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September 15, 2025
 

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ISLANDS

U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House in Washington on Friday. The two leaders expressed views opposing China's military actions in the South and East China seas.
JAPAN
Feb 10, 2025
China complains to Japan about 'negative' references in joint statement
According to a joint statement, the U.S. and Japanese leaders expressed views opposing China's military actions in the South and East China seas.
The U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold sails in the front of a formation with the Philippine Navy Jose Rizal-class frigate BRP Jose Rizal (center), the Royal Australian Navy Hobart-class air warfare destroyer HMAS Hobart (left) and the Maritime Defense Force Akizuki-class destroyer Akizuki, during a multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity exercise in the South China Sea last Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 10, 2025
Calls grow louder for joint maritime patrols near Philippine hot spots
Some want Manila to consider joint coast guard and naval patrols near Chinese government vessels operating in disputed waters of the South China Sea.
Philippine National Security Council Assistant Director-General Jonathan Malaya says information and psychological warfare have "become part and parcel" of China's malign influence in his country.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 7, 2025
Chinese hybrid warfare ops surge in Philippines: top security official
There has been a rise in Chinese disinformation tactics as well as suspected surveillance and espionage activities in the Philippines, the official said.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro says Manila's moves to beef up deterrence — including continuing to have a powerful U.S. missile system deployed on its territory — “are for the protection of our territorial integrity and sovereignty."
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 6, 2025
Philippines all in to get its own midrange missile system
The plan, as disclosed by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, comes amid Chinese pressure to remove a powerful U.S. weapons system from its territory.
A map of the South China Sea is shown during a Philippine Coast Guard mission to the Second Thomas Shoal, claimed by both the Philippines and China. Each country has its own name for this area, signaling the use of toponyms to stake territorial rights.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 3, 2025
What’s in a name? In the South China Sea, a whole lot.
In the South China Sea, disputed territories have been given different names by the states vying for them. Will Trump's moves thousands of miles away validate this approach?
Philippines Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo poses for a photo at the Foreign Ministry in Manila during a recent interview with The Japan Times.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 2, 2025
Manila expects continuity in critical ties with Washington, top Philippine diplomat says
Washington’s backing remains crucial, particularly as tensions with Beijing over territorial and maritime disputes remain high.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks during an Upper House plenary session in Tokyo on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 31, 2025
Ishiba aims to get assurances from Trump over Senkaku Islands
Ishiba also said he intends to seek assistance from Trump in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea decades ago.
The beach on Izu-Oshima island where Shizuka Takase's remains were found in October of last year.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 25, 2025
Suspect says woman found dead on remote Tokyo island killed herself
The suspect, tatami store manager Sotatsu Yanase, 45, was arrested Friday on suspicion of abandoning and damaging the body of Shizuka Takase.
Sotatsu Yanase leaves the Oshima Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Friday.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 24, 2025
Boyfriend of missing woman arrested after bones found on beach
The victim was identified as Shizuka Takase, a 37-year-old restaurant worker from Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Explosions rock the shore of Iwo Jima during a pre-landing bombardment on Feb. 19, 1945, as seen from a USS Sanborn (APA-193) landing craft.
JAPAN
Jan 23, 2025
Imperial couple considering visit to Iwo Jima
The Imperial Household Agency is considering a visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako to the island of Iwo Jima in April to pay respects to soldiers killed in World War II.
A man walks pastthe ASEAN logo during the ASEAN foreign ministers' retreat in Langkawi, Malaysia, on Saturday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 19, 2025
Malaysia takes on ASEAN mantle but tempers expectations on Myanmar and South China Sea
Malaysia is committed to addressing regional issues, but expectations on Myanmar and disputes in the South China Sea should be measured, a top official said.
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya (right center) meets his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, during bilateral talks in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 15, 2025
Trump concerns top agenda as Japanese and Philippine foreign ministers meet
Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, who is set to attend Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, also stressed the necessity of being on the same wavelength as the incoming president’s team.
