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October 20, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 20, 2025
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The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai have agreed to form a coalition, paving the way for the country's first female prime minister, Kyodo reports.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP and Nippon Ishin no Kai to form coalition government, report says
The ruling party's Sanae Takaichi, and Hirofumi Yoshimura, head of the smaller right-leaning group, are set to formalize their alliance on Monday.

More coverage

Japan's fractured politics could ensnarl Takaichi's economic plans
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai have agreed to form a coalition, paving the way for the country's first female prime minister, Kyodo reports.
Japanese EV production is focusing on batteries as automakers compete for the lightest, most durable models and the longest driving range.
BUSINESS / Companies
EV battery race heats up among Japanese automakers
Batteries account for about one-third of the price of an EV and largely determine its driving range and durability, fueling fierce competition for innovation.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or JAXA, has postponed Tuesday's planned launch of its seventh H3 rocket due to a poor weather conditions.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Bad weather forces postponement of JAXA H3 rocket launch
According to JAXA, strong winds and heavy rain are expected to continue around Tanegashima, with weather conditions unlikely to improve until at least Thursday.
Flags fly near a banner depicting U.S. President Donald Trump during a "No Kings" protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, in Washington on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
As 'No Kings' protests decry Trump, surveillance worries emerge
By A.J. Vicens and Raphael Satter
The Trump administration has declined to share details about how officials typically monitor demonstrators.
Swan & Lion's Sunday roast, which is drenched in a red wine gravy, is part of a three-course meal.
LIFE / Food & Drink / Top 5
Tokyo's best Sunday roasts and all their trimmings
By Shyam Bhardwa
Bathed in rich gravy and paired with scrumptious Yorkshire puddings, the classic British dish is perfect for a languorous lunch — or dinner.
Swan & Lion's Sunday roast, which is drenched in a red wine gravy, is part of a three-course meal.

JAPAN

Former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama delivers a speech during a rally in Tokyo in July 2015.
Tributes pour in for former PM Murayama after his death
Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, which succeeded Murayam's Japan Socialist Party, told reporters that Murayama was "like a guardian angel."
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Chairman Sadaharu Oh speaks during an interview in Fukuoka on Friday.
Baseball legend Sadaharu Oh and seven others to receive Order of Culture
Susumu Kitagawa, 74, a special professor at Kyoto University and recipient of the 2025 Nobel Prize in chemistry, is among the other recipients.
Average price of rice in Japan falls for fourth straight week
Teacher in Fukuoka avoided identification on child sex registry by changing name
Nippon Ishin edges closer toward forming coalition with LDP
By Himari Semans
Coalition with LDP could give Nippon Ishin chance to advocate its pet projects
By Eric Johnston

BUSINESS

Yukinori Takada, president of Sumitomo Life Insurance, is interviewed on Wednesday in Bellevue in Washington.
Sumitomo Life to mull using AI tech to support sales agents
The comments followed a series of scandals in the industry that called into question the relationships between life insurance companies and their sales agents.
MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and Mizuho Bank intend to issue stablecoins under a unified standard for use in corporate fund settlements, according to people familiar with the matter.
Japan's top three banks to jointly issue stablecoins
MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking and Mizuho Bank intend to issue the stablecoins under a unified standard for use in corporate fund settlements.
Suntory and Sapporo to halt gift beer sales after cyberattack against Asahi
Grueling, low-paid human work behind generative AI curtain
By Daxia ROJAS
Trump says 100% tariffs on China unsustainable and he still plans to meet Xi
Trump OKs expanding credits for U.S. auto production and issues 25% truck duties

WORLD

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) at the G20 summit in Brazil in 2024.
Starmer’s China woes mean an ‘unwieldy mess’ just got messier
By Ellen Milligan and Alex Wickham
The collapse of a high-profile espionage trial has thrust U.K.-China relations firmly into the spotlight.
Trucks carrying humanitarian aid and fuel line up at the crossing into the Gaza Strip at the Rafah border on the Egypt side, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, in Rafah, Egypt, on Friday.
Border crossing to stay closed, Israel says, as U.S. alleges Hamas ceasefire violation
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell
Its reopening will depend on Hamas handing over bodies of deceased hostages as the two sides continued to trade blame over ceasefire violations.
Seoul says North Korean soldier who crossed land border seeking to defect
Ex-French President Sarkozy says 'not afraid' ahead of jail term
Growing India-Taliban ties anger neighboring Pakistan
By Juliette MANSOUR, Shrouq TARIQ and Parvaiz BUKHARI
China says it found evidence of U.S. cyber attack on state agency

Sports

Japanese skaters swept the women's podium at the Grand Prix de France. Gold medalist Ami Nakai (center), silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto (left) and bronze medalist Rion Sumiyoshi pose wrapped in their national flags during the prize ceremony in Angers, western France, on Saturday.
Japanese teenager Nakai shocks Sakamoto to win Grand Prix de France
Despite a hand on the ice on her triple Axel jump, Nakai scored a combined 227.08 points, putting her ahead of three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto.
Teen Nakai leads favorite Sakamoto at Grand Prix de France
Verstappen still in the chase but seeking perfection
By Alan Baldwin
Sho-time as dazzling Ohtani powers Dodgers into World Series with historic performance
By Rob Woollard
Dodgers ask Shohei Ohtani to pitch them to World Series return

