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September 11, 2025
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September 11, 2025
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U.S. rightwing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk appears at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, just before he was shot dead.
Breaking News
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Right-wing Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead at Utah university event
A university spokesperson said police did not have a suspect in custody, after the school initially reported that someone had been taken into custody.
U.S. rightwing activist and commentator Charlie Kirk appears at a Utah Valley University speaking event in Orem, Utah, on Wednesday, just before he was shot dead.
Former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen speaks at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in the Danish capital in May.
JAPAN / Politics
China complains as former Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen visits Japan
By Jesse Johnson
The visit to Japan, which does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, was the first known trip to the country by Tsai since she left office in May 2024.
The 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force conducts the first Typhon midrange missile system live-fire exercise outside of the continental United States on July 16, successfully sinking a maritime target during the Talisman Sabre exercises in Australia's Northern Territory.
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
High-tech U.S. missile systems come to Japan amid policy shifts and China concerns
By Jesse Johnson and Gabriel Dominguez
Long wary of such a move, Tokyo¡¯s acquiescence ¡ª and its own planned missile deployments ¡ª highlights a gradual but monumental shift in defense policy.
Yuichiro Tamaki, head of the opposition Democratic Party for the People, in Tokyo on Nov. 1, 2024
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Who might the LDP woo once it elects its next president?
By Eric Johnston
Short of a majority in both chambers of parliament, the ruling party needs an opposition party¡¯s support to elect its leader as prime minister.
Emergency room visits for self-harm and suicide attempts have been rising since 2019, with the sharpest increases observed among young people and women, a report revealed on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
More people being hospitalized in Japan for self-harm, attempted suicide: report
By Jessica Speed
In 2023, a total of 42,977 people were taken to hospital, 2,721 more than the previous year, according to the Japan Suicide Countermeasures Promotion Center.
Emergency room visits for self-harm and suicide attempts have been rising since 2019, with the sharpest increases observed among young people and women, a report revealed on Wednesday.

JAPAN

Former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi announces he will run in the race for president of the Liberal Democratic Party at a news conference on Wednesday.
Motegi calls for ¡®new coalition¡¯ in bid for LDP presidency
By Himari Semans
The former party secretary-general sees welcoming a new coalition member ¡ª possibly the Democratic Party for the People or Nippon Ishin no Kai ¡ª as the way forward.
Ito Mayor Maki Takubo (right) notifies the municipal assembly of its dissolution on Wednesday in the city in Shizuoka Prefecture.
Ito mayor dissolves municipal assembly after it passed no-confidence motion
Ito Mayor Maki Takubo had claimed that she graduated from Toyo University, but said in July that she had, in fact, been expelled from the school.
Luncheon celebrates Prince Hisahito's coming of age
Five-year term upheld for U.S. airman over Okinawa sexual assault
JAL reprimand over drunken pilots adds to airline¡¯s woes
By Yukana Inoue
Ex-lawmaker Ono pleads not guilty in LDP funds scandal

BUSINESS

Traders in Tokyo celebrate an earlier record high closing of the Nikkei 225. The benchmark index has been rallying in recent days on trade optimism and political hope.
Tokyo stocks achieve record close after strong performance on Wall Street
By Francis Tang
A sustained rally has followed Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba¡¯s announcement of his resignation.
U.S. President Donald Trump South Korean leader and Lee Jae Myung meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Aug. 25.
U.S. and South Korea in deadlock over $350 billion investment fund
Seoul has been emphasizing to U.S. officials that it cannot accept the same terms as Japan¡¯s $550 billion investment pledge finalized last week.
U.S. Steel¡¯s Granite City Works to cease steel slab processing: report
By Francis Tang
MUFG Bank to open retail outlet for first time in 20 years
Lachlan Murdoch 'a very different leader than his father'
By Hannah Miller and Christopher Palmeri
Top Japan startup Sakana AI touts nature-inspired tech
By Katie Forster

