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May 16, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 16, 2025
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Chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in April. Since then, Japan's trade negotiations with the U.S. have produced no tangible results.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Akazawa's dilemma: no tariff deal or a half-baked deal
By Francis Tang
Japan has realized the U.S. has no intention of seriously talking about duties on automobiles now.
Chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in April. Since then, Japan's trade negotiations with the U.S. have produced no tangible results.
The Japanese economy flipped back into reverse in the first three months of the year, with consumption staying below its pre-pandemic level as inflation saps purchasing power.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan’s economy shrank for the first time in a year before tariff jolt
By Toru Fujioka and Erica Yokoyama
The first contraction under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba adds to concerns about the resilience of the economy before tariffs came into effect.
Fuji Television Network's headquarters building in the Odaiba district of Tokyo
BUSINESS / Companies
Fuji Media Holdings posts net loss for first time since going public
By Yukana Inoue
The company's net loss follows a slew of scandals concerning its corporate culture and governance.
People shop inside a tax-free drug store at the Ameyoko shopping district in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Emergency contraceptive pill may be approved for over-the-counter sales
By Jessica Speed
In most cases, women in Japan must undergo a medical examination and obtain a prescription to access such pills.
Nissan's Oliver Rowland drives during qualifying for Miami E-Prix at Homestead Motor Speedway in Homestead, Florida, on April 12.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Nissan hoping to electrify home crowd as Formula E returns to Tokyo
By Sam Byford
Nissan heads into the race leading the constructor standings.
Nissan's Oliver Rowland drives during qualifying for Miami E-Prix at Homestead Motor Speedway in Homestead, Florida, on April 12.

JAPAN

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba attends a Cabinet meeting in Tokyo on Friday.
Pension bill makes it to parliament after two-month delay
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Internal resistance from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party toward certain proposals in the draft bill led to the delay.
A Mynavi survey has found that even dual-income households are facing financial strain in Japan.
Finances are tight for dual-income households, too, survey finds
By Jessica Speed
Nearly half of full-time workers whose spouses also work say they are struggling financially.
Japan announces fresh measures to improve supply rice
Japan enacts bills to make criminal procedures digital
Japan enacts active cyber defense law
Japan government paper to express concern over China-Russia ties

BUSINESS

"Given the extremely high uncertainties in play, my view is that it is appropriate for the bank to conduct monetary policy deliberately to reflect the actual state of economic recovery,” Toyoaki Nakamura, the Bank of Japan’s most dovish board member, said in a speech Friday in Fukuoka Prefecture.
BOJ’s most dovish member warns against rushing to raising rates
By Toru Fujioka
Toyoaki Nakamura’s speech comes shortly after government data showed that Japan’s economy shrank more than expected in the first quarter.
Okasan Securities and Iwai Cosmo Securities said they had been hit by fraudulent trading, indicating the hacking of online trading accounts is expanding to mid-sized brokerages.
Hacking of trading accounts in Japan spreads to midsized firms
By Ryo Horiuchi
The hacking of online trading accounts has exploded in Japan, surging more than 10-fold in April from March.
Tesla took back leased cars for use as 'robotaxis,' but sold them instead
By Chris Kirkham and Abhirup Roy
Japan’s steep bond curve divides investors, challenges economy
By Mia Glass and Masaki Kondo
Nippon Life to stop sending staff to sales departments at banks
By Nao Sano
Japan Display to cut 1,500 jobs in Japan on consecutive years of losses

WORLD

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on Thursday.
Peace breakthrough unlikely as Putin declines to meet Zelenskyy in Turkey
By Tom Balmforth, Vladimir Soldatkin and Huseyin Hayatsever
Hopes were further dented by U.S. President Donald Trump saying there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Putin.
This undated image shows cardiologist Kiran Musunuru and pediatrician Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas with patient KJ Muldoon.
U.S. baby with rare illness treated with tailor-made gene edit
The baby, who had a gene mutation that affected his liver, was treated using what amounts to a pair of molecular scissors, delivered via an infusion.
In Poland, a presidential election with European stakes
By Bernard OSSER
Final nuclear plant shutdown leaves Taiwan facing energy crunch
By Sing Yee Ong and Cindy Wang
Russian nationalists call for Moscow to fight on in Ukraine
By Andrew Osborn
Trump’s pledge to lift Syrian sanctions faces a complex road
By Sam Dagher

Sports

Nissan's Oliver Rowland drives during qualifying for Miami E-Prix at Homestead Motor Speedway in Homestead, Florida, on April 12.
Nissan hoping to electrify home crowd as Formula E returns to Tokyo
By Sam Byford
Nissan heads into the race leading the constructor standings.
Shohei Ohtani connects on two home runs to help Dodgers rout A's
Colts apologize to Tyreek Hill and Microsoft over schedule release video
Jannik Sinner makes statement by demolishing Casper Ruud to reach semifinals
Stephen Curry excited about Warriors' future despite playoff exit

