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July 12, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
July 12, 2025
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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Growing uncertainty over whether the ruling coalition can retain its majority in the Upper House has given strength to a number of possible outcomes of the election.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
Nissan Motor and Honda Motor are planning for Nissan to manufacture pickup trucks, which are popular in the United States, and for Honda to sell them under its own brand, sources have said.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nissan eyes supplying vehicles to Honda in U.S.
The move would be aimed at improving profitability and plant utilization for a turnaround, while helping mitigate the impact of U.S. tariffs.
A firefighter stands next to a crashed Air India Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft in Ahmedabad, India, on June 13.
ASIA PACIFIC
Fuel to Air India jet engines cut off moments before crash, probe finds
A preliminary report found the plane's engine fuel cutoff switches almost simultaneously flipped, starving the engines of fuel in the crash that left 260 dead.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the East Asia Summit foreign ministers’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Trump tariffs not broached in two ASEAN-related meetings with U.S. officials
By Gabriel Dominguez and Jesse Johnson
The lack of any mention of trade concerns was glaring amid reports that countries are looking at diversifying partnerships as a way to weather U.S. tariffs.
Milpa's inventive food combines Mexican cooking techniques with Japanese ingredients
LIFE / Food & Drink
With fine dining, Milpa frees Mexican food from the grips of the taco
By Melinda Joe
The Michelin-starred restaurant in Osaka wants to show Japanese diners that its cuisine has a creative breadth beyond tortillas.
Milpa's inventive food combines Mexican cooking techniques with Japanese ingredients

JAPAN

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to reporters during Association of Southeast Asian Nations-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
Rubio says Japan defense spending hike less about money, more about capabilities
By Jesse Johnson
The comments echoed the view of Ishiba, who has repeatedly said that what is most important is the substance of strengthened defense capabilities — not arbitrary figures.
People walk past the Atomic Bomb Dome in the city of Hiroshima on June 28.
More than 120 countries and regions to attend Hiroshima peace ceremony
The number of attending countries and regions is set to surpass the record high set in 2023 of 111, according to the city.
Dual surnames for married couples in focus ahead of Japan poll
Summer vacation budget for Japanese hits record high
South Korea, Japan and U.S. conduct air drill as defense chiefs meet
By Jack Kim and Joyce Lee
Japan's crown prince and his family visit Hiroshima atomic bombing exhibition

BUSINESS

Copper rods are wound at a workshop that recycles the metal in Anqing, China, on Friday.
Trump's copper tariffs pile more metal misery on U.S. auto industry
By Nick Carey and Nora Eckert
The duties on their own may be manageable, but prices of the red metal vital for making cars have soared to record highs.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington in April.
A U.S.-EU trade deal hinges on cars, agriculture and Trump
By Alberto Nardelli and Jorge Valero
Cars and tariff levels on agriculture have emerged as key sticking points between the European Union and the U.S., sources have said.
Canada just can't win in trade war with Trump
By Marion Thibaut
Japan starts fiscal 2025 minimum wage talks
Season's first batch of saury sells for ¥300,000 per kilogram at Toyosu market
Pimco sees Japan wooing capital as tariffs spur diversification
By Ruth Carson

WORLD

A woman looks on as Palestinians inspect destroyed tents at a makeshift displacement camp following a reported incursion a day earlier by Israeli tanks in the area in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Friday.
U.N. says hundreds killed in recent weeks while seeking aid in Gaza
The violence came as negotiators from Israel and Hamas were locked in indirect talks in Qatar to try to agree on a temporary ceasefire.
Fired U.S. State Department workers leave the building in Washington on Friday.
U.S. State Department starts firing more than 1,350 workers in shake-up
Critics of President Donald Trump say the move will undermine Washington's ability to defend and promote U.S. interests abroad.
Isolated and fearing a ban, Germany's far-right tones down the rhetoric
By Thomas Escritt and Sarah Marsh
U.N. report sees no active Syrian state links to al-Qaida
By Michelle Nichols
Rubio says Xi-Trump summit looking likely
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
By Allyson Versprille, Siddharth Philip and Julie Johnsson

