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July 14, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
July 14, 2025
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People listen as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (not pictured) speaks on Sunday in Kikuchi, Kumamoto Prefecture.
JAPAN / Politics
Ruling parties could lose majority in Upper House election, poll suggests
By Eric Johnston
A Mainichi Shimbun poll shows the ruling coalition might end up falling short of the 50 seats they need to maintain their majority in the Upper House of parliament.
People listen as Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (not pictured) speaks on Sunday in Kikuchi, Kumamoto Prefecture.
Tropical Storm Nari's forecast path as of Monday morning
JAPAN
Tropical Storm Nari moves northward, with possible landfall Tuesday
By Jessica Speed
The Meteorological Agency is warning residents to remain on alert for high winds, heavy rain, high waves and the risk of landslides and flooding in low-lying areas.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen gives a speech during a plenary session at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on July 9.
BUSINESS / Economy
EU to engage more with other nations hit by U.S. tariffs — including Japan
By Jorge Valero, Andrea Palasciano and Alberto Nardelli
The move comes as talks between the EU and the U.S. have dragged on and continue to be stuck on several issues, including cars and tariff rates on agriculture.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in Wonsan, North Korea, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Ukraine denies North Korea planning to send 30,000 more troops to Russia
By Jesse Johnson and Gabriel Dominguez
Kyiv's military intelligence agency said Pyongyang will instead send 6,000 personnel for reconstruction operations in batches of 1,500 to 3,000 personnel this month and next.
After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
COMMUNITY / Issues / Longform
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan
By Megha Wadhwa
Remote work is reshaping how Indian professionals navigate life, family and identity in a post-pandemic Japan.
After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.

JAPAN

The correct answer rate for the Japanese language section on a national test dropped to 67.0% from 67.8% the previous year among elementary school sixth-graders.
Students in Japan struggle with Japanese language and math sections on national exam
The correct answer rate for the Japanese language section for junior high school third-graders fell to its lowest since the current question format was introduced in fiscal 2019.
Riot police officers demonstrate their actions during a recruitment event held by Tokyo's Metropolitan Police Department on Saturday.
Tokyo police hold recruitment event to attract applicants
Police officers from about 50 different sections were on hand to talk with participants and answer questions.
Fifth disease infections in Japan hit 26-year high
Japan team finds ancient ocean full of squids
Japan's Emperor Emeritus admitted to hospital to begin new heart treatment
Fukushima looks to local initiatives to combat population decline

BUSINESS

The central bank will probably weigh increasing its key price forecast from 2.2% for this fiscal year after food inflation proved stronger than expected.
BOJ may raise price outlook as food inflation beats expectations, sources say
By Toru Fujioka and Sumio Ito
The yen briefly strengthened against the dollar following the report, while Japan’s bond futures dipped.
The Bank of Japan may face pressure to avoid rate hikes if opposition parties gain traction in the upcoming Upper House election.
Upper House election could further hamper BOJ's drive to raise rates
By Leika Kihara
Surveys suggest Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's coalition may lose its majority, and empowered opposition parties could pressure the central bank to avoid rate hikes.
BOJ finishes offloading bank stocks, bringing attention to ETFs
By Toru Fujioka
Malaysia controls AI chip exports as U.S. targets China smuggling
By Ram Anand and Mackenzie Hawkins
China biotech’s stunning advance is changing the world’s drug pipeline
By Amber Tong, Jinshan Hong and Spe Chen
Three convenience store operators log profit growth from March to May

WORLD

A woman sitting amid debris looks on as Palestinians inspect destroyed tents at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Younis in the northern Gaza strip on Friday.
Israeli plan to move Gazans into closed zone triggers backlash
By Gianluca PACCHIANI
The plan envisions building from scratch a closed zone in southern Gaza during a potential 60-day ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas, currently under negotiation in Qatar.
French President Emmanuel Macron underlined a permanent and organized threat from Russia that he said Europe must dissuade to ensure peace, in Paris on Sunday.
France’s Macron raises defense budget and says Europe under threat
By William Horobin, Samy Adghirni and Andrea Palasciano
The French leader said he will double the annual defense budget from when he took office in 2017 to €64 billion by 2027, instead of 2029 as previously planned.
ICE may deport migrants to countries other than their own with hours notice
By Nate Raymond and Ted Hesson
Twelve Hong Kong activists appeal convictions in landmark '47 democrats' case
By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret
Amid Air India probe, U.S. FAA and Boeing say fuel switch locks are safe
By David Shepardson, Abhijith Ganapavaram and Allison Lampert
China says Dalai Lama succession issue a 'thorn' in relations with India

Sports

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer lifts the trophy with players during the award ceremony for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 champion in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sunday.
Palmer stars as Chelsea stuns PSG to win Club World Cup final
By Andy Scott
PSG had been the favorite after heading to the United States fresh from winning the Champions League.
Rampant England and France reach Women's Euro 2025 quarterfinals
China swimmers dope-tested most ahead of World Aquatics Championships
Britain's Rowland takes Formula E title with two races to spare
Swiatek hits back at critics after Wimbledon win
By John WEAVER

