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July 09, 2026
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July 09, 2026
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Imam Reza Shrine a day before the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, on Wednesday
WORLD
U.S. military launches strikes on Iran for second straight day
The U.S. launched attacks on Tuesday and revoked a waiver that allowed Tehran to sell oil globally in response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

More coverage

Trump wants to leave the Iran war behind. That won¡¯t happen soon
How Iran¡¯s ¡®golden weapon¡¯ of Hormuz became a bigger priority than its nuclear program
Imam Reza Shrine a day before the burial of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Mashhad, Iran, on Wednesday
Fishermen in Japan have reported an abnormal surge in the number of the once-endangered bluefin tuna ?in surrounding waters this year in what experts say may be partly due to changing migratory patterns linked to climate change.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Bumper haul of Pacific bluefin tuna a double-edged sword for Japan¡¯s fishermen
By Kaori Kaneko
Climate change may be altering marine life, with serious consequences for those whose livelihoods have long depended on the sea.
Kaoru Mitoma¡¯s agency said he is taking the incident very seriously and has expressed concern and apologies toward the injured cyclist.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Kaoru Mitoma involved in minor traffic accident in Tokyo
By Sam Byford
Prominent Japanese soccer player Kaoru Mitoma hit a cyclist in Tokyo while driving at around 8.45 a.m. on Wednesday, according to a statement from his agency.
A customer checks eyeglasses in a section featuring limited-edition eyeglasses available only at the Jins Shinjuku store in April.
BUSINESS / Economy
Shoppers splurge on specs in Japan as deflation-era mindset fades away
By Reed Stevenson
As inflation reshapes behavior, Japanese eyeglass company Jins is working to prove higher prices are justified by delivering better materials, sharper designs and improved quality.
Nicholas Tarasenko trains at Minato stable in August 2024.
SUMO / Inside Sumo
Wakatakakage injury casts pall over July meet, but potential new stars loom
By John Gunning
The Nagoya tournament still offers plenty of intrigue, from a disrupted title race to the debut of highly touted English prospect Nicholas Tarasenko.
Nicholas Tarasenko trains at Minato stable in August 2024.

JAPAN

Bags of rice at a supermarket in Aichi Prefecture. A bill designed to stabilize rice supply and demand has been passed by the parliament.
Diet enacts bill to stabilize rice supply and demand
Various businesses will now have to report inventory, shipments and sales volumes in order to help improve the accuracy of forecasts.
Hikers wait for a bus at a train station in Okutama on the outskirts of Tokyo on June 14 as local authorities urge visitors to take precautions following increased reports of bear sightings in the region.
Tokyo considers lifting ban on bear hunting for the first time in nearly 20 years
By Yukana Inoue
With the move to permit culling in the capital, authorities are hoping to put pressure on the wild animal and avert human-bear conflicts.
JIP¡¯s submarine proposal tests Japan¡¯s nuclear red lines
By Kenji Yoshida
Trump says ¡®Japan¡¯ instead of Iran at meeting in Ankara
Imperial family bill may clear Lower House as early as Friday
Japan mobile carriers to delay rollout of 060 prefix

BUSINESS

Since their listing in 2024, Kioxia¡¯s shares have surged on runaway demand for AI memory chips.
Bain Capital exits Kioxia after chip deal yields big returns
By Shery Ahn and Russell Ward
A global spending spree on AI catapulted Kioxia¡¯s shares more than 4,800% from their debut, transforming the chipmaker into one of Japan¡¯s most valuable companies.
"(Japan) must now start to vigorously promote the domestic production of defense drones," Terra Drone President Toru Tokushige said in a recent interview.
Japan¡¯s Terra Drone to mass-produce defense drones domestically
The Tokyo-based company aims to speed up work to establish supply chains that do not rely on imports by promoting the development and production of drone components at home.
Beijing to let Chinese AI companies buy Nvidia H200 chips
Goldman becomes Taiwan¡¯s top foreign broker on AI quant push
By Betty Hou
Rapidus to match TSMC on 2-nanometer chip pricing, Japan firm¡¯s president says
Meta to build first data center in Canada in expansion of global fleet

WORLD

Latin American countries often spend roughly 1.2% to 1.3% of GDP on defense, according to a senior U.S. Defense Department official.
Pentagon urges Latin American countries to raise defense budgets
The U.S. Department of Defense wants increased security spending to fight organized crime.
U.S. Patriot missile defense systems at a U.S army base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on March 12
Ukraine to receive license to make Patriot missile interceptors, Trump says
The interceptors are the only weapon in Ukraine¡¯s arsenal that can shoot down ballistic projectiles, whose high velocity and steep flight path make them hard to stop.
U.S. reiterates backing Tibet in preserving culture after man set himself on fire
By Kanishka Singh
Top South Korea court to decide ex-president¡¯s martial law case
Russia tries to jam Musk¡¯s Starlink systems to counter Ukrainian drones
By Max Hunder
NATO summit shows Trump¡¯s chemistry with leaders matters most

Sports

Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammates after hitting his 300th MLB career home run against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Shohei Ohtani hits 300th MLB career home run
Ohtani is the first Japanese MLB player to achieve the milestone.
Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk slams IOC move to lift Russia¡¯s suspension from Olympics
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander to retire after 2026 season
Cavs agree on Mitchell deal as LeBron watches
Messi inspires Argentina great escape over Egypt; Swiss also advance
By Rob Woollard

Opinion

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 2. AFP-JIJI
Time for middle powers to sustain ¡®free and open Indo-Pacific¡¯
Gurjit Singh
The Japan-India summit¡¯s ambitious agenda demonstrated a willingness to move beyond declarations toward practical cooperation on economic security.
Beware of government by AI
By Gabriela Ramos and Emilija Stojmenova Duh
Sony hits eject on the era of owning games
By Gearoid Reidy
America¡¯s battlefield dominance is under serious threat
By Max Hastings
In a moment of transition, Southeast Asia steps up
By Brad Glosserman

ENVIRONMENT

Firefighters work to contain a fire at a warehouse facility during a wildfire near Oraiokastro, a suburb of Thessaloniki, Greece, on Saturday.
Faster, fiercer wildfires are testing evacuation plans
By Todd Woody
Firestorms now ignite without warning as temperatures soar, increasingly spreading at lightning speed into cities that border wildlands.
Europe¡¯s third major heat wave raises grid and water risks
By Joe Wertz
Infernos devastate forests as Europe¡¯s temperatures rise again
Japan deploys bear cameras in mountains as attacks surge
Net-zero champion Europe snared by climate change on its doorstep

CULTURE

Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix¡¯s ¡°Human Vapor,¡± says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
The beating heart inside ¡®Human Vapor¡¯
By Gabriella Geisinger
Director Shinzo Katayama and actor Shun Oguri discuss the cross-cultural collaboration behind Netflix¡¯s ¡°Human Vapor.¡±
Japanese dancers win ballet prizes in Moscow
Sachiko Kazama¡¯s art bites back at a cruel society
By Jennifer Pastore
NU Festival tests Takanawa Gateway City complex¡¯s culture cred
By James Hadfield
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are married, as pair hosts New York celebration

LIFE

Stephen Lancaster says Sezanne's loss of its Michelin stars is an opportunity to move one of Tokyo's newest fine dining institutions in a new direction.
Stripped of Michelin stars, Sezanne embraces a changing of the guard
By Phoebe Amoroso
Once awarded three stars, the restaurant now holds none. But new executive chef Steven Lancaster sees the sudden change as a golden opportunity.
La & Le brings a slice of Paris cafe culture to Tokyo
By Weiwen Lin
Japan¡¯s first standalone ramen shop reopens in Asakusa
By Weiwen Lin
Fender opens a second, more unplugged Shimokitazawa cafe
By Aden Max Juarez
Sony to end video game disc production in January 2028
By Owen Ziegler

COMMUNITY

Young people in India's northeast are increasingly studying Japanese in hopes of building new lives and careers in Japan.
Japan needs caregivers. Young Indians are answering the call.
By Megha Wadhwa
From classrooms in India¡¯s northeast to nursing homes in Japan, an emerging labor corridor hopes to improve lives in both countries.
Inside Japan¡¯s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
By Mai Yoshikawa
Two furry siblings seek their forever home
How a U.S. author found ¡ª and helped build ¡ª community in a Japanese hot spring town
By Michele Laudig
In Japan, Nepalese students navigate a growing study-to-work pathway
By Mai Yoshikawa

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
The beating heart inside ¡®Human Vapor¡¯
By Gabriella Geisinger
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix¡¯s ¡°Human Vapor,¡± says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
BUSINESS
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
By Yukana Inoue
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.
COMMUNITY
Filmmaker explores history of discrimination against foreign nationals in Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie
Takashi Nishihara, the director of "Now and Then," in Tokyo on Wednesday. The director has spent 10 years traversing politically charged terrain while exploring youth-driven grassroots political movements that scrutinize the status quo.
ENVIRONMENT
Okinawa¡¯s prized seaweed under threat as oceans warm
By Robert Bociaga
Local harvesters gather <i>mozuku</i> during low tide at Hyakuna Beach in the city of Nanjo, Okinawa Prefecture. As the planet warms, rising ocean temperatures are placing increasing pressure on the seaweed industry.
LIFE
Japanese nail salons are tourists¡¯ new obsession
By Gabrielle Doman
Tourists in Japan have always been interested in quintessentially Japanese approaches to modern culture, and, increasingly, visits to nail salons have become the new hot thing.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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COMFACTS

Space Seed Holdings and Three Partners File Core Patents for ¡°SpaceAgent¡±
Space Seed Holdings and Three Partners File Core Patents for ¡°SpaceAgent¡±
SPACE SEED HOLDINGS CO., LTD.

WHAT¡¯S TRENDING

COMMUNITY
Japan needs caregivers. Young Indians are answering the call.
By Megha Wadhwa
Young people in India&#039;s northeast are increasingly studying Japanese in hopes of building new lives and careers in Japan.
JAPAN
Osaka trumps Tokyo as both ranked among world¡¯s top 10 most livable cities
By Elizabeth Beattie
Osaka¡¯s infrastructure earned higher marks than Tokyo¡¯s in the Economist Intelligence Unit¡¯s latest Global Liveability Index.
JAPAN
Japanese teen arrested for booting users off streaming service
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has arrested a 15-year-old boy for allegedly creating a malicious program and canceling subscription accounts on the Bandai Channel.
BUSINESS
Japanese payment processor¡¯s collapse hits banks and restaurants
By Taro Fuse and Taiga Uranaka
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
JAPAN
Long-stalled maglev line finally gets green light from Shizuoka Prefecture
By Yukana Inoue
Environmental concerns relating to the construction of Central Japan Railway¡¯s high-speed maglev line had contributed to years of delays for the project.