Search - 2019

 
 
Yuki Tsunoda after qualifying in ninth position for the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday in Shanghai.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Mar 22, 2025

Tsunoda shines again as Lawson's struggles continue

While New Zealander Lawson qualified last, Tsunoda reached the top 10 for the second race in a row and starts ninth in Shanghai on Sunday.
Yuma Kagiyama performs during the men's free skate at Finlandia Trophy in Helsinki in November.
MORE SPORTS / Figure skating
Mar 23, 2025

Top skaters prepare to do battle at worlds as 2026 Olympics loom

From Kaori Sakamoto to the "Quad God," here are five skaters to keep an eye on over the next week in Boston.
Police officers use pepper spray on a demonstrator wearing dervish clothes, during a protest on the day Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 24, 2025

Turkey jails Erdogan’s top rival, risking more unrest

The arrest suggests Turkish authorities won’t be deterred by mass protests that have broken out in cities including Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.
A U.S. flag flies in front of the consulate of the United States in Nuuk, Greenland, on Monday. A U.S. delegation led by Usha Vance, wife of Vice President JD Vance, is visiting Greenland this week.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 25, 2025

Trump doubles down on U.S. claims to Greenland

Outgoing Greenland Prime Minister Mute Egede dubs plans by a U.S. delegation to visit an American military base and attend a dog sled race in the territory a "provocation."
A large Canadian flag hangs on the front of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on March 5.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 25, 2025

China and India could seek to meddle in April 28 election, Canada says

Hostile state actors are seen increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence to meddle in elections, the country's spy service said.
After falling behind despite helping pioneer the technology, Japan has the foundation to lead in artificial intelligence — if it seizes the moment.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 25, 2025

Japan urgently needs an AI vibe shift

Citizens’ embrace of AI also remains surprisingly low. Just 9% of consumers say they have used generative AI.
A protestor waves a Turkish flag in front of riot police during a rally in Istanbul in support of its arrested mayor on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
Mar 26, 2025

Turkey protesters fill streets, defying crackdown

The demonstrations erupted after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ispace's Resilience lunar lander at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Tsukuba Space Center in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, in September
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 26, 2025

Japanese startups driving space development

Not only large companies but also emerging businesses are hurrying to conduct lunar exploration and commercialize transportation services using rockets.
An advertisement featuring Shohei Ohtani in Tokyo.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 26, 2025

Tokyo Series proves to be big business for MLB — and Japanese companies

The weeklong festival of all things baseball highlights how Shohei Ohtani has created myriad business opportunities on both sides of the Pacific.
Bucks guard Damian Lillard dribbles the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first quarter at Fiserv Forum on March 13.
BASKETBALL
Mar 26, 2025

Bucks blow after Lillard diagnosed with blood clot

Lillard has been placed on blood-thinning medication to stabilize the clot, the same ailment that ended San Antonio star Victor Wembanyama's season.
At No. 4, three-Michelin-starred Sezanne took home the title of best restaurant in Japan in this year's Asia's 50 Best Restaurants rankings.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Mar 26, 2025

11 in Japan win Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant honors, but Gaggan is tops

The modern French cuisine of Sezanne was good enough for best in Japan and No. 4 in all of Asia.
Subaru cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama on Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 27, 2025

Japan considers all possible options as Trump threatens new auto tariffs

Tokyo so far has failed on multiple occasions to persuade the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to exempt Japan from new tariffs.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pose for photos before their joint news conference at the Akasaka Palace state guest house in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2025

Brazilian leader's Tokyo visit lifts ties to new heights

The two leaders have adopted a five-year action plan and a flurry of agreements as the countries mark their 130th anniversary year of diplomatic relations.
The Hawks' Ryoya Kurihara fields a ball during spring camp in Miyazaki on March 7.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 27, 2025

Incumbent Hawks face fresh challenge from rising Fighters in Pacific League

Flamboyant manager Tsuyoshi Shinjo and his up-and-coming Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters may finally be ready to pose a challenge for the favored Hawks.
BYD's Neta S is presented at the 2025 Bangkok International Motor Show on Monday. China, led by BYD, has become the global EV leader, while other countries, including Japan, struggle to keep up with the shift toward electric vehicles.
EDITORIALS
Mar 28, 2025

In the EV race, China's BYD is leading the pack

BYD’s strong performance reflects its dominance in China’s domestic auto market, the world’s largest and most competitive for electric vehicles.
A conceptual image of the official YouTube channel screen to be operated by the Imperial Household Agency starting April 1
JAPAN
Mar 28, 2025

Japan's imperial family to start YouTube account

The channel, which goes live on Tuesday, follows the imperial family's social media debut last year on Instagram, which now has nearly 2 million followers.
Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The Yankees went deep on the first three pitches of the game, an MLB first.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 30, 2025

