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TOKYO
December 27, 2025
The Independent Voice in Asia
December 27, 2025
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2025 in Review
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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.
A Chinese tourist group stands near the Sensoji temple, a popular sightseeing spot in Tokyo's Asakusa area, on Nov. 18.
JAPAN
China orders travel agencies to slash group tours to Japan as dispute festers
One agency has been told to lower the frequency of such tours to about 60% of previous levels, while another has been urged to cancel all sales.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 17.
BUSINESS / Economy
Japan set to see first primary balance surplus in 28 years in 2026
By Erica Yokoyama
Securing a primary balance surplus has been a government goal for more than two decades.
Last month, U.S. military police mistakenly detained an American citizen during a solo patrol in the city of Okinawa.
JAPAN
U.S. military police detain civilian in Okinawa by mistake
The Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement does not allow U.S. military police to detain civilians outside U.S. bases.
Sushi, such as this Kyoto-style "saba b¨­zushi" (rolled sushi with vinegared mackerel) at Kibun, stood out in Tokyo's dining scene in 2025.
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Tokyo dining in 2025 was defined by sushi and cutting-edge fare
By Robbie Swinnerton
The city¡¯s restaurant scene had no shortage of drama this year as culinary stars set up new shops, Italian stalwarts left and iconic establishments reemerged from their renovation.
Sushi, such as this Kyoto-style "saba b¨­zushi" (rolled sushi with vinegared mackerel) at Kibun, stood out in Tokyo's dining scene in 2025.

JAPAN

The Maritime Self-Defense Force's Soryu submarine. According to the Defense Ministry, Kawasaki Heavy falsified data on the fuel efficiency of submarine engines it manufactured between 1988 and 2021 for the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Defense Ministry suspends KHI from bidding over data falsifications
Kawasaki Heavy falsified data on the fuel efficiency of submarine engines it manufactured between 1988 and 2021 for the Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Defense Ministry said.
A police officer outside a Yokohama Rubber factory in Mishima, Shizuoka Prefecture, on Friday following a stabbing spree earlier in the day
15 injured after stabbing spree at Shizuoka tire factory
The seriousness of the injuries was unknown, although NHK said all victims remained conscious.
Japan corrects inappropriate calculation of university entry rate
Safety board conducts simulation of Haneda aircraft collision
Amid China tensions, Japan¡¯s defense budget tops ?9 trillion for first time
By Jesse Johnson
Court dismisses plea to shut down nuclear plants in Fukui

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

An image shows a former airbase in eastern Belarus where Russia is believed to be stationing its new nuclear-capable hypersonic cruise missiles.
Russia likely placing new hypersonic missiles at former airbase in Belarus, researchers find
By Jonathan Landay
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made clear his intention to place the missiles, but the exact location has not been previously reported.
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 ex-PM Najib Razak jailed for 15 more years in 1MDB saga's biggest trial
Najib, arguably Malaysia's most divisive politician, was found guilty of all four counts of abuse of power and all 21 money laundering charges.
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
Ukraine says it has hit a Russian gas processing plant and oil refinery

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
In 2025, anime tightened its grip abroad ¡ª and played it safe at home
By Matt Schley
¡®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

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 ry¨­ri¡± feast a modern twist with these ball-shaped treats.
In 2025, Asia got tough on nuisance streamers. Japan did not.
By Owen Ziegler
A champagne with notes of peach, citrus and Takashi Murakami's flowers
By Melinda Joe
Japan¡¯s original decluttering queen cleans up your new year
By Angeles Marin Cabello and Steve John Powell
Will 91²Ö¿â 'fire horse' curse strike again in 2026?
By Thu-Huong Ha

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.
Finding a balance between tradition and innovation in 2025
By Mike Fu, Carina Fushimi, Gendel Gento, Kris Kosaka, Jessica Kozuka, Miikka J. Lehtonen, Ayako Nakano, Naomi Oren, Wakaba Oto, Zoria Petkoska, Laura Pollacco, Samantha Seghers, Jessica Speed, Joseph Tame and Megha Wadhwa
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

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
After developing a Buddhist bot, Kyoto University develops Christian bot
By Elizabeth Beattie
A research group led by Kyoto University has developed a Christian bot to help broaden access to Christianity in Japan.

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 ¡ª 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
Flurry of Japanese lawmaker visits to Taiwan sparks China¡¯s anger
Koichi Hagiuda, a senior figure in Japan¡¯s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, has described Japan-Taiwan relations as "the best they have ever been,¡± according to a statement from Taiwan¡¯s Presidential Office.
JAPAN
Japanese social media influencer charged with tax evasion
Reika Kuroki, who goes by Reika Miyazaki as a social media influencer, has some 500,000 followers on Instagram.
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.
BUSINESS
Yen weakens as Tokyo inflation cools more than expected
By Erica Yokoyama
Consumer prices in Tokyo, excluding fresh food, rose 2.3% in December from a year earlier, slowing from 2.8% in November, the internal affairs ministry said Friday.
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.