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July 06, 2025
 

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Jesse Johnson
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 24, 2022
South Korean delegation faces uphill battle in rebuilding ties with Japan
South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has dispatched a team to Tokyo for five days of meetings with top officials and possibly Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in a bid to repair relations.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 19, 2022
Japan to send protective suits, masks and drones to Ukraine
The decision to provide the defense equipment to Ukraine comes after reports of a possible Russian chemical weapons attack on the besieged city of Mariupol last week.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 17, 2022
North Korea tests new weapon in bid to improve its 'tactical nukes'
In an apparent sign of the test's importance, leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the launch, telling officials to continue building up the county's 'nuclear combat forces.'
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 15, 2022
Tokyo beefs up intelligence-gathering after Russian subs test-fire cruise missiles in Sea of Japan
The Russian submarines launched the advanced Kalibr cruise missiles — the same weapons used in Ukraine — from submerged positions, successfully hitting a target representing an enemy vessel.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Apr 14, 2022
Japan at crossroads as stage set for dramatic rethink of defense policy
While a push by Abe to dispel taboos over nuclear weapons is unlikely to come to fruition, he may have laid the foundation for a change to Japan's defense-oriented security strategy.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 7, 2022
Could North Korea mark key anniversary with a nuclear test?
The U.S. special envoy has said that North Korea may conduct its seventh nuclear test on the 110th anniversary of Kim Il Sung's birth.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 6, 2022
U.S., U.K. and Australia to develop hypersonic weapons after China and Russia advances
The move by the AUKUS alliance also left the door open for other partner nations, such as Japan, to potentially work together on defense issues in the future.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Mar 27, 2022
Kishida calls nuclear threat ‘increasingly real’ as nonproliferation goals fade
The leader has spotlighted concerns in Tokyo that Moscow's nuclear saber-ratting has dealt a setback for nonproliferation — and provided a lesson to others in Asia who might emulate Russia.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 27, 2022
North Korea may be preparing for nuclear test soon, report says
Pyongyang appears to be working on a 'shortcut' to a tunnel at its Punggye-ri test facility, apparently in an attempt to repair the site, which was shuttered in 2018.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 26, 2022
Kishida voices 'serious concern' over Russian nuclear threat in visit to Hiroshima with U.S. envoy
The prime minister and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel also reaffirmed that they would continue to work toward a world without nuclear weapons.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Mar 25, 2022
With ICBM launch, Japan sees dramatic shift in North Korean missile testing
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the test would 'make the whole world clearly aware of the power of our strategic armed forces once again.'
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 23, 2022
Zelenskyy hails Japan's stand against Russia and warns of nuclear threat to Ukraine
The charismatic Ukrainian leader sought to appeal to his audience by alluding to key moments in Japan's modern history, such as the atomic bombings at the end of World War II.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 20, 2022
North Korea fires multiple rocket launcher days after 'failed' missile test
The firing comes days after the nuclear-armed North fired off what officials believe was a ballistic missile that appeared to fail almost immediately after launch.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 16, 2022
Suspected North Korean missile launch 'failed,' possibly exploding over Pyongyang
The South Korean military said the 'unidentified projectile' appeared to fail immediately and came amid warnings from the U.S. of an imminent test of long-range missile technology.
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 8, 2022
Construction spotted at North Korean nuclear test site for first time since 2018
In the latest sign that Pyongyang may be preparing to resume major weapons tests, construction has been observed at its Punggye-ri facility.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 7, 2022
Can a new South Korean president rebuild Seoul's shattered ties with Tokyo?
While Yoon Suk-yeol has pledged not to exploit historical tensions with Japan for domestic political gain, Tokyo is likely to be skeptical no matter who wins Wednesday's election.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 6, 2022
North Korea says it conducted 'another important test' of spy satellite
The test was the country's ninth missile launch of 2022 as it continues an unprecedented pace of weapons tests.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 5, 2022
North Korea conducts its ninth missile test of 2022
Pyongyang's latest launch appeared similar to the test last week of a military reconnaissance satellite, as leader Kim Jong Un continues to develop new weapons capabilities.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
Mar 4, 2022
How Germany’s historic shift on military spending could affect Japan’s defense plans
Berlin's about-face on its modest defense budget, which immediately followed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has already begun to re-energize the issue of spending in Tokyo.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 2, 2022
Japan scrambles fighters as suspected Russian military helicopter enters Hokkaido airspace
The Defense Ministry said Russia's increased military activity in the sea and airspace around Japan is a cause for concern amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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