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September 03, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 03, 2025
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping is flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Xi — joined by Kim and Putin — delivers stark warning at military parade
By Jesse Johnson
Chinese leader Xi Jinping warned in a speech that the world is facing a choice of war or peace, as his country marked 80 years since Japan’s defeat in World War II.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping is flanked by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing on Wednesday.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Hiroshi Moriyama speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP secretary-general offers to step down over Upper House election losses
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Hiroshi Moriyama says he will entrust his future to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is party president.
Takeshi Niinami, then-chief executive officer of Suntory Holdings, in May 2024
BUSINESS / Companies
Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami resigns over alleged possession of illegal drugs
By Jessica Speed and Kanako Takahara
Police are investigating Niinami over supplements he allegedly purchased overseas that are suspected to be illegal in Japan, a fact that he was unaware of.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s chief negotiator, said he will be watching legal developments in the United States as tariff cases there move forward.
BUSINESS / Economy
Hope in Tokyo as Trump tariffs declared illegal
By Francis Tang
The decision is seen as potentially having some significance.
Experts say staying off your phone and sticking to a sleep schedule can help those who have trouble dozing off.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mark Japan’s Sleep Day by making some lifestyle changes
By Yuko Tamura
The Japanese are not getting enough sleep. Luckily, everyone from scientists to Shohei Ohtani are offering solutions.
Experts say staying off your phone and sticking to a sleep schedule can help those who have trouble dozing off.

JAPAN

With his administration still on shaky ground, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has yet to release a message commemorating the end of World War II as he seeks the best timing to do so.
Ishiba still seeking best timing to express view on war's end
The prime minister's reluctance comes as his administration remains on shaky ground within the Liberal Democratic Party.
A revamped 3D diorama of the Chiran airfield and its surroundings is displayed at the Chiran Peace Museum in Minamikyushu, Kagoshima Prefecture, on July 31.
Hometown donations program used to help preserve wartime memories in Japan
Initiatives are under way in some regions to keep the tragic history of World War II from fading by using digital technology to renovate exhibition facilities.
Over the Moon: Fake astronaut scams lovestruck Japanese octogenarian
Private World War II museums in Japan struggle to survive
Australian state bans fish-shaped soy sauce bottles to curb plastic pollution
Mutual cultural acceptance underpins Japan-South Korea ties

BUSINESS

A partly-used, 10 gram bag of semaglutide powder made by China-based Sinopep-Allsino Biopharmaceutical, at a compounding pharmacy in Arlington, Virginia, in December 2024.
Chinese companies turn to generics as patents expire on weight-loss drugs
By Patrick Wingrove
U.S. regulators have restricted the sale of cheap copies of the drugs, slowing demand for raw ingredients Chinese firms supplied over the past two years.
Icons for the Google Chrome and Safari apps on a laptop in Riga, Latvia, on Aug. 13. In a win for Google, Tuesday's federal court ruling didn't bar the company from making payments to third parties including Apple for default browser placement in browsers or on mobile devices.
Google can keep Chrome and keep paying to be default search, federal court rules
By Josh Sisco, Davey Alba and Leah Nylen
Landmark ruling allows Google to avoid one of the most severe remedy requests from the U.S. government after the court found it had an illegal monopoly in the search market.
Coffee roasters hike prices in Brazil as raw bean costs surge
By May Angel and Marcelo Teixeira
Apple’s lead AI researcher for robotics heads to Meta as part of latest exits
By Mark Gurman
U.S. pulls TSMC’s waiver for China shipments of chip supplies
By Mackenzie Hawkins and Heesu Lee
12 Japanese firms invest in U.S. fusion energy startup

