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Japan forward Mao Hosoya controls the ball during a game against the United States in Kansas City, Kansas, on June 11.
OLYMPICS
Jul 3, 2024

Japan goes with all U-23 men's soccer squad for Paris Olympics

Veterans like Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, 31, had been rumored as possible options to supplement the 18-man squad, but instead Japan will be counting on youth in Paris.
The right-wing slogan “Make Europe Great Again” — a play on Donald Trump’s campaign slogan — is gaining prominence in European politics.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 3, 2024

‘Make Europe Great Again’ is becoming 'MEGA.' Should Japan worry?

The right-wing "Make Europe Great Again" movement is gaining traction, but Japan shouldn't put it in the same box as its more problematic cousin, MAGA, in the U.S.
Japan’s redesigned yen banknotes are shown at the Bank of Japan headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday, the day the new ¥10,000, ¥5,000 and ¥1,000 bills went into circulation. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 3, 2024

The new yen notes have an important story to tell

The inspiring stories of the three trailblazers whose portraits are featured on the new yen banknotes say a lot about the past, present and future of Japan.
Chinese EV-maker Nio’s Onvo L60 SUV is unveiled in Shanghai in May. As an EV powerhouse, China should share the fruits of its success with the rest of the world.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 3, 2024

Easy solutions to EU-China tariff dispute

The EU should see the futility of tariffs on Chinese EVs, and China should not retaliate but instead share the fruits of its success in building up its auto sector.
Naomi Osaka reacts after losing a point against Emma Navarro during the second round of Wimbledon, in London on Wednesday.
TENNIS
Jul 4, 2024

Naomi Osaka focuses on Olympics after Wimbledon exit

The Japanese superstar, playing at the All England Club for the first time since 2019, went down 6-4, 6-1 in her second-round match on Centre Court in less than an hour.
Russia isn’t a theocracy but Orthodox Christianity, the state religion, has become all-encompassing, with President Vladimir Putin claiming to have a divine mission.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 4, 2024

The demigods of populism

By claiming to represent the will of the divine, populist leaders like Putin, Modi, Erdogan — and even Trump — stake an otherworldly claim to political power.
Fish swim near recovering coral reefs after bleaching in late December 2023 due to extreme weather, in Bondalem village, Buleleng regency, Bali, Indonesia, on June 20.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change
Jul 5, 2024

Coral bleachings devastate Bali reefs as sea temperatures rise

Indonesia, which had its most severe dry season last year since 2019, has roughly 5.1 million hectares of coral reefs and accounts for 18% of the world's total.
"Shogun" features Hiroyuki Sanada as the warlord Toranaga. The series is generating major buzz ahead of the announcement of Emmy nominations on July 17.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Jul 6, 2024

All hail the era of Japan-themed prestige TV

With shows like "Shogun" and "Tokyo Vice" vying for Emmy nominations this month, it's safe to say the streamers are having a bit of a "Japan moment."
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino heads the ball to score his team's second goal during a quarterfinal clash with Germany on Friday in Stuttgart.
SOCCER
Jul 6, 2024

Spain digs deep to earn a dramatic extra time victory over Germany

In the other match Friday, France converted all their kicks in a shootout to edge Portugal 5-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate.
Britain's Emma Raducanu celebrates after winning her third-round match against Greece's Maria Sakkari on Friday.
TENNIS
Jul 6, 2024

Alcaraz survives as Raducanu roars on at Wimbledon

The 21-year-old Alcaraz, bidding for his fourth major, ran into inspired American Frances Tiafoe in a repeat of their thrilling semifinal at the 2022 U.S. Open.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other key Labour figures with working-class backgrounds will have to work with elites in the civil service, business world and beyond who do not share their class origins.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 8, 2024

No class war from the U.K.’s most working-class government

This is the most working-class government the U.K. has had in recent years. Not only is Keir Starmer from a humble background, but so are many of his Cabinet members.
Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after defeating Ugo Humbert at Wimbledon in London on Sunday.
TENNIS
Jul 8, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner remain on collision course at Wimbledon

Women's No. 2 seed Coco Gauff was sent tumbling out on a soggy Sunday.
Coal piles at Jera's Hekinan thermal power station in Hekinan, Aichi Prefecture, in October 2021
ENVIRONMENT / Energy
Jul 8, 2024

Japan should phase out coal power by 2035, climate group says

The nation should adjust its national targets and slash emissions by two-thirds by the middle of the next decade, according to the Japan Climate Initiative.
Traditional boat parties on the Sumida River in Tokyo are popular for informal gatherings among professionals that deal in Japanese government bonds.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 9, 2024

Tokyo’s exclusive circle of government bond traders in demand amid policy shift

The world’s top hedge funds are shaking up the closed community that was, for a time, a sleepy backwater of global finance.
England players celebrate after defeating Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarterfinals, in Dusseldorf, Germany, on Saturday.
SOCCER
Jul 9, 2024

