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September 16, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 16, 2025
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The Nikkei 225 stock index rose above the 45,000 mark just after the open and then fell back to close the day below that mark.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nikkei 225 breaks 45,000 for the first time ever
By Francis Tang
The benchmark hit another record ahead of an expected rate cut in the U.S.
The Nikkei 225 stock index rose above the 45,000 mark just after the open and then fell back to close the day below that mark.
Former economic security minister Takayuki Kobayashi announces his bid for the Liberal Democratic Party's presidency in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
In LDP leadership bid, Kobayashi touts ‘moderate’ stance as selling point
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Kobayashi pledged to make Japan a tech powerhouse again, boost defense spending and push through a generational change in the LDP if elected party chief.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi announces he will run in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, on Tuesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Hayashi throws hat in the ring for LDP leadership race
By Eric Johnston
The chief cabinet secretary is seen as a counterbalance to the more right-leaning former economic security ministers Sanae Takaichi and Takayuki Kobayashi.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief tariff negotiator, speaks on Tuesday about the implementation of the Japan-U.S. trade deal.
BUSINESS / Markets
U.S. tariffs on Japanese autos formally cut to 15% from 27.5%
By Francis Tang
The reduction is a long-awaited implementation of the terms of a July 22 agreement.
Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
JAPAN / Science & Health / Longform
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin
Young Japanese are saying no to booze — and yes to mocktails, gaming and sober nights out. Breweries are pivoting to meet them.
Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.

JAPAN

The "Playground of Life: Jellyfish Pavilion" at the Osaka Expo on Thursday. Fukuyama in Hiroshima Prefecture aims to relocate the pavilion to a site in the city after the event ends on Oct. 13.
Reuse pavilions and equipment, Osaka Expo organizer urges
The organizer is encouraging local governments and companies to reuse buildings and equipment including air conditioners and lighting.
Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin
Young Japanese are saying no to booze — and yes to mocktails, gaming and sober nights out. Breweries are pivoting to meet them.
Woman admits killing ex-boyfriend found dead in suitcase
Japan dispatches 5 language education 'partners' to India
Older people using electric wheelchairs and bikes warned of fall risks
Countries vow to quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035

BUSINESS

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung attends a news conference to mark 100 days in office at the Blue House in Seoul on Thursday.
South Korean Presidential Office says tariff talks with U.S. stalled
The countries have been struggling to overcome obstacles to finalize a trade deal agreed in July, especially the details of a $350 billion investment fund.
Alibaba Group co-founder Jack Ma attends the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai in 2018. The billionaire entrepreneur recently returned to a hands-on role at Alibaba after spending years out of the public eye.
Jack Ma returns with a vengeance to ‘Make Alibaba Great Again’
Ma resigned as chairman of Alibaba in 2019 and largely disappeared from the public eye in 2020 amid the Chinese government's crackdown on the tech sector.
Seibu's Ikebukuro store to open new 'depachika' food floor
Struggling train firm in Chiba Prefecture turns to self-deprecating humor
Astroscale anticipates more satellite orders from U.K. and Japan
By Reina Sasaki
U.S. appeals court rejects Trump bid to oust Fed's Lisa Cook

WORLD

Palestinians inspect the site of an overnight Israeli strike on a house in Gaza City on Tuesday.
Israel says 'Gaza is burning' as it launches ground assault
Gaza health officials reported at least 24 people killed, most of them in Gaza City, in the early hours of the assault.
A China Coast Guard ship navigates near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea in August.
China says Philippine ship ‘deliberately rammed’ coast guard vessel in South China Sea
By Jesse Johnson
The clash near the flash point Scarborough Shoal, which is also claimed by Manila, came just days after Beijing approved plans to turn the area into a national nature reserve.
Lack of successor keeps U.K.'s Starmer safe as Labour mulls his ouster
By Alex Wickham
Ticket to the Arctic: Inside Russia's system of convict labor
By Mark Trevelyan
Russia expanding forced re-education of deported Ukrainian children
By Anthony Deutsch and Tom Balmforth
More protests planned as anger sweeps Indonesia’s gig drivers
By Norman Harsono

Sports

Fans cheer on the home favorites during the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
Japanese athletes inspired by raucous home fans at World Athletics Championships
By Sam Byford
The atmosphere at National Stadium has been raucous in the opening days of the championships, particularly when hometown heroes are on the track or field.
Pole vault rivals in awe after Duplantis has another historic night in Tokyo
By Jason Coskrey
Japanese baseball grapples with shrinking player base
Cycling fears spread of race-halting protests after Vuelta chaos
By Jacques KLOPP
Japan and Fiji cruise into Pacific Nations Cup rugby final rematch

