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June 04, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
June 04, 2025
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Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for South Korea's Democratic Party, and his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong, acknowledge the crowd as they await the final results of the presidential election in Seoul early Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
South Korea's Lee Jae-myung vows to unite country in presidential win
By Jesse Johnson
Lee rode a wave of anxiety about the economy and political instability to a victory that could have broad ramifications for Seoul’s relations with Tokyo, Washington and Pyongyang.

More coverage

South Korean presidential election set to reshape diplomatic chessboard
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for South Korea's Democratic Party, and his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong, acknowledge the crowd as they await the final results of the presidential election in Seoul early Wednesday.
Shigeo Nagashima (left), then the manager of the Tokyo Giants, waves to fans with players and coaches during a victory parade in central Tokyo in 2000. Nagashima died at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89
By Jason Coskrey
Long before the rise of Shohei Ohtani and Ichiro Suzuki, Nagashima was arguably the most famous player in Japanese baseball history.
The number of "zombie companies" in Japan, which do not make enough to cover their interest payments, was estimated to have grown some 228,000 in fiscal 2023, one of the highest in a decade.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
'Zombie company' apocalypse might be the point of Japan's minimum wage push
By Kazuaki Nagata
Government efforts to accelerate the pace of pay increases could lead to poorly performing companies going out of business.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles delivers an address during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Australian defense chief doubles down on trilateral ties but rules out Asia pact
By Gabriel Dominguez
A key factor behind the trilateralization push has been the speed at which Japan-Australia ties have been expanding.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offers a flower during a ceremony to pay respects to unidentified war dead from World War II at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo on May 26.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Ishiba faces political and diplomatic quandary ahead of WWII anniversary
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
There is fierce opposition among conservatives to any form of official reflection on the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba offers a flower during a ceremony to pay respects to unidentified war dead from World War II at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo on May 26.

JAPAN

A case in which two Japanese nationals were killed in China’s northeastern city of Dalian last month is still being investigated, with local police saying the incident arose from a business dispute between acquaintances.
Two Japanese nationals killed in Dalian, China
By Francis Tang
Local police have told the Japanese consulate that the incident arose from a business dispute between acquaintances, and a Chinese national has been taken into custody.
Save the Children Japan in May 2022 began its Hello! Baby Box initiative to provide essential items for newborns, with the aim of reducing the burden of child care costs for women in dire situations.
Most expecting and new mothers in poverty lack funds for basic necessities: survey
By Jessica Speed
State support is often diverted to cover essential day-to-day costs and consumables needed for child-rearing, a survey found.
Japan government to boost support for job 'Ice Age' generation
Hyogo Gov. Motohiko Saito to take 50% pay cut over info leak
Retail prices for rice across Japan make first dip in three weeks
EU approves fighter jet joint venture between Japan, U.K. and Italy

BUSINESS

OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann delivers a speech at OECD headquarters in Paris on Tuesday.
Trade war cuts global economic growth outlook: OECD
By Ali BEKHTAOUI
After 3.3% growth last year, the world economy is now expected to expand by a "modest" 2.9% in 2025 and 2026, the OECD said.
Business and household sentiments "have deteriorated recently," Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said Tuesday at an event in Tokyo.
U.S. tariff uncertainty very high and sentiment 'deteriorated,' says BOJ's Ueda
The Bank of Japan will continue to raise interest rates if the Japanese economy and prices move in line with the central bank's outlook, BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda added.
Toyota Industries receives $33 billion buyout offer from group companies
By Nicholas Takahashi
TSMC blames Japan delay on traffic after ‘warm’ talks with Trump
By Debby Wu
Tough residency rules and Chinese competition squeeze Istanbul's 'suitcase trade'
By Julien GROHAR
Trade barriers and plane delivery delays challenge global airline growth
By Tim Hepher

WORLD

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene speaks at the parliament in Ulaanbaatar on Monday.
Mongolia prime minister resigns after losing confidence vote among lawmakers
By Mungunsor Purevsuren
Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene will remain as caretaker prime minister until his successor is appointed within 30 days.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for a parliamentary confidence vote in a bid to demonstrate continuing support for his pro-EU government, after nationalist Karol Nawrocki won the Polish presidential election.
Tusk calls confidence vote after nationalist wins Polish presidential election
By Stanislaw WASZAK
European far-right leaders welcomed the election of Karol Nawrocki, a fan of U.S. President Donald Trump who has said he will oppose the government's progressive agenda.
Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korean presidential election
By Jesse Johnson
'Aces up the sleeve': Ukraine drone attacks in Russia shake up conflict
By Mathieu RABECHAULT
Welfare demands put pressure on Starmer's commitment to defense overhaul
By Alex Wickham and Ellen Milligan
Ancient Myanmar ball game battles for survival in troubled nation
By Lynn MYAT

