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The Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on June 12
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 24, 2024

Yen nears lows as Bank of Japan leans dovish

The BOJ has suggested in recent weeks that it might not hurry in tightening monetary policy, unsettling the market.
The U.S. will no longer view itself through the lens of exceptionalism, regardless of whether Donald Trump or Joe Biden wins the next election.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 24, 2024

American exceptionalism is dead no matter who wins the election

The U.S. will no longer view itself through the lens of exceptionalism regardless of the presidential election's outcome, focusing instead on its narrow self-interests.
A BYD Seal electric sedan displayed in Tokyo on Tuesday
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 25, 2024

BYD releases third EV in Japan as sales struggle to take off

Overall, BYD's sales in Japan fell 26% in April from a year earlier, and 28% in May.
Kaz Hosaka during the 148th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show in May. Hosaka guided two miniature poodles to Best in Show victories at the event, including the most recent one in May.
WORLD
Jun 27, 2024

Kaz Hosaka, who led two poodles to Westminster glory, dies at 65

The Japan-born Hosaka was a masterly handler for over 40 years.
Wrestler Yui Susaki, who won gold in the women's 50 kilogram weight class at the Tokyo Games, is among the Japanese athletes tipped to repeat as Olympic champions in Paris.
OLYMPICS
Jun 27, 2024

Japan predicted to finish sixth in Paris Games medal count

According to Gracenote's virtual medal table forecast, the Americans are favored to top the overall medal count with 123.
Bronny James, seen during the draft combine on May 15, was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft on Thursday.
BASKETBALL / NBA
Jun 28, 2024

Lakers draft Bronny James to play alongside LeBron in historic father-son duo

The selection creates the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Yuta Orisaka strips things back on his latest album, “Jumon,” though it still features a few explosive moments.
CULTURE / Music
Jun 28, 2024

Yuta Orisaka's folk style is far more than a throwback

The singer-songwriter wanted to make songs his grandmother could enjoy, but that doesn't mean he'll skimp on the electronic touches.
A monitor at a foreign exchange brokerage in Tokyo shows the yen falling below ¥161 against the dollar on Friday morning.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 28, 2024

Japan names new forex diplomat as yen hits 38-year low

Atsushi Mimura, a financial regulation veteran, replaces Masato Kanda, who launched the biggest yen-buying intervention on record this year.
While Japan may not have a large market for English-language publications, there's still hope to grow your career overseas while living here.
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Jul 1, 2024

How to make it as an English-language author in Japan

Some writers find career stability in teaching, while others find that the culture and vibrance of this country inspires their imaginations.
Tadej Pogacar rides during a training session ahead of the Tour de France in Florence, Italy, on Thursday.
MORE SPORTS / Cycling
Jun 28, 2024

'Unbeatable' Pogacar eyes rare Tour-Giro double despite bout with COVID-19

"The Giro-Tour double is difficult to achieve," the Team UAE rider said Thursday. "It's a big challenge, but I'm ready to take it on."
Foreign tourists visit Tsukiji Outer Market in Tokyo on June 14.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jun 29, 2024

Why it feels like everyone in the world is heading to Japan right now

The yen’s historic collapse coupled with the post-pandemic surge in global tourism has sparked interest in the nation like never before.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ride in an Aurus car in Pyongyang in this image released on June 20.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 29, 2024

Russian-made car that Putin gifted to Kim uses South Korean parts, data shows

Customs records show that the company that builds the car uses millions of dollars in imported parts, many arriving in Russia from South Korea.
U.S. President Joe Biden looks back before boarding Air Force One at Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, New York, on Saturday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 30, 2024

Biden asks donors to stick with him after disastrous debate

The U.S. president repeated that he wouldn’t be running "if I didn’t believe I could win” as he seeks to rebuild momentum in his campaign against Donald Trump.
India's Virat Kohli celebrates after his side won the T20 World Cup in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Saturday.
MORE SPORTS / Cricket
Jun 30, 2024

Virat Kohli leads India to T20 World Cup triumph over South Africa

Kohli, who later announced his retirement from T20 internationals, steadied the India innings with his fine 76 taking the team to a strong 176-7.
Market participants project the pace of Japan’s stock market rally to slow in the second half of this year.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 30, 2024

Japan’s stock rally is forecast to slow in second half of 2024

The benchmark Topix index will climb about 2.9% by the end of the year, while the 225-issue Nikkei average will rise about 4.8%, according to projections.
Temporary housing in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, following the New Year's Day earthquake
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2024

