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September 17, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 17, 2025
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A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Markets
Wealthy foreign nationals picking up ultimate souvenir — a condo in Tokyo
By Elizabeth Beattie
Regardless of their motivations, foreign property buyers in Japan have come under the magnifying glass.
A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
A scientist looks at scans of grains at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital (HUG) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 6, 2023.
JAPAN / Science & Health / FOCUS
Japan’s front-line researchers see bright path ahead for dementia treatment
By Tomoko Otake
Four scientists at the forefront of dementia research speak about what kind of future they envision for people with the condition.
Proxy-shopping services — companies that ship Japanese products ranging from cosmetics and snacks to limited-edition stationery on behalf of customers abroad — are already feeling the impact of the U.S. suspending de minimis exemptions.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
End of U.S. de minimis exemption causes headaches for some businesses in Japan
By Jessica Speed
Companies that ship to the U.S. are hoping customers will tolerate higher costs or that the de minimis treatment will be restored, but many believe it's gone for good.
Save the Children Japan's Sonoko Kawakami speaks at a news conference in Tokyo in July. A survey conducted by the group in June has found that over 90% of low-income households with children face food insecurity.
JAPAN / Society
Over 90% of low-income families in Japan struggling to feed children
By Yukana Inoue
A survey conducted by Save the Children Japan has found that single-parent households were among those facing the most dire food insecurity.
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. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
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.
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. 

JAPAN

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi speaks during a news conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
Japan won't recognize Palestinian state given U.S. ties: media report
Recent reports said the U.S. had prompted Japan to forgo the recognition through diplomatic channels, while France had urged the opposite.
Rice farmer Toru Wakui in his rice paddies in Ogata, Akita Prefecture, in August
For Japan's rice growers, postwar policy shifts yet to deliver stable future
Amid renewed tightness in supply and a spike in prices, officials have been urging farmers to plant more, marking yet another reversal in Japan's 80 years of agricultural policy.
Foreign visitors to Japan hit record 3.42 million in August
Japan to give disaster-relief machinery to Papua New Guinea
Former Japanese internee in Ukraine pained by Russian invasion
JAL to punish president and 36 others over pilot drinking scandal

BUSINESS

U.S. and Chinese officials have agreed on a framework to keep ByteDance’s TikTok app running in the U.S.
TikTok lives: U.S. and China in deal for app to keep operating in United States
The agreement requires TikTok's American assets to be transferred to U.S. owners from China's ByteDance, potentially resolving a saga that has lingered for nearly a year.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato takes part in an online meeting of Group of Seven finance ministers on Friday.
Japan pushes back on U.S. call for tariff hikes over Russian oil
By Erica Yokoyama
Tokyo is cautious about joining efforts to raise tariffs on countries trading with Russia as Japan itself has continued importing LNG from its neighbor.
Nissan to shut design studios in U.S. and Brazil and downsize London and Japan operations
GPIF bets on property and infrastructure in Japan, in alternative asset first
By Nao Sano
Climate-conscious investors back Trump's call to end quarterly reports
By Simon Jessop
Bank of Japan set to hold rates steady even as inflation remains high
By Kazuaki Nagata

WORLD

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea leader James Marape attend a flag-lowering ceremony in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday.
Australia and Papua New Guinea delay mutual defense pact
By Gabriel Dominguez
The postponement was Canberra’s latest stumble as it seeks to counterbalance Beijing’s expanding presence and clout in the Pacific region.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (center) arrives at the airport in Imphal, in the northeastern state of Manipur, on Saturday. He made his first visit to troubled state since more than 250 people were killed in ethnic clashes there two years ago.
Modi fends off succession talk in India despite numerous setbacks
By Dan Strumpf, Sudhi Ranjan Sen, Ruchi Bhatia and Swati Gupta
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrates his 75th birthday, his party’s unofficial retirement age, his grip on India appears more secure than ever.
India's gaming fans eye illegal sites after gambling ban
By Faisal Kamal and Anuj Srivas
Hong Kong newlyweds lament veto on same-sex rights bill as blow to city
By Jessie Pang and Joyce Zhou
As Trump exerts power, U.S. Supreme Court justice raises specter of a 'king'
By Andrew Chung
Moscow and Minsk rehearse launch of nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus
By Andrew Osborn and Mark Trevelyan

Sports

Sorato Shimizu competes at a meet in Hiroshima in July. Over the past few years, Shimizu has been like a superhero among teenage track and field athletes in Japan.
The sky is the limit for Sorato Shimizu, Japan's great sprinting hope
The 16-year-old has already run the 100 in 10 seconds flat and could be an X-factor for Japan’s World Athletics Championships relay hopes.
Ohtani's no-hit start and 50th HR aren't enough for Dodgers
Onosato and Hoshoryu off to hot starts as other contenders fall
By John Gunning
Arsenal and Real Madrid win Champions League openers
By Andy Scott
Use of headset and coaches box within rules for Raiders part-owner Tom Brady

Opinion

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets with Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong at the State Department in January.
Japan and India must anchor America in the Indo-Pacific
Stephen R. Nagy
Neither Japan or India possess the military strength to counter China independently.
Did Putin finally overplay his hand with Ukraine?
By Marc Champion
Why Nepal’s new power brokers should worry India and China
By Karishma Vaswani
Artificial intelligence is not your friend
By Peter G. Kirchschlager
Trump 2.0 and the U.S.-South Korea alliance
By Kohtaro Ito

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.
Climate change led to at least 16,500 heat deaths in Europe this summer
By Emma Court
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

CULTURE

A statue of young swordsman Tanjiro Kamado, the main character in the "Demon Slayer" anime franchise, is on display at a cinema in Tokyo's Ikebukuro neighborhood.
Japan’s box office belongs to 'Demon Slayer' as latest film ranks second all time
By Tomohiro Osaki
“Infinity Castle” entry has overtaken “Spirited Away,” making the franchise the undisputed king of Japan’s all-time box office.
Robert Redford, screen idol turned director and activist, dies at 89
'Adolescence' and 'The Studio' dominate television's Emmy Awards
By Andrew Marszal
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

LIFE

A stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is one of Bali's priciest choices — but also one of its most uncompromisingly luxurious.
In Bali, the Ritz-Carlton’s ultraluxury Mandapa hotel marks 10 years
By Owen Ziegler
One of just nine “Reserve” properties around the world, Mandapa offers a delightfully unsanitized take on a rainforest retreat.
From tofu to teriyaki: Japanese essentials for the home cook
By Simon Daly
The sweet rise of Okinawan rum
By Miriam Gradel
'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

MORE SPORTS
Pole vault rivals in awe after Duplantis has another historic night in Tokyo
By Jason Coskrey
Sweden's Armand Duplantis competes in the men's pole fault final during the World Athletics Championships at National Stadium in Tokyo on Monday.
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.
MORE SPORTS
Tara Davis-Woodhall leaps to gold and finds redemption at world championships
By Jason Coskrey
Tara Davis-Woodhall celebrates after winning the women's long jump final at the World Athletics Championships at Tokyo's National Stadium on Sunday night.
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.

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

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Haneda Airport security staff arrested over theft
Tokyo police have arrested a 21-year-old security inspector at Haneda Airport after he allegedly stole cash from a passenger during a baggage inspection.
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.
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.
WORLD
White House threatens broad crackdown on liberal groups
FBI Director Kash Patel (right) listens to senior White House adviser Stephen Miller speak in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Monday.
JAPAN
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture