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Among Cabinet members, Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato was the top earner, at ¥225.93 million.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 30, 2025

Lawmakers' average income flat at ¥25.13 million

Four lawmakers earned over ¥100 million, and all of them were LDP members.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama addresses journalists in London in 2008.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jun 30, 2025

The Dalai Lama: Tibet's spiritual leader, bane of Beijing

A thorn in China's side, Tenzin Gyatso became the face of the Tibetan cause as he crisscrossed the globe, mixing with royalty, politicians and celebrities.
During his expected visit to Japan in July, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is likely to meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
JAPAN
Jun 30, 2025

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to visit Japan in July

Rubio is likely to visit Japan and South Korea before or after he attends a meeting of the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia in July.
Palestinian women react amidst the rubble of a school in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City following overnight Israeli strikes.
WORLD
Jul 1, 2025

Israel acknowledges Palestinian civilians harmed at Gaza aid sites

The United Nations says more than 400 Palestinians have been killed while seeking handouts of aid.
A crop field in Oxnard, California, on June 18
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 1, 2025

Immigration raids leave crops unharvested and California farms at risk

In the vast agricultural lands north of Los Angeles, farmers and field supervisors have said that ICE raids have led a majority of workers to stop showing up.
Traffic moves past a large banner depicting Iranian commanders and scientists killed in Israeli strikes during the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, at Tajrish Square in the capital Tehran on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 1, 2025

Iran arrests hundreds, executes dozens after conflict with Israel, activists say

Campaigners have been detained on the street or at home, executions expedited, prisoners transferred to unknown locations and minorities also targeted, according to rights groups.
Takuya Nakagawa, a physical therapist at Anamizu General Hospital, checks on residents in a temporary housing unit in Anamizu, Ishikawa Prefecture, on June 20.
JAPAN
Jul 1, 2025

Noto’s elderly residents face higher medical costs after 2024 quake

The trend has raised questions about how an effective support system can be set up for residents, whose prolonged displacement is also wearing them down mentally.
A Buddhist monk performs a ceremony for lost souls at a property which is classified as a <i>jiko bukken</i>, or a "misfortunate property" where deaths have occurred, in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 8.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 1, 2025

As property prices soar in Japan, the taint of death may not deter some buyers

Investors attracted by potential high yields increasingly do not care about a property's grim history, mostly because they are unlikely to live there themselves.
Members of the Taiwanese military take part in the annual Han Kuang exercises in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in July 2023.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 1, 2025

Taiwan to simulate Chinese invasion in major drill

The annual Han Kuang exercises will last for 10 days and mobilize more than 22,000 reservists, both unprecedented in length and scale.
Naoyuki Teramoto talks about the family members he lost to the Noto Peninsula earthquake as he points to their pictures at his home in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 1, 2025

Man who lost 10 family members to Noto quake vows to keep telling his story

Naoyuki Teramoto, 54, avoided talking about his loved ones for the first year but has since begun working as a storyteller and volunteer in the quake-hit areas.
Sanseito supporters applaud Saya, Sanseito candidate for the Upper House election from Tokyo, and Manabu Matsuda, a candidate from proportional representation, at a public rally at Tsukiji Market on June 28.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 1, 2025

Sanseito touts 'Japanese First' rhetoric to gain support

Some observers say conservative voters who left the Democratic Party for the People are turning to the fledgling opposition party by default.
A front-page article from July 1950 reported that Kyoto's historic Kinkakuji had been "totally razed" in a fire.
JAPAN / History / Japan Times Gone By
Jul 5, 2025

Japan Times 1950: Kyoto’s ‘Golden Temple’ burns to the ground

The historic Kinkakuji was destroyed in an act of arson in July 1950, a shocking event that would serve as the inspiration for a novel by Yukio Mishima.
Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Thailand's prime minister, speaks to the media in Bangkok on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 1, 2025

Dynasty in distress: Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn's fate in limbo

The Constitutional Court suspended Paetongtarn — Thailand's youngest prime minister — from office.
Pro-China supporters hold Chinese flags at an event celebrating the 28th anniversary of the former British colony's handover to Chinese rule, in Hong Kong, on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 1, 2025

Hong Kong rights record under fire as it marks China handover anniversary

Lee's government enacted a separate security law of its own in 2024 saying it was needed to restore order.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 2, 2025

Trump doubles down on Japan again by threatening 35% tariff

Japan is currently subject to 25% auto tariffs and a 50% tariff on steel and aluminum, as well as a 10% reciprocal tariff that could return to 24% if no deal is struck by July 9.
Palestinian children line up to receive a hot meal at a food distribution point in the Gaza Strip on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 2, 2025

Over 170 charities call for end to deadly new Gaza aid distribution system

More than 500 people have been killed in mass shootings near aid distribution centers or transport routes since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation started operating.
A delivery driver takes a break in the shade during high temperatures in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 2024.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 2, 2025

How much does a heat wave cost? Insurers and CEOs want to know.

