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November 11, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 11, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
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Bear attacks
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in parliament on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Takaichi doesn’t mince words on Taiwan, but dramatic policy shift unlikely
By Jesse Johnson
The prime minister’s remarks illustrate the gradual evolution of Japan’s relationship with Taiwan and its growing concern over China.

More coverage

China delivers warning to U.S. and Japan with third aircraft carrier
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in parliament on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party head Hirofumi Yoshimura in Tokyo on Oct. 21. An agreement between the two parties included a promise, at the JIP's insistence, to introduce legislation in the current parliamentary session that reduces the number of Lower House seats.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
LDP-JIP coalition faces friction over parliamentary seat-reducing bill
By Eric Johnston and Gabriele Ninivaggi
Differences over the measure to reduce parliamentary seats could weaken the ruling minority coalition’s unity and test its ability to compromise.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. Police have rearrested a Tokyo couple on child abuse allegations.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mother and partner rearrested over alleged child abuse
The pair allegedly starved the woman’s daughter, causing her to become severely malnourished, police have said.
Kohei Matsuo serves a glass of Asahi Super Dry in a Maruefu glass at Bier Reise ’98 in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Companies
Cyberattack leaves Asahi struggling as rival brewers gain ground
By Kanoko Matsuyama and Yui Hasebe
The ransomware attack on Asahi Group Holdings disabled its internal system that handled all orders and shipments online.
Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku (front center) delivers a speech on the first day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Sunday. Centuries of belief and tradition still underpin the all-male association's stance of excluding women.
SUMO
As Japan’s female leader rises, can she cross sumo’s sacred line?
By Mai Yoshikawa
Professional sumo’s ring remains off-limits to women and girls — not by law, but by centuries of belief and tradition.
Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku (front center) delivers a speech on the first day of the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament at the Fukuoka Kokusai Center on Sunday. Centuries of belief and tradition still underpin the all-male association's stance of excluding women.

JAPAN

The Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, carries out sea trials at an unknown location in May last year.
China delivers warning to U.S. and Japan with third aircraft carrier
By Gabriel Dominguez
The new 316-meter warship will allow Beijing to keep at least one carrier at sea at all times, giving it more options to project air and naval power closer to its neighbors.
Japan may cover half the cost of installing fences around outdoor baths at traditional inns and hotels to prevent bear attacks.
Japan weighs aid for outdoor bath fences amid bear attacks
The Japan Tourism Agency is aiming to cover half the cost of installing fences around outdoor baths at inns and hotels.
Niigata governor’s visit to nuclear reactor raises restart hopes
By Shoko Oda and Stephen Stapczynski
Japan to extend volunteer probation officers' terms to three years
Japan team builds AI model to identify diabetes risk from electrocardiogram data
Japan adopts bill banning tracker tag use for stalking

BUSINESS

Sony reported operating profit of ¥429 billion in the quarter through September, beating analyst estimates as sales surged thanks to blockbuster movies like "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle."
Sony lifts profit view on anime strength and tariff revision
By Takashi Mochizuki
The Tokyo-based conglomerate now expects ¥1.43 trillion in operating profit for the year through March, up 7.5% from its previous guidance.
The travel services trade surplus rose to ¥3.31 trillion thanks to an increase in visitors to Japan.
Japan's April-September current account surplus hits record high
The current account balance expanded mainly because the trade balance swung to a surplus following lower imports.
Tokyo transportation bureau and six firms inspected over alleged bid-rigging
SoftBank unloads Nvidia stake for $5.8 billion in surprise move
By Min Jeong Lee
Elliott takes Toyota Industries stake and sees buyout price as too low
By Lisa Du and Tsuyoshi Inajima
European Commission seeks firmer line on EU use of Huawei and ZTE equipment
By Gian Volpicelli and Jillian Deutsch

WORLD

Police personnel inspect charred vehicles as they cordon off the blast site after an explosion near the Red Fort in the old quarters of New Delhi on Monday.
Delhi police says car blast being probed under anti-terrorism law
By Tanvi Mehta and Shivam Patel
The explosion in the Indian capital on Monday evening killed at least eight people and injured 20.
A view of the U.S. Capitol building. The deal demonstrates how difficult it is for Democrats to use what little leverage they have in a Republican-controlled Washington.
U.S. shutdown nears end as Senate passes deal and House readies vote
By Erik Wasson, Steven T. Dennis and Jamie Tarabay
The Senate’s 60-40 vote comes amid flight disruptions, food aid delays and frustrations in a federal workforce that has mostly gone without pay for more than a month.
Images show Myanmar scam hub largely standing despite crackdown
Taiwan appeals to Europe in bid to secure friends beyond Trump
By Yian Lee
Sarkozy freed from Paris jail ‘nightmare’ after just 20 days
By Gaspard Sebag
Trump’s war on the media goes international with BBC apology
By Kelcee Griffis and Hannah Miller

Sports

Japan's players celebrate their team's victory over Brazil in Chofu, Tokyo, on Oct. 14.
Japan shooting for World Cup final spot, says JFA head Miyamoto
By Michael Church
Recording its first ever win over five-time world champion Brazil in a friendly last month has only fueled the team's ambition further.
Sinner dominates injury-hit Auger-Aliassime in ATP Finals opener
Norris now clear favorite for F1 title, barring late twist
By Alan Baldwin
Right-hander Tatsuya Imai posting for MLB free agency
Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki pulls out of friendlies due to injury

