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Yuki Fukui (center) squares up against a student during a training session at a judo dojo in Thimphu, Bhutan.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 2, 2023

'The people of Bhutan think differently, and that has changed me'

Originally from Sendai, 26-year-old Yuki Fukui is the fifth Japanese judo coach for the Bhutanese national team.
Members of the German national soccer team train in Vienna on Nov. 20.
SOCCER
Dec 1, 2023

Germany hosts Euro 2024 draw as contenders wait to learn fate

Saturday's draw marks the start of the real countdown to the European Championship for the 20 nations who have so far qualified alongside hosts Germany.
Tesla's new Cybertruck is displayed at a Tesla store in San Diego on Nov. 20.
BUSINESS
Dec 1, 2023

Tesla's Cybertruck is priced 50% higher than initial estimate

Cybertruck's new body material and unconventional, futuristic styling has added complexity and costs to production.
Activists dressed up like CEOs take part in a fake banquet near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Monday where they feign the celebration of company profits over climate responsibility.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 1, 2023

We already know what will happen at COP28

It’s beyond time to ask whether the COP gatherings work as they should. After all, we’ve had nearly three decades of summits
Tokyo Healthcare University professor Takayuki Mifune explains how he is trying to re-create bonito broth from 1,300 years ago.
JAPAN / Science & Health / Longform
Dec 4, 2023

The quest to re-create what the Japanese ate 1,300 years ago

Professor Takayuki Mifune and his team are hoping to understand, in minute detail, the culinary habits of our Japanese ancestors.
Spot workers who choose when and where to work through dedicated apps during their free time are seen as a new pool of human resources in industry sectors that have faced labor shortages.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 4, 2023

Number of 'spot workers' surges in Japan amid labor shortage

The work style has gained popularity due to the flexibility it offers: individuals can choose when and where to work through dedicated apps.
Pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow is released in June 2021, after serving nearly seven months in prison for her role in Hong Kong's 2019 anti-government protests.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 4, 2023

Prominent Hong Kong activist Agnes Chow flees to Canada

Chow, who was jailed for months in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists, cited her physical and mental health as reasons for not returning to the city.
Consumer prices excluding fresh food rose 2.3% in November from the prior year in Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 5, 2023

Tokyo inflation cools to slowest pace in over a year

The development supports the Bank of Japan’s view that it should continue to be cautious about a tightening of policy.
The U.S. Army's prototype Mid-Range Capability system, known as the “Typhon” Strategic Mid-Range Fires system, is seen in this image released in July following its successful launch of a Tomahawk missile.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 5, 2023

U.S. to deploy powerful new missile launcher to Indo-Pacific in '24

The system, which is capable of firing weapons with a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, is unlikely to be deployed in Japan.
Eiko Takeuchi talks about a traffic jam during last winter’s heavy snow along National Route 8 in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 18.
JAPAN / Society / Regional Voices: Tohoku
Dec 11, 2023

Evacuation plans for nuclear incidents called into question

Effectiveness of preparations as a “last line of defense” to save residents in the event of a nuclear disaster are in doubt.
Taiwan's Chief trade negotiator John Deng. Taipei is seeking to expand U.S. trade talks, as the island faces challenges from China in its effort to join the CPTPP.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 6, 2023

Taiwan looks to expand U.S. trade deal to counter isolation

The island’s trade officials are talking with their U.S. counterparts about broadening the scope of their current arrangement, reached earlier this year.
The building at 245 Park Avenue, which housed the headquarters of Bear Stearns in the 1980s, in New York. Mori Trust bought a 49.9% stake in the building from SL Green Realty in June.
BUSINESS
Dec 6, 2023

Japanese buyers snap up New York and London buildings in spree

Investors see attractive prices stemming from the real estate downturn, even as the yen’s weakness reduces purchasing power.
Traffic along a highway amid heavy smog and pollution in New Delhi in November
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
Dec 7, 2023

As China enjoys cleaner air, India's pollution struggle continues

Huge swaths of northern India choke on clouds of polluted air during winter as temperatures drop, winds disappear and farmers set fields ablaze.
Users often do not realize that almost all app notifications travel over Google and Apple's servers, giving the two companies unique insight into the traffic flowing from those apps to their users.
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 8, 2023

Smartphone users' push notifications spied on, U.S. senator warns

Users often do not realize that almost all notifications for incoming messages, breaking news and other updates travel over Google and Apple's servers.
U.S. President Joe Biden with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on Sept. 21.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 11, 2023

