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July 09, 2025
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July 09, 2025
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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi (left) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center) look on during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Trump signals continuing trade-defense link as tariff talks drag on
By Jesse Johnson
The U.S. leader has again alleged that Seoul is taking advantage of Washington on defense spending and burden-sharing — a worrying sign that may also have implications for Tokyo.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as Attorney General Pam Bondi (left) and Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center) look on during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on Tuesday.
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
JAPAN / Politics
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
Sound bites such as “Japanese First” and “revision of preferential treatment for foreigners" illustrate a worrisome trend, they said in a statement.
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
BUSINESS / Companies
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
By Elizabeth Beattie
Today, more than half of Netflix’s global users watch anime on its service, with shows such as “Sakamoto Days” and “Pokemon Concierge” proving to be massive hits across the world.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (background center) talks with local farmers in Shirakawa, Fukushima Prefecture, on Friday. The candidates of the Liberal Democratic Party and the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are set to go head-to-head for the seat there.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Districts with single contested seat hold promise of success in Upper House vote
Both the ruling and opposition parties are directing a large part of their election campaign efforts to seats in such constituencies.
Despite months of negotiations and Japan’s key role as a U.S. ally and investor, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces frustration as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats persist — damaging trust and complicating relations.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Donald Trump’s ‘copy-and-paste’ tariffs will no doubt rile ‘Mr. Japan’
Gearoid Reidy
Trump's copy-and-paste wording sent to world leaders was virtually identical, including telling Tokyo to open its "heretofore closed trading markets” — whatever that means.
Despite months of negotiations and Japan’s key role as a U.S. ally and investor, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba faces frustration as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats persist — damaging trust and complicating relations.

JAPAN

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand shakes hands with Japan's top diplomat, Takeshi Iwaya, at the end of a signing ceremony for an information security agreement, after bilateral talks in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan and Canada ink key intel-sharing deal
By Gabriel Dominguez
The agreement is another important step toward deepening ties with individual members of the Five Eyes intelligence grouping.
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako pay tribute at a memorial to commemorate Japanese nationals who died while being detained in Mongolia after the end of World War II, in Dambadarjaa, on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, on Tuesday.
Emperor and empress mourn Japanese who died in Mongolia
It is the first time that a Japanese emperor has mourned at a site where Japanese people were detained abroad, according to the Imperial Household Agency.
GSDF begins Osprey deployment to new camp in southwestern Japan
Over 10,000 people sent to hospital last week due to heatstroke
Taiwan hails Nagasaki for allowing it to send attendees to peace ceremony
Premiums and wages at heart of social security debate ahead of Upper House vote

BUSINESS

U.S. President Donald Trump (center) with Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House on Tuesday
Trump vows no tariff extension, hardens threats on copper, drugs
By Stephanie Lai
The U.S. president stresses he would not offer additional extensions on country-specific levies set to now hit in early August.
Yamanashi Chuo Bank's Tokyo office. The regional bank has set up an "investment advisory firm” to get around internal salary limits and attract talent.
Rural bank in Japan finds novel way to attract talent with higher pay
By Taiga Uranaka
Yamanashi Chuo Bank has set up an "investment advisory firm” to get around internal salary limits, showing the lengths it's willing to go to bolster its ranks.
Fuel switches in focus as preliminary crash report of Air India jet nears
By Allison Lampert and David Shepardson
How U.S. buyers of critical minerals bypass China's export ban
By Ashitha Shivaprasad, Sherin Elizabeth Varghese, Alessandro Parodi and Lewis Jackson
New board member hints at possible raising of BOJ's price outlook
By Toru Fujioka and Sumio Ito
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent to visit Japan next week for Expo
By Erica Yokoyama and Takashi Umekawa

WORLD

A law enforcement member works in recovery operations following flooding on the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas, on Monday.
Misinformation from left and right sows confusion amid Texas floods
By Anuj Chopra
Liberals baselessly blamed staffing cuts at U.S. weather agencies for flawed warning systems while conservatives ramped up conspiracy theories.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi (center) during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington on Tuesday. Bondi had assured Fox News she had a client list of financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein on her desk in remarks endorsed by the White House.
Trump faces MAGA meltdown over Epstein reversal
By Frankie TAGGART
The shutting down of conspiracy theories surrounding a purported client list of the notorious sex offender has sparked backlash from the U.S. president's support base.
Philippine defense chief rules out U.S. as factor in China's 'expansionist' agenda
By Mikhail Flores and Raju Gopalakrishnan
Supreme Court clears the way for Trump to pursue mass federal layoffs
By John Kruzel, Nandita Bose and Tim Reid
Taiwan simulates attacks on military command in annual war games
By Yimou Lee
Two killed in Houthi attack on cargo ship in Red Sea
By Mohammed Hatem, Verity Ratcliffe, Erik Olsson and Catherine Cartier

Sports

With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
By John Gunning
Modern cooling infrastructure will likely have few sumo fans wishing for a return to the hot and muggy Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Red Bull fires team principal Christian Horner
Masataka Yoshida set to make season debut as Red Sox host Rockies
Apple eyes U.S. Formula 1 broadcast rights after movie success: report
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic reportedly to wait until next summer for contract talks

