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Japan news from Japan Times

• Average price of rice in Japan hits new record high

  The average retail price of the staple grain hit a new record high for the first time in three weeks, according to agriculture ministry data.

• Pristine pottery dating back over 10,000 years found in Lake Biwa

  The artifact is believed to be the oldest pottery ever discovered at the underwater archaeological site in Japan's largest lake.

• Antlers win Japan title again in nerve-shredding finale

  Kashima Antlers won a record-extending ninth Japanese title, holding their nerve to beat Yokohama F-Marinos 2-1.

• Europe faces most difficult moment in bid to avoid split with U.S.

  In a 33-page National Security Strategy, the White House said Europe risked being wiped away unless it changed its culture and politics.

• Hong Kong fire came after contractor safety breaches and a residents' revolt

  The contractor had been penalized by the city's safety regulator more than a dozen times in the years before it was hired to renovate the complex.

• After review, Pentagon says AUKUS submarine is 'full steam ahead'

  The Department of Defense completed its five-month review, which endorsed the AUKUS agreement and determined it is "in alignment with President Trump's America First agenda."

• Japan issues safety advisory in China ahead of Nanking Massacre anniversary

  The advisory urged citizens to pay close attention to their surroundings and make every possible effort to ensure their safety when outside.

• Japan considers bill on original surname use in gender equality program

  The move is in response to a plan by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration to enact a bill on the matter during next year's ordinary session of parliament.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Hong Kong fire came after contractor safety breaches and a residents' revolt

  The contractor had been penalized by the city's safety regulator more than a dozen times in the years before it was hired to renovate the complex.

• After review, Pentagon says AUKUS submarine is 'full steam ahead'

  The Department of Defense completed its five-month review, which endorsed the AUKUS agreement and determined it is "in alignment with President Trump's America First agenda."

• Putin and Modi agree to expand and widen India-Russia trade

  India, the world's top buyer of Russian arms and seaborne oil, has rolled out the red carpet for Putin during his two-day state visit.

• Seoul’s nuclear sub gamble raises prospect of underwater arms race in Asia

  South Korea’s rapidly developing program could irk China and pressure Japan to develop similar capabilities.

• Modi rolls out the red carpet for Putin, defying U.S. pressure

  The stakes are high for the Indian prime minister as he seeks to assert the nation's strategic autonomy after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs of 50% on India's goods.

• China massing military ships across region in show of maritime force, sources say

  The country is in the middle of a traditionally busy season for military exercises, though its army hasn’t made announcements of large-scale officially named drills.

• Hong Kong races to remove scaffolding nets blamed for fueling deadly fire

  The government ordered their immediate removal from all public and private residential buildings, as authorities investigate the cause of the city’s deadliest fire in decades.

• Thailand seizes millions in assets and issues arrest warrants in scams crackdown

  Parts of Southeast Asia have become hubs for online fraud, with criminal networks earning billions from illegal compounds where trafficking victims are often forced to work.

Culture news from Japan Times

• 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.

• Mr. Men and Little Miss characters set for first feature film

  The beloved Mr. Men and Little Miss characters will appear in their first feature film, a new project from Studiocanal, Heyday Films and Sanrio.

• 2025 was the year Japan’s box office returned

  Anime ruled the screens once again, but a kabuki drama surprised us all.

• ‘Black Box Diaries’ is Shiori Ito’s unflinching case for the truth

  After a re-edit, Shiori Ito’s Academy Award nominated documentary is finally getting released in Japan.

• A new animation festival lands in Nagoya with big plans

  The Aichi Nagoya International Animation Film Festival will feature screenings, chat shows and storytelling.

• ‘The Chatterboxes’: ‘A comedy of errors finds a common language

  Ken Kawai’s comedy about a feud between a deaf Japanese man and a Kurdish immigrant tackles a range of themes including prejudice and communication.

• Yumi Matsutoya’s human touch in an AI age

  Even as she experiments with AI, Yumi Matsutoya returns to the craft, memories and instincts that shaped her long career.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Antlers win Japan title again in nerve-shredding finale

  Kashima Antlers won a record-extending ninth Japanese title, holding their nerve to beat Yokohama F-Marinos 2-1.

• Tsunoda can hope for a second chance, says Red Bull boss Mekies

  The Japanese is making way for Frenchman Isack Hadjar after Formula One's season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

• McLaren will use team order if championship is on line, CEO Zak Brown says

  McLaren said while Piastri will be given every chance to win the title, the Australian will be asked to let Norris through if it means the difference between winning or losing.

• Chiba leads Liu at skating's Grand Prix Final

  Chiba, the only woman to qualify for the final with two grand prix wins, stamped her class on the competition with a score of 77.27 in Nagoya.

• 2026 World Cup draw is kind to favorites as Trump takes limelight

  Japan was drawn into a group that features the Netherlands, Tunisia and a yet-to-be determined European qualifier.

• Jahmyr Gibbs scores three TDs as Lions run over Cowboys for key win

  Gibbs, who also caught seven passes for 77 yards, gained 43 yards on 12 carries in the victory.

• Rui Hachimura beats Raptors at buzzer as LeBron's scoring streak ends

  LeBron James set up the winning basket with his 11th assist of the game, finishing with eight points to end his streak of 1,297 consecutive games with double figures in scoring.

• No regrets about Red Bull move, says Tsunoda

  The Japanese driver will move into a test and reserve role in 2026, making way for Franco-Algerian Isack Hadjar to slot into the hot seat from sister team Racing Bulls.

Life news from Japan Times

• 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.

• In Japan, beloved pets receive human-style farewells

  Japan has the highest rate of cremation in the world, and increasingly, that applies to departed pets as well.

 

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