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TOKYO
October 29, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 29, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
Trump visit
Bear attacks
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her fist as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of U.S. Navy personnel on board the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
At first summit with Trump, Takaichi pledges 'new golden age' for alliance
By Jesse Johnson, Gabriele Ninivaggi, Gabriel Dominguez and Francis Tang
The meeting was a crucial test of Takaichi’s diplomatic chops as she seeks to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance while staving off pressure from the U.S. on defense spending.

More coverage

North Korea answers Trump entreaties with nuclear-capable missile test
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her fist as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of U.S. Navy personnel on board the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang in Washington on Tuesday
BUSINESS / Tech
Nvidia will build AI supercomputers for U.S. Energy Department, wants to get back into China
By Stephen Nellis, Alexandra Alper and Arsheeya Bajwa
In Washington, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang walked a fine line between praising U.S. President Donald Trump and risking further antagonism of China.
Members of the media gather outside the Nara District Court in the city of Nara on Tuesday hours before the start of the trial of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man accused of fatally shooting former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in July 2022.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Abe shooting suspect Yamagami pleads guilty to murder
By Tomoko Otake
On the first day of his trial, Tetsuya Yamagami, 45, admitted to the 2022 killing of the former prime minister.
The most common factor behind work-related mental health issues in Japan is “relationships with people,” a government white paper on death by overwork found.
JAPAN / Society
Record number of applicants seek compensation for job-related mental stress
By Yukana Inoue
Despite efforts to reduce overtime hours and workplace harassment in Japan, a white paper released Tuesday shows the problems remain persistent.
Team Japan performs during the group 5 Ribbons Final at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 24.
MORE SPORTS / Gymnastics
Tough love or too far? Inside Japan’s rhythmic gymnastics coaching scandal
By Mai Yoshikawa
Reports of harsh tactics behind the scenes of Fairy Japan have prompted urgent questions about the boundaries of coaching and the price of winning in sports.
Team Japan performs during the group 5 Ribbons Final at the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Rio de Janeiro on Aug. 24.

JAPAN

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi gifts U.S. President Donald Trump a putter owned by late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a golf bag signed by Hideki Matsuyama and a gold leaf golf ball in Tokyo on Tuesday.
With gifts and hospitality, Takaichi taps Abe's legacy to forge bond with Trump
By Kiyoshi Takenaka and John Geddie
Talk turned to Abe as soon as the U.S. leader stepped into the Akasaka Palace in Tokyo to exchange pleasantries with Japan's recently appointed prime minister.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (right) and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura pose for a picture after signing an agreement to form a coalition, at the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Oct 20.
Smaller parties set to suffer most if LDP and JIP reduce Lower House seats
By Eric Johnston
Smaller parties such as Komeito could lose out the most if a bill is passed to reduce Lower House seats by 10%.
LDP and JIP to set up joint policy conference
Hearings on Unification Church dissolution order to end in November
Gender identity law reform stalls despite court rulings
Japan's imperial couple hosts autumn garden party

BUSINESS

Tokyo stocks have been on a run since Japan's new prime minister took office.
Nikkei 225 breaks 51,000 for the first time ever
By Francis Tang
The stock index achieved the 50,000 mark just two days ago.
One month after the cyberattack, Asahi Group Holdings faces an inevitable hit to profits, while competitors scramble to meet rising demand for substitutes.
A month after Asahi cyberattack, Japan's beverage industry still high and dry
Asahi’s output remains well below pre-incident levels and competitors are also feeling the strain as they scramble to meet surging demand for substitutes.
Oreo cookie maker trims outlook as cocoa prices take a bite out of margins
By Kristina Peterson
Toyota to ship its U.S.-made vehicles to Japan
Trump’s new trade deals give U.S. an edge over Southeast Asia
By Claire Jiao and Philip J. Heijmans
Trump's 'hot truck' becomes symbol of Japan trade talks
By Trevor Hunnicutt and David Dolan

WORLD

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Wednesday.
Trump lands in South Korea to face trade talks and North Korean missiles
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Jihoon Lee
The U.S. president will address a summit of CEOs and meet with South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung in Gyeongju.
People watch a TV news report on North Korean missile launches at the main railway station in Seoul on Oct. 22.
North Korea answers Trump entreaties with nuclear-capable missile test
By Jesse Johnson
U.S. President Donald Trump’s expressions of opening for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been met, so far, with silence — and tests of nuclear-capable missiles.
India to repatriate 500 nationals who fled Myanmar scam center: Thai PM
Modi skipped summit to avoid Trump face-off denting poll prospects, sources say
By Sudhi Ranjan Sen
How Venezuela's Nobel Prize winner built a high-stakes alliance with Trump
By Julia Symmes Cobb and Sarah Kinosian
Pakistan says peace talks with Afghanistan 'failed'

Sports

Cameron Norrie reacts during his round of 32 match against Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris Masters on Tuesday.
Cameron Norrie stuns world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz at Paris Masters
By Janina Nuno Rios
Alcaraz's defeat was the first time he had lost before a final since March, halting a dominant Masters 1000 run stretching back to the Miami Open.
Blue Jays swat Dodgers 6-2 to level World Series
By Rob Woollard
With 100 days to go, Milan Winter Olympics chiefs 'can see finish line'
By Jerome Rasetti and Coralie Febvre
England bounces back from Brazil defeat with 3-0 win over Australia
By Lori Ewing
U.S. athletes 'conscious' of American image at 2026 Winter Games
By Amy Tennery

