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TOKYO
August 13, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
August 13, 2025
Shigeru Ishiba
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WWII ANNIVERSARY
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Hideo Shimizu, 95, says he cannot forget seeing the prisoners' bloody wills scribbled on the walls of prison cells at Unit 731 in 1945.
JAPAN / History
The indelible memory of being a part of Unit 731
By Tomoko Otake
For 95-year-old Hideo Shimizu, the 4½ months he spent with the biological and chemical warfare unit of the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army were just like yesterday.

More coverage

Hidden rosters and the legacy of Japan’s germ warfare
Hideo Shimizu, 95, says he cannot forget seeing the prisoners' bloody wills scribbled on the walls of prison cells at Unit 731 in 1945.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's political survival likely hinges on whether a leadership race will take place within the Liberal Democratic Party following its decision to have its election committee canvass the opinions of party members and prefectural chapters on the subject.
JAPAN / Politics / EXPLAINER
Will Ishiba's critics be able to garner enough support for a leadership race?
By Eric Johnston
The only way to remove an LDP president from office — other than a resignation — is to invoke the recall clause and hold a leadership race.
Among the middle school students who admitted to abusing over-the-counter medication, the majority — around 64% — said they got them from pharmacies while a third said they had access to them in their own households.
JAPAN / Science & Health
1 in 55 Japanese middle schoolers abuse over-the-counter drugs, survey shows
By Yukana Inoue
Most of them got the drugs from pharmacies and their own households.
Tokyo stocks rallied to a new high on Wednesday even as trade tensions and economic concerns remain.
BUSINESS / Markets
Japan's Nikkei 225 breaches 43,000 for first time ever
By Francis Tang
The benchmark stock index surged to a new high for a second consecutive day.
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over Kyiv during a Russian drone strike, on July 30. Moscow has dispatched military specialists to train the Korean People’s Army on how to use combat drones and air-defense systems.
WORLD / Politics
Ukraine war has transformed North Korean military: Kyiv’s military intel chief
By Gabriel Dominguez
Pyongyang’s alliance with Moscow gives it critical battlefield experience and access to advanced weapons, at the same time making it more unpredictable.
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over Kyiv during a Russian drone strike, on July 30. Moscow has dispatched military specialists to train the Korean People’s Army on how to use combat drones and air-defense systems.

JAPAN

Akio Kuroi holds a photograph of his father, Keijiro, as he speaks during an interview in Tokyo in April about how his father had changed after World War II.
'War trauma' transformed caring father into a complete stranger
A growing number of family members of former Japanese servicemen are sharing their experiences, prompting the government to launch a survey to document such realities.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura addresses a meeting of Osaka Ishin no Kai on July 30.
Osaka governor eager to make another bid for metropolis plan
The plan, which has been rejected twice in referendums, would scrap the city of Osaka and reorganize it into special administrative districts under Osaka Prefecture.
One dead after yacht and cargo ship collide in waters off Japan
South Korean President Lee to visit Japan for summit with Ishiba, Seoul says
By Heejin Kim
Japan may make recycling handheld fans mandatory
Hiroshima museum continues to receive artifacts 80 years after atomic bombing

BUSINESS

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is looking to expand its presence in the market for debt swaps as a way for emerging countries to alleviate their debt burdens and put savings toward sustainable goals.
MUFG in talks to arrange new debt swaps after $465 million deal
By Natasha White
Japan’s biggest bank is looking to expand its presence in the market for debt swaps after helping to wrap up a deal for Cote d'Ivoire in December.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell (center left) talks to U.S. President Donald Trump and Sen. Tim Scott as they tour the Federal Reserve’s renovation project in Washington on July 24.
Trump may allow lawsuit against Powell, over Fed renovation, amid rate tension
By Josh Wingrove and Joe Mathieu
The renovation work has become a flash point in Trump’s pressure campaign against Powell and the central bank for not lowering borrowing costs.
Suzuki’s India unit doubles down on SUVs as small cars slide
By Alisha Sachdev
Japan starts anti-dumping probe into Chinese and South Korean steel goods
By Shoko Oda and Tsuyoshi Inajima
Man Group’s Japan fund buying bank stocks in bet on inflation
By Momoka Yokoyama
Do Kwon pleads guilty to U.S. fraud charges in $40 billion crypto collapse
By Luc Cohen

