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September 08, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 08, 2025
Shigeru Ishiba
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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his decision to step down, at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba to quit as prime minister amid LDP discontent
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The move comes amid growing calls from within the LDP for the prime minister to step aside after a poor showing in July’s Upper House election.

More coverage

Farm minister Koizumi is believed to have urged Ishiba to quit
Ruling LDP moving toward calling presidential election, polls show
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his decision to step down, at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Sunday.
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations police officers execute a federal search warrant at a Hyundai Motor factory in Ellabell, Georgia, on Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Seoul says over 300 South Koreans detained in U.S. to be released
The announcement follows the arrest of more than 300 South Korean workers at a Hyundai-LG battery plant being built in the southern state of Georgia on Thursday.
U.S. President Donald Trump visits the USS Wasp aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, in May 2019 during his first term as president. Trump is expected to demand that Japan boost its host-nation support spending for U.S. military when the current plan expires in March 2027.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Japan braces for Trump push on U.S. troop funding
The financial support covers the salaries of workers at U.S. military bases, utilities costs and facility maintenance expenses.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (center) at the Prime Minister's Office on Friday prior to a Cabinet meeting
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Japan to start a new support system for crime victims next year
The government has increasingly been urged to enhance public assistance for people afflicted by serious crimes.
A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Jon Heese naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2007 and embarked upon a career in local politics the following year.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Canadian-born politician tackles Ibaraki’s issues big and small
By Gendel Gento
After being elected to four terms in the Tsukuba Municipal Assembly, Jon Heese now serves as a prefectural assemblyman — and one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s biggest cheerleaders.
A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Jon Heese naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2007 and embarked upon a career in local politics the following year.

JAPAN

People buy groceries from a mobile supermarket in a rural area of Nagomi, Kumamoto Prefecture. The government is considering a new "hometown resident" registration system to help strengthen regional revitalization measures.
Japan eyes two types of 'hometown resident' registration
The system is included in the government's basic vision for regional revitalization, adopted in June.
Indian Ambassador to Japan Sibi George is interviewed in Tokyo in August.
Departing Indian envoy calls Japan 'steadfast partner'
He underscored the significance of the two nations revising a joint declaration on security cooperation for the first time in 17 years.
Opposition heads rap political stagnation after Ishiba's decision to resign
In imperial family first, Princess Aiko attends disaster-related conference
U.N. nuclear war panel launched with hibakusha as deputy chair
Japan defense chief to make first visit to South Korea in 10 years

BUSINESS

Japanese Economic Revitalization Minster Ryosei Akazawa speaks to members of the media at the Japanese Embassy in Washington on Thursday.
Akazawa says U.S. trade deal not settled as Japan awaits pharma and chip orders
Akazawa said Japan would begin a full analysis of the economic impact of the U.S. auto tariff changes.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a dinner with members of his Cabinet and members of Congress, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on Friday.
Trump signs order offering some tariff exemptions to countries with U.S. trade deals
The exemptions could come for trading partners who strike deals on exports of certain metals, as well as pharmaceutical compounds and chemicals.
U.S. tariffs still spell big pain for Japan's small automakers
By Daniel Leussink and Maki Shiraki
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent calls for big changes at Fed
Trump threatens trade actions after EU fines Google over ads
Tesla offers unprecedented $1 trillion pay package to Musk

WORLD

Smoke rises over Kyiv after a Russian missile strike on Sunday, reportedly the largest mass strike of the war.
Russia hits Ukraine with biggest air attack of war
Russia launches drones, missiles on Ukraine, Zelenskyy appeals for stronger air defenses.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul pays respects to an image of King Maha Vajiralongkorn during the royal endorsement ceremony on Sunday in Bangkok.
Cannabis-championing tycoon takes office as Thailand's prime minister
Anutin previously served as deputy prime minister, but is perhaps most famous for being the architect of Thailand's 2022 cannabis decriminalization.
U.N. says time is short to stop famine spreading as Israel bombards Gaza City
By Alexander Cornwell, Nidal al-Mughrabi and Michelle Nichols
Israel warns recognizing Palestinian state could trigger 'unilateral' action
China criticizes Canadian and Australian warships transiting Taiwan Strait
Immigration raid on Hyundai-LG plant in Georgia rattles South Korea
By Choe Sang-Hun

Sports

Japan flanker Iroha Nagata attempts to score a try against Spain during their match at the Women's Rugby World Cup in York, England, on Sunday.
Japan bows out of Women's Rugby World Cup with comeback victory over Spain
Both sides were bidding for their first win of the tournament after defeats against world champion New Zealand and Ireland had ended their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight
By Mai Yoshikawa
Three-time World Series champion Davey Johnson dies at 82
Japan and Mexico play to goalless draw as World Cup preparations ramp up
Machine-like Sinner meets magician Alcaraz for U.S. Open crown
By Shrivathsa Sridhar

Opinion

NASA says its satellite imagery shows the Earth is becoming drier — at least the parts where most people live.
The Earth is drying out and we need to act urgently
Mark Gongloff
Measurements from NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment satellites suggest the continents have been losing fresh water at an alarming rate since 2002.
Huge crowds at the Vatican as teen becomes first millennial saint
Can Europe and China forge a climate connection?
By Emmanuel Guerin and Bernice Lee
‘Confugenics’ and East Asia's demographic crisis
By Waka Ikeda
Putin sees only U.S. weakness in Ukraine
By Max Hastings