WORLD

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (left) and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker at a news conference in Chicago on Tuesday. Pritzker said he has learned details of U.S. President Donald Trump's plans for troop deployments to Chicago from government sources and reporters, not the Trump administration itself.
'We're going in': Trump to send national guard troops to Chicago
By Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Nandita Bose
The U.S. president's extraordinary effort to militarize the country's third-largest city is likely to trigger a legal battle.
An injured boy receives treatment near damaged houses in the Mazar Dara village of Nurgal, a district of the Kunar Province, in Eastern Afghanistan, on Monday.
With aid slashed, Afghanistan's quake comes at 'very worst moment'
By Claire Gounon
The earthquake has killed more than 1,400 people and injured over 3,000, a toll that was still rising.
Brazil court shrugs off U.S. 'threats' as it mulls Bolsonaro fate
By Ramon Sahmkow and Jose OSORIO
Thailand's ruling party seeks house dissolution as opposition backs rival's PM bid
By Panarat Thepgumpanat
Ukrainian children open school year by heading underground
By Vitalii Hnidyi
Prabowo jets to meet Xi in China after deadly Indonesia protests
By Claire Jiao

Sports

Serbia's Novak Djokovic competes during the men's quarterfinals at the U.S. Open in New York on Tuesday.
Djokovic sets up Alcaraz blockbuster at U.S. Open as Sabalenka advances
By Rob Woollard
Djokovic snuffed out Taylor Fritz's hopes of becoming the first U.S. man to win a Grand Slam singles title since 2003 and will now face Carlos Alcaraz for a place in the final.
Inoue says taunts 'missed the target' ahead of world title clash
Venus Williams exits U.S. Open in style after age-defying run
Eagles eye Super Bowl repeat as NFL season kicks off with global push
By Frank Pingue
FIFA silence on sanction for errant South Africa a mystery
By Mark Gleeson

Opinion

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping attend the BRICS Summit plenary session in Kazan, Russia, on Oct. 23.
Realism and realpolitik rule Indian foreign policy
Brad Glosserman
A decade from now, there is likely to be heated debate in the United States over “who lost India,” an accounting that may rival the “who lost China?”
The fissures beneath China’s positive GDP numbers
By Naoko Eto
Indonesia’s protests may fade. The fury won’t.
By Karishma Vaswani
What is a ‘Japanese conservative’ in this day and age?
By Edo Naito
The global perils of China’s new ‘superdam’ project
By Brahma Chellaney

ENVIRONMENT

Fumes rise from the coal-fired Hunter Power Plant in Castle Dale, Utah, in 2024. A 141-page Energy Department report challenged by more than 85 scientists in a joint analysis appeared almost in tandem with a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind a 2009 endangerment finding — the bedrock of many U.S. greenhouse gas regulations.
Scientists assail ‘cherry-picking’ of Trump administration climate report
By Eric Roston
The report appeared almost in tandem with a proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency to rescind a 2009 finding that's the bedrock of many U.S. greenhouse gas regulations.
New wave: Sea power turned into energy at Los Angeles port
By Romain FONSEGRIVES
Ancient tombs unearthed in Iraq due to drought
How Tokyo's Ueno Zoo helps their animals cope with extreme heat
By Carolina Pichardo
Sky-high electricity costs hindering the U.K.'s progress toward net zero
By Kate Holton and Susanna Twidale

CULTURE

“Sympathy Tower Tokyo” is centered around Sara Machina, a star architect designing a new experimental prison in central Tokyo.
ChatGPT controversy is the least interesting part of 'Sympathy Tower Tokyo'
By Thu-Huong Ha
In Rie Qudan’s futuristic Tokyo, AI and architects take on the prison system.
YouTube Music Weekend is where Japan’s internet-born performers go global
By Patrick St. Michel
Sakurazaka46 wants the world to dance along
By Patrick St. Michel
In pictures: Koenji Awa Odori 2025
By Johan Brooks
Virtual singer Kaf's music becomes magic in 'Kamitsubaki City Under Construction'
By Alicia Haddick

