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October 01, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 01, 2025
LDP Election
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Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) reacts as former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during the Liberal Democratic Party Presidential Election Candidate Debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, on Sept. 24. Koizumi and Takaichi remain head-to-head in the race, media polls show.
JAPAN / Politics
Koizumi and Takaichi continue to lead in LDP presidential race, polls show
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
With Koizumi leading in one poll, and Takaichi leading in another, the winner of the election on Saturday is anyone’s guess.

More coverage

Japan’s would-be leaders ignore call to invest in stocks
Opposition parties unlikely to cooperate in vote to select prime minister
Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi (right) reacts as former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during the Liberal Democratic Party Presidential Election Candidate Debate at the Japan National Press Club in Tokyo, on Sept. 24. Koizumi and Takaichi remain head-to-head in the race, media polls show.
U.S. President Donald Trump departs after addressing senior military officers gathered at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Quantico, Virginia, on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Trump speech to military brass hints at looming Pentagon shift to focus on homeland
By Jesse Johnson
Amid a litany of talking points were Trump’s hints at an increasingly inward-looking foreign policy stance.
Former economic security minister Sanae Takaichi poses with supporters at Hie Shrine in Tokyo on Sept. 22.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Can Takaichi win back conservative voters? Maybe not.
By Himari Semans
The conservative champion has been trying to soften her image to reach more moderate voters — the party’s largest support base.
The Bank of Japan is likely to raise rates by the end of this year or early next year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Japan's tankan survey suggests rate increase sooner rather than later
By Kazuaki Nagata
Corporate sentiment improved as tariff uncertainty lessened following an agreement with the U.S.
Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Sept. 25.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan's far-right party courts Trump allies and vows not to get 'wacky'
By John Geddie, Tim Kelly and Nathan Layne
Sanseito has set up an international arm to court Trump's allies, betting that conservative recognition will help it shake up staid Japanese politics.
Sanseito party leader Sohei Kamiya speaks during an interview in Tokyo on Sept. 25.

JAPAN

A couple poses with the rainbow flag, which they brought from their home for a wedding photoshoot in Tokyo in November 2023.
Same-sex partners recognized under more laws in Japan
However, the government maintains the position that same-sex partners are not covered by 120 laws and ordinances, including those related to taxes and social security.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung before their meeting in Busan, South Korea, on Tuesday
Japan and South Korea tout stable ties, but concerns rise over Ishiba’s replacement
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung looked to regularize “shuttle diplomacy,” but much may hinge on Japan’s next leader.
Police in Japan launch teams to combat tokuryū crime groups
Elderly woman stabbed to death in Tokyo's Machida
Japan shows NATO support with first fighter jet deployment to Canada, Europe
By Gabriel Dominguez
Akira Ishii, former lawmaker, indicted without arrest over alleged fraud

BUSINESS

Only two of the five candidates of the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election — Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (center) and former policy chief Toshimitsu Motegi (second from left) — own stock.
Japan’s would-be leaders ignore call to invest in stocks
By Toshiro Hasegawa
Only two of the five candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election own stock, compared with five out of nine in last year's leadership race.
U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer speaks during an Economic Club of New York luncheon in New York on Tuesday.
Trump trade chief expects U.S. to ink more deals during Asia trip
By Lauren Dezenski
The U.S. president is set to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, and has been invited to a Southeast Asian leaders' summit in Malaysia.
Taiwan rejects U.S. demand for half of its chips to be made in America
By Yian Lee
Nissan to reboot Xterra SUV as a hybrid, freezes plans for U.S. EV
By Chester Dawson
Ruling-opposition talks on gasoline tax cut stall ahead of LDP election
Marubeni to lift Japan power business with new trading firm
By Shoko Oda and Koh Yoshida

WORLD

A U.S. flag is illuminated in a doorway of the otherwise empty rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in the hours before a partial government shutdown in Washington on Tuesday.
U.S. government shutdown begins after Congress fails to reach deal
By Frankie TAGGART
The shutdown comes as deep partisan divisions in Washington have raised fears regarding the length and consequences of the halt.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, the same day the White House released a 20-point plan designed to end the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza
With all-or-nothing Gaza plan, Trump turns tables for Israel
By Shaun TANDON
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Hamas would "pay in hell" if it did not accept the 20-point plan within days.
Philippines quake kills dozens as injured overwhelm hospitals
By Pam Castro
Trump says U.S. close to finalizing $500 million Harvard deal
By Hadriana Lowenkron and Liam Knox
Pentagon says Iraq mission being scaled back
By Phil Stewart
U.K.’s Starmer buys himself time by punching back at Farage
By Alex Wickham and Ellen Milligan

Sports

Although Ryan Bader is stepping into somewhat unfamiliar territory at Rizin, where he will be fighting in a boxing-style ring as opposed to the cage typically used in Western promotions, his New Year’s Eve bout won’t be his first time competing in Japan.
From Hollywood to Japan, MMA star Ryan Bader has his sights on Rizin glory
By Ben Cooke
After starring alongside Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Emily Blunt in "The Smashing Machine," Ryan Bader has a new mission: become a champion with Rizin.
Ohtani erupts with two homers as Dodgers down Reds in postseason opener
Thorns trade midfielder Hina Sugita to Angel City
'Special One' Mourinho makes low-key, losing return to Chelsea
By William Schomberg
Lynx star Napheesa Collier rips WNBA: 'worst leadership in world'

