https://www.scmp.com/rss/522399/feed The latest news and top stories on the University of Tokyo. A prominent Tokyo based public research university, the University of Tokyo is dedicated to expanding human knowledge and nurturing global leaders. Established in 1877 as Japan's first modern university, it offers academic programs and conducts extensive research across diverse fields including engineering, medicine and social sciences. Recognised as Japan's most prestigious institution, its notable alumni include Nobel laureates and... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Laura Zhou Laura Zhou China and Japan’s long-standing rivalry has deep historic roots, and relations between the two have taken a significant turn for the worse in recent months. This article, the third in a three-part series, looks at how US President Donald Trump, Taiwan and war in the Middle East factor into their relationship. Read the second part here. As Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to host regional leaders for the Apec summit later this year, observers are closely watching whether the summit could... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347188/uncompromising-takaichis-meeting-trump-seen-key-china-japan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3347188/uncompromising-takaichis-meeting-trump-seen-key-china-japan-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings The number of Chinese visitors to Japan dropped sharply last month amid a diplomatic row over Taiwan. With Beijing again warning against travel to Japan during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, analysts have been closely watching to see how much damage the slowdown might inflict on the Japanese economy. Though Chinese tourism has plunged, overall visitor numbers have only dipped slightly as Japanese travel operators pivot to alternative markets. Meanwhile, Japan’s airlines have unexpectedly... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341840/diplomatic-row-drags-how-japan-coping-fall-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3341840/diplomatic-row-drags-how-japan-coping-fall-chinese-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Feb 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow Japan is entering one of its most unpredictable election cycles in decades after the surprise formation of a new centrist political alliance that could redefine the balance of power and potentially restore a two-party system to the country’s long-stagnant political landscape. On Thursday, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) and Komeito, once a loyal coalition partner of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, announced they would merge into a new force called the Centrist Reform... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340538/japans-1-party-era-faces-unprecedented-threat-new-centrist-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340538/japans-1-party-era-faces-unprecedented-threat-new-centrist-alliance?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:14 +0000 Ralph Jennings Ralph Jennings Fears of China choking off exports of critical minerals to Japan amid a deepening political dispute have set off industry alarms and prompted Tokyo to elevate the issue at a G7 gathering of finance ministers this week, despite Beijing’s assurances that civilian trade would be spared. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama said last week that she would attend the Group of Seven event in Washington on Monday with the “risk of a rare-earth-supply interruption from China in mind”, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339615/japan-firms-seen-stockpiling-rare-earths-tokyo-looks-g7-face-china-controls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3339615/japan-firms-seen-stockpiling-rare-earths-tokyo-looks-g7-face-china-controls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 14:00:12 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou Beijing has frozen youth exchange programmes with Tokyo amid the fallout over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan, according to a diplomatic source, raising concern that the bilateral rift could affect younger generations. The Japanese side was told about the cancelled programmes after China launched retaliatory measures against Japan over Takaichi’s comments earlier this month, the source said. “Usually, November and December are the season for youth exchanges, but now... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334452/beijing-freezes-japan-youth-exchange-programmes-over-pm-takaichis-taiwan-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334452/beijing-freezes-japan-youth-exchange-programmes-over-pm-takaichis-taiwan-remarks?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 28 Nov 2025 04:02:09 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang A man in Japan has defied his family’s expectations by rejecting a civil service examination, wearing women’s clothing and living in a flat filled with rubbish. His 2022 story has recently gained attention in China amid rising reports of extreme parenting. Mizuki, 26, is a graduate of the prestigious University of Tokyo and was raised in a strict, success-driven household, according to Fuji TV. His father, a scholar, kept his distance, while his mother pushed him relentlessly to excel... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3333534/japan-man-defies-family-expectations-rejects-traditional-career-path-wears-womens-clothing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/article/3333534/japan-man-defies-family-expectations-rejects-traditional-career-path-wears-womens-clothing?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 10:00:13 +0000 Laura Zhou Laura Zhou No winter lasts forever, but the deep chill in the Beijing-Tokyo relationship set off by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks on Taiwan could last a long time. Takaichi has had consistently high approval ratings since taking office, which could encourage her to solidify her position on the island. But there is one big uncertainty – US President Donald Trump’s reluctance to show open support for Japan, America’s closest ally in the region Ties between Beijing and Tokyo have sunk to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334197/how-beijing-tokyo-deep-freeze-over-taiwan-could-harden-takaichis-grip-power?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3334197/how-beijing-tokyo-deep-freeze-over-taiwan-could-harden-takaichis-grip-power?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Nov 2025 07:21:06 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Researchers at a Japanese university have developed a system that uses artificial intelligence to determine the possibility of encountering a bear within 1 sq km (0.4 square miles), a critical new tool as the number of people killed or injured by bears is expected to hit a record high. Lead developer Yusuke Fukazawa is an associate professor of applied machine learning at Sophia University who enjoys orienteering and hiking and hopes his studies will help to create an application that makes such... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3329116/japanese-scientists-invent-ai-tool-predict-bear-encounters-attacks-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3329116/japanese-scientists-invent-ai-tool-predict-bear-encounters-attacks-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Oct 2025 01:54:38 +0000 Shi Huang Shi Huang One of Japan’s most distinguished chemists, Eiichi Nakamura, has been appointed a chair professor at Nankai University in China. During his 50-year career, Nakamura has received numerous scientific awards as well as one of Japan’s highest honours. The University of Tokyo professor’s research spans synthetic and physical chemistry, and focuses on the functions of organic and inorganic substances. He has pioneered the use of atomic-resolution transmission electron microscopy to study the motions... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3328783/leading-japanese-chemist-eiichi-nakamura-joins-chinas-nankai-university?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3328783/leading-japanese-chemist-eiichi-nakamura-joins-chinas-nankai-university?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Oct 2025 08:20:15 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan’s scientific community is celebrating two Nobel wins this week, but the accolades have also reignited concern over the country’s ability to retain its top researchers amid growing competition from overseas. The wins have renewed scrutiny of the country’s research system, with observers citing poor funding, job insecurity and rigid institutions as factors driving talent abroad – particularly to China. On Monday, the Nobel Assembly announced that Shimon Sakaguchi and two American colleagues... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3328351/japans-nobel-wins-shine-light-worrying-brain-drain-especially-generous-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3328351/japans-nobel-wins-shine-light-worrying-brain-drain-especially-generous-china?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Maria Siow Maria Siow As Japan prepares to swear in its first female prime minister, old ghosts of the past are threatening to haunt her leadership. Sanae Takaichi’s hard-edged views on history and national identity have stirred anxieties from Seoul to Beijing, even though analysts believe the former security minister’s stance may be tempered by the realities of fragile coalitions in a volatile region. Takaichi’s election last weekend as leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party marked a moment of both historic... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328214/will-japans-new-pm-reopen-old-war-wounds-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3328214/will-japans-new-pm-reopen-old-war-wounds-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Six Hong Kong institutions have been listed among the world’s top 200 universities, a record for the city, with the British compiler of the table attributing their higher rankings to increased investments in research and staffing. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest, rose from 35th to 33rd place, the highest among all the local institutions, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) registered the biggest jump, moving from 66th to 58th. Renowned British... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3328255/6-hong-kong-universities-set-new-record-global-top-200?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Oct 2025 23:00:09 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo The probability of a megaquake occurring in the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years has been revised from 80 per cent to a range of around 60 to 90 per cent, or higher, Japan’s earthquake investigation panel has said. The revision reflects a new calculation method that takes into account data errors and uncertainties in predictions, and does not mean that the risk of an earthquake has increased, according to the government panel. “The situation remains that an earthquake could occur at any... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327062/japan-revises-nankai-megaquake-risk-60-90-next-30-years-urges-disaster-readiness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3327062/japan-revises-nankai-megaquake-risk-60-90-next-30-years-urges-disaster-readiness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 27 Sep 2025 00:33:36 +0000 Dannie Peng Dannie Peng Hunter-gatherers across southern China and Southeast Asia were preserving human remains thousands of years earlier than better-known examples of mummification from ancient Egypt, according to an international team of archaeologists. In a study published on Monday by the US journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers said that large-scale mummification of human remains was practised in the region as early as 12,000 years ago. An investigation of 54 pre-Neolithic... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325828/ancients-southern-china-mummified-their-dead-long-egyptians-study?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3325828/ancients-southern-china-mummified-their-dead-long-egyptians-study?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:14 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk As Mount Fuji looms tranquilly over Tokyo’s skyline, city officials are racing to prepare for a disaster that has not struck in more than three centuries – but could happen “at any time”. For the first time, authorities in Japan’s capital have mapped out exactly how they would evacuate millions if the dormant volcano awakens, in an overhaul of the city’s disaster playbook. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s new volcano disaster prevention plan outlines which roads will be cleared first and... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3324715/japan-fears-inevitable-mount-fuji-eruption-spur-tokyo-map-out-disaster-plan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3324715/japan-fears-inevitable-mount-fuji-eruption-spur-tokyo-map-out-disaster-plan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Sep 2025 06:07:30 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has called on the Chinese government to take steps against a surge of artificial-intelligence videos on Chinese social media mocking Emperor Hirohito, the wartime monarch, warning that the clips risk further straining already fraught bilateral ties. There has been a sharp increase in video clips released on Chinese social media in the run-up to a military parade scheduled for September 3 to mark 80 years since Japan’s surrender ended World War II. In one video, the wartime emperor... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323347/japan-warns-ai-videos-mocking-wartime-emperor-risk-further-straining-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3323347/japan-warns-ai-videos-mocking-wartime-emperor-risk-further-straining-china-ties?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 28 Aug 2025 01:30:14 +0000 Laura Zhou,Danielle Popov Laura Zhou,Danielle Popