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July 10, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
July 10, 2025
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Democratic Party For the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki delivers a campaign speech in Tokyo on July 3, ahead of the July 20 Upper House elections
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
DPP appears to be losing its luster as Upper House vote approaches
By Eric Johnston
The small opposition party is in a tight spot amid speculation that it may be losing conservative supporters to right-wing parties like Sanseito.

More coverage

Parties make final push for candidates ahead of July 20 Upper House election
Parties divided on defense spending increase
Districts with single contested seat hold promise of success in Upper House vote
Democratic Party For the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki delivers a campaign speech in Tokyo on July 3, ahead of the July 20 Upper House elections
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
JAPAN / Politics
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
Sound bites such as “Japanese First” and “revision of preferential treatment for foreigners" illustrate a worrisome trend, they said in a statement.
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
BUSINESS / Companies
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
By Elizabeth Beattie
Today, more than half of Netflix’s global users watch anime on its service, with shows such as “Sakamoto Days” proving to be massive hits.
Impeached former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (center) arrives for a court hearing to review a new arrest warrant requested by special prosecutors in Seoul on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
South Korean court orders new arrest of disgraced ex-President Yoon
Yoon sent shock waves through South Korean democracy when he made a short-lived declaration of martial law — which saw armed soldiers deployed to parliament.
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
By John Gunning
Modern cooling infrastructure will likely have few sumo fans wishing for a return to the hot and muggy Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.

JAPAN

Tomoya Asanuma, a man who endured almost four months of detention for charges he was ultimately acquitted of in January, poses for a picture at his apartment in Tokyo in May.
Trial challenging Japan's 'hostage justice' opens
By Tomohiro Osaki
Campaigners argue that lengthy pretrial detention is meted out too easily in Japan, especially if suspects remain silent or refuse to confess.
Emperor Naruhito visits a technical college modeled after Japan's <i>kōsen</i> schools in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on Wednesday.
Emperor Naruhito visits kōsen technical school in Mongolia
About 40% of the school's graduates are employed in Japan.
Police double staff who help prevent lone-wolf attacks after 2022 Abe shooting
Improper law-enforcement interrogations persist in Japan
Japan to cut price of Alzheimer's drug lecanemab
Pest outbreaks feared to affect rice harvests again

BUSINESS

The yen-dollar exchange rate is displayed outside a securities firm in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan unlikely to face U.S. pressure to strengthen yen, ex-top FX diplomat says
Masatsugu Asakawa was deeply involved in Japan's trade and currency negotiations with the U.S. when he was vice finance minister for international affairs.
A power supply agreement allowing Tokyo Electric Power and Chubu Electric Power to procure energy from leading generator Jera is set to expire at the end of March.
Power trading in Japan set to grow as Jera purchase deal expires
By Shoko Oda
The shake-up is already driving hedging activity in the futures market, as traders position for potential changes in supply and demand.
Japanese carmakers slash export prices to U.S. to offset tariff hit
By Toru Fujioka
Fuji Media shares dip after company floats poison pill defense
By Yuki Furukawa and Gareth Allan
Meta poached Apple’s Pang with pay package of over $200 million
By Mark Gurman and Riley Griffin
India plans to kickstart rare-earth magnet output to cut China reliance
By Alisha Sachdev

WORLD

A U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tank takes part in live-fire exercises in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Thursday.
Taiwan's shows off new U.S. Abrams tanks during annual military drills
By Greg Torode and Fabian Hamacher
Analysts say Taiwan's first new tanks for 24 years would need to be protected against drones in any future conflict given lessons from the Ukraine war.
A Beijing store selling merchandise based on the "boys’ love" genre of graphic novels on June 16
China detains female writers of 'boys' love' content in porn crackdown
By Laurie Chen
The detentions since March have triggered debate on social media about the limits of free speech and the apparent sexist nature of the crackdown.
Two cargo ships sink after deadly Houthi attacks in Red Sea
Rubio to meet Lavrov while U.S. sends more weapons to Ukraine
By Eric Martin and Jon Herskovitz
Rescuers search for 160 missing Texas flood victims
By Kara Carlson, Julie Fine and Joe Lovinger
U.K.'s Starmer hopes for migration win at summit with Macron
By Elizabeth Piper and Elizabeth Pineau

Sports

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabian Ruiz (bottom) celebrates with defender Achraf Hakimi after Ruiz scored PSG's third goal of its Club World Cup semifinal win over Real Madrid on Wednesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
PSG inflicts humiliating defeat on Real Madrid to reach Club World Cup final
By Andy Scott
Victory against Chelsea in the final on Sunday would complete a campaign of unparalleled success for the Parisians.
Cricket's Indian Premier League value surges to $18.5 billion: report
For Christian Horner, a brutal end to a highly successful reign at Red Bull
History-chasing Djokovic sets up Wimbledon showdown with Sinner
By Steven Griffiths
Red Bull fires team principal Christian Horner