WORLD

A Chinese Navy ship speeds past a Philippine fishing boat while the Philippine, Australia and Canadian navies conduct a joint drill near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Sept. 2.
Manila working on new protocols for dealing with Beijing in South China Sea
By Gabriel Dominguez
As tensions heat up in the waterway, the Philippines is updating its existing rules of engagement as part of a whole-of-government approach.
Warsaw's skyline in July
Poland downs drones, becoming first NATO member to open fire during Ukraine war
By Alan Charlish and Lidia Kelly
Moscow denied responsibility for the incident, with a senior diplomat in Poland saying the drones had come from the direction of Ukraine.
Australia to field 'Ghost Shark' underwater strike drones
By Gabriel Dominguez
Soldiers guard Nepal's parliament and patrol streets after deadly protests
By Gopal Sharma and Adnan Abidi
South Korean women target U.S. military in landmark forced prostitution lawsuit
By Claire Lee
Flotilla headed to Gaza reports second drone attack at Tunisian port
By Tarek Amara and Enas Alashray

Sports

Hakuyo at Kokugikan in Tokyo the day before his first tournament in professional sumo in May 2014.
What drives sumo journeymen to endure one of the world's most grueling sports
By John Gunning
Professional sumo is one of the harshest environments in sports. Yet many toil away in the sport's lower-tier divisions for years or even decades.
Extreme heat a rising threat to 2026 World Cup venues, report says
By Martyn Herman
Vuelta a Espana director vows to finish race despite pro-Palestinian protests
'Biggest fight in a decade': Crawford targets history against Canelo
By Rory Carroll
Bears to leave Chicago for new stadium in the suburbs

Opinion

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump hold a news conference at the White House in Washington on Feb. 7. Ishiba's short-lived prime ministership underscores the challenges facing the Japan and U.S. alliance.
What Japan¡¯s political drift means for U.S.-Japan relations
Joshua W. Walker
Decisive political leadership is missing. Ambitious reforms and bold initiatives require political capital.
The global nuclear picture grows darker and darker
By Brad Glosserman
The ICE raid on the Georgia Hyundai plant makes no sense
By Mary Ellen Klas
The Liberal Democratic Party¡¯s internal coup is complete
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
International relations analysis needs to grow up
By Stephen R. Nagy

ENVIRONMENT

Heliostat mirrors at the site of Dunhuang Shouhang 100MW Tower Solar Thermal Power Generation Project in Gansu province, China, on Oct. 16, 2024
China¡¯s green tech firms pour billions into overseas factories
By Sheryl Tian Tong Lee
Chinese companies are expanding their supply chains abroad to capture new markets, avoid tariffs and get closer to sources of raw materials, according to new research.
Drought hit over half of Europe in mid-August, EU data shows
China¡¯s green push may cut global fossil use by 2030, says think tank
Polluted and poor: Blighted U.S. cities tackle 'toxic soup'
By Carey L. Biron
How Europe lost an area the size of Cyprus to wildfires this year
By Laura Millan and Joe Wertz

CULTURE

¡°The Summer Hikaru Died¡± is a slow-burn horror and a coming-of-age narrative, but its thematic layers and queer undertones open conversations about friendship and belonging.
Dark folklore meets teenage angst in ¡®The Summer Hikaru Died¡¯
By Mike Fu
Slow-burn horror in the countryside coupled with queer undertones makes for a memorable anime adaptation.
'Faking Beethoven¡¯: Comedic musical biopic forgets to have fun
By James Hadfield
Latest 'Demon Slayer' film slays at box office, earning over ?30 billion
Traditional Japanese erotic art exhibition puts female pleasure in focus
By Tomohiro Osaki
¡®Swallows' untangles the murky ethics of selling motherhood
By Kris Kosaka

LIFE

Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce kisses partner ¡ª?now finacee ¡ª?Taylor Swift as they celebrate after his team won Super Bowl LVIII in 2024.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce¡¯s announcement hits all the right notes in Japan
By Yuko Tamura
Japanese culture is in the depths of a nostalgia wave, and the engagement announcement for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce fits in with it nicely.
Overnight mulberry matcha oats are the perfect answer to a busy morning
By Simon Daly
Racehorses, anime girls and gambling: Umamusume¡¯s recipe for success
By Owen Ziegler
With a global approach, Syn gives French cuisine plenty of latitude
By Phoebe Amoroso
Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani dead at 91
By Ella IDE

