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January 26, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
January 26, 2025
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Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a news conference after a two-day monetary policy meeting at BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
BOJ’s clear guidance on rate hike calms markets but may backfire
By Toru Fujioka and Sumio Ito
For some economists, the latest move was too completely priced in, begging the question of how explicitly the BOJ intends to signal its plans in the future.

More coverage

Central bank appears poised to break through 0.5% rate barrier this year
BOJ takes rates to 0.5% amid calm markets after Trump inauguration
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda speaks during a news conference after a two-day monetary policy meeting at BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on Friday.
Pete Hegseth, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, testifies during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill on Jan. 14 Washington. U.S. Vice President JD Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, as U.S. defense chief late Friday — despite allegations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and other concerns about his qualifications to lead the Pentagon.
WORLD / Politics
Pete Hegseth confirmed in knife-edge vote to be new U.S. defense chief
In a mostly party-line result that saw no Democrats vote for Hegseth, three Republicans — including former GOP leader Mitch McConnell — also voted no.
U.S. President Donald Trump is seen on a giant screen during his address by video conference at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Trump spurs surprise world rally in first week on trade respite
U.S. President Donald Trump's decision not to immediately slap tariffs on U.S. trade partners triggered the surprising market response.
Naoya Inoue throws a punch against Kim Ye-joon during their world super bantamweight title bout in Tokyo on Friday.
MORE SPORTS / Boxing
After racking up another KO, 'Monster' Inoue set for bright lights of Las Vegas
By Jason Coskrey
There may also be a big payday in Saudi Arabia on the horizon as Inoue takes his thrilling style overseas after a long run of bouts on home soil.
Aside from purely aesthetics, the flowers in Mika Ninagawa’s art carry deep cultural and spiritual meaning.
CULTURE / Art
Mika Ninagawa transforms the Kyocera Museum into a vibrant dreamworld
By Erik Augustin Palm
The artist’s most expansive exhibition in the Kansai region to date is an experience that straddles the boundaries of photography, film and installation art.
Aside from purely aesthetics, the flowers in Mika Ninagawa’s art carry deep cultural and spiritual meaning.

JAPAN

The beach on Izu-Oshima island where Shizuka Takase's remains were found in October of last year.
Suspect says woman found dead on remote Tokyo island killed herself
The suspect, tatami store manager Sotatsu Yanase, 45, was arrested Friday on suspicion of abandoning and damaging the body of Shizuka Takase.
Fuji Media Holdings' headquarters in Tokyo's Minato Ward on Thursday
Fuji TV board to meet on Monday to discuss scandal
The board is expected to discuss the company's response to calls for Fuji Television executives, including President Koichi Minato, to take responsibility over the scandal.
Chinese court gives death penalty to man who killed Japanese boy
By Gabriele Ninivaggi and Francis Tang
Japan plans to sell rice from emergency stockpiles to cut prices
By Eddy Duan
Japan's foreign minister vows to take ties with U.S. to new heights
Ishiba stresses regional revitalization in policy speech
By Himari Semans

BUSINESS

The start date and production levels for battery-powered Nissan cars to be manufactured at a plant in Canton, Mississippi, will depend in large part on whether U.S. President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress follow through on vows to scrap a $7,500 tax credit and other incentives for buyers and makers of EVs.
Nissan looks to Trump-proof North American production plans
By Chester Dawson
Nissan Motor may slow a planned ramp-up of electric vehicles made in the U.S. after halting output at a joint venture in Mexico.
Advertisements on Threads will come from a "handful of brands” and appear only in the U.S. and Japan to start, according to a post Friday from Instagram boss Adam Mosseri, who called the move a "test.”
Meta’s Threads to show ads for the first time in U.S. and Japan
It’s not clear what the revenue potential for Threads will be long term, but the service will benefit from Meta’s existing pool of advertisers.
Scandal-hit Fuji Media stock trading soars 1,767% on shakeup bet
Finance chief vows to balance economic revival and fiscal consolidation
Share of university students in Japan who accepted job offers falls
JAL top executives have their pay docked after pilot drinking incident
By Adrian Wong and Danny Lee

WORLD

The four Israeli hostages stand on a stage just before their release, in Gaza City on Saturday.
Hamas releases four Israeli hostages in second swap
The four hostages are being released in exchange for 200 Palestinian prisoners under a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the 15-month-old war in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump throws pens to the crowd after signing executive orders during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday.
Trump fires 17 inspectors general in late-night purge
By Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni
The firings of the internal watchdogs who monitor federal agencies capped a week of dramatic shake-ups of the federal bureaucracy with a focus on loyalty to the president.
Seoul court rejects second request to extend Yoon detention
Trump officials pause programs to let in immigrants, including Ukrainians
By Hamed Aleaziz
‘Awkward gesture’? ‘Roman salute’? In Germany, its meaning is clear.
By Katrin Bennhold
U.S. issues broad freeze on foreign aid after Trump orders review

Sports

Madison Keys celebrates with the trophy after winning the Australian Open title on Saturday in Melbourne.
Sparkling Keys stuns Sabalenka to claim maiden Grand Slam title
By Shrivathsa Sridhar
The 29-year-old became the fourth-oldest first-time Grand Slam champion in the professional era with an upset of the two-time defending champion.
Sinner wary of 'physical beast' Zverev in Australian Open final
By Martin PARRY
Celtic boss braces for life without Japan star Kyogo Furuhashi
Naoya 'Monster' Inoue retains undisputed title with 4th-round knockout
By Jason Coskrey
Cramping Sinner subdues Shelton and returns to Australian Open final
By Shrivathsa Sridhar

Opinion

Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol protest in Seoul on Tuesday. The previous leaders of the U.S. and Japan, along with Yoon, focused on strengthening alliances and regional stability through cooperation whereas newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy may prioritize transactional relationships.
Japan and South Korea were stable U.S. allies. Not anymore.
KARISHMA VASWANI
Political paralysis in the U.S., Japan and South Korea has left a leadership vacuum in the Indo-Pacific.
Zuckerberg's newfound libertarianism is worrying Brazil
By Juan Pablo Spinetto
Japan should prioritize free trade as it adapts to Trump’s policies
'America First' didn't just return — it has always been there
By Kuni Miyake
Europe needs a defense production act
By Nicu Popescu

ENVIRONMENT

The A23a iceberg is seen in the waters of the Southern Ocean off Antarctica on Jan. 14.
Mega-iceberg drifts toward Antarctic penguin island
The gigantic wall of ice is moving slowly from Antarctica on a potential collision course with a crucial wildlife breeding ground in the South Atlantic.
Trump withdraws from Paris climate agreement — again
Amid rising world hunger, a Japan-inspired group in Kenya is making a big impact
By Joel Tansey
Europe threatens to trigger a global scramble for natural gas
By Anna Shiryaevskaya, Priscila Azevedo Rocha, Stephen Stapczynski and Ruth Liao
In Brazil, an Amazon reforestation project seeks to redeem carbon markets
By Anna PELEGRI

CULTURE

Aside from purely aesthetics, the flowers in Mika Ninagawa’s art carry deep cultural and spiritual meaning.
Mika Ninagawa transforms the Kyocera Museum into a vibrant dreamworld
By Erik Augustin Palm
The artist’s most expansive exhibition in the Kansai region to date is an experience that straddles the boundaries of photography, film and installation art.
'Emilia Perez' tops Oscar nominations in fire-hit Hollywood
By Paula Ramon and Andrew Marszal
‘Missing Child Videotape’: Subtle chiller may leave J-horror fans underwhelmed
By James Hadfield
‘Teki Cometh’ slides in and out of a hypnotic dreamworld
By Mark Schilling
‘Sunset Sunrise’: Rom-com finds pathos in peak pandemic setting
By Mark Schilling

