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After decades of dominance by foreign wrestlers, last month Onosato became just the second Japanese this century to be named to sumo's highest rank of <i>yokozuna</i>.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 17, 2025

The national sport of Japan wrestles with a generational change

As one legend departs, another star is rising. In a new era, sumo is grappling with its future.
Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai (right) with Executive Chef Shinsuke Nakajima and Executive Chef Sommelier Nobuhide Tani
ESG CONSORTIUM
Jun 23, 2025

Tottori Wagyu and other delights offered at Hotel New Otani Tokyo

A special event featuring the rich sweetness and umami of juicy Tottori Wagyu-brand beef in a variety of dishes has kicked off once again at the Hotel New Otani Tokyo. Held annually since 2018, this promotion consistently highlights the charm of Tottori’s viands through innovative ideas and cooking...
Arisa Trew understands both sides of the debate around the introduction of a minimum age limit for World Skateboarding Tour events.
MORE SPORTS
Jun 23, 2025

World Skate puts brakes on skateboarding's preteen movement with new age limits

The minimum age of 11 this year will be raised one year each in 2026, 2027 and 2028 so that when the LA Olympics roll around in 2028, the minimum age will be 14.
A WE League Cup championship match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina and INAC Kobe takes place on Dec. 29 in Tokyo. A healthy increase in gross revenue has highlighted the WE League’s newfound growth potential.
SOCCER
Jun 24, 2025

WE League finally sowing seeds of growth under new stewardship

Yoshikazu Nonomura, who took the helm a year ago, oversaw improved attendance and financial numbers during his first season as chairman.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stands next to U.S. President Donald Trump as alliance leaders pose for a group photo during a NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 25, 2025

NATO lines up ‘big success’ for Trump with new defense spending target

The new target for NATO member nations could give more ammunition to the U.S. in its calls for Japan to spend more money on defense.
Fuji Media Holdings President Osamu Kanemitsu (center) and Kenji Shimizu (right), the president of Fuji TV, who serves on the board of Fuji TV's parent, at the annual shareholders meeting on Wednesday in Tokyo
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 25, 2025

Fuji TV parent secures approval for new board members at shareholders meeting

The focus was on how much support there was for the proposal of activist Dalton Investments, which reportedly holds 7.5% of shares in the company.
Japan said on Tuesday that it had lodged a protest with China after observing a new structure in a natural gas field in the East China Sea.
JAPAN
Jun 25, 2025

Japan protests new Chinese construction in East China Sea

In the latest development, Japan said on Tuesday it lodged a protest with China after observing a new structure in a natural gas field in the East China Sea.
Zohran Mamdani during a watch party for his primary election, which includes his bid to become the Democratic candidate for New York City mayor in the upcoming November election, in New York on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 26, 2025

Upstart socialist stuns former governor in NYC mayoral primary

Zohran Mamdani, a young self-declared socialist, was on the cusp of a stunning victory Wednesday in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani arrives for a news conference at Astoria Park in New York on Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jun 26, 2025

Wealthy fear ‘hot commie summer’ after Democrat outsider wins mayoral primary

Voters across racially and economically diverse neighborhoods embraced Zohran Mamdani, shocking the Democratic establishment.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague on Wednesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 26, 2025

NATO spending deal creates new standard — for Indo-Pacific allies

NATO members agreed on a spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, enabling the U.S. to shift its focus to the region as it zeros in on containing China.
Fever guard Caitlin Clark is seen during the second have of a game against the Aces in Las Vegas on Sunday.
BASKETBALL
Jun 26, 2025

WNBA players push for better pay as league soars to new heights

The league's recent $2.2 billion media rights deal, spanning 11 years, pales in comparison to the NBA's $76 billion package.
Matthew Schaefer is selected by the New York Islanders as the first overall pick of the 2025 NHL draft on Friday in Los Angeles.
MORE SPORTS / Ice Hockey
Jun 28, 2025

Matthew Schaefer goes No. 1 to Islanders in NHL draft

Schaefer, who will turn 18 on Sept. 5, played for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League the past two seasons.
A mock-up of Japan's upgraded Mogami-class frigate is displayed during the DSEI exhibition at Makuhari Messe in the city of Chiba on May 21.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 29, 2025

Top Japanese official visits Australia as bid to build new frigate heats up

The trip by Akihisa Nagashima, special adviser to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, was seen as another move by Tokyo to secure the multibillion dollar contract.
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda announces the start of the circulation of new banknotes on July 3, 2024.
BUSINESS
Jun 30, 2025

