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May 01, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 01, 2025
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On Wednesday, after a two-month delay, the United States and Ukraine signed a minerals deal, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of U.S. commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid.
WORLD / Politics
Ukraine and U.S. sign minerals deal, tying Trump to Kyiv
By Shaun TANDON and Ania TSOUKANOVA
Kyiv said it secured full sovereignty over its own rare earths, which are vital for new technologies and largely untapped.
On Wednesday, after a two-month delay, the United States and Ukraine signed a minerals deal, in what President Donald Trump's administration called a new form of U.S. commitment to Kyiv after the end of military aid.
Fuji Media Holdings President Osamu Kanemitsu is set to step down from his post at a general shareholders meeting in June.
BUSINESS / Companies
Fuji Media president to step down as company logs losses
The group is projected to log a consolidated net loss of ¥20.1 billion for fiscal 2024.
U.S. President Donald Trump during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Trump says tariffs politically risky, but he’s not rushing deals
By Stephanie Lai
Trump said there was a significant political risk to his efforts, but added that he remained determined to push on.
A street in Kyoto in March 2023. An Israeli tourist was asked to sign a document stating that he had not committed war crimes when he checked in at a Kyoto guesthouse in April, prompting a response from Israel's ambassador.
JAPAN / Society
Israeli tourist asked to sign war crime declaration at Kyoto guesthouse
By Karin Kaneko
The guesthouse said the purpose of the document was to ensure a safe stay for other guests and not due to discrimination.
Chiyoshoma (right) battles Churanoumi during the New Year Basho in Tokyo in January. The Mongolian's drop down the sumo rankings ahead of the May tournament was one of the biggest surprises of the latest banzuke.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Puzzling decisions and opaque rankings are all part of sumo's charm
By John Gunning
There are always a handful of head-scratching promotions and demotions, and the latest banzuke is no exception.
Chiyoshoma (right) battles Churanoumi during the New Year Basho in Tokyo in January. The Mongolian's drop down the sumo rankings ahead of the May tournament was one of the biggest surprises of the latest banzuke.

JAPAN

Although it has been more than a month since the government began releasing its stockpiled rice, retail prices have remained high due to sluggish distribution.
Only 1.4% of government-stockpiled rice is reaching retailers in Japan
Wholesalers have not been able to handle the sudden increase in distribution volume.
The focus of this summer's election will be whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition can secure a majority of 125 seats in the Upper House, including seats that are not up for grabs in the upcoming race.
315 people gearing up to run in Japan's Upper House race
The focus will be on whether Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's ruling coalition will secure an Upper House majority of 125 seats.
Lost and found history receives glittering homecoming at Osaka Expo
By Laura Pollacco
How a Japanese fraud group ran scams from Southeast Asia
Suspect in girl's killing claims history of abuse and low social status
Underground water leak floods Kyoto streets
By Yukana Inoue

BUSINESS

Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's chief tariff negotiator, arrives in Washington on Wednesday for talks with U.S. officials.
LDP policy chief meets Ryosei Akazawa in U.S. for tariff talk briefing
On his arrival in the United States, Akazawa told reporters tariff measures by the Trump administration were "causing serious damage."
The prices of 478 products, including House Foods' curry mixes, will be raised in May.
Price hikes set for 478 food products in May
The monthly number of food products with higher prices will rise 1.9% from a year earlier, the fifth consecutive monthly increase.
Akazawa heads to Washington as Japanese automakers 'losing $1 million an hour' 
By Eric Johnston
Toyota to partner with Alphabet’s Waymo on autonomous technology
By Sarah Hilton
Nomura’s China losses narrow as brokerage seeks turnaround
Japan keen to team up with ASEAN for free trade system

WORLD

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on Wednesday
U.S. eyes more migration deals, with Rwanda said to be in talks
"We are actively searching for other countries to take people from third countries," said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Spectators gather during a parade to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.
Vietnam's Generation Z captivated by 50-year-old military victory
By Tran Thi Minh Ha
Communist Vietnam's tightly-controlled state media has pumped out a barrage of positive messaging about the anniversary.
U.N. body warns over Trump's deep-sea mining order
Israel's Netanyahu warns wildfires could reach Jerusalem
By Ahmad Gharabli, Carlos Reyes and Alice Chancellor
Abrego Garcia judge says U.S. must give answers on his return
By David Voreacos
Sweden arrests teen after triple killing
By Johannes LEDEL and Pia OHLIN

Sports

Frontale's Kota Takai (right) and Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo vie for the ball during their Asian Champions League Elite semifinal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday.
Underdog Frontale topple Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr to reach ACL Elite final
Kawasaki will next face Al-Ahli, another Saudi side packed with high-profile foreign internationals.
Barcelona fights back for draw against Inter in sensational first-leg match
Fan falls onto warning track during Cubs-Pirates game
NFL fines Falcons and Jeff Ulbrich in fallout after prank call to Sanders
Top-ranked Jannik Sinner considered leaving tennis during doping controversy

