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TOKYO
November 01, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
November 01, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
Trump visit
Bear attacks
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A screenshot from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's X account shows Takaichi exchanging greetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday.　
JAPAN
Takaichi and Xi reaffirm pledge in first meet to pursue ‘mutually beneficial’ ties
By Gabriel Dominguez and Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first in-person talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit Friday afternoon.

More coverage

Japanese and South Korean leaders agree to boost ties in first meeting
A screenshot from Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's X account shows Takaichi exchanging greetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Friday.　
A SpaceX Super Heavy booster carrying the Starship spacecraft lifts off on its 11th test flight at the company's launch pad in Starbase, Texas, on Oct. 13.
JAPAN / Science & Health / FOCUS
International collaboration seen as key to commercial space tourism in Japan
By Yukana Inoue
When it comes to furthering the potential of future space travel, Japan is behind countries like the U.S., making collaboration essential.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers her first policy speech in parliament, on Oct. 24, 2025.
BUSINESS / Economy
Takaichi might be more of a supply-sider than a Keynesian
By Kazuaki Nagata
It's not all about Abenomics, one economist argues.
The Nikkei 225 stock average broke 52,000 just days after breaking 51,000.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nikkei 225 breaks 52,000 as records continue to topple
By Francis Tang
The surprise rally remains strong despite significant economic uncertainty.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a self-made politician from a humble family, earned her way into Japan’s old-boys’ club through sheer determination, an achievement worth celebrating.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Takaichi deserves better than gendered stereotypes
Waka Ikeda
Takaichi’s diplomatic interactions don't strike me as “selling her womanness” to Trump, as some have claimed.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a self-made politician from a humble family, earned her way into Japan’s old-boys’ club through sheer determination, an achievement worth celebrating.

JAPAN

Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (center) and other ministers prior to a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday
Japan to introduce joint child custody system in April 2026
A system of statutory child support will also be introduced on the same date.
Maki Takubo, mayor of Ito, Shizuoka Prefecture, after the city assembly passed a second no-confidence motion against her, in the city on Thursday.
Scandal-hit mayor of Ito in Shizuoka finally ousted
Maki Takubo had claimed to have graduated from Toyo University but admitted in July that she had actually been expelled.
Japan's ministers likely to discuss policy for foreign nationals next week
Shuri Castle’s bright red hall is finally restored six years after fire
Tokyo court orders state to pay damages following inmate’s death
Russia says peace talks with Japan only possible if Tokyo abandons ‘anti-Russian course’
By Dmitry Antonov

BUSINESS

Jera's Hekinan thermal power station in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture. Jera gets about 2 million metric tons of LNG per year from Russia's Sakhalin-2.
Japanese utilities say they can replace Sakhalin-2 if supply interrupted
By Yuka Obayashi and Katya Golubkova
The United States this month urged Japan, along with other Russian energy buyers, to stop imports as it pushes the Kremlin towards ending the war in Ukraine.
Prices of 143 products from major Japanese food and beverage makers will rise in November.
Prices of 143 food items to rise in Japan in November
The figure is down 58.4% from a year earlier and marks the first decline in 11 months, according to research firm Teikoku Databank.
Russian hacker group claims responsibility for Askul cyberattack
Government to help rural businesses adopt robots amid labor shortage
Japan’s Katayama warns on FX as yen hits eight-month low
By Erica Yokoyama
Japan's September job availability ratio stays unchanged

WORLD

Many analysts said that U.S. President Donald Trump, who often tries to project strength as a negotiation tactic, likely was seeking to send a message to Moscow and Beijing with his remarks about resuming nuclear testing.
Nuclear curveball: Trump's testing plan raises fears and confusion in Washington
By Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom and Simon Lewis
Such a move, if implemented, could end up benefiting adversaries.
The USS Gravely, a U.S. Navy warship, is seen departing the Port of Spain on Thursday. The U.S. warship arrived in Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday for joint exercises near the coast of Venezuela.
As U.S. blows up drug boats, Venezuelan oil continues to flow
By Patrick FORT
“Shadow tankers,” which transport sanctioned or illicit Venezuelan oil, are still coming and going.
Democrats excluded from briefing on U.S. military strikes off South America: senator
By Patricia Zengerle
'Non-interventionist' Trump flexes muscles in Latin America
By Leon Bruneau
On the rise in Germany, far-right AfD deepens ties to Trump administration
By Sarah Marsh, Paul Carsten and Maria Tsvetkova
King Charles strips brother Andrew of titles and his mansion

Sports

Hawks players celebrate winning the Japan Series at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Thursday.
Hawks lay demons to rest with Japan Series win
By Jason Coskrey
Loss in the series last year has haunted the team and its fans, but the hardship has paid off.
Latest NFL Chiefs-Bills duel has both chasing division leaders
Amorim proud of sticking to beliefs as United begins to turn a corner
Absence of key players no problem for Wallabies coach
Jones wants Japan to enhance 2015 legacy against South Africa

Opinion

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, a self-made politician from a humble family, earned her way into Japan’s old-boys’ club through sheer determination, an achievement worth celebrating.
Takaichi deserves better than gendered stereotypes
Waka Ikeda
Takaichi’s diplomatic interactions don't strike me as “selling her womanness” to Trump, as some have claimed.
Takaichi shines on the diplomatic stage
Japan’s demining deployment is a security milestone
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
How is Takaichi doing after a week at the helm?
By Edo Naito
China is winning the global ‘narrative war’
By Stephen R. Nagy

ENVIRONMENT

A man wades through a flooded street following heavy rain in Hoi An, Vietnam, on Thursday.
Climate change and poor planning drive Vietnam flooding
The country is naturally vulnerable to frequent typhoons and some flooding, but the situation is being made worse by climate change, experts say.
Climate change made Hurricane Melissa four times more likely, says study
World far off track to meeting climate goals, U.N. warns
Mosquitoes discovered in Iceland for first time
Japan’s youth are apathetic toward the climate crisis. Could anime change that?
By Tomoko Otake

CULTURE

After its July release, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle,” an animated feature adapted directly from a TV arc, became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever.
Anime isn’t competing with Hollywood — it’s beating it
By Alicia Haddick
Once a niche passion, anime has become a global obsession. “Demon Slayer” lit the fuse. “Chainsaw Man” just proved it’s unstoppable.
Kenshi Yonezu, 'Chainsaw Man' and the art of pop ubiquity
By Patrick St. Michel
First European Photography Month in Tokyo
By John L. Tran
‘Flames of a Flower’: A bold interrogation of Japan’s pacifist identity
By James Hadfield
‘Baka's Identity’ exposes an underworld of stolen names and lost souls
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Located in the redeveloped Takanawa Gateway neighborhood, the JW Marriott Tokyo is the first of the luxury brand’s outposts in the Japanese capital.  
Tokyo’s first JW Marriott brings a whole floor of mindfulness
By Gendel Gento
The redeveloped Takanawa Gateway neighborhood gets the newest outpost of the hotel chain’s luxury brand.
Renowned wine critic James Suckling brings Great Wines World back to Tokyo
By Weiwen Lin
Trick or trade: Talking about the stock market's 'Halloween effect' in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Turn a Japanese comfort food into a fuss-free sandwich
By Simon Daly
Bodybuilders find new calling in Japan’s struggling care industry
By Tomohiro Osaki

COMMUNITY

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.
By Thu-Huong Ha and Mike Fu
From the desperate and defeated to the blissful and breezy, readers share their experiences of getting a driver’s license in Japan.
Genmai the dachshund has a spring in his step
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
Lovely listener Jimena just needs time and care

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Oasis returns to Japan after 16 years — and fans can still sing every word
By Adam Davidson
Liam Gallagher commanded the stage with effortless charisma during Oasis' Tokyo Dome set on Saturday.
BUSINESS
At Japan Mobility Show, BYD gears up to conquer Japan's EV market
By Kazuaki Nagata
BYD Auto Japan President Atsuki Tofukuji unveils the Racco at the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Wednesday.
CULTURE
Oasis returns to Tokyo: Rain, rapture and rock
By Patrick St. Michel
Fans wait to get into the Oasis show at Tokyo Dome on Saturday. While lining up in the rain, some broke into impromptu versions of the British rock group's hits.
SUMO
Kyushu banzuke sets the stage to cement 2025’s sumo narratives
By John Gunning
Onosato ahead of his bout against Aonishiki at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 18
CULTURE
Tokyo Film Festival opens with global stars and a spotlight on Asian storytelling
By Alyssa I. Smith
Director Junji Sakamoto (left) walked the Tokyo International Film Festival red carpet with Sayuri Yoshinaga (center) and Non (right), who both play mountaineer Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest, in the biopic "Climbing for Life."

Podcast

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

Longform

Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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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

JAPAN
Takaichi buys time and builds trust with ‘near-perfect’ Trump summit
By Jesse Johnson and Gabriel Dominguez
U.S. President Donald Trump walks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier during a visit to the U.S. Navy's Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
WORLD
Trump trims fentanyl-linked China tariffs after 'amazing' Xi meeting
By Trevor Hunnicutt
U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping greet each other as they arrive for talks at the Gimhae Air Base, next to the Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, on Thursday.
JAPAN
Japan’s government ramps up bear control efforts amid rise in attacks
By Yukana Inoue
A bear roams around a field in the town of Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Oct. 12.
JAPAN
Inside Tokyo's 'phantom' stations — and the stories they tell
By Alex K.T. Martin
Mamoru Iwai, stationmaster of Keisei Ueno Station, says that, other than earthquake-proofing, the former Hakubutsukan-Dobutsuen (Museum-Zoo) Station has remained untouched.
SUMO
Kyushu banzuke sets the stage to cement 2025’s sumo narratives
By John Gunning
Onosato ahead of his bout against Aonishiki at The Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Oct. 18