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October 20, 2025

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October 20, 2025

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Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (right) and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura during a meeting last Wednesday in Tokyo

JAPAN / Politics

LDP and JIP agree on coalition, clearing path for Takaichi to become PM

By Himari Semans

The tie-up is expected to see Japan Innovation Party lawmakers vote for LDP President Sanae Takaichi in Tuesday’s parliamentary vote for prime minister.

Takaichi skips Yasukuni visit during autumn festival

Japan's fractured politics could ensnarl Takaichi's economic plans

Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (right) and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura during a meeting last Wednesday in Tokyo

Pedestrians walk past an electronic quotation board displaying numbers of the Nikkei 225 stock index outside a brokerage in Tokyo on Monday.

BUSINESS / Markets

Nikkei 225 breaks 49,000 and hits record as political stability returns

By Francis Tang

The benchmark index rose more than 3% in strong trade throughout the day.

In Japan, 55% were “equally concerned and excited” about the rise of AI in daily life, while 28% were “more concerned than excited.”

BUSINESS / Tech

Japan leads in in-depth AI awareness, new global study finds

By Elizabeth Beattie

The survey also found that In Japan, 55% were “equally concerned and excited” about the rise of AI in daily life, while 28% were “more concerned than excited.”

Saitama Prefectural Police officers raid the home of murder suspect Toya Kimura in the city of Kumagaya on Saturday.

JAPAN / Crime & Legal

Former care home worker entered Saitama facility with 'intent to kill'

Investigators believe he broke into his former workplace after forming an intent to kill despite holding no grudge against the two residents he allegedly killed.

As governments race to deepen ties with Vietnam for strategic and economic gain, they must not ignore the country’s escalating human rights crackdown, which threatens both its people and the long-term sustainability of its growth.

COMMENTARY / World

Vietnam’s rights suppression carries a heavy price

Elaine Pearson

Some Vietnamese say, "The government allows freedom of speech — just no freedom after you speak."

As governments race to deepen ties with Vietnam for strategic and economic gain, they must not ignore the country’s escalating human rights crackdown, which threatens both its people and the long-term sustainability of its growth.

Young people from Okinawa in the Kansai region dance during the first Eisa festival in Osaka’s Taisho Ward in September 1975.

Taking pride in its Okinawan roots, Osaka’s Eisa festival marks 50th year

The festival celebrating the traditional Okinawan summer dance was created for young workers to resist discrimination and reclaim pride in their roots.

In early October, 100 grams of autumn salmon roe in central Sapporo was priced at just below ¥2,000.

Prices for Hokkaido’s autumn salmon roe jump as catch numbers fall

By Eric Johnston

As of early October, 100 grams of autumn salmon roe in central Sapporo was selling for just under ¥2,000.

Government ordered to pay damages for verbal abuse of inmate

Ito mayor likely to lose job as opponents dominate city assembly

Japan pushes reuse market as new consumption model

Japan to conduct survey on online hate speech

Office equipment seller Askul pauses orders and shipments due to cyberattack

Ryohin Keikaku, which uses a logistics company affiliated with Askul, has also suspended the website of its Muji brand of household products.

A worker inspects a tire on a production line of a Toyo Tire plant in Sendai.

Toyo Tire on track to beat profit guidance, CEO says

By Reina Sasaki

Takashi Shimizu, the tiremaker's CEO, plans to start buying back shares amid resilient U.S. demand.

Kering to sell beauty unit to L'Oreal for $4.66 billion to cut debt, refocus on fashion

EV battery race heats up among Japanese automakers

Sumitomo Life to mull using AI tech to support sales agents

Suntory and Sapporo to halt gift beer sales after cyberattack against Asahi

Smoke billows following an Israeli strike that targeted a building in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday.

Israel says halting Gaza strikes after accusing Hamas of violating truce

An Israeli security official also said the country was suspending the entry of aid into Gaza due to ceasefire violations.

U.S. President Donald Trump (left) meets with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, in the truce village of Panmunjom, South Korea, in June 2019.

DMZ tours in South Korea to be halted amid talk of Trump-Kim meeting

By Jesse Johnson

Tours to the truce village of Panmunjom will reportedly be halted later this month, in the latest signal that the groundwork is being laid for a possible meeting.

