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May 18, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 18, 2025
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Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, may be closed as part of the struggling carmaker's streamlining efforts.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nissan to solicit early retirements while eyeing plant closures in Japan
The move comes after sources said a day earlier that the carmaker was considering closing two plants in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, may be closed as part of the struggling carmaker's streamlining efforts.
Police questioned a man who turned himself in as he closely resembled the driver recorded on the dashcam of another vehicle that happened to pass by the scene of a hit-and-run incident in Saitama Prefecture.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Police arrest Chinese man in Saitama hit-and-run case
The man turned himself in earlier in the day, and police are investigating his motives and his whereabouts since the incident.
U.S. President Donald Trump will speak by phone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday in an attempt to find a way out of the "BLOODBATH" in the Ukraine war, the American president said on social media.
WORLD / Politics
Trump says he will speak to Putin to end Ukraine 'bloodbath'
Kyiv said Russian negotiators have demanded Ukraine pull its troops out of all Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow before any ceasefire deal.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to deliver a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, Michigan, on April 29.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Trump’s deals cast China both as foe and prize, blurring signals
By Alberto Nardelli and Josh Wingrove
Pick through the details of recent U.S. trade negotiations and an outline of Donald Trump’s vision for the global economy starts to come into focus. As do its contradictions.
Laurent Patouillet, the CEO and president of Agnes b. Japan, says the focus of its business is to remain independent, and evolve and adapt.
BUSINESS / Companies
Agnes b. Japan CEO hopes to evolve the brand with focus on sustainability
By Elizabeth Beattie
Laurent Patouillet, who has headed the brand's Japanese operations since 2018, believes there is more that it can do to be environmentally sustainable.
Laurent Patouillet, the CEO and president of Agnes b. Japan, says the focus of its business is to remain independent, and evolve and adapt.

JAPAN

Muneyuki Izawa, chef at the Japanese ambassador's official residence in Phnom Penh, prepares Japanese cuisine dishes.
Japan working to improve treatment of 'culinary diplomats' in diplomatic missions
In July, the ministry will start accepting applications for chef positions under improved working conditions, with the improved treatment set to take effect next January.
The Suirokaku Aqueduct at Nanzenji Temple in the city of Kyoto
Lake Biwa canal facilities recommended for national treasure designation
Lake Biwa canal facilities not only played key roles in water infrastructure and power generation, but also in irrigation and waterway transportation.
Princess Aiko arrives in Ishikawa to visit quake-hit areas
1,400 photos donated to remember horrors of Aum Shinrikyo cult
Japanese man dribbles soccer ball 2,000 km across India
Iwate wildfire victims begin moving into temporary housing

BUSINESS

The Lynas Rare Earths processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
Australian firm produces heavy rare earth, in first outside China
Beijing has banned the export of processing technology that could help rival nations, and has been accused of using state-imposed quotas to control supply.
Moody's first gave the United States its pristine "Aaa" rating in 1919 and is the last of the three major credit agencies to downgrade it.
Moody's cuts America's pristine credit rating, citing rising debt
The move that could complicate U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to cut taxes and send ripples through global markets.
Wholesalers may be behind elevated retail rice prices
Fuji Media Holdings posts net loss for first time since going public
By Yukana Inoue
Tesla took back leased cars for use as 'robotaxis,' but sold them instead
By Chris Kirkham and Abhirup Roy
Japan’s steep bond curve divides investors and challenges economy
By Mia Glass and Masaki Kondo

WORLD

A woman looks at a piece of calligraphy created by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun in his jail cell weeks before his execution in 1910, at the Seoul Auction on April 22.
Independence hero assassin's calligraphy breaking auction records in Seoul
By Claire Lee
Revered in South Korea for his efforts to defend the country against Japanese encroachment, Ahn Jung-geun is best known for assassinating Japan's first prime minister.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden departs Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Jan. 20.
Release of 2023 Biden recording renews debate on his capabilities
The four-minute audio clip comes as a book is being released alleging the White House staff covered up Biden's decline even as he was seeking reelection.
Mexican Navy training ship crashes into Brooklyn Bridge, killing two
Bomb at fertility clinic in California kills one
British police charge three Iranians as part of spying probe
U.K. and EU wrangle over students and travel ahead of reset summit

Sports

Nissan's Oliver Rowland races to victory at the Tokyo E-Prix on Sunday.
Oliver Rowland’s ‘dream’ Formula E season continues as Nissan driver wins in Tokyo
By Joel Tansey
Rowland now has a 77-point lead in the championship with seven races remaining.
For Formula E, ‘sustainability is at the heart’
By Joel Tansey
Scheffler back in groove and on brink of third major title
Tsunoda walks away unhurt from high speed crash
Paolini makes history by seeing off Gauff to win Italian Open

Opinion

U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick speaks in the Oval Office after President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with the U.K. on May 8. The agreement is far from a win for London, which has chosen deference over strength in dealing with Washington's bullishness.
Lessons from the U.S.-U.K. trade deal: Don’t appease a bully
Thomas O. Falk
The tariff agreement signed between London and Washington does little to boost the U.K. economy and, despite appearances, is a diplomatic defeat for Prime Minister Starmer.
Don’t overreact to the consumption tax debate
U.S. citizenship could soon look very different
By Patricia Lopez
The U.S. will never win a trade war with China
By Kuni Miyake
Elections are fast approaching, and none of the big parties are ready
By Edo Naito