Noto area still struggling with aftermath of New Year's quake

Immediate concerns have been remedied, but the removal of destroyed homes has barely progressed, while a population outflow has surged.
Supporters react as former president of the French far-right Rassemblement National (RN) parliamentary group Marine Le Pen gives a speech during the results of the first round of the parliamentary elections in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 1, 2024

Far-right wins first round in France election, exit polls show

France's National Rally party was seen winning around 34% of the vote.
Alternative for Germany party co-leader Alice Weidel speaks at a party convention in Essen, Germany, on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 1, 2024

German far-right leader sees Le Pen victory in France as a model

"I look at the result in France with admiration and respect,” said Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the AfD party.
Business sentiment among large manufacturers in Japan in the April-June quarter improved for the first time in two quarters, but the mood among big service-sector firms worsened for the first time in four years, according to a Bank of Japan survey.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 1, 2024

Japan's shaky business mood and GDP downgrade cloud BOJ hike timing

A mixed economic outlook complicates the BOJ's decision on how soon to raise interest rates, analysts say.
The Asaichi-dori morning market area in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, on July 1
JAPAN / Society
Jul 1, 2024

Six months later, Noto earthquake victims mourned

The death toll of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake, including those who died due to causes indirectly related to the disaster, has reached 281.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Thursday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 2, 2024

U.S. Supreme Court finds Trump has broad immunity from prosecution

The Supreme Court ruling gave Donald Trump much of what he sought but stopped short of allowing absolute immunity for all official acts.
Naomi Osaka in action during her Wimbledon women's singles first round match against Diane Parry in Wimbledon, London, on Monday. Osaka won the match 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.
TENNIS
Jul 2, 2024

Osaka wins first match at Wimbledon since 2018

The player recovered from a break down in the final set to defeat Diane Parry of France.
Elliott Investment Management's sizable stake in Sumitomo reflects a growing shareholder activism in Japan.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 2, 2024

Activist investor campaigns hit record high, driven by Japan

The number of new activists campaigns totaled 147, up 7% from 138 in the same period in 2023 and 29% above the five-year average.
While the health ministry has been distributing educational material on blood donation to high school students since fiscal 1990, this will be the first time the campaign is extended to middle school students.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 2, 2024

Health ministry aims to educate middle schoolers in bid to raise blood donation rate

The ministry aims to have educational material on blood donation ready for middle schoolers in fiscal 2025 to encourage students to be future donors.
A team of lawyers representing bereaved families of victims of the 2022 sightseeing tour boat accident off Hokkaido heads to the Sapporo District Court in Sapporo to file a lawsuit on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 4, 2024

Bereaved families sue operator over Hokkaido boat accident

The 29 family members of 14 passengers of the sunken boat are seeking ¥1.5 billion ($9.2 million) in damages from the boat operator and its president.
Astana Qazaqstan Team's Mark Cavendish celebrates as he wins Stage 5 of the Tour de France on Wednesday, giving him the most career stage wins in the history of the event.
MORE SPORTS / Cycling
Jul 4, 2024

Cycling's comeback king Cavendish to carry on doing the thing he loves

Now 39 and in his 15th Tour de France, Cavendish has overcome injuries, illnesses and years in the wilderness to shine as brightly as anyone could expect.
An electronic board in Tokyo shows the Topix stock index on Thursday morning. The index ended the day at 2,898.47, a record high exceeding that set in December 1989.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 4, 2024

Japan's main stock indexes close at record highs

Shares of automakers, banks and technology firms led the gains on the emergence of a robust corporate outlook for the latter half of 2024.
Pedestrians shelter themselves from the sun using parasols as they cross a street in the Shinjuku district of Tokyo on Thursday. The temperature in Tokyo hit 35 degrees Celsius just after noon on Thursday, the first time so far this year.
JAPAN
Jul 4, 2024

Mercury hits 39.3 degrees Celsius in Shizuoka

Many cities experienced 35 degree weather, resulting in heatstroke alerts being issued for several regions across Japan.
You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival.
PODCAST / deep dive
Jul 4, 2024

Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one

Summer music festivals are back, but for how long? Climate change is putting the heat on our favorite outdoor entertainment.
OpenAI Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap speaks at a news conference on the opening of the Japan office in Tokyo in April.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 5, 2024

Japanese companies lag in AI adoption, white paper says

The white paper also urged action against fake online ads.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.