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October 01, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 01, 2025
LDP Election
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In his second bid for the presidency, farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi has toned down his rhetoric, avoiding controversial proposals for social and labor reform and pledging instead to carry on the work of previous administrations.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Why Koizumi is toning down his calls for reform
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The political scion's unsuccessful bid for the Liberal Democratic Party presidency last year may be influencing his shift in strategy this time.

More coverage

Japan’s would-be leaders ignore call to invest in stocks
Opposition parties unlikely to cooperate in vote to select prime minister
In his second bid for the presidency, farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi has toned down his rhetoric, avoiding controversial proposals for social and labor reform and pledging instead to carry on the work of previous administrations.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi poses with supporters at Hie Shrine in Tokyo on Sept. 22.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Can Takaichi win back conservative voters? Maybe not.
By Himari Semans
The conservative champion has been trying to soften her image to reach more moderate voters — the party’s largest support base.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung before their meeting in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday
JAPAN / Politics
Japan and South Korea tout stable ties, but concerns rise over Ishiba’s replacement
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung looked to regularize “shuttle diplomacy,” but much may hinge on Japan’s next leader.
Vehicles maneuver past a damaged part of a road in the city of Bogo, Philippines, on Monday after a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake killed dozens on the island of Cebu.
ASIA PACIFIC
Search for survivors continues after strong quake hits central Philippines
By Pam Castro
Overnight recovery efforts in the wake of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake on Tuesday night were hampered by the dark as well as aftershocks.
Public executives in Japan are held to exceptionally high standards of judgment and propriety, as shown by the swift resignation of Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami after a police inquiry into his alleged involvement in the import of CBD supplements. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
'For relaxing times...' don’t be a CEO like Suntory’s Niinami
Gearoid Reidy
Niinami says he’s done nothing wrong and he hasn’t been charged.
Public executives in Japan are held to exceptionally high standards of judgment and propriety, as shown by the swift resignation of Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami after a police inquiry into his alleged involvement in the import of CBD supplements. 

JAPAN

Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Sept. 25.
Japan's far-right party courts Trump allies and vows not to get 'wacky'
By John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Nathan Layne
Sanseito has set up an international arm to court Trump's allies, betting that conservative recognition will help it shake up staid Japanese politics.
The Justice Ministry's figures show the number of specified skilled worker visa holders hit a record high as of the end of June.
Skilled worker visa holders hit record high ahead of new visa program
By Jessica Speed
The Justice Ministry stated that the goal for a new program set to be rolled out in 2027 is to make Japan a "country of choice" for foreign workers amid a labor shortage.
Same-sex partners recognized under more laws in Japan
Elderly woman stabbed to death in Tokyo's Machida
Japan shows NATO support with first fighter jet deployment to Canada, Europe
By Gabriel Dominguez
Akira Ishii, former lawmaker, indicted without arrest over alleged fraud

BUSINESS

U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer speaks during an Economic Club of New York luncheon in New York on Tuesday.
Trump trade chief expects U.S. to ink more deals during Asia trip
By Lauren Dezenski
The U.S. president is set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, and has been invited to a Southeast Asian leaders' summit in Malaysia.
Product shipments at Asahi Group Holdings companies have been suspended due to a system failure caused by a cyberattack, with the holding company saying they have no estimated timeline for recovery.
Asahi suspends orders and shipments following cyberattack
By Elizabeth Beattie
The beverage company is working to restore its operations and has confirmed there has not been any leak of personal information or customer data.
Nissan to reboot Xterra SUV as a hybrid, freezes plans for U.S. EV
By Chester Dawson
Ruling-opposition talks on gasoline tax cut stall ahead of LDP election
U.S. government faces brain drain as 154,000 federal workers exit this week
By Tim Reid, Courtney Rozen, Valerie Volcovici and Leah Douglas
Uber found not liable in first U.S. trial over driver sexual assault claims
By Diana Novak Jones

WORLD

A U.S. flag is illuminated in a doorway of the otherwise empty rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in the hours before a partial government shutdown in Washington on Tuesday.
U.S. government shutdown begins as partisan division rules Washington
By David Morgan, Bo Erickson, Nolan D. McCaskill and Richard Cowan
U.S. agencies warned the shutdown will withhold pay from U.S. troops and lead to the furlough of 750,000 federal workers at a daily cost of $400 million.
U.S. President Donald Trump addresses senior military officers gathered at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.
Trump tells military brass U.S. faces ‘invasion from within’
The president has sought to involve the military in his political agenda despite fears by top officers that this could erode support for an institution meant to be apolitical.
Trump says U.S. close to finalizing $500 million Harvard deal
By Hadriana Lowenkron and Liam Knox
Pentagon says Iraq mission being scaled back
By Phil Stewart
U.K.’s Starmer buys himself time by punching back at Farage
By Alex Wickham and Ellen Milligan
Police: FBI director gave New Zealand officials illegal firearms

Sports

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against the Reds during Game 1 of the wild-card round of the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
Ohtani erupts with two homers as Dodgers down Reds in postseason opener
Japanese superstar Ohtani led an early offensive onslaught for the reigning World Series champions.
Thorns trade midfielder Hina Sugita to Angel City
'Special One' Mourinho makes low-key, losing return to Chelsea
By William Schomberg
Lynx star Napheesa Collier rips WNBA: 'worst leadership in world'
Warriors free agent Jonathan Kuminga agrees to two-year deal

Opinion

Shinjiro Koizumi (center), Sanae Takaichi (right), and Yoshimasa Hayashi speak at a news conference for candidates taking part in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in Tokyo on Sept. 23.
Is this the LDP’s last presidential election?
Edo Naito
The five LDP presidential candidates — three conservatives and two liberals — are competing to offer the most uninspiring platform.
Resisting Trump’s show of force
By Timothy Snyder
Graying Japan needs both globalization and immigration
By Christina L. Davis
Why America will lose its mercantilist game to China
By John Authers
Indictment of Comey subverts justice and the Trump administration’s credibility
By Barbara McQuade

ENVIRONMENT

An aerial view of Tuvalu in 2024. Rising sea levels caused by climate change have prompted the Tuvalu government to strike a climate migration pact with Australia.
Developing countries accuse rich of broken climate promises at U.N.
By Doyinsola Oladipo
Leaders of developing countries say rich nations must provide resources to cope with climate change, a crisis they created, but such nations have not met their commitments.
Beijing takes the lead with new climate plans amid Washington’s denial
By Valerie Volcovici and Yukun Zhang
In bid to upend global energy policy, Trump denies climate change in U.N. speech
By Brian Kahn
The unexpected upside of Canada's wildfires 
By Ed White
As Japan keeps buying gas, Aboriginal Australians pay the price
By Mara Budgen

CULTURE

Yuanhui Li's illustration is one of the awardees in the student category of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators' annual award for artists.
Architecture art exhibition highlights unsung industry artists
By Zoria Petkoska
For only the second time in its 39-year history, the “Architecture in Perspective” exhibition will take place in Japan's capital.
Nodoka Okisawa is carrying the baton for Seiji Ozawa in Matsumoto
By Chiho Iuchi
‘Hero’s Island’: Okinawa-set epic is lavishly realized but lacks bite
By James Hadfield
The familiar is made surreal in ‘After the Quake’
By Mark Schilling
Finding jazz in J-pop: Patrick Bartley’s musical second language
By Ryne Hisada

LIFE

The Osaka Expo will release a wave a new products in October, including a limited edition Labubu Myaku-Myaku figurine.
Myaku-Myaku gets the Labubu treatment at the Osaka Expo
By Alyssa I. Smith
With just weeks left before its final day, Osaka Expo is dialing up the ugly cuteness of its beloved blobby mascot and tapping into the global Labubu craze.
Autumn eggplants offer a juicy start to the season
By Makiko Itoh
Tokyo retains Michelin crown with 160 starred restaurants for 2026
By Weiwen Lin
Auberge Eaufeu brings French flair to a quiet village in Ishikawa
By Robbie Swinnerton
Oh, Ed(o)! Where have all the vowels gone?
By Peter Backhaus

COMMUNITY

The Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community brings together local and global professionals from a range of industries, backgrounds and ages and collaborates with government-sponsored entities and nonprofit organizations.
Stirred, not shaken: Kyoto business platform blends local and global
By Samantha Seghers
Since its launch in 2018, the Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community has amassed a diverse membership and built solid relationships with local organizations.
Scaredy-cat Kashata is searching for a friend
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
By Louise George Kittaka
Tax-advantaged investments no lost cause for U.S. residents of Japan
By Gendel Gento
The journey of Peru’s Nikkei: Finding identity in Japan
By Christoph Sponsel

Editors' Picks

BASEBALL
How Ohtani has boosted Japan's soft power and made LA even more baseball-obsessed
By Laura Studarus
Fans at Dodger Stadium pose in front of a mural highlighting the Dodgers' Japanese stars from past and present during a game earlier this year.
ENVIRONMENT
Japan faces fresh energy challenge as it seeks to expand power-hungry data centers
By Eric Margolis
Data storage tapes at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center facility in Berkeley, California. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity and water, and that will only rise as generative artificial intelligence takes off in earnest.
CULTURE
Architecture art exhibition highlights unsung industry artists
By Zoria Petkoska
Yuanhui Li's illustration is one of the awardees in the student category of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators' annual award for artists.
JAPAN
On defense and foreign policy, LDP candidates largely align — except where they don’t
By Jesse Johnson
The Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates in Nagoya on Friday
MORE SPORTS
Can Japan crack the China code in table tennis?
By Mai Yoshikawa
Tomokazu Harimoto waits for China's Wang Chuqin to serve during the men's singles final at the WTT Champions Yokohama 2025 tournament on Aug. 11.

Podcast

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

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
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
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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Japanese team detects gradual seafloor caving near Nankai Trough
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the Prime Minister's Office on Sept. 1 during an anti-disaster drill simulating an earthquake in the Nankai Trough.
JAPAN
Japan sees 40% surge in chronic bowel disease cases over eight years
By Jessica Speed
Japanese researchers estimated that as of 2023, there were 316,900 people in Japan with ulcerative colitis and 95,700 with Crohn’s disease.
JAPAN
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
By Alex K.T. Martin
Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
JAPAN
Osaka Expo visitors exceed breakeven point
The Osaka Expo in Osaka on Sept. 13. The daily number of visitors to the expo has topped 200,000 since mid-September as its Oct. 13 closing approaches.
SUMO
Onosato’s fifth title cements preeminent position in Japan’s national sport
By John Gunning
Onosato's victory at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament gave him his fifth Emperor’s Cup at the age of 25.