LIFE

Tattoos have a complex history in Japan, but new types of temporary ink are letting locals curious about body art experiment without the commitment.
Japan is warming up to tattoos — just not permanent ones
By Saki Toi
Tokyo’s tattoo artists say natural dyes and ‘made-to-fade’ inks are helping to push back on the long-held stigma against body art.
A fuss-free Okinawan stir-fry to boost your energy in the heat
By Makiko Itoh
Sip a bespoke coffee for ¥4,000
By Melinda Joe
How to complain politely: Lessons from the McDonald’s Pokemon debacle
By Yuko Tamura
Sega's ninja-themed Shinobi series is back from the dead
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

The Betsukai Pilot Spirits welcomed new players (left to right) Yuta Yamanaka, Roman Guthrie, Scott Bellina and Leo Jiminian this year, pictured here with Yassir Lachkar of the Ishikari Red Phoenix.
Overseas sluggers step up to bat in small-town Hokkaido
By Justin Randall
The residents of Betsukai, Hokkaido — where cows outnumber people 7-to-1 — have extended a warm welcome to five players from overseas who joined the Pilot Spirits.
Smiley, spirited Hampen will run into your arms
Jesse Kirkwood: ‘Languages are entire cultural universes with all sorts of baggage’
By Kris Kosaka
Tosca turns a new leaf in a new home
More Than Music makes space for creative communion
By Shyam Bhardwa

Editors' Picks

BUSINESS
Tamagotchi hatches 100 million shipments worldwide thanks to ’90s nostalgia
By Elizabeth Beattie
The latest version of Tamagotchi, called Tamagotchi Paradise, is awarded the best digital toy at Tokyo Toy Show on Aug. 28.
JAPAN
Why Stalin didn’t invade Hokkaido still largely unknown, 80 years after WWII
By Eric Johnston
During a survey to collect the remains of victims from the Taito Maru, one of the vessels involved in the Three Ships Incident, a metal helmet was found near the stern of the vessel on Aug. 5, 1984, at Rumoi Port. No human remains were discovered.
JAPAN
More sweltering days forecast for September after hottest summer on record
By Jessica Speed
By the end of August, 8,341 people had been transported by ambulance for heatstroke in Tokyo alone.
ASIA PACIFIC
Surrounded by Chinese bases, a tiny Philippine island stands firm
By Gabriel Dominguez
A Philippine Navy sailor looks at a China Coast Guard vessel just off the coast of Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea last month.
JAPAN
‘Mount Fuji Lawson’ becomes a symbol of Japan’s overtourism problem
By Jessica Speed
A couple poses for a wedding photo in front of a Lawson in the town of Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Aug. 25.

Podcast

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

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past
By Alex K.T. Martin

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo
Foreign wrestlers have a long history in sumo

COMFACTS

Tsunan Sake Brewery Launches Limited-Edition “Yukigesho Castella” Featuring Sake Lees at “Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025”
Tsunan Sake Brewery Launches Limited-Edition “Yukigesho Castella” Featuring Sake Lees at “Tsunan Sake Brewery Sunflower Festival 2025”
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
More sweltering days forecast for September after hottest summer on record
By Jessica Speed
By the end of August, 8,341 people had been transported by ambulance for heatstroke in Tokyo alone.
JAPAN
‘Mount Fuji Lawson’ becomes a symbol of Japan’s overtourism problem
By Jessica Speed
A couple poses for a wedding photo in front of a Lawson in the town of Kawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, on Aug. 25.
ASIA PACIFIC
Surrounded by Chinese bases, a tiny Philippine island stands firm
By Gabriel Dominguez
A Philippine Navy sailor looks at a China Coast Guard vessel just off the coast of Pag-asa Island in the disputed South China Sea last month.
JAPAN
Woman dies after possible knife attack in Setagaya
By Jessica Speed
Police investigate the scene where a woman was found bleeding on a street in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward on Monday.
BUSINESS
Suntory CEO Takeshi Niinami resigns over alleged possession of illegal drugs
By Jessica Speed and Kanako Takahara
Takeshi Niinami, then-chief executive officer of Suntory Holdings, in May 2024