In China, a forbidden question looms: Who leads after Xi?

By Chris Buckley

China’s rare earth restrictions aim to beat U.S. at its own game

By Meaghan Tobin and Ana Swanson

Indonesian students to protest as Prabowo marks one year in office

Trump urged Zelenskyy to make concessions to Russia in tense meeting

Scammers are using AI-generated content of baseball stars like Shohei Ohtani to pull in users.

Scammers drawing in fans with fake AI content of MLB stars during playoffs

Experts warn that this strategy of pulling in users can be used to grow accounts that are later sold or rented to more nefarious disinformation campaigns.

Broncos score 33 points in fourth quarter to stun Giants

Blue Jays get past Mariners to send ALCS to Game 7

Manchester United beats Liverpool to end long wait for victory at Anfield

World No. 500 Naoyuki Kataoka wins Japan Open to qualify for Masters and British Open

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces the winners of the 2025 Nobel economics prize at a news conference in Stockholm on Oct. 13. The prize was awarded to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion and Peter Howitt for their work on innovation-driven economic growth.

This year’s economics Nobel holds a warning for the U.S

Adrian Wooldridge

Between 1875 and 1926, 44% of the world’s breakthrough inventions took place in the U.S., with Britain, France and Germany hovering between 14% and 22%.

Can the world handle having fewer moms?

By Abby McCloskey

Will AI pay off the West’s debts?

By Kenneth Rogoff

Is Komeito’s split with the LDP really about political funding?

By Edo Naito

Has Japan’s Diet finally begun its ‘Knessetization’?

By Kuni Miyake

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez

U.S. sinks international deal on decarbonizing ships

Increased divisions, notably between oil-producing nations and non-oil producers, emerged this week at meetings leading up to Friday's vote.

Trump’s team weighs COP attendance, but influence looms either way

By David Sherfinski

Europe's bees and butterflies at risk, conservation body says

U.K. spearheads polar climate change research as U.S. draws back

By Joe JACKSON

At Osaka Expo, gas giants promote a greener future. But is it a lot of hot air?

By Joel Tansey

Melissa Schriek portrays the city it as a safe place of emotional connection and play between people, influenced partially by her background in dance and gymnastics.

T3 Photo Festival reframes cityscape as nature

By John L. Tran

This year’s photography festival plants exhibitions all around central Tokyo with photos that showcase urban landscapes under the theme “City as Garden.”

Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley dies at 74

By Daniel Trotta

Indie singer Sam Fender wins U.K. Mercury Prize

Oscar-buzzy 'Hamnet' changed me, actress Jessie Buckley says

By Hanna Rantala

‘Transcending Dimensions’: A wild trip to enlightenment

By James Hadfield

Swan & Lion's Sunday roast, which is drenched in a red wine gravy, is part of a three-course meal.

Tokyo's best Sunday roasts and all their trimmings

By Shyam Bhardwa

Bathed in rich gravy and paired with scrumptious Yorkshire puddings, the classic British dish is perfect for a languorous lunch — or dinner.

How Japan’s greatest psychological horror game came home

By Gendel Gento

Mass-produced AI podcasts disrupt a fragile industry

By Thomas URBAIN

Pokemon brushes up decades-old formula with Legends: Z-A

The what, where and when of Japan’s autumn leaves

By Eric Margolis

Chris Glenn (right) will play Oda Nobunaga, known as one of Japan’s three great unifiers, in the 71st annual Nagoya Festival on Oct. 18 and 19.

A samurai-loving radio host prepares to become Oda Nobunaga for a day

By Gendel Gento

Nagoya-based radio host Chris Glenn will portray warlord Oda Nobunaga, becoming the first non-Japanese to join the city’s historic parade.

Beauty in slowness: Life lessons from Japanese embroidery

By Cassie Xu

Shrunali Ranade: ‘Stepping back isn’t failure but another form of strength’

By Megha Wadhwa

Student groups nurture Japan-South Korea dialogue and cultural ties

By Moe Shimizu

Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’

By Louise George Kittaka

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.

Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building

By Patrick St. Michel

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