Opinion

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a plenum session of the Knesset in June.
Has Japan’s Diet finally begun its ‘Knessetization’?
Kuni Miyake
My focus is entirely on whether Japan's parliament will finally begin to “Knessetize” (referring to Israel's parliament, and by extension, unstable coalition politics.)
Is Komeito’s split with the LDP really about political funding?
By Edo Naito
Trump’s Middle East breakthrough may prove fragile
Why I chose Japanese citizenship over permanent residency
By Jon Heese
The Sino-U.S. economic cage match heats up
By Imran Khalid

ENVIRONMENT

Greenpeace activists hold signs reading "COP30 act for forests,” during the ministerial preparatory meeting, ahead of the COP30 climate summit, in Brasilia, Brazil on Monday.
Trump’s team weighs COP attendance, but influence looms either way
By David Sherfinski
Experts say whatever decision the U.S. makes, its action or inaction will have a major impact.
U.S. sinks international deal on decarbonizing ships
Europe's bees and butterflies at risk, conservation body says
U.K. spearheads polar climate change research as U.S. draws back
By Joe JACKSON
At Osaka Expo, gas giants promote a greener future. But is it a lot of hot air?
By Joel Tansey

CULTURE

Melissa Schriek portrays the city it as a safe place of emotional connection and play between people, influenced partially by her background in dance and gymnastics.
T3 Photo Festival reframes cityscape as nature
By John L. Tran
This year’s photography festival plants exhibitions all around central Tokyo with photos that showcase urban landscapes under the theme “City as Garden.”
Kiss lead guitarist Ace Frehley dies at 74
By Daniel Trotta
Indie singer Sam Fender wins U.K. Mercury Prize
Oscar-buzzy 'Hamnet' changed me, actress Jessie Buckley says
By Hanna Rantala
‘Transcending Dimensions’: A wild trip to enlightenment
By James Hadfield

LIFE

Swan & Lion's Sunday roast, which is drenched in a red wine gravy, is part of a three-course meal.
Tokyo's best Sunday roasts and all their trimmings
By Shyam Bhardwa
Bathed in rich gravy and paired with scrumptious Yorkshire puddings, the classic British dish is perfect for a languorous lunch — or dinner.
How Japan’s greatest psychological horror game came home
By Gendel Gento
Mass-produced AI podcasts disrupt a fragile industry
By Thomas URBAIN
Pokemon brushes up decades-old formula with Legends: Z-A
The what, where and when of Japan’s autumn leaves
By Eric Margolis

COMMUNITY

Chris Glenn (right) will play Oda Nobunaga, known as one of Japan’s three great unifiers, in the 71st annual Nagoya Festival on Oct. 18 and 19.
A samurai-loving radio host prepares to become Oda Nobunaga for a day
By Gendel Gento
Nagoya-based radio host Chris Glenn will portray warlord Oda Nobunaga, becoming the first non-Japanese to join the city’s historic parade.
Beauty in slowness: Life lessons from Japanese embroidery
By Cassie Xu
Shrunali Ranade: ‘Stepping back isn’t failure but another form of strength’
By Megha Wadhwa
Student groups nurture Japan-South Korea dialogue and cultural ties
By Moe Shimizu
Linda Joyce: ‘We hope people recognize the benefits of exploring rural areas’
By Louise George Kittaka

Editors' Picks

LIFE
What does Jimbocho think of its unexpected ‘cool’ status?
By Phoebe Amoroso
Tokyo's Jimbocho neighborhood is a haven for book lovers, its rows of secondhand bookstores spilling over with printed materials.
CULTURE
What you need to see at this year's Tokyo film festival
By James Hadfield, Mark Schilling and Matt Schley
Chloe Zhao’s "Hamnet"
BASEBALL
New film explores how Japan and the U.S. found common ground through baseball
By Jason Coskrey
Masanori Murakami became the first MLB player from Japan when he made his debut with the Giants on Sept 1, 1964.
JAPAN
As they wrestle for power, Japan’s political parties must remember their base
By Eric Johnston
Rengo's head Tomoko Yoshino speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 8.
SUMO
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen
By John Gunning
Preparations advance on Monday for the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Podcast

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

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building
By Patrick St. Michel

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons
Maruhachi never sleeps in quest for better futons

COMFACTS

New Food Products Utilizing Tsunan Sake Brewery’s Sake Lees Unveiled at “TORANOMON JUST RIGHT NEW FOOD” Tasting Event
New Food Products Utilizing Tsunan Sake Brewery’s Sake Lees Unveiled at “TORANOMON JUST RIGHT NEW FOOD” Tasting Event
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

COMMENTARY
Why I chose Japanese citizenship over permanent residency
By Jon Heese
Jon Heese (second left) takes part in a 2024 New Year's nihonshu barrel opening ceremony.
BUSINESS
For Uniqlo’s founder, conquering America is personal
By River Akira Davis
A Uniqlo store in New York. In recent years, Uniqlo’s affordable, well-made basic clothes have struck a chord, especially with younger American shoppers, fueling a rapid business expansion.
JAPAN
Japan's fractured politics could ensnarl Takaichi's economic plans
By Makiko Yamazaki and Leika Kihara
Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling party, the Liberal Democratic Party, attends a news conference after the LDP presidential election in Tokyo on Oct. 4.
BASEBALL
Sho-time as dazzling Ohtani powers Dodgers into World Series with historic performance
By Rob Woollard
Shohei Ohtani hits a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fourth inning of Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium on Friday.
JAPAN
LDP and Nippon Ishin no Kai to form coalition government, report says
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and Nippon Ishin no Kai have agreed to form a coalition, paving the way for the country's first female prime minister, Kyodo reports.