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May 14, 2025
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May 14, 2025
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a news conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Zelenskyy insists on face-to-face talks with Putin in Istanbul
The planned talks have become the main focus of peace efforts led by U.S. President Donald Trump, who is sending his secretary of state has also offered to attend.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a news conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
A satellite image shows Nur Khan air base in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
How backchannel diplomacy pulled India and Pakistan back from the brink of war
By Saeed Shah, Asif Shahzad, Shivam Patel and Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam
At 2 a.m., explosions began. By nightfall, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire ended the deadliest escalation between India and Pakistan in decades.
A 15-year-old boy, arrested for fatally stabbing an elderly woman in the city of Chiba, told authorities he committed the crime in hopes of being sent to a juvenile detention center to escape his difficult home life, according to investigators.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Teen suspect in Chiba stabbing wanted to escape his home life, police say

The junior high school student allegedly attacked 84-year-old Yayoi Takahashi from behind with a knife at around 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Trade Minister Yoji Muto will skip the APEC meeting, a decision that will likely lower Tokyo’s chances of securing an opportunity for bilateral talks with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan’s key trade officials to skip APEC meet attended by Greer
By Yoshiaki Nohara
This won’t be the first time Japan’s trade minister will miss the APEC gathering in recent years, but sending a lower-ranking official may make it harder to hold one-on-one talks.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Saudi investment forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Trump says U.S. to lift Syria sanctions, secures $600 billion Saudi deal
By Yousef Saba, Gram Slattery, Pesha Magid and Nafisa Eltahir
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest customers for U.S. arms — part of a decadeslong arrangement where the kingdom delivers oil and the superpower provides security.
President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Saudi investment forum at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh on Tuesday.

JAPAN

A survey showed that 47.7% of respondents exposed to examples of false and misleading information were likely to consider such information to be true or probably true.
Misinformation still fools many, Japan survey reveals
Of respondents who were exposed to false information, 25.5% also said they have spread the information to their families or on social media.
Trainees from Indonesia and Vietnam learn about the mechanisms of train doors using a model at East Japan Railway's training center in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, in March.
JR East to start training foreign nationals under new skills program
JR East aims to train around 100 people each year, and more than 10 railway operators have already expressed interest in joining the initiative.
Nobel Institute to hold event in Tokyo to call for nuclear disarmament
Former Vietnamese refugee says he is thankful for Japan after 45 years
Japan's meter and kilogram prototypes shown ahead of 150th anniversary
LDP approves pension reform legislation

BUSINESS

SoftBank Group reported net income of ¥517.18 billion ($3.5 billion) in its fiscal fourth quarter, helped by the Vision Fund, which swung to a profit of ¥26.1 billion.
SoftBank profit doubles as AI demand boosts chip sales and startups
By Min Jeong Lee
The results come as SoftBank plans to invest $30 billion in OpenAI while leading a $100 billion foray into building AI hardware in the U.S.
Japan will call for the public and private sectors to spend about ¥60 trillion in total over the five years to fiscal 2029 to improve the productivity of small and midsize companies.
Japan considers five-year wage hike plan for smaller firms
The government will call on the public and private sectors to spend about ¥60 trillion in total over the five years.
Japan’s biggest insurer weighs riskier overseas CLO investments
By Taiga Uranaka and Nao Sano
Trump’s Middle East visit opens floodgate of AI deals led by Nvidia
By Michael Shepard, Mackenzie Hawkins and Ian King
Honda signals profit drop, warns of $3 billion tariff hit
By Nicholas Takahashi
Three major Japan steelmakers say they expect profit falls in fiscal 2025

WORLD

Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
Success of Chinese fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
By Josh Xiao and Yian Lee
The recent conflict is challenging long-held perceptions of Chinese weapons' inferiority to Western arms and sparking concern in places wary of Beijing.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks during a news conference with Cabinet members after a swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday.
Carney unveils new Cabinet, aiming to redefine U.S.-Canada relationship
By Promit Mukherjee and David Ljunggren
The new prime minister says Canada must shift the economy's focus away from the United States, end barriers to internal trade and cut public spending.
Menendez brothers resentenced after 35 years, allowing parole
U.N. humanitarian chief slams Gaza aid plan Israel proposed and U.S. backs
By Michelle Nichols
Taiwan opens door to restart atomic power plants in reversal
By Sing Yee Ong and Cindy Wang
Trump’s freebie Qatar jet is the stuff of nightmares in spyworld
By Jamie Tarabay

Sports

Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton brings the ball up the court during the second half of Indiana's series-clinching win over the Cavaliers on Tuesday.
Haliburton shines as Pacers advance past top-seeded Cavs
A flurry of six 3-pointers from Haliburton helped Indiana wrap up a 4-1 series victory as the Cavaliers' promising season fizzled out.
McIlroy, Scheffler and Schauffele together for rainy PGA battle
By Jim Slater
NHL suspends Panthers co-owner over social media posts
U.S. to take on Japan in World Cup warmup
Brazil legend Marta returns for Japan friendlies