Opinion

Rising bear attacks in Japan, driven by climate change, population decline and a shortage of hunters, have prompted intervention by the Self-Defense Forces as urban areas face growing threats from wildlife.
Along with Japan’s urban bears comes fur and loathing
Gearoid Reidy
What’s unusual is that the majority of these incidents are happening not to unlucky hikers or mountain foragers, but to people in residential areas going about their daily lives.
Can China catch up with the U.S. economically?
By Keun Lee
Continued purges by Xi reveal his insecurity
By Brahma Chellaney
Venus Williams exposed all that's wrong with U.S. health insurance
By Kathryn A. Edwards
Japan should resist the temptation to go nuclear
By Henry Sokolski

ENVIRONMENT

A damaged home in Treasure Beach, Jamaica, following Hurricane Melissa. Its solar panels survived.
Jamaicans have been turning to solar power. It paid off after the storm.
By Hiroko Tabuchi
Solar power is seen as a way for Jamaica and other nations in one of the world’s most hurricane-prone regions to become more resilient to ever-intensifying storms.
Nearly half of all refugees to face extreme climate hazards by 2040, says UNHCR
As Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaks havoc in Southeast Asia, scientists say rising temperatures are to blame
By David Stanway
World leaders punch back at U.S. climate denial ahead of COP30 negotiations
By Valerie Volcovici, Lisandra Paraguassu and William James
How sickly forests are felling Europe's climate ambitions
By Alison Withers, Kate Abnett and Simon Johnson

CULTURE

Tatsuya Nakadai
Renowned Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai dies at 92
By Weiwen Lin
The actor was best known for his role as an aging warlord in Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran.”
What we see when Japanese women photographers shoot back
By Jennifer Pastore
‘Palaver’: A queer story set in Tokyo searches for a home for the heart
By Grace En-yi Ting
‘Palestine 36’ wins top honor as TIFF wraps a 10-day celebration of cinema
By Alyssa I. Smith
Asian auteurs stole the show at this year's TIFF
By Mike Fu

LIFE

Parents in Japan consider everything from kanji meaning, sound and total strokes when choosing names for their newborns.
‘Deep Blue,’ ‘Morning Sun,’ ‘Clear Sky’: Japan’s top baby names for 2025
By Yuko Tamura
Single-kanji names jumped in popularity this year, possibly in reaction to a new law aiming to crack down on overly creative ”kira kira” names.
Hearing colors and seeing sounds with Tetsuya Mizuguchi
By Gendel Gento
Brine and dine: A guide to pickling your Japanese vegetables
By Simon Daly
Industry experts weigh sake’s global future at Kyoto summit
By Cindy Bissig
At Nadaman, a traditional Japanese multicourse meal gets a new format
By Weiwen Lin

COMMUNITY

After a peripatetic childhood around the world, teacher and artist Jon Homewood ended up coming to Japan in 2012 for a professional opportunity.
Jon Homewood: ‘There’s beauty in what we throw away’
By Joseph Tame
Using aluminum cans as his medium, the Tsukuba-based British artist creates intricate sculptures that take months or longer to complete.
Young Indonesians in Japan find their political voice
By Nadila
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
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
By Thu-Huong Ha and Mike Fu

Editors' Picks

LIFE
Florist Nicolai Bergmann flourishes outside the box
By Elizabeth Beattie
Florist Nicolai Bergmann shops for fresh flowers at the Ota flower market in Tokyo on Friday.
MORE SPORTS
Jenson Button brings end to an illustrious racing career intertwined with Japan
By Joel Tansey
Jenson Button races for Honda during the Singapore Grand Prix in September 2008.
LIFE
Cleanliness gets competitive at Tokyo’s Spogomi world cup
By Erik Augustin Palm
On Oct. 29, teams from 33 qualifying countries scoured the streets of Shibuya for all manners of trash as part of the Spogomi litter-picking competition.
COMMUNITY
Jon Homewood: ‘There’s beauty in what we throw away’
By Joseph Tame
After a peripatetic childhood around the world, teacher and artist Jon Homewood ended up coming to Japan in 2012 for a professional opportunity.
BUSINESS
High-speed rail is expensive and difficult, but seen as a key to growth
By Kazuaki Nagata
Achal Khare, former managing director at India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation, gives a presentation during the IHRA Forum 2025 in Tokyo on Oct. 23.

Podcast

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

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years
By Yukana Inoue

JT Directory Service

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

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Ex.Portal By Synergy Media Specialists

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.

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
Tsunami threat passes following magnitude 6.9 quake off Iwate
A tsunami advisory was issued for Iwate Prefecture on Sunday evening following a strong earthquake. The advisory was later called off, after waves measuring 20 centimeters were recorded in some areas.
JAPAN
Japan to subsidize demolition of abandoned inns
Abandoned Japanese-style inns in the Kinugawa hot springs resort in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, in March 2023
JAPAN
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years
By Yukana Inoue
Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
JAPAN
Takaichi stands firm on controversial Taiwan contingency remarks
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a session of the House of Representatives' Budget Committee in parliament in Tokyo on Monday.
WORLD
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
By Sofia Christensen, Juliette Jabkhiro and Layli Foroudi
Moussa Sacko, a Malian deported from France — where he had lived since he was a young child — stands on a street in Bamako, Mali, in December. Compared with his home in France, Bamako feels like a different planet, Sacko said.