Opinion

U.S. F-35 stealth fighters fly side by side with South Korean F-35s as part of a bilateral exercise over the Yellow Sea in July 2022. The U.S. Air Force is grappling with whether to prioritize air superiority or air denial in response to lessons from Ukraine and the growing threat from China.  
Air superiority vs. air denial: Redefining U.S. airpower strategy
Sadamasa Oue
The strategic debate is centering on whether to prioritize offensive or defensive airpower. The decision will determine how U.S. air resources are allocated.
Japan needs to take the quantum-technology leap
By Wakana Asano
Michelle Obama is quitting politics. Or is she?
By Nia-Malika Henderson
Ursula Von der Leyen faces a moment of truth
By Alberto Alemanno
EU-CPTPP talks highlight shared goals and stubborn obstacles
By Brad Glosserman

ENVIRONMENT

Two specimens of the Japanese beetle have been detected for the first time in France.
France worries about Japanese beetles after finding two
The insects threaten plum trees, apple trees, vines, corn, soy, green beans and asparagus, among other cultivated plants.
South Korea battles 'lovebug' invasion amid climate change
By Claire Lee
Ainu land rights in crosshairs as Hokkaido communities debate nuclear waste
By Chermaine Lee
China leading BRICS clean-energy boom with shift into solar, report shows
Europe’s climate resolve faces big test as EU unveils 2040 goal
By John Ainger and Ewa Krukowska

CULTURE

“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
By Alyssa I. Smith
Returning to Japan for the American ballet company's first international tour since 2022, several dancers speak about why they moved overseas.
Between reality and fiction: A summer’s day in Karuizawa with Minae Mizumura
By Hanako Lowry
Queer-coded yakuza story wins prestigious U.K. crime writing award
By Thu-Huong Ha
‘Try first, figure it out later’: Kom_I and Foodman’s beautiful mess
By Patrick St. Michel
‘Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl’: Beautiful, brutal and bringing back ’90s anime energy
By Matt Schley

LIFE

Once a way to transport lumber from the mountains to the coast, log rafting is now Kitayama's biggest attraction.
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
By Louise George Kittaka
Log rafting was once a means of transporting timber, but now it’s the tourist draw of a tiny Wakayama village.
Shintaro Awa appointed to head the kitchen of L’Ambroisie in Paris
By Kyoko Nakayama
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of a Japanese summer?
By Yuko Tamura
Beyond the lavender fields in Furano, a whisky distillery emerges
By Simon Daly
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
By Tan Pin Yen

COMMUNITY

Dog ownership may seem daunting in Japan, but with the right tools and logistical knowledge, you can ensure a healthy, happy life for your pet.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
By Kat Joplin
Owning a dog in Japan may seem daunting, but having these tools and tips in mind can ease your journey and bring you lots of joy.
Japanese language is your gateway to seeing the world anew
By Damian Flanagan
Miho Koshiba: ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if people looked forward to Mondays?’
By Carina Fushimi
Fine feline twosome on the hunt for a forever home
A singular ensemble: Indian food, science and Fukushima
By Trishit Banerjee

Editors' Picks

MORE SPORTS
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
By Mai Yoshikawa
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.
JAPAN
Foreign nationals' presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a campaign speech next to a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for the Upper House (top center left) in Yokohama on Sunday.
JAPAN
Scams involving police impersonation surge
By Jessica Speed
A video by the National Police Agency warns about fake scams.
JAPAN
Lawson to let visitors use larger parking lots as paid car campsites
By Yukana Inoue
A Lawson convenience store in Yachiyo, Chiba Prefecture. A new service from the company comes amid the rise in inbound tourists, making hotels and inns harder to book and more expensive.
CULTURE
The future is bright inside the visionary mind of architect Sou Fujimoto
By Zoria Petkoska
The exhibition of Fujimoto’s architecture surveys his career to date, as well as looks ahead as shown in his proposal of a future floating city designed in collaboration with data scientist Hiroaki Miyata.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Foreign nationals' presence in Japan emerges as key issue in Upper House poll
By Eric Johnston
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a campaign speech next to a Liberal Democratic Party candidate for the Upper House (top center left) in Yokohama on Sunday.
BUSINESS
Trump announces new tariff rate on Japan — and extension of deadline to Aug. 1
By Francis Tang
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a trade letter sent by the White House to Japan during a news conference at the White House in Washington on Monday.
COMMENTARY
China’s housing crisis is worse than it seems
By Yi Fuxian
Residential buildings under construction in Shanghai in July 2022. The Chinese government risks long-term decline by repeating Japan’s policy mistakes in handling its real estate and demographic crises.
JAPAN
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
BUSINESS
Japan stands its ground after Trump letter delivers 25% U.S. tariff shock
By Francis Tang
U.S. President Donald Trump (left) and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick at Morristown Airport, New Jersey, on Sunday. Trump on Monday sent letters to 12 countries notifying them of new "reciprocal" tariff rates effective Aug. 1.