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April 30, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 30, 2025
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Hiroshi Moriyama (left), secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets with Zhao Leji, the third-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party, in Beijing on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP’s Moriyama pushes for concrete results on China’s seafood import ban
By Eric Johnston
China offered no specific promises, instead emphasizing the stability of Japan-China relations at a time of great international volatility.
Hiroshi Moriyama (left), secretary general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, meets with Zhao Leji, the third-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party, in Beijing on Tuesday.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney waves to supporters at a victory party in Ottawa on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Carney's Liberals win Canada election defined by Trump
Following a campaign dominated by Trump's tariffs and annexation threats, Carney promised to chart "a new path forward."
Sony is considering spinning off its semiconductor unit, sources say.
BUSINESS / Companies
Sony weighs chip spinoff that Dan Loeb called for years ago
The chip business makes industry-leading image sensors that go into cameras inside Apple and Xiaomi phones.
Liberal Democratic Party Policy Chief Itsunori Onodera (center) speaks at a think tank event Monday in Washington.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan worries Trump tariffs will push countries toward China
By Erica Yokoyama
Many nations are looking to negotiate with the U.S. over the Trump administration’s reciprocal tariffs, which could undermine security in the region.
Christophe Lemaire rides Admire Daytona, who was bred in Japan, during the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on April 5.
MORE SPORTS / Horse Racing
Could this be Japan’s year at the Kentucky Derby?
By Jason Coskrey
Japan has made great strides in thoroughbred racing, and many feel it is no longer a question of "if" a Japanese horse will win the event but "when."
Christophe Lemaire rides Admire Daytona, who was bred in Japan, during the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on April 5.

JAPAN

A system failure at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation has made automated teller machines at some branches in the Kansai western Japan region unavailable. The cause of the failure is under investigation, and there is no prospect of when the system will be restored, the Japanese bank said.
System failure hits Sumitomo Mitsui ATMs
The cause of the failure is under investigation, and there is no timeline yet for restoring the system, the Japanese bank said.
Michiko Takagaki talks about the personal items she has displayed of a relative who died in the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, in Fuchu, Hiroshima Prefecture, on April 26.
Items of an A-bomb victim who died the day he enlisted to be displayed
Just 15 minutes after enlisting in the now-defunct Imperial Japanese military, an atomic bomb was dropped some 700 meters from where he stood.
Iwaya and Guterres reaffirm need for U.N. Security Council reform
Japan's spring honors to celebrate contributions of 3,990 people
Tepco finishes first round of fiscal 2025 treated water release
Two Japanese place first in international youth ballet competition

BUSINESS

Microsoft signage in New York on Oct. 25, 2024. Microsoft’s sudden decision to pause work on some data centers suggests cloud computing providers may be reevaluating expenditures.
Big Tech’s earnings problem is estimates may be way too high
By Jeran Wittenstein
There’s little expectation executives will be able to give estimates with any degree of confidence, given the high level of macroeconomic uncertainty.
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.
Delta routes new Airbus plane to Tokyo to sidestep Trump tariffs
Planes are classified as "used” once they’re flown for any reason other than testing and delivery, and then tariffs usually don’t apply.
Australia’s economic ‘miracle’ is ending no matter who wins vote
By Swati Pandey and Ben Westcott
Brazil's would-be cocoa king aims to revolutionize industry with giant farm
By Marcelo Teixeira
As Tesla falters, these new EVs are picking up the pace
By Kyle Stock
Japanese brokerages struggled with volatility even before tariffs

WORLD

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the BRICS Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
At BRICS meeting, China vows to stand firm against ‘bully’ Trump
By Josh Xiao
On Tuesday, China’s Foreign Minister warned BRICS nations not to cave to U.S. tariffs, urging resistance to pressure amid growing trade tensions.
A member of Indian security forces stands guard on a street following an attack on tourists near Pahalgam in Srinagar in the disputed Kashmir region.
India shuts over half of Kashmir tourist spots after deadly attack
By Fayaz Bukhari
Last week assailants segregated men, asked their names and targeted Hindus before shooting them at close range, killing 26 people, officials and survivors said.
Populist Reform party could reshape the U.K. political landscape
By Elizabeth Piper and Andrew MacAskill
Northeast China restaurant fire kills 22: state media
Spain and Portugal hunt for cause of power outage as electricity returns
Amnesty accuses Israel of 'live-streamed genocide' in Gaza

Sports

Christophe Lemaire rides Admire Daytona, who was bred in Japan, during the UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on April 5.
Could this be Japan’s year at the Kentucky Derby?
By Jason Coskrey
Japan has made great strides in thoroughbred racing, and many feel it is no longer a question of "if" a Japanese horse will win the event but "when."
Japan and Malaysia ease through to Sudirman Cup quarterfinals
Arsenal ambitions go beyond semifinals, says Arteta
FIA president considering 'improvements' to swearing rules
By Alan Baldwin
Klopp congratulates Liverpool on Premier League triumph

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping attend the Group of 20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires in December 2018. Instead of appeasing dictators and shredding alliances, the U.S. should beef up its network of partners. Alone, it won’t emerge victorious from the rivalry with Beijing.  
How to make America truly 'Great Again'
Sergiy Korsunsky
Instead of trying to go it alone, Washington should fix its internal problems and build up its external alliances if it wants to come out on top of the competition with China.
Stop scaring future world leaders off U.S. campuses
By Andreas Kluth
Placating China won't prevent it from invading Taiwan
By Dee Wu
Is there a method behind the Trumponomics madness?
By Kazuto Suzuki
The world is waking up to the dangers of superpollutants
By Lara Williams

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.
Trump administration targets scientists behind key climate assessment
By Valerie Volcovici
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

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.
China’s first K-pop concert in years signals efforts to mend ties
By Hyonhee Shin and Shinhye Kang
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

LIFE

2025 Osaka Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku dances on the stage during the event's official opening ceremony on April 12.
Expo '25 gives the world a masterclass in mascots
By Patrick St. Michel
At Expo 2025 in Osaka, mascots from around the world borrow from Japan’s character culture — but none can match Myaku-Myaku’s gloopy charm.
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
Built in a flash, Osaka Expo pavilions wrestle with sustainability
By Thu-Huong Ha

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

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.
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.
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.
JAPAN
U.S. secretary of the navy weighs ‘dual-use’ shipbuilding with Japan
By Gabriel Dominguez
John Phelan at a Senate confirmation hearing for U.S. secretary of the navy in Washington in February
LIFE
Expo '25 gives the world a masterclass in mascots
By Patrick St. Michel
2025 Osaka Expo mascot Myaku-Myaku dances on the stage during the event's official opening ceremony on April 12.

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

JT Directory Service

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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.
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.
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.
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.