ENVIRONMENT

A pedestrian bridge that crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis
Polluted and poor: Blighted U.S. cities tackle 'toxic soup'
By Carey L. Biron
The worst effect could be seen in poor, minority areas, where heavy industry, manufacturing and transport tend to concentrate.
Shizuoka farmers fight to preserve sustainable tea method that’s steeped in tradition
By Kai Wilson
How Europe lost an area the size of Cyprus to wildfires this year
By Laura Millan and Joe Wertz
Scientists assail ‘cherry-picking’ of Trump administration climate report
By Eric Roston
New wave: Sea power turned into energy at Los Angeles port
By Romain FONSEGRIVES

CULTURE

“The Summer Hikaru Died” is a slow-burn horror and a coming-of-age narrative, but its thematic layers and queer undertones open conversations about friendship and belonging.
Dark folklore meets teenage angst in ‘The Summer Hikaru Died’
By Mike Fu
Slow-burn horror in the countryside coupled with queer undertones makes for a memorable anime adaptation.
Traditional Japanese erotic art exhibition puts female pleasure in focus
By Tomohiro Osaki
‘Swallows' untangles the murky ethics of selling motherhood
By Kris Kosaka
‘How Dare You’ turns environmental activism into a youthful adventure
By Mark Schilling
‘A Pale View of Hills’: A chilling, borderless adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

At Syn, chef Naoto Ohno's playfulness is evident in the "Apple," a replica fruit filled with applejack-flavored foie gras and served on a plate decorated with a familiar logo.
With a global approach, Syn gives French cuisine plenty of latitude
By Phoebe Amoroso
Up-and-coming chef Naoto Ohno draws from his rich travel experiences to redefine cooking traditions at his restaurant in Fukuoka.
Overnight mulberry matcha oats are the perfect answer to a busy morning
By Simon Daly
Racehorses, anime girls and gambling: Umamusume’s recipe for success
By Owen Ziegler
Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani dead at 91
By Ella IDE
Vogue appoints Chloe Malle to replace fashion doyenne Anna Wintour

COMMUNITY

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Jon Heese naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2007 and embarked upon a career in local politics the following year.
Canadian-born politician tackles Ibaraki’s issues big and small
By Gendel Gento
After being elected to four terms in the Tsukuba Municipal Assembly, Jon Heese now serves as a prefectural assemblyman — and one of Ibaraki Prefecture’s biggest cheerleaders.
Smiley, spirited Hampen will run into your arms
Jesse Kirkwood: ‘Languages are entire cultural universes with all sorts of baggage’
By Kris Kosaka
More Than Music makes space for creative communion
By Shyam Bhardwa
Seri Yanai: ‘We mix modern and analog to create something new’
By Ayako Nakano

Editors' Picks

LIFE
In rural Hokkaido, the stops and starts of tourism revival on full display
By Justin Randall
Redevelopment plans for Kawayu Onsen have hit some snags — an example of how bringing tourists back to declining rural communities is far from easy work.
SUMO
London’s calling and sumo’s top division — along with Hello Kitty — are ready to answer
By John Gunning
Yokozuna Hoshoryu and Hello Kitty, an ambassador for sumo's upcoming tour to London, at Tokyo's Kokugikan on Tuesday
BUSINESS
Resonac creates 27-member consortium to pursue advanced chip developments
By Kazuaki Nagata
Representatives from member companies of JOINT3, a consortium working together on semiconductor-related developments announced by Resonac, pose for a photo in Tokyo on Wednesday.
CULTURE
Haru Nemuri’s radical new album refuses easy listening
By Patrick St. Michel
Musician Haruna Kimishima, better known as Haru Nemuri, confronts Japan’s politics, nationalism and censorship on her recent output.
COMMUNITY
Overseas sluggers step up to bat in small-town Hokkaido
By Justin Randall
The Betsukai Pilot Spirits welcomed new players (left to right) Yuta Yamanaka, Roman Guthrie, Scott Bellina and Leo Jiminian this year, pictured here with Yassir Lachkar of the Ishikari Red Phoenix.

Podcast

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

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she “naively believed.” This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight
By Mai Yoshikawa

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

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
Japan to experience blood moon lunar eclipse on Monday
By Elizabeth Beattie
A blood moon is seen during a partial eclipse in the sky over Lake George near Canberra on March 14.
COMMENTARY
‘Confugenics’ and East Asia's demographic crisis
By Waka Ikeda
East Asia’s fertility plunge is driven not just by financial costs but by perfectionist cultural expectations that burden parents with intense educational and social demands.
JAPAN
Japan prince comes of age as succession crisis looms
By Hiroshi Hiyama
Prince Hisahito concludes his elaborate "kakan no gi" coming-of-age ceremony at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Saturday.
JAPAN
Ishiba to quit as prime minister amid LDP discontent
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his decision to step down, at the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Sunday.
COMMENTARY
Bangladesh is a South Asian time bomb
By Brahma Chellaney
Many Bangladeshis hoped that the overthrow of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina last year would revitalize the country’s democracy after an authoritarian lurch under the “iron lady.” Instead it has led to proliferating human-rights abuses, intensifying repression and widespread Islamist violence.