News

Japan news from Japan Times

• Tokyo’s virus uptick differs from previous peaks, testing existing measures

  Compared with its third wave, the capital is now facing a larger number of daily infections, more cases among younger people and the threat from ...

• Japan COVID-19 cases top 9,000 as Tokyo sets daily high with 3,177

  The capital's neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba all saw record highs as reports said the government was weighing declaring a virus state of ...

• Opposition lawmaker Hiranao Honda to quit over age of consent comments

  The Hokkaido politician left the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan after his remarks about sex with 14-year-olds triggered a storm of criticism.

• Olympics organizers admit to wasting about 4,000 boxes of food

  Due to volunteers' heavy workload, they did not have a chance to eat the food at the opening ceremony, and it was turned into animal ...

• ‘Can’t help but cheer:’ Some in Japan warm to Olympics

  In Tokyo's Odaiba area, hundreds of people defied authorities and the rain to cheer competitors in the women's triathlon on Tuesday.

• Satsuki Eda, former head of Japan’s Upper House, dies at 80

  The Upper-House politician served from 1977 to 2016 and helped launch the Democratic Party of Japan.

• Foreign journalists make the best of ‘stressful’ Olympics COVID-19 rules

  The health crisis has changed nearly every aspect of the Olympics for the roughly 4,600 media members from 2,000 outlets visiting Japan.

• Miyagi sees first tropical storm landfall on record as Nepartak crosses Honshu

  Earlier forecasts had shown the possibility of the storm making landfall closer to Tokyo, with some Olympic events rescheduled as a precaution.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• North and South Korea in talks over summit and reopening liaison office

  South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have been exploring ways to improve strained ties by exchanging multiple letters since ...

• In surprise move, two Koreas restore communications and agree to improve ties

  The unexpected agreement comes more than a year after Pyongyang blew up ties — and an inter-Korean building that had been symbolic of the relationship.

• Hong Kong court convicts man in first national security trial

  The watershed ruling lays down a new marker in the city's changing legal landscape and confirms certain slogans are now outlawed.

• U.S. and China positions ossify at entrenched Tianjin talks

  With no indication of a U.S.-China leaders' summit in the works, nor any outcomes announced from high-level diplomatic talks on Monday, relations between Beijing and ...

• China overhauls private education sector ‘hijacked by capital’

  The country's education technology sector is worth $100 billion, but Beijing’s reforms will drastically change the business model.

• With eye on China, Pentagon chief heads to Southeast Asia

  Lloyd Austin will seek to emphasize the importance Washington places on fortifying ties in the region while pushing back against China.

• Medics see complacency behind Taiwan’s unusually deadly COVID-19 wave

  The self-ruled island once went 200 days without a case in the community, but wasn't prepare for what came next.

• India faces deluge of disasters on the front line of climate change

  In the first seven months of this year alone, the nation has experienced two cyclones, a deadly glacier collapse, a sweltering heatwave and killer floods.

Culture news from Japan Times

• Biracial representation, game soundtracks and shiny pecs: bright moments at a somber Olympic opening

  The program lacked the over-the-top glitz originally planned, but still served some memorable scenes, with pantomime performers and Naomi Osaka stealing the show.

• ‘Inubu: The Dog Club’: Puppy love with a heavy dose of advocacy

  Drawing from a novel based on true events, “Inubu” shows the barriers activists fighting for the humane treatment of animals face, their own physical and ...

• Mamoru Hosoda called out Hayao Miyazaki, but was it deserved?

  Anime director Mamoru Hosoda recently criticized famed animator Hayao Miyazaki for how he portrays women in his films, but the chiding isn’t exactly warranted.

• The Olympic opening ceremony that wasn’t

  Mired in the COVID-19 pandemic and a slew of scandals, the opening ceremony on Friday will look nothing like the original plans for a spectacular ...

• Japan’s Ryusuke Hamaguchi and Takamasa Oe win Best Screenplay at Cannes for ‘Drive My Car’

  A brooding, melancholic drama spanning three hours, the film is based on a short story of the same name by novelist Haruki Murakami.

• Mamoru Hosoda: ‘Japanese anime has a problem with women and girls’

  Oscar-nominated director Mamoru Hosoda speaks about how we portray women's relationship with the internet in film and television, and what we should do to fix ...

• ‘Words Bubble Up Like Soda Pop’ bursts with love for the 1980s aesthetic

  Kyohei Ishiguro’s coming-of-age anime is a sweet and summery ode to the music and style of city pop.

• ‘Restart’: There’s no place like home for second chances

  Director Hiroshi Shinagawa, who endured his own struggles as a young comic, shows the darker side of showbiz, as well as the welcoming beauty of ...

Sports news from Japan Times

• Twice is nice: Japan’s Yui Ohashi wins second gold of the Games in women’s 200-meter IM

  Tomoru Honda also added to Japan's medal haul in the pool, earning a silver in the men's 200-meter butterfly.

• Samurai Japan squeaks out walk-off win over Dominican Republic in Olympic baseball opener

  The first game of any tournament is always tough, especially on one of the biggest stages in sports, and that was certainly the case for ...

• An injury almost ended Mikiko Ando’s Olympics before they began. Now she’s a bronze-medalist.

  Ando had severely hurt her knee when she dropped a 120-kg barbell just three weeks before the Tokyo Olympics.

• Naomi Osaka’s Olympics exit dashes her hopes of gold on home turf

  While the first days of competition have brought some cheer for Japan, the loss of Osaka dealt a sharp emotional blow and generated discussion over ...

• Simone Biles’ struggles at Tokyo Games could inspire mental health change

  The gymnast has experiences an outpouring of sympathy on social media that has gone beyond sport.

• Kei Nishikori books spot in Olympic quarterfinals in men’s singles

  On another day of punishing heat in the capital, Nishikori beat Ilya Ivashka 7-6 (7), 6-0 in two hours at Ariake Tennis Park.

• Morning finals forcing swimmers to adjust in Tokyo

  The format has been switched up in Tokyo, which has forced competitors to adjust from their usual schedule.

• Kasumi Ishikawa out of table tennis women’s singles

  Two-time Olympic team medalist Ishikawa got off to a good start by winning the opening game but her opponent stormed back to earn a five-game ...

Tech news from Japan Times

• A digital calico is melting hearts (and napping a lot)

  The cat has drawn crowds and sparked joy on social media.

• Video game expo E3 expands its digital presence, though Sony sits out

  With E3’s announcements and press conferences going virtual, the latest news from companies like Nintendo and Square Enix is more accessible than ever.

• Japanese gaming arcades are on their last life

  Already on a downward trend, COVID-19-mandated closures are slashing profits and forcing closures of many of the country’s iconic locations.

• A shaky future for Sony’s Japan Studio after mass staff exodus

  A slew of veteran game developers and producers announced their departure from the studio in advance of its April 1 restructuring.

• Tokyo-born artist and activist Drue Kataoka becomes the new face of Clubhouse

  Asian American artist Drue Kataoka uses the Clubhouse platform to discuss art and politics, and has raised more than $88,000 for the Asian American Foundation.

• A eulogy for the PlayStation Vita, Sony’s last portable console

  By announcing the end of the PS Vita's warranty extension, Sony is signaling that the PS Vita's era is fading to black.

• Battle fish foes, fight bravely and fly through the air with these new video game releases

  Taito is back with a collection of Darius' 3D polygon games; Bravely Default starts anew; and Monster Hunter Rise brings a new dimension to the ...

• Game consoles and famous franchises get spruced-up

  The Switch gets a Mario makeover, while Super Mario 3D World and Nioh get remastered for new consoles.

American and world news from CNN

• Maryland man charged with sending multiple emails threats to Fauci

  Federal agents have arrested a man for allegedly sending threatening emails with derogatory slurs to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert.

• Final victim identified in Surfside collapse

  The last remaining missing person from the Champlain Towers South building collapse in Surfside, Florida, was identified Monday, ending a month-long search and recovery operation.

• Swastika is found carved into an elevator at the State Department

  A swastika was found carved into an elevator at the State Department on Monday, leading Secretary of State Antony Blinken to condemn the hateful carving and describe it as a reminder that anti-Semitism is still alive.

• Atlanta-area spa shooter pleads guilty to four killings and gets life in prison

  The man accused of fatally shooting eight people at three Atlanta-area spas in March pleaded guilty Tuesday to four of the killings.

• The most unhinged Trump rant about the 2020 election yet

  Donald Trump has set a pretty high bar for himself when it comes to wild rants. And yet, over the weekend in a speech to Turning Point USA in Arizona, he managed to outdo himself.

• Bipartisan infrastructure deal enters critical week in Congress

  The much-deliberated bipartisan infrastructure bill is entering a critical week on Capitol Hill with lawmakers projecting optimism ahead of a possible procedural vote this week, potentially on Monday.

• Analysis: Trump supporters are a big reason why Canada and the UK are beating the US on vaccinations

  Poll of the week: A new Angus Reid poll from Canada finds that 86% of Canadians 18 and older have gotten or want a Covid-19 vaccine as soon as possible. The same poll shows that just 8% of Canadian adults do not want a Covid-19 vaccination.

• FBI got 4,500 tips on Kavanaugh, provided 'relevant' ones to Trump White House

  • Analysis: This proves it's impossible to have an apolitical Supreme Court

Singapore news from Today:

• Woman jailed more than 6 years for embezzling S$1.4m from non-profit

• Man, 86, jailed for molesting 11-year-old girl and woman on public buses

• Covid-19: Police investigating 12-person gathering in Scotts Road hotel room

• Fire breaks out at dance studio in Geylang Bahru, next to Jalan Besar Town Council

• 4 men charged with possessing, sharing leaked sexual videos, images of women in Telegram group

• SAF commander to be disciplined after addressing recruits in public with mask tucked under chin

• Table tennis: Singapore's Yu Mengyu beats Japan’s Ishikawa to book Tokyo Olympics semi-final spot

• Badminton: Singapore's Yeo Jia Min loses to South Korea's Kim Ga-eun at Tokyo Olympics