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TOKYO
November 14, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 14, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
China
Bear attacks
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Police cars leave the Akita Prefectural Police headquarters to cull bears, in the city of Akita on Thursday.
JAPAN / Explainer
As attacks surge, who can cull bears in Japan?
By Yukana Inoue
In Japan, few people typically own guns, and the process to qualify for a license to hunt the animals takes time and effort.

More coverage

Japan to use extra budget to address bear attacks
LDP proposes measures against bear attacks
Police cars leave the Akita Prefectural Police headquarters to cull bears, in the city of Akita on Thursday.
The Japan Innovation Party has long sought to get Osaka designated as Japan's backup capital.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
What would a ‘backup capital’ look like for Japan?
By Eric Johnston
The concept faces tough questions on its substance and whether its true purpose is to realize the Japan Innovation Party's goal of making its Osaka base the natural choice.
A Saitama district court sentenced Deng Hongpeng, a Chinese national and demolition worker, to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, for hitting a group of elementary school children with his car and fleeing the scene while driving under the influence.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Chinese national sentenced for hit-and-run that injured four children in Saitama
Demolition worker Deng Hongpeng was driving under the influence and struck a group of ten children, injuring four sixth-grade boys.
A U.S. Capitol Police officer in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday
WORLD / Politics
U.S. government readies for massive reboot after ending record shutdown
By Gregory Korte - Allyson Versprille
Officials warn some operations may take a week or more to fully resume after the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
Sports fan Tadashi Yokoyama streams basketball and fencing on three screens.
SPORTS
Japan fully enters sports streaming era as fans face new dilemmas
By Mai Yoshikawa
Japan, where viewing habits have been slow to change, is now fully in the streaming era, though not everyone is ready to come along for the ride.
Sports fan Tadashi Yokoyama streams basketball and fencing on three screens.

JAPAN

A plane takes off from Haneda Airport.
Japan may triple departure tax to tackle overtourism
The specific size of the increase will be discussed during fiscal 2026 tax system reform talks at the end of the year.
Namiko Takaba, her son Kohei Takaba, and husband Satoru Takaba
Husband of victim in 1999 Nagoya killing reflects on late wife’s life
Namiko Takaba was attacked while at home with her 2-year-old son, Kohei.
Takaichi's summit diplomacy scores highly in Jiji poll
New winery aims to revitalize tsunami-hit district in Miyagi
Former Kyoto police officer arrested for defrauding elderly dementia patient
Japan panel members call for extra budget topping ¥14 trillion

BUSINESS

Producer prices in Japan rose 2.7% in October from a year earlier, driven by higher food and copper costs, the Bank of Japan has said.
Producer prices rose 2.7% on year in October, with agricultural goods up 31.4%
The producer price index, which measures the cost of goods traded between businesses, rose for the 56th consecutive month, Bank of Japan data shows.
The yen has fallen about 4.5% against the dollar so far this quarter, the most among its Group of 10 peers.
Japan’s slumping currency intensifies debate over intervention
By Mia Glass - John Cheng
As the yen slumps toward levels that previously drew authorities into the market, traders are increasingly skeptical that direct intervention will work this time.
SBI Shinsei Bank targets ¥400 billion Tokyo IPO for valuation around ¥1 trillion
By Yasutaka Tamura — Dave Sebastian
Japan Exchange looks at ways to curb crypto hoarding firms
By Alice French — Yasutaka Tamura
Disney eyes ESPN expansion in Asia to boost streaming content
By Sohee Kim
Yoshinoya predicts record China profit on new recipes
By Kanoko Matsuyama — Koh Yoshida

WORLD

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has leaned into the involvement of ethnic Chinese or citizens in scam operations.
U.S. ‘Strike Force’ to combat scam centers in Southeast Asia
By Philip J. Heijmans
The U.S. Justice Department is aiming to fight a surge in cryptocurrency‑investment fraud by transnational criminal organizations.
The report pointed in part to the detention by President Donald Trump's administration of a number of non-U.S. citizens over their online expression.
Internet freedom declines in U.S. and Germany, study says
The report pointed in part to the detention by President Donald Trump's administration of a number of non-U.S. citizens over their online expression.
China issues wanted notice for two Taiwanese influencers for 'separatism'
Trump signs deal to end longest U.S. government shutdown in history
Cambodia and Thailand trade accusations of fresh border clashes
By Suy SE
Thailand extradites alleged Chinese racketeer linked to Myanmar scam hub