Some believe a new market for heat insurance — driven in part by artificial intelligence and the need to cool data centers — is around the corner.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (left) and his daughter Kim Ju Ae (front right) visiting the Wonsan Kalma coastal tourist area in Kangwon Province, North Korea, on June 24.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 2, 2025

North Korea opens massive beach resort, state media reports

The Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area can accommodate nearly 20,000 people, according to Pyongyang.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 2, 2025

Trump hammers away at Japan for a third day, threatening 35% duties 

The U.S. president said he might simply end negotiations and set a tariff rate for Japanese products.
For non-native speakers of the language, diving into Japanese books on a whim might just broaden your horizons and offer a fresh perspective on any topic imaginable.
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Jun 30, 2025

Japanese language is your gateway to seeing the world anew

Whether you want to learn about regional geopolitics or the history of cheese, reading Japanese books can offer a whole world of new perspectives for non-native speakers.
A viral manga prediction of a July 5 disaster has gripped Japan with anxiety and triggered an economic impact, but experts warn that while such dates are unreliable, the threat of a massive earthquake remains real. 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 2, 2025

A prophesied disaster (likely) won’t strike Japan this weekend

The Japan Meteorological Agency has taken to social media to caution that "any such predictions should be considered unreliable.”
Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the Democratic Party for the People, speaks during an interview on Tuesday at the parliament building.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 2, 2025

DPP pledges to increase take-home pay ahead of Upper House election

The opposition party is looking to raise its seat count in the chamber to 21, which would enable it to independently submit bills needing budgetary measures.
A screenshot shows many quakes occurring in the Tokara islands over the past 30 days, in this image taken from the U.S. Geological Survey website.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 2, 2025

Over 900 earthquakes strike Tokara islands in space of two weeks

In total, 911 earthquakes were recorded by Wednesday afternoon, with the cause behind the series of earthquakes still unclear.
Dog ownership may seem daunting in Japan, but with the right tools and logistical knowledge, you can ensure a healthy, happy life for your pet.
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Jul 7, 2025

A furever friend: Tips for responsible dog ownership in Japan

Owning a dog in Japan may seem daunting, but having these tools and tips in mind can ease your journey and bring you lots of joy.
Hiroshi Masuda (left), head of the Memorial Museum for Soldiers, Detainees in Siberia, and Postwar Repatriates, speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 2, 2025

Japanese war memorial network unites to pass on memories to youth

The facilities will work on strengthening their capabilities to disseminate information and provide content for schools.
In adapting Masataka Matsuda’s 1998 play “On Summer Sand” to film, director Shinya Tamada decided to age up the central character, played by Joe Odagiri (left), by 10 years to bring out a deeper sense of despondency and grief.
CULTURE / Film
Jul 1, 2025

From stage to screen, a story of quiet connection in the still heat of Nagasaki

Director Shinya Tamada adapts "On Summer Sand" for film by filling the silences between scenes with heartbreak and slow healing.
Since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position toward Russia and raised doubts about future U.S. military support for Kyiv.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 3, 2025

Ukraine voices concern as U.S. halts some missile shipments

Ukraine said it had called in the acting U.S. envoy to Kyiv to underline the importance of military aid from Washington continuing.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Ilam, Iran, on June 12. Pezeshkian formally enacted the suspension of Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 3, 2025

Iran ends cooperation with U.N. nuclear watchdog after Israel and U.S. strikes

Washington has described the decision as "unacceptable."
Emperor Naruhito speaks during a news conference at the Imperial Palace on Wednesday ahead of his visit to Mongolia together with Empress Masako from Sunday.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2025

Emperor to mourn Japanese detainees who died in Mongolia

The Emperor last visited Mongolia in 2007, when he was Crown Prince.
Microsoft’s gaming division began cutting hundreds of employees on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 3, 2025

Microsoft makes deep Xbox job cuts and cancels games

Microsoft announced Wednesday that it’s eliminating 9,000 workers companywide in its second wave of layoffs this year.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years