Opinion

Sanae Takaichi’s rise to prime minister has boosted optimism in Japan, but sustaining it will depend on her handling of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's political, ethical and electoral challenges.
Takaichi’s road to rebuilding the LDP’s ‘big tent’
Taro Tsuda
Sanae Takaichi’s rise to prime minister has boosted optimism in Japan, but sustaining it will depend on her handling of the LDP’s political, ethical and electoral challenges.
Feeling confident? Think again — you’re probably wrong.
By Brad Glosserman
U.K.’s China spying scandal is a ‘Slow Horses’ plot
By Matthew Brooker
With new leadership, Japan has the chance to flex its defense muscles
By Karishma Vaswani
OpenAI’s latest ‘breakthrough’ is a sobering reality check
By Parmy Olson

ENVIRONMENT

Protesters take part in a march in The Hague on Sunday to demand more action against climate change.
World far off track to meeting climate goals, U.N. warns
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that slow action from nations meant it was "inevitable" efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius would fail.
Mosquitoes discovered in Iceland for first time
'What is the value of a human life?' In Nigeria, oil giant Shell may find out.
By Susan Njanji
Climate change and population growth threaten to spark malaria resurgence
Bali grapples with flood reckoning as overdevelopment and waste take toll
By Marchio Gorbiano

CULTURE

Director Junji Sakamoto (left) walked the Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet with Sayuri Yoshinaga (center) and Non (right), who both play mountaineer Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest, in the biopic "Climbing for Life."
Tokyo Film Festival opens with global stars and a spotlight on Asian storytelling
By Alyssa I. Smith
From Juliette Binoche’s directorial debut to Paul Schrader’s Mishima biopic, this year’s festival celebrates cross-cultural creativity.
‘Flames of a Flower’: A bold interrogation of Japan’s pacifist identity
By James Hadfield
‘Baka's Identity’ exposes an underworld of stolen names and lost souls
By Mark Schilling
Oasis returns to Tokyo: Rain, rapture and rock
By Patrick St. Michel
Tokyo Biennale hides the art in plain sight
By Kim Kahan

LIFE

Inspired by "oyakodon," a chicken and omelet rice bowl, the "oyako" sandwich is perfect for a quick breakfast.
Turn a Japanese comfort food into a fuss-free sandwich
By Simon Daly
The secret to a two-minute “oyako” chicken omelet filling for your bread roll is mayonnaise.
Bodybuilders find new calling in Japan’s struggling care industry
By Tomohiro Osaki
Lentil by lentil, Nepali food takes shape in Tokyo
By Aarohi Narain
Have you heard? This year Shibuya wants us to have a ‘good Halloween’
By Yuko Tamura
Nakatsu keeps its cool as gentrification looms
By Edward Hewes

COMMUNITY

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
By Thu-Huong Ha and Mike Fu
From the desperate and defeated to the blissful and breezy, readers share their experiences of getting a driver’s license in Japan.
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
Lovely listener Jimena just needs time and care
A samurai-loving radio host prepares to become Oda Nobunaga for a day
By Gendel Gento

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Tokyo Film Festival opens with global stars and a spotlight on Asian storytelling
By Alyssa I. Smith
Director Junji Sakamoto (left) walked the Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet with Sayuri Yoshinaga (center) and Non (right), who both play mountaineer Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest, in the biopic "Climbing for Life."
BASEBALL
Hawks aim to bring energy from Japan Series blowout to Koshien
By Jason Coskrey
Hawks players celebrate victory over the Tigers at Mizuho PayPay Dome Fukuoka on Sunday.
CULTURE
Spanish artist and Japanese writer duos diversify the manga talent pool in Japan
By Gendel Gento
"Menheim” is a dark fantasy manga with a story that centers on a girl’s quest to find a cure for her ill brother.
ENVIRONMENT
Japan’s youth are apathetic toward the climate crisis. Could anime change that?
By Tomoko Otake
“Future Kid Takara,” a series of anime shorts to be aired on NHK Educational TV in November, attempts to educate children about climate change.
MORE SPORTS
Loss to Wallabies doesn't dampen Japan’s optimism
By John Gunning
Japan's Michael Leitch controls the ball during the match against Australia on Saturday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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

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
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
JAPAN
At first summit with Trump, Takaichi pledges 'new golden age' for alliance
By Jesse Johnson, Gabriele Ninivaggi, Gabriel Dominguez and Francis Tang
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her fist as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of U.S. Navy personnel on board the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Trump arrives in Japan for security and trade talks in test for Takaichi
By Jesse Johnson
U.S. President Donald Trump is welcomed by Emperor Naruhito upon his arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday evening.
BUSINESS
Japanese firms keep expanding in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia
A Nishiyama Seimen employee works at its factory in Sapporo.
JAPAN
Bear kills another person in Japan in record year for fatal attacks
Police investigate the scene of a bear attack that killed one person and injured three others on Friday in the village of Higashinaruse in Akita Prefecture.