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June 04, 2025
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June 04, 2025
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The total number of births dropped to about 686,000, marking the first time the figure has fallen below 700,000, according to a health ministry release on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Japan’s fertility rate hits record low despite government push
By Erica Yokoyama
The new low underscores the immense challenge facing the government as it attempts to reverse the trend in one of the world’s most aged societies.
The total number of births dropped to about 686,000, marking the first time the figure has fallen below 700,000, according to a health ministry release on Wednesday.
Arrows lead to the tax-free counter at a branch of discount retailer Don Quijote in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Is Japan ready to say goodbye to tax-free shopping?
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Amid widespread abuse of Japan’s tax-free shopping system, a group of Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers are mulling over its possible abolition.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung waves with his his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong, following his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
South Korea’s Lee pledges to heal deep wounds as ‘president for everyone’
By Jesse Johnson
Lee Jae-myung, in his inauguration speech, said his government would continue his predecessor’s policy of strengthening cooperation with Japan.
Japan and the United States are aiming for a meeting between Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Donald Trump at the Group of Seven leaders summit on June 16 and 17.
BUSINESS / Economy
U.S. doubles steel and aluminum tariffs as Japan counts on a breakthrough
By Francis Tang
The United Kingdom is exempt from the higher rates because it struck an early trade deal with the United States.
The Switch 2 is Nintendo's first new gaming console in eight years.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nintendo’s Switch 2 console is finally here
By Owen Ziegler
The long-awaited gaming console hits shelves Thursday, with booming orders and tariffs making for a complicated debut.
The Switch 2 is Nintendo's first new gaming console in eight years.

JAPAN

The streets of Dalian, China, in 2017. A business dispute is believed to be behind the killing of two Japanese nationals in the city on May 23, according to local authorities.
Suspect in Dalian murder of Japanese nationals identified
By Francis Tang
The suspect, a 42-year-old Chinese man with the surname Yuan and a long-term resident of Japan, is believed to have had a business dispute with the victims.
Lawson plans to sell 1-kilogram and 2-kg bags of rice it bought from the government's stockpile at ¥360 ($2.50) and ¥700 respectively.
Aging rice? Lawson prefers to call it 'vintage.'
By Jessica Speed
As convenience stores prepare to sell government stockpiled rice from older harvests to consumers, Lawson says it will offer rice balls made of "vintage rice."
Princess Kako heads to Brazil for official visit
Media firms launch election fact-checking initiative
Quake-hit residents eyeing reconstruction through power of radio
Around 100 dead cats found at woman's home in Japan

BUSINESS

Japan’s three megabanks are discussing jointly operating ATMs.
Japan’s top banks consider teaming up on ATMs to cut costs
The banks are seeing whether costs can be reduced for tasks needed to run ATMs such as monitoring, security and cash transportation.
U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Steel Corporation Irvin Works facility in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania, on Friday
U.K. avoids doubled U.S. steel and aluminium tariffs as countries eye trade pact
By Alistair Smout and Andrea Shalal
The U.S. announcement, which exempts British steel and aluminum from a doubling of tariffs to 50%, came in a proclamation that will raise metals tariffs for other countries.
Kobayashi Pharmaceutical vows never to repeat health scare
Buffett inspires retail investors to bet on Japan trading houses
By Aya Wagatsuma and Toshiro Hasegawa
Uncertainties over Trump tariffs extremely strong, BOJ chief says
Global alarms rise as China's critical mineral export curbs take hold
By Jarrett Renshaw, Ernest Scheyder and Jeff Mason

WORLD

Palestinians move humanitarian aid collected from a distribution center in the Netzarim Corridor, central Gaza Strip, on May 29.
Israel’s Gaza push spurs Europe leaders to turn on Netanyahu
By Arne Delfs and Samy Adghirni
The condemnation is symbolic of the shift in Europe and of Israel’s increasing isolation.
Security personnel keep watch near the portrait of late Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong displayed on the Tiananmen Gate, in Beijing on Tuesday.
We will never forget Tiananmen crackdown, Taiwan and U.S. say on 36th anniversary
By Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard
The events are not publicly discussed in China and the anniversary is not officially marked.
From Nigeria to Pakistan, TB testing 'in a coma' after U.S. aid cuts
By Bukola Adebayo, Kim Harrisberg and Mariejo Ramos
Vietnam scraps two-child limit as birth rate declines
Any U.S. deal with Iran must tackle nuclear watchdog's blind spots
By Francois Murphy and John Irish
Trump's 'big, beautiful bill?' Musk calls it a 'disgusting abomination.'
By David Morgan and Doina Chiacu

Sports

Former <i>yokozuna</i> Hakuho performs a ring-entering ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020.
Hakuho’s departure highlights worrying sumo trend
By John Gunning
Though many former yokozuna have exited over the past two decades, Hakuho’s resignation is the biggest blow to the Japan Sumo Association.
'Rested' Pacquiao relishing boxing comeback at 46
By Rob Woollard
Australia targets easier World Cup path ahead of Japan clash
By Nick Mulvenney
Fernandes confirms he rejected Saudi move to stay at Man Utd
'Emotional' Kohli fulfills IPL dream as Bengaluru claims first title
By Faisal Kamal