Yankees make MLB history with homers on first three pitches

Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge each smacked a homer off the first offering each saw from Milwaukee pitcher Nestor Corales, a former Yankee.
Ryuji Matsumoto pats one of the sheep at his farm in the town of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Apr 14, 2025

The man behind Fukushima town's 'Strawberry Sheep'

Ryuji Matsumoto, 54, incorporates dried strawberries into the feed for his sheep, which gives their meat a certain sweetness.
Tomoyuki Sugano pitches against the Blue Jays during the first inning in Toronto on Sunday.
BASEBALL / MLB
Mar 31, 2025

Tomoyuki Sugano makes MLB debut in Orioles' loss to Blue Jays

The Blue Jays' Tyler Heineman hit his second career home run, and Chris Bassitt pitched a resourceful six innings to help the home team earn a 3-1 win.
Lindsey Vonn of the United States celebrates on the podium after her second place finish in the Super G alpine skiing race in the 2025 FIS Ski World Cup at Sun Valley on March 23.
OLYMPICS / Alpine skiing
Apr 1, 2025

Vonn and Shiffrin fuel U.S. 2026 Winter Olympics hopes

Shiffrin wrapped up her injury-marred season by winning the slalom on Thursday for a record-extending 101st career World Cup victory.
Balloons with protest slogans are seen outside the Legislative Council building during the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China in Hong Kong on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 1, 2025

U.S. sanctions six Chinese and Hong Kong officials for rights abuses

The move is the Trump administration's first major move to punish Beijing over its crackdown on the city.
All eyes will be on Yuki Tsunoda as he makes his Red Bull debut at the Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
MORE SPORTS / Auto Racing
Apr 1, 2025

No longer a 'bridesmaid': Yuki Tsunoda prepares for the Red Bull pressure cooker

New Red Bull driver Tsunoda tells The Japan Times he started to believe that a promotion to the senior team might never come — until it did.
A dog lies on the street as a man walks pushing a baby stroller in Matera, Italy, in 2021.
WORLD / Society
Apr 1, 2025

Italy's demographic crisis worsens as births hit record low

Italy's ever-falling birth rate is considered a national emergency, but no one has so far been able to halt the drop.
U.S tariffs on Vietnam would force Nike, one of several sportswear brands heavily reliant on the Southeast Asian nation as a production site, to absorb higher costs or hike its prices at a time when it is already discounting some items to clear inventory.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 2, 2025

U.S. tariffs on Vietnam would be a blow to Nike and other sportswear brands

Vietnam is a hub for high-tech running shoes, sportswear and outdoor apparel, with brands seeking to reduce exposure to China.
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is planning an executive order that would ease rules governing exports of military equipment, sources have said.
WORLD / Politics
Apr 2, 2025

Trump preparing executive order to increase weapons exports, sources say

An executive order could increase sales for big U.S. defense contractors like Lockheed Martin, RTX Corp. and Boeing.
The logo of Xiaomi is seen on a tire wheel of the SU7, the company's first electric vehicle, on display at a showroom in Beijing on March 25.
BUSINESS / Tech
Apr 2, 2025

Three reported dead after Xiaomi car with driver assistance crashes

The incident is likely to spark scrutiny over the smart driving software deployed in many of today’s cars.
Japanese cars awaiting export at a port in Yokohama. The United States will start collecting new 25% import duties on cars and car parts from Thursday.
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Apr 2, 2025

Japan has some cards to play in trade war with the United States 

It could offer voluntary restraints on exports, or it could offer to buy more from the U.S. in order to reduce the trade surplus with that country.
DOGE, the U.S. government reform project, embodies America's brash, fast-paced approach to change, while Japan’s cultural norms emphasize slower, more deliberate decision-making rooted in consensus.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 2, 2025

The DOGE solution? 'No thanks,' says Japan, with reason

I can’t imagine a DOGE-like beast in Japan. No one can. It is utterly alien to every tradition, precedent or cultural inclination in this country.
Marine Le Pen’s embezzlement conviction and election ban intensify France’s political divide, challenge French President Emmanuel Macron’s government and set the stage for a far-right succession battle.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 2, 2025

Le Pen’s MAGA-style martyrdom is new risk in France

One big factor could complicate Le Pen’s pivot to MAGA martyrdom, however: The antics of Trump himself.
Brooks Koepka is a five-time major winner who will be seeking his first Masters title next week.
MORE SPORTS / Golf
Apr 3, 2025

LIV Golf stars look ahead to Masters

"It's almost a religious experience every time you set foot on Augusta National," said Phil Mickelson.

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.