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TOKYO
October 31, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 31, 2025
Sanae Takaichi
Trump visit
Bear attacks
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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.
WORLD / Politics
Trump trims fentanyl-linked China tariffs after 'amazing' Xi meeting
By Trevor Hunnicutt
The U.S. leader's face-to-face talks with Xi in the South Korean city of Busan, their first since 2019, marked the finale of his whirlwind Asia trip.

More coverage

How the 19th-century opium war shapes Xi’s trade clash with Trump
China closing in on U.S. as leader in global science, study shows
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.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi shakes hands with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ahead of their talks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Thursday.
JAPAN / Politics
Japanese and South Korean leaders agree to boost ties in first meeting
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first in-person talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on the sidelines of the APEC regional summit Thursday evening.
The USS Annapolis nuclear-powered submarine is anchored at a naval base on Jeju Island, South Korea, in July 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
South Korea to build nuclear-powered subs in U.S., Trump says
By Gabriel Dominguez
Washington’s decision to share the closely held nuclear technology with Seoul could have implications for Tokyo’s own defense policies.
A bear roams around a field in the town of Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, on Oct. 12.
JAPAN / Society
Japan’s government ramps up bear control efforts amid rise in attacks
By Yukana Inoue
With the move, which pulls together more agencies than have previously been involved, authorities hope to cull bears that enter residential areas more quickly and accurately.
Liam Gallagher commanded the stage with effortless charisma during Oasis' Tokyo Dome set on Saturday.
CULTURE / Music
Oasis returns to Japan after 16 years — and fans can still sing every word
By Adam Davidson
The British rockers' Tokyo Dome set included such favorites as "Wonderwall," "Live Forever" and "Champagne Supernova."
Liam Gallagher commanded the stage with effortless charisma during Oasis' Tokyo Dome set on Saturday.

JAPAN

National security adviser Keiichi Ichikawa (fourth from right) is seen as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump review an honor guard of the Self-Defense Forces at the Akasaka State Guesthouse in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Who is Keiichi Ichikawa, Takaichi’s new national security adviser?
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Ichikawa is expected to play a leading role in the prime minister’s ambitious endeavors on the diplomatic and security front.
Despite responders to a Japan Press Research Institute survey ranking newspapers as among the most trustworthy sources, readership was in decline.
Online news increasingly consumed despite being viewed with skepticism
By Elizabeth Beattie
While online news was the most accessed news source, in terms of trustworthiness, it trails behind traditional media sources.
Nuclear plant in Fukushima starts fifth round of treated water discharge
LDP to propose economic measures by mid-November
Japan's new resupply spacecraft docks at International Space Station
Tokyo court sentences man to 30 months in prison for burning girlfriend’s body

BUSINESS

Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda said on Thursday that the central bank has no timeline in mind for the next rate increase.
BOJ keeps policy rate at 0.5% as lack of U.S. data makes forecasting difficult
By Kazuaki Nagata
The central bank stuck to a wait-and-see approach owing to continued uncertainty.
JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa explains the increase in total construction costs for its planned superfast magnetically levitated shinkansen train line, in the city of Nagoya on Wednesday.
Maglev shinkansen costs seen ballooning further to ¥11 trillion
It is the second time that the project cost estimate has been revised up for the line.
Saudi Arabia plans to refocus $925B fund after gigaproject delays, source says
By Yousef Saba and Federico Maccioni
Trader Sumitomo to acquire IT service firm SCSK
Takaichi pushed back on U.S. request to ban Russian gas imports, sources say
Honda halts production at Mexico plant amid chip shortage

WORLD

A mushroom cloud rises with ships below during Operation Crossroads nuclear weapons test on Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, in 1946.
Trump asks Pentagon to immediately resume testing U.S. nuclear weapons
Never mind that Russia and China are not currently conducting nuclear tests and nuclear testing is overseen by the Department of Energy.
A sign hangs above desks used by the Burmese-language service in the offices of Radio Free Asia, following the termination of funding for the station, which broadcast in nine Asian languages, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order gutting the government-funded media outlet's parent and six other federal agencies, in Washington on March 15.
Radio Free Asia suspends operations after Trump cuts and U.S. shutdown
By Shaun TANDON
Long a thorn in Beijing's side, RFA's closure comes just as the U.S. president meets his Chinese counterpart on an Asia trip seeking better relations.
Syria’s rocky transition brings new waves of displacement
By Raja Abdulrahim and Reham Mourshed
Inside the heist that shocked the world
By Catherine Porter
Myanmar arrests three artists for ‘disrupting election’
Millions set to lose food aid amid U.S. government shutdown standoff
By Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas

Sports

The Hawks players throw manager Hiroki Kokubo into the air as they celebrate after defeating the Tigers in Game 5 of the Japan Series to clinch the title.
Hawks rally past Tigers in 11th to win Japan Series
By Jason Coskrey
The Hawks won the final four games of the series after losing Game 1.
Austin Reaves' buzzer-beater carries Lakers past Timberwolves
SoftBank pitcher's Japan Series hit may be one of the last ever
By Jason Coskrey
Lions' Aidan Hutchinson lands $180 million extension
Yesavage gem carries Blue Jays to brink of World Series as Dodgers downed
By Rob Woollard

Opinion

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo on Tuesday. The encounter capped a strong first week for the new prime minister.
With Trump, flattery will get Takaichi everything
Gearoid Reidy
Whereas Takaichi’s predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, played for a draw at his White House meeting in February, this encounter was redolent of Abe’s best moments.
How is Takaichi doing after a week at the helm?
By Edo Naito
China is winning the global ‘narrative war’
By Stephen R. Nagy
Takaichi earns kudos for following Trump ‘manual’
By Kuni Miyake
India’s geoeconomic options in a Trumpian world
By Manish Sharma

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.
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
'What is the value of a human life?' In Nigeria, oil giant Shell may find out.
By Susan Njanji

CULTURE

Liam Gallagher commanded the stage with effortless charisma during Oasis' Tokyo Dome set on Saturday.
Oasis returns to Japan after 16 years — and fans can still sing every word
By Adam Davidson
The British rockers' Tokyo Dome set included such favorites as "Wonderwall," "Live Forever" and "Champagne Supernova."
‘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
Tokyo Biennale hides the art in plain sight
By Kim Kahan
New book scrutinizes sustainability of traditional Japanese textiles
By Jessica Kozuka

LIFE

Inspired by "oyakodon," a chicken and omelet rice bowl, the "oyako" sandwich is perfect for a quick breakfast.
Turn a Japanese comfort food into a fuss-free sandwich
By Simon Daly
The secret to a two-minute “oyako” chicken omelet filling for your bread roll is mayonnaise.
Trick or trade: Talking about the stock market's 'Halloween effect' in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Bodybuilders find new calling in Japan’s struggling care industry
By Tomohiro Osaki
Lentil by lentil, Nepali food takes shape in Tokyo
By Aarohi Narain
Have you heard? This year Shibuya wants us to have a ‘good Halloween’
By Yuko Tamura

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

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."
CULTURE
Spanish artist and Japanese writer duos diversify the manga talent pool in Japan
By Gendel Gento
"Menheim” is a dark fantasy manga with a story that centers on a girl’s quest to find a cure for her ill brother.

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

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo
Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

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
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
BUSINESS
Takaichi pushed back on U.S. request to ban Russian gas imports, sources say
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reportedly turned down a request from the U.S. to cease imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia.