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April 28, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 28, 2025
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U.S. President Donald Trump holds a letter from Britain's King Charles as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in Washington on Feb. 27.
WORLD / Politics
Trump's first 100 days: 'America First' president is overturning world order
By Matt Spetalnick, John Geddie and Lili Bayer
Trump's second-term agenda has alienated friends and emboldened adversaries while raising questions about how far he is prepared to go.
U.S. President Donald Trump holds a letter from Britain's King Charles as he meets with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the White House in Washington on Feb. 27.
AI-generated content — including those made using pictures of real people, which are known as “deepfakes” — is not explicitly covered under Japan's current legal framework, nor are human-drawn illustrations that depict child abuse.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
Japan’s legal system struggles to deal with AI-made child sexual abuse images
By Jessica Speed
AI-generated content is not explicitly covered under the country's legal framework, nor are human-drawn illustrations that depict child abuse.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony following bilateral talks in Pyongyang last June.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
North Korea confirms troop deployment to Russia for first time
By Jesse Johnson
Leader Kim Jong Un called the move 'a sacred mission to further consolidate as firm as a rock the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two countries.'
A man holds a Canadian flag ahead of Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party election campaign event at candidate Amarjeet Sohi’s campaign office, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Candidates in Canada election make final pitches under shadow of Vancouver tragedy
By Promit Mukherjee and Allison Lampert
Sunday was the final day of a five-week campaign for the candidates to make their case ahead of an election entered largely on Trump's tariffs and threats to annex Canada.
The scallop carpaccio with strawberries is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, and one of the standout recipes in "Umai: Recipes From a Japanese Home Kitchen."
LIFE / Food & Drink
A modern Japanese cookbook that is ‘a beautiful mess’
By Simon Daly
With an easygoing tone, Millie Tsukagoshi Lagares’ first cookbook is a vibrant Japanese culinary guide that speaks to a globalized generation.
The scallop carpaccio with strawberries is a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, and one of the standout recipes in "Umai: Recipes From a Japanese Home Kitchen."

JAPAN

Wi Sung-lac, a South Korean lawmaker who advises presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung on diplomacy, is interviewed in Seoul on Friday.
Aide to South Korean candidate suggests review of wartime labor solution
Wi did not provide specifics but said that a Lee administration might discuss historical issues more than the Yoon administration.
Takuya Yokota, the leader of a group of families of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago (left), asks people for signatures to seek their return during a campaign held in Tokyo on Saturday.
Family members of North Korea abductees hold Tokyo campaign to seek their return
Meanwhile, in Washington, 17 members of U.S. Congress sent a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to "prioritize" the return of the Japanese abductees.
Japan crown prince attends memorial mass for Pope Francis
Golden Week proves to be busy for traveling members of Ishiba's Cabinet
Remains of Ainu people in Britain to be returned to Japan
Tokyo government to search for birth parents of man switched as newborn

BUSINESS

Vehicles travel along the 110 freeway in downtown Los Angeles. California's GDP has overtaken Japan's to become the world's fourth largest economy, according to the U.S. state.
California says it overtakes Japan to become world’s No. 4 economy
By Francis Tang
Japan's annual GDP was surpassed by China in 2010 and Germany in 2023, positioning the country in fourth place.
The Bank of Japan will release its quarterly report on the Japanese economy and prices at its two-day policy meeting from Wednesday.
BOJ may lower economic and price forecasts
Amid Trump's global trade war, the central bank is also likely to keep its monetary policy unchanged.
Haneda terminal operator unit underreports income by ¥100 million
Resona Bank sets up U.S. office for first time in 21 years
Ishiba vows wage hikes that keep up with inflation at May Day event
Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China
By Alastair Gale, Haze Fan, Yoshiaki Nohara and Sakura Murakami

WORLD

Lee Jae-myung delivers a speech during the national convention of South Korea's Democratic Party to choose their candidate for upcoming presidential election, in Goyang, South Korea, on Sunday.
South Korea martial law put Lee Jae-myung back on track for presidency
By Josh Smith
If elected, he would face polarized politics and rising economic concerns while negotiating with Donald Trump.
An ambulance is parked at the site of the Lapu Lapu day festival, where a vehicle drove into a crowd killing several people in Vancouver on Saturday.
As many as nine dead after driver plows into Vancouver festival crowd
The driver was a "lone suspect" known to police, a police spokesperson told journalists at the scene.
Iran still battling port fire as death toll rises
By Arsalan Shahla
As many as nine dead after driver plows into Vancouver festival crowd
China seizes disputed reef near key Philippine military outpost
By Jesse Johnson
All eyes turn to conclave after Pope Francis' funeral
By Alice Ritchie

