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May 01, 2025
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May 01, 2025
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Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba and CDP head Yoshihiko Noda at a parliamentary session in Tokyo on April 23.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba hears advice from across the aisle on how Japan should handle Trump
By Eric Johnston
A shared sense of national crisis and a desire to appeal to voters ahead of the July Upper House elections is pushing opposition parties to speak up.

More coverage

Akazawa heads to Washington as Japanese automakers 'losing $1 million an hour' 
Trump eases auto tariff burden as Lutnick touts foreign trade deal
Prime Minister Shigaru Ishiba and CDP head Yoshihiko Noda at a parliamentary session in Tokyo on April 23.
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.
ASIA PACIFIC
North Korea's Kim sets sights on nuclear-armed navy
By Jesse Johnson
Leader Kim Jong Un directed officials to push forward equipping his naval forces with nuclear weapons following the unveiling of his country’s biggest destroyer.
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.
JAPAN / Politics
CDP submits bill proposal on separate surnames, but challenges remain
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Japan remains the only country in the world that forces couples to use one surname after marriage.
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.
JAPAN
Single, or not? Japanese dating app launches relationship verification system
By Yukana Inoue
With Tapple boasting over 20 million users, worries about dishonest relationship statuses were common.
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

A massive underground water leak early Wednesday flooded the streets near an intersection on National Route 1 in Shimogyo Ward in the city of Kyoto.
Underground water leak floods Kyoto streets
By Yukana Inoue
City officials believe the aging water pipe, built 65 years ago, ruptured due to deterioration.
Hiroyuki Taniuchi in the city of Saitama while being sent to prosecutors on April 16
Suspect in girl's killing claims history of abuse and low social status
Blood stains on a knife found at the crime scene and on the suspects pants were identified through DNA analysis as belonging to him and the victim, sources have said.
How a Japanese fraud group ran scams from Southeast Asia
Chinese official positive about new giant panda contract with Japan
Government-stockpiled rice sold ¥420 cheaper in third auction
Japan approves restart of nuclear reactor for first time in four years
By Stephen Stapczynski

BUSINESS

Toyota and Alphabet’s Waymo, along with Toyota’s automotive-technology division Woven, will seek to develop a new autonomous-driving platform, according to a joint statement Wednesday.
Toyota to partner with Alphabet’s Waymo on autonomous technology
By Sarah Hilton
Toyota and other major Japanese firms have poured money into artificial intelligence and autonomous driving for years, but have struggled to keep pace.
Amazon packages at a distribution center in Washington
Amazon denies tariff label pivot after Trump called to complain
By Skylar Woodhouse and Matt Day
The administration’s broadsides against Amazon on Tuesday highlighted the potential political risk for companies if they decide to break out the cost of tariffs for customers.
Fuji Media president to step down as company logs losses
Price hikes set for 478 food products in May
Nomura’s China losses narrow as brokerage seeks turnaround
Japan keen to team up with ASEAN for free trade system

WORLD

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.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin takes part in a ceremony, dedicated to the start of the construction of a new road bridge between Russia and North Korea across the Tumen river, via video link from Moscow on Wednesday.
Russia and North Korea announce road bridge to symbolize ties
The bridge will cross over the Tumen river, which forms the natural border between the two countries.
A $6 billion shortfall has U.S. mass transit facing a death spiral
By Sri Taylor and Aaron Gordon
Vietnam’s Lam hails ‘profound’ lessons 50 years after end of war
By Francesca Stevens, Nguyen Dieu Tu Uyen and John Boudreau
Pakistan's solar revolution leaves its middle class behind
By Ariba Shahid, Sudarshan Varadhan and Charlotte Greenfield
A tale of two Syrias: Free-market opening sows resentment of new rulers
By Timour Azhari

Sports

Kyrie Irving of the Dallas Mavericks controls the ball while being guarded by forward Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs during the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in February.
NBA mulling All-Star Game change: USA vs. World
Silver said an international format is appealing because the game will air on NBC during the middle of that network's Winter Olympics coverage.
Haliburton leads comeback as Pacers advance past Bucks
MMA to make Asian Games debut next year in Japan
Dembele sinks Arsenal as PSG seizes edge in Champions League semifinal
By Steven Griffiths
Zverev crashes as Swiatek scrapes into Madrid Open quarterfinals
By Reem Abulleil

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

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

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.
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.
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

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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Smile! It’s ‘Sanrio Time,’ now and ever after

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.