LIFE

Upon the release of Dragon Quest VII in 2000, hundreds of customers lined up outside stores in Tokyo to secure a copy of the new game. With a remake of a 1988 title, the rest of the world is understanding why Japanese gamers love the series so much.
Japan’s love affair with Dragon Quest spreads worldwide
By Oliver Jia
The remake of a 1988 game serves as the latest chance for the rest of the world to learn why Japan loves Dragon Quest so much.
Why tatami is going from the floor to the dining table
By Phoebe Amoroso
Global tourism is back to pre-COVID highs
By Daniel Silva
Annoyed? Unfairly treated? Express yourself in Japanese with the passive voice
By Yaeko Kabe
Japan-made games part of a rising tide of indie greatness
By Samantha Low

COMMUNITY

New Yorker Kenny Colvin opened Sanita, an Italian American-style cocktail bar, in Tokyo’s Hatagaya neighborhood in 2020.
Kenny Colvin: ‘Work hard, drink hard, eat hard … relax hard’
By Mike Fu
The owner of Sanita, a cozy cocktail bar in Hatagaya, shares his journey and inspirations.
Namnam reborn: A queer, anarchist space resettles in Tokyo's Koenji
By Aku Owaka-Haigh
Due north: Foreign-born guides introduce Hokkaido’s unique charms
By Justin Randall
Kaz Shiomi: ‘I want to show people … how to color outside the lines’
By Laura Pollacco
There were plenty of hot topics to opine on in 2024
By Gendel Gento, Kimberly Hughes, Ora Margolis, David McElhinney, Zoria Petkoska, Justin Randall, Himari Semans, Patrick St. Michel and Ansel Swindells

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
What are the real issues behind the Fuji TV scandal?
By Yukana Inoue
Fuji Television's poor handling of sexual misconduct allegations against celebrity Masahiro Nakai has led to an exodus of sponsors from the broadcaster.
CULTURE
The cartoon chaos of ‘Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi’ was ahead of its time
By Patrick St. Michel
Animated series “Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi” premiered on Cartoon Network on Nov. 29, 2004, and ran for three seasons. The show is based on real-life J-pop band Puffy.
CULTURE
How 'Twin Peaks' turned David Lynch into Japan's favorite weirdo
By James Hadfield
“The Elephant Man” and “Twin Peaks” director David Lynch became a favorite among Japanese moviegoers who flocked to new arthouse cinemas (known as “mini theaters”) popping up around the country in the 1980s and ’90s.
JAPAN
As parliament opens, ruling coalition enters uncharted territory
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers a policy speech at the Lower House of the parliament in Tokyo last November.
BASEBALL
Dodgers introduce Japanese pitching phenom Roki Sasaki
By Jason Coskrey
Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki speaks during his introductory news conference with the team in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Podcast

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

Longform

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.
Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go
By Kazuaki Nagata and Richard Meyer

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WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Chinese tourist fatally struck by train in Hokkaido
By Jessica Speed
Hokkaido Railway temporarily suspended train services after a 61-year-old Chinese tourist was fatally struck by a train in the city of Otaru, Hokkaido, on Thursday morning.
JAPAN
Chinese court gives death penalty to man who killed Japanese boy
By Gabriele Ninivaggi and Francis Tang
A woman lays a bouquet of flowers outside Shenzhen Japanese School following the murder of a 10-year-old Japanese child who was on his way to the school, in Shenzhen in September.
ASIA PACIFIC
Rubio clashes with Chinese top diplomat on Taiwan
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on as he meets with his "Quad" counterparts at the State Department in Washington on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS
Naoya 'Monster' Inoue retains undisputed title with 4th-round knockout
By Jason Coskrey
Undisputed super bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue celebrates after defeating Kim Ye-joon in their title fight at Ariake Arena on Friday.
JAPAN
Ishiba stresses regional revitalization in policy speech
By Himari Semans
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba delivers his policy speech at the Lower House of parliament in Tokyo on Friday.