Opinion

Akio Toyoda’s involvement in the $33 billion buyout of Toyota Industries signals a potential corporate comeback, and that’s a good thing despite criticism.
For Toyota, more Akio Toyoda would be a good thing
Gearoid Reidy
This opposition is nonsensical. Akio turned Toyota into the biggest automaker in the world during a period of intense industry change.
The ground is fertile for Japan-India green economy partnerships
By Ajay Mathur
The 'Macron Doctrine' goes to Asia: Autonomy with partners, steady on China
By Celine Pajon
The Europeans are facing an existential choice
By Radoslaw Sikorski
Why Japan isn’t panicking about Trump’s foreign policy
By Brad Glosserman

ENVIRONMENT

The small village of Blatten in the Swiss Alps was destroyed by a landslide after part of a glacier collapsed last week.
How Switzerland's Birch glacier collapsed
By Robin Millard
There are strong theories on the causes, and to what degree it is linked to climate change — but these are yet to be confirmed by scientific analysis.
Swiss glacier collapse is a lesson on climate disaster management
By Laura Millan
Octopus invasion in English Channel flags marine heat wave risks
By Joe Wertz
Half the world has faced an extra month of extreme heat, study finds
China is eroding Japan's LNG dominance. How does that affect Japanese buyers?
By Nithin Coca

CULTURE

Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
By Zoria Petkoska
The comedian’s upcoming special, titled “Father,” blends whimsical comedy and family drama — just in time for Father's Day.
'Godzilla The Art Exhibition' reimagines film icon as monstrous muse for modern art
By Matt Schley
Anime's big night out is getting bigger — and more surreal
By Patrick St. Michel
‘I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t’ gives teen angst a whimsical twist
By Mark Schilling
Songs, stars and strategy: Japan debuts its newest awards ceremony
By Alyssa I. Smith

LIFE

Elden Ring Nightreign sees a developer following up its greatest commercial and critical outing with a game that struggles to find its stride.
In Elden Ring Nightreign, the FromSoftware formula goes awry
By Owen Ziegler
Released on May 31, the studio’s first purely multiplayer effort struggles to grasp what makes its newly chosen genre great.
The empanada that’s secretly a ‘gyōza’ inside
By Simon Daly
How ‘hikikomori’ shut-ins ‘start to have dreams for the future’
By Eric Margolis
Traditional home experts to gather at MinkaMeets event
By Laura Pollacco
How to talk about change in Japanese — one forecast at a time
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

American Robert Jefferson runs a YouTube channel called The Kamakura Gardener that invites viewers to enjoy the pleasures of gardening, cooking and slow living.
‘A garden is a grand teacher’: The Kamakura Gardener nurtures via YouTube
By Alex Michael Dwyer
Veteran broadcaster Robert Jefferson has built up a following through his comforting video content about gardening, cooking and living in Kamakura.
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first’
By Naomi Oren
This charming Shiba enjoys life’s simple pleasures
A moving meditation: Finding serenity in tea ceremony across space and time
By Michele Laudig
Joshua Thomson: ‘Comedy is a pill that’s easier to swallow’
By Laura Pollacco

Editors' Picks

SUMO
Hakuho’s departure highlights worrying sumo trend
By John Gunning
Former <i>yokozuna</i> Hakuho performs a ring-entering ceremony at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020.
BASEBALL
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89
By Jason Coskrey
Shigeo Nagashima (left), then the manager of the Tokyo Giants, waves to fans with players and coaches during a victory parade in central Tokyo in 2000. Nagashima died at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
COMMUNITY
‘A garden is a grand teacher’: The Kamakura Gardener nurtures via YouTube
By Alex Michael Dwyer
American Robert Jefferson runs a YouTube channel called The Kamakura Gardener that invites viewers to enjoy the pleasures of gardening, cooking and slow living.
LIFE
Waves of umami: Awaji Island's culinary trove
By Kathryn Wortley
Silversea Cruises' culinary program takes guests on a rich gourmet experience at wellness retreat Zenbo Seinei, where the local produce is presented in an eight-course meal.
ASIA PACIFIC
Hegseth to prioritize China and more allied spending in Asia — but questions remain
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.

Podcast

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

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
How Japan's youth are slowly changing the country's work ethic
By Alex K.T. Martin
After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
BASEBALL
Japanese baseball legend Shigeo Nagashima dies at 89
By Jason Coskrey
Shigeo Nagashima (left), then the manager of the Tokyo Giants, waves to fans with players and coaches during a victory parade in central Tokyo in 2000. Nagashima died at the age of 89 on Tuesday.
BUSINESS
Toyota Industries receives $33 billion buyout offer from group companies
By Nicholas Takahashi
Toyota group companies could establish a new holding company to privatize Toyota Industries.
ASIA PACIFIC
South Korea’s Lee pledges to heal deep wounds as ‘president for everyone’
By Jesse Johnson
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung waves with his his wife, Kim Hye-gyeong, following his inauguration ceremony at the National Assembly in Seoul on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Lee Jae-myung projected to win South Korean presidential election
By Jesse Johnson
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's candidate in South Korea's presidential election, speaks during his final campaign event in Seoul on Monday night ahead of Tuesday's vote.