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July 11, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
July 11, 2025
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Democratic Party For the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki delivers a campaign speech in Tokyo on July 3, ahead of the July 20 Upper House elections
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
DPP appears to be losing its luster as Upper House vote approaches
By Eric Johnston
The small opposition party is in a tight spot amid speculation that it may be losing conservative supporters to right-wing parties like Sanseito.

More coverage

Prominent political speakers step up for candidates ahead of July 20 election
Parties divided on defense spending increase
Democratic Party For the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki delivers a campaign speech in Tokyo on July 3, ahead of the July 20 Upper House elections
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
JAPAN
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
By Jesse Johnson
Chinese fighter jets twice risked collisions with ASDF surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea on Wednesday and Thursday, the Defense Ministry in Tokyo said.
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
By Kanako Takahara
The stricter measures come in response to a series of high-profile car accidents caused by foreign drivers.
Takeshi Niinami, Suntory Holdings CEO and chairperson of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan's united front on tariffs begins to crack as doubts raised
By Francis Tang
A senior business leader has questioned the effectiveness of the government in negotiating with the U.S.
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
BUSINESS / Companies
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
By Elizabeth Beattie
Today, more than half of Netflix’s global users watch anime on its service, with shows such as “Sakamoto Days” proving to be massive hits.
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.

JAPAN

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (left) shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, during a bilateral talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
Japan voices strong concern over Chinese military and rare earth moves
By Jesse Johnson and Gabriel Dominguez
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, met for talks on the sidelines of Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related gatherings.
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
By Kanako Takahara
The weather agency is forecasting up to 150 millimeters of rain over 24 hours.
Panel urges Fujitsu to help victims of U.K. post office scandal
Police double staff who help prevent lone-wolf attacks after 2022 Abe shooting
Emperor Naruhito visits kōsen technical school in Mongolia
Improper law-enforcement interrogations persist in Japan

BUSINESS

A Uniqlo store in Shanghai. Fast Retailing, Uniqlo's owner, reported weak sales in China that weighted on its third-quarter earnings, which missed estimates.
Uniqlo owner misses earnings estimates on weak China sales
By Kanoko Matsuyama
Fast Retailing's operating profit in the three months ended May was ¥146.7 billion, which trails a ¥150 billion average of analyst estimates.
The yen-dollar exchange rate is displayed outside a securities firm in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan unlikely to face U.S. pressure to strengthen yen, ex-top FX diplomat says
Masatsugu Asakawa was deeply involved in Japan's trade and currency negotiations with the U.S. when he was vice finance minister for international affairs.
Beaujolais Nouveau’s fanbase finally dries up in Japan
By Haruka Iwai
Europe’s clash with Musk’s xAI escalates after Grok’s rants
By Wojciech Moskwa
AI giant Nvidia becomes first company to reach $4 trillion milestone
By John BIERS
Japanese carmakers slash export prices to U.S. to offset tariff hit
By Toru Fujioka

WORLD

Police officers stand guard as people take part in a protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building in Istanbul on March 26.
Hundreds of Erdogan opponents detained in claimed corruption crackdown
By Huseyin Hayatsever and Jonathan Spicer
The probe has targeted only municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People's Party, the party of modern Turkey's secularist founder.
A U.S.-made M1A2T Abrams tank takes part in live-fire exercises in Hsinchu, Taiwan, on Thursday.
Taiwan shows off new U.S. Abrams tanks during annual military drills
By Greg Torode and Fabian Hamacher
Analysts say Taiwan's first new tanks for 24 years would need to be protected against drones in any future conflict given lessons from the Ukraine war.
Malaysia says China will sign Southeast Asia's nuke-free treaty
Tibetan glacial lake drainage triggered deadly flood in Nepal, climate body says
By Gopal Sharma
China says it foiled foreign spying plots, including 'honeytrap'
Two cargo ships sink after deadly Houthi attacks in Red Sea

Sports

Naoya Inoue following a news conference in Tokyo. Inoue will face Murodjon Akhmadaliev in Nagoya in September.
'Monster' Inoue to face Akhmadaliev in Nagoya
After a bout in Vegas, the 32-year-old returns to his home country to take on Murodjon Akhmadaliev, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics.
Jones urges Brave Blossoms to 'create history' against Wales
Cricket's Indian Premier League value surges to $18.5 billion: report
For Christian Horner, a brutal end to a highly successful reign at Red Bull
History-chasing Djokovic sets up Wimbledon showdown with Sinner
By Steven Griffiths

