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August 19, 2025
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August 19, 2025
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint news conference with the European Commission president in Brussels on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Trump’s peace-deal demands leave Ukraine's Zelenskyy with only bad options
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy faces an existential dilemma as he travels to Washington for talks with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.

More coverage

Putin wins Ukraine concessions in Alaska but did not get all he wanted
Outline emerges of Putin's offer to end his war in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint news conference with the European Commission president in Brussels on Sunday.
Stocks are hitting new highs on a daily basis as quiet market optimism takes hold.
BUSINESS / Economy
Tokyo stocks hit record highs for the third time in a week
By Francis Tang
A general sense of optimism has taken hold despite the lack of specific market-boosting news.  
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in an online meeting focused on Ukraine, with leaders from the "coalition of the willing," a group of nations that have pledged support for Kyiv against Russian aggression, late Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan watches nervously as Trump ramps up pressure on Zelenskyy
By Jesse Johnson
The U.S. president is pushing the Ukrainian leader to reach a quick peace deal with Russia — an agreement that could have broad ramifications for Japan.
The Japanese flag (left) with the flag of the African Union
JAPAN / Society
JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations
By Yukana Inoue
Officially connecting municipalities that already have existing ties with African countries will allow Japan to strengthen exchanges.
Nissan workers walk outside its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Nissan plans to shut the plant by the end of fiscal 2027.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
A factory town in crisis shows Japan’s fading manufacturing era
By Nicholas Takahashi
Nissan directly employs almost 10% of Oppama’s 29,700 residents, but its factory is set to shut down by 2028.
Nissan workers walk outside its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. Nissan plans to shut the plant by the end of fiscal 2027.

JAPAN

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (left) and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya attend a joint press event at the Iikura Guest House in Tokyo on Monday.
Top Japanese and German diplomats vow to boost economic security cooperation
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, have agreed to strengthen supply chains for semiconductors and critical minerals.
At Yawata Junior High School in Nagoya, there are no more rules on clothing and hairstyles. Students are free to wear either the school's uniform or clothes of their own choosing.
Schools get students involved in revision of unreasonable ‘black rules’
Positive outcomes have emerged from such revisions, including greater student confidence and stronger trust between students and teachers.
103-year-old remembers Soviet attack right after WWII
JETRO struggles to expand scallop supply chain in U.S.
Osaka fire kills two firefighters and leaves four injured
98-year-old woman recalls brother's death from dummy atomic bomb

BUSINESS

U.K. Prime Miniter Keir Starmer speaks at the Jaguar Land Rover automobile manufacturing plant in Solihull, U.K. Starmer declared in May that his trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump included a cut in U.S. tariffs on British steel to zero.
Trade partners grow restless waiting for Trump’s tariff breaks
By Lucy White, Yuko Takeo and Heesu Lee
While deals have been cut, the lower tariff rates agreed have yet to kick in.
Demonstrators hold placards and flags, as Air Canada flight attendants said they will remain on strike and challenge a return-to-work order they called unconstitutional, defying a government decision to force them back to their duties, at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sunday.
Striking Air Canada flight attendants defy back-to-work order
By Allison Lampert, Promit Mukherjee and Rishabh Jaiswal
The refusal by the union to obey the order left many travelers at Toronto Pearson International Airport confused and frustrated on Sunday afternoon.
Donki operator plans 250 new stores in tourism bet
By Reina Sasaki
Foxconn to operate SoftBank’s Stargate AI server site in Ohio
By Debby Wu
Japan's digital camera-makers boost lineups as global shipments of devices rise
Firefly Aerospace eyes Japan rocket launches for Asia market
By Kantaro Komiya

WORLD

Protesters shout slogans and hold photos of hostages during a demonstration calling for a hostages deal on Sunday in Tel Aviv.
Anti-war protests erupt in Israel ahead of Gaza City operation
By Galit Altstein and Dan Williams
Organizers said that as many as half a million people attended the main rally at Tel Aviv’s "hostage square” in the evening, a massive turnout by Israeli standards.
An aerial view shows houses partially submerged in sludge along a riverbed in the aftermath of flash floods at the Buner district of mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday.
Flash floods kill hundreds in northwest Pakistan district after rare cloudburst
By Akhtar Soomro and Saeed Shah
Officials say global warming has changed the pattern of the annual monsoon, pushing it around 100 kilometers west of its normal path.
Military court finds New Zealand soldier guilty of attempted espionage
By Ben Strang
Women-only communities flourish in China
By Ludovic Ehret
Hong Kong democrat Jimmy Lai given heart monitor for final stretch of marathon trial
By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret
Spain deploys more troops as it battles 20 major wildfires amid scorching heat
By Guillermo Martinez and Ana Cantero

Sports

Akie Iwai hits a shot during the final round of the Portland Classic on Sunday.
Akie Iwai wins Portland Classic to join twin sister Chisato as LPGA winner
Akie Iwai became the 10th first-time LPGA winner this season and the fifth Japanese player to triumph.
Candidates preparing to make final pitches for Sawamura Award
By Jason Coskrey
Bengals entertaining trade offers for Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson
Scottie Scheffler hits amazing shot to hold off Robert MacIntyre at BMW Championship
Ritsu Doan strikes twice in debut with Eintracht Frankfurt in German Cup win