Opinion

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks in the Oval Office after President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the U.K. on May 8. The agreement is far from a win for London, which has chosen deference over strength in dealing with Washington's bullishness.
Lessons from the U.S.-U.K. trade deal: Don’t appease a bully
Thomas O. Falk
The tariff agreement signed between London and Washington does little to boost the U.K. economy and, despite appearances, is a diplomatic defeat for Prime Minister Starmer.
Don’t overreact to the consumption tax debate
U.S. citizenship could soon look very different
By Patricia Lopez
The U.S. will never win a trade war with China
By Kuni Miyake
Nervous parties gird for a high-stakes Upper House vote
By Edo Naito

ENVIRONMENT

Ice calves off from the Perito Moreno glacier into the Lago Argentino (Argentine Lake), in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, on April 21
Huge ice falls at Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier stir awe and concern
By Bernat Parera
Recently the size of the ice chunks breaking off — a process called "calving" — has been starting to alarm local guides and glaciologists.
Australian seaweed farm tackles livestock burps to combat climate change
By Gregory PLESSE
Indians buy 14 million air conditioners a year, and need many more
By Abhaya SRIVASTAVA
As world heats up, U.N. cools itself the cool way — with water
By Amelie Bottollier-Depois
World's richest 10% caused two-thirds of global warming, study finds
By Marlowe Hood

CULTURE

"Jinsei," which follows its protagonist over a century, probes themes of identity and societal issues with a dark comic touch. The director, however, says he created the story without knowing where it would lead.
For his first feature film, director Ryuya Suzuki created a masterpiece
By Matt Schley
With no script or crew, the animator created "Jinsei," a bold debut inspired by classics such as "Citizen Kane" and "Scarface."
Netflix to stream Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan
‘Kaneko's Commissary’ explores prison culture from the outside in
By Mark Schilling
Emerging Asian artists converge at the 'world’s most beautiful museum'
By Kim Kahan
‘Jinsei’: Ryuya Suzuki’s solo animation is a singular debut
By James Hadfield

LIFE

A few tweaks to the conversations you learn in your Japanese class will help you sound like a native when you step out the door.
Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
When trying to sound natural in Japanese, sometimes you just need to know a single key word or phrase.
Speak like you scroll: A roundup of recent Japanese slang
By Yuko Tamura
What comes after 100?
By Tomoko Otake
Sculpted waves, sleek updos: Showa hairstyles are back in fashion
By Carol R.H. Malasig
In China’s ‘Michelin Guide,’ Tokyo leads overseas listings with 30 entries
By Tan Pin Yen

COMMUNITY

Ayano Kikuchi began practicing yoga in 2014 to alleviate her chronic back pain, and now shares her knowledge with the Karuizawa community as the manager of W Tree House.
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
How a corporate office worker in Tokyo became a yoga studio manager in Karuizawa
A new chapter for a gentle dog
Kotomi Li: 'I refuse to choose death'
By Kat Joplin
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
For his first feature film, director Ryuya Suzuki created a masterpiece
By Matt Schley
"Jinsei," which follows its protagonist over a century, probes themes of identity and societal issues with a dark comic touch. The director, however, says he created the story without knowing where it would lead.
BASEBALL
Historian Rob Fitts discovers earliest ever reference to baseball in Japan
By Jason Coskrey
Japan's Shohei Ohtani carries the Japanese flag onto the field before the start of the World Baseball Classic final against the United States in Miami on March 21, 2023.
JAPAN
Japanese retailers turn to California rice for cheaper alternative
By Yukana Inoue
U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass eats California rice at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday along with Mitsuko Tsuchiya, vice president of retailer Aeon.
JAPAN
Harmfully hot days for pregnant women in Japan nearly doubled over past five years
By Tomoko Otake
New research by a U.S. climate scientists’ group reveals that extreme heat has increased the risks of preterm births and other pregnancy complications in Japan, nearly doubling the number of days that are harmfully hot for pregnant women over the past five years.
SUMO
Sumo title contenders already emerging in early stages of Tokyo meet
By John Gunning
Onosato (left) battles Abi on Day 3 of the Summer Basho in Tokyo on Tuesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?
By Tomoko Otake

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones
Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
Success of Chinese-made fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
By Josh Xiao and Yian Lee
Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
JAPAN
Japan to recognize Taiwan as place of origin in family registration system
Masataka Yuhara, secretary-general of the Friends of Lee Teng Hui Association in Japan, which has been calling for "Taiwan" to be permitted as a place of origin in family registers.
BUSINESS
Rich Japanese still fear yen crash, wealth manager says
By Bailey Lipschultz
The yen slumped more than 2% on Monday alone, nearing ¥150 to the dollar, after the U.S. and China temporarily lowered tariffs, triggering a reversal of bearish dollar bets.
JAPAN
Japanese retailers turn to California rice for cheaper alternative
By Yukana Inoue
U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass eats California rice at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo on Tuesday along with Mitsuko Tsuchiya, vice president of retailer Aeon.
BUSINESS
Japanese automakers looking at a ¥1 trillion hit from Trump tariffs 
By Kazuaki Nagata
Cars on display at Nissan's headquarters in Yokohama on Tuesday. The automaker posted a massive annual net loss and confirmed that it plans to cut thousands of jobs worldwide.