Opinion

Shinjiro Koizumi (center), Sanae Takaichi (right), and Yoshimasa Hayashi speak at a news conference for candidates taking part in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in Tokyo on Sept. 23.
Is this the LDP’s last presidential election?
Edo Naito
The five LDP presidential candidates — three conservatives and two liberals — are competing to offer the most uninspiring platform.
Trump and America’s tech giants: Coexistence or collaboration?
By Makoto Shiono
Is Japan finally back? That’s the wrong question.
By Gearoid Reidy
Resisting Trump’s show of force
By Timothy Snyder
Graying Japan needs both globalization and immigration
By Christina L. Davis

ENVIRONMENT

An aerial view of Tuvalu in 2024. Rising sea levels caused by climate change have prompted the Tuvalu government to strike a climate migration pact with Australia.
Developing countries accuse rich of broken climate promises at U.N.
By Doyinsola Oladipo
Leaders of developing countries say rich nations must provide resources to cope with climate change, a crisis they created, but such nations have not met their commitments.
Beijing takes the lead with new climate plans amid Washington’s denial
By Valerie Volcovici and Yukun Zhang
In bid to upend global energy policy, Trump denies climate change in U.N. speech
By Brian Kahn
The unexpected upside of Canada's wildfires 
By Ed White
As Japan keeps buying gas, Aboriginal Australians pay the price
By Mara Budgen

CULTURE

Yuanhui Li's illustration is one of the awardees in the student category of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators' annual award for artists.
Architecture art exhibition highlights unsung industry artists
By Zoria Petkoska
For only the second time in its 39-year history, the “Architecture in Perspective” exhibition will take place in Japan's capital.
Nodoka Okisawa is carrying the baton for Seiji Ozawa in Matsumoto
By Chiho Iuchi
‘Hero’s Island’: Okinawa-set epic is lavishly realized but lacks bite
By James Hadfield
The familiar is made surreal in ‘After the Quake’
By Mark Schilling
Finding jazz in J-pop: Patrick Bartley’s musical second language
By Ryne Hisada

LIFE

The Osaka Expo will release a wave a new products in October, including a limited edition Labubu Myaku-Myaku figurine.
Myaku-Myaku gets the Labubu treatment at the Osaka Expo
By Alyssa I. Smith
With just weeks left before its final day, Osaka Expo is dialing up the ugly cuteness of its beloved blobby mascot and tapping into the global Labubu craze.
Autumn eggplants offer a juicy start to the season
By Makiko Itoh
Tokyo retains Michelin crown with 160 starred restaurants for 2026
By Weiwen Lin
Auberge Eaufeu brings French flair to a quiet village in Ishikawa
By Robbie Swinnerton
Oh, Ed(o)! Where have all the vowels gone?
By Peter Backhaus

COMMUNITY

The Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community brings together local and global professionals from a range of industries, backgrounds and ages and collaborates with government-sponsored entities and nonprofit organizations.
Stirred, not shaken: Kyoto business platform blends local and global
By Samantha Seghers
Since its launch in 2018, the Kyoto International Entrepreneur Community has amassed a diverse membership and built solid relationships with local organizations.
Scaredy-cat Kashata is searching for a friend
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
By Louise George Kittaka
Tax-advantaged investments no lost cause for U.S. residents of Japan
By Gendel Gento
The journey of Peru’s Nikkei: Finding identity in Japan
By Christoph Sponsel

Editors' Picks

BASEBALL
How Ohtani has boosted Japan's soft power and made LA even more baseball-obsessed
By Laura Studarus
Fans at Dodger Stadium pose in front of a mural highlighting the Dodgers' Japanese stars from past and present during a game earlier this year.
ENVIRONMENT
Japan faces fresh energy challenge as it seeks to expand power-hungry data centers
By Eric Margolis
Data storage tapes at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center facility in Berkeley, California. Data centers consume massive amounts of electricity and water, and that will only rise as generative artificial intelligence takes off in earnest.
CULTURE
Architecture art exhibition highlights unsung industry artists
By Zoria Petkoska
Yuanhui Li's illustration is one of the awardees in the student category of the American Society of Architectural Illustrators' annual award for artists.
JAPAN
On defense and foreign policy, LDP candidates largely align — except where they don’t
By Jesse Johnson
The Liberal Democratic Party presidential election candidates in Nagoya on Friday
MORE SPORTS
Can Japan crack the China code in table tennis?
By Mai Yoshikawa
Tomokazu Harimoto waits for China's Wang Chuqin to serve during the men's singles final at the WTT Champions Yokohama 2025 tournament on Aug. 11.

Podcast

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

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo
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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Japanese team detects gradual seafloor caving near Nankai Trough
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at the Prime Minister's Office on Sept. 1 during an anti-disaster drill simulating an earthquake in the Nankai Trough.
JAPAN
Japan sees 40% surge in chronic bowel disease cases over eight years
By Jessica Speed
Japanese researchers estimated that as of 2023, there were 316,900 people in Japan with ulcerative colitis and 95,700 with Crohn’s disease.
JAPAN
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?
By Alex K.T. Martin
Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
JAPAN
Osaka Expo visitors exceed breakeven point
The Osaka Expo in Osaka on Sept. 13. The daily number of visitors to the expo has topped 200,000 since mid-September as its Oct. 13 closing approaches.
SUMO
Onosato’s fifth title cements preeminent position in Japan’s national sport
By John Gunning
Onosato's victory at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament gave him his fifth Emperor’s Cup at the age of 25.