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TOKYO
January 15, 2026
The Independent Voice in Asia
January 15, 2026
Sanae Takaichi
China trade war
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Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito (left) and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda are eyeing the formation of a new party ahead of snap polls that are likely to take place in February.
JAPAN / Politics
CDP and Komeito on the verge of forming new centrist party, reports say
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
The formation of a new party ahead of snap polls likely to take place in February would mark a stunning development that changes Japan’s political landscape.

More coverage

Takaichi to roll the dice on risky, but potentially rewarding, snap election
Osaka governor mulls stepping down to pave way for secondary capital designation
Why Takaichi would call a snap election
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito (left) and Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan leader Yoshihiko Noda are eyeing the formation of a new party ahead of snap polls that are likely to take place in February.
An aircraft carrier carved out of ice is seen on display at the Harbin Ice World Park in Harbin, in China's northeast Heilongjiang province, on Dec. 17.
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Chinese Navy’s goal of projecting power farther ashore gains steam
By Gabriel Dominguez
Long thought to be an ultimate ambition of Beijing, this may become a reality much sooner than anticipated.
"Immigration minister" Kimi Onoda and Reiko Hayashi, the director-general of the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, hold up a government expert panel's final report on recommendations for foreigner-related policies on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Government panel proposes mandatory integration program for foreign residents
By Himari Semans
If adopted, foreign nationals would be required to take part in the proposed program to gain basic knowledge about Japanese society and administrative procedures.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and chief priest Shokaku Furuya see off South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at Horyu-ji temple in Ikaruga, Nara Prefecture, on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Rich in symbolism, Takaichi-Lee talks highlight strong Japan-South Korea ties
By Jesse Johnson
The amicable environment was all the more notable considering that the conservative Takaichi and liberal Lee sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum.
From left: Naoki Prize winner Teru Shimazu and Akutagawa Prize winners Ushio Hatakeyama and Makoto Toriyama pose for a photo at a press conference in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Jan. 14.
CULTURE / Books
Time and history win big at most prestigious Japanese book awards
By Thu-Huong Ha
The Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize in January 2026 were awarded to Makoto Toriyama, Ushio Hatakeyama and Teru Shimazu.
From left: Naoki Prize winner Teru Shimazu and Akutagawa Prize winners Ushio Hatakeyama and Makoto Toriyama pose for a photo at a press conference in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Jan. 14.

JAPAN

A weather map shows snow depths in Hokkaido on Tuesday night
Hundreds of passengers stranded at Hokkaido airport after severe blizzard
By Jessica Speed
Snowfall prompted the cancellation of 126 flights on Tuesday, with inbound and outbound flights having since resumed.
The autonomous driving bus in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture
Self-driving bus runs on public roads in greater Tokyo for first time
By Yukana Inoue
A University of Tokyo team is testing a Level 4 vehicle on a bus route for students, hoping to address Japan’s driver shortage.
Chubu Electric chief apologizes to mayor over nuclear plant data fraud
10 years on, rescuer recalls being speechless seeing Karuizawa tour bus crash
Bear sightings in Japan continue into 2026
Police in Japan to endorse fraud prevention apps

BUSINESS

U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The Bank of Japan's decision not to sign a statement expressing solidarity with Powell was in line with its long-held ‌practice of withholding comment on controversial topics, analysts say.
BOJ puts self defense ahead of solidarity with Fed's Powell
By Leika Kihara
The BOJ's decision not to sign the statement was in line with its long-held ‌practice of withholding comment on controversial topics, analysts say.
An annual ranking of corporate climate efforts has put Japanese firms ahead of those from the United Kingdom, the European Union, China and others.
Japanese companies ahead on climate leadership, data shows
By Sharon Kimathi
Japan took the lead in an annual ranking with 22% ‍of companies achieving what CDP defined as "climate leadership," followed by the U.K. with 17%.
China tells its firms to not use U.S. and Israeli cybersecurity software: sources
Fed officials stress independence as rate hold signals mount
By Catarina Saraiva and Maria Eloisa Capurro
Japan warns speculators after yen sets fresh 18-month low
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Pakistan to partner with World Liberty Financial on dollar-linked stablecoin, source says

