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OLYMPICS
Jul 23, 2021

At long last, the Tokyo Olympics have begun

After a tumultuous year, an unprecedented Olympics got underway in Tokyo in the age of the new normal.
OLYMPICS
Jul 23, 2021

You read it here first (maybe): Who will light the Olympic cauldron

Some surprising names have been mentioned as leading candidates to perform one of the highest honors in sport.
OLYMPICS / Faces of Tokyo 2020
Jul 23, 2021

Japanese athletes who have overcome adversity to be at the Tokyo Games

The miraculous return of Rikako Ikee might grab headlines, but the country's swimming star isn't the only athlete who needed to battle tough times to qualify for the Games.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2021

The 'Recovery Olympics' take a back seat amid COVID-19 concerns

The Games were supposed to showcase Japan's recovery efforts following the devastating 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster. Such efforts have been thwarted by the pandemic.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 20, 2021

Tokyo poll result cements Yuriko Koike's status as a political survivor

After Koike's Tomin First no Kai performed better than expected in the election, speculation has grown that she might once again migrate back to national politics.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Jul 20, 2021

Goal-scoring dynamo Kyogo Furuhashi ready for Celtic challenge

The 26-year-old leaves Vissel Kobe with a J1-leading 15 goals — and just over a year to prove his potential in Europe and potentially represent Japan at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
OLYMPICS
Jul 20, 2021

New faces look to steer Nadeshiko Japan to first Olympic medal since London

Defender Saori Takarada and midfielder Honoka Hayashi, boasting a combined 14 senior caps, are among many new faces looking to lead a new generation for the country's women's team.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jul 19, 2021

From LDP 'prince' to punchline: What happened to Shinjiro Koizumi?

In addition to being regularly lampooned on social media, the environment minister has struggled to maintain his influence amid COVID-19 and as a Cabinet insider.
OLYMPICS
Jul 19, 2021

The many faces of Tokyo 2020’s charm offensive

Despite a lack of visitors and spectators at this year's Olympics, an army of volunteers aims to do their best and make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2021

IOC president's Hiroshima visit fuels speculation about his true intent

A trip that's officially being made to send a message of peace has instead stirred controversy amid the pandemic and raised questions about Thomas Bach's real purpose.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 2021

Pfizer vaccine crunch continues to trouble Japan's inoculation efforts

In response to supply issues, the central government will soon set aside a certain quantity of Pfizer doses that prefectures can distribute to municipalities that need them the most.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2021

Olympics boss Bach aims to put ‘most-followed’ games on track

The stakes are enormous for Suga, whose political fortunes are closely tied to the games, and for the IOC, which faces scrutiny on whether it is prioritizing money over public health.
JAPAN
Jul 14, 2021

Alcohol sales controversy compounds Suga's political woes

Amid questions over the legality of the move, the government has retracted a request for suppliers to halt sales to outlets violating an alcohol sales ban during Tokyo's state of emergency.
OLYMPICS
Jul 14, 2021

Lessons in Olympic spirit from 'Japan's' Korean gold medalist live on

At the 1936 Olympics, Korean Sohn Kee-chung stood with his head hung, hiding the Rising Sun flag on his chest with a laurel plant as Japan's national anthem filled the stadium.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2021

Tokyo Olympics spectator issue moves into the political arena

With signs emerging of a new wave of infections in the capital, competing narratives are emerging about the safety of allowing fans at Olympic venues.
OLYMPICS / Longform
Jul 5, 2021

Twists and turns: Retracing Tokyo’s tumultuous path to the Olympics

Games organizers have been forced to confront ballooning costs, accusations of plagiarism and bribery, and — to top it all off — a crippling global pandemic.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jul 4, 2021

Why a carbon tax would help Japan achieve its green ambitions

The government needs to make clear that emissions come with high costs and encourage companies and individuals to come up with new ideas and take action.
JAPAN
Jul 3, 2021

Growing number of Japanese cities cancel vaccine reservations amid supply shortage

The supply issues have come as a shock to municipalities that had been ramping up inoculations at the request of the central government.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Jul 1, 2021

Vaccine supply woes put brakes on Japan’s accelerated rollout

Demand for doses is now outpacing supply in some municipalities, calling their rollout schedules into question and prompting central government to warn that they may need to slow down.
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Jun 24, 2021

Corporate governance issues haunt troubled Toshiba as it faces off with investors

Amid scandal, a shareholders meeting on Friday is set to be a showdown between Toshiba's board, who are pushing to retain Chairman Osamu Nagayama, and investors who want him out.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jun 24, 2021

Time to re-examine Japan’s longstanding ambiguity over Taiwan

Tokyo has historically walked a fine line between Beijing and Taipei, but recent tensions point to a need to re-evaluate its stance.
BUSINESS
Jun 24, 2021

Japan braces for surge in electricity use during scorching summer and Olympics

With many people expected to tune into the games from their air-conditioned homes, utilities are forecasting tighter reserve power ratios than usual.
JAPAN
Jun 22, 2021

One month out, Tokyo Olympics enter 'full delivery phase'

In the Olympics, 339 gold medals will be up for grabs across 33 sports, including five competitions making their Olympic debut or being reintroduced to the event.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 17, 2021

Caught in the middle? Komeito and the China-Japan relationship

While many in the LDP have welcomed international pressure on China, the deteriorating bilateral relationship creates problems for the party's coalition partner Komeito.
JAPAN
Jun 17, 2021

Japan to lift state of emergency for nine prefectures

The move comes as coronavirus cases are declining nationwide and vaccinations are ramping up, though there are fears of a resurgence in infections leading into the Tokyo Olympics.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past