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April 25, 2026
 

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Kumiharu Shigehara
Bank of Japan Gov. Kazuo Ueda meets with European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at the Jackson Hole economic symposium in Moran, Wyoming, in August 2023.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 24, 2026
Rethinking how Japan chooses its central bank governor
The future challenge for Japan is therefore not to depoliticize central bank appointments completely, but to build institutions that make expertise visible.
The Chateau de la Muette, headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, France. The OECD¡¯s detailed peer-review system is essential to global economic stability.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 24, 2026
In a fragmented world, the OECD matters more than ever
In a global marketplace, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development remains essential.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares to meet with then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Kyiv in March 2023. Four years into the war, Japan stands out as a leading supporter of Ukraine through economic and humanitarian aid.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 6, 2026
Four years of war and Ukraine still needs the world
Four years into the war, Japan stands out as a leading supporter of Ukraine through economic and humanitarian aid, testing its ability to sustain international economic diplomacy.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi meets with his Swiss counterpart, Martin Pfister, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. Japan should revitalize the OECD as a hub for middle powers, moving beyond the Group of Seven and Bretton Woods.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 23, 2026
After Davos, middle powers matter more than ever
Japan is well placed to act as a custodian of cooperation among countries that still depend on functioning markets but can no longer rely on a single guarantor.
The Bank of Japan risks weakening its independence by treating silence and limited transparency as protection rather than accountability.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 15, 2026
Silence won¡¯t protect the Bank of Japan¡¯s independence
Why then does silence persist? Because in today¡¯s institutional environment, speaking carries visible political risk, while silence carries little immediate cost.
A soldier on a tank waves an Israeli flag amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas near the Israel-Gaza border in January 2024.?
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 12, 2025
War responsibility across borders and generations
The Asia-Pacific War is often remembered for the culpability of leaders, but this overlooks the multitudes who filled the ranks below.
Prudential Life Insurance suspends sales for additional 180 days
Prudential Life CEO Hiromitsu Tokumaru (center) and other executives from the firm during a news conference in Tokyo on Wednesday
The language around Japan¡¯s new bike rules leaves no room for ¡®maybe¡¯
Under the new blue ticket system, cyclists will have one week in which to pay fines for minor traffic violations.
Japanese scientist accused of putting chemicals in co-worker¡¯s water in U.S.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison
Yakuza membership fell to record low in 2025
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has set up a special task force to intensify its crackdown on the Kohei-ikka, a Sumiyoshi-kai-affiliated designated crime group suspected of deepening its involvement with <i>tokury¨±</i> networks, including special fraud linked to illegal job schemes.
Don Quijote owner opens discount grocer as Japan inflation bites
Pan Pacific International Holdings, the owner of discount chain Don Quijote, opened its first Robin Hood store, a new food-focused chain, in Aichi Prefecture on Friday.
Professional sumo awaits three potential new stars
Bill Christopher Li, now known as Honoikazuchi, at the All-Japan championships at the Kokugikan on Nov. 30
How to prepare when Japan is under an earthquake advisory
Sendai Station is crowded with people Monday after the Tohoku shinkansen line suspended operation following a powerful earthquake off the Sanriku coast.
Now on the multilingual margins, can Japanese bookstores be more than just a vibe?
Jimbocho, Tokyo¡¯s book town, has gained popularity online and some travel companies are already selling book-centric tours for foreign visitors.
Stars aligning for Japan as World Cup approaches
Japan defender Shogo Taniguchi (left) heads the ball from a corner kick during Japan&#039;s match against Scotland in Glasgow on March 28.
Counseling and community for foreign cancer patients in Japan
Navigating cancer treatment as a foreign resident of Japan can be an added layer of stress, but nonprofit organizations and community resources are available to support those with a diagnosis.

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

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