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May 20, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 20, 2025
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Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, at a news conference on Tuesday. He said that when Japan states it wants the tariffs reviewed, it means Tokyo wants them removed.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan confirms hard-line position ahead of possible tariff talks in Washington
By Francis Tang
Tokyo wants all new levies put into place by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump completely removed.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, at a news conference on Tuesday. He said that when Japan states it wants the tariffs reviewed, it means Tokyo wants them removed.
Police officers stand guard on May 7 outside Todaimae Station in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward after a random stabbing that injured a University of Tokyo student.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Random stabbing cases in Japan raise fears: Could the next victim be me?
By Karin Kaneko
Experts say these incidents often reflect a deeper issue at the societal level.
The supercharged investment pledge, up from an initial $1.4 billion, was pitched as part of a last ditch effort to win approval of the merger, which has drawn fire from both U.S. Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nippon Steel eyes billions more in U.S. Steel investments if Trump green-lights deal
It is unclear if the billions in new investment will be enough to sway Trump, though two sources said his administration sought the increased investment.
Singaporean Ambassador to Japan Ong Eng Chuan says his country hopes to “collaborate closely” with Japan in the area of quantum computing technology.
BUSINESS / Tech
Singapore envoy eyes stronger cyber and digital links with Japan
By Gabriel Dominguez
Quantum computing is one particular area of interest as Japan develops its technical capability via a collaboration with Intel.
Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Can the Central League hold out against designated hitters?
By Jason Coskrey
There have been plenty of calls for the league to adopt the DH over the years. But some prefer the status quo.
Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.

JAPAN

Agriculture minister Taku Eto responds to questions from reporters on Monday at the Prime Minister's Office.
Ishiba won't sack farm minister over rice gaffe
The prime minister wants agriculture minister Taku Eto to focus on finding a solution for soaring rice prices.
A blue car driving the wrong way on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Mie Prefecture, on Sunday
Peruvian man arrested after hitting vehicles while driving the wrong way in Japan
The Mie Prefectural Police believe the suspect continued to drive in the wrong direction after causing collisions.
Kanagawa man arrested for selling mopeds as battery bicycles in Tokyo
Eight universities apply for Japan's ¥10 trillion research grant program
Nara initiative offers second chances to former prison inmates
'Memory keepers' pass on Hiroshima A-bomb survivors' stories

BUSINESS

If tax exemptions are revised, small parcels containing products bought from Shein and PDD Holdings' Temu shipped into Japan could be subject to the country’s sales tax, which mostly stands at 10%.
Japan considers taxing small parcels as Shein and Temu expand
By Erica Yokoyama
An experts group has discussed problems related to existing exemptions, including concerns about the channel being a conduit for illegal drugs and counterfeit goods.
For Nintendo, it’s been a challenge making sure it can produce enough Switch 2 gaming devices to meet demand.
Nintendo turns to Samsung to make chips for Switch 2
By Yoolim Lee and Takashi Mochizuki
The Kyoto-based company is pivoting to Samsung because the Nvidia-based chipset that the Switch 2 employs was optimized for the Korean company’s manufacturing systems.
Singapore envoy eyes stronger cyber and digital links with Japan
By Gabriel Dominguez
Japan’s Kato plans Bessent meet to discuss topics including FX
By Erica Yokoyama
Chinese battery giant CATL soars more than 13% on Hong Kong debut
By Tommy Wang
Huawei unveils in-house operating system to replace Windows

WORLD

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivers an address to mark the first anniversary of his inauguration at the Presidential Office in Taipei on Tuesday.
Taiwan willing to talk to China, Lai says, as island boosts defenses
By Amber Wang and Joy Chiang
Lai, a staunch defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and detested by Beijing, delivered wide-ranging remarks on the need "to prepare for war to avoid war."
Shipping containers in Oakland, California, on May 12
Even on nontariff issues G7 finance leaders may still face U.S. pushback
By David Lawder, Promit Mukherjee and Julia Payne
A source briefed on U.S. positions in the talks in Canada has said that any consensus needs to align with Trump administration priorities.
Path cleared for WHO assembly to adopt pandemic agreement
By Agnes Pedrero
China says U.S. warnings on Huawei chips undermine their recent trade talks
By Olivia Tam and Debby Wu
Trump plan or not, Israel is letting more Palestinians leave Gaza
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Alexander Cornwell and Maayan Lubell
Britain’s big EU reset turns out to be just the start of talks

Sports

Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.
Can the Central League hold out against designated hitters?
By Jason Coskrey
There have been plenty of calls for the league to adopt the DH over the years. But some prefer the status quo.
Europa League final offers financial savior for Man Utd and Spurs
By Kieran CANNING
Caitlin Clark and Fever players support investigation into fan behavior
U.S. Open venue to undergo $800 million transformation
By Amy Tennery
Scheffler installed as U.S. Open favorite

