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May 25, 2025
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May 25, 2025
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A worker sorts plastic waste for recycling at Minato Resource Recycle Center in Tokyo in 2019. Japan has been criticized by environmental groups for its strategy on plastics, which is heavily reliant on recycling instead of reduction.
ENVIRONMENT / Sustainability / OUR PLANET
Are microplastics hurting our fertility?
By Tomoko Otake
While a lot remains unknown about how microplastics affect our health, scientists in Japan and around the world broadly agree there's an urgent need to reduce plastic production.
A worker sorts plastic waste for recycling at Minato Resource Recycle Center in Tokyo in 2019. Japan has been criticized by environmental groups for its strategy on plastics, which is heavily reliant on recycling instead of reduction.
This satellite image taken Friday shows a new North Korean warship lying in the harbor after its failed launch in the port city of Chongjin.
ASIA PACIFIC
Three detained and blamed for North Korean warship accident
By Jesse Johnson
The ultimate fate of the three remains unclear, but leader Kim Jong Un has a history of making examples out of those who embarrass him.
Students on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Friday
WORLD / Politics
Trump's moves seen threatening key sources of U.S. 'soft power'
By Leon Bruneau
The U.S. president has attacked the media, cut foreign aid and canceled or seriously scaled back university research programs — raising fears of a brain drain in the country.
Rescue workers transport people using a raft along a flooded street in Takeo, Saga Prefecture, in August 2021.
JAPAN / Society
Japan to create public-private network on disaster relief
The initiative aims to build a network that facilitates cooperation between local governments, companies and nonprofit organizations.
Not only is the drawing of each frame an important part of the manga-making process, translation has increasingly demanded more attention as the art form gains popularity overseas.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Manga translators walk a fine line between meaning and mayhem
By Eric Margolis
Manga translators face linguistic puzzles, cultural minefields and online backlash — all for the love of a perfectly written speech bubble.
Not only is the drawing of each frame an important part of the manga-making process, translation has increasingly demanded more attention as the art form gains popularity overseas.

JAPAN

The crowded center circle of the Kansai Pavilion at the Osaka Expo, featuring photos and videos of various prefectures
Osaka Expo highlights uniqueness of Kansai region
By Sakurako Nakagawa
The Kansai Pavilion offers numerous experiences to allow visitors to understand the rich history and culture of the region.
Japanese license plate samples — the top two are examples of nationwide license plates, while the bottom two are examples of "gotochi" license plates.
Japan to scrap monochrome special license plates
The ministry will soon allow only multicolor versions in an effort to ease the burden on license plate makers amid an expected increase in demand.
Families demand North Korea return all Japanese abductees
Bill that would raise Japanese pension benefits on track to pass parliament
LDP holds meeting to let proponents of tax cut blow off steam
Aichi police arrest Nagoya teen for involvement in Myanmar fraud ring

BUSINESS

Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for South Korea's Democratic Party, prepares for the second televised debate for the upcoming presidential election in Seoul on Friday.
South Korea presidential front-runner Lee suggests extending U.S. tariff talks
Lee Jae-myung said the deadline to reach a deal needs to be reconsidered to find a mutually beneficial agreement between the two allies.
A worker walks near a fishing vessel under maintenance at the Kidoura Zosen K.K. shipyard in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.
Japan looks to use U.S. shipbuilding cooperation as card in tariff talks
By highlighting its cooperative stance toward the United States, the Japanese government hopes to fend off U.S. tariffs.
Tariff crossfire hits Toyota, Nissan and Ford suppliers in Japan
By Maki Shiraki and Daniel Leussink
Honda to boost hybrid vehicle production in U.S.
U.S. and Japan eye June G7 leaders’ summit for possible tariff deal
By Francis Tang
Trump announces Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel ‘partnership’ deal
By Francis Tang

WORLD

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver the commencement address at the graduation ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy West Point in West Point, New York, on Saturday.
Trump 'on brand' with anti-woke rant at army officer graduation
The U.S. president's speech at the West Point Military Academy veered between attacks on transgender people and DEI policies to slamming his predecessors.
Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa (right) meets with Tom Barrack, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey and a special envoy to Syria, in Istanbul on Saturday.
Syria reboots interior ministry as Damascus seeks to reassure West
Keen to reboot and rebuild nearly 14 years after a devastating civil war began, the new authorities have hailed Washington's lifting of U.S. sanctions.
Nine killed in Ukraine as it trades fire with Russia overnight
George Floyd's uncertain legacy is marked five years on
Did George Floyd protesters miss their moment for change?
Rescuers say nine children of Gaza doctor couple killed in Israeli strike

Sports

Arsenal's Kim Little (left) and Victoria Pelova celebrate after winning the Champions League final over Barcelona on Saturday in Lisbon.
How 'calm' Arsenal dethroned Barcelona in women's Champions League
Stina Blackstenius' second-half strike on the counterattack was a just reward for Arsenal's superb display in the Champions League final.
Timberwolves set team playoff record in rout of Thunder
Liverpool's Salah named Premier League player of the season
Norris shrugs off gremlins with record lap for Monaco pole
Wuhan edges Melbourne to win inaugural AFC Women's Champions League

Opinion

Shinjiro Koizumi, Japan's newly appointed agriculture minister, arrives at the ministry building in Tokyo on Wednesday. He replaced Taku Eto, who quit after saying he’s never needed to buy rice, a comment that angered many people.
Rice price uproar intensifies ruling party's election fears
When the remarks triggered a predictable and understandable backlash, Eto explained that he was trying to make a joke.
How China’s soft power is rewriting Asian culture
By Brabim Karki
How efficiency can transform sustainable development
By Tshilidzi Marwala
To fix the U.S. debt problem, Americans must retire later
By Allison Schrager
Ishiba's Greece debt comparison risks deeper crisis
By Gearoid Reidy

