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October 17, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 17, 2025
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Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi (second from right) and Nippon Ishin no Kai co-leader Fumitake Fujita (second from left) meet in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP and Nippon Ishin fine-tuning deal to form coalition
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
While the two sides have a similar policy agenda, they also share an ideological likeness that lowers the bar for a potential tie-up.

More coverage

As they wrestle for power, Japan’s political parties must remember their base
Poll shows 43.8% poised to back possible Takaichi cabinet
Liberal Democratic Party head Sanae Takaichi (second from right) and Nippon Ishin no Kai co-leader Fumitake Fujita (second from left) meet in Tokyo on Thursday.
Visitors look at airborne weapons displayed at a booth of Aviation Industry Corporation of China at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Zhuhai Airshow, in Zhuhai, China, in November 2018.
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Russian training could help Chinese paratroopers play key role in a Taiwan invasion
By Gabriel Dominguez
Leaked documents indicate that Russia is training and equipping Chinese units to potentially airdrop onto the island to clear a path for follow-on forces.
Sora 2, a short-form video app made by OpenAI, enables users to create realistic AI videos with text prompts, but critics say that there are insufficient guardrails — from a lack of copyright consideration to families of public figures upset by the reanimation of their loved ones.
BUSINESS / Companies
Japan’s government asks OpenAI to seek permission amid Sora 2 copyright concerns
By Elizabeth Beattie
Sora 2 enables users to create realistic AI videos with text prompts, but critics say that there are insufficient guardrails.
Investigators enter the elderly care facility where two female residents were killed in Tsurugashima, Saitama Prefecture, on Thursday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Suspect in murders at Saitama facility allegedly snuck in using old passcode
Police suspect Toya Kimura, 22, a former worker at the care facility, used prior knowledge of the building's security system to gain entry.
Chloe Zhao’s "Hamnet"
CULTURE / Film
What you need to see at this year's Tokyo film festival
By James Hadfield, Mark Schilling and Matt Schley
From slow cinema and satire to moving biopics and restorations of classics, the TIFF lineup has something for every cinephile.
Chloe Zhao’s "Hamnet"

JAPAN

Crowds attend a Sanseito rally in the city of Saitama during the Upper House election.
Doctrine forms the core of Sanseito’s strategy, with some caveats
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Its adherence to doctrine makes it resemble older parties with strong organizational structures and voting blocs rather than smaller populist ones.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to extend the Oedo Line northwest with three new stations in Nerima Ward to improve rail access in underserved areas.
Tokyo's Oedo Line to expand northwest improving access for Nerima Ward
By Yukana Inoue
Three new stations in the predominantly residential ward will improve rail access in areas of the capital currently underserved by public transportation.
Tepco to consider scrapping two Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactors
Over 40% back Takaichi visiting Yasukuni Shrine, poll shows
Bear shot in city of Sendai under revised law
Man held in Japan on suspicion of creating female celeb deepfakes made with AI

BUSINESS

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.
Trump declares U.S.-China trade war as Bessent floats long truce
By Daniel Flatley and Jennifer A Dlouhy
The dueling remarks underscored the whiplash investors have felt as tensions have flared in the relationship between Washington and Beijing.
Developers work inside the office of AI startup LimeChat in Bengaluru on Aug. 19.
India's IT sector faces seismic shift as AI displaces call-center workers
By Munsif Vengattil and Aditya Kalra
The outcome of India's gamble carries weight far beyond its borders — a test case for whether embracing AI-driven disruption can elevate an economy or render it a cautionary tale.
Nearly 70% of Japanese firms see economic benefits from expo
BOJ’s most hawkish member calls for rate hike amid price risks
By Toru Fujioka
IMF executive recommends longer-term fiscal planning for Japan
By Adriana Reinecke
United sees resilient demand as premium travel drives profit
By Lucia Kassai and Siddharth Philip

WORLD

Royal Thai soldiers stand guard at an area along the Thai-Cambodian border in August.
Thai princess calls for Cambodian border wall amid row with neighbor
By Randy Thanthong-Knight
The call follows a territorial dispute between the two countries that escalated into deadly clashes earlier this year.
Afghan Taliban fighters patrol near the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, following exchanges of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces in Afghanistan on Wednesday.
Ceasefire called after new Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes kill dozens
By Shrouq TARIQ and Sanaullah Seiam
The ceasefire, which began at 6:00 p.m. Islamabad time and is said to last 48 hours, followed a week of violence between the two neighbors.
South Korean top court partially overturns SK Group chief's near $1B divorce deal
By Joyce Lee and Heejin Kim
U.S. and U.K. sanctions target Cambodia's Prince Group and tycoon Chen Zhi
Land mines that sparked Thai-Cambodia clash were likely newly laid, experts say
By Panu Wongcha-um and Devjyot Ghoshal
For the Kremlin, Putin's exiled opponents are gone but not forgotten
By Mark Trevelyan

Sports

Masanori Murakami became the first MLB player from Japan when he made his debut with the Giants on Sept 1, 1964.
New film explores how Japan and the U.S. found common ground through baseball
By Jason Coskrey
Baseball has been a shared love between Japan and the United States for over 150 years — a sport that has connected the nations despite disagreements large and small.
McLaren duo watching as Max Verstappen surges into focus in title race
Dave Roberts not worried about Shohei Ohtani despite struggles at plate
Blue Jays' homer barrage halves Mariners' ALCS advantage
Kaori Sakamoto set to kick off Olympic season at Grand Prix de France