Opinion

Ocean plastic pollution is a systemic crisis that cannot be solved by a few sustainability-minded citizens recycling but requires an economy-wide solution.
The true cost of ocean plastic pollution
Romain Trouble
The problem of maritime plastic-waste pollution first became apparent in the 1970s. In the half-century since then, the problem has become ever more widespread, as scientific expeditions conducted by the Tara Ocean Foundation (of which I am executive director) have shown.
German rearmament is a welcome 'war dividend'
By John Authers
U.S. Navy faces tough resource allocation challenges
By Keitaro Ushirogata
Moody’s tells us what we already know about U.S. debt
By Robert Burgess
China’s defense industry is getting a DeepSeek moment
By Shuli Ren

ENVIRONMENT

Founded with a mission of promoting electric vehicles, Formula E has always placed sustainability at the forefront of its raison d’etre.
For Formula E, ‘sustainability is at the heart’
By Joel Tansey
Now in its 11th season, Formula E's efforts to reduce emissions and promote electric vehicles are paying off.
Polar bear biopsies shed light on Arctic pollutants
By Olivier MORIN and Etienne FONTAINE
A 26-year-old asked to help shape Japan’s climate goals has a warning
By Shoko Oda
Huge ice falls at Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier stir awe and concern
By Bernat Parera
Australian seaweed farm tackles livestock burps to combat climate change
By Gregory PLESSE

CULTURE

Teru Hasegawa, Esperanto name Verda Majo, wrote leftist political essays during WWII.
A window into the mind of Esperantist and political activist Teru Hasegawa
By Martin Laflamme
During WWII, a young Japanese woman resisted her country's descent into fascism by writing leftist essays, now collected and translated in "Whispers of a Storm."
On a high: Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025
Traditional performing arts are plugging into modern audiences
By Phoebe Amoroso
Netflix to stream Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan
For his first feature film, director Ryuya Suzuki created a masterpiece
By Matt Schley

LIFE

With the weather warming up, there's no better time to make a bowl of chilled "surinagashi-jiru" (pureed soup).
Flaunt your seasonal greens with Japan’s traditional pureed soup
By Elizabeth Andoh
Get the best flavor out of your peas and pods by simmering them in a dashi-based broth.
A Japanese dining icon gets a (minor) facelift
By Weiwen Lin
Fighting Osaka Expo fatigue? Walk the 21-km Loop Line for a cure.
By Edward J. Taylor
Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Speak like you scroll: A roundup of recent Japanese slang
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

FemUniti was founded in 2024 by Setsu Suzuki (right) and Meagan Ward (second from left) to empower women entrepreneurs and connect them to resources and opportunities.
Detroit-Nagoya network empowers women-owned businesses around the world
By Jessica Kozuka
Supporting women in business is a “blueprint for the future,” says the cofounder of femUniti — and she has the data to back it up.
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
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

Editors' Picks

MORE SPORTS
The race for more time: Japanese runner decided to freeze eggs for her future
By Mai Yoshikawa
Tomomi Bitoh, seen crossing the finish line in Antarctica, on the first stop of the World Marathon Challenge, is one of the very few Japanese athletes to speak publicly about her experience with egg freezing.
BUSINESS
Agnes b. Japan CEO hopes to evolve the brand with focus on sustainability
By Elizabeth Beattie
Laurent Patouillet, the CEO and president of Agnes b. Japan, says the focus of its business is to remain independent, and evolve and adapt.
LIFE
Flaunt your seasonal greens with Japan’s traditional pureed soup
By Elizabeth Andoh
With the weather warming up, there's no better time to make a bowl of chilled "surinagashi-jiru" (pureed soup).
LIFE
In Nintendo’s backyard, foreign indie game devs are thriving
By Gendel Gento
Kyoto's gaming landscape is dominated by Nintendo's headquarters, but a contingent of foreign-born indie developers is also working in the gaming giant's shadow.
ENVIRONMENT
For Formula E, ‘sustainability is at the heart’
By Joel Tansey
Founded with a mission of promoting electric vehicles, Formula E has always placed sustainability at the forefront of its raison d’etre.

Podcast

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

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb
By Alex K.T. Martin

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Australian firm produces heavy rare earth, in first outside China
The Lynas Rare Earths processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
JAPAN
Random stabbing cases in Japan raise fears: Could the next victim be me?
By Karin Kaneko
Police officers stand guard on May 7 outside Todaimae Station in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward after a random stabbing that injured a University of Tokyo student.
BUSINESS
Nissan to solicit early retirements while eyeing plant closures in Japan
Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, may be closed as part of the struggling carmaker's streamlining efforts.
JAPAN
Man falls to his death from Osaka condo, killing cyclist below
Osaka's Kita Ward. Two men died Monday morning in the ward after a man fell from a high-rise condominium and struck a passing cyclist below, according to local police.
JAPAN
Police arrest Chinese man in Saitama hit-and-run case
Police questioned a man who turned himself in as he closely resembled the driver recorded on the dashcam of another vehicle that happened to pass by the scene of a hit-and-run incident in Saitama Prefecture.