Home page

 
Menu
Search
 
Menu
Search
Tokyo Weather 34℃
TOKYO
September 13, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
September 13, 2024
Shohei Ohtani
LDP RACE
Special series: Boiling Point
Latest News
Deep Dive
 

Today's print edition

Home Delivery
Subscribe for more access
Nine candidates, including Toshimitsu Motegi at the podium, attend a kick off event on Thursday for their campaigning in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election.
JAPAN / Politics
Ishiba and Koizumi speed ahead as LDP presidential race kicks off
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Despite a decline in the LDP’s image due to a large-scale political funds scandal, Ishiba and Koizumi have remained surprisingly popular with the public.
Nine candidates, including Toshimitsu Motegi at the podium, attend a kick off event on Thursday for their campaigning in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's presidential election.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un tours a facility for producing weapon-grade nuclear materials at an undisclosed location in North Korea, in this photo released Friday.
ASIA PACIFIC
North Korea unveils images of uranium enrichment facility for first time
By Jesse Johnson
The pictures could give outside experts a better understanding of how many and what types of nuclear weapons the North has produced.
Labor market reform will likely be a hot economic debate topic in the Liberal Democratic Party presidential election, the campaign of which kicked off on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Labor market reform becoming hot topic in LDP leadership race
By Kazuaki Nagata
Candidates differ in how they intend to tackle labor market issues, especially on whether to give firms more flexibility in the dismissing of workers.
A Japan Freight Railway train passes through a train station in Osaka in 2017. JR Freight on Thursday resumed operations for all of its freight trains after a temporary halt following the discovery of data tampering and other irregularities.
BUSINESS / Companies
JR Freight resumes train operations after discovery of data tampering
By Kathleen Benoza
The freight operator had suspended operations on Wednesday to inspect container cars suspected to have been affected.
Since opening in 2022 in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Comedy Bar has hosted comedy workshops, roast battles, open mics and international guests.
CULTURE / Stage
Tokyo Comedy Bar supersizes laughs with 11-night festival
By Zoria Petkoska
Spanning 46 different shows, this month’s comedy festival spotlights rising local talent and international names in both English and Japanese.
Since opening in 2022 in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Comedy Bar has hosted comedy workshops, roast battles, open mics and international guests.

JAPAN

In a survey conducted by rental housing operator Daito Trust Construction, residents praised the tranquility and safety of Daikanyama, a neighborhood in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, as well as its accessibility to public transportation.
Daikanyama tops list of Tokyo neighborhoods in livability survey
By Himari Semans
Residents score the neighborhood highest in terms of how happy they are to live in the area and how much they wanted to continue living there.
The Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau in Tokyo's Chuo Ward
Chief priest of Tokyo shrine allegedly took ¥250 million from amulet sales
The priest and the corporation that runs the shrine have been hit with additional taxes, including penalties, worth about ¥130 million.
Japan scrambled jets after Russian military aircraft circled country
Bluestreak cleaner fish can use knowledge of its size to judge attacks
Three arrested over alleged laundering of online casino money
LDP and other parties demand Hyogo governor's resignation

BUSINESS

Pedestrians cross an intersection in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Japan has experienced a postpandemic travel boom, with tourists pouring back in after restrictions closed the country’s borders to travelers.
Japan jumps to No. 2, from sixth place, in Best Countries index
By Elizabeth Beattie
It jumped from 6th place on the 2023 list as a post-COVID boom and reforms helped bump it up on the subindexes used to calculate the overall score.
Suntory Holdings CEO Takeshi Niinami speaks during a Reuters Newsmaker event in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Seven & I takeover bid shows a shift in government, Suntory CEO says
By David Dolan and Rocky Swift
The takeover bid has also left many CEOs in Japan nervous that their companies could be next.
MUFG pushes to bring its trading into electronic age, except JGBs
By Alice Atkins
Tiny Japan bank looks to grow by lending to offshore homebuyers
By Lisa Du
Over half of BOJ watchers see next rate hike coming in December
By Toru Fujioka and Cynthia Li
Gaza economy shrinks to less than a sixth of its pre-war size, U.N. says
By Emma Farge and Cecile Mantovani