A Japan Coast Guard vessel sails in front of Uotsuri island, one of the disputed Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by Beijing as the and Diaoyu, in the East China Sea in August 2013.
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2024
Chinese government vessels seen near Senkakus for record 353 days in 2024
The record comes as Beijing continues to ramp up its activities near the tiny islets that it also claims in the East China Sea.
Spanish Red Cross members hold children after a boat with 57 migrants onboard arrived at La Restinga port on the Canary island of El Hierro, on Sept. 14.
WORLD / Society
Dec 27, 2024
Record number of migrants lost at sea were bound for Spain in 2024: NGO
An average of 30 people died per day while trying to reach Spain by sea in 2024, up from around 18 in 2023.
A "midrange capability" launcher arrives as part of a deployment to Northern Luzon, Philippines, in April.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 23, 2024
Philippine military says will acquire U.S. Typhon missile system
The U.S. Army deployed the midrange missile system in the northern Philippines earlier this year for annual joint military exercises.
The U.S. decision to suspend the use of a firing range in the Senkakus has had lasting consequences, undermining Japan's claims to the islets and sending mixed signals about U.S. support for Japanese sovereignty over the area.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 10, 2024
A restart of Senkaku firing ranges is long overdue
The suspension also had strategic consequences, depriving both U.S. and Japanese forces of vital military training ranges.
A screen grab from video footage taken Wednesday by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) shows a China Coast Guard ship (right) and a Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel in disputed South China Sea waters.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 8, 2024
Japan, the U.S. and the Philippines to hold maritime talks
The three countries will discuss the South China Sea situation, where China has increased activities and ways to strengthen a free and open maritime order.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech in the Marshall Islands' parliament in Majuro on Tuesday.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 3, 2024
Taiwan's Lai kicks off Marshall Islands visit as China fumes
The trip follows a stopover in the U.S. during which he discussed "China's military threats" toward Taiwan with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
China Coast Guard vessels fire water cannons toward a Philippine resupply vessel on its way to a resupply mission at Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on March 5.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 3, 2024
China accuses Philippine ships of 'illegally gathering' at disputed reef
This came as the Philippine Coast Guard said a Chinese Navy helicopter had "harassed" Philippine fishing vessels in Iroquois Reef in the South China Sea.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attends the ASEAN-U.S. summit in Vientiane, Laos, in October.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 2, 2024
Philippines' Marcos says presence of Russian submarine 'very worrisome'
A Russian Kilo-class submarine was sighted 80 nautical miles (150 kilometers) off the western province of Occidental Mindoro on Thursday.
Is America ready for Japanese-style 7-Elevens?
Convenience stores are a fixture of Japanese life and 7-Eleven, a chain that began in the U.S. in 1927, opened its first store in Japan in 1974 — and then became wholly Japanese-owned in 2005 through parent company Seven & I Holdings.
Japan's cutting-edge railgun successfully strikes target vessel
The Defense Ministry’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) conducted a ship-board railgun shooting test from June to early July this year with the support of the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
‘Fairytale’ Shirakawago ranked one of the world’s most beautiful villages
Forbes and Unforgettable Travel Company have ranked Shirakawago in Gifu Prefecture as Asia's most beautiful village.
People rush to make furusato nozei donations ahead of tighter rules
A booth from the town of Betsukai in Hokkaido at an Amazon Japan furusato nо̄zei promotion event, on Sept. 5 in Tokyo's Minato Ward.
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture
Strikes on Qatar and Poland shake U.S. sway among friend and foe
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible in Washington on Sept. 8. Israeli strikes in Qatar and Russian drone incursions into Poland have challenged the U.S. leaders claims of global respect.
Japan's major art events converge this fall
Shinji Ohmaki’s “Tokinokage” exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021 shows the use of fabric as art.
An aesthetic escape to Hakone’s art-drenched hills
Between traditional examples of fine art and sleek, modern exhibitions that blend with nature, Hakone offers a unique escape from Tokyo's urban sprawl.
Niinami’s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
A Brahmos missile system is displayed during a rehearsal for a military parade in New Delhi in January. The Philippines will soon receive its second batch of the supersonic cruise missiles from India.

Podcast

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

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin

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