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July 17, 2025
 

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Javier Blas
The rush to electrify everything is reshaping energy, but without addressing demand, grid and supply risks, the green transition may falter.
COMMENTARY / World
May 18, 2025
It’s electricity realism, not climate denialism
Electrifying everything comes with plenty of risks of its own.
The Trump administration, in a desperate bid to cushion trade war inflation, is pushing for cheap oil, but $50-a-barrel will ultimately widen the very trade deficit the U.S. president wants to reduce.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 13, 2025
$50-a-barrel oil is a problem for the U.S. trade deficit
If oil prices fall to $50, under that scenario, total petroleum production in America will probably decline by 1 million barrels a day by the end of 2025.
A recovery in the olive harvest in Spain and elsewhere is easing the olive oil crisis, but depleted stocks and rising global demand mean prices will likely stay higher than pre-crisis levels.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2025
The olive oil crisis is over — but fears continue to linger
Prices for the golden commodity are set to drop thanks to a bountiful harvest this season. That doesn’t solve all its problems.
Notwithstanding the increase in EV sales, there are now more cars than ever powered by internal-combustion engines.
COMMENTARY / World
May 14, 2024
Nevermind those EVs — oil demand keeps growing
The oil bulls still have reason to worry: With OPEC+ trying to keep prices as close as possible to $100 a barrel, non-OPEC supply, including from biofuels, keeps surging.
A farmers open cocoa pods in Cote d’Ivoire in October 2018. Many West African farmers make just enough to subsist, with most lacking the means to re-invest in their small plots.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 13, 2024
The meltdown in chocolate is coming as prices signal supply shortages
It’s worth remembering that cocoa beans traded a year ago for $2,500 and that in 2000 they changed hands at just $650.
Asteroid mining only works in a science-fiction world where metals are thousands of times more expensive than they are today.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 25, 2023
Commercial asteroid mining has a astronomical cost issue
Asteroid mining only works in a science-fiction world where metals are thousands of times more expensive than they are today.
Peak of fossil fuel consumption may be approaching, but the post-peak period may not lead to a rapid decline, which could impact global efforts to combat climate change.
COMMENTARY
Oct 8, 2023
With fossil fuels, ‘peak demand’ isn’t what it sounds like
Peak fossil-fuel consumption will be a cause for celebration. But we should remain skeptical it’s as near as the IEA has said, especially for gas.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 6, 2023
Saudi Arabia's solo oil production cut is a risky strategy
By implementing a unilateral output reduction, Riyadh is hoping to boost crude prices.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 19, 2023
Europe is winning the winter war by sheer luck
Gas supplies are ample even if cold weather returns in force. The bad news is that it means climate change is still happening.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 13, 2023
Even with the electric car boom, the U.S. need for oil is climbing
U.S. consumption of fossil fuels is heading toward records — even amid the electric-car boom — and plastics are to blame.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 7, 2022
The Saudi-Russian oil axis snubs the West with production cuts
Coming weeks before the U.S. midterm elections, many also see the move to cut oil production as a personal attack on President Joe Biden.
BUSINESS
Dec 3, 2021
Surprise output hike by OPEC+ follows U.S.-Saudi diplomacy drive
The production boost comes even as the new COVID-19 variant threatens demand, after Washington and Riyadh reached a detente on oil prices.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2021
OPEC+ faces output decision as omicron puts market in disarray
Despite the darkening outlook of the oil market, the panel forecast an oversupply of 1.9 million barrels a day in the first quarter, down from previous estimates.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 4, 2021
OPEC+ heads for geopolitical showdown as Biden demands more oil
Bowing to U.S. pressure and opening the taps would keep Saudi Arabia's closest ally onside, at the expense of the hard-won crude price recovery that has swelled the kingdom's coffers.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 13, 2021
IEA warns world isn’t investing enough to meet future energy needs
Investment in green energy lags what's needed to keep the planet from warming significantly, while fossil fuel spending also fails to cater for currently growing demand.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 11, 2021
In a world fighting climate change, fossil fuels take revenge
Across the world, fossil fuels are making a remarkable comeback as a supercharged recovery from the pandemic boosts demand.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Mar 28, 2021
When a desert wind blew $10 billion of global trade off course
The grounding highlighted the fragility of a global network of markets and economies that takes for granted the flow of goods through it.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 22, 2018
A year ago, Davos thought Trump would be a normal president
If there was one message that echoed through the mountains ringing Davos a year ago, it was that the business world could ignore tweets from U.S. leader Donald Trump.
Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs
Researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say a new type of gut bacteria named YB328 could help unlock the potential of cancer immunotherapy.
Japan team finds ancient ocean full of squids
The ancient ocean was full of squids, whose population exceeded that of fish or ammonites, a Japanese research team mainly from Hokkaido University has found through a new method using technology.
Students in Japan struggle with Japanese language and math sections on national exam
The correct answer rate for the Japanese language section on a national test dropped to 67.0% from 67.8% the previous year among elementary school sixth-graders.
Japan launches government body to address concerns over foreign nationals
The new administrative body would serve as a cross-agency "control tower" to respond to issues such as crime and overtourism involving foreign nationals, according to the government.
Trump signals the end of the road for Japan tariff negotiations
U.S. President Donald Trump, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum (left) and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, on Tuesday
With China and Trump, Japan defense report says world entering ‘new era of crisis’
A senior member of a Self-Defense Forces honor guard inspects a formation before the arrival of Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for a visit to the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on June 30.
Tokyo stocks hit by a perfect storm of tariffs, politics and budget worries
Tokyo stocks are underperforming shares in other large markets globally.
Japan researchers identify gut bacteria strain that boosts anticancer drugs
Researchers at the National Cancer Center Japan say a new type of gut bacteria named YB328 could help unlock the potential of cancer immunotherapy.
Tokyobike founder believes in taking in sights of dynamic cities slowly
Ichiro Kanai, founder and president of Tokyobike, is developing a niche but a new customer base who want to cycle as part of a lifestyle.
Music idol and anime fandom merch is big business
Businesses who cater to fandoms gathered at Tokyo Lifestyle Week for the second annual Oshikatsu — Merch Collection Expo, a trade show devoted to fandom goods.

Podcast

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

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan
By Megha Wadhwa

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

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