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October 03, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 03, 2025
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Haruo Tsukamoto, a rank-and-file member of the Liberal Democratic Party and a rice farmer in Ibaraki Prefecture, questions if the party still stands for people like him.
JAPAN / Politics
The party that ruled Japan for decades is in danger of crumbling
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Long-time supporters are questioning if the Liberal Democratic Party still stands for them even as populist and far-right challengers make inroads.

More coverage

LDP presidential election could be turning point for Komeito
No matter who wins the LDP presidential race, prospects for change are dismal
Haruo Tsukamoto, a rank-and-file member of the Liberal Democratic Party and a rice farmer in Ibaraki Prefecture, questions if the party still stands for people like him.
The U.S. government shut down on Wednesday, though essential services are still being offered.
BUSINESS / Economy
U.S. federal shutdown affects Americans in Japan and diplomatic talks
By Francis Tang
Some consular services are being offered, but the U.S. Embassy site is not being regularly updated
The European Commission's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas (left) and Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic present EU-Mercosur and EU-Mexico trade agreements in Brussels last month.
BUSINESS / Economy
Hit by Trump tariffs, rest of world races to forge new trade alliances
By Philip Blenkinsop
New trade pacts may not fully compensate for losses in commerce with a more protectionist America, but rival economies have been spurred into action nonetheless.
Pedestrians pass through a cooling mist in Tokyo's Ginza district in August.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Japan saw record number treated for heatstroke in hottest-ever summer
By Aaron Clark and Shoko Oda
Patients with suspected heatstroke over the period rose almost 3% to 100,143 from a year earlier as Japan saw its temperature record broken twice in a matter of days.
Atsuko Mori, founder and director of Kyoto-based tea salon Camellia Tea Ceremony, prepares matcha during a tea ceremony in Kyoto.
JAPAN / Society
Tea ceremony experts see matcha hype as a big opportunity
By Jessica Speed
Matcha’s sudden spike in popularity overseas has prompted debate in Japan about whether the global craze risks diluting tea’s cultural meaning.
Atsuko Mori, founder and director of Kyoto-based tea salon Camellia Tea Ceremony, prepares matcha during a tea ceremony in Kyoto.

JAPAN

Princess Aiko has tested positive for COVID-19, the Imperial Household Agency said Thursday.
Princess Aiko tests positive for COVID-19
The princess underwent testing after reporting a fever of about 38.5 degrees Celsius and throat pain at noon Tuesday.
Sanae Takaichi, a candidate for the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership race, says Taiwan is an extremely important partner and a valued friend for Japan.
Takaichi hopes for dialogue with Chinese leaders over Taiwan
The former economic security minister also indicated her intention to increase Japan's defense spending and sought to continuously review its defense strategy and capabilities.
Saga police to face special probe over faulty DNA analyses
8,432 foreign children in Japan seen not attending school
Parliament expected to elect new prime minister on Oct. 15
Nagoya man suspected of placing 1,095 fraudulent food delivery orders

BUSINESS

The U.S. government shutdown — while inconvenient and messy — is unlikely to leave a lasting imprint on the U.S. economy, itself.
U.S. government shutdowns raise uncertainty but rarely have lasting effect on economy
Even if a shutdown leaves policymakers and investors flying somewhat blind for an unknown stretch, it is unlikely to leave a lasting imprint on the U.S. economy, itself.
Isuzu Chairman Masanori Katayama (third from left) and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (center) attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the firm's vehicle plant in South Carolina on Wednesday.
Isuzu to build first independent U.S. plant
The Japanese commercial vehicle maker aims to ease the impact of high U.S. tariffs by expanding local production.
Share of female execs at major Japan firms rises to 18.4%
Japan's Digital Agency to cooperate with OpenAI on administrative tools
Mitsubishi Electric completes semiconductor facility in Kumamoto Prefecture
U.S. Supreme Court allows Lisa Cook to stay on at Fed, for now
By Enda Curran, Catarina Saraiva and Amara Omeokwe

WORLD

"My children cried all night from hunger. I boiled grass and gave it to them just to keep them quiet," said Ajib Bahar, 38, from a refugee camp in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar.
Myanmar's war-torn Rakhine state grappling with hunger crisis, aid groups say
By Ruma Paul, Poppy McPherson and Devjyot Ghoshal
More than 100,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition, with less than 2% able to access treatment, according to data provided by aid workers.
A group of ships of the Global Sumud Flotilla to Gaza are shown moored at the small island of Koufonisi, south of the island of Crete, on Sept. 26
Israeli military intercepts several Gaza-bound aid boats in international waters
The Global Sumud Flotilla, transporting medicine and food to Gaza, consists of more than 40 civilian boats with about 500 parliamentarians, lawyers and activists.
South Korea president apologizes for overseas adoptions failures
Deepfake political scam ads surge on Meta platforms, watchdog says
By Anuj Chopra
U.S. to give Ukraine intelligence on long-range energy targets in Russia
By Steve Holland and Gram Slattery
Minister says rough South Korea-U.S. security agreement reached: report
By Ju-min Park

Sports

Dodgers starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto celebrates after getting out of the sixth inning against the Reds during Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Dodgers sweep past Reds to set up NLDS showdown against Phillies
After sweeping the best-of-three NL Wild Card series, the Dodgers will visit the Philadelphia Phillies for Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday.
Tennis stars take aim at sport's packed schedule
Asian cricket chief says India 'welcome' to collect trophy from his office
Japan set for another shot at coveted Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe crown
Europe's Matt Fitzpatrick slams PGA chief over 'offensive' Ryder Cup comments