ENVIRONMENT

Ice calves off from the Perito Moreno glacier into the Lago Argentino (Argentine Lake), in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, near the city of El Calafate in the Patagonian province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, on April 21
Huge ice falls at Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier stir awe and concern
By Bernat Parera
Recently the size of the ice chunks breaking off — a process called "calving" — has been starting to alarm local guides and glaciologists.
A 26-year-old asked to help shape Japan’s climate goals has a warning
By Shoko Oda
Australian seaweed farm tackles livestock burps to combat climate change
By Gregory PLESSE
Indians buy 14 million air conditioners a year, and need many more
By Abhaya SRIVASTAVA
As world heats up, U.N. cools itself the cool way — with water
By Amelie Bottollier-Depois

CULTURE

Austrian singer Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, celebrates with the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest trophy after winning the grand final at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, on Sunday.
On a high: Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025
After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel on 357 and Estonia on 356.
Traditional performing arts are plugging into modern audiences
By Phoebe Amoroso
Netflix to stream Studio Ghibli's 'Grave of the Fireflies' in Japan
‘Kaneko's Commissary’ explores prison culture from the outside in
By Mark Schilling
Emerging Asian artists converge at the 'world’s most beautiful museum'
By Kim Kahan

LIFE

With the weather warming up, there's no better time to make a bowl of chilled "surinagashi-jiru" (pureed soup).
Flaunt your seasonal greens with Japan’s traditional pureed soup
By Elizabeth Andoh
Get the best flavor out of your peas and pods by simmering them in a dashi-based broth.
A Japanese dining icon gets a (minor) facelift
By Weiwen Lin
Fighting Osaka Expo fatigue? Walk the 21-km Loop Line for a cure.
By Edward J. Taylor
Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
Speak like you scroll: A roundup of recent Japanese slang
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Ayano Kikuchi began practicing yoga in 2014 to alleviate her chronic back pain, and now shares her knowledge with the Karuizawa community as the manager of W Tree House.
Ayano Kikuchi: ‘People need to take care of themselves holistically’
By Olivia Boissel
How a corporate office worker in Tokyo became a yoga studio manager in Karuizawa
A new chapter for a gentle dog
Kotomi Li: 'I refuse to choose death'
By Kat Joplin
Reclaiming Sanya, one meal at a time
By Kim Kahan
Arunima Mazumdar: ‘Japanese literature has a niche but deeply engaged readership in India’
By Megha Wadhwa

Editors' Picks

LIFE
In Nintendo’s backyard, foreign indie game devs are thriving
By Gendel Gento
Kyoto's gaming landscape is dominated by Nintendo's headquarters, but a contingent of foreign-born indie developers is also working in the gaming giant's shadow.
BUSINESS
Akazawa's dilemma: no tariff deal or a half-baked deal
By Francis Tang
Chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in April. Since then, Japan's trade negotiations with the U.S. have produced no tangible results.
MORE SPORTS
Nissan hoping to electrify home crowd as Formula E returns to Tokyo
By Sam Byford
Nissan's Oliver Rowland drives during qualifying for Miami E-Prix at Homestead Motor Speedway in Homestead, Florida, on April 12.
CULTURE
For his first feature film, director Ryuya Suzuki created a masterpiece
By Matt Schley
"Jinsei," which follows its protagonist over a century, probes themes of identity and societal issues with a dark comic touch. The director, however, says he created the story without knowing where it would lead.
BASEBALL
Historian Rob Fitts discovers earliest ever reference to baseball in Japan
By Jason Coskrey
Japan's Shohei Ohtani carries the Japanese flag onto the field before the start of the World Baseball Classic final against the United States in Miami on March 21, 2023.

Podcast

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

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?
By Tomoko Otake

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
Success of Chinese-made fighter jets against India raises alarm in Asia
By Josh Xiao and Yian Lee
Chinese J-10 fighter jets from the People's Liberation Army Air Force August 1st Aerobatics Team perform during a media demonstration at the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand, in November 2015.
JAPAN
Japan to recognize Taiwan as place of origin in family registration system
Masataka Yuhara, secretary-general of the Friends of Lee Teng Hui Association in Japan, which has been calling for "Taiwan" to be permitted as a place of origin in family registers.
BUSINESS
Akazawa's dilemma: no tariff deal or a half-baked deal
By Francis Tang
Chief tariff negotiator Ryosei Akazawa and his delegation in the Oval Office of the White House in April. Since then, Japan's trade negotiations with the U.S. have produced no tangible results.
BUSINESS
Nissan to solicit early retirements while eyeing plant closures in Japan
Nissan's Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, may be closed as part of the struggling carmaker's streamlining efforts.
LIFE
Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese
By Yuko Tamura
A few tweaks to the conversations you learn in your Japanese class will help you sound like a native when you step out the door.