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July 12, 2025
 

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Sophie Yu
China's 15-day visa-free policy is giving tourism a huge boost, with bookings from eligible countries surging 150% and attracting millions of visitors post-pandemic.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 17, 2024
China strives to lure foreign tourists, but it's a hard sell for some
The recent surge in tourism comes after China closed its borders in early 2020 to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, and kept them shut until the start of 2023.
Passengers look at the tarmac as they wait for flights at Beijing Capital International Airport on April 20.
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2024
Chinese outbound travel recovery lags due to costs and visa snags
Chinese people took 87 million trips abroad last year, down 40% from pre-COVID 2019.
A Starbucks coffee shop in Beijing on May 22
BUSINESS
May 27, 2024
In China, Starbucks tries to avoid price war but gets dragged into discounting
A coffee price war in China has arisen amid persistent deflation, weak consumer sentiment, and stagnant wages.
Visa-free access for Chinese tourists to Southeast Asia countries boosted traffic and signaled a robust revival in travel since Beijing lifted strict COVID-19 restrictions in early 2023 that had all but shut China's borders for three years.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 21, 2024
Chinese tourists flock to Southeast Asia as travel bounces back
The increase provides welcome relief to countries that rely on the Chinese and their spending.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 27, 2023
Jobless young Chinese seek solace in temples and tale of failed scholar
Despondent young worshippers crowd temples in China on weekends, as they pray to find jobs in an economy slowly clawing its way back from the coronavirus pandemic.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Nov 22, 2022
China's great reopening may come too late for many businesses
China, the last among major countries not treating COVID-19 as endemic, this month unveiled 20 new steps that eased its stringent anti-COVID policies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Jul 27, 2022
Crisis of confidence stifles China's economic recovery
Consumer and business confidence slumps in China as strict curbs aimed at stamping out COVID-19 undercut a recovery in the world's second-largest economy and dent global growth.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Dec 22, 2021
China puts regulatory spotlight on livestream retail boom
Viya, dubbed the country's 'queen of livestreaming,' had her e-commerce and social media accounts shut down after she was fined more than $200 million for tax evasion.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2020
In China men's skin care boom, startups and investors seek rich glow
Already the biggest in the world, the Chinese men's facial skin care market is forecast to hit 12.5 billion yuan ($1.90 billion) this year — and expand 50% by 2025.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 9, 2020
Robust sales in China keep Uniqlo owner Fast Retailing on top amid pandemic
With much of Asia having subdued the spread of COVID-19, Fast Retailing is seeing trade return to its Uniqlo stores.
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

Podcast

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

Longform

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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