranians struggling with economic hardship after years of sanctions, its leaders are signaling they’re keen to establish a different relationship this time around.
Japan starter Shosei Togo reacts after allowing a three-run home run against Taiwan in the fifth inning of the Premier12 final on Sunday.
BASEBALL
Nov 24, 2024

Taiwan stuns Samurai Japan to capture Premier12 title

Taiwan won the Premier12 crown for the first time.
China is on track for a record trade surplus that could reach almost $1 trillion this year.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 25, 2024

Chinese exports to hit record this year before second Trump term

Exports already started off this quarter with the fastest growth since July 2022.
Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
LIFE / Lifestyle / Longform
Nov 25, 2024

Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat

The modern sauna experience is more than just taking a seat in some steam — whisking, aufguss shows and spectacle all play a part.
Sacks of untreated and shredded plastic waste, left unattended, collect at an inoperative recycling site in Asan, South Korea, on Nov. 19.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability
Nov 25, 2024

South Korea's mountain of plastic waste shows limits of recycling

Seoul says that it recycles 73% of its plastic waste, but environmentalists say the real number is about 27%.
England's Tom Roebuck (left) attempts to get away from Japan wing Jone Naikabula during their match in London on Sunday.
MORE SPORTS / Rugby
Nov 25, 2024

Japan coach Eddie Jones calls for patience after blowout loss against England

Jones' inexperienced starting lineup had a combined total of 201 caps, while England had 622.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman addresses the joint extraordinary leaders summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League in Riyadh on Nov. 11.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 25, 2024

Mohammed bin Salman’s style shift sets up a new world order strategy

The implications of Saudi Arabia’s transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will reverberate far beyond the kingdom’s borders for decades to come.
Japan's players watch from the dugout after their loss against Taiwan in the Premier12 final at Tokyo Dome on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Sac Bunts
Nov 25, 2024

Japan exits Premier12 with no need to panic but with adjustments to make

Japan lost in an international tournament for the first time since the 2019 Premier12.
Kozo Iizuka (center) takes part in an investigation of the site of an April 2019 car crash in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district that he was involved in, in June the same year.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Nov 25, 2024

93-year-old inmate imprisoned over fatal Tokyo car crash dies

Kozo Iizuka died while serving a five-year term for negligent driving that caused the deaths of a woman and her young daughter in Ikebukuro in April 2019.
Chung Suet-ying poses with the Best Leading Actress award for "The Way We Talk" at the 61st Golden Horse Awards in Taipei on Nov. 23.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Nov 26, 2024

Chinese films about COVID-19 and gay romance win big at Taiwan awards

The Golden Horse awards are the Chinese-speaking world's version of the Oscars.
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.
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 26, 2024

Satellite images may show North Korea expanding missile plant, researchers say

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.
Trucks wait near the Zaragoza-Ysleta border crossing bridge to cross into the U.S., in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2024

Trump tariffs would harm all involved, U.S. trade partners say

Officials warn a trade war could erupt and damage economies, and seek talks with Trump after his surprise announcement of hefty tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.