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May 11, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 11, 2025
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A man stands amid debris on the roof of a damaged house, following Pakistan's military operation against India, in Rehari, Jammu, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Trump says India and Pakistan have agreed to 'immediate ceasefire'
The U.S. leader said the nuclear-armed rivals had agreed to a "full" ceasefire after both launched strikes and counterstrikes against each other's military installations.

More coverage

Global militaries to study India-Pakistan fighter jet battle
A man stands amid debris on the roof of a damaged house, following Pakistan's military operation against India, in Rehari, Jammu, on Saturday.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent leaves his hotel for a meeting with Chinese officials on tariffs in Geneva on Saturday.
BUSINESS / Economy
U.S. and China begin talks in bid to 'de-escalate' trade war
The talks were the first between the world's two largest economies since U.S. President Donald Trump slapped steep new levies on China last month.
A customer walks past a display of rice, with a sign apologizing to shoppers they must be limited to one bag each due to market conditions, at a branch of Japanese discount retailer Don Quijote in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on April 21.
JAPAN
As prices soar, Zen-Noh ships just 32% of government-stockpiled rice
The group is currently shipping between 2,000 and 3,000 tons of rice per day, and is working to send out deliveries as quickly as possible, a Zen-Noh official said.
An attendee wearing a Super Mario costume plays a Nintendo Switch 2 game console at the ExCeL London international exhibition and convention center in London on April 11.
BUSINESS / Tech
Nintendo doesn’t rule out Switch 2 price hike after soft outlook
By Takashi Mochizuki
The firm expects shipments of the system to be nearly 1.8 million shy of analysts estimates, and could raise the price, depending on how Trump administration tariffs work out.
A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. Concerns are growing in Tokyo after a Chinese government helicopter violated Japan's airspace around the uninhabited islets.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Escalation fears rise in Japan following Chinese moves near Senkakus
By Jesse Johnson
Beijing sent a government helicopter to the area for the first time, while Chinese government ships have been spotted in the area for more than 170 straight days.
A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands. Concerns are growing in Tokyo after a Chinese government helicopter violated Japan's airspace around the uninhabited islets.

JAPAN

Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, rides in a car with Empress Emerita Michiko, 90, after he was discharged from the University of Tokyo Hospital on Saturday following an examination for suspected myocardial ischemia.
Emperor emeritus diagnosed with silent myocardial ischemia
Emperor Emeritus Akihito, 91, was diagnosed with the condition where blood flow from the coronary arteries to the heart muscle is reduced due to excessive exercise.
Clockwise from top left: Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi
Who could become Japan's next prime minister?
By Eric Johnston
Regardless of the outcome of July's Upper House election, the bar will be high for anyone seeking to unseat incumbent Shigeru Ishiba.
Heads of hibakusha groups urge Pope Leo to promote abolition of nukes
Former Tokyo Stock Exchange employee and father convicted of insider trading
Suspect in Tokyo Metro stabbing chose station to highlight ‘educational abuse’
Japan's Princess Kako to visit Brazil from June 4

BUSINESS

U.S. President Donald Trump makes a trade announcement as U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick (second from left), U.S. Vice President JD Vance (third from left), British Ambassador to the United States Peter Mandelson (third from right), U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer (second from right) and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins (right) look on in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Thursday.
Trump’s first trade pact offers faint glimpse of art of the deal
By Alastair Gale, Swati Pandey and Rebecca Choong Wilkins
For global leaders puzzling over how to negotiate with Donald Trump, the U.S. president’s inaugural pact with the U.K. offers a few clues on how much ground he’s prepared to give.
A security guard stands outside a branch of Yes Bank in New Delhi last August.
Japan’s SMBC to buy 13.2% stake in India’s Yes Bank for $1 billion
The Sumitomo Mitsui deal marks the biggest foreign investment in India’s banking sector, and is the latest move by Japanese lenders to expand in the country.
China and the U.S. to talk trade war ceasefire — not peace
By Laurie Chen and David Lawder
Panasonic targets 10,000 job cuts worldwide
By Hiroshi Hiyama
Japan Airport Terminal's top execs step down amid corruption scandal
Japan stuck at starting line in tariff talks with U.S. as U.K. inks deals
By Francis Tang

WORLD

Former South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (left) and Kim Moon-soo, both of the conservative People Power Party, shakes hands during a meeting to discuss unifying their candidacies in Seoul on Thursday.
South Korea's conservatives move to switch presidential candidates
The People Power Party said its leadership decided to cancel the nomination of Kim Moon-soo and hold a new vote on replacing him with former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte delivers remarks during a news conference at alliance headquarters in Brussels on Friday.
NATO chief said to seek defense spending at 5% of GDP by 2032
U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO allies ramp up their military spending to 5% of GDP, a level that not even the United States currently hits.
Outside mediation now crucial for Pakistan and India
By Emma Clark
Iran to send Russia launchers for short-range missiles
By Jonathan Landay and Jonathan Saul
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka freed after arrest at ICE detention center
Poland edges toward pact on French nuclear-missile shield

Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a three-run homer in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Friday in Phoenix.
Shohei Ohtani's homer caps Dodgers' wild win over D-backs
Shohei Ohtani had three hits, and his three-run homer capped a six-run ninth inning as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for a 14-11 victory.
Tomoyuki Sugano's gem vs. Angels helps O's halt skid
Timberwolves cruise past Stephen Curry-less Warriors in Game 2
Paige Bueckers and Wings to measure success in terms of growth
Hoshoryu dominates rivals in practice, but real test awaits at May Basho
By John Gunning