Zelenskyy to meet Biden and Republicans as war funding dries up

The funding row underscores signs that support for Ukraine is fraying just as Kyiv's counteroffensive falters and Putin's forces push for new gains.
COP28 President Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber gives a press conference at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai on Dec. 4.
COMMENTARY
Dec 8, 2023

Climate solutions are debatable, but science is inescapable

How we set environmental policies depends on how we interpret the facts.
Damaged buildings following an Israeli air strike on Tuesday
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2023

U.N. urges Gaza cease-fire as divide between Israel and U.S. grows

U.S. President Joe Biden told the longtime ally its "indiscriminate" bombing of civilians was hurting international support.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Dec 13, 2023

Sumo's big ticketing problem

Securing tickets for sumo's biggest matches can be a headache, particularly for sumo's many foreign fans, partially due to outdated information online.
Armed men stand on a beach as the Galaxy Leader commercial ship, seized by Yemen's Houthis last month, is anchored off the coast of al-Salif, Yemen, on Dec. 5.
WORLD
Dec 13, 2023

With missiles and ship attacks, Yemen’s Houthis gain regional clout

In a major escalation of Houthi actions against Israel, the Iran-backed militia hit a Norwegian tanker on Monday with a cruise missile.
Toyota dealer Hiroshima Toyopet has installed air conditioners at all 30 of its maintenance facilities in Hiroshima Prefecture to ensure mechanics can work comfortably during the summer.
BUSINESS / Companies / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Dec 25, 2023

Hiroshima car dealers seek ways to attract mechanics

Since many people use their cars as a daily means of transportation, it is essential to secure a stable pool of mechanics.
Dodgers owner Mark Walter puts a jersey on Shohei Ohtani during the superstar's introductory news conference on Thursday. The structure of Ohtani's contract could help the Dodgers get a full return on their investment in the two-way player.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 15, 2023

For the Dodgers, Ohtani's megadeal could end up being a bargain

The Dodgers have the makings of a juggernaut, and success on the field will allow the franchise to cash in on Ohtani’s transcendent marketability.
Alex Batty as he looked when he disappeared at age 11 in an undated photo from the Greater Manchester Police
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 16, 2023

Boy missing for six years to return to Britain in next two days

Alex Batty disappeared at the age of 11 during a holiday with his mother and grandfather in Malaga, Spain, in 2017.
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal during a match in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in July.
SOCCER
Dec 16, 2023

Inter Miami adds Tokyo stop to Messi tour next February

The Argentine superstar will lead Inter Miami into a match against reigning champions Vissel Kobe at the 60,000-seat National Stadium on Feb. 7.
South Korea's Jung Hoo Lee bats during a World Baseball Classic pool game against Australia at Tokyo Dome on March 9.
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 16, 2023

South Korea's Lee promises to impress San Francisco Giants fans

The 25-year-old left-handed slugger won five Golden Gloves as best overall KBO League player at his position over his seven seasons for the Kiwoom Heroes.
A view of the city of Ayodhya, India
ASIA PACIFIC / Society
Dec 18, 2023

Temple promised by BJP transforming Indian city but some miss out

Laborers are finalizing a $6 billion infrastructure facelift in Ayodhya that is igniting an economic boom and driving up land prices.
A live projection from a microscope displays a magnified image of a bedbug during a lecture on bedbug control at the Korea Pest Control Association in Seoul on Nov. 28.
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Dec 19, 2023

South Korean blockchain engineer fights bedbugs with data

Self-professed insectophobe maps out reported infestations on a website that also displays real-time news reports to keep track of the outbreak.
The government reiterated that the recovery in capital investment appeared to have stalled, while industrial production showed signs of picking up.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 19, 2023

Japan ups assessment of business mood and sticks to view on economy

In a report, the Cabinet Office said the economy was "recovering moderately although some areas stalled recently."
Muscat International Airport in Oman was ranked No. 1 in AirHelp’s just-released annual global airport scores.
BUSINESS
Dec 20, 2023

Japan scores highly in ranking of 2023’s best and worst airports

More than 4,000 airports worldwide were assessed for on-time performance, airport navigation, food and shopping options.
JAPAN
Dec 20, 2023

Visitors to Japan in January-November period pass 20 million

The number of foreign visitors, mainly from South Korea, Taiwan and the United States, is steadily recovering on the back of a cheap yen.
A 24-year-old convenience store worker (Erika Karata) is drawn out of her shell thanks to a renewed friendship in “When Morning Comes, I Feel Empty.”
CULTURE / Film
Dec 21, 2023

‘When Morning Comes, I Feel Empty’: Hidden strengths emerge despite daily grind

With an unhurried pace, Yuho Ishibashi’s drama quietly portrays the pressures of modern work culture and the importance of friendships.

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan