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Japan news from Japan Times

• An implausible but engaging crime drama unfolds in ‘Magical Secret Tour’

  In Chihiro Amano's "Magical Secret Tour," a trio of Japanese women becomes embroiled in a scheme to smuggle gold from Singapore.

• ‘Unchained’ presents a grim portrait of a budding psychopath

  Keisuke Yoshida's gritty drama concerns the misdeeds of a violent teenager and an ex-con's efforts to rehabilitate him.

• Summer in Japan: The language and flavors of staying cool

  From watermelon and shaved ice to riverside barbecues, discover how Japan stays cool while temperatures soar.

• Poland and Ukraine’s difficult history creates political minefield for Tusk

  Polish sentiment toward Ukraine has grown increasingly negative in recent years due ⁠to weariness with refugees, grain import disputes and the legacy of World War II killings.

• As Europe roasts in a heat wave, Asia’s air-con makers see robust business

  Air conditioning is rare in Europe and people are struggling to stay cool as ‌searing heat ‌claims lives, disrupts power supplies and shuts schools.

• Japan unveils multiyear framework as part of budget reform

  The mechanism is expected to start next fiscal year and will be used to fund measures including investments in economic security and crisis preparedness.

• Ghosn says calls for his Nissan return show investor anger over results

  Ghosn led Nissan for nearly two decades and has lived in Lebanon since fleeing Japan in late 2019.

• Japan clears 18 officials to handle economic security info

  The personnel were qualified under the security clearance assessment system based on the law, which was enacted in May 2024.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Chinese tourists flock to New Zealand under visa-waiver trial

  China was New Zealand's second-largest source of tourists before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has yet to return to those levels.

• Australia’s social media ban for under 16s having little impact, study shows

  Underage users have been dodging the restrictions by using accounts registered to older people, setting up fake accounts, or by logging into private browsers.

• Hong Kong arrests two for allegedly selling ‘seditious’ material

  Local outlets reported one of the items being sold was a biography of jailed media mogul Jimmy Lai.

• Australia’s spy chief warns of rising terror and cyber threats

  Mike Burgess, head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, has identified extremism and foreign espionage as among the threats his agency is trying to prevent.

• North Korea’s Kim unveils plans for new warships and nuclear-armed navy

  Kim Jong Un has vowed to modernize his navy, but questions remain whether the investment will ultimately prove worthwhile for the strongman.

• Trapped on Everest for days, Nepalese survivor recounts escape

  The mountaineer had nearly given up hope, and his family at home had begun mourning his death, till an avalanche came to save him.

• North Korea’s Kim says country will exercise its position as nuclear state

  The leader says his position is the only way to cope with an unpredictable and complicated global security situation.

• Taiwan to stage five days of combat readiness drills

  Taipei will base some of its drills on a scenario where China ⁠suddenly turns one of its regular exercises around the island into an actual attack.

Culture news from Japan Times

• An implausible but engaging crime drama unfolds in ‘Magical Secret Tour’

  In Chihiro Amano's "Magical Secret Tour," a trio of Japanese women becomes embroiled in a scheme to smuggle gold from Singapore.

• ‘Unchained’ presents a grim portrait of a budding psychopath

  Keisuke Yoshida's gritty drama concerns the misdeeds of a violent teenager and an ex-con's efforts to rehabilitate him.

• ‘All the Lovers in the Night’ film adaptation brings ‘unstable beauty’ to the screen

  During the Cannes Film Festival, director Yukiko Sode and actors Yukino Kishii and Tadanobu Asano reflected on the process of bringing Mieko Kawakami's novel to life.

• This is not AI. It’s intentionally, painstakingly human-made art.

  Yoshitoshi Kanemaki's handcarved sculptures have a digital aesthetic, but they are firmly anchored in three-dimensional space.

• What is the ‘Mona Lisa’ of Japan?

