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April 29, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 29, 2025
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Supporters for Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney celebrate as results are announced during an election party in Ottawa on Monday.
Breaking News
WORLD / Politics
Liberals win Canada's election; unclear if they have majority government
By David Ljunggren and Ismail Shakil
Canada's Liberals held onto power but may fall short of a majority, with results hinging on final counts in British Columbia.
Supporters for Canadian Prime Minister and Liberal Party leader Mark Carney celebrate as results are announced during an election party in Ottawa on Monday.
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.
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.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Counting the reasons why there are so few American cars in Japan
By Kazuaki Nagata
One reason is size, with American cars tending to be larger and not generally suited for driving in busy cities with many narrow roads, such as Tokyo.
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan head Yoshihiko Noda speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
CDP's about-face piles pressure on LDP to cut consumption tax on food
By Himari Semans
Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan chief Yoshihiko Noda pledged that the party will abolish the consumption tax on food products for a year.
Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka announced the birth of their first child on April 19.
BASEBALL
Shohei Ohtani's example could change Japan's views on paternity leave
By Mai Yoshikawa
The Dodgers star went on MLB’s paternity list for the birth of his daughter. MLB is the only major North American sports league that guarantees paternity leave to its players.
Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka announced the birth of their first child on April 19.

JAPAN

"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.
Nearly half of workers in Japan engage in ‘quiet quitting’
By Yukana Inoue
Some 45% of full-time employees are doing just the bare minimum at work, according to a survey by job-matching company Mynavi.
Keiichi Uchida, a member of a team of Japanese doctors who performed a colostomy reversal surgery on the younger of a pair of Vietnamese conjoined twins 30 years ago, shows a postcard he received from his former patient, Nguyen Duc, in February in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture.
Japanese pediatrician recalls Vietnamese twin he operated on 30 years ago
The younger of a pair of conjoined twins — believed to have been affected by chemicals used by the U.S. during the Vietnam War — underwent colostomy reversal surgery in Japan.
Japan's spring honors to celebrate contributions of 3,990 people
Items of an A-bomb victim who died the day he enlisted to be displayed
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.
Sony weighs chip spinoff that Dan Loeb called for years ago
Japanese brokerages struggle with volatility even before tariffs
After 100 days under Trump, investors reassess the allure of 'brand USA'
By Suzanne McGee, Saqib Iqbal Ahmed and Davide Barbuscia
Chinese tea hub branches into coffee as tastes change
By Matthew WALSH

WORLD

A car with curtains drawn, one of two, is seen leaving Hong Kong's Shek Pik prison just before sunrise on Tuesday.
First batch of Hong Kong democrats freed after four years in jail
By Jessie Pang and Anne Marie Roantree
Four former pro-democracy lawmakers, including Claudia Mo, Kwok Ka-ki, Jeremy Tam and Gary Fan, were driven away from three separate prisons across Hong Kong around dawn.
A view shows the BRICS Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday.
BRICS meeting in Brazil discusses Ukraine, Gaza and Trump's trade war
By Lucia LACURCIA
Ministers from the bloc — which has traditionally been cautious in comments about the Ukraine war — met to hone their agenda ahead of a leaders' summit in July.
‘Welcome to the Thunderdome’: Inside the dizzying start of Trump 2.0
By Josh Wingrove, Nancy Cook, Jennifer A Dlouhy and Stephanie Lai
Filipino 'caring culture' hit hard by Canada truck-ramming that killed 11
By Daniel Trotta
Iran proposes meeting with Europeans before next talks with U.S., diplomats say
By John Irish and Parisa Hafezi
Power outage brings chaos to Spain and Portugal
By Valentin BONTEMPS, Imran Marashli and Thomas Cabral

Sports

Shohei Ohtani and Mamiko Tanaka announced the birth of their first child on April 19.
Shohei Ohtani's example could change Japan's views on paternity leave
By Mai Yoshikawa
The Dodgers star went on MLB’s paternity list for the birth of his daughter. MLB is the only major North American sports league that guarantees paternity leave to its players.
FIA president considering 'improvements' to swearing rules
By Alan Baldwin
Klopp congratulates Liverpool on Premier League triumph
London mayor Sadiq Khan targets Olympic history for city
Japan and Malaysia off to perfect start in Sudirman Cup

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office on Wednesday. His push for quick wins through tariffs and other measures is risking trade turmoil with key allies like Japan.
Is there a method behind the Trumponomics madness?
Kazuto Suzuki
Washington’s policies are treading and often crossing a fine line between political jostling and economic strategizing.
Placating China won't prevent it from invading Taiwan
By Dee Wu
The world is waking up to the dangers of superpollutants
By Lara Williams
In a galaxy far, far away ... did we find life?
By F.D. Flam
Time for a civic uprising
By David Brooks

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.
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

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

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.
JAPAN
Japan struggles with gray zone of AI deepfakes exploiting children
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.
CULTURE
‘Wildcat Dome’ challenges Japan's historical narratives
By Kris Kosaka
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.
COMMUNITY
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
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.

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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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.
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
California says it overtakes Japan to become world’s No. 4 economy
By Francis Tang
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.
COMMUNITY
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa
Arunima Mazumdar, a New Delhi-based communications professional, began sharing her love of Japanese literature online in 2022. The platform has grown into a robust community known as Dokusha Book Club.
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.