WORLD

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an event in St. Petersburg on Thursday.
Giving Kyiv long-range missiles pulls West into war, Putin says
By Andrew Osborn and Guy Faulconbridge
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pleading with Kyiv's allies for months to let Ukraine fire Western missiles deep into Russian territory.
Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Tucson Music Hall in Tucson, Arizona, on Thursday.
There will be no more debates with Harris, Trump says
While Donald Trump said in his post that polls showed he won the debate, several surveys showed that respondents thought Kamala Harris did better.
China wants academic exchanges, but censorship could stand in the way
By Laurie Chen
Overcrowded prisons force U.K.’s Starmer to take first big gamble
By Tom Rees
Southeast Asia battles floods as Typhoon Yagi death toll passes 200
China to 'crush' foreign encroachment in South China Sea, PLA official says
By Ludovic Ehret

Sports

The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani celebrates in the dugout after hitting his 47th home run of the season during the first inning against the Cubs in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Shohei Ohtani moves closer to 50-50 milestone as Dodgers beat Cubs
Ohtani's sixth leadoff homer of the season came on the fourth pitch of the game.
Swallows great Norichika Aoki to retire
By Jason Coskrey
United manager Erik Ten Hag responds to criticism from Cristiano Ronaldo
Lando Norris not expecting gifts from teammate Oscar Piastri in F1 title race
Cristiano Ronaldo labels Erik ten Hag's attitude as too negative for United

Opinion

The U.S. presidential debate is unlikely to change the minds of voters significantly; instead, it may maintain the current momentum of the race, with Harris emerging as the apparent victor and Trump revealing his limitations.
Trump may not have met his Waterloo, but he more than met his match
Charles M. Blow
The race is too close to call, but Tuesday, Harris was the clear victor. Trump, on the other hand, left no doubt about his limitations.
Will the AI revolution lead to greater prosperity?
By Diane Coyle
The Fed is making Hong Kong's billionaire landlords anxious
By Shuli Ren
Is Japan an attractive option for foreign talent from Asia?
By Takashi Kumon
To hold Big Tech accountable, focus on the harms
By Catherine Thorbecke

ENVIRONMENT

A construction worker in Tokyo's Akasaka district on Aug. 21. With 886 cases, 54 of them fatal, during the period from 2019 to 2023, the construction industry leads Japan’s tally for occupational heatstroke.
Clocking off: Japan’s hotter summers put limit on outdoor work
By Annelise Giseburt
Climate change is forcing businesses to sacrifice productivity in the name of safety in industries ranging from construction to transportation.
A continent ablaze: South America surpasses record for fires
By Jake Spring and Stefanie Eschenbacher
Japan considers company support measures for long-term LNG contracts
By Yuka Obayashi
Australian airports face the worst climate-change risks
By Angus Whitley
As the Amazon’s biggest champion approaches 100, he’s still fighting
By Olivia Rudgard

CULTURE

As part of its 60th anniversary program, The Tokyo Ballet will stage “Ballet for Life,” a joyful, raucous testimony to youth and hope, among other productions created by French choreographer Maurice Bejart, who founded Bejart Ballet Lausanne.
The Tokyo Ballet marks year of rebirth with tributes to history and innovation
By Kris Kosaka
Long-time collaborator Bejart Ballet Lausanne brings masterworks to Japan for The Tokyo Ballet's 60th anniversary celebrations.
‘All About Suomi’: The leading lady shines, but the film lacks sparkle
By James Hadfield
‘My Sunshine’ brings together realism and lyricism to a rare degree
By Mark Schilling
Hikaru Utada celebrates 25 years of hits with a sold-out finale
By Alyssa I. Smith
'Shogun' clinches record-breaking 14 Creative Arts Emmys

LIFE

Elementary school students in Japan are often assigned roles like "class helper" as a way of instilling a sense of responsibility.
From kanji to math, what does a day at a Japanese elementary school look like?
By Yuko Tamura
Head back to school with this week's language lesson and learn the basics of what's heard in a classroom, as well as the activities in between.
'Dream men': Female cosplayers in China fulfill fantasies for young women
By Rita Qian
From People’s Park to Ikea, Shanghai’s seniors look for love
By Alexandra Stevenson
Ditch labor-intensive ice cream for this whisked-together parfait
By Simon Daly
From Godzilla to martyrs, Hakata doll-making knows no bounds
By Erik Augustin Palm

COMMUNITY

When it comes to a career in cuisine, chef Andreas Fuchs thinks newcomers will know within three months whether they want to commit to it or not.
Andreas Fuchs: ‘I love that no two days are the same’
By Louise George Kittaka
As the Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s executive chef, Andreas Fuchs is responsible for overseeing extensive menus across multiple venues.
Philippine envoy highlights climate and smart farms
By Louise George Kittaka
Over half a century, seeds of change grow at a Tochigi farm
By Madeleine Cuckson
Verdi is looking for a home as affectionate as him
Adrian Bianco: ‘Leaving your comfort zone keeps you alive’
By Ora Margolis

Editors' Picks

BUSINESS
iPhone 16 to land in Japan without Apple Intelligence 
By Sam Byford
Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 16 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company's campus in Cupertino, California, on Monday.
JAPAN
Small Hokkaido town ranked most comfortable place to live in Japan
By Jessica Speed
Asahidake in Daisetsuzan is located in the town of Higashikawa, Hokkaido, which ranked as the most comfortable municipality in 2024.
JAPAN
Updated Meiji Jingu Gaien redevelopment plan to keep more trees
By Yukana Inoue
Redevelopment of the Meiji Jingu Gaien district has trees in the area marked according to their status — trees marked in red were to be cut down in the original plan while those in blue were to be transplanted. In the updated plan, trees marked in red will no longer be felled, and those in blue will remain where they are.
JAPAN
U.K. envoy to Japan pushes back on Indo-Pacific disengagement concerns
By Gabriel Dominguez
U.K. Ambassador to Japan Julia Longbottom says the Indo-Pacific region offers a unique opportunity to not only tackle shared security concerns but also to generate new sources of economic growth.
LIFE
‘When I die, I would like to come back as a rice ball’
By Florentyna Leow
Few in Japan may be more passionate about the 'onigiri' (rice ball) than Yumiko Ukon, owner of an onigiri specialty shop in Tokyo's Otsuka neighborhood.

Podcast

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

Longform

A store clerk tries to cool things down in front of their shop by spraying a hose.
Is extreme weather changing the way Japan shops?
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTS note

Read more

SUPPLEMENTS BINDER

Ex.Portal By Synergy Media Specialists

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Sasakawa works for a sustainable blue economy
Sasakawa works for a sustainable blue economy

WHAT’S TRENDING

BUSINESS
iPhone 16 to land in Japan without Apple Intelligence 
By Sam Byford
Apple CEO Tim Cook unveils the iPhone 16 at the Steve Jobs Theater on the company's campus in Cupertino, California, on Monday.
JAPAN
Nine hopefuls vie for LDP presidency in complex election
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, 43, is one of two contenders who have consistently outperformed other candidates in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in recent polls conducted both among the general public and LDP supporters.
COMMENTARY
Is Japan an attractive option for foreign talent from Asia?
By Takashi Kumon
Job-seekers take a Japanese class at an employment placement company in Hanoi in October 2022.
BUSINESS
Japan jumps to No. 2, from sixth place, in Best Countries index
By Elizabeth Beattie
Pedestrians cross an intersection in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. Japan has experienced a postpandemic travel boom, with tourists pouring back in after restrictions closed the country’s borders to travelers.
JAPAN
Daikanyama tops list of Tokyo neighborhoods in livability survey
By Himari Semans
In a survey conducted by rental housing operator Daito Trust Construction, residents praised the tranquility and safety of Daikanyama, a neighborhood in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, as well as its accessibility to public transportation.