'Grinding' England hope for spark against Netherlands in Euros semi

Former England striker Alan Shearer called the team "rotten" after staggering past Slovakia.
World Anti-Doping Age President Witold Banka speaks during an event in Lausanne, Switzerland, in March 2023.
OLYMPICS
Jul 10, 2024

Independent probe clears WADA of favoritism in Chinese swimmers case

WADA President Witold Banka was in fighting form after the executive board had met and endorsed the report that cleared his agency.
U.S. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington in April. Both leaders face an uphill battle to stay at the helm of their respective parties and countries.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 10, 2024

Japan too is wrestling with a flawed leader

Questions about election prospects plague Biden in the U.S. and Kishida in Japan, with both trying to hang on to their commanding positions despite growing discontent.
Olympic rings are displayed on Charles de Gaulle Airport near Paris ahead of the city hosting the 2024 Olympic Games. One way of reducing the carbon emissions of mega sporting events is to limit the attendance of spectators traveling by air.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 10, 2024

Only locals should be allowed to attend the Olympics

The single best way of reducing the carbon emissions of an Olympics? Limiting ticket sales to locals. Evidence from the Tokyo Games shows how far-reaching the impact is.
In addition to standup comedy, Anthony Jeselnik co-hosts the podcast “The Jeselnik and Rosenthal Vanity Project” with NFL analyst Gregg Rosenthal.
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 11, 2024

Standup comic Anthony Jeselnik, known for fierce roasts, to play first Japan show

The comedian will hit Tokyo as part of the Asia stretch of his worldwide “Bones and All” tour.
Ongoing construction work for the 2025 Osaka Expo at Yumeshima, Osaka
JAPAN
Jul 10, 2024

47 nations to build own pavilions at Osaka Expo

Others have faced difficulties in securing deals with contractors mainly due to soaring prices of construction materials.
Osamu Ie, a master brewer at Miyakobijin Shuzo, holds Miyakobijin Taiyou sake that won this year's Champion Sake trophy at the sake division of International Wine Challenge held in London on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 11, 2024

Local Hyogo brew wins international sake championship

According to tasting notes, the sake has "aromas of musk melon, strawberries, hints of nuttiness, almond spice with an exquisitely integrated acidity on the palate."
England's Ollie Watkins (left) celebrates with teammate Marc Guehi after their victory over the Netherlands in their Euro 2024 semifinal in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday.
SOCCER
Jul 11, 2024

Gareth Southgate says England hungry for more after dramatic semifinal win at Euro 2024

England's overall performance was an emphatic answer to the criticism that has been heaped on the side after languid showings earlier in the tournament.
A number of stone blocks originally intended for the building of Osaka Castle are set to find a new home in the toilet facility of the 2025 Expo in Osaka.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2024

Unused stones for Osaka Castle diverted to expo toilet pillars

Designers emphasize the importance of utilizing the stone blocks that have never seen the light of day.
The members of Glay — (from left) Jiro, Teru, Takuro and Hisashi — are celebrating 30 years of rocking out as a band.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 12, 2024

Glay celebrates three decades of rock greatness

The band's 12-month-long Glay Expo takes the idea of a concert tour to the next level for the anniversary of its major label debut.
Barbora Krejcikova (left) and Jasmine Paolini will met for the Wimbledon title on Saturday in London.
TENNIS
Jul 12, 2024

Barbora Krejcikova and Jasmine Paolini set up showdown in Wimbledon final

The final will mark just the second time Krejcikova and Paolini have met.
Japanese businessman Kazunori Takishima, seen at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, has attended four Summer Games and four Winter Games since his first in 2006.
OLYMPICS
Jul 12, 2024

Japanese superfan with Olympic-sized wallet eager to make new memories in Paris

The 48-year-old Tokyo native spends large chunks of his disposable income on Olympic tickets.
A competition at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh on July 4.
MORE SPORTS / esports
Jul 13, 2024

Saudi Arabia to host first Esports Olympics in 2025

Riyadh is already hosting the Esports World Cup in July and August, during which 2,500 gamers are battling for $60 million in prize money.
Spain's Rafael Nadal returns the ball as he plays with Norway's Casper Ruud during a men's double tennis match against Argentina's Guido Andreozzi and Mexico's Miguel Reyes-Varela at the Nordea Open ATP tournament in Bastad, Sweden, on Monday.
TENNIS
Jul 16, 2024

Nadal returns to competition with Bastad doubles win

This month, the Spanish player skipped Wimbledon to focus on the Olympics.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Jul 16, 2024

PGA to visit Japan, Mexico and Bermuda among late-year events

The Zozo Championship will take place from October 24 to 27 at Accordina Golf Narashino Country Club in Chiba Prefecture.
An employee checks on items at a Komehyo store in Nagoya.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 16, 2024

Thrift store operator Komehyo pushing to expand business overseas

The company hopes to become the world's top retailer of secondhand luxury brand items by tripling its overseas sales in four years.

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