Opinion

Shinzo Abe, then the Chief Cabinet Secretary, shakes hands with former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during a symposium in Tokyo in July 2006.
Remembering two titans in Japan-U.S. relations
Brad Glosserman
Their good humor, unflagging optimism and commitment to building a stronger Japan-U.S. alliance continues to shape that partnership.
A moment of hope for U.S-China trade frictions
The new American pope can take Catholics in three directions
By Howard Chua-Eoan
The Pakistan-Taliban divorce gets messy
By Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi’s warning to Islamabad
By Brahma Chellaney

ENVIRONMENT

The consumption and investing habits of the world's richest 10% consume and invest has substantially increased the risk of deadly heat waves and drought around the world, according to new research.
World's richest 10% caused two-thirds of global warming, study finds
By Marlowe Hood
How the rich consume and invest has substantially increased the risk of deadly heat waves and drought.
Climate change takes spice from Indonesia clove farms
By Jack Moore
U.S. solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
By Sara Hussein
'Not sustainable': Europe's firefighters want more funds and staff
By Beatrice Tridimas
South Korea's deadly fires made twice as likely by climate change, researchers say
By David Stanway

CULTURE

Kotoba Slam Japan runs regional competitions to select a representative for the annual World Poetry Slam Championship, which will take place in Mexico at the end of the month.
Japan’s slam poetry scene is all about raw vulnerability
By Eric Margolis
Slam poetry is a rarity in Japan, but the scene is full of energy and potential that the poets have been bringing to the world slam poetry stage for 10 years now.
‘My Edison’: Family-made sci-fi comedy is a real charmer
By James Hadfield
‘Wash Away’ brightens dementia drama with sudsy spin
By Mark Schilling
'Jumbo': the animated Indonesian film smashing records
By Baptiste Anse
J-pop group Arashi to disband after going on tour next spring
By Yukana Inoue

LIFE

A Japanese newspaper headline includes the word "tariff" in Japanese.
Trump once called it his favorite word. Now, the Japanese version is all over the news.
By Yuko Tamura
Learning how to talk about tariffs, imports and exports is becoming increasingly necessary in everyday conversation.
The world’s biggest natural wine festival returns to Tokyo
By Weiwen Lin
‘Drop the price’: Behind the pushback on Nintendo’s Switch 2
By Owen Ziegler
More than a food court: Time Out Market curates Osaka’s best flavors
By Melinda Joe
The sushi cone that changed everything
By Cassandra Lord

COMMUNITY

Ayano Kikuchi began practicing yoga in 2014 to alleviate her chronic back pain, and now shares her knowledge with the Karuizawa community as the manager of W Tree House.
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
How a corporate office worker in Tokyo became a yoga studio manager in Karuizawa
Kotomi Li: 'I refuse to choose death'
By Kat Joplin
A Hokkaido cross that’s more sweet than spicy
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Who could become Japan's next prime minister?
By Eric Johnston
Clockwise from top left: Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi
CULTURE
With a new Shibuya studio, Apple Music bets big on Japan
By Patrick St. Michel
Apple Music personalities (from left) Ebro Darden, Kentaro Ochiai, Zane Lowe and Mino came together for a special recording in late April to discuss music and celebrate the newly opened Apple Music studio in Tokyo.
LIFE
Kazuki Nagasawa's sustainable designs are rooted in tradition
By Danielle Demetriou
For centuries, artisans have unraveled strands of the fibrous bark of "shuro" trees to create a medley of everyday objects. Designer Kazuki Nagasawa is now transforming the traditional material into ethereal contemporary pieces.
BUSINESS
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025 expands to become one of Asia's largest startup events
By Yukana Inoue
SusHi Tech Tokyo 2025 was bustling with participants of various nationalities Thursday, and multiple languages could be heard around the room as many engaged in conversations throughout the day.
LIFE
Celebrating Japan’s defeat at Shimoda’s Black Ships Festival
By Todd Fong
Tatsumi Onose (right), who plays the part of Commodore Matthew Perry in Shimoda's Black Ship Festival, says the historical episode the event is based on should be remembered for its positives more than its negatives.

Podcast

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

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan
By Hanako Lowry

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
Global militaries to study India-Pakistan fighter jet battle
By Tim Hepher and Mike Stone
The Indian Air Force's Rafale fighter jets. India and Pakistan aircraft engaged in a dogfight on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Trump says India and Pakistan have agreed to 'immediate ceasefire'
A man stands amid debris on the roof of a damaged house, following Pakistan's military operation against India, in Rehari, Jammu, on Saturday.
JAPAN
Who could become Japan's next prime minister?
By Eric Johnston
Clockwise from top left: Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi, former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi
JAPAN
Suspect in Tokyo Metro stabbing chose station to highlight ‘educational abuse’
Yoshitaka Toda is escorted out of a police station in Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward on Friday to be sent to prosecutors.
BUSINESS
Japan stuck at starting line in tariff talks with U.S. as U.K. inks deals
By Francis Tang
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s top tariff negotiator, speaks to the press on Friday. Japan and the United States are still discussing what to negotiate.