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TOKYO
October 28, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 28, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
Trump visit
Nikkei
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U.S. President Donald Trump waves to Emperor Naruhito from a car as he departs after their meeting at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday night.
JAPAN / Politics
In first summit, Trump and Takaichi to talk trade and defense
By Jesse Johnson
The meeting is a crucial test of Takaichi’s diplomatic chops as she seeks to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance while staving off pressure from the U.S. on defense spending.

More coverage

Takaichi’s ‘Trump card’ for meeting U.S. leader? Her relationship with Abe.
Tokyo police deploy 18,000 officers for Trump’s visit
U.S. President Donald Trump waves to Emperor Naruhito from a car as he departs after their meeting at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday night.
The Nara District Court has scheduled 19 days for the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami before it hands down a ruling on Jan. 21 next year.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Three years later, trial begins for man accused of ex-PM Abe’s assassination
By Tomoko Otake
The delay was due to pretrial proceedings and a lengthy psychiatric evaluation for Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, to determine his fitness to stand trial.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama briefs reporters after her first in-person meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday night.
BUSINESS
U.S. and Japan finance chiefs hold first meet as Nikkei passes 50,000 mark
By Francis Tang
Bessent also exchanged views with Katayama on the $550 billion investment Japan pledged to the U.S.
Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Takayuki Kobayashi answers questions during the LDP presidential election candidates' joint news conference at party headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 23.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP policy chief ramps up moves to ease rules on exporting lethal defense gear
By Jesse Johnson
The LDP's Takayuki Kobayashi said that he intends to push for relaxing the regulations in order to “contribute to world peace” and strengthen Japan’s defense industry.
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
JAPAN / History / Longform
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin
A sealed 1930s subway platform beneath Shimbashi Station still holds traces of what the capital looked like before the war.
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.

JAPAN

A bear spotted in Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, earlier this month.
Akita to seek SDF deployment over bear attacks
More than 100 people across the country have been killed or injured by bears in the current fiscal year.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looks on as Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders attend the opening of bloc's summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
In diplomatic debut, Takaichi chooses continuity at ASEAN summit
By Jesse Johnson and Gabriel Dominguez
New Prime Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi put fears of a more hawkish approach to China on the backburner as she promised boosted ties with Southeast Asia.
Trump arrives in Japan for security and trade talks in test for Takaichi
By Jesse Johnson
Japan faces gaps in new system to track teachers with sex offense records
Bontan Ame gains popularity for rumored urination urge suppression
After 50 years, Snack Sand sandwiches embrace their roots

BUSINESS

Noritaka Okabe, head of Japanese startup JPYC, at a news conference for the first yen stablecoin in Tokyo on Monday
JPYC, world’s first yen stablecoin, is issued
By Kazuaki Nagata
One-second transfers costing less than ¥1 could become a reality.
An electronic signboard in Tokyo shows the benchmark Nikkei 225 index above 50,000.
Nikkei 225 breaks 50,000 for first time ever on trade and rate optimism
By Francis Tang
The rally comes after China and the United States reached a framework trade agreement.
Japan's gaming industry moves to improve accessibility
Chinese robotaxis race Waymo to take driverless cars global
By Linda Lew
Toyota posts record first-half sales amid growth in the U.S.
By Nicholas Takahashi
U.S. and China tee up sweeping trade deal for Trump and Xi to finish

WORLD

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been among the most active opponents of Trump’s policies and is considering running for president in 2028.
Harris and Newsom begin jockeying for 2028 presidential campaigns
By Wendy Benjaminson
Democrats are still looking to bounce back after then-U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the November 2024 presidential election.
Argentine President Javier Milei (center) celebrates during a Libertad Avanza election night rally in Buenos Aires on Sunday.
Milei’s party wins Argentina midterm vote in major comeback
By Manuela Tobias and Patrick Gillespie
La Libertad Avanza, which currently holds only about 15% of congressional seats, will gain a stronger foothold to pass key economic reforms.
U.S. Navy helicopter and fighter jet in separate South China Sea crashes
Ireland elects left-leaning candidate as president as rival concedes
By Olivia Fletcher
Trump’s push for Gulf to pay for rebuilding Gaza faces hurdles
By Sam Dagher
Ahead of Trump-Xi meeting, China says bombers flew near Taiwan

Sports

Hawks players celebrate victory over the Tigers at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
Hawks aim to bring energy from Japan Series blowout to Koshien
By Jason Coskrey
The Hanshin Tigers' famously fervent supporters will likely kick it up another few levels as the Japan Series shifts to their home park.
Austin Reaves pours in career-high 51 points as Lakers top Kings
Barca's Yamal can learn Clasico lessons after Real Madrid triumph
By Rik Sharma
Blue Jays' Scherzer eyes World Series history ahead of Game 3
Apprentice tames master as Love leads Packers past Rodgers' Steelers

