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July 06, 2025
 

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Jesse Johnson
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 6, 2021
North Korea's Kim admits economic missteps as rare party congress opens
The strongman refrained from mentioning his country's nuclear program in an opening speech, but said the economic strategy unveiled in 2016 'fell extremely short' of its goals.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jan 5, 2021
As pandemic persists, Asia's hot spots simmer on
While the region continues to focus on battling COVID-19, long-running tensions around North Korea, the South China Sea, Taiwan and others have not gone away.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Jan 1, 2021
Japan to play placeholder role in Asia as Biden gets his house in order
Tokyo will be particularly interested to see how the next U.S. president tackles China, trade, regional security as well as its relationships with Southeast Asia and the two Koreas.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Dec 14, 2020
Japan set to approve new ships and missiles but defer legal questions
Two new destroyers will fill the gap left by a canceled deployment of Aegis Ashore, while improved missiles will offer the ability to strike from beyond the range of enemies.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 9, 2020
No mention of China or Asia as Biden touts pick for Pentagon chief
Omission risks sending an alarming message to allies such as Japan amid hopes for a continued U.S.-led charge confronting an increasingly assertive Beijing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Dec 6, 2020
Biden officials to look to repair alliances and help mend Tokyo-Seoul ties
Trump's 'America First' moves have left something of a leadership vacuum that Beijing has been more than willing to attempt to fill — one of Japan's biggest fears.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 30, 2020
U.S. military in Okinawa reports single-day record 72 new COVID-19 cases
The marines said there were no indications that those infected had spread the disease to the larger population surrounding the bases.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 24, 2020
China's Wang visits Tokyo, with bilateral ties and Biden topping agenda
Japan and China have agreed to restart business travel between the two countries later this month.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 23, 2020
Biden to prioritize COVID-19, but Kim Jong Un may have other ideas
'The Biden administration cannot afford to ignore Pyongyang — and North Korea has ways of ensuring it is not ignored,' says former U.S. State Department official Evans Revere.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 18, 2020
U.S. Aegis warship successfully intercepts mock ICBM in first-of-its-kind test
The test could give the incoming U.S. administration a potent new weapon for defending against North Korean long-range missiles.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 13, 2020
Taiwan Defense Ministry, Pentagon deny U.S. Marines' presence for training
Taiwan's Defense Ministry and U.S. Defense Department have denied reports of U.S. Marines visiting the island to train Taiwanese forces.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 9, 2020
After sending congratulatory note, Suga ponders his approach to Biden
Moving from Trump's impetuous style to a more conventional approach will be an abrupt change for Tokyo, which has grown accustomed to the president's mercurial manner.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2020
Future direction of U.S.-Japan relationship in balance as election results stall
Tokyo mum as it watches Washington edge toward an electoral crisis that threatens to take American focus off of the region.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 4, 2020
Malabar military exercises with 'Quad' nations begin in message to China
It is unclear if the exercises will ultimately be formalized within the loose architecture of the Quad, but experts say this year's drills are a step in that direction.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 1, 2020
Whether it's Biden or Trump, allies fret being forgotten amid U.S. turmoil
No matter who emerges as the victor in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, one thing is clear: The winner's focus will turn immediately to domestic issues.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 28, 2020
Once unimaginable, some now debating return of U.S. forces to Taiwan
A recent essay in a U.S. Army journal contends that a military presence is necessary to deter an increasingly capable Chinese military from an attack on the island.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Oct 12, 2020
North Korea's new missile: political ploy or game-changing weapon?
Observers say that as Pyongyang's capabilities grow, U.S. military planners could become more reluctant to stand up to North Korean coercion in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 11, 2020
North Korea unveils massive new missile in move U.S. calls 'disappointing'
Ultimately, the message the North could be trying to convey is that its nuclear weapons are here to stay, said a North Korea expert from MIT.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Oct 8, 2020
At North Korean military parade, get ready for 'something big'
Pyongyang may use its 75th anniversary event Saturday to show off larger, heavier missile systems and launchers — and put the U.S. and Japan on notice.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Oct 7, 2020
'Quad' meeting in Tokyo prizes symbolism over substance
With China the elephant in the room, just showing up may have been part, if not the main point, of the dialogue for the U.S., Japan, India and Australia.
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
Residents of Tokara Islands begin evacuation as seismic swarm continues
Details about evacuations from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecture, is seen written on a whiteboard in the city of Kagoshima on Thursday.
U.S. military apologizes over Okinawa sexual assault case
Col. Neil Owens (right), chief of staff for the 3rd Marine Division, bows in apology at the Okinawa Prefectural Government office in Naha on Thursday.
Ghibli’s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
“The man who planted Japanese animation” exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan’s women’s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai’s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on Japanese culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.
As Southeast Asia heats up, a Japanese cooling giant sees a major opportunity
An employee of Daikin Cambodia explains the use of different tools during an air conditioner installation training session in Phnom Penh. Daikin is one of Japan’s oldest air conditioning companies, but as Japan’s population falls, the firm is keying in on overseas growth.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
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