ENVIRONMENT

A partially submerged car is seen in the aftermath of Typhoon Hagibis, in Nagano Prefecture in October 2019. The Weather Attribution Center Japan, which was founded Tuesday, aims to publicize the results of its climate attribution assessment within days of a typhoon, torrential rain or extreme heat.
When extreme weather hits, Japan scientists will have faster answers on climate links
By Tomoko Otake
The Weather Attribution Center will aim to publish concrete links between global warming and extreme weather events within days, rather than months.
'Serious problem': Afghan capital losing race against water shortages
By Susannah Walden
Fires drive tropical forest loss to 'red alert' record high
By Julien MIVIELLE
The U.K.’s clean power future relies on a 100-year-old technology
By Eamon Farhat
Polar bear biopsies shed light on Arctic pollutants
By Olivier MORIN and Etienne FONTAINE

CULTURE

Director Jafar Panahi, Palme d'Or award winner for the film "Un simple accident" ("It Was Just an Accident"), poses during a photocall after the closing ceremony of the 78th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.
Iranian filmmaker Panahi urges 'freedom' as he wins top prize at Cannes
By Adam PLOWRIGHT and Fiachra Gibbons
The dissident filmmaker's "Un Simple Accident" tells the tale of five Iranians confronted with a man they believed tortured them in jail.
Truth is slippery in ‘Suspicion,’ a detective story based on a true crime
By Kris Kosaka
At Cannes, Fukada spotlights J-pop’s ban on idol romance
By Adam PLOWRIGHT
LGBTQ Thai ghost story wins prize in Cannes
By Alice Hackman
‘I Still Want To Do It With My Wife’: Hapless husband’s self-pity wears thin
By James Hadfield

LIFE

After establishing Lagoon Brewery in 2021, Yosuke Tanaka began making export-only "nihonshu" (Japanese sake) and later, "craft sake," a new genre of sake that isn't bound by the rules of traditional sakemaking.
Brewed from rice, water and tomatoes: The growth of ‘craft sake’
By Weiwen Lin
Hampered yet inspired by the strict regulations for new brewers, a growing breed of sake producers are making the beverage on their own creative terms.
Tokyo's top bites — in a suburban mall food court
By Robbie Swinnerton
As spring unfolds, sea bream turns into a prized catch
By Makiko Itoh
Jeremy Strong brings male power-dressing to Cannes
By Adam PLOWRIGHT
Uh-oh, is the rest of the world making JRPGs better than Japan?
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

Born and raised in Japan, Joshua Thomson has been making videos on YouTube and Instagram to poke fun at stereotypes and challenge assumptions about — or from — Japanese society.
Joshua Thomson: ‘Comedy is a pill that’s easier to swallow’
By Laura Pollacco
The bilingual YouTuber talks about his hybrid cultural heritage and his aspirations in the entertainment industry.
Tuxedo cat Cupcake is a special treat
Detroit-Nagoya network empowers women-owned businesses around the world
By Jessica Kozuka
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
Kotomi Li: 'I refuse to choose death'
By Kat Joplin

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
AI fiction is already here. Are humans ready?
By Thu-Huong Ha
After last year’s controversy over using AI to write about 5% of her novel, Rie Qudan was asked by an advertising magazine to write a short story where she uses AI for 95% of it. The resulting short story, “Kage no ame” (“Rain Shadow”), was published March 25.  
CULTURE
Six short films that capture our world in mere minutes
By Mark Schilling
“Marion” provides a glimpse into the lives of bull dodgers, who perform a nonlethal version of bullfighting.
JAPAN
As Taiwan looks to boost ‘unofficial ties,’ Paraguay’s leader offers facilitator role
By Gabriel Dominguez
Paraguayan President Santiago Pena speaks during an interview with The Japan Times in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
GCAP next-gen fighter joint venture likely to be running by this summer
By Gabriel Dominguez
A concept model of the Global Combat Air Program's fighter jet is displayed during the DSEI Japan defense exhibition in the city of Chiba on Wednesday.
JAPAN
NTT develops world's first 'flying lightning rod' using drones
By Jessica Speed
NTT's drone — aimed at triggering, then redirecting lightning — is described as a "flying lightning rod."

Podcast

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

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb
By Alex K.T. Martin

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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

WORLD
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
By Sofia Christensen, Juliette Jabkhiro and 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.
BUSINESS
Trump announces Nippon Steel-U.S. Steel ‘partnership’ deal
By Francis Tang
U.S. President Donald Trump points as he boards Air Force One en route to New Jersey, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Friday.
JAPAN
Travelers avoid trips to Japan over viral comic book’s quake prediction
Visitors walk along Nakamise-dori as they visit Sensoji Temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district in March.
BUSINESS
Tokyo's Yamanote Line resumes suspended train operations
All services on East Japan Railway's Yamanote Line in Tokyo were suspended for early Friday morning due to wire trouble.
SUMO
Onosato set for yokozuna promotion after clinching Emperor’s Cup
By Kanako Takahara
Onosato after defeating Kotozakura at Ryokugikan in Tokyo on Friday. The win gave him a 13-0 record and clinched the Emperor's Cup, assuring him of promotion to yokozuna next week.