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Japan news from Japan Times

• Rescue for victims of religious parents still lacking in Japan

  An expert emphasized the importance of continuing to review support systems for such victims, amid lackluster progress in aid and awareness activities.

• LDP uses election manifesto to pledge stable rare earths supply amid China row

  The ruling party says it will also aim to eliminate the current 8% consumption tax on food for two years as Japan grapples with inflation.

• Mos Food unveils AI system for drive-thru orders

  In the hamburger industry, the use of mobile and touchscreen ordering systems is spreading, but the adoption of AI has been slow.

• Japan has a tough road ahead to achieve 60 million visitor goal

  Japan still needs to overcome mounting challenges to achieving its goal of 60 million annual visitors by 2030, although the number of inbound tourists topped 40 million for the first time ever last year with their consumption growing to around ¥9.5 trillion.

• Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

  Beltran ‍and Jones ⁠will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.

• Stay warm with a Japanese-style ‘pot-au-feu’ stew

  Known for their “warming” properties, scrumptious root vegetables are the perfect, nourishing ingredients to toss into your pot as peak winter hits.

• Alcaraz and Sabalenka pass early Australian Open tests

  Title contender Coco Gauff was another to book a spot in the next round, making short work of Olga Danilovic.

• Japan finds itself in a precarious position, one year into ‘Trump 2.0’

  Unlike during his first White House stint from 2017-2021, Donald Trump's second term in the Oval Office has seen him free to make demands of the alliance and the world at large.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• How an Islamist party is gaining ground in Bangladesh, worrying moderates

  Jamaat-e-Islami is reinventing itself ahead of parliamentary polls next month, following the August 2024 toppling of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

• South Korean ex-PM Han gets 23 years jail for martial law role

  The sentence is eight years longer than prosecutors' demand.

• Sara Duterte faces new complaint as Philippine political battles grow

  A complaint was filed to the Office of the Ombudsman alleging Duterte of plunder and misusing 2.7 billion pesos ($45.5 million) in public funds.

• India beefing up space-based surveillance after border conflict

  The move comes after New Delhi had encountered surveillance blind spots during a conflict last year with neighbor Pakistan.

• South Korea raids suspects over drone flights into North

  One man has claimed responsibility for the infiltration, saying he did so to detect radiation levels from the North's Pyongsan uranium processing facility.

• Australia set to pass tougher laws on guns and hate crimes after Bondi shooting

  Two bills passed on Tuesday by the House ​of Representatives in a special parliament session will now go to the upper house Senate for debate.

• ASEAN will not certify Myanmar election or send observers, Malaysia says

  The election has been criticized by the ‍United Nations, many Western countries and rights groups as a ploy to legitimize military rule through political proxies.

• Thailand's former prime minister seeks return as anti-scammer kingmaker

  Former leader Abhisit Vejjajiva's Democrat Party is projected to emerge as the fourth-largest in the Feb. 8 vote, making it a formidable player in the formation of any government.

Culture news from Japan Times

• Tadao Ando's ongoing architecture dialogue with Museum SAN

  Since Museum SAN opened in 2013, Tadao Ando has returned three times to design additional buildings and spaces.

• 'Borderlines': A cacophony of dramatic personae unfolds a life of memories through 108 poems

  With elements of both poetry and memoir, “Borderlines: An Astral Experience in Poems” by Alan Botsford, straddles the boundaries of genre.

• ‘Vicissitude’: A golden-hour reverie on childhood and lost wonder

  Takuro Ijichi’s debut feature is most enchanting when it surrenders to pure feeling and risks faltering when it explains itself.

• ‘Mars Express’ shows anime’s influence has no borders

  Inspired by Japanese classics such as “Ghost in the Shell” and “Akira,” Jeremie Perin’s French animated film blends noir, humor and sci-fi into a thrilling cyberpunk ride.

• BTS set to return to Japan with world tour in April

  After a nearly four-year hiatus and military service, all seven BTS members will reunite with a new album in March and a record-breaking world tour to follow.

• ‘All Greens’: Teenage boredom sprouts a risky coming-of-age scheme

  Set in rural Ibaraki Prefecture, Takashi Koyama’s drama follows three girls who see selling marijuana as their ticket out — never mind Japan’s strict drug laws.

• Time and history win big at most prestigious Japanese book awards

  The Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize in January 2026 were awarded to Makoto Toriyama, Ushio Hatakeyama and Teru Shimazu.

• Cyber NamuNamu puts a techno spin on Buddhism

  Cyber NamuNamu is injecting new life into Buddhism with its electronic performances accompanied by Buddhist priestesses reading sutras.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

  Beltran ‍and Jones ⁠will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26 in Cooperstown, New York.

• Alcaraz and Sabalenka pass early Australian Open tests

  Title contender Coco Gauff was another to book a spot in the next round, making short work of Olga Danilovic.

• Halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano selected for Games despite injury

  The 27-year-old crashed during the ‍World Cup snowboarding event in Laax, exiting the competition ‌midway through the final with ​facial cuts ‌and lower body ‌pain.

• Hakuho unveils expanded version of his namesake tournament for children

  The Hakuho Cup will feature girls and adults as the legendary yokozuna moves his event to the brand-new Toyota Arena Tokyo.

• Aston Martin's chairman sees 'development journey' with Honda amid F1 overhaul

  Speaking in Tokyo at an event to launch Aston Martin's partnership with Honda, Stroll said he has high hopes for the team's new power unit.

• American Jamaican triplets fight for more inclusion in winter sports

  Now 18, Henniyah and Helaina are featuring at international competitions and Henri IV has qualified for the slalom at next month's Milano Cortina Olympics.

• Manchester City humiliated in shock Champions League upset

  Pep Guardiola's Manchester City arrived in chilly Norway for its seventh and penultimate league-phase match against modest Bodo/Glimt as hot favorites.

• Osaka says 'I'm a little strange' after Melbourne fashion statement

  Osaka, who grew up primarily in the United States, attributed her interest in fashion to when she visited Japan as a 13-year-old.

Life news from Japan Times

• Stay warm with a Japanese-style ‘pot-au-feu’ stew

  Known for their “warming” properties, scrumptious root vegetables are the perfect, nourishing ingredients to toss into your pot as peak winter hits.

• Valentino, Italian haute couture 'emperor' who painted fashion red, dies at 93

  From Hollywood glamour to Paris haute couture, Valentino built an empire on elegance, devotion to beauty and one unforgettable shade of red.

• At the origin of the ‘Mackerel Road,’ this seaside town fed Kyoto

  Obama is a quaint coastal community today, but a visit grants a look at how it played a crucial role in stocking the pantries of Japan’s ancient capital.

• With a dose of old-world charm, Bacha Coffee brews its way to Tokyo

  The boutique coffee chain’s first outlet in Japan offers all the trademarks of the brand: fragrant javas, stylish interiors and delicious croissants.

• The American bringing a Disney flair to Sega’s nongaming push

  As Sega’s global head of transmedia, Justin Scarpone sees ‘character, environments and stories’ as key to success outside gaming.

• Just because you broke your resolution doesn’t mean you failed

  Breaking a New Year’s resolution doesn’t equal failure. Japanese grammar offers a gentler way to rethink goals and progress.

• At Driftwood, cocktails flow to the sounds of city pop

  Fairmont Tokyo’s new bar concept is an open space of three sky-high bars, including a classy area serving cross-cultural sips and a listening bar playing retro hits.

• Set your children up for financial success with the new NISA

  Details are not yet final, but plans for the new take on the tax-advantaged investment account indicate a contribution limit of ¥600,000 per year and ¥6 million in total.

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