Sports

Onosato will be making his <i>yokozuna</i> debut during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament, which begins Sunday.
Nagoya Basho shaping up to be another red-hot affair at new venue
By John Gunning
With the IG Arena promising a far more pleasant viewing experience, anyone lucky enough to get tickets for the upcoming Nagoya tournament should be in for a treat.
Alcaraz and Sinner set to resume rivalry in Wimbledon final
By Steven Griffiths
Ben Healy rides to victory in Stage 6 of Tour de France
Amanda Anisimova proves doubters wrong by reaching Wimbledon final
No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg scores 10 in Summer League debut for Mavericks

Opinion

Tokyo’s skyline keeps evolving, but the country’s drab, outdated government district, long hours, low pay and poor work conditions are driving young bureaucratic talent away just when it needs them most.
Tokyo is missing 'Blade Runner' where it needs it most
Gearoid Reidy
Until the 1960s, Japan had strict prohibitions on developments higher than 31 meters (around 100 feet), a provision that kept cities dense but low.
Trump’s rejection of America’s founding principles
By Steve Pincus
Can China become a defender of free trade?
By Hotaka Machida
Trump declares war on the international economic order
Crypto crime is the future. Bank heists are history.
By Lionel Laurent

ENVIRONMENT

A public school teacher leads the class during the first day of in-person classes, at a school flooded due to high tide, in Macabebe, Pampanga province, Philippines, in August 2022.
Philippines struggling to ready underfunded schools for climate hazards
By Mariejo Ramos
Teachers want the government to do more than tweak the school calendar, and also invest in infrastructure that will make schools resilient to heat and storms.
In Indonesia, a startup captures coolants to stop global warming
By Jack Moore and Sara Hussein
EU’s far right to help shape 2040 climate goals after vote fails
By John Ainger and Ewa Krukowska
South Korea battles 'lovebug' invasion amid climate change
By Claire Lee
France worries about Japanese beetles after finding two

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.
The many lives of Nakagin Capsule Tower on display at New York’s MoMA
By Zoria Petkoska
Rare vintage shots and first-time shows at TOP’s 30th anniversary
By John L. Tran
‘Young & Fine’: Teenage horndog tale balances heart and hormones
By James Hadfield
‘Harbin’: Somber historical drama sees act of mercy lead to bloodshed
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Milpa's inventive food combines Mexican cooking techniques with Japanese ingredients
With fine dining, Milpa frees Mexican food from the grips of the taco
By Melinda Joe
The Michelin-starred restaurant in Osaka wants to show Japanese diners that its cuisine has a creative breadth beyond tortillas.
‘Our ultimate goal is to save every single Japanese video game’
By Gendel Gento
Is Japanese skin really ‘too smooth’ for Hideo Kojima’s games?
By Owen Ziegler
An emoji used to say it all. Now it might say too much.
By Yuko Tamura
A tiny mountain hamlet keeps traditional log rafting afloat
By Louise George Kittaka

COMMUNITY

Tobias Bieker settled in Osaka in 2018 and started "Unpacking Japan" as a side project with ZenGroup five years ago.
Tobias Bieker: ‘A good interviewer helps the guest shine’
By Gendel Gento
The host of the "Unpacking Japan" podcast offers his take on Osaka life, Japanese jazz and writing fiction.
A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan
By Kat Joplin
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

Editors' Picks

SUMO
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
By John Gunning
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.
BUSINESS
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
By Elizabeth Beattie
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.
JAPAN
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
By Yukana Inoue
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."
CULTURE
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
By Alyssa I. Smith
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
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.

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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Ishii Iron Works remakes self for workers, new energy

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
By Kanako Takahara
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
JAPAN
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
By Kanako Takahara
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
JAPAN
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
By Jesse Johnson
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
By Allyson Versprille, Siddharth Philip and Julie Johnsson
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
JAPAN
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.