WORLD

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with the Crew Dragon capsule Endeavour on the launch pad at sunrise at Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Aug. 1, 2025
Space station crew including one Japanese return early due to medical issue
By Steve Gorman
NASA announced on Jan. 8 that one of the ‌astronauts faced a 'serious medical condition' that required immediate medical attention on the ground.
Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Lee Jae Myung in Beijing on Jan. 5.
Xi welcomes stream of leaders shaken by Trump’s new world order
Countries shaken by U.S. tariffs and the unpredictability of its leader are lining up to mend ties with the world's other major economy.
U.S. college diversity drops again as Trump ramps up scrutiny
By Liam Knox and Francesca Maglione
Australia's hate speech and gun law reforms face free speech concerns
By Kirsty Needham
U.S. Senate narrowly blocks effort to rein in Trump's Venezuela war powers
By Patricia Zengerle
U.S. to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 nations
By Simon Lewis and Humeyra Pamuk

Sports

Japan's pilot Hiroshi Suzuki (front) and Hisashi Miyazaki during the two-man bobsleigh event at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Japan’s bobsleigh athletes had been aiming to qualify for the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, but a misunderstanding has doomed such hopes.
Planning failure dooms Japan’s Olympic bobsleigh hopes
By Jessica Speed
Japan’s bobsleigh federation acknowledged that a misunderstanding by its competition committee had proved fatal to its Olympic hopes.
Arsenal edges Chelsea in first leg of League Cup semifinal matchup
Madison Keys braces for pressure of being defending champion at Australian Open
Diamondbacks acquire eight-time All-Star Nolan Arenado from Cardinals
Gilgeous-Alexander shines as Thunder halt Spurs losing streak

Opinion

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s China visit before securing Japan and South Korea’s support weakens Canada’s leverage in dealings with Beijing.
Canada undermines its own China engagement
Stephen R. Nagy
Carney’s decision reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how middle powers must engage with Beijing in an era of intensifying great power competition.
Simple reforms could help prevent the next ICE shooting
By Erika D. Smith
Japan can keep calm and carry on decoupling from China
By Gearoid Reidy
Why the challenge to Iran’s regime is different this time
By Vali Nasr
The economic roots of Iran’s unrest
By Djavad Salehi-Isfahani

ENVIRONMENT

A monitor shows Japanese Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara delivering a speech at a ministerial meeting of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belem, Brazil, in November.
Japan to stay the course on fighting climate change despite U.S. exit
By Tomoko Otake
Experts say the U.S.’s recent departure from international climate organizations will have a limited impact on Japan’s own initiatives.
Scientists look toward ancient ice for clues on saving present-day glaciers
By Hiroshi Hiyama
Scientists confirm 2025 was third-hottest year on record
By Eric Roston
How Japan’s warming seas are affecting livelihoods and culture
By Eric Margolis
Japan to draw up action plan to reduce clothing waste

CULTURE

From left: Naoki Prize winner Teru Shimazu and Akutagawa Prize winners Ushio Hatakeyama and Makoto Toriyama pose for a photo at a press conference in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on Jan. 14.
Time and history win big at most prestigious Japanese book awards
By Thu-Huong Ha
The Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize in January 2026 were awarded to Makoto Toriyama, Ushio Hatakeyama and Teru Shimazu.
BTS set to return to Japan with world tour in April
By Hieun SHIN
‘All Greens’: Teenage boredom sprouts a risky coming-of-age scheme
By Mark Schilling
Cyber NamuNamu puts a techno spin on Buddhism
By Victoria Bennett
Japanese freelance announcer Hiroshi Kume dies at 81

LIFE

True improvement comes from a long-term strategy to change unhealthy habits. Don’t worry if you slip from time to time, just keep up your initial efforts.
Just because you broke your resolution doesn’t mean you failed
By Mishu Callan
Breaking a New Year’s resolution doesn’t equal failure. Japanese grammar offers a gentler way to rethink goals and progress.
At Driftwood, cocktails flow to the sounds of city pop
By Weiwen Lin
Set your children up for financial success with the new NISA
By Gendel Gento
Japan's bestselling school notebook gets an illustrated makeover
Hot chocolate and soy sauce make perfect bedfellows in winter
By Simon Daly

