Latest articles - The Japan Times

Iran defiant on strait as Trump tells Americans to accept high gas prices

Progress toward peace talks and oil tanker traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway remain halted.

Japan’s macabre literati go global

Japanese crime, mystery and horror have hit their stride with English readers, offering a complement and counterpoint to "healing fiction."

Defense minister visits war-linked Yasukuni Shrine as Takaichi stays away

Those paying respects included Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi — a regular visitor — and economic security minister Kimi Onoda.

Powerful quake off Indonesia kills 20, sparks mass evacuations

Dozens of aftershocks have already been felt, the strongest measured at a magnitude of 6.1.

With one month until Okinawa poll, both key contenders lack trump card

The election will effectively be a one-on-one battle between incumbent Gov. Denny Tamaki, 66, who is gunning for a third term, and Genta Koja, 42, former deputy mayor of Naha.

South Korean president calls for deeper ties with Japan in Liberation Day address

President Lee Jae-myung pledged to "broaden the scope of cooperation for mutual benefit and work together to address shared challenges."

Can robots save an aging Japan?

Monster Wolf and Pochi are among the robots deployed to scare away bears and transport cherry blossoms in a northern region of Japan where many farmers are in their 70s or older.

AC vests and UV parasols: East Asia deploys heat-fighting gadgets

East Asia's summers are becoming hotter and longer, and such "personal cooling" has become a ubiquitous part of daily life.

Takaichi drops ‘remorse’ in her first war memorial address

The omission of the term stood in stark contrast to her immediate predecessor Shigeru Ishiba, while the inclusion of the term "Indo-Pacific" highlighted her foreign policy agenda.

U.S. presses NATO allies on ideological loyalty ahead of troop cuts

In a document recently sent to members, the U.S. asks a series of questions that gauge support for U.S. President Donald Trump's approach.

Major U.S. defense firms race to make cheaper missiles

The so-called defense primes are aiming to offer options beyond the costly, complicated and slow-to-produce "exquisite" projectiles.

Japan ‘discussing how to respond’ to Putin’s disputed island visit

Options include further strengthening economic sanctions on Russia and temporarily recalling Japan's ambassador to the nation.

History of housing for Japanese postwar returnees kept alive

Efforts have been made to preserve the history of public housing for Japanese returnees from former Manchuria and elsewhere after the end of World War II.

Bessent asked to justify yen intervention in letter from top Democrat

The request extends the senior Democrat's pattern of scrutinizing the Trump administration's foreign-exchange policies.

U.S. to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China 

Washington is warning other nations they will be excluded from a U.S.-led coalition if ​they also sign up for Beijing's competing framework.

At Japan’s all-women powerlifting contest, strength is beautiful

Despite a thin-is-beautiful aesthetic dominating popular beauty trends in Japan, the Strongirls Japan powerlifting group takes a more muscular approach to femininity.

A day in the life of an Asakusa rickshaw driver

The young Japanese drivers of the ubiquitous carts in Tokyo's tourist districts say taking care of their bodies is a critical part of the job.

Takaichi touts price-relief steps on X as support sags

The social media posts come as support for her government begins to ebb after a six-month post-election honeymoon.

Japan companies step up efforts to prevent heatstroke

Among some of the measures are summer shifts that avoid the hottest time of the day, air-conditioned rest areas for employees and stickers that indicate one's body temperature.

Aespa channels summer cheer in Japanese minialbum

Released July 24, "Kiss n Tell" is a departure from the K-pop girl group's signature heavy bass and electronic dance music sound.

The disturbing dream world of ‘Cattle Muti-Leiko’

Kai Yamaguchi's debut feature blends dark satire with sci-fi and fantasy elements to tell a story about male obsession.

South Korea bets on industrial policy again

South Korea is pursuing a new state-led industrial policy to compete on the tech frontier, but faces far greater uncertainty than during earlier industrialization drives.

Zhu Rongji, China’s misunderstood reformer, dies

Zhu will be remembered as the man who masterminded China's entry into the World Trade Organization.

An unsolved murder leads to despair and salvation in ‘The Brightest Sun’

A pair of private investigators probes the murder of a colleague in Tetsuya Nakashima's challenging but rewarding film.

The U.S. ammo crunch is a global disaster

The missile scarcity constrains Trump's military options and could have strategic consequences, including limiting the ability to deter China, North Korea and Russia.

Overnight stays by foreign guests exceed prepandemic levels in 39 prefectures

Such stays reached an estimated 179.92 million in 2025, up 55.6% from level in 2019, a Japan Tourism Agency survey has found.

Thai schools step up security after deadly shooting

The measures, ranging from weapon screening to strict visitor protocols, have been welcomed by parents.

Japan’s power futures get boost as utilities hedge price risk

Fuel prices have been volatile since the outbreak of the Iran war in late February.

Authorities urge continued caution after heavy rain in Chiba leaves eight dead

Emergency warnings have been downgraded but unstable atmospheric conditions are forecast to persist across Kanto, Nagano and Yamanashi through early Saturday.

Russian regions report new fuel crunch as Kyiv hits refineries

Ukraine has returned the focus of its drone strikes from oil tankers to fuel-producing plants after a brief lull in July.

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