WORLD

Former first lady of South Korea Kim Keon Hee arrives at court to attend a hearing to review her arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul on Tuesday.
South Korea prosecutors raid party HQ after ex-first lady arrested
By Hieun SHIN
Former first lady Kim Keon Hee was arrested late Tuesday on a range of charges including stock manipulation and corruption.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Helsinki on July 16, 2018.
For Trump, Putin summit presents the ultimate test of dealmaking
By Shaun TANDON
Trump, voicing uncharacteristic humility about his diplomacy, said it was a "feel-out meeting" that would not in itself lead to a deal on Ukraine.
India set to allow its private firms to mine and import uranium to help nuclear expansion
By Sarita Chaganti Singh
China's military says it 'drove away' U.S. destroyer near Scarborough Shoal
Starlink techies keep Musk’s network running, even in a war
India-China thaw takes shape as Modi embraces BRICS over Trump
By Jon Herskovitz

Sports

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani hits a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium on Saturday.
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani sued over $240 million Hawaii development
Ohtani and his agent allegedly "exploited their celebrity leverage to destabilize and ultimately dismantle Plaintiffs' role in the project ... for financial self-interest."
Olympic medalist Kerley provisionally suspended for whereabouts failure
Will Wakatakakage bring balance to the banzuke?
By John Gunning
Pete Alonso homers twice to break Mets career record
Alcaraz eases past Medjedovic in Cincinnati before rain forces suspension

Opinion

Shinto priests holding traditional umbrellas walk to the main shrine for a ritual to cleanse themselves during the annual Spring Festival at Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo in April 2016.
Dispelling the myth of Yasukuni Shrine
Edo Naito
The shrine has been a lightning rod — especially as it has been used by some of Japan's neighbors as a convenient means to shift attention away from their domestic issues.
The real nuclear moonshot is here on Earth
By Liam Denning
Putin is about to outplay Trump again in Alaska
By Marc Champion
Trump’s transactional approach shapes U.S.-China rivalry
By Brad Glosserman
The bullish case for oil is real — but far, far away
By Javier Blas

ENVIRONMENT

An Emerald Toucanet. Nearly half of all bird species are found in biodiversity-rich tropical regions.
Climate heat extremes driving tropical bird decline: study
By Julien MIVIELLE
Intensifying temperatures caused a 25% to 38% reduction in tropical bird populations between 1950 and 2020, compared to a scenario without global warming.
The airline industry's dirty secret: Clean jet fuel failures
By Joanna Plucinska, Joe Brock, Marleen Kaesebier and Paul Carsten
Hedge funds flip on green energy and start betting against oil
By Natasha White, Liza Tetley and Ishika Mookerjee
Momentum sagging at U.N. plastic pollution treaty talks
By Robin Millard
How Canadian wildfire smoke is jeopardizing health across North America
By Robert Tuttle, Brian K Sullivan and Danielle Bochove

CULTURE

Metal-meets-idol trio Babymetal is sure to bring spectacle to this weekend's Summer Sonic.
The early bird gets the bangers at this year’s Summer Sonic
By Patrick St. Michel
This year’s festival makes its biggest moves before noon, with Japan’s top acts and K-pop stars commanding early slots.
‘Natasha’ distills global zeitgeist on the opera stage
By Kris Kosaka
Futuristic mermaid tale ‘ChaO’ makes a splash
By Matt Schley
'Glass Heart’: A flashy rock fairytale scrubbed of grit
By James Hadfield
‘Nagasaki: In the Shadow of the Flash’ honors young nurses thrust into hellish nightmare
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

