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October 18, 2025
 

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CELEBRITIES

James Earl Jones in the Broadway revival of "Gore Vidal’s The Best Man” at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York in March 2012. Jones, once a stuttering farm child who became a voice of rolling thunder as one of America’s most versatile actors in a stage, film and television career that plumbed race relations, Shakespeare’s rhapsodic tragedies and the faceless menace of Darth Vader, died on Monday at his home in Dutchess County, New York. He was 93.
CULTURE / Film
Sep 10, 2024
James Earl Jones, actor whose voice could menace or melt, dies at 93
He gave life to characters like Darth Vader in “Star Wars” and Mufasa in “The Lion King,” and went on to collect Tonys, Golden Globes, Emmys and an honorary Oscar.
Popular commentator and journalist Akira Ikegami speaks about investment fraud on social media at the Aichi Prefectural Police in Nagoya in July.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Aug 14, 2024
Japanese celebrities raising alarm over social media fraud
The amount of money stolen in social media investment fraud schemes between January-June rocketed about seven times from a year earlier, according to police.
Covers for paper fans used for oshikatsu activities are sold at a Sanrio shop in Nagoya.
JAPAN / Society
Jul 22, 2024
60% of Japanese moms enjoy supporting their favorites through 'oshikatsu'
68.5% of mothers spend less than ¥50,000 a year on oshikatsu, with those who spend ¥50,000 or more and less than ¥300,000 accounting for 20.7%.
A fake online ad that solicits investments using the name and picture of economic analyst Takuro Morinaga without permission. Morinaga said he is not involved in the ad in any way and does not have social media accounts.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jun 19, 2024
Fake celebrity ad victims in Japan increase tenfold
Victims lost an average of ¥6.87 million, with the largest single loss hitting ¥170 million.
Boys watch smoke billowing during Israeli strikes east of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.
WORLD / Politics
May 14, 2024
Celebrities face digital backlash over Gaza silence
For months, activists have flooded the comments sections of social media sites, urging stars to join calls for a cease-fire in the war.
Hitoshi Matsumoto
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 28, 2024
Comedian Hitoshi Matsumoto's defamation trial kicks off
Identities of two women accusing the comedian of forcing them into having sex, as reported by Shukan Bunshun, becomes the focus on Day 1.
Yoshikazu Higashitani, who goes by the name GaaSyy, leaves the Tokyo Detention House on Sept. 21 after being released on bail.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 9, 2024
Four-year prison term sought for ex-lawmaker GaaSyy
GaaSyy, whose real name is Yoshikazu Higashitani, is accused of making threats against actor Go Ayano and others in online videos.
Taylor Swift attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, on Jan. 7.
CULTURE / Music
Jan 27, 2024
Outrage over deepfake porn images of Taylor Swift
One image of the U.S. megastar was seen 47 million times on X, the former Twitter, before it was removed Thursday.
Researchers eager to be hailed as the next world-changing genius may cut corners they shouldn’t — and that reflects badly on science.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 23, 2023
Science hype and celebrity culture make a bad pair
There is a broad problem of questionable research results being published in prestigious journals, with some prioritizing sensational findings.
Tupac Shakur
CULTURE / Music
Sep 30, 2023
Suspect in rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 slaying charged with murder
The charges marked a breakthrough for a long-unsolved case that was a defining moment in the history of rap music.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 5, 2023
Everyone wants to make Ryan Reynolds money
Celebs are looking for equity-based endorsements in the hope of a big pay day — but this strategy won’t work for everyone.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / Japan Pulse
Feb 11, 2023
Minami Minegishi: AKB48’s tear-stained pioneer
One J-pop idol’s shocking show of penance in 2013 foreshadowed the price of fame on the internet.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Nov 27, 2022
‘Gangnam Style’ brought K-pop to the world, but haunted its creator
In 2012, the song took over the internet, and it helped pave the way for the global success of Korean pop. But Psy spent years trying and failing to replicate the phenomenon.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 29, 2022
Pioneering rocker Jerry Lee Lewis dead at 87
Famous for his flowing blond locks, rowdy piano beats and outrageous stage presence, the star best known for his classic 'Great Balls of Fire' died of natural causes, his publicist said.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 19, 2022
Russian pop music icon comes out against the war in Ukraine
Alla Pugacheva is the most significant celebrity to come out against the war, as President Vladimir Putin faces growing challenges on and off the battlefield.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Aug 6, 2022
Jury awards $45.2 million in punitive damages in Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial
The U.S. conspiracy theorist was ordered to pay the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the 2012 massacre for falsely claiming the shooting was a hoax.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Mar 30, 2022
Jada Pinkett Smith says it's a 'season for healing' after Oscars incident
The actress didn't refer directly to the incident involving her husband, Will Smith, and comedian Chris Rock in an Instagram post.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Mar 29, 2022
Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock after academy condemns his slap
'I was out of line and I was wrong,” Smith said in a statement. 'I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be.”
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 20, 2021
Xi’s celebrity crackdown no match for Universal Studios in China
A commentary published widely in state-run media last month warned against 'fan culture” and 'worshiping Western culture.”
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 3, 2021
China cracks down on showbiz for 'polluting' society and youth
Beijing's latest moves come in the wake of celebrity scandals, but also targets entertainment portraying 'effeminate' behavior and other content deemed 'warped.'
Coalition talks could bring Takaichi closer to being PM
Nippon Ishin no Kai leader and Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura meets with Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Trump declares U.S.-China trade war as Bessent floats long truce
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday.
Asia can learn from Europe’s immigration mistakes
Refugees and migrants, mostly from Syria and Afghanistan, crowd a platform at a train station in Budapest in September 2015. Hungary's focus on pro-natalist policies and minimal immigration has led to a significant improvement in its fertility rate compared to Japan.
Singapore thrived in a U.S.-led world. Now what?
The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt moors at Changi Naval Base in Singapore in April 2018.
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen
Preparations advance on Monday for the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
What you need to see at this year's Tokyo film festival
Chloe Zhao’s "Hamnet"
As they wrestle for power, Japan’s political parties must remember their base
Rengo's head Tomoko Yoshino speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 8.
Sumo is about to hit London and the West with a force previously unseen
Preparations advance on Monday for the Grand Sumo Tournament at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Number of scenarios now on the table for who might be Japan’s next prime minister
Newly-elected leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Sanae Takaichi (right) celebrates with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on October 4.
Pace eyes great strides for Japan’s art market
Pace Japan Vice President Kyoko Hattori, the de facto head of the nation’s business, believes a larger, more lucrative art market will allow Japan to be more attractive for collectors.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Rock group The Yellow Monkey played K-Arena Yokohama in June as part of a nationwide tour. Concerts are increasingly popular in the age of social media as users value in-person experiences.
Inside Japan’s arena boom: Sports, sound and city-building
By Patrick St. Michel

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