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Japan news from Japan Times

• Over 40% back restart of nuclear plants, poll shows

  The survey found that 44.7% of respondents were in favor of bringing nuclear plants back online, while 26.1% were opposed.

• Zelenskyy floats referendum over territory as U.S. seeks deal

  Ukrainian territory is at the center of discussions among Washington, Kyiv and Moscow as negotiators inch toward a potential agreement to end the war.

• Six Japanese items added to UNESCO intangible heritage list

  Four of the six new items will be registered under the category of "Yama, Hoko, Yatai, float festivals in Japan."

• J-pop found new ways to diversify in 2025

  Anime, social media and ad campaigns help, but can they take you global?

• NTT East steel tower damaged in Aomori earthquake

  One of the tower's four supports was damaged, and 19 of about 1,000 bolts used to secure the steel frames were damaged.

• The 13-letter word tripping up Trump — and risking Republicans’ hold on Congress

  The U.S. president’s repeated mockery of the word “affordability” is worrying Republican strategists.

• Contrasting views of Russia show deepening U.S. Republican foreign policy split

  Despite the U.S. president's tight grip over the Republican Party, foreign policy disagreements between the administration and lawmakers seem to be widening.

• Public support for Takaichi's Cabinet ebbs to 59.9%, survey shows

  The approval rate dipped after logging the second-highest level for a newly launched Cabinet since 1960 in November.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Thailand heads for early election as PM moves to dissolve parliament

  Under Thai rules, an election must be held between 45 and 60 days after the house dissolution, meaning voters will be headed to polling stations as early as the end of January.

• China launches massive aerial drone carrier in show of prowess

  The world’s largest drone mothership highlights Beijing' advances in unmanned aerial vehicles capable of unleashing weaponized swarms.

• Taiwan's deputy foreign minister made secret trip to Israel

  It was unclear if Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu touched upon Taiwan's new multilayered air defense system, which is partly modeled on Israel's air-defense system.

• Australian content creators feel sting of losing young fans to social media ban

  Follower counts primarily on Instagram have dropped, creators said, while engagement patterns — likes, comments and views — have also changed.

• Is sabotage unraveling the trial of Chinese crime gangs in Italian fashion?

  The many mishaps that have occurred — from the disappearance of documents to the resignation of interpreters — have led a senior prosecutor to suspect so.

• Myanmar junta air strike on hospital kills 31, aid worker says

  The air strike comes ahead of elections slated for the end of December.

• Australian leader defends social media ban as teens brag about staying online

  The rollout of the ban was always going to be bumpy but would ultimately save lives, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.

• Fighting rages at Cambodia-Thailand border ahead of expected Trump call

  At least 15 people, including Thai soldiers and Cambodian civilians, have been killed in the reignited border conflict, officials said.

Culture news from Japan Times

• J-pop found new ways to diversify in 2025

  Anime, social media and ad campaigns help, but can they take you global?

• ‘Good Luck’: A gently absurd road movie about filmmaker’s anxiety

  Shin Adachi turns self-doubt and awkward encounters into a warm, feather-light comedy that sneaks up on the viewer.

• A movie buff in Jimbocho bets on independent cinema in a big way

  In the book-filled Tokyo neighborhood, a new mini-theater hopes to introduce you to films you never knew you’d love.

• ‘Peleliu: Guernica of Paradise’: Cute designs, harrowing truths about the horrors of war

  As Japan marks 80 years since WWII’s end, “Peleliu” stands out among recent war films for using animation to portray the brutal realities faced by soldiers abroad.

• Japan releases 'Emily in Paris' star after drug arrest

  Harris was detained at Naha Airport after customs officers found 0.78 grams of a substance containing the stimulant MDMA in the 36-year-old's tote bag.

• Tadao Ando’s raw passion in 750 artworks

  A new Taschen volume reveals the architect’s creative process through decades of sketches, studies and travel drawings.

• U.S. playwright Jeremy O. Harris arrested in Okinawa for alleged drug smuggling

  Known for his Tony-nominated "Slave Play" and his appearance in the hit show "Emily in Paris," Harris was detained at Naha Airport on Nov. 16.

• Culture caught in crossfire as Japan and China rift escalates

  Beijing’s restrictions on Japanese entertainment have canceled concerts and postponed film releases, leaving artists and fans in limbo.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Former Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore still in police custody

  Moore was in custody in Washtenaw County Jail after being taken into custody Wednesday, soon after his dismissal as the Wolverines' head coach.

• Japan backs Eddie Jones to coach Brave Blossoms at 2027 Rugby World Cup

  Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Kensuke Iwabuchi said the team had improved under Jones.

• Slumping Eagles face little margin for error in matchup against Raiders

  Philadelphia has turned the ball over nine times during its three-game slide after posting only four giveaways during its 8-2 start to the season.

• Breakout star: teenage B-girl on mission to show China is cool

  Royal is part of a growing Chinese force in breaking.

• Manchester City rallies past Real Madrid in Champions League clash

  The result heaped more pressure on Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, whose side has won just two of its last eight in all competitions.

• NHL players will not compete in Olympics if ice deemed unsafe

  NHLPA Assistant Executive Director Ron Hainsey told Sportsnet on Saturday the players are more concerned about the quality of the ice than the size of the surface.

• Slugging first baseman Pete Alonso set for move to Orioles

  Alonso, 31, is coming off a dazzling season with the Mets in which he hit 38 home runs, 41 doubles and drove in 126 runs across 162 games.

• IOC expects to reach decision on gender eligibility for Olympics in early 2026

  The issue has been a source of controversy with no universal rule in place for the participation of transgender athletes at the Olympic Games.

Life news from Japan Times

• A deep dive into Japanese comfort food

  Emiko Davies’ latest cookbook, “The Japanese Pantry: From Sake to Soy, Essential Ingredients for Japanese Home Cooking,” answers everything you want to know about the basics.

• Frank O. Gehry, titan of architecture, is dead at 96

  Visionary architect of Bilbao’s Guggenheim and a host of landmark works, Gehry closes a career that reshaped cities with sculptural boldness.

• ‘Messy, blingy, over the top’: Heisei Era charms Japan’s youth

  With 2025 drawing to a close, many in Japan are looking back on not only the year that was — but also a new period of the past overshadowed by its trendier predecessor.

• InterContinental Sapporo kicks off Hokkaido capital’s MICE push

  The Hokkaido capital’s first luxury international hotel signals a high-end future for the Nakajima Park area.

• In Yamaguchi, a salt master captures the terroir of the sea

  With the mineral-rich waters of Yuya Bay at his disposal, Yuzen Inoue creates blends that bring out the nuanced, different flavors of salt crystals each season.

• Tokyo's green appeal, seen by a Swedish gardener who made Japan home

  Murasame Tatsumasa, originally from Sweden, found his calling as a gardener and went on to become a Japanese citizen.

• Are new year postcards becoming a thing of the past in Japan?

  Japan’s new year postcard tradition is fading as more people opt for digital holiday greetings.

• In winter, spring chrysanthemum greens hit their peak

  A favorite ingredient in savory pancakes and sukiyaki, these leafy vegetables offer a flavorful edge as well as a dose of antioxidants.

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