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November 17, 2025
 

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A Chinese tour group in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo on Sunday. China has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, following a diplomatic feud sparked by remarks from Tokyo's new prime minister about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan sends senior official to China to cool boiling tensions
Masaaki Kanai, a top Foreign Ministry official, will be looking to explain that there has been no change in Japan’s existing position on the Taiwan issue.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan and South Korea lawmakers agree to boost cooperation
In a statement adopted at their joint plenary meeting in Seoul, the two groups also denounced North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
JAPAN / Politics
Japan's finance minister says stimulus package to exceed ¥17 trillion, Nikkei reports
Since taking office in October, Takaichi has pledged to compile a sizeable package of spending measures to cushion the economic blow from rising living costs.
Akihisa Nagashima, a leader of the Japanese delegation, attended a joint meeting of Japanese and South Korean lawmakers in Seoul on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 16, 2025
Japanese and South Korean lawmakers hold joint meeting
The lawmakers held discussions on diplomacy, security, the economy and culture.
Two Chinese tourists wearing kimonos take a selfie as they visit Sensoji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 16, 2025
Fears rise of rupture in Japan-China ties in wake of Taiwan remarks
By Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi broke years of precedent by hinting that Japan could offer military support for Taiwan under certain “worst-case” scenarios such as a Chinese attack.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby attend a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington on July 21.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 16, 2025
Pentagon No. 3 praises Seoul's defense budget hike as eyes turn to Tokyo
By Jesse Johnson
South Korea has become the first U.S. treaty ally outside of NATO to hike defense spending to 3.5% of GDP — a move expected to impact Japan’s own spending plans.
Finance minister Satsuki Katayama answers questions from reporters in a group interview on Oct. 24.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 16, 2025
The challenges awaiting Japan’s new finance minister
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Satsuki Katayama’s shattering of another glass ceiling last month puts her in charge of selling Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s “responsible and proactive fiscal policy.”
The headquarters of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in Tokyo's Nagatacho area
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2025
Ruling LDP marks 70th anniversary as it looks to regain footing
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Saturday marked the 70th anniversary of its establishment, as it looks to stage a comeback after recent electoral drubbings.
Chinese tourists wear kimonos as they visit Sensoji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2025
China warns citizens not to visit Japan as row over Taiwan heats up
By Jesse Johnson
Beijing’s first retaliatory move against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could have a significant impact on tourism.
Representatives from the Japan Innovation Party hand over a proposal to designate Xue Jian, the Chinese consul-general in Osaka, as persona no grata, to a staff of the Prime Minister's Office in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
China warns of military response if Japan intervenes in Taiwan contingency
By Francis Tang — Gabriele Ninivaggi
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong hauled in Japan’s top envoy to China, lodging an angry protest and issuing a direct threat.
The Japan Innovation Party's Nobuyuki Baba (left) and the Liberal Democratic Party's Yoshitaka Shindo at a meeting on constitutional revision held in the National Diet Building on Thursday. Baba and Shindo co-chair the two parties' working-level forum for discussing constitutional amendments.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
LDP and JIP to advance talks over constitutional revision
The ruling parties held the first meeting of their working-level forum for discussing constitutional amendments on Thursday.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (left) attends a session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee at the Diet in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
Prime Minister Takaichi says she sleeps only 2-4 hours a night
The revelation about how little she sleeps came after Takaichi raised eyebrows last week by arranging a 3 a.m. staff meeting in her office to prepare for a parliamentary session.
Former Ito Mayor Maki Takubo plans to run in the Dec. 14 mayoral election following her removal from office over an academic background scandal, sources said Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
Ousted mayor of Ito to seek return in December election
The city assembly passed no-confidence motions against Takubo in September and October.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi talks with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, on Nov.1.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2025
Takaichi's summit diplomacy scores highly in Jiji poll
A total of 75.1% of respondents rated highly the prime minister’s summit meetings with the leaders of the U.S., China and South Korea.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2025
Japan panel members call for extra budget topping ¥14 trillion
Members also urged the government to abandon its goal of achieving a surplus in the primary balance at the central and local governments.
The Japan Innovation Party has long sought to get Osaka designated as Japan's backup capital.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 13, 2025
What would a ‘backup capital’ look like for Japan?
By Eric Johnston
The concept faces tough questions on its substance and whether its true purpose is to realize the Japan Innovation Party's goal of making its Osaka base the natural choice.
At a joint meeting of Japan's National Governors' Association and the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea, officials discussed issues affecting both countries and the need for future cooperation, in Incheon, South Korea, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2025
Japanese and South Korean governors discuss need for cooperation
Officials talked about measures to boost the economy and deal with population decline in the eighth joint meeting since 1999.
Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki (second from left) speaks at a meeting of the party's political system reform headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
LDP begins internal talks on Lower House seat reduction
The party agreed with its coalition partner to aim for enacting legislation to reduce Lower House seats during the ongoing extraordinary Diet session.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during an Upper House Budget Committee session on Wednesday in Tokyo
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Takaichi sidesteps commitment to decades-old nonnuclear principles
By Jesse Johnson
The prime minister refrained from saying her government would maintain Japan’s Three Non-Nuclear Principles, leaving the door open for a revision.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee in parliament on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Japan to use extra budget to address bear attacks
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that a proposed supplementary budget would include spending to help local governments address attacks by bears.
Joo Ho-young, head of a suprapartisan league of South Korean lawmakers working to promote friendship with Japan, speaks during an interview on Tuesday in Tokyo.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
South Korean politician urges Tokyo to address Takeshima matter calmly
Joo Ho-young, head of a suprapartisan league of lawmakers working to promote friendship with Japan, said the issue easily infuriates South Korean people.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks at a Lower House Budget Committee meeting on Friday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Japan lawmakers eye firm response to Chinese envoy's threat to behead PM
The LDP adopted a resolution calling for a decisive response to Xue Jian's post on X, including the possibility of expelling the diplomat from Japan.
Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow. The 30 Japanese individuals Russia's Foreign Ministry targeted for the ban include Japan's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Toshihiro Kitamura as well as researchers and members of the press.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Russia bans entry of 30 more Japanese nationals
It was Moscow's first decision to ban Japanese nationals from entering Russia since the inauguration of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi last month.