COMMUNITY

Radio hosts Floyd Gillis and Thelma Sasao, Nishinomiya residents who hail from Canada and the Philippines, respectively, record a conversation with guest Leslie Ou (right) for an episode of "Bridges Across World Communities" airing on Sakura FM.
Local radio connects Nishinomiya’s foreign residents
By Sneha Nagesh
Since 2007, “Bridges Across World Communities” has been both a conversation hub and a purveyor of information to the growing population of foreign residents in this commuter town.
Honey bunny Jaina is a sweet companion
An affectionate Akita named Araki
Eleanor Loran: ‘I believe in building empathy, tolerance and kindness’
By Laura Pollacco
Finding a balance between tradition and innovation in 2025

Editors' Picks

SUMO
Aonishiki sets the pace as New Year Basho title race takes shape
By John Gunning
Aonishiki (left) defeats Ura on day one of the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo on Sunday.
COMMUNITY
Local radio connects Nishinomiya’s foreign residents
By Sneha Nagesh
Radio hosts Floyd Gillis and Thelma Sasao, Nishinomiya residents who hail from Canada and the Philippines, respectively, record a conversation with guest Leslie Ou (right) for an episode of "Bridges Across World Communities" airing on Sakura FM.
LIFE
Sakemaking takes root beyond Japan, from India to Singapore
By Aarohi Narain
Singapore's Orchid Sake Brewery is one of the small but emerging number of sake breweries in Asia.
JAPAN
Young coffee shop owners in Tokyo keep the dwindling coffeehouse culture alive
By Jessica Speed
Cabaret-turned-kissaten 27 Kissa in the Kabukicho nightlife district in Tokyo is a cafe that operates during the day and becomes a bar at night.
LIFE
From ‘senpai’ to ‘love hotel’: 11 new Japanese words enter the Oxford dictionary
By Mike Fu
While the 23 Japanese words that the Oxford English Dictionary added to the English lexicon in 2024 were predominantly gastronomic in nature, the latest list of 11 terms is somewhat unexpected.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Posts and videos shared on social media have amplified fears about crime in Japan, with unverified claims spreading faster than official crime statistics.
Japan is safe. Why do the Japanese feel unsafe?
By Alex K.T. Martin

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Yamagata co-hosts event on revitalizing rural economies
Yamagata co-hosts event on revitalizing rural economies

COMFACTS

Kotozna Releases “TPG 2.0”, a New Platform to Build High-Accuracy Generative AI Chatbots in Minutes
Kotozna Releases “TPG 2.0”, a New Platform to Build High-Accuracy Generative AI Chatbots in Minutes
KOTOZNA, INC.

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
Number of young people in Japan becoming adults drops to second-lowest ever
By Jessica Speed
Kimono-clad young men walk on their way to a venue during their Coming of Age Day celebration ceremony in Yokohama on Monday.
JAPAN
Government panel proposes mandatory integration program for foreign residents
By Himari Semans
"Immigration minister" Kimi Onoda and Reiko Hayashi, the director-general of the National Institute of Population and Social Security Research, hold up a government expert panel's final report on recommendations for foreigner-related policies on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Japan is safe. Why do the Japanese feel unsafe?
By Alex K.T. Martin
Posts and videos shared on social media have amplified fears about crime in Japan, with unverified claims spreading faster than official crime statistics.
JAPAN
Young coffee shop owners in Tokyo keep the dwindling coffeehouse culture alive
By Jessica Speed
Cabaret-turned-kissaten 27 Kissa in the Kabukicho nightlife district in Tokyo is a cafe that operates during the day and becomes a bar at night.
JAPAN
Takaichi to roll the dice on risky, but potentially rewarding, snap election
By Himari Semans and Jesse Johnson
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers her first policy speech in parliament in Tokyo on Oct. 24.