Japan’s new banknotes see slow adoption one year after launch

Roughly 5 billion new banknotes were in circulation as of the end of May, accounting for just 28.8% of all notes in use.
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Riyadh on May 14.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 1, 2025

Trump lifts U.S. sanctions on Syria in bid to boost new government

The order removes various sanctions on Syria, effective July 1, while keeping those on former President Bashar Assad.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra waves after Thailand's Constitutional Court suspended her from duty pending a case seeking her dismissal, at the Government House in Bangkok on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jul 2, 2025

Thai leader’s suspension deals new blow to battered economy

Thailand is mired in slow growth, with households burdened by debt, a budget bill outstanding and the threat of U.S. tariffs weighing down expectations.
Newly promoted yokozuna Onosato holds a copy of the latest banzuke ranking in Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, on Monday.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jul 2, 2025

Onosato's yokozuna promotion causes rare quirk in new sumo rankings

Onosato is listed as yozokuna-ōzeki on the latest banzuke, the first time since 1981 that a new yokozuna has been given such a designation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, on Oct. 24. Rio de Janeiro will host the two-day BRICS  Summit starting July 6, where leaders from 10 member states and others will explore ways emerging economies can 
shape global development. 
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2025

A BRICS+ development agenda for the Global South

An effective BRICS+ development agenda will require a coordinated mobilization of resources and institutional efforts.
Al Hilal head coach Simone Inzaghi speaks during a news conference in Orlando on July 3.
SOCCER
Jul 4, 2025

New managers making mark at Club World Cup

As the tournament progresses, the early success of these new managerial appointments suggests that fresh ideas and bold decisions can reshape even the most storied teams.
Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on May 30.
WORLD / Politics
Jul 6, 2025

Elon Musk says he has created a new U.S. political party

It is not clear how much impact the new party would have on the 2026 midterm elections, or on the presidential vote two years after that.
Mets starter Kodai Senga pitchers during a game against the Rockies on June 6.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jul 6, 2025

Mets' pitcher Kodai Senga makes Double-A rehab start

Senga, who has been out since straining his right hamstring while covering first base on June 12, struck out four and gave up three earned runs in the start.
The Arch of Independence in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Central Asia is shaking off its Soviet past, driven by economic momentum, demographic strength and strategic diplomacy, even as hurdles remain.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 7, 2025

Central Asia changes its playbook

In recent years, the five Central Asian countries have managed to rebuild their economies, stabilize their politics and deepen their engagement with the rest of the world.
Utility poles in urban areas such as Tokyo have a high risk of collapsing in the event of a disaster.
JAPAN
Jul 7, 2025

Japan eyes new target for replacing utility poles with underground power cables

The main goal is to remove utility poles along urban-area emergency transport routes that have a high risk of collapsing in the event of a disaster.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt holds a trade letter sent by the White House to Japan during a news conference at the White House in Washington on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 8, 2025

Trump announces new tariff rate on Japan — and extension of deadline to Aug. 1

The United States will raise its “reciprocal tariff” on Japan to 25% effective Aug. 1, President Donald Trump said in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday.
A truck is driven past shipping containers stacked up at Pusan Newport Terminal in Busan, South Korea, on July 1.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 8, 2025

South Korea vows to fix regulations after Trump’s new tariff deadline

Seoul says it will accelerate negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial agreement with Washington.
Prison guards at the Terrorism Confinement Center, a facility denounced by human rights groups, in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 11
WORLD / Politics
Jul 8, 2025

Lawyers say new evidence challenges Trump on El Salvador prisons

The case is one of the highest-profile challenges to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration.
Emperor Naruhito delivers a keynote speech via video at the Seventh Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters held at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Jul 9, 2025

Emperor gives video speech at U.N. event on water and disasters

He urged people "to take new action" to tackle water-related issues around the world.
Junko Koeda, one of the latest members of the Bank of Japan's policy board, speaks during an interview at the central bank's headquarters in Tokyo on Monday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 9, 2025

New board member hints at possible raising of BOJ's price outlook

Junko Koeda, a former Waseda University economics professor, on Monday gave her first media interview since joining the board in March.
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Jul 9, 2025

New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way

Modern cooling infrastructure will likely have few sumo fans wishing for a return to the hot and muggy Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama says she is stepping back from traditional politics to focus on cultural influence through her podcast, reflecting a broader trend of Black women redefining political engagement.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 9, 2025

Michelle Obama is quitting politics. Or is she?

Her misgivings about politics and the spotlight that she and her husband commanded in the White House as historic figures have only grown in recent years.

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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