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May 05, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 05, 2025
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Amid shortages, the price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice during the week of April 14 was ¥4,220.
JAPAN
Why are rice prices still high in Japan?
By Yukana Inoue
The average price of 5 kilograms of rice in mid-April was ¥4,220 — more than double what it cost around the same time last year.
Amid shortages, the price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice during the week of April 14 was ¥4,220.
Hideyuki Shirai (center) at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Man arrested over body found in bag in Kawasaki
The body was identified as that of Asahi Okazaki, a 20-year-old part-timer and Kawasaki resident, who was once a girlfriend of the suspect.
Frontale players grimace during the final of the Asian Champions League on Saturday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Kawasaki lost 2-0 against heavily favored Al-Ahli.
SOCCER
Kawasaki can hold its head high after spirited Asian Champions League effort
By Sean Carroll
For Frontale, a 2-0 defeat against a squad worth an estimated $200 million — playing in front of almost 60,000 of its own fans at its home stadium — is nothing to be ashamed of.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping attends a meeting in Hanoi on April 14 with Vietnamese Communist Party General-Secretary To Lam.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
China's Xi to visit Russia for Victory Day events and talks with Putin
By Jesse Johnson
Xi Jinping, who had already been set to attend a Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, will also hold talks with Vladimir Putin on their countries' "no-limits" partnership.
“‘Future of life,’ by Ishiguro,” the World Expo pavilion by roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, displays humanlike androids.
LIFE / Travel
Want to see the future at the Osaka Expo? Get in line.
By Thu-Huong Ha
Androids and lab-grown heart cells: A dispatch from the world fair.
“‘Future of life,’ by Ishiguro,” the World Expo pavilion by roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, displays humanlike androids.

JAPAN

Japanese companies including Shiseido are stepping up their rejuvenation and antiaging research.
Japanese firms stepping up rejuvenation and anti-aging research
If technology and related products are developed, they can become powerful weapons to help people maintain health and regain their youth.
Hoshuji temple displays a banner welcoming people to "marriage-hunting at the temple," an event for those who want to register as members of the nationwide Kichienkai matchmaking organization, on Jan. 26 in Chikusa Ward, Nagoya.
Temple master takes unconventional approach to matchmaking
"It's better to find happiness with the partner you meet than to search for a partner you think will make you happy," says Buddhist monk Koshi Kimiya.
Suspect who hit Osaka children with SUV said he disliked people living without hardship
Rallies held on Japan's Constitution Day
Manhole cover designs recognized as tourism assets in Japan
China Coast Guard helicopter enters Japanese airspace near Senkakus
By Jesse Johnson

BUSINESS

U.S. President Donald Trump's 100th day rally in Warren, Michigan, on April 29
Auto workers welcome Trump tariffs, no matter the fate of Wall Street
By David Welch
According to some autoworkers, the tariffs are their best chance of restoring American manufacturing might.
Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, speaks to the media as he arrives at an annual shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, in May, 2019.
Warren Buffett to retire from Berkshire Hathaway by year's end
Buffett indicated several years ago 62-year-old Greg Abel would be his pick for successor.
Buffett vows long-term investment in Japanese traders
Young Americans sour on Trump’s China tariffs despite election-year bump
By Akayla Gardner
Japan's tariff envoy says Tokyo insisting on U.S. rethink
Inflation and high hotel prices curtail Golden Week travels
By Tomohiro Osaki

WORLD

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at the Labor Party's election night event in Sydney on Saturday.
Trump backlash helps Australia’s leader to historic reelection
By Ben Westcott
For the second time in a week, voters in a prominent U.S. ally angered by President Donald Trump punished conservatives and reelected a left-leaning incumbent.
A voting site owned by SpaceX in Brownsville, Texas, on April 22. Members of a South Texas community that has served as the hub of Elon Musk's rocket company voted on Saturday to formally establish a new city called Starbase, fulfilling one of Musk's long-held dreams.
Easy vote turns Musk's dreams for Starbase city in Texas into reality
Voters overwhelmingly backed turning Elon Musk's Starbase into a new municipality.
Israel fails to intercept Houthi missile, vows harsh response
Trump posts AI-generated photo of himself as pope, drawing internet outrage
Israel calls up tens of thousands of reservists for Gaza offensive
Singapore’s ruling party keeps majority in victory for PM Lawrence Wong

Sports

Sovereignty, with jockey Junior Alvarado aboard, wins the 151st Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
Sovereignty rules in 151st Kentucky Derby
Sovereignty powered through the final turn and out-dueled favorite Journalism in the final straight to win the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.
'Like a dream' says dominant Sabalenka after third Madrid title
Alvarez outpoints Scull to reclaim undisputed super middleweight championship
Mikko Rantanen's third-period hat trick propels Stars past Avs in Game 7
Nuggets throttle Clippers in Game 7