Opinion

Speculation about Xi Jinping losing his grip on power misreads China’s digital authoritarianism, which uses algorithmic control and emotional scripting to absorb dissent and reinforce the Chinese Communist Party’s power in the information age.
Online dissent in China doesn’t mean Xi is on his way out
Yujing Shentu
Don’t be fooled by viral posts. The CCP allows and even encourages certain forms of online dissent — all part of its digital authoritarianism.
Taking GDP out of the China equation
By Daniel Moss
Japan needs to take the quantum-technology leap
By Wakana Asano
Air superiority vs. air denial: Redefining U.S. airpower strategy
By Sadamasa Oue
Michelle Obama is quitting politics. Or is she?
By Nia-Malika Henderson

ENVIRONMENT

A public school teacher leads the class during the first day of in-person classes, at a school flooded due to high tide, in Macabebe, Pampanga province, Philippines, in August 2022.
Philippines struggling to ready underfunded schools for climate hazards
By Mariejo Ramos
Teachers want the government to do more than tweak the school calendar, and also invest in infrastructure that will make schools resilient to heat and storms.
In Indonesia, a startup captures coolants to stop global warming
By Jack Moore and Sara Hussein
EU’s far right to help shape 2040 climate goals after vote fails
By John Ainger and Ewa Krukowska
South Korea battles 'lovebug' invasion amid climate change
By Claire Lee
France worries about Japanese beetles after finding two

CULTURE

The exhibition of Fujimoto’s architecture surveys his career to date, as well as looks ahead as shown in his proposal of a future floating city designed in collaboration with data scientist Hiroaki Miyata.
The future is bright inside the visionary mind of architect Sou Fujimoto
By Zoria Petkoska
From a model of the Grand Ring you can walk through to a futuristic city design, the architect’s exhibition at Mori Art Museum is an invitation to engage with architecture.
Between reality and fiction: A summer’s day in Karuizawa with Minae Mizumura
By Hanako Lowry
Queer-coded yakuza story wins prestigious U.K. crime writing award
By Thu-Huong Ha
‘Try first, figure it out later’: Kom_I and Foodman’s beautiful mess
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl’: Beautiful, brutal and bringing back ’90s anime energy
By Matt Schley

LIFE

Once a way to transport lumber from the mountains to the coast, log rafting is now Kitayama's biggest attraction.
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
By Louise George Kittaka
Log rafting was once a means of transporting timber, but now it’s the tourist draw of a tiny Wakayama village.
Shintaro Awa appointed to head the kitchen of L’Ambroisie in Paris
By Kyoko Nakayama
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of a Japanese summer?
By Yuko Tamura
Beyond the lavender fields in Furano, a whisky distillery emerges
By Simon Daly
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
By Tan Pin Yen

COMMUNITY

Dog ownership may seem daunting in Japan, but with the right tools and logistical knowledge, you can ensure a healthy, happy life for your pet.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
By Kat Joplin
Owning a dog in Japan may seem daunting, but having these tools and tips in mind can ease your journey and bring you lots of joy.
Japanese language is your gateway to seeing the world anew
By Damian Flanagan
Miho Koshiba: ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if people looked forward to Mondays?’
By Carina Fushimi
Fine feline twosome on the hunt for a forever home
A singular ensemble: Indian food, science and Fukushima
By Trishit Banerjee

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
CULTURE
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
By Alyssa I. Smith
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
MORE SPORTS
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
By Mai Yoshikawa
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.
JAPAN
Foreign nationals' presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a campaign speech next to a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for the Upper House (top center left) in Yokohama on Sunday.
JAPAN
Scams involving police impersonation surge
By Jessica Speed
A video by the National Police Agency warns about fake scams.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
JAPAN
Japan and Canada ink key intel-sharing deal
By Gabriel Dominguez
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand shakes hands with Japan's top diplomat, Takeshi Iwaya, at the end of a signing ceremony for an information security agreement, after bilateral talks in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
By Kanako Takahara
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
JAPAN
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
By Kanako Takahara
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
BUSINESS
Japan stands its ground after Trump letter delivers 25% U.S. tariff shock
By Francis Tang
U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at Morristown Airport, New Jersey, on Sunday. Trump on Monday sent letters to 12 countries notifying them of new "reciprocal" tariff rates effective Aug. 1.