At Himawari Shokudo 2, chef Hozumi Tanaka serves Italian-inspired fare with a focus on Toyama produce, such as this appetizer of lightly blanched "hotaru ika" (firefly squid) served atop mixed wild plants and a crepe prepared from "yamato-imo" yam.
At Himawari Shokudo 2, Italian food with a Japanese soul
By Robbie Swinnerton
Punching above its own weight, the intimate restaurant is one of the growing number of quality establishments that are helping to cement Toyama's status as a dining destination.
In a coffee-mad neighborhood, a gin distillery is a clear alternative
By Melinda Joe
A walk through Kokura, the city spared nuclear destruction
By Edward J. Taylor
Tokyo’s WWII museums hold diverse views on war and peace
By Mark Schreiber
Brave the Bon holiday traffic to discover tourism gems off the beaten path
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Francisco Villarreal moved to Japan in 2014 to attend a teacher training program and has forged deep ties to the kindergarten in Tokyo's Asakusa district where he has worked since 2018.
Kindred spirits, kindergarten connections: From Buenos Aires to east Tokyo
By Francisco J. Villarreal
An Argentinian teacher finds echoes of his hometown in the working-class neighborhoods of eastern Tokyo.
Fluffy poodle Ginger, forever young at heart
A campaign to preserve Hiroshima’s historic trees for another 1,000 years
By Patrick Parr
Briton brings artistic view to Japanese buildings
By Louise George Kittaka
‘Mad cute’ Scottish fold to brighten your day

Editors' Picks

ENVIRONMENT
Osaka Expo highlights the challenge of holding events in Japan's scorching summer
By Joel Tansey
People huddle near a large fan blowing icy-cold mist at the Osaka Expo on July 12. Amid Japan's relentless summer heat, organizes have put myriad measures in place in order to keep guests safe.
LIFE
At Himawari Shokudo 2, Italian food with a Japanese soul
By Robbie Swinnerton
At Himawari Shokudo 2, chef Hozumi Tanaka serves Italian-inspired fare with a focus on Toyama produce, such as this appetizer of lightly blanched "hotaru ika" (firefly squid) served atop mixed wild plants and a crepe prepared from "yamato-imo" yam.
MORE SPORTS
Cheer with caution: Expert advises sports fans have game plan for extreme heat
By Mai Yoshikawa
A Cardinals fan fans himself during the seventh inning of a game against the Pirates in St. Louis, Missouri, in June 2022.
JAPAN
Australia's warship selection signals Japanese defense industry's arrival
By Gabriel Dominguez
The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Mogami-class frigate. Australia's selection of an upgraded version of the Mogami-class warship for its next frigate class could prove to be a watershed moment for Japan’s defense industry.
BUSINESS
Japan's inheritance tax is high, unforgiving and sometimes avoidable
By James Wongvipat
The National Tax Agency at the Ministry of Finance, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo. Japanese tax authorities can bill foreign residents in Japan for assets inherited globally.

Podcast

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

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person
By Naoko Abe

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

COMFACTS

GO SPARKLING by Tsunan Sake Brewery Wins “Good Design Award” at Milano Sake Challenge 2025
GO SPARKLING by Tsunan Sake Brewery Wins “Good Design Award” at Milano Sake Challenge 2025
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Millions told to evacuate as heavy rain sparks flooding and landslides in Kyushu
Heavy rain falls in the city of Kumamoto on Monday morning.
JAPAN
Osaka Expo ticket sales exceed break-even point
Visitors to the Osaka Expo line up for pavilions on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea
This handout video grab released and taken on August 11, 2025 by the Philippine Coast Guard shows an incident between a Chinese Navy vessel (left) and a Chinese Coast Guard ship as seen from a Philippine fisheries boat near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea.
JAPAN
Britain’s Prince of Wales aircraft carrier makes Japan debut
By Gabriel Dominguez
HMS Prince of Wales arrives into the Port of Darwin, Australia, in July during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025.
BUSINESS
Japan's Nikkei 225 hits record high on tariff and rate optimism
By Francis Tang
Stocks in Tokyo rallied on Tuesday despite months of uncertainty and general economic concerns.