Opinion

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (right) speaks during an Oval Office meeting on April 24 with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store (not pictured) to discuss tariffs.
A turning point in trade: The U.S. effort to reverse global imbalances
Sayuri Shirai
This large trade imbalance is also the primary driver of the U.S. current account deficit, largely due to the gap in goods trade.
Cake shop workers, police officers high on dream job list in Japan
The Oracle of Omaha caps a career built on humility
By Jonathan Levin
Why is Trump unilaterally dismantling U.S. defenses?
By Jill Kastner and William C. Wohlforth
Japan Inc. cautiously optimistic despite rising uncertainty
By Hitoshi Suzuki

ENVIRONMENT

A solar panel on display at a home improvement center in Bangkok
U.S. solar tariffs could drive Asia transition boom
By Sara Hussein
China makes eight out of every 10 solar panels globally, and controls 80% of every stage of the manufacturing process.
'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
Trump administration targets scientists behind key climate assessment
By Valerie Volcovici
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami
By Alex K.T. Martin

CULTURE

The Adachi Institute has been working on creating brand new ukiyo-e prints in collaboration with contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama, whose “Mt. Fuji in Seven Colours: When life boundlessly flares up to the universe” (2014) can be seen on display at “Ukiyo-e in Play.”
'Ukiyo-e in Play' showcases traditional art carved anew
By Marigold Warner
The Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints keeps age-old methods alive by creating ukiyo-e prints in collaboration with artisans and contemporary artists.
‘Blank Canvas’: 'Tough love' of the past isn't so funny anymore
By Mark Schilling
‘The Killer Goldfish’: The future of cinema, or just indie cosplay?
By James Hadfield
China’s first K-pop concert in years signals efforts to mend ties
By Hyonhee Shin and Shinhye Kang
‘Wildcat Dome’ challenges Japan's historical narratives
By Kris Kosaka

LIFE

“‘Future of life,’ by Ishiguro,” the World Expo pavilion by roboticist Hiroshi Ishiguro, displays humanlike androids.
Want to see the future at the Osaka Expo? Get in line.
By Thu-Huong Ha
Androids and lab-grown heart cells: A dispatch from the world fair.
‘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
Why the month of May feels tough and how language can help
By Yaeko Kabe

COMMUNITY

Magokoro Yoshihira (center) is the managing director of Yui Associates, which operates the neighborhood fixtures of Sanya Cafe and Juyoh Hotel. Yusuke Takahashi (left) met Yoshihira during a difficult period in his life and now works as the cafe’s chef. Nancy Anne (right) has worked for over 10 years at Juyoh Hotel and enjoys the multicultural environment.
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
Since 2018, Sanya Cafe has been building community in one of Tokyo’s most colorful — and infamous — neighborhoods.
A Hokkaido cross that’s more sweet than spicy
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa
How to spend the perfect day in Hiroo, Tokyo’s expat enclave
By Eric Margolis
Noriko Shakti: ‘Music reflects my journey and learnings’
By Miikka J. Lehtonen

Editors' Picks

LIFE
Japan’s ‘tabi’ sock mecca runs on thread and memories
By Aarohi Narain
A seamstress at Kineya Tabi sews together split-toe "tabi" socks, once a major industry for the town of Gyoda, Saitama Prefecture.
JAPAN
Despite shifts in Japan's political landscape, constitutional revision still far off
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has been a staunch advocate for constitutional reform.
CULTURE
'Ukiyo-e in Play' showcases traditional art carved anew
By Marigold Warner
The Adachi Institute has been working on creating brand new ukiyo-e prints in collaboration with contemporary artists such as Yayoi Kusama, whose “Mt. Fuji in Seven Colours: When life boundlessly flares up to the universe” (2014) can be seen on display at “Ukiyo-e in Play.”
JAPAN
Ishiba hears advice from across the aisle on how Japan should handle Trump
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba and CDP head Yoshihiko Noda at a parliamentary session in Tokyo on April 23.
BUSINESS
Don't send in the clones: AI event nixed as Alt accounts get reality check
By Himari Semans
A screenshot from the website for Alt's AI conference, which was canceled after the company disclosed an investigation into its sales figures.

Podcast

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

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Britain responds after Expo 2025 afternoon tea brews outrage
The café space at the Osaka Expo's British pavilion
JAPAN
Why are rice prices still high in Japan?
By Yukana Inoue
Amid shortages, the price of a 5-kilogram bag of rice during the week of April 14 was ¥4,220.
BUSINESS
Inflation and high hotel prices curtail Golden Week travels
By Tomohiro Osaki
Travelers in front of a flight information panel in a departure hall at Haneda Airport in Tokyo on April 26
JAPAN
Man arrested over body found in bag in Kawasaki
Hideyuki Shirai (center) at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday
JAPAN
Japan ranks 66th in press freedom, lowest among G7
Japan climbed four positions from last year, with Reporters Without Borders noting that "the principles of media freedom and pluralism are generally respected" in the country.