Opinion

Japan's proposed "one-theater" defense strategy, linking the East China Sea, South China Sea and Korean Peninsula has raised concerns, particularly in South Korea, about its implications for regional security.
Japan’s ‘one-theater’ defense concept rattles South Korea
Brad Glosserman
Continuing expansion of SDF roles and missions is consistent with adoption of the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" construct that guides Japanese security policy.
Will AI close or widen the development gap?
By Shamika Sirimanne and Xiaolan Fu
Communist China’s quiet influence on Japanese politics
By Edo Naito
How to make America truly 'great again'
By Sergiy Korsunsky
Stop scaring future world leaders off U.S. campuses
By Andreas Kluth

ENVIRONMENT

The aftermath of a wildfire in Yeongyang, South Korea, on March 28.
South Korea's deadly fires made twice as likely by climate change, researchers say
By David Stanway
Fires blazed for nearly a week, killing 32 people and destroying around 5,000 buildings before they were brought under control in late March.
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
Pope Francis saw defending the climate as an urgent priority for the world
By Eric Roston
Countries could use forests to 'mask' needed emission cuts, report says
By Kelly Macnamara

CULTURE

Yosuke Kubozuka plays a university professor with some unorthodox theories about the ancestry of Japanese people in “The Killer Goldfish.”
‘The Killer Goldfish’: The future of cinema, or just indie cosplay?
By James Hadfield
If veteran director Yukihiko Tsutsumi and his collaborators want to upend the Japanese film industry, they’re going to have to come up with something better than this.
‘Blank Canvas’: 'Tough love' of the past isn't so funny anymore
By Mark Schilling
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
Sasuke Haraguchi’s provocative soundtracks for digital natives
By Patrick St. Michel

LIFE

Feelings of lethargy and anxiety can sometimes hit after the Golden Week holiday period has concluded. The Japanese call this the “May blues.”
Why the month of May feels tough and how language can help
By Yaeko Kabe
The phenomenon known as the "May blues" can have serious ramifications if you don't deal with it.
Expo '25 gives the world a masterclass in mascots
By Patrick St. Michel
How to bring up bad news in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Savoy, Tokyo’s top pizzeria, fires up in Sapporo
By Simon Daly
A modern Japanese cookbook that is ‘a beautiful mess’
By Simon Daly

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.
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
Tokyo Humanities Cafe feeds hungry minds
By Jessica Kozuka

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
CDP submits bill proposal on separate surnames, but challenges remain
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan lawmakers speak to reporters in parliament on Wednesday after submitting a bill in the Lower House to allow married couples to retain different surnames.
ASIA PACIFIC
North Korea's Kim sets sights on nuclear-armed navy
By Jesse Johnson
An unidentified weapons system is fired from the deck of North Korea's latest destroyer, the Choe Hyon, during two days of tests on Monday and Tuesday in this undated photo released Wednesday.
JAPAN
Single, or not? Japanese dating app launches relationship verification system
By Yukana Inoue
Tapple, one of Japan's most popular dating apps, has launched the nation's first feature to verify a user's single status via their My Number card.
MORE SPORTS
Could this be Japan’s year at the Kentucky Derby?
By Jason Coskrey
Christophe Lemaire rides Admire Daytona, who was bred in Japan, during the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on April 5.
BUSINESS
Counting the reasons why there are so few American cars in Japan
By Kazuaki Nagata
Tesla's store in Tokyo's Shibuya district. While sales of American cars in Japan appear to be shrinking, Tesla's presence in the country is growing.

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

ENVIRONMENT
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami
By Alex K.T. Martin
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.
BASEBALL
Shohei Ohtani's example could change Japan's views on paternity leave
By Mai Yoshikawa
Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka announced the birth of their first child on April 19.
JAPAN
Nearly half of workers in Japan engage in ‘quiet quitting’
By Yukana Inoue
"Quiet quitting" is most common among the younger generation, with 46.7% of respondents to a survey in their 20s identifying with the practice, reflecting a less-motivated workforce more focused on work-life balance.
BUSINESS
Delta routes new Airbus plane to Tokyo to sidestep Trump tariffs
Delta Air Lines signage on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York on April 9. The airline is flying a new Airbus SE plane through Japan to skirt U.S. import tariffs.
JAPAN
Single, or not? Japanese dating app launches relationship verification system
By Yukana Inoue
Tapple, one of Japan's most popular dating apps, has launched the nation's first feature to verify a user's single status via their My Number card.