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April 27, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
April 27, 2025
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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.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan to resist Trump efforts to form trade bloc against China
By Alastair Gale, Haze Fan, Yoshiaki Nohara and Sakura Murakami
Any demands from Washington on Tokyo to downgrade its economic relationship with China would potentially deal Japan a major economic blow.

More coverage

U.S. officials adopt ‘organized’ framework to handle trade talks
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.
Pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Francis during his funeral at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Saturday.
WORLD
Cardinal says Pope Francis' legacy must survive as funeral draws tens of thousands
Presidents, royalty and a multitude of Catholic mourners bade farewell to Pope Francis on Saturday at his funeral.
U.S President Donald Trump meets with Japan's Ryosei Akazawa, who is in charge of trade negotiations with Washington, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 16.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Japan is a test case for Trump's tariff deals. But talks may be tortuous.
By John Geddie, Yoshifumi Takemoto and Trevor Hunnicutt
While some expect an agreement at the June G7 summit in Canada in June, others say it will be risky for Tokyo to cede ground before Upper House elections expected in July.
Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato listens to a question during an interview at the Finance Ministry in Tokyo on April 17.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Yen and BOJ's rate policy may remain focus in Japan-U.S. trade talks
A look at finance officials' descriptions of a recent meeting suggests currencies and the BOJ's interest rate policy may remain key factors in broader trade negotiations.
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

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the opening ceremony for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, Japan on April 12.
Golden Week proves to be busy for traveling members of Ishiba's Cabinet
Some in the opposition camp are questioning the need for the trips amid economic turmoil.
Satoshi Egura, who was accidentally swapped with another newborn at a Tokyo maternity hospital in 1958, speaks during a news conference after the Tokyo Metropolitan Government agreed to help him find his birth parents.
Tokyo government to search for birth parents of man switched as newborn
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will begin a search for the birth parents of a 67-year-old man accidentally switched as a newborn at a now-closed maternity hospital.
Tokyo court fines Amazon Japan ¥35 million over counterfeit products
By Karin Kaneko
Government begins probe of Japan Post over improper driver checks
'Customer harassment' faced by 35% of local government officials
JR West marks 20 years since fatal derailment with renewed vow for safety

BUSINESS

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks at Rengo's May Day event alongside the union's chief, Tomoko Yoshino, on Saturday in Tokyo.
Ishiba vows wage hikes that keep up with inflation at May Day Event
Ishiba's participation marks the third year in a row for a Japanese prime minister to attend Rengo's May Day event.
U.S. President Donald Trump, accompanied by first lady Melania Trump, stops to speak to reporters as he leaves the White House on Friday morning.
Conflicting U.S.-China talks statements add to global trade confusion
U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that tariff negotiations were underway with China, but Beijing has denied this is the case.
Developing countries should fast-track U.S. trade deals, World Bank chief says
Maruti Suzuki profit misses estimate on higher input costs
Toyota chairman proposes record buyout of its supplier at $42 billion valuation
By Reed Stevenson and Tsuyoshi Inajima
Japan doubles down on stimulus to counter effects of Trump tariffs
By Francis Tang

WORLD

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks with U.S. President Donald Trump at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday.
Trump and Zelenskyy meet one-on-one in Vatican basilica to seek Ukraine peace
The meeting, their first since an angry encounter in Washington in February, comes at a critical time in negotiations aimed at bringing an end to the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin greets U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff prior to their talks in Moscow on Friday.
Trump says Russia-Ukraine deal 'very close' after new Kremlin talks
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again rejected suggestions that his country give up on Russian-held Crimea.
Hundreds injured after explosion at port in Iran's Bandar Abbas
Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre takes own life in Australia, family says
2-year-old U.S. citizen appears to have been deported 'with no meaningful process'
Myanmar junta defies quake ceasefire to continue deadly attacks, data shows
By Devjyot Ghoshal, Poppy McPherson and Pasit Kongkunakornkul

Sports

Al Hilal's Salem al-Dawsari during a Saudi Pro League match in Riyadh earlier this month.
Al-Hilal surges into Asian Champions League semis by thrashing Gwangju
By Michael Church
Al-Hilal was several levels above the K. League side, which was appearing in the competition for the first time.
Paul Skenes fans nine for Pirates to beat Dodgers and Yamamoto
NFL may open 2026 season in Australia
Focus shifts to defense in NFL draft as Shedeur Sanders continues to wait
Wolves pull away to beat Lakers and take 2-1 series lead

Opinion

Since Donald Trump’s return to the U.S. presidency, his rhetoric, tariffs and threats toward allies have helped boost left-leaning or anti-Trump candidates in elections around the world.
The 'Trump effect' on elections is just beginning, including in Japan
Joshua Kurlantzick
Since his inauguration, the new U.S. president seems to be creating a “Trump effect” on many, though not all, foreign elections.
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
Creating the best possible climate models is existential
By Alexander Pui

ENVIRONMENT

Pope Francis leads a prayer in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 31, 2023.
Pope Francis saw defending the climate as an urgent priority for the world
By Eric Roston
Pope Francis spoke and wrote often about climate change, telling oil and gas executives in 2018 that transitioning to clean energy was a "duty” to humanity.
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
Tentative tree planting 'decades overdue' in sweltering Athens
By John HADOULIS

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

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.
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa
The founder of Dokusha Book Club talks about why Indian readers love Japanese books and the community that she’s forged, online and offline.
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
Montessori head educates Tokyo’s children for life
By Louise George Kittaka

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

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.
By Tomoko Otake

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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

WHAT’S TRENDING

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.
BUSINESS
Japan doubles down on stimulus to counter effects of Trump tariffs
By Francis Tang
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks about U.S. tariffs in Tokyo last week.
JAPAN
Tokyo court fines Amazon Japan ¥35 million over counterfeit products
By Karin Kaneko
Takahiro Fujii (center), the president of Try and E, and his lawyers speak during a news conference on Friday in Tokyo after a ruling was handed down in a case against Amazon 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
Toyota chairman proposes record buyout of its supplier at $42 billion valuation
By Reed Stevenson and Tsuyoshi Inajima
Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Akio Toyoda after a meeting in Beijing last month