Opinion

The U.S.-China economic confrontation under Donald Trump's leadership is marked by chaos, a lack of strategy and internal divisions within U.S. circles, raising critical questions about the future of global diplomacy and trade.
The U.S. has no China policy, no strategy and no clue
Andreas Kluth
But tariffs were just the overture, as Washington and Beijing, tit-for-tat, started going after each other in every other way.
What does the market really think about AI?
By Isaiah Andrews and Maryam Farboodi
China and Russia do not pose the same hard security threat to Europe
By Justyna Szczudlik
Sanctions or Tomahawks? Only credible threats will convince Putin.
By Marc Champion
Takaichi’s rise to power and the ‘glass cliff’
By Christina L. Davis

ENVIRONMENT

“Future Kid Takara,” a series of anime shorts to be aired on NHK Educational TV in November, attempts to educate children about climate change.
Japan’s youth are apathetic toward the climate crisis. Could anime change that?
By Tomoko Otake
“Future Kid Takara,” a new series set to air on NHK Educational TV, aims to empower children and encourage them to take action against climate change.
'What is the value of a human life?' In Nigeria, oil giant Shell may find out.
By Susan Njanji
Climate change and population growth threaten to spark malaria resurgence
Bali grapples with flood reckoning as overdevelopment and waste take toll
By Marchio Gorbiano
U.S. sinks international deal on decarbonizing ships

CULTURE

Fans wait to get into the Oasis show at Tokyo Dome on Saturday. While lining up in the rain, some broke into impromptu versions of the British rock group's hits.
Oasis returns to Tokyo: Rain, rapture and rock
By Patrick St. Michel
Oasis’ first Japan shows since 2009 drew roughly 55,000 fans to Tokyo Dome over the weekend.
Tokyo Biennale hides the art in plain sight
By Kim Kahan
New book scrutinizes sustainability of traditional Japanese textiles
By Jessica Kozuka
Japanese rock fans can't agree on kurayamisaka
By Patrick St. Michel
K-pop idol Chanyeol does J-pop his own way on ‘Hibi’
By Adam Davidson

LIFE

At Nepalico, the "dal bhat" — a Nepali dish consisting of rice and lentils stewed with spices — with chicken curry is the most popular item on the menu.
Lentil by lentil, Nepali food takes shape in Tokyo
By Aarohi Narain
The cuisine is emerging out of the shadow of Indian fare, thanks to a new breed of passionate chefs keen to introduce locals to South Asian dishes beyond butter chicken and naan.
Have you heard? This year Shibuya wants us to have a ‘good Halloween’
By Yuko Tamura
Nakatsu keeps its cool as gentrification looms
By Edward Hewes
Ninja Gaiden 4 revives series with kinetic carnage, clumsy platforming
By Gendel Gento
What does Jimbocho think of its unexpected ‘cool’ status?
By Phoebe Amoroso

COMMUNITY

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
By Thu-Huong Ha and Mike Fu
From the desperate and defeated to the blissful and breezy, readers share their experiences of getting a driver’s license in Japan.
Wielding a weapon of yore at a community dojo
By Monique Bae
Florian Wiltschko: ‘Shinto helps me understand and live within Japanese culture’
By Samantha Seghers
Lovely listener Jimena just needs time and care
A samurai-loving radio host prepares to become Oda Nobunaga for a day
By Gendel Gento

Editors' Picks

BASEBALL
Ukyo Shuto's run into Japan Series history shows game is about more than speed
By Jason Coskrey
SoftBank's Ukyo Shuto rounds first base after hitting a double in the seventh inning at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
CULTURE
Spanish artist and Japanese writer duos diversify the manga talent pool in Japan
By Gendel Gento
"Menheim” is a dark fantasy manga with a story that centers on a girl’s quest to find a cure for her ill brother.
ENVIRONMENT
Japan’s youth are apathetic toward the climate crisis. Could anime change that?
By Tomoko Otake
“Future Kid Takara,” a series of anime shorts to be aired on NHK Educational TV in November, attempts to educate children about climate change.
MORE SPORTS
Loss to Wallabies doesn't dampen Japan’s optimism
By John Gunning
Japan's Michael Leitch controls the ball during the match against Australia on Saturday.
LIFE
Lentil by lentil, Nepali food takes shape in Tokyo
By Aarohi Narain
At Nepalico, the "dal bhat" — a Nepali dish consisting of rice and lentils stewed with spices — with chicken curry is the most popular item on the menu.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo
Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

COMFACTS

New Food Products Utilizing Tsunan Sake Brewery’s Sake Lees Unveiled at “TORANOMON JUST RIGHT NEW FOOD” Tasting Event
New Food Products Utilizing Tsunan Sake Brewery’s Sake Lees Unveiled at “TORANOMON JUST RIGHT NEW FOOD” Tasting Event
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Bear kills another person in Japan in record year for fatal attacks
Police investigate the scene of a bear attack that killed one person and injured three others on Friday in the village of Higashinaruse in Akita Prefecture.
JAPAN
Trump arrives in Japan for security and trade talks in test for Takaichi
By Jesse Johnson
U.S. President Donald Trump is welcomed by Emperor Naruhito upon his arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday evening.
BUSINESS
Japanese firms keep expanding in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia
A Nishiyama Seimen employee works at its factory in Sapporo.
JAPAN
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
JAPAN
Takaichi’s ‘Trump card’ for meeting U.S. leader? Her relationship with Abe.
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reacts as East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao greets her during the ASEAN-Japan summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.