COMMUNITY

A native of Saskatchewan, Canada, Jon Heese naturalized as a Japanese citizen in 2007 and embarked upon a career in local politics the following year.
Canadian-born politician tackles Ibaraki¡¯s issues big and small
By Gendel Gento
After being elected to four terms in the Tsukuba Municipal Assembly, Jon Heese now serves as a prefectural assemblyman ¡ª and one of Ibaraki Prefecture¡¯s biggest cheerleaders.
Gentle care is the key to Cymbal¡¯s heart
Smiley, spirited Hampen will run into your arms
Overseas sluggers step up to bat in small-town Hokkaido
By Justin Randall
Jesse Kirkwood: ¡®Languages are entire cultural universes with all sorts of baggage¡¯
By Kris Kosaka

Editors' Picks

BUSINESS
Niinami¡¯s ouster quick but not unusual as corporations protect reputation
By Kazuaki Nagata
Takeshi Niinami resigns as chairman and CEO of Suntory Holdings.
JAPAN
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
By Gabriel Dominguez
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.
ENVIRONMENT
Shizuoka farmers fight to preserve sustainable tea method that¡¯s steeped in tradition
By Kai Wilson
As of August 2024, the number of confirmed chagusaba farmers had fallen to 302, just over half the 582 reported in 2015, according to the Shizuoka Chagusaba Farming Method Promotion Council.
BUSINESS
Search is on for loopholes in Japan¡¯s $550 billion investment pledge
By Francis Tang
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick argues that U.S. President Donald Trump has sole authority to invest Japan's promised $550 billion.
LIFE
In rural Hokkaido, the stops and starts of tourism revival on full display
By Justin Randall
Redevelopment plans for Kawayu Onsen have hit some snags ¡ª an example of how bringing tourists back to declining rural communities is far from easy work.

Podcast

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

Longform

Figure skater Akiko Suzuki was once told her ideal weight should be 47 kilograms, a number she now admits she ¡°naively believed.¡± This led to her have a relationship with food that resulted in her suffering from anorexia.
The silent battle Japanese athletes fight with weight
By Mai Yoshikawa

JT Directory Service

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COMFACTS

The 7th RD20 Conference to be held in Tsukuba, Japan ¡ª Registration for Press Briefing and the Conference Now Open
The 7th RD20 Conference to be held in Tsukuba, Japan ¡ª Registration for Press Briefing and the Conference Now Open
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

WHAT¡¯S TRENDING

BUSINESS
Workers say corporate South Korea was warned about questionable U.S. visas before Hyundai raid
By Hyunjoo Jin, Heekyong Yang and Heejin Kim
Activists holding signs that reads "No one is illegal!" protest against a huge immigration raid last week in the U.S. state of Georgia, in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul on Tuesday.
JAPAN
As Manila modernizes its military, new opportunities emerge for Tokyo
By Gabriel Dominguez
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.
JAPAN
Why more hotels in Japan are offering room-only service
Nipponia Hotel Ise Kawasaki Merchant Town in Ise, Mie Prefecture
BUSINESS
Goldman sells Tokyo office area to JR East for over ?50 billion
By Ryo Horiuchi
GranTokyo South Tower (center). East Japan Railway has bought the 14th to 18th floors of the office building at a price of more than ?50 billion from Goldman Sachs Group.
JAPAN
Ed Sheeran teams up with Tokyo¡¯s Oedo Line
By Alyssa I. Smith
The ¡°Oh! Ed! Collaboration Campaign,¡± launched on Tokyo's Keio Line to celebrate the Friday release of Ed Sheeran¡¯s latest album, ¡°Play,¡± includes a eight-car train dedicated to the pop star's music and trivia related to his career