Opinion

U.S. F-35 stealth fighters fly side by side with South Korean F-35s as part of a bilateral exercise over the Yellow Sea in July 2022. The U.S. Air Force is grappling with whether to prioritize air superiority or air denial in response to lessons from Ukraine and the growing threat from China.  
Air superiority vs. air denial: Redefining U.S. airpower strategy
Sadamasa Oue
The strategic debate is centering on whether to prioritize offensive or defensive airpower. The decision will determine how U.S. air resources are allocated.
Taking GDP out of the China equation
By Daniel Moss
Online dissent in China doesn’t mean Xi is on his way out
By Yujing Shentu
Japan needs to take the quantum-technology leap
By Wakana Asano
Michelle Obama is quitting politics. Or is she?
By Nia-Malika Henderson

ENVIRONMENT

Two specimens of the Japanese beetle have been detected for the first time in France.
France worries about Japanese beetles after finding two
The insects threaten plum trees, apple trees, vines, corn, soy, green beans and asparagus, among other cultivated plants.
EU’s far right to help shape 2040 climate goals after vote fails
By John Ainger and Ewa Krukowska
South Korea battles 'lovebug' invasion amid climate change
By Claire Lee
Ainu land rights in crosshairs as Hokkaido communities debate nuclear waste
By Chermaine Lee
China leading BRICS clean-energy boom with shift into solar, report shows

CULTURE

Author Minae Mizumura strolls through the garden of her cottage in Oiwake, Karuizawa, in a photograph taken by her friend and collaborator Toyota Horiguchi.
Between reality and fiction: A summer’s day in Karuizawa with Minae Mizumura
By Hanako Lowry
The author speaks on the Nagano Prefecture town's unique positioning between Japan and the West, literary tradition and artificial intelligence.
The future is bright inside the visionary mind of architect Sou Fujimoto
By Zoria Petkoska
Queer-coded yakuza story wins prestigious U.K. crime writing award
By Thu-Huong Ha
‘Try first, figure it out later’: Kom_I and Foodman’s beautiful mess
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl’: Beautiful, brutal and bringing back ’90s anime energy
By Matt Schley

LIFE

Once a way to transport lumber from the mountains to the coast, log rafting is now Kitayama's biggest attraction.
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
By Louise George Kittaka
Log rafting was once a means of transporting timber, but now it’s the tourist draw of a tiny Wakayama village.
Shintaro Awa appointed to head the kitchen of L’Ambroisie in Paris
By Kyoko Nakayama
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of a Japanese summer?
By Yuko Tamura
Beyond the lavender fields in Furano, a whisky distillery emerges
By Simon Daly
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
By Tan Pin Yen

COMMUNITY

Dog ownership may seem daunting in Japan, but with the right tools and logistical knowledge, you can ensure a healthy, happy life for your pet.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
By Kat Joplin
Owning a dog in Japan may seem daunting, but having these tools and tips in mind can ease your journey and bring you lots of joy.
Japanese language is your gateway to seeing the world anew
By Damian Flanagan
Miho Koshiba: ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if people looked forward to Mondays?’
By Carina Fushimi
Fine feline twosome on the hunt for a forever home
A singular ensemble: Indian food, science and Fukushima
By Trishit Banerjee

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
By Alyssa I. Smith
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
MORE SPORTS
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
By Mai Yoshikawa
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.
JAPAN
Foreign nationals' presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a campaign speech next to a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for the Upper House (top center left) in Yokohama on Sunday.
JAPAN
Scams involving police impersonation surge
By Jessica Speed
A video by the National Police Agency warns about fake scams.
JAPAN
Lawson to let visitors use larger parking lots as paid car campsites
By Yukana Inoue
A Lawson convenience store in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture. A new service from the company comes amid the rise in inbound tourists, making hotels and inns harder to book and more expensive.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy
Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Japan stands its ground after Trump letter delivers 25% U.S. tariff shock
By Francis Tang
U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at Morristown Airport, New Jersey, on Sunday. Trump on Monday sent letters to 12 countries notifying them of new "reciprocal" tariff rates effective Aug. 1.
JAPAN
Japan to set up 'control tower' for crimes by foreign residents
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
COMMENTARY
China’s housing crisis is worse than it seems
By Yi Fuxian
Residential buildings under construction in Shanghai in July 2022. The Chinese government risks long-term decline by repeating Japan’s policy mistakes in handling its real estate and demographic crises.
JAPAN
Japan and Canada ink key intel-sharing deal
By Gabriel Dominguez
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand shakes hands with Japan's top diplomat, Takeshi Iwaya, at the end of a signing ceremony for an information security agreement, after bilateral talks in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."