Sports

Sports fan Tadashi Yokoyama streams basketball and fencing on three screens.
Japan fully enters sports streaming era as fans face new dilemmas
By Mai Yoshikawa
Japan, where viewing habits have been slow to change, is now fully in the streaming era, though not everyone is ready to come along for the ride.
LeBron James practices with Lakers' G League squad
Sergio Perez urges Formula One fans to respect race winners
Pirates GM says Paul Skenes will remain with team in 2026
Barcelona president labels Lionel Messi returning to club as unrealistic

Opinion

China's "wolf warrior" diplomacy is like a relentless chess match, putting democracies like Japan on the defensive, forcing them to counter Beijing's aggressive moves and deceptive feints while executing a strong, coordinated defense.
How Takaichi should navigate Beijing’s diplomatic threats
Stephen R. Nagy
These incidents reveal a consistent pattern in Beijing’s diplomatic arsenal, the weaponization of progressive language, the inversion of victim and aggressor narratives.
Takaichi and a shift in 'strategic ambiguity' over Taiwan
By Kuni Miyake
ASEAN hedges as the South China Sea bubbles over
By Brad Glosserman
What if the COVID-19 vaccine could save cancer patients too?
By Lisa Jarvis
How accurate are U.S. crime statistics?
By Justin Fox

ENVIRONMENT

Ernesto Katsunori Suzuki holds a cacao fruit at his farm in Tome-Acu in northern Brazil last month.
Japanese immigrants gain attention with farming method in the Amazon
Anticipation is rising that the agricultural method, involving nurturing a forest to grow crops there, can help the rainforest bounce back.
World's fossil fuel emissions to hit new record in 2025, study says
By Kelly Macnamara
Nearly half of all refugees to face extreme climate hazards by 2040, says UNHCR
Jamaicans have been turning to solar power. It paid off after the storm.
By Hiroko Tabuchi
As Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaks havoc in Southeast Asia, scientists say rising temperatures are to blame
By David Stanway

CULTURE

Tatsuya Nakadai had the look of a leading man in his youth, but his large and searching eyes suggested the pain and loneliness of an old soul.
Tatsuya Nakadai: A masterful leading man and postwar icon
By Mark Schilling
Tatsuya Nakadai worked with nearly every major Japanese director of the postwar era, but it was his collaborations with Akira Kurosawa that cemented his legacy.
Predictability weighs down ‘A Light in the Harbor’
By James Hadfield
‘Tokyo Taxi’: A simple fare becomes a voyage through time
By Mark Schilling
Renowned Japanese actor Tatsuya Nakadai dies at 92
By Weiwen Lin
What we see when Japanese women photographers shoot back
By Jennifer Pastore

LIFE

PokePark Kanto, the first permanent outdoor attraction in the franchise, will open Feb. 5 in the Tokyo suburb of Tama Hills.
PokePark Kanto set for February opening in Tokyo suburb
By Gendel Gento
Tickets for the new Pokemon-themed area of the Yomiuriland amusement park will be offered via a lottery from Nov. 21.
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
Cleanliness gets competitive at Tokyo’s Spogomi world cup
By Erik Augustin Palm

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 — Mike Fu

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Tatsuya Nakadai: A masterful leading man and postwar icon
By Mark Schilling
Tatsuya Nakadai had the look of a leading man in his youth, but his large and searching eyes suggested the pain and loneliness of an old soul.
SUMO
As Japan’s female leader rises, can she cross sumo’s sacred line?
By Mai Yoshikawa
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
Takaichi doesn’t mince words on Taiwan, but dramatic policy shift unlikely
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi responds to questions during a House of Representatives Budget Committee session in parliament on Tuesday.
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.
JAPAN
China delivers warning to U.S. and Japan with third aircraft carrier
By Gabriel Dominguez
The Fujian, China's third aircraft carrier, carries out sea trials at an unknown location in May last year.

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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SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

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

WORLD
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
By Sofia Christensen - Juliette Jabkhiro - 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.
JAPAN
Descendants in Philippines denied Japanese citizenship
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.
COMMENTARY
Government and bad actors are at the root of the foreign national issue
By Edo Naito
A maiko walks down a street crowded with tourists in Kyoto. Challenges that come with a massive influx of overseas visitors and foreign nationals buying up real estate are just some of the immigration problems that have become hot-button political issues in Japan.
JAPAN
Japan lawmakers eye firm response to Chinese envoy's threat to behead PM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Friday.