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TOKYO
May 06, 2026
The Independent Voice in Asia
May 06, 2026
Fuel shock
Sanae Takaichi
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A policeman stands guard at an entrance to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on March 25. A man was apprehended in Tokyo March 24 after he trespassed onto the grounds of the embassy.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Japan-China tensions have no visible off-ramp
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Tokyo lodged a protest with Beijing over the installation of structures in the East China Sea, marking the latest in a series of incidents between the two Asian rivals.
A policeman stands guard at an entrance to the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo on March 25. A man was apprehended in Tokyo March 24 after he trespassed onto the grounds of the embassy.
A signboard urging people to call the police if they have information on the whereabouts of Kaori Nomura, who went missing in 1991 at the age of 8, is seen in Yokohama in early April.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal / FOCUS
The weight of not knowing: Japan¡¯s long-missing children
By Mai Yoshikawa
In recent years, the number of children under 10 reported missing in Japan has hovered between 1,000 and 1,200 annually.
A Japanese Type 88 surface-to-ship missile system is launched during the Balikatan military exercises in Paoay, Ilocos Norte, the Philippines, on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Japan¡¯s SDF fires anti-ship missiles for first time in Philippine military drills
By Jesse Johnson
The launches hit a mock enemy ship about 75 kilometers off the shores of Paoay, Ilocos Norte, in the country's northwest.
A police vehicle carrying Y¨±ki Adachi is parked on April 28 near a public bathroom in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, where the body of his son is believed to have been temporarily placed.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Police rearrest Kyoto father over murder charge
Police believe Y¨±ki Adachi may have murdered his son in a public restroom about 2 kilometers from the family's home.
Kirishima (then Kiribayama) in the Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020. Should Kirishima repeat March¡¯s Emperor¡¯s Cup-winning performance in the upcoming meet, he¡¯ll immediately become one of the most successful <i>¨­³ú±ð°ì¾±</i> of all time.
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
What should the expectations be for sumo¡¯s current trio of ¨­³ú±ð°ì¾±?
By John Gunning
A recent promotion puts Kirishima at sumo's second-highest rank, alongside Kotozakura and Aonishiki.
Kirishima (then Kiribayama) in the Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020. Should Kirishima repeat March¡¯s Emperor¡¯s Cup-winning performance in the upcoming meet, he¡¯ll immediately become one of the most successful <i>¨­³ú±ð°ì¾±</i> of all time.

JAPAN

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi lays flowers at a monument for the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Canberra on Monday.
Takaichi aims to boost diplomacy through revamp of her mentor's policies
The prime minister has vowed to continue former leader Shinzo Abe's diplomatic approach during her latest tour of Vietnam and Australia.
An expressway toll gate in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, that only accepts cars equipped with ETC systems
ETC-only expressway gates increasing as Japan ditches cash toll payments
The number of interchanges that do not allow toll payments with credit cards and cash is increasing as Japanese operators aim to complete the transition by fiscal 2030.
Government to launch AI pilot program to boost efficiency and encourage tech¡¯s adoption
Japan confirms fourth swine fever outbreak of the year
Japan and EU to enhance cooperation on regulating social media
Japan eyes ¡®early transfer¡¯ of used warships and aircraft to Philippines
By Jesse Johnson

BUSINESS

Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama speaks during a news conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday.
Yen rallies to build on gains spurred by recent intervention
By Ruth Carson
91²Ö¿â currency rose as much as 1.8% to ?155.04 per dollar in Asia trading, its strongest level since Feb. 24, before paring the move to trade around ?156.37.
People walk past a large electronic screen showing the Samsung logo at a train station in Seoul on April 30.
Samsung hits $1 trillion valuation, joining TSMC in elite club
By Sangmi Cha
Booming demand for chips used in artificial intelligence saw the world's largest memory maker's stock more than quadruple over the past year.
Nvidia is facing more competition and it¡¯s spooking investors
By Ryan Vlastelica
Japan to boost joint oil stockpiles with UAE
Vietnam cracks down on online piracy and counterfeit goods amid U.S. tariff threat
By Francesco Guarascio
Prudential profit rises even as firm grapples with Japan pause
By Alexandre Rajbhandari

