News

Japan news from Japan Times

• Japan’s largest business lobby reports pay hikes exceeding 5%

  Some 620,000 workers at 97 major companies affiliated with the Japan Business Federation saw average pay raises of 5.38%.

• 'Massive sanctions': Can the EU do much more to punish Russia?

  Diplomats say it is becoming increasingly difficult to agree on areas to hit Moscow, a task made even tougher by Russia-friendly Hungary.

• Hiroshima opens up stone chamber containing register of A-bomb victims

  The register, which contains the names of 344,306 people who died on or before Aug. 5 last year, was given an airing to remove moisture and inspected for damage.

• Japan and U.S. reaffirm commitment to letting markets set currency rates

  Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent have made a point of not discussing a target yen-dollar rate.

• ‘Rice minister’ Koizumi faces urgent task to bring prices down quickly

  Lawmakers have been questioning whether auctioning stockpiled rice is really effective in bringing down prices.

• Tokyo lodges protest after Israel fires shots at diplomats in West Bank

  The diplomats were inspecting a refugee camp in the West Bank city of Jenin.

• Enhanced Games, where athletes can use banned substances, to start in 2026

  The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competition does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance.

• Ishiba Cabinet approval falls to 20.9% in new poll

  The Cabinet's disapproval rating rose 1.7 points to 52.9%.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• North Korea's Kim offers rare admission of 'serious accident' with new destroyer

  The incident, which occurred during a ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un, reportedly saw “sections of the warship's bottom crushed."

• Support for Pakistan army chief surges after India conflict

  A survey conducted after the conflict by a local pollster found that 93% of respondents felt their opinion of the military had improved.

• Philippines' Marcos asks Cabinet secretaries to resign in government reset

  The sweeping directive comes just over a week after a disappointing midterm election for the administration, widely seen as a referendum on Marcos' leadership.

• Record May heat scorches north and central China

  China has endured spates of extreme weather events, from searing heat and drought to downpours and floods, for several summers running.

• Taiwan willing to talk to China, Lai says, as island boosts defenses

  Lai, a staunch defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and detested by Beijing, delivered wide-ranging remarks on the need "to prepare for war to avoid war."

• South Korean conservative presidential candidate open to discussing U.S. troop costs

  South Korea's conservative presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo said on Monday he was willing to discuss sharing more of the cost of stationing the U.S. military in the country.

• Taiwan's Lai Ching-te tied up by political chaos after year in office

  Analysts say the current dysfunction is distracting lawmakers and eroding public confidence — to the benefit of Beijing.

• In Indonesia, fears grow that new history books may rewrite dark past

  The 10-volume series would have an Indonesia-centric narrative and aims "to reinvent the Indonesian identity," Culture Minister Fadli Zon said.

Culture news from Japan Times

• LGBTQ Thai ghost story wins prize in Cannes

  Film director Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke says he hoped his LGBTQ story could touch more on politics.

• ‘I Still Want To Do It With My Wife’: Hapless husband’s self-pity wears thin

  Actor Megumi stands out as the much better half of a sex-starved man-child in Shin Adachi’s autobiographical film.

• ‘Crosspoint’ can’t quite find its target

  Donie Ordiales’ dark comedy about a washed-up Filipino actor and a broke Japanese businessman teaming up has thrills and social commentary but loses momentum along the way.

• Adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's first novel premieres at Cannes

  The author says that adapting the novel — which he wrote when he was 25 — was different from bringing his other books to the big screen.

• Women fight for the spotlight in India's macho movie industry

  Women filmmakers in India are reshaping cinema with authentic, female-led stories, challenging outdated stereotypes and finding box office success.

• A window into the mind of Esperantist and political activist Teru Hasegawa

  During WWII, a young Japanese woman resisted her country's descent into fascism by writing leftist essays, now collected and translated in "Whispers of a Storm."

• On a high: Austria's JJ wins Eurovision 2025

  After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel on 357 and Estonia on 356.

• Traditional performing arts are plugging into modern audiences

  Noh and kabuki are getting an image update by teaming up with pop culture figures such as Vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku and DJ Ken Ishii.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Enhanced Games, where athletes can use banned substances, to start in 2026

  The Enhanced Games operate under the principle that banning performance-enhancing drugs in major competition does not protect athletes but rather stifles their performance.

• Pacers rally late to stun Knicks in Game 1 of Eastern Conference finals

  Tyrese Haliburton scored 31 points and Aaron Nesmith added 30 for the Pacers.

• Tottenham captain Son Heung-min realizes dream as club wins Europa League

  Son joined the club 10 years ago but had not won any silverware.

• Lindsey Vonn feeling 'amazing' ahead of bid to make U.S. Olympic team at age 40

  Vonn said a partial knee replacement last year helped her overall fitness and enabled her to seek a spot on the U.S. ski team for the Milano Cortina Olympics in February 2026.

• Iga Swiatek's French Open reign under threat after turbulent year

  Swiatek dropped to No. 5 in the world rankings this week.

• Colts owner Jim Irsay dies at 65

  During his long association with the team, Irsay also became the youngest general manager in Colts franchise history.

• Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander wins NBA MVP

  Gilgeous-Alexander becomes the second player from Canada to earn the honor, joining two-time winner Steve Nash.

• Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement to face Mario Barrios for WBC title

  Pacquiao is the only boxer to win world championships in eight weight divisions.

Life news from Japan Times

• Flaunt your seasonal greens with Japan’s traditional pureed soup

  Get the best flavor out of your peas and pods by simmering them in a dashi-based broth.

• A Japanese dining icon gets a (minor) facelift

  Less a purposeful renovation than a prudent refitting, the renewed Nadaman Sazanka-so has retained its old world charm that made it such a celebrated dining destination.

• In Nintendo’s backyard, foreign indie game devs are thriving

  “Of course, we’re all in the shadow of Nintendo, but we’re also here because of Nintendo,” says one British indie game developer.

• Fighting Osaka Expo fatigue? Walk the 21-km Loop Line for a cure.

  Officially completed in 1961, the Osaka Kanjosen runs through the city’s most famous and less touristed neighborhoods alike.

• Closing the gap between what you learn and what you say in Japanese

  When trying to sound natural in Japanese, sometimes you just need to know a single key word or phrase.

• Speak like you scroll: A roundup of recent Japanese slang

  A lot of new Japanese slang terms have their origins in — where else? — the internet.

• What comes after 100?

  The number of Japanese centenarians is on the rise, providing new models for how to live in a super-aging society.

• Sculpted waves, sleek updos: Showa hairstyles are back in fashion

  Television reruns and social media content showcasing Showa idols may be the driving force behind the revival of retro styles.

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