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December 26, 2025
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December 26, 2025
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Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sits (center) with ministers ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Friday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Takaichi’s Cabinet proposes record spending in next fiscal year
By Francis Tang
The budget will go to parliament for approval when it convenes again early next year.

More coverage

Japan to expand military aid as OSA budget more than doubles
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sits (center) with ministers ahead of a Cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on Friday.
Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jets tasked with operations against airspace violations
JAPAN / FOCUS
Amid China tensions, Japan’s defense budget tops ?9 trillion for first time
By Jesse Johnson
The request includes ?100 billion to build a drone “shield” to help defend the country’s southwestern periphery amid rising concerns over Chinese military moves in the area.
A police officer outside a Yokohama Rubber factory in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Friday following a stabbing spree earlier in the day
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
14 injured after stabbing spree at Shizuoka tire factory
The seriousness of the injuries was unknown, although NHK said all victims remained conscious.
The Metropolitan Police Department’s officers investigate the house of a woman and her three children who died in Nishitokyo in western Tokyo on Dec. 19.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Suspected murder-suicide of woman and sons linked to another death
A 27-year-old man found dead in an apartment in Tokyo’s Nerima Ward on Monday is believed to have been in a relationship with the woman.
While new installments in franchises like “Gundam” and “Detective Conan” and manga adaptations like “100 Meters” did well at the box office in 2025, risk-taking films like “Scarlet” struggled to find the same love.
CULTURE / Film / 2025 IN REVIEW
In 2025, anime tightened its grip abroad — and played it safe at home
By Matt Schley
As anime conquered overseas markets, the industry doubled down on known IP and left innovation on shakier ground.
While new installments in franchises like “Gundam” and “Detective Conan” and manga adaptations like “100 Meters” did well at the box office in 2025, risk-taking films like “Scarlet” struggled to find the same love.

JAPAN

Rescue boats provided by Japan to Malaysia under the official security assistance program
Japan to expand military aid as OSA budget more than doubles
By Gabriel Dominguez
The Cabinet agreed on a 125% — or ?10 billion — year-on-year increase in military aid funding, raising the budget to ?18.1 billion ($116 million) for fiscal 2026.
Reika Kuroki, who goes by Reika Miyazaki as a social media influencer, has some 500,000 followers on Instagram.
Japanese social media influencer charged with tax evasion
Reika Kuroki, also known as Reika Miyazaki, as well as two other individuals are accused of evading corporate and other taxes amounting to ?157 million.
Japan corrects inappropriate calculation of university entry rate
Safety board conducts simulation of Haneda aircraft collision
Court dismisses plea to shut down nuclear plants in Fukui
Japan fine-tunes plans for disaster management agency

BUSINESS

A Toyota dealership in Beijing. Toyota’s global sales and production fell in November, weighed down in large part by a sharp drop in China.
Toyota posts rare sales drop in November, dragged down by China
By Nicholas Takahashi
Global automakers are facing greater uncertainty as they navigate an environment of trade tensions, regulatory changes and uncertain economic outlooks.
A water processing facility at TSMC's plant in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, is shown to media on Nov. 12. Numbers and maker names on the devices have been blurred upon the company's request.
TSMC Kumamoto plant leaves concerns over water impact
About 75% of up to 30,000 metric tons of water used at the plant per day is recycled water, according to the company.
Japan to quadruple spending support for chips and AI in budget
By Yoshiaki Nohara and Komaki Ito
Japan’s small IPOs fall to 12-year low amid market reforms
By Yasutaka Tamura
Yen weakens as Tokyo inflation cools more than expected
By Erica Yokoyama
U.S. rare earth buyers still see China curbs despite Trump deal
By Joe Deaux

WORLD

Malaysia's former Prime Minister Najib Razak, jailed for corruption in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal, attends a hearing at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex on Monday.
Malaysia court convicts ex-PM Najib of power abuse and money laundering in 1MDB trial
Najib could face maximum jail terms of between 15 and 20 years on each ?charge, as well as a fine of up to five times the value of the alleged misappropriations.
A flare stack at an liquefied natural gas plant in Russia. Ukraine has widened the scope of its attacks on Russian energy assets.
Ukraine says it has hit a Russian gas processing plant and oil refinery
Ukraine has widened the scope of its attacks on Russian energy assets, targeting not only crude refineries but also pipelines and other facilities.
South Korea prosecutor seeks 10-year jail term for ex-President Yoon
How Israel’s hilltop settlers coordinate attacks to expel Palestinians
By Pesha Magid
Most Russians expect Ukraine war to end in 2026, state pollster says
Pope urges Russia and Ukraine dialogue in Christmas blessing
By Clement MELKI and Alice Chancellor

Sports

Samurai Japan manager Hirokazu Ibata announces the first eight members of his team for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, in Tokyo on Friday.
Ohtani, Kikuchi and six others named to initial Samurai Japan roster for WBC
The eight members also include Yuki Matsui of the San Diego Padres and Hiromi Ito of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.
Spurs extend domination of NBA-best Thunder with third December win
Broncos edge Chiefs to get closer to AFC's No. 1 seed
Villa faces Chelsea test as Premier League title race heats up
By John WEAVER
Controversial Africa Cup of Nations change sparks debate in Africa

Opinion

Keiji Minatoya, from Kitaakita, Akita Prefecture, reenacts the time he was attacked by a black bear in 2023. Japan’s recent battle with bears has revealed issues that will continue to present challenges for the Japanese government going forward.
Japan’s growing bear crisis reveals deeper issues
Michael MacArthur Bosack
Currently, there are only around 220,000 licensed hunters in Japan, substantially lower than the 532,265 registered in 1970.
The AI war on Christmas
By Timothy Snyder
Trump and the end of American hegemony
By Joseph E. Stiglitz
Is crypto an opportunity or a threat?
By Jean Tirole
Facts, not fantasy, must guide regional revitalization policy