Sports

Oscar Dolan (center), the founder of the New York Sumo Club, officiates at a match between Josh Ortiz (left) and Daniel Akandu during the Empire Cup competition at Japan Village in New York on May 17.
At this New York City sumo club, ‘Everybody gets thrown’
By Aimee Ortiz
The New York Sumo Club has about 100 wrestlers, with around 20 regulars.
Zico warns Japanese players not to follow Brazilians into transfer trap
By Andrew MCKIRDY
What you need to know ahead of NPB interleague play resuming
By Jason Coskrey
Bublik downs Draper at French Open for 'best moment of his life'
Djokovic cruises into record 19th French Open quarterfinal
By Jed Court

Opinion

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani meets with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
Why Japan isn’t panicking about Trump’s foreign policy
Brad Glosserman
Hegseth’s SLD speech is the first extended statement about U.S. policy and it checked all the boxes.
The problem with Asia's ‘sell America’ moment
By Daniel Moss
European kindness is threatening the foundations of free speech
By Martin Ivens
AI sometimes deceives to survive. But is there anybody who cares?
By Parmy Olson
Braving the storm: It’s time to board Russia’s shadow fleet
By Thomas O. Falk

ENVIRONMENT

The small village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was destroyed by a landslide after part of a glacier collapsed last week.
How Switzerland's Birch glacier collapsed
By Robin Millard
There are strong theories on the causes, and to what degree it is linked to climate change — but these are yet to be confirmed by scientific analysis.
Octopus invasion in English Channel flags marine heat wave risks
By Joe Wertz
Half the world has faced an extra month of extreme heat, study finds
China is eroding Japan's LNG dominance. How does that affect Japanese buyers?
By Nithin Coca
Swiss residents in shock after glacier debris buries village
By Dave Graham

CULTURE

Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
By Zoria Petkoska
The comedian’s upcoming special, titled “Father,” blends whimsical comedy and family drama — just in time for Father's Day.
Anime's big night out is getting bigger — and more surreal
By Patrick St. Michel
‘I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t’ gives teen angst a whimsical twist
By Mark Schilling
Songs, stars and strategy: Japan debuts its newest awards ceremony
By Alyssa I. Smith
Japan's Seto wins International Critics Award at Cannes

LIFE

Elden Ring Nightreign sees a developer following up its greatest commercial and critical outing with a game that struggles to find its stride.
In Elden Ring Nightreign, the FromSoftware formula goes awry
By Owen Ziegler
Released on May 31, the studio’s first purely multiplayer effort struggles to grasp what makes its newly chosen genre great.
The empanada that’s secretly a ‘gyōza’ inside
By Simon Daly
How ‘hikikomori’ shut-ins ‘start to have dreams for the future’
By Eric Margolis
Traditional home experts to gather at MinkaMeets event
By Laura Pollacco
How to talk about change in Japanese — one forecast at a time
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

American Robert Jefferson runs a YouTube channel called The Kamakura Gardener that invites viewers to enjoy the pleasures of gardening, cooking and slow living.
‘A garden is a grand teacher’: The Kamakura Gardener nurtures via YouTube
By Alex Michael Dwyer
Veteran broadcaster Robert Jefferson has built up a following through his comforting video content about gardening, cooking and living in Kamakura.
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first’
By Naomi Oren
This charming Shiba enjoys life’s simple pleasures
A moving meditation: Finding serenity in tea ceremony across space and time
By Michele Laudig
Joshua Thomson: ‘Comedy is a pill that’s easier to swallow’
By Laura Pollacco

Editors' Picks

COMMUNITY
‘A garden is a grand teacher’: The Kamakura Gardener nurtures via YouTube
By Alex Michael Dwyer
American Robert Jefferson runs a YouTube channel called The Kamakura Gardener that invites viewers to enjoy the pleasures of gardening, cooking and slow living.
LIFE
Waves of umami: Awaji Island's culinary trove
By Kathryn Wortley
Silversea Cruises' culinary program takes guests on a rich gourmet experience at wellness retreat Zenbo Seinei, where the local produce is presented in an eight-course meal.
ASIA PACIFIC
Hegseth to prioritize China and more allied spending in Asia — but questions remain
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
CULTURE
'Godzilla The Art Exhibition' reimagines film icon as monstrous muse for modern art
By Matt Schley
Artists offer their own interpretations of Japan's most famous monster at "Godzilla The Art Exhibition."
CULTURE
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
By Zoria Petkoska
Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.

Podcast

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

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
By Alex K.T. Martin

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
By Alex K.T. Martin
After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
BASEBALL
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89
By Jason Coskrey
Shigeo Nagashima (left), then the manager of the Tokyo Giants, waves to fans with players and coaches during a victory parade in central Tokyo in 2000. Nagashima died at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korean presidential election
By Jesse Johnson
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's candidate in South Korea's presidential election, speaks during his final campaign event in Seoul on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's vote.
JAPAN
U.S. Marine in Okinawa pleads not guilty to sexual assault
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki (center) takes part in a joint patrol by the U.S. military and the Okinawa Prefectural Police in the city of Okinawa in April in response to a series of sexual assault and other incidents involving U.S. service personnel.
JAPAN
Two Japanese nationals killed in Dalian, China
By Francis Tang
A case in which two Japanese nationals were killed in China’s northeastern city of Dalian last month is still being investigated, with local police saying the incident arose from a business dispute between acquaintances.