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June 02, 2025
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June 02, 2025
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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Hegseth to prioritize China and more allied spending in Asia — but questions remain
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a clear statement of the United States' commitment to the region, but getting allies to spend more on their defense will be an uphill battle.

More coverage

‘Squad’ defense chiefs meet with eye on countering China
Nakatani urges closer defense tie-ups amid erosion of rules-based order
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
A banner showing Lee Jae-myung (left), the South Korean presidential candidate for the Democratic Party, and Kim Moon-soo, the candidate for the conservative People Power Party, outside a polling station in Seoul on Friday
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
South Korean presidential election set to reshape diplomatic chessboard
By Jesse Johnson
Liberal front-runner Lee Jae-myung is projected to sail to a win that could shake up ties with Japan and the U.S. and kick-start talks with North Korea.
Tugboats assist a liquified natural gas tanker as it docks at a port in Yantai, China, in February. In 2021, China became the largest importer of LNG, and as of this year, China now has the most long-term LNG contracts.
ENVIRONMENT / Energy / OUR PLANET
China is challenging Japan's LNG dominance. What does that mean for Japanese buyers?
By Nithin Coca
Japanese companies have long held the leading position in the buying and trading of one of the world's key energy sources, but that era of hegemony has come to an end.
A wildfire that occurred in the city of Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, in February significantly damaged a residential area.
JAPAN
Japan looking to draft fire warning guidelines
Such warnings are designed to prevent fire from occurring or spreading, but there are no nationwide standards.
Mateusz Urbanowicz’s recent book “Imaginary Storefronts” collects his illustrations of the mundane Japanese street scenes that have given him immense inspiration.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first’
By Naomi Oren
The Polish artist and animator talks about how he came to Japan and the inspiration he draws from ordinary streets and storefronts.
Mateusz Urbanowicz’s recent book “Imaginary Storefronts” collects his illustrations of the mundane Japanese street scenes that have given him immense inspiration.

JAPAN

Workers add clean topsoil to a rice field, part of a government pilot project to add fresh earth to recycled and removed soil taken from areas affected by the 2011 nuclear disaster, in the village of Iitate, Fukushima Prefecture, in April.
Recycling contaminated soil from Fukushima: Japan's dilemma
By Hiroshi Hiyama
Massive amounts of the soil — around 14 million cubic meters of it — remain in storage near the damaged plant.
Rice from government stockpiles is sold at a store in Sendai on Saturday.
41% of Japanese rice farmers expect price drop in 2026
A share of 72.3% of farmers, however, expect prices for 2025 rice to be higher than for 2024 rice.
Japanese pianists win 2nd and 5th prizes in Brussels contest
Ceremony marks 60 years since Niigata Minamata disease recognition
Japanese customers brave the rain to line up for cheap stockpiled rice
By Jessica Speed
SDF ramps up campus outreach amid recruitment slump

BUSINESS

Toyota plans to start the production of the GR Corolla compact car at its Burnaston plant in Britain in 2026.
Toyota to build GR Corolla in Britain from 2026
The automaker hopes to utilize the surplus production capacity of the plant, which is capable of producing 150,000 vehicles annually at present.
U.S. President Donald Trump smiles before speaking in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, on Thursday.
Trump tariffs face threat at top court — over rulings that blocked Biden
By Greg Stohr
The court’s conservative majority ruled that federal agencies can’t decide sweeping political and economic matters without clear congressional authorization.
Japan says progress made in U.S. tariff talks, but details are scarce
By Francis Tang
Japan seeks to grow Africa investments to ease reliance on China
By Yinka Ibukun
Carmakers warn China's rare-earth curbs could halt production
By David Shepardson and Michael Martina
Trump to hike steel tariffs to 50% to aid Nippon-U.S. Steel
By Josh Wingrove and Joe Deaux

WORLD

The sun sets over the Gaza Strip, as seen from Israel, on Saturday.
Hamas seeks changes in Gaza proposal as U.S. calls response 'unacceptable'
Hamas reiterated demands for an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, conditions Israel has rejected.
Vehicles of delegations leave the Omani Embassy after a fifth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, in Rome on May 23.
Damning IAEA report spells out past secret nuclear activities in Iran
The findings pave the way for a push to declare Tehran in violation of its non-proliferation obligations.
Bangladesh opens fugitive ex-PM's trial over protest killings
Trump pulls Musk ally's NASA nomination and will announce replacement
America's next top general in Europe will also lead NATO forces
By Phil Stewart, Andrew Gray, Idrees Ali and Sabine Siebold
Hegseth warns of Chinese threat to Taiwan, urging allies to upgrade defenses
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson

Sports

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate with the Champions League trophy after defeating Inter Milan in the final on Saturday in Munich.
Brilliant PSG demolishes Inter Milan to win first Champions League title
By Andy Scott
Teenager Desire Doue played a starring role in the win, scoring twice in an astonishing 5-0 victory.
Pacers beat Knicks to set up NBA Finals clash with Thunder
Dodgers rack up 21 hits and five homers in 18-2 beatdown of Yankees
Maja Stark takes one-shot lead entering final round of U.S. Women's Open
Mahomes says he will not participate in Olympic flag football

Opinion

Otakukon, an anime, manga and cosplay meet in Harare, Zimbabwe, last August. Japan should take advantage of decades worth of hugely popular cultural content by taking the big swings in bringing its own stories to global audiences.
Japan can ride the anime wave to become the new soft superpower
Douglas Montgomery
It's time for Japan to better leverage anime's global popularity, reaching international audiences via streaming platforms while opening the door to other cultural exports.
Japan and Philippines agree to strengthen defense cooperation
Israel’s Syria policy could fuel more conflict and disorder
By Barak Barfi
U.S. soft power is a casualty in Trump’s war on Harvard
Can the 'rice man,' Koizumi, save the day?
By Kuni Miyake