Opinion

The HMS Prince of Wales arrives at the Port of Darwin, Australia, in July during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
Operation Highmast reinforces claims that ‘security is indivisible’
European governments recognize that developments in the Indo-Pacific have a profound impact on their national interests.
Trump’s transactional policies threaten global stability
By Anand Kumar
Ten ways to force Putin back to the bargaining table
By James Stavridis
The AI building boom is bound to bust
By Thomas Black
England’s sparkling wine is losing its fizz
By Marcus Ashworth

ENVIRONMENT

Plastic bottles and other refuse collected from Border Field State Park Beach in San Diego in May
Tough U.S. stance casts gloom over plastics pollution deal after Geneva flop
By Olivia Le Poidevin and Emma Farge
Many states and campaigners blamed the failure on oil-producers including the U.S, which they said urged others to reject caps on new plastic production.
A startup is tapping underground parking garages for clean energy
'Bad actors' blamed as plastic pollution treaty talks end again without deal
By Robin Millard
With waters at 32 C, Mediterranean tropicalization shifts into high gear
By Remi BANET
Climate heat extremes driving tropical bird decline: study
By Julien MIVIELLE

CULTURE

The inverted cone, one of Atsushi Kitagawara’s six signature elements in architecture, is a key feature of the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection museum building.
Atsushi Kitagawara’s exhibition finds poetry in architecture
By Gendel Gento
Award-winning architect Kitagawara's work is displayed at the Nakamura Keith Haring Collection museum he designed, making it both a venue and a centerpiece of the exhibition.
Sho Miyake's 'Tabi to Hibi' wins top prize at Locarno Film Festival
Osaka Asian Film Festival gets an expo boost
By Matt Schley
Samansa bets on commuter cinema
By Ryne Hisada
‘Yukikaze’ turns fabled warship into floating snoozefest
By James Hadfield

LIFE

Beniya Mukayu, a traditional "ryokan" inn located in Ishikawa Prefecture, considers itself at "the heart of onsen towns, local residents, farmers, fishermen, sake brewers and artisans" — all of which need new, sustainable methods of serving visitors to survive into the future.
In preserving Japanese hospitality, ‘details are everything’
By Melinda Joe
As part of a new UNESCO initiative, the elite Relais & Chateau hospitality group will empower its Japan-based members to preserve the country’s “omotenashi” culture.
From a piquant paste to a crisp crust, sesame shines in many forms
By Simon Daly
Reading the Japanese clock: Are times a-changin'?
By Peter Backhaus
In a coffee-mad neighborhood, a gin distillery is a clear alternative
By Melinda Joe
A walk through Kokura, the city spared nuclear destruction
By Edward J. Taylor

COMMUNITY

Kinga Skiers (left) co-founded the Tokyo chapter of Food Not Bombs in 2023. The organization aims to provide the capital’s homeless population with food and other essentials.
Solidarity with Tokyo’s homeless residents, one day at a time
By Shyam Bhardwa
Since 2023, the Tokyo chapter of Food Not Bombs has been supplying vegetarian meals and everyday goods to homeless people across the city.
Kindred spirits, kindergarten connections: From Buenos Aires to east Tokyo
By Francisco J. Villarreal
A campaign to preserve Hiroshima’s historic trees for another 1,000 years
By Patrick Parr
Briton brings artistic view to Japanese buildings
By Louise George Kittaka
The international artists supporting Japan’s craft legacy
By Laura Pollacco

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
By Gabriel Dominguez
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
LIFE
In Paris, chefs Chizuko Kimura and Kei Kobayashi make their mark
By Kyoko Nakayama
Chef Kei Kobayashi is France's only Japanese chef with three Michelin stars.
BASEBALL
Top MLB prospect Rintaro Sasaki is committed to doing it 'the hard way'
By geoff koch
Rintaro Sasaki hits a home run during a game against Duke at Stanford's Sunken Diamond on March 16.
LIFE
In preserving Japanese hospitality, ‘details are everything’
By Melinda Joe
Beniya Mukayu, a traditional "ryokan" inn located in Ishikawa Prefecture, considers itself at "the heart of onsen towns, local residents, farmers, fishermen, sake brewers and artisans" — all of which need new, sustainable methods of serving visitors to survive into the future.
LIFE
A seaside hotel built on competitive Japanese cycling
By Jessica Kozuka
In a region more associated with art, Keirin Hotel 10 takes a decidedly more athletic approach to attracting tourists.

Podcast

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

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers
By Tomoko Otake

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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

COMFACTS

Tsunan Sake Brewery Launches Limited-Edition “Yukigesho Castella” Featuring Sake Lees at “Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025”
Tsunan Sake Brewery Launches Limited-Edition “Yukigesho Castella” Featuring Sake Lees at “Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025”
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Winning warship bid gives Japan confidence boost as Tokyo eyes more exports
By Gabriel Dominguez
Australia’s decision to select Japan's upgraded Mogami-class warship, seen in this computer-generated image, has been “well received across Japanese industry," a Defense Ministry official said.
JAPAN
Two Japanese nationals shot dead in Manila
Commuters cross the street through traffic in Manila.
JAPAN
Osaka fire kills two firefighters and leaves four injured
Firefighters work at the scene of a fire in the Dotonbori district in the city of Osaka on Monday.
WORLD
Trump’s peace-deal demands leave Ukraine's Zelenskyy with only bad options
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint news conference with the European Commission president in Brussels on Sunday.
JAPAN
Japan watches nervously as Trump ramps up pressure on Zelenskyy
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba takes part in an online meeting focused on Ukraine, with leaders from the "coalition of the willing," a group of nations that have pledged support for Kyiv against Russian aggression, late Sunday.