Opinion

A Warren Buffett Squishmallow is displayed during a Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, in May 2023. Buffett’s $25 billion bet on five Japanese trading houses reflects his belief that the country’s overlooked market rewards patient investors who embrace its unique business culture.
Buffett’s little Japan handbook — and other lessons
Gearoid Reidy
The legendary investor recently revealed what inspired his interest in Tokyo’s trading houses — and offered a host of tips for would-be followers.
Dumping biomass in the ocean is not a climate solution
By James Kerry and Lisa Levin
If China triumphs, America has itself to blame
By Thomas O. Falk
To save Catholicism, let’s talk nuns, not popes
By Frank Barry
Sorry, America. Canada’s just not that into you.
By Nia-Malika Henderson

ENVIRONMENT

Chiller Plant supervisor David Lindsay walks past pipes at the Chiller Plant at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
As world heats up, U.N. cools itself the cool way: with water
By Amelie Bottollier-Depois
As more and more people want to stay cool in a planet that is steadily heating up, energy experts point to this kind of water-based system as a good alternative.
Indians buy 14 million air conditioners a year, and need many more
By Abhaya SRIVASTAVA
World's richest 10% caused two-thirds of global warming, study finds
By Marlowe Hood
Climate change takes spice from Indonesia clove farms
By Jack Moore
U.S. solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
By Sara Hussein

CULTURE

Kotoba Slam Japan runs regional competitions to select a representative for the annual World Poetry Slam Championship, which will take place in Mexico at the end of the month.
Japan’s slam poetry scene is all about raw vulnerability
By Eric Margolis
Slam poetry is a rarity in Japan, but the scene is full of energy and potential that the poets have been bringing to the world slam poetry stage for 10 years now.
Taiwanese war drama 'wake-up call' to Chinese invasion threat
‘My Edison’: Family-made sci-fi comedy is a real charmer
By James Hadfield
‘Wash Away’ brightens dementia drama with sudsy spin
By Mark Schilling
'Jumbo': the animated Indonesian film smashing records
By Baptiste Anse

LIFE

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?
By Tomoko Otake
The number of Japanese centenarians is on the rise, providing new models for how to live in a super-aging society.
In China’s ‘Michelin Guide,’ Tokyo leads overseas listings with 30 entries
By Tan Pin Yen
The world’s biggest natural wine festival returns to Tokyo
By Weiwen Lin
Trump once called it his favorite word. Now, the Japanese version is all over the news.
By Yuko Tamura
Kazuki Nagasawa's sustainable designs are rooted in tradition
By Danielle Demetriou

COMMUNITY

Ayano Kikuchi began practicing yoga in 2014 to alleviate her chronic back pain, and now shares her knowledge with the Karuizawa community as the manager of W Tree House.
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
How a corporate office worker in Tokyo became a yoga studio manager in Karuizawa
Kotomi Li: 'I refuse to choose death'
By Kat Joplin
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa
How to spend the perfect day in Hiroo, Tokyo’s expat enclave
By Eric Margolis

Editors' Picks

LIFE
Sculpted waves, sleek updos: Showa hairstyles are back in fashion
By Carol R.H. Malasig
The larger-than-life hairstyles of Japan's Showa Era are unmistakable — and they're making a comeback.
JAPAN
Consumption tax set to dominate Upper House election debate
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba enters his office in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Japan should produce its own AI defense solutions, Sakana AI CEO says
By Himari Semans
Sakana AI CEO David Ha speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Nissan gets ‘wake-up call’ with $4.5 billion annual net loss
By Kazuaki Nagata
Nissan CEO Ivan Espinosa in Tokyo as the company releases its results
JAPAN
Japan set for bigger role in Philippines after SDF’s debut in key drills
By Gabriel Dominguez
Philippine Army Brig. Gen. Michael Logico, who was involved in managing the latest iteration of the Balikatan U.S.-Philippine drills, told The Japan Times that he expects military ties with Japan to surge even further once Tokyo ratifies a key visiting-forces agreement with Manila.

Podcast

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

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?
By Tomoko Otake

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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
Transport ministry issues warning to Haneda Airport operator
The operator of Tokyo's Haneda Airport has been warned by the government over its inappropriate transactions.
BUSINESS
Xi defiance pays off as Trump meets most China trade demands
Then-Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visits a school in South Gate, California, in February 2012. Experts say Xi won big in his standoff with U.S. President Donald Trump.
BUSINESS
Nissan shares surge as carmaker set to cut 20,000 jobs in huge overhaul
U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs on cars and car parts imported to the U.S. have been painful to most global brands, but crippling in Nissan’s case.
BUSINESS
Japan might be playing long game in U.S. tariff talks
By Francis Tang
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House earlier this year. Ishiba said Monday that farmers won't be sacrificed for automakers in Japan's tariff negotiations with the U.S.
JAPAN
More details emerge about stabbing near Tokyo University metro station
Yoshitaka Toda, the suspect in Wednesday's knife attack at Todaimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Nanboku Line, leaves a police station in the Japanese capital the same day for a pre-detention medical examination.