Opinion

A Chinese trade delegation in Madrid for talks with its U.S. counterpart holds a news conference on Sept. 15. Rare earths, along with tariffs and other key issues, will define the next phase of the China-U.S. rivalry as both sides escalate tensions, vie for leverage and leave room for tactical negotiation.
The Sino-U.S. economic cage match heats up
Imran Khalid
Notwithstanding momentary attempts at detente, the long-term path is toward competitive confrontation.
A negotiator’s nightmare in Nagatacho
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Asia can learn from Europe’s immigration mistakes
By Waka Ikeda
China’s visa uproar is part of a DeepSeek illusion
By Juliana Liu
The U.S. is losing hearts and minds in Southeast Asia over Gaza
By Karishma Vaswani

ENVIRONMENT

Greenpeace activists hold signs reading "COP30 act for forests,” during the ministerial preparatory meeting, ahead of the COP30 climate summit, in Brasilia, Brazil on Monday.
Trump’s team weighs COP attendance, but influence looms either way
By David Sherfinski
Experts say whatever decision the U.S. makes, its action or inaction will have a major impact.
Europe's bees and butterflies at risk, conservation body says
U.K. spearheads polar climate change research as U.S. draws back
By Joe JACKSON
At Osaka Expo, gas giants promote a greener future. But is it a lot of hot air?
By Joel Tansey
Indonesia says no to scrap metal after shrimp radiation scare
By Chandra Asmara

CULTURE

A hitman (Ryuhei Matsuda, left) and a spiritual ascetic (Yosuke Kubozuka, right) go to infinity and beyond in “Transcending Dimensions.”
‘Transcending Dimensions’: A wild trip to enlightenment
By James Hadfield
Toshiaki Toyoda’s latest feature is a spiritual odyssey with punk energy and cosmic chaos.
Oscar-buzzy 'Hamnet' changed me, actress Jessie Buckley says
By Hanna Rantala
‘The Sickness Unto Love’: Teen romance spirals into dark cruelty
By Mark Schilling
D'Angelo, trailblazing neo-soul singer, dies at 51
By Jasper Ward and Danielle Broadway
Taylor Swift Eras Tour six-part docuseries coming to Disney+
By Molly Schuetz

LIFE

While Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple is a famous spot for viewing the autumn foliage, Japan has no shortage of colorful forests.
The what, where and when of Japan’s autumn leaves
By Eric Margolis
Autumn in Japan is a lesson in color and language — learn how to ask the right questions when it comes to hunting fall foliage.
How Japan’s greatest psychological horror game came home
By Gendel Gento
Mass-produced AI podcasts disrupt a fragile industry
By Thomas URBAIN
Pokemon brushes up decades-old formula with 'Legends: Z-A'
A bitter pale ale from Yokohama finds a sweet win at World Beer Awards
By Jeremy Wilgus

COMMUNITY

<i>Sashiko</I> dates to the Edo Period (1603-1868) and began as a technique that allowed working-class people to prolong the lifespan of their clothing.
Beauty in slowness: Life lessons from Japanese embroidery
By Cassie Xu
After taking up the practice of sashiko stitching six years ago, a Chinese Canadian woman found an anchor in the traditional craft amidst major life transitions.
Shrunali Ranade: ‘Stepping back isn’t failure but another form of strength’
By Megha Wadhwa
Student groups nurture Japan-South Korea dialogue and cultural ties
By Moe Shimizu
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
By Louise George Kittaka
Stirred, not shaken: Kyoto business platform blends local and global
By Samantha Seghers

Editors' Picks

SUMO
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen
By John Gunning
Preparations advance on Monday for the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
JAPAN
Number of scenarios now on the table for who might be Japan’s next prime minister
By Eric Johnston
Newly-elected leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Sanae Takaichi (right) celebrates with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on October 4.
BUSINESS
Pace eyes great strides for Japan’s art market
By Elizabeth Beattie
Pace Japan Vice President Kyoko Hattori, the de facto head of the nation’s business, believes a larger, more lucrative art market will allow Japan to be more attractive for collectors.
JAPAN
A frenetic diplomatic schedule looms for Japan’s next leader — whomever that may be
By Jesse Johnson
As horse-trading and speculation surge over who will be elected the next prime minister in parliament — the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Sanae Takaichi or a possible candidate put forward by a unified opposition — Japan’s next leader will be confronted with a quick succession of key diplomatic events.
LIFE
Ghost of Yotei’s bloodstained fun sidesteps Ainu identity
By Owen Ziegler
Ghost of Yotei, the follow-up to 2020's smash hit Ghost of Tsushima, is a violent, vengeful and engaging romp through 17th-century Hokkaido that fails to stick the landing on its most sensitive cultural material.

Podcast

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

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building
By Patrick St. Michel

JT Directory Service

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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
Coalition talks could bring Takaichi closer to being PM
By Kanako Takahara and Himari Semans
Nippon Ishin no Kai leader and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura meets with Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Trump declares U.S.-China trade war as Bessent floats long truce
By Daniel Flatley and Jennifer A Dlouhy
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.
COMMENTARY
Asia can learn from Europe’s immigration mistakes
By Waka Ikeda
Refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria and Afghanistan, crowd a platform at a train station in Budapest in September 2015. Hungary's focus on pro-natalist policies and minimal immigration has led to a significant improvement in its fertility rate compared to Japan.
COMMENTARY
Singapore thrived in a U.S.-led world. Now what?
By Hal Brands
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt moors at Changi Naval Base in Singapore in April 2018.
SUMO
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen
By John Gunning
Preparations advance on Monday for the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.