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Japan
The latest breaking news and stories on Japan, a country in East Asia known as a constitutional monarchy, and the world’s fifth largest economy. Also covering Japan’s relationship with China and Asia, plus commentary and updates on Japan’s economy, politics, society and trade.
Capital
Tokyo
Head of State
Emperor Naruhito
Head of Government
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Fumio Kishida
On January 15, the US said it had signed a deal with Taiwan to reduce tariffs on goods from the island. However, critics of the deal question how it will affect the island’s economy. Photo: AFP
Taiwan

Critics in Taiwan question true cost of US deal hailed for tariff cut

Debate centres around Taiwan’s financial commitment to the US – whether US$250 billion or US$500 billion – and if it will harm the economy.

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Crime in Hong Kong

Hongkonger held in Japan over molesting teen, suspected to be repeat offender

China-Japan relations

Japan’s last 2 giant pandas set for early trip home to China as tensions spiral

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Artificial intelligence

Japan arrests man for selling AI-generated celebrity porn

A 31-year-old in Japan arrested for using generative AI to create and sell 520,000 explicit images of celebrities for US$70,000 in profit.

AI misuse sparks concern as a Japanese man is arrested for selling obscene deepfake images of celebrities Photo: Getty Images
South Korea

Seoul airport ‘suicide flight’ threat sparks police manhunt in South Korea

A self-proclaimed pilot has threatened a crash and stabbing at Gimpo Airport in protest against the merger of Korean Air and Asiana.

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SCMP Highlights

Malaysian road rage video goes viral, Pakistan’s arms deals: 7 Asia highlights

From visa suspensions to Pakistan’s arms deal, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

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DeepSeek

DeepSeek’s AI technique for long texts questioned by new research

AI models face a critical limitation known as the long-context bottleneck, which restricts their ability to process lengthy documents.

The DeepSeek-OCR technique handles large and complex documents by using visual perception as a compression medium. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks cap longest slide in 2 months on China slowdown

Investors hold off on bets after reports show fourth-quarter growth decelerated and property prices continued to slide.

History

Japan weighs disturbing grave of over 700 children to recover WWII relics

A US submarine attack in 1944 claimed 1,484 lives, and officials are now consulting families on whether to raise artefacts or let them lie.

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Brazil

Brazil beef exports seen as stable in 2026 as industry pivots beyond China

Beef lobby Abiec said volumes not sold to China could be redirected other markets.

A butcher weighs meat at a butcher shop in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2024. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

How narrowing China-US gap could reshape global power play by 2035

Political scientist Yan Xuetong predicts Beijing will be on ‘equal footing’ in strategic rivalry with Washington in the post-Trump era.

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China and the US have been working to keep the peace ahead of possible reciprocal visits by US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (right), shown here in Busan, South Korea, on October 30. Photo: AFP
China’s military drills

PLA urged to find a way to operate effectively under the gaze of US and Japan

Analysts say that after rapid response to latest drills around Taiwan, military must move away from emphasis on trying to avoid detection.

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Sanae Takaichi

Japan’s Takaichi rolls dice on snap poll, bets popularity can save scandal-hit LDP

The PM stakes her future on a February 8 vote, but one expert warns her support may not save a ruling party dogged by funding scandals.

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Hong Kong property

Fancl distributor couple buys Lippo Centre office, shop in US$38.3 million deal

Purchase by the Japanese skincare brand’s distributor marks a 60 per cent cut from 2017 price as cash-rich local investors hunt for bargains.

The sun is reflected on the Lippo Centre in Admiralty. Photo: Dickson Lee
SCMP Highlights

Trump reacts to China-Canada deal, ‘messy’ year for Philippines: 5 weekend reads

From China’s attempt to shut out US tech to Japan being urged to return relic, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

While US President Donald Trump said on Friday it was a “good thing” that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has signed a trade deal with China, his trade chief cautioned that Canada could regret the decision. Photo: AP
Fukushima nuclear disaster and water release

Alarm bells ring for Japan’s Tepco as glitch delays nuclear restart

The delay was reportedly due to an alarm malfunction that occurred during equipment testing over the weekend.

Sanae Takaichi

‘Foreigner fatigue’: how xenophobia hijacked Japan’s national conversation

Record immigration and the ‘Trump factor’ fuelled a xenophobic election surge, but analysts say another political target is emerging.

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Food and agriculture

Japan snaps into action as alligator weed chokes waterways

The seemingly innocuous alligator weed, or Alternanthera philoxeroides, poses a real problem, especially to rice farmers.

The alligator weed can proliferate even from fragments. Photo: Conservation Auckland
Food and Drinks

He wasn’t allowed to grill for years. That’s how he mastered yakitori

The chef behind Tokyo’s Torishiki brings his gospel of succulent skewers, steady discipline and generous mentorship to Torikaze in Hong Kong.

Pop culture in Asia

Language Matters | Senpai, bingsu, ramyeon: new Korean and Japanese words in the OED

The latest additions to the Oxford English Dictionary include many words and phrases from popular Korean and Japanese culture.

Crime

Fears of growing school violence in Japan as bullying clips go viral

Experts cite social media as a key factor contributing to rising bullying cases in schools, warning of cases that go unnoticed.

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Schoolchildren cross a street in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
Timepieces

Horology’s most storied addresses: watch museums, workshops and archives

These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history.

A fresco at the Musée International d’Horlogerie in Switzerland. Photo: Handout
US-Venezuela conflict

How US actions in Venezuela and beyond could spell opportunity for China

Beijing is trying to present itself as a more responsible power, but analysts say concrete actions will be needed to win over its neighbours.

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China-Japan relations

Japan urged to ‘correct historical errors’, return Tang dynasty stele to China

9.5-tonne stone slab shipped to Japan as ‘war trophy’ in 1908 is described as one of China’s most significant ‘lost national treasures’.

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Art

Japanese tattoo artists still face stigma despite landmark legal victory

The practice of tattooing has long been associated with the yakuza and many places in Japan still bar people bearing the body art.

Tattoo artist Horisho works on a foreign tourist at Good Times Ink tattoo studio in Osaka. Photo: Kyodo
Mainland China

In Japan, fears of China’s antibiotics dominance spur calls for self-sufficiency

China has reportedly imposed curbs on rare earth shipments to Japan, and there are concerns that these could be extended to medical products.

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People wearing face masks walking on a street in Tokyo. Japan imports most of its antibiotics from China. Photo: AP
Lessons from China's history

Reflections | What a Chinese hero’s fatal love of raw fish warns us about uncooked food

The recent sale of the most expensive tuna in Tokyo reflects sushi’s popularity, but an episode in Chinese history shows raw food’s dangers.

Architecture and design

A conversation with design visionary Naoto Fukasawa

The legendary product designer gave an exclusive interview to Style on the sidelines of Hong Kong’s BODW In the City, an extension of Business of Design Week.

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