Opinion

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (left), former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi (center) and agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi arrive at a news conference for the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election at the party's headquarters in Tokyo on Sept. 23. The three are the front-runners ahead of Saturday's vote.
No matter who wins the LDP presidential race, prospects for change are dismal
Kuni Miyake
The key for the LDP is whether the once-proud party can win back its traditional supporters who have abandoned it in recent elections and shifted to opposition parties.
The U.S. government shutdown fight has life-or-death consequences
By Lisa Jarvis
Too many scientific ‘discoveries’ get discredited
By F.D. Flam
Trump and America’s tech giants: Coexistence or collaboration?
By Makoto Shiono
Could the Trump factor be a wild card in the LDP race?
By Brad Glosserman

ENVIRONMENT

Jane Goodall spun her love of wildlife into a lifelong campaign that took her from a seaside English village to Africa and then across the globe in a quest to better understand chimpanzees.
Wildlife advocate and primate expert Jane Goodall dies at 91
By Susan Heavey
The scientist and global activist was a pioneer in her field, both as a female scientist in the 1960s and for her work studying the behavior of primates.
Swiss glaciers hit by light snowfall and heat wave, scientists say
By Cecile Mantovani and Denis Balibouse
Beijing takes the lead with new climate plans amid Washington’s denial
By Valerie Volcovici and Yukun Zhang
In bid to upend global energy policy, Trump denies climate change in U.N. speech
By Brian Kahn
The unexpected upside of Canada's wildfires 
By Ed White

CULTURE

Ari Bayuaji's artwork of the benevolent Bali god Barong is on display in a glass case on the ground floor of Hollywood Beauty Plaza.
Artist Ari Bayuaji materializes monsters from ocean plastic
By Thu-Huong Ha
From his series “Weaving the Ocean,” the demon Rangda is on display at Go for Kogei 2025, while the more benevolent Barong sits in a glass case in Roppongi.
Revamped Busan film festival turns 30 with expanded cinematic showcase
By Philip Brasor
Pieces fall perfectly into place in the reflective ‘The Last Blossom’
By Matt Schley
‘Brand New Landscape’ captures family dysfunction in a shimmering city
By Mark Schilling
Nodoka Okisawa is carrying the baton for Seiji Ozawa in Matsumoto
By Chiho Iuchi

LIFE

Plotter's signature customizable leather binder is just one of many products contributing to the ongoing boom in the popularity of Japanese stationery.
Tokyo's newest stationery store sells 'a slower, more human rhythm'
By Gendel Gento
After years of selling its products in third-party stores, Japanese brand Plotter has officially opened a dedicated storefront in Tokyo.
Autumn eggplants offer a juicy start to the season
By Makiko Itoh
Tokyo retains Michelin crown with 160 starred restaurants for 2026
By Weiwen Lin
Myaku-Myaku gets the Labubu treatment at the Osaka Expo
By Alyssa I. Smith
Auberge Eaufeu brings French flair to a quiet village in Ishikawa
By Robbie Swinnerton

COMMUNITY

The Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community brings together local and global professionals from a range of industries, backgrounds and ages and collaborates with government-sponsored entities and nonprofit organizations.
Stirred, not shaken: Kyoto business platform blends local and global
By Samantha Seghers
Since its launch in 2018, the Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community has amassed a diverse membership and built solid relationships with local organizations.
Scaredy-cat Kashata is searching for a friend
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
By Louise George Kittaka
Tax-advantaged investments no lost cause for U.S. residents of Japan
By Gendel Gento
The journey of Peru’s Nikkei: Finding identity in Japan
By Christoph Sponsel

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Japan's far-right party courts Trump allies and vows not to get 'wacky'
By John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Nathan Layne
Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Sept. 25.
BASEBALL
How Ohtani has boosted Japan's soft power and made LA even more baseball-obsessed
By Laura Studarus
Fans at Dodger Stadium pose in front of a mural highlighting the Dodgers' Japanese stars from past and present during a game earlier this year.
ENVIRONMENT
Japan faces fresh energy challenge as it seeks to expand power-hungry data centers
By Eric Margolis
Data storage tapes at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center facility in Berkeley, California. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity and water, and that will only rise as generative artificial intelligence takes off in earnest.
CULTURE
Architecture art exhibition highlights unsung industry artists
By Zoria Petkoska
Yuanhui Li's illustration is one of the awardees in the student category of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators' annual award for artists.
JAPAN
On defense and foreign policy, LDP candidates largely align — except where they don’t
By Jesse Johnson
The Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates in Nagoya on Friday

Podcast

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

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
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WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
A secret no more: Russia and North Korea's battle against Ukraine is celebrated in Moscow exhibit
By Andrew Osborn
A woman visits an exhibition of North Korean art at a museum in Moscow on Monday.
BUSINESS
Prices to rise for 3,024 food products in Japan in October
A wide range of products will see higher prices due to rising material and labor costs.
JAPAN
Koizumi and Takaichi continue to lead in LDP presidential race, polls show
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) reacts as former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during the Liberal Democratic Party Presidential Election Candidate Debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, on Sept. 24. Koizumi and Takaichi remain head-to-head in the race, media polls show.
JAPAN
The party that ruled Japan for decades is in danger of crumbling
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Haruo Tsukamoto, a rank-and-file member of the Liberal Democratic Party and a rice farmer in Ibaraki Prefecture, questions if the party still stands for people like him.
JAPAN
Same-sex partners recognized under more laws in Japan
A couple poses with the rainbow flag, which they brought from their home for a wedding photoshoot in Tokyo in November 2023.