WORLD

U.S. Navy warships sail in an undisclosed location on April 27. A one-page memorandum of understanding reportedly under discussion between the U.S. and Iran has been described by sources as requiring both sides to lift restrictions around transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. and Iran closing in on memorandum to end war, sources say
By Ariba Shahid, Steve Holland and Alexander Cornwell
The memorandum was disclosed hours after U.S. President Donald Trump paused a three-day-old naval mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, citing progress in peace talks.
The Iran-flagged container vessel Hamouna is seen anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran on May 2.
U.S. unveiled plan to reopen Hormuz hours before Trump shelved it
By Tony Capaccio and Alaric Nightingale
The U.S. president was warned it risked escalating a conflict he is eager to bring to an end.
Iran says safe transit of Strait of Hormuz will be possible with U.S. ending threats
Hantavirus-hit cruise ship to sail to Spain after rare Andes strain confirmed
Ethiopia and Sudan accuse each other of attacks
¡®Spreading like wildfire¡¯: Fiji grapples with soaring HIV cases

Sports

Kirishima (then Kiribayama) in the Kokugikan in Tokyo in February 2020. Should Kirishima repeat March¡¯s Emperor¡¯s Cup-winning performance in the upcoming meet, he¡¯ll immediately become one of the most successful <i>¨­³ú±ð°ì¾±</i> of all time.
What should the expectations be for sumo¡¯s current trio of ¨­³ú±ð°ì¾±?
By John Gunning
A recent promotion puts Kirishima at sumo's second-highest rank, alongside Kotozakura and Aonishiki.
Canadian soccer officials hopeful of getting boost from cohosting World Cup
Aryna Sabalenka says players might boycott French Open amid dispute over prize money
Chiefs general manger says Patrick Mahomes 'way ahead of schedule' in recovery
Arsenal slips past Atletico Madrid to reach first Champions League final since 2006

Opinion

People take part in the traditional May Day labor union march in Paris on Friday.
From Paris on May Day: Rethinking work and solidarity in Japan
Kumiharu Shigehara
May Day came and went last Friday in the City of Light, prompting reflections on its meaning in France compared with Japan.
The EU needs new security partners
By Nicu Popescu
Will the Iran war make Trump gun-shy or trigger-happy?
By Andreas Kluth
What China will learn from Orban¡¯s defeat
By Sam Chetwin George
¡®Keep phones on,¡¯ Tokyo warns as yen battle intensifies
By Gearoid Reidy and Daniel Moss

ENVIRONMENT

An agrivoltaic crop, in which solar panels are raised about 3 meters off the ground so that agricultural machinery can freely operate on the crops underneath, in Sosa, Chiba Prefecture.
As Iran war sends oil prices soaring, some see fresh potential for solar in Japan
By Tomoko Otake
While megasolar projects are facing headwinds at the government level, some see renewed potential for solar sharing and smaller-scale, off-grid systems.
Court case challenges New Zealand's 'magical thinking' climate plans
By Ben Strang
100 years on Earth: Iconic naturalist Attenborough to mark century
By Caroline TAIX
At 70, chasing birds across a changing Japan
By Mark Brazil
Nations urged to ¡®go further¡¯ as fossil fuel exit talks wrap in Colombia
By Nick Perry and Anna PELEGRI

CULTURE

In 2019, Saitama Arts Theater started permitting children under 3 to some of its shows. Previously, children under 4 were not permitted.
No longer shushed: Japan¡¯s cultural venues make room for children
By Kris Kosaka
From ballet to museums, cultural institutions are adapting to the needs of families with young children.
Conceptual art offers glimpse inside architects¡¯ minds
By Kim Kahan
Jury of Italy's Venice Biennale resigns en masse
By Ella IDE
¡®Into the Belly of the Beast¡¯: A stomach-churning thriller offers grisly surprises
By James Hadfield
91²Ö¿â wig masters bring the kabuki stage to life
By Natsuko Fukue

LIFE

Since taking over Maz last month, chef Yuya Nakamura has been gradually introducing more Japanese influences to the restaurant&#039;s innovative Peruvian cuisine.
New head chef at Maz explores Peruvian food through a Japanese lens
By Kyoko Nakayama
Fukuoka native Yuya Nakamura has big shoes to fill as he takes over from the talented Santiago Fernandez.
Charting Japan¡¯s emerging wine scene
By Abi Buller
For tourists in Japan¡¯s outdoor sports scene, safety is not guaranteed
By Mai Yoshikawa
¡®Sashiko¡¯ needlework artisan says craft is about 'the stories behind the stitching'
By Jessica Kozuka
Japanese fried chicken with a Southern twist
By Simon Daly

COMMUNITY

Muslims pray at Tokyo Camii in the Yoyogi-Uehara neighborhood. Though Muslims account for only 0.3% of Japan¡¯s population, rhetoric in online spaces and by conservative politicians has fomented social tensions.
Fujisawa flashpoint: A mosque project stokes nativist fears
By Simon Scott and Ben Stubbings
The planned construction of a mosque in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, had been quietly proceeding for years ¡ª until a YouTuber decided to run for office.
¡®Goofy fluffball¡¯ Gammo has a heart filled with joy
Italian creatives find their niche in Japan
By Agnese Dionisio
Counseling and community for foreign cancer patients in Japan
By Jason Bartashius
Please your palate with Tokyo¡¯s international grocery stores
By Mike Fu

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
Amid shortage concerns, Japan works to secure sufficient supplies of key raw materials
By Eric Johnston
Since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, concerns have emerged over what a shortage of oil and naphtha ¡ª a raw material for plastic products including food-packaging containers ¡ª could mean to not only industries but also supply chains and individual consumers.
JAPAN
The LDP is losing local elections. Should Takaichi be worried?
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Despite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s sustained high approval ratings after more than six months in office, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party she leads continues to suffer losses in local elections.
COMMUNITY
Fujisawa flashpoint: A mosque project stokes nativist fears
By Simon Scott and Ben Stubbings
Muslims pray at Tokyo Camii in the Yoyogi-Uehara neighborhood. Though Muslims account for only 0.3% of Japan¡¯s population, rhetoric in online spaces and by conservative politicians has fomented social tensions.
ENVIRONMENT
As Iran war sends oil prices soaring, some see fresh potential for solar in Japan
By Tomoko Otake
An agrivoltaic crop, in which solar panels are raised about 3 meters off the ground so that agricultural machinery can freely operate on the crops underneath, in Sosa, Chiba Prefecture.
CULTURE
No longer shushed: Japan¡¯s cultural venues make room for children
By Kris Kosaka
In 2019, Saitama Arts Theater started permitting children under 3 to some of its shows. Previously, children under 4 were not permitted.

Podcast

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

Longform

Projects like the BuddhaBot aim to re-create dialogue once lost to time, raising questions about whether AI can extend the teachings of Buddha or merely simulate them.
Can AI replace a priest? Japan¡¯s temples and shrines are testing the limits.
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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Kotozna Launches ¡°TocDex RAG¡± to Enhance Accuracy and Multilingual Capabilities in Generative AI
Kotozna Launches ¡°TocDex RAG¡± to Enhance Accuracy and Multilingual Capabilities in Generative AI
KOTOZNA, INC.

WHAT¡¯S TRENDING

BUSINESS
China's rare defiance of U.S. sanctions sparks showdown over banks
A Chinese flag flutters in front of the Shanghai Gaoqiao Company Refinery in Shanghai.
JAPAN
Strong winds disrupt transport during Golden Week
By Jessica Speed
A map on the website of the Japan Meteorological Agency shows advisories and warnings for strong winds across wide areas of Japan through Monday night.
COMMENTARY
¡®Keep phones on,¡¯ Tokyo warns as yen battle intensifies
By Gearoid Reidy and Daniel Moss
The yen has traded in a narrow ?158 to ?159 range against the dollar for two months as Japan steps up efforts to contain further weakness.
JAPAN
The LDP is losing local elections. Should Takaichi be worried?
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Despite Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s sustained high approval ratings after more than six months in office, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party she leads continues to suffer losses in local elections.
JAPAN
Bankruptcies among Japan¡¯s medical and nursing care providers surge
By Tomoko Otake
The surge in bankruptcies among medical and nursing care operators is mostly attributed to staff shortages and rising costs.