ENVIRONMENT

Dried out trees in a forest near Reiskirchen, Germany
How German engineers are building future-proof forests
By Joanna Gill
Forest engineers are working on ways to future-proof forests in ?North Rhine-Westphalia under a program that includes mixing tree varieties to build resilience.
North Sea project promises to return carbon to exactly where it came from
Step aside fashion police, here comes fashion immigration
Hydrogen plays part in global warming, study says
New roadmap shows how to cut a surprisingly big source of emissions

CULTURE

The Tokyo National Museum and the Dino-A-Live show have partnered for a traditional storytelling performance with animatronic dinosaurs reimagined as folklore spirits back from the dead.
A night at the museum when dinosaurs come to life
By Gendel Gento
The Dino-A-Live show, made with lifelike animatronic dinosaurs, has partnered with the Tokyo National Museum for a performance steeped in traditional culture.
Japanese screenwriter Makiko Uchidate dies at 77
‘Whoever Steals This Book’: A genre-hopping odyssey through literature
By Matt Schley
‘White Flowers and Fruits’: Inside the fragile, haunting world of female adolescence
By Mark Schilling
Life lessons from bestselling kids' book about making mistakes
By Thu-Huong Ha

LIFE

Turn a top-grade cut of beef into "temari-zushi" (ball-shaped sushi) for a fun "osechi" New Year's meal.
Ring in the New Year with beef sushi
By Makiko Itoh
Give your traditional year-end “osechi ryōri” feast a modern twist with these ball-shaped treats.
Tokyo dining in 2025 was defined by sushi and cutting-edge fare
By Robbie Swinnerton
Will 91仓库 'fire horse' curse strike again in 2026?
By Thu-Huong Ha
Designtide Tokyo 2025 closes this weekend with a creator-led marketplace
By Erik Augustin Palm
From aprons to sake cups: What to buy in Tokyo's Kappabashi
By Kimberly Hughes

COMMUNITY

Anton (right) came to Japan in 1975 and, through her participation in the community, formed long-lasting relationships with her neighbors.
Making a home in Japan with holiday meals and memories
By Karen Hill Anton
An American writer reflects on Christmas cake, New Year’s food and the communities she has found in Japan over the course of 50 years.
Emery, an elusive and enchanting mixed-breed cat
Japan-raised Chinese children navigate complex cultural terrain
By Yang Xiong
Hector Herrera: ‘Tolerance means remaining in the conversation’
By Kimberly Hughes
Finding a way forward from financial abuse
By Louise George Kittaka

Editors' Picks

BASEBALL
Girls inspired by Shohei Ohtani leading Japan’s next wave of two-way players
By Mai Yoshikawa
Ayuri Shimano is a two-way player for the Giants' women's team.
CULTURE
Can a pop song carry a movie? Japan thinks so.
By James Hadfield
Sota Fukushi (left) and Haruka Fukuhara find romance in the aftermath of tragedy in Isao Yukisada’s “Kaede,” the latest in a succession of Japanese movies based on popular songs.
JAPAN
Stick over carrot approach doesn't help foreign residents integrate, professor says
By Himari Semans
Foreign technical interns working at a factory. Immigrants are rarely hired full-time or promoted to senior positions because they are still viewed as temporary fixes for short-term labor shortages.
JAPAN
How will Takaichi balance ties with the DPP and JIP?
By Eric Johnston
Democratic Party for the People leader Yuichiro Tamaki speaks to members of the media in Tokyo in October. Tamaki has remained noncommittal on the idea of joining the LDP-JIP coalition.
JAPAN
Christmas markets are having a jolly moment in Japan
By Yukana Inoue
Visitors flock to a Christmas market with a Christmas pyramid — a German decoration — Tuesday night at Tokyo's Shiba Park.

Podcast

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

Longform

Crowded with links, icons and graphics, Japan’s major web portals deliver information at full volume, echoing an online culture that favors abundance over empty space.
Why Japan’s internet looks weird — unless you live here
By Thu-Huong Ha

JT Directory Service

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COMFACTS

Tsunan Sake Brewery Participates as Drink Sponsor at the Reception for Artist Kim Rose’s First Solo Exhibition in Japan, “Path of Gold”
Tsunan Sake Brewery Participates as Drink Sponsor at the Reception for Artist Kim Rose’s First Solo Exhibition in Japan, “Path of Gold”
TSUNAN SAKE BREWERY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Mie Prefecture considers stopping hiring foreign nationals
An industrial complex in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture. The Mie Prefectural Government is considering stopping the hiring of foreign nationals amid concerns over leaks involving agricultural production information and residents’ personal data.
JAPAN
The making of Shinzo Abe’s assassin
By Tomoko Otake
Tetsuya Yamagami in Nara in July 2022. Earlier that month Yamagami had shot the former prime minister with an improvised shotgun at point-blank range.
JAPAN
Stick over carrot approach doesn't help foreign residents integrate, professor says
By Himari Semans
Foreign technical interns working at a factory. Immigrants are rarely hired full-time or promoted to senior positions because they are still viewed as temporary fixes for short-term labor shortages.
JAPAN
Thai girl in Tokyo sex-work case to be returned home
The mother (center) of a Thai girl forced to perform sexual services for money at a Tokyo massage parlor is escorted by police and immigration officers at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan. Parts of the image have been blurred.
COMMENTARY
China has always done as it pleased — until now
By Edo Naito
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's refusal to yield to China’s demands to retract her remarks on Taiwan represents a rare pushback against decades of Beijing's rule-breaking and impunity.