Opinion

Tokyo’s skyline keeps evolving, but the country’s drab, outdated government district, long hours, low pay and poor work conditions are driving young bureaucratic talent away just when it needs them most.
Tokyo is missing 'Blade Runner' where it needs it most
Gearoid Reidy
Until the 1960s, Japan had strict prohibitions on developments higher than 31 meters (around 100 feet), a provision that kept cities dense but low.
Trump’s Iran attack shows what it takes to win his military support
By Kuni Miyake
Is democracy stalemated?
By Maciej Kisilowski
The ultrarich move in herds. Just ask London.
By Matthew Brooker
What will it take to end Iran's nuke program? An army.
By James Stavridis

ENVIRONMENT

A public school teacher leads the class during the first day of in-person classes, at a school flooded due to high tide, in Macabebe, Pampanga province, Philippines, in August 2022.
Philippines struggling to ready underfunded schools for climate hazards
By Mariejo Ramos
Teachers want the government to do more than tweak the school calendar, and also invest in infrastructure that will make schools resilient to heat and storms.
In Indonesia, a startup captures coolants to stop global warming
By Jack Moore and Sara Hussein
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
France worries about Japanese beetles after finding two

CULTURE

Businesses who cater to fandoms gathered at Tokyo Lifestyle Week for the second annual Oshikatsu — Merch Collection Expo, a trade show devoted to fandom goods.
Music idol and anime fandom merch is big business
By Patrick St. Michel
Over 100 booths showed off the latest in acrylic stands, binoculars and cheering items such as glow sticks and flags at the second Oshikatsu — Merch Expo.
The many lives of Nakagin Capsule Tower on display at New York’s MoMA
By Zoria Petkoska
Rare vintage shots and first-time shows at TOP’s 30th anniversary
By John L. Tran
‘Young & Fine’: Teenage horndog tale balances heart and hormones
By James Hadfield
‘Harbin’: Somber historical drama sees act of mercy lead to bloodshed
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Milpa's inventive food combines Mexican cooking techniques with Japanese ingredients
With fine dining, Milpa frees Mexican food from the grips of the taco
By Melinda Joe
The Michelin-starred restaurant in Osaka wants to show Japanese diners that its cuisine has a creative breadth beyond tortillas.
Road-tripping through central Hokkaido? Don't miss these bakeries
By Simon Daly
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
By Louise George Kittaka
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

COMMUNITY

Tobias Bieker settled in Osaka in 2018 and started "Unpacking Japan" as a side project with ZenGroup five years ago.
Tobias Bieker: ‘A good interviewer helps the guest shine’
By Gendel Gento
The host of the "Unpacking Japan" podcast offers his take on Osaka life, Japanese jazz and writing fiction.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
By Kat Joplin
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

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
U.S. urges clarity on Japan’s role in potential war over Taiwan, report says
By Jesse Johnson
A Ground Self-Defense Force member conducts a military drill with an anti-ship missiles unit, at the GSDF's base on Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture in April 2022.
BUSINESS
Tourists in Japan have telemedicine options before calling 119
By Kazuaki Nagata
Foreign tourists at Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo. More than 1 million international visitors have a medical issue in Japan every year.
LIFE
Is Japanese skin really ‘too smooth’ for Hideo Kojima’s games?
By Owen Ziegler
Hideo Kojima, the leading auteur in Japanese video games, has skirted controversy in the wake of the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
LIFE
An emoji used to say it all. Now it might say too much.
By Yuko Tamura
Apple’s Craig Federighi shows off a set of emoji at a conference on June 13, 2016. While the small pictures have proved helpful in conveying nuance in our texts, younger people are using them less often.
LIFE
‘Our ultimate goal is to save every single Japanese video game’
By Gendel Gento
After nearly shuttering earlier this year, the Tokyo-based Game Preservation Society continues its work to save the early history of Japanese gaming.

Podcast

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

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan
By Megha Wadhwa

JT Directory Service

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WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Nissan clinches $4.5 billion bond deal after orders soar
By Takahiko Hyuga and Gowri Gurumurthy
Nissan Motor has raised $4.5 billion through a junk bond sale in U.S. dollars and euros, part of which carries a record-high coupon rate.
JAPAN
U.S. urges clarity on Japan’s role in potential war over Taiwan, report says
By Jesse Johnson
A Ground Self-Defense Force member conducts a military drill with an anti-ship missiles unit, at the GSDF's base on Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture in April 2022.
JAPAN
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
By Kanako Takahara
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
JAPAN
Osaka police crack down on crime ring over underage prostitution
Osaka Prefectural Police headquarters
JAPAN
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
By Kanako Takahara
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.