  From Hokusai to Kusama, searching for the country's ultimate artwork

• Tidying guru Marie Kondo and ‘Exit 8’ director team up for a cozy fiction book

  An unlikely collaboration between tidying guru Marie Kondo and filmmaker and author Genki Kawamura plays with the tropes of the popular cozy fiction genre.

• ‘Tagusari Bros.’ searches for the meaning of justice

  Themes of vengeance and closure are nothing new in the world of crime dramas, but few tackle them with the emotional nuance of TBS' "Tagusari Bros."

• Ryusuke Hamaguchi wants to make the impossible possible

  An ethos of idealism is pervasive in the director's first French-language film, which came with the challenge and exhilaration of shooting in Paris.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Hajime Moriyasu praises Japan’s teamwork as squad eyes spot in knockout stage

  With four points, the Japanese are likely to progress to the last 32 even if they lose to Sweden on Thursday, but Moriyasu has his sights set on the top spot.

• Shohei Ohtani delivers on mound, at plate as Dodgers sweep Twins

  Mookie Betts went 3-for-4 with a double and a solo home run for ​Los Angeles, which completed a three-game road sweep against the ‌Twins.

• Carlo Ancelotti praises Vinicius Junior as Brazil tops Scotland to win Group C

  Vinicius scored twice, including a header, in the first half in Miami to set Brazil on the way to a victory which allowed it to progress to the last 32 as winner of Group C.

• Sweden coach Graham Potter says team has to defend better against Japan

  The Swedes followed up their opening 5-1 win over Tunisia with a loss by the same scoreline against the Netherlands and are third in Group F.

• Teen in Nashville cheers for Japan at World Cup while dreaming of joining women’s squad

  As the Japan Football Association evaluated her skills, Wakatsuki was able to make her national team debut with the U-16 squad at a tournament in France in April last year.

• Spotlight shines on Aryna Sabalenka’s mental struggles ahead of Wimbledon

  Gustavo Granitto, an International Tennis ⁠Federation coach, said Sabalenka's competitive ​drive sometimes blurred her decision-making.

• Remembering the wrestlers who rarely make the headlines

  The quiet retirement of Tsurugisho is a reminder that sumo's rank-and-file veterans deserve more recognition for the pain, sacrifice and resilience their careers demand.

• Ronaldo double fires Portugal as Ghana thwarts England

  Cristiano Ronaldo silenced his critics as he became the first man to score in six different World Cups

Life news from Japan Times

• Summer in Japan: The language and flavors of staying cool

  From watermelon and shaved ice to riverside barbecues, discover how Japan stays cool while temperatures soar.

• ‘A little funky’: Japanese ‘nattō’ disgusts and delights the world

  Aside from its supposed health benefits, 'nattō' has long been loved in Japan for its stunning affordability — charms the rest of the world seems to be warming up to.

• Can a single clay pot really elevate everything you cook?

  In "Simply Donabe," clay pot evangelist Naoko Takei Moore pushes for cooks everywhere to embrace this traditional implement in every part of their kitchens.

• ‘Kaiseki’ fine dining with a side of classical poetry

  Kyoto fine dining restaurant Kodaiji Wakuden's experiment with traditional poems is an interesting, if uneven, experiment in aesthetics.

• Beyond crabs and dinos: Japan’s least-touristed region rethinks its appeal

  Fukui Prefecture routinely ranks among Japan's least-visited prefectures, but a crop of young professionals in the tourism industry are pushing a new set of charms.

• Tokyo’s best Four Seasons may not be its biggest

  Reopened on April 29 after an extensive refurbishment, the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi gives its sister accommodation around the corner a serious run for its money.

• Osaka Itami Airport named Asia’s best in new travel rankings

  Fukuoka Airport and Nagoya's Chubu Centrair International Airport rounded out Japan's top three airports graded on punctuality, passenger experience and facilities.

• Predicting the future, one Japanese grammar point at a time

  From fortune tellers to weather forecasts and prediction markets, learn how Japanese expresses uncertainty.

 

 Singapore news from Today:

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