Sports

Al-Nassr players celebrate after scoring the first goal of the club's Asian Champions League quarterfinal against Marinos on Saturday.
Duran double and Ronaldo goal sink Marinos in Asian Champions League semis
By Michael Church
The win sees Al-Nassr join compatriots Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal in the last four in what's been a dominate showing by Saudi clubs.
Mao Saigo wins playoff to claim first major title at Chevron Championship
Arizona's Eugenio Suarez becomes 19th MLB player to hit four homers in one game
Thunder sweep past Grizzlies in NBA playoffs; Cavs on brink
Barcelona sinks Real Madrid in extra time to win Copa del Rey title
By Fernando Kallas

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy efforts, including negotiations with Ukraine, Iran and others face failure due to unrealistic expectations and an apparent failure to fully understand the complexities of the conflicts.
U.S. diplomacy confronts reality in Ukraine and Iran
Marc Champion
Trump loyalists must recognize that his approach may well fail in ways that leave the world in immeasurably worse shape.
Time for a civic uprising
By David Brooks
Japan needs clarity as an antidote to contradictory tariffs
By Shin Oya
The Catholic church loses a lion
Trump’s tariff chaos could reverse 80 years of economic progress
By Anne O. Krueger

ENVIRONMENT

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
Last year the government issued its first "megaquake" advisory. Ever since, those living in the areas it's expected to hit have been preparing for the worst.
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
Global warming is a security threat and armies must adapt, experts say
Indonesia food plan risks 'world's largest' deforestation
By Marchio Gorbiano and Sara Hussein

CULTURE

On the surface, "Wildcat Dome" tells a personal story of damaged children — now adults — bound together by tragedy. Underneath, there’s a constant undercurrent of political consequence, invisible and pervasive like radioactive particles.
‘Wildcat Dome’ challenges Japan's historical narratives
By Kris Kosaka
Prolific writer Yuko Tsushima explores themes of militarization, colonialism and occupation through the identities of mixed-race orphans in postwar Japan.
Sasuke Haraguchi’s provocative soundtracks for digital natives
By Patrick St. Michel
‘She Taught Me Serendipity’: A quiet reminder not to take people for granted
By Mark Schilling
Thumbelina's bedtime is before 8. Her exhibition runs till 5 a.m.
By Tomohiro Osaki
The floor is art: Takuro Tamayama transforms mundanity
By Kim Kahan

LIFE

Hokkaido's famous lamb is turned into a ragout or French-style stew and used as a pizza topping at Savoy Ezo.
Savoy, Tokyo’s top pizzeria, fires up in Sapporo
By Simon Daly
The chain of pizza restaurants has opened its first branch in Hokkaido, offering locals a taste of its famous crisp and airy pizzas.
How to bring up bad news in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Craft Sake Week is back with its usual brand of cool
By Weiwen Lin
Thumbprint cookies with a tangy Japanese filling
By Simon Daly
Japan’s first Waldorf Astoria brings art deco luxury to Osaka
By Tan Pin Yen

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

BUSINESS
Amid uncertain tariffs, is now the time to buy a new iPhone?
By Elizabeth Beattie
An Apple store in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward in September. Prices for the newest iPhone models start at around ¥100,000 ($700) in Japan.
LIFE
Built in a flash, Osaka Expo pavilions wrestle with sustainability
By Thu-Huong Ha
Kengo Kuma & Associates oversaw the construction of the Malaysia pavilion, which is encased in interwoven rows of bamboo that appear to ripple.
BUSINESS
Japan weighs using U.S. rice imports as tariff negotiation tool with Trump
By Yukana Inoue
A restaurant owner pours California-grown Calrose rice into a rice cooker at his restaurant in Tokyo
JAPAN
Is Japan’s parliament ready to welcome more youth to its ranks?
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Lower House lawmaker Kai Odake in his Tokyo office on Wednesday
LIFE
Crow meat, goat tartare: Mauvaise Herbe raises its game
By Andrew Lee
Crow meat, shaped into a ball and attached to a foot of the bird, is one of the peculiar offerings of game at Mauvaise Herbe.

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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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones
Tsukuba massif granite, one of the world’s few heritage stones

WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
China seizes disputed reef near key Philippine military outpost
By Jesse Johnson
China Coast Guard officers unfurl a national flag on Sandy Cay reef, near the Philippine-held Thitu Island, in disputed waters of the South China Sea this month in this screen shot taken from Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.
BUSINESS
Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China
By Alastair Gale, Haze Fan, Yoshiaki Nohara and Sakura Murakami
As Japan gears up for the trade talks, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is also seeking to cushion the blow that the U.S. tariffs may have on the domestic economy.
WORLD
As many as nine dead after driver plows into Vancouver festival crowd
An ambulance is parked at the site of the Lapu Lapu day festival, where a vehicle drove into a crowd killing several people in Vancouver on Saturday.
JAPAN
Japan’s legal system struggles to deal with AI-made child sexual abuse images
By Jessica Speed
AI-generated content — including those made using pictures of real people, which are known as “deepfakes” — is not explicitly covered under Japan's current legal framework, nor are human-drawn illustrations that depict child abuse.
LIFE
How to bring up bad news in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
As in other cultures, when someone shares bad news in Japanese it’s best to respond with supportive words.