Opinion

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announces his intention to resign during a news conference at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Sept. 7. The Japanese leader decided to step down following weeks of calls for his departure in the aftermath of a second national election setback. 
Can anyone save the fracturing Liberal Democratic Party?
Michael MacArthur Bosack
This is shaping up to be an even less predictable race than the last one, when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pulled off a surprise victory.
Trump 2.0 and the U.S.-South Korea alliance
By Kohtaro Ito
‘Perfect Days’ spent pondering the Japanese potty
By Brad Glosserman
Can Australia achieve a third economic golden age?
By Daniel Moss
Is violence policy in Donald Trump’s new America?
By Jan-Werner Mueller

ENVIRONMENT

Artificial intelligence avatar Una will appear at the U.N. pavilion at Osaka Expo later this month as part of initiatives to combat climate change.
Japan-backed AI avatar to promote climate action at expo
The anime-inspired female character, Una, was developed as part of climate initiatives supported by the Japanese government.
Malaysia's largest island state aims to be region's 'green battery'
By Jan HENNOP
Rising oceans to threaten 1.5 million Australians by 2050, report says
By Laura Chung
U.S. moves to scrap emissions reporting by polluters
Scientists link major carbon emitters to worsening heat waves
By Coco Liu and Eric Roston

CULTURE

Owen Cooper poses with the Best Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie award for "Adolescence," at the Governors Ball at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday.
'Adolescence,' 'The Studio' dominate television's Emmy Awards
By Andrew Marszal
Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper made Emmy history as the youngest male winner, while “The Studio” took home a record 13 awards.
Mei Ehara’s third album finds clarity in the noise
By Patrick St. Michel
‘100 Meters’ brings kinetic energy to rivalry drama
By Matt Schley
Tokyo International Comedy Festival doubles down on diversity and scale
By Moe Shimizu
Unsound turns Osaka into a laboratory of avant-garde music
By James Hadfield

LIFE

Sensing a bleak future for the local "awamori" liquor, Mizuho Distillery ventured into rum production, releasing a collection of eight rums made from "kokutō" (partially refined or unrefined sugar) sourced from various islands in Okinawa Prefecture.
The sweet rise of Okinawan rum
By Miriam Gradel
The spirit is emerging out of the shadow of the local “awamori” liquor, thanks to a growing band of producers who are keen to tell the tale of the islands' traditional agriculture.
From tofu to teriyaki: Japanese essentials for the home cook
By Simon Daly
In Bali, the Ritz-Carlton’s ultraluxury Mandapa hotel marks 10 years
By Owen Ziegler
'He's a regular man, not unlike us': Marking 40 years of Mario games
By Kilian Fichou and Mathias Cena
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s announcement hits all the right notes in Japan
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Swastika Jajoo (fourth from right) began attending the daily radio calisthenics routine at Sendai’s Kitasanbancho Park and struck up unexpected friendships with a group of elderly residents.
Calisthenic companions bridge cultures and generations
By Swastika Jajoo
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a doctoral student in Sendai found friendship in unexpected places.
Melos Han-Tani: ‘Figuring out what you value is valuable for any artist’
By Gendel Gento
Gentle care is the key to Cymbal’s heart
Canadian-born politician tackles Ibaraki’s issues big and small
By Gendel Gento
Smiley, spirited Hampen will run into your arms

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Japan's major art events converge this fall
By Zoria Petkoska and Thu-Huong Ha
Shinji Ohmaki’s “Tokinokage” exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021 shows the use of fabric as art.
LIFE
An aesthetic escape to Hakone’s art-drenched hills
By Erik Augustin Palm
Between traditional examples of fine art and sleek, modern exhibitions that blend with nature, Hakone offers a unique escape from Tokyo's urban sprawl.
BUSINESS
Niinami’s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
By Kazuaki Nagata
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
JAPAN
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
By Gabriel Dominguez
A Brahmos missile system is displayed during a rehearsal for a military parade in New Delhi in January. The Philippines will soon receive its second batch of the supersonic cruise missiles from India.
ENVIRONMENT
Shizuoka farmers fight to preserve sustainable tea method that’s steeped in tradition
By Kai Wilson
As of August 2024, the number of confirmed chagusaba farmers had fallen to 302, just over half the 582 reported in 2015, according to the Shizuoka Chagusaba Farming Method Promotion Council.

Podcast

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

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 6th annual Sustainable Japan Award.
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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
SDF spots China’s biggest aircraft carrier for first time
By Sakura Murakami
The Fujian aircraft carrier is seen in Shanghai in May 2024 as it leaves for its first sea trial.
JAPAN
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture
BUSINESS
Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens?
By River Akira Davis
Convenience stores are a fixture of Japanese life and 7-Eleven, a chain that began in the U.S. in 1927, opened its first store in Japan in 1974 — and then became wholly Japanese-owned in 2005 through parent company Seven & I Holdings.
JAPAN
Final weeks of World Expo in Osaka likely to see large crowds
With one month left to go, crowds are expected to swell at the World Expo in Osaka during its final weeks.
JAPAN
Japan's elderly population down at around 36.2 million
The estimated number of people age 65 or older in Japan stands at 36.19 million as of Monday, accounting for record 29.4% of the country's total population, according to the internal affairs ministry.