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October 15, 2024
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 15, 2024
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Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (center right) makes a speech Sunday in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, along with Komeito leader Keiichi Ishii (center left).
JAPAN / Politics
General election campaigning to kick off Tuesday
By Eric Johnston
Rocked by a political funds scandal that engulfed the party and led to the dissolution of most of its factions, the LDP faces its toughest election since 2012.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (center right) makes a speech Sunday in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, along with Komeito leader Keiichi Ishii (center left).
A map released Monday shows the locations of the Joint Sword-2024B military drills being conducted by China around Taiwan. China deployed planes and ships to encircle the island in drills Beijing said were aimed at sending a "stern warning" to "separatist" forces on the self-ruled island.
ASIA PACIFIC
China kicks off fresh round of large-scale war games around Taiwan
By Jesse Johnson
The exercises, code-named Joint Sword-2024B, are intended to 'test the joint operations capabilities of the theater command's troops.'
Toshiyuki Mimaki, the co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, offers flowers Sunday at the cenotaph for those who died in and after the atomic bombing in the city of Hiroshima.
JAPAN / Society
Aging A-bomb survivors face challenges in passing on their stories
The average age of hibakusha is now over 85, and many of their organizations have either suspended or ceased their activities altogether.
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense interceptor is launched during a successful intercept test, in this undated handout photo.
WORLD / Politics
U.S. to send antimissile system and troops to Israel, Pentagon says
By Phil Stewart and Jasper Ward
The move is meant 'to defend Israel,' U.S. President Joe Biden said.
A Nepali paramilitary police force office in the village Hilsa, Nepal, on Oct. 12, 2023
ASIA PACIFIC
China’s ‘new great wall’ casts a shadow on Nepal
By Hannah Beech and Bhadra Sharma
The fortification building spree is placing intense pressure on China’s poorer, weaker neighbors.
A Nepali paramilitary police force office in the village Hilsa, Nepal, on Oct. 12, 2023

JAPAN

U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday
Biden congratulates Nihon Hidankyo on winning Nobel Peace Prize
Biden's statement praised the national group of hibakusha atomic bomb sufferers "for their historic work to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again."
Tanks containing treated radioactive water at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture
Tepco ends 5th round of treated water discharge slated for fiscal 2024
About 7,800 metric tons of the water, diluted with seawater, was released about 1 kilometer offshore through an undersea tunnel.
Hakamata makes first public appearance since acquittal
Ishiba tells LDP to discuss Asian security issues
Japan's empress emerita leaves hospital
Amid skepticism, CDP faces once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Oct. 27 polls
By Gabriele Ninivaggi

BUSINESS

Capsule hotels were created as a way to deal with the amount of overwork employees tend to do in Japan. Can't commute home? Then spend the night in an tiny, affordable sleeping space.
Japan wakes up to the market for a proper sleep
By Alex K.T. Martin
After years of sleep deficits and drowsy mornings, a growing number of products and services are being developed to help us rest easier.
FamilyMart's net profit nearly doubled to ¥65.4 billion in the first six months of its fiscal year, though its operating revenue fell 1.4% to ¥257.5 billion.
Lawson and FamilyMart post higher first-half profits
FamilyMart's net profit nearly doubled to ¥65.4 billion in the first six months of its fiscal year, though its operating revenue fell 1.4% to ¥257.5 billion.
Norinchukin kicks off first dollar bond sale since losses
By Finbarr Flynn
Bain sought $10 billion valuation for Japan's Kioxia, but investors only wanted to pay half
By Miho Uranaka and Sam Nussey
Ishiba says not considering sales tax hike during three-year term
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Some of the web’s sketchiest sites share an address in Iceland
By Steven Lee Myers and Tiffany Hsu

WORLD

India's Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III-M1 blasts off carrying Chandrayaan-2, from the Satish Dhawan Space Center at Sriharikota, India, on July 22, 2019.
India creates space strategy to capture market beyond SpaceX
By Nivedita Bhattacharjee
At stake is a launch market worth $14.54 billion by 2031.
A man uses binoculars to look at the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone dividing the two Koreas, from South Korea's Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju on Oct. 9.
South Korea military says 'fully ready' as drone tensions soar
North Korea has accused Seoul of flying drones over its capital to drop leaflets and warned that if another was detected, it would consider it "a declaration of war."
A decade of Jokowi: Popular Indonesian leader leaves rocky legacy
By Kate Lamb and Ananda Teresia
The son almost rises: Cambodia's Hun Sen the power behind throne
North Korea put border troops on high alert after drone claims
By Soo-hyang Choi
Can the government get people to have more babies?
By Motoko Rich

Sports

Former Japan player Tadanari Lee believes Samurai Blue's victory over Australia in the 2011 Asian Cup final represented a major shift in the rivalry between the two nations.
Japan and Australia set to write latest chapter of fast-growing rivalry
By Sean Carroll
This will be the fifth consecutive time the teams have been grouped together in the decisive round of qualifiers for the quadrennial showpiece.
Jannik Sinner blocks out turmoil from doping case to win Shanghai Masters
Australia looking to 'flip the script' with first win in Japan
New Zealand extends America's Cup lead over Britain after near clash
Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry lead Ravens to win over Commanders

Opinion

The U.S. Federal Reserve's cutting of the federal funds rate from 5.3% to a range of 4.75-5%, its first monetary-easing cycle in over four years, has provided China with greater flexibility to stimulate its struggling economy.
What U.S. interest-rate cuts mean for China
Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng
The Fed's easing cycle means lower debt burdens and higher liquidity, allowing countries to cut rates without fearing excessive capital outflows.
Israeli envoy criticizes Japanese atomic survivor's Gaza comparison
Earthquakes, hurricanes and other disasters will shape our future cities
By Matthew Brooker
A dangerous dance for Israel and Iran
By Abbas Milani
A battle over the kebab’s nationality
By Howard Chua-Eoan