ENVIRONMENT

A few remaining houses are seen after a massive rock and ice slide covered most of the village of Blatten, Switzerland, on Thursday.
Swiss residents in shock after glacier debris buries village
By Dave Graham
Scientists suspect the deluge is a dramatic example of climate change's impact on the Alps.
Nickel rush for stainless steel guts Indonesia tribe's forest home
By Jack Moore and Bagus Saragih
Eagle nest discovery sparks opposition to megasolar project
By Eric Johnston
Do Japan's trees no longer occupy the sacred space they used to?
By Eric Margolis
Are microplastics hurting our fertility?
By Tomoko Otake

CULTURE

Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
By Zoria Petkoska
The comedian’s upcoming special, titled “Father,” blends whimsical comedy and family drama — just in time for Father's Day.
'Godzilla The Art Exhibition' reimagines film icon as monstrous muse for modern art
By Matt Schley
‘I Have a S/e/c/r/e/t’ gives teen angst a whimsical twist
By Mark Schilling
Songs, stars and strategy: Japan debuts its newest awards ceremony
By Alyssa I. Smith
Japan's Seto wins International Critics Award at Cannes

LIFE

Silversea Cruises' culinary program takes guests on a rich gourmet experience at wellness retreat Zenbo Seinei, where the local produce is presented in an eight-course meal.
Waves of umami: Awaji Island's culinary trove
By Kathryn Wortley
Silver Nova, one of Silversea Cruises’ newest vessels, takes guests on a food excursion on the largest island of the Seto Inland Sea with an immersive gourmet program.
The empanada that’s secretly a ‘gyōza’ inside
By Simon Daly
Traditional home experts to gather at MinkaMeets event
By Laura Pollacco
How to talk about change in Japanese — one forecast at a time
By Yuko Tamura
Brewed from rice, water and tomatoes: The growth of ‘craft sake’
By Weiwen Lin

COMMUNITY

Mateusz Urbanowicz’s recent book “Imaginary Storefronts” collects his illustrations of the mundane Japanese street scenes that have given him immense inspiration.
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first’
By Naomi Oren
The Polish artist and animator talks about how he came to Japan and the inspiration he draws from ordinary streets and storefronts.
This charming Shiba enjoys life’s simple pleasures
A moving meditation: Finding serenity in tea ceremony across space and time
By Michele Laudig
Joshua Thomson: ‘Comedy is a pill that’s easier to swallow’
By Laura Pollacco
Detroit-Nagoya network empowers women-owned businesses around the world
By Jessica Kozuka

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Atsuko Okatsuka brings big 'dad' energy to new special
By Zoria Petkoska
Atsuko Okatsuka tries out some of the jokes from her new special, “Father,” at the Tokyo Comedy Bar in Shibuya in January.
LIFE
How ‘hikikomori’ shut-ins ‘start to have dreams for the future’
By Eric Margolis
Located in Nagano Prefecture, Samurai Gakuen tries to help young and old individuals who have withdrawn from society rediscover their places out in the world.
JAPAN
Halt of U.S. visa process puts Japanese students' futures in question
By Tomoko Otake and Karin Kaneko
People hold up signs during a rally in support of international students at the Harvard University campus in Boston on Tuesday.
CULTURE
Anime's big night out is getting bigger — and more surreal
By Patrick St. Michel
Anime director Shunsuke Nakashige accepts the anime of the year award for “Solo Leveling” at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
COMMUNITY
Mateusz Urbanowicz: ‘Miyazaki inspired me to put the audience first’
By Naomi Oren
Mateusz Urbanowicz’s recent book “Imaginary Storefronts” collects his illustrations of the mundane Japanese street scenes that have given him immense inspiration.

Podcast

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

Longform

Construction equipment sits idle in a park near Shiba Toshogu shrine in Tokyo's Minato Ward. While Japan has a history of treating its trees with reverence, green coverage is said to be lacking in most of the major cities.
Do Japan's trees no longer occupy the sacred space they used to?
By Eric Margolis

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Muji has been sustainable from the beginning
Muji has been sustainable from the beginning

WHAT’S TRENDING

COMMENTARY
Western businesses will not return to Russia
By Thane Gustafson
A McDonald's restaurant sits shuttered in Moscow in May 2022 as a result of Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.
JAPAN
Japanese customers brave the rain to line up for cheap stockpiled rice
By Jessica Speed
Iris Ohyama began sales of government-stockpiled rice at a home center location in Chiba Prefecture on Saturday morning.
ASIA PACIFIC
Hegseth to prioritize China and more allied spending in Asia — but questions remain
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives for a trilateral meeting between Japan, the U.S. and Australia at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Saturday.
COMMENTARY
Lessons from India-Pakistan war: Were China's arms overrated?
By Brahma Chellaney
A Chinese J-10B fighter jet is put on display at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, in October 2016. The short May conflict between India and Pakistan became a live trial for Chinese arms, exposing vulnerabilities in its fighter aircraft and air defense systems.
JAPAN
Former Japanese princess Mako gives birth to first child
Mako Komuro (right), the eldest daughter of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, left the Imperial Family after marrying Kei Komuro, a former schoolmate at International Christian University in Tokyo, in October 2021.