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Japan news from Japan Times

• Beyond the native speaker myth: Who ‘owns’ the Japanese language?

  As Japan considers adding language requirements to permanent residency and other visa categories, it must also reconsider what "proficiency" means.

• At Singapore International Festival of Arts, theater spills into everyday life

  Tze Chien Chong, the new director of Singapore International Festival of Arts. strives to attract a broader audience to Singapore's oldest festival for performing arts.

• Tochigi murder-robbery case reflects <i>‘tokuryū’</i> adapting to crackdowns

  In typical schemes, hired perpetrators are strangers to one another, but due to crackdowns on online recruitment, many are turning to word of mouth and familiarity.

• Scientists discover molecular process of normal brain aging

  The findings could one day help lead to therapies to preserve brain function.

• Japanese government considers honoring speedskating star Miho Takagi

  Takagi, Japan's most decorated Winter Olympian, with 10 medals, retired after her last competition in March.

• Bus operators found guilty again over 2016 crash in Karuizawa

  The ski tour bus crash in the Nagano Prefecture town killed 15 people, mainly university students, and injured 26 others.

• Yubari melons fetch record ¥5.8 million at first auction of season

  The melons will go on display at Keio Store's Sakuragaoka supermarket in western Tokyo before tasting events begin next week.

• Nagasaki officials conduct annual airing of A-bomb victim register

  The register, which records the names of 202,053 victims, was exposed to the air to remove moisture after municipal employees offered a silent prayer.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Southeast Asia’s fishermen are being pushed to the brink by fuel costs

  High fuel prices linked to the Iran war are hitting Southeast Asia's seafood industry hard, forcing boats to stay ashore and raising costs across the supply chai

• Trump says he’ll speak to Taiwan leader, calling democratic island a ‘problem’

  U.S. President Donald Trump said he would speak to Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te — a move that would break with years of diplomatic precedent.

• Xi may visit North Korea as early as next week, Yonhap says

  If it takes place, the visit would be Chinese President Xi Jinping's first trip to North Korea in seven years as the two countries move to bolster bilateral ties.

• Asian countries boost Ebola precautions after WHO declaration

  Officials say the likelihood of local transmission remains low, and no cases have been publicly confirmed in Asia.

• Indonesian authorities target critics via online disinformation campaigns: Amnesty

  Amnesty International's findings reflect growing concerns that Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, ​is backsliding toward army rule under President Prabowo Subianto.

• Thailand cuts visa-free stays, citing crime by foreigners

  Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian nation's economy, but foreign arrivals have yet to return to their pre-COVID highs.

• If they spoke, Taiwan president would tell Trump China was undermining stability

  A conversation between the two ​presidents has not taken place since Washington shifted diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979.

• Crackdown in Southeast Asia pushes scam networks to Sri Lanka

  Since the start of the year, police have arrested more than 1,000 foreign nationals, mainly from China, Vietnam and India, for alleged involvement in cybercrime.

Culture news from Japan Times

• At Singapore International Festival of Arts, theater spills into everyday life

  Tze Chien Chong, the new director of Singapore International Festival of Arts. strives to attract a broader audience to Singapore's oldest festival for performing arts.

• ‘Patlabor EZY’ turns everyday mecha bureaucracy into a delight

  The new "Patlabor" series proves giant robots and police officers don't need world-ending stakes to be entertaining. Sometimes, office ennui is enough.

• Hirokazu Kore-eda says human imagination still matters in the age of AI

  The director's new film is a meditation on grief, humanoids and creativity at a time when AI is reshaping the film industry.

• ‘Soul Mate’ reaches for pathos but remains hollow

  With a globe-spanning story and plenty of melodrama, Netflix's queer-themed limited series ultimately falters under the weight of its own ambiguity.

• Before city pop went global, there was Anri

  Long after city pop became an online phenomenon, the singer continues to find new fans worldwide.

• Spain, sculpted in sand at Tottori museum’s landmark 20th exhibition

  The Tottori Sand Museum marks its 20th exhibition with towering sculptures inspired by Spain's history, art and architecture.

• At Cannes, director Koji Fukada says AI undermines the creative process

  Speaking at Cannes, the "Nagi Notes" director warned that AI-generated art may come at the expense of human expression and discovery.

• For all its nonsense, ‘Mystery Arena’ is weirdly entertaining

  Not every twist lands in Yukihiko Tsutsumi's vaguely dystopian film, but its deadly TV spectacle is undeniably diverting.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Josh Hart leads second-half surge as Knicks take 2-0 lead over Cavaliers

  New York has won nine straight games, a franchise record for ​a single postseason.

• South Korean coach ’hurt’ by support for squad from North Korea

  A large group of spectators from civic groups backed by Seoul's unification ministry were in the stadium to support both teams.

• Jannick Sinner and Novak Djokovic on opposite sides of French Open bracket

  Sinner is the red-hot men's title favorite in the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz.

• Manuel Neuer comes out of international retirement to join Germany for World Cup

  The 40-year-old retired from international duty in 2024.

• Mercedes’ George Russell not thinking about championship as F1 rolls into Canada

  Russell, 20 points off the championship lead, arrives at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Mercedes bringing ​its first major upgrade of the season.

• Coco Gauff takes new mindset and confidence in serve into French Open title defense

  Gauff believes she has ‌finally cracked the code on her serve issues.

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder get past Spurs, level series 1-1

  The Thunder never trailed after ‌the ‌first quarter, though the game wasn't decided until the closing minutes.

• Southampton fails in bid to overturn expulsion from world’s richest match

  Southampton was thrown out of the final on Tuesday, and handed a four-point deduction for next season, after ​it had beaten semifinal opponent Middlesbrough.

Life news from Japan Times

• A little love for soy milk, tofu’s unsung precursor

  It took modern manufacturing methods for Japan to fall in love with soy milk, once thought too bitter and grassy for regular meals.

• One of Japan’s best meals is hidden in a Yamagata hot spring town

  Chef Makoto Harada combines Italian flavors with the northern region's culinary traditions.

• How Japanese grammar captures the gap between legal outcomes and public judgment

  Using "monono" and "ni mo kakawarazu" to explore contradictions between expectations and outcomes in Japanese.

• Forza Horizon 6 is all gas, no brakes in series’ first Japan pit stop

  The newest entry to the arcade racing series isn't exactly subtle about portraying Japan as a playground for cars — but that's what makes it so fun.

• Ohi Chozaemon XI: ‘We cannot make tradition the absolute rule’

  The 11th head of the Ohi ware school of ceramics believes his craft can only survive if history is a set of guidelines, not laws.

• How Japanese influencers in China are bridging a growing divide

  Japanese creators in China show daily life to audiences in both countries amid rising tensions and mutual suspicion.

• Tokyo’s top pizzaioli have raised the city to the upper crust

  RistoPizza by Napoli Sta Ca and The Pizza Bar on 38th have dominated Asia's best-of pizza rankings.

• No added sugar, no problem: A lattice tart held up by sweet beans

  Smooth and sweet, "koshian" paste makes for a flexible alternative to traditional tart fillings.

 

 Singapore news from Today:

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