ENVIRONMENT

Serhiy Tsapok (left) and a firefighter extinguish the remains of a fire in a forest near Yarova, Sviati Hory National Park, Donetsk region, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, July 29.
Ukraine's vast forests devastated in hellscape of war
By Max Hunder
Both Russian and Ukrainian armies blast thousands of shells at each other every day, shredding the earth in grinding combat that echoes World War I.
Where does Shigeru Ishiba stand on the climate issue?
By Eric Johnston
Amazon prefers renewables in Asia as nuclear still elusive
By Sing Yee Ong and Ishika Mookerjee
How climate change is contributing to the intensity of hurricanes
By Todd Woody
Japan pushes fossil fuel tech in Asia carbon neutrality initiative
By Tomoko Otake

CULTURE

South Korean author Han Kang, the winner of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature, attends a press conference, in Seoul in November.
Han Kang’s Nobel win underscores essential role of translators as literary tastemakers
By Mike Fu
The trailblazing South Korean author was virtually unknown in the West just 10 years ago — then came Deborah Smith’s translation of "The Vegetarian."
Kazuhiro Soda embraces the wisdom of street cats
By James Hadfield
Long-time 'Doraemon' voice actor Nobuyo Oyama dies at 90
By Yukana Inoue
Peter Barakan’s Live Magic! takes its final bow
By Matt Schley
South Korean author Han Kang wins Nobel Prize in literature
By Thu-Huong Ha

LIFE

The Specialty Coffee Association of Japan's World Specialty Coffee Conference and Exhibition runs through Oct. 12 at Tokyo's Big Sight convention center, where Ogawa Coffee Laboratory is one of many companies showing off advances in coffee roasting and brewing.
On the ground at Japan's biggest coffee conference
By Zoria Petkoska
The biggest impact the java-centric event will have on most people might be how their local brewers make their lattes and pour-overs in the near future.
As Japan shuns stiff drinks, cider aims for a bigger share of the market
By Louise George Kittaka
Can't stop tossing and turning at night? Perhaps a bedtime story would help.
By Tomoko Otake
Can't choose a Kansai hotel? Perhaps a wellness screening will help you decide.
By Melinda Joe
Studying Japanese is like exercise: The more you do it, the better you'll feel.
By Yuko Tamura

COMMUNITY

Performers at Stand Up Indonesia Tokyo shows crack plenty of jokes, but the main purpose behind the group, organizers say, is to provide a space where Indonesian expats can express themselves about any struggles they may have about living abroad.
Tokyo’s Indonesians get through life abroad with a couple of laughs
By Yohana Belinda
Stand Up Indonesia Tokyo is a community of comedians, comedy fans and others with connections to Indonesia seeking a reminder of home.
Named for an opera, Lauretta is more adorable than dramatic
Jonathan Dunnett: ‘The ocean is far bigger than we are, and it will humble us.’
By Justin Randall
The forgotten Japanese naturalist who created a U.S. national park
By Drew Damron
What’s a mother to do when your non-Japanese child is bullied in school?
By Harriet Ocharo

Editors' Picks

WORLD
Nobel Prize in economics awarded to Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson
A view shows a screen in the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences where the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences is announced in Stockholm on Monday.
WORLD
A frustrated Trump lashes out behind closed doors over money
By Shane Goldmacher, Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman
Former President Donald Trump makes calls to voters backstage after a town hall-style presidential campaign appearance at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan on Sept. 27.
BUSINESS
Poorest nations in worst financial shape since 2006, World Bank says
By David Lawder
Afghan women after an earthquake in Herat, Afghanistan, on Oct. 10, 2023
BUSINESS
SpaceX captures booster rocket in step toward Musk’s Mars dream
By Loren Grush
Starship's Super Heavy Booster is grappled at the launch pad in Starbase near Boca Chica, Texas, on Sunday, during the Starship Flight 5 test.
JAPAN
Nihon Hidankyo members hope surprise Nobel win cements nuclear taboo
By Yukana Inoue
Toshiko Hamanaka (left), the assistant secretary-general of Nihon Hidankyo, and the organization's co-chair, Terumi Tanaka, during a news conference in Tokyo on Saturday, the day after the group was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Podcast

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

Longform

Capsule hotels were created as a way to deal with the amount of overwork employees tend to do in Japan. Can't commute home? Then spend the night in an tiny, affordable sleeping space.
Japan wakes up to the market for a proper sleep
By Alex K.T. Martin

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WHAT’S TRENDING

ASIA PACIFIC
Taiwan spots Chinese carrier as video says military 'prepared for battle'
Visitors hold their mobile phones in front of exhibits showing the Chinese Navy's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, during an exhibition on China's achievements marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China at the Beijing Exhibition Center, in September 2019.
COMMENTARY
Israeli envoy criticizes Japanese atomic survivor's Gaza comparison
The co-chair of the Nihon Hidankyo atomic bomb survivors' group, Toshiyuki Mimaki, who lived through the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, attends an online news conference from the city on Saturday.
JAPAN
Amid skepticism, CDP faces once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Oct. 27 polls
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) leader Yoshihiko Noda speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday.
JAPAN
Challenges remain six months to go before Osaka Expo
The Osaka Expo site under construction. The expo is scheduled to take place on Yumeshima, an artificial island, from April 13 through Oct. 13 of next year.
JAPAN
Rising sex tourism exposes loopholes in Japan's anti-prostitution law
By Karin Kaneko
While financial misfortunes during the COVID-19 pandemic may have driven some women to work the streets, others simply want more money to spend — or want to pay off their debts — at host clubs.