At Ginza’s newest hotel, luxury is a private treasure
At Fufu Tokyo, each guest room comes with its own private "onsen" (hot spring) — a luxury nearly unheard of in the heart of Tokyo's capital.
China warns citizens not to visit Japan as row over Taiwan heats up
Chinese tourists wear kimonos as they visit Sensoji temple in Tokyo's Asakusa district on Saturday.
From France to Mali, a deportee's struggle far from home
Moussa Sacko, a Malian deported from France — where he had lived since he was a young child — stands on a street in Bamako, Mali, in December. Compared with his home in France, Bamako feels like a different planet, Sacko said.
Kyoto gets its own teamLab, largest in Japan
Visitors wearing kimonos look at digital artwork at the newly opened teamLab Biovortex in Kyoto.
Ashfall warning in Japan as volcano erupts
View of Sakurajima from the mainland of Kagoshima Prefecture
The challenges awaiting Japan’s new finance minister
Finance minister Satsuki Katayama answers questions from reporters in a group interview on Oct. 24.
At Ginza’s newest hotel, luxury is a private treasure
At Fufu Tokyo, each guest room comes with its own private "onsen" (hot spring) — a luxury nearly unheard of in the heart of Tokyo's capital.
Japan fully enters sports streaming era as fans face new dilemmas
Sports fan Tadashi Yokoyama streams basketball and fencing on three screens.
Stablecoins: Boring goes big, and now in Japan
Noritaka Okabe, CEO of JPYC, acknowledges a number of potential risks related to stablecoins.
Shohei Ohtani collects fourth MVP Award with 2025 NL honor
The Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani was named National League MVP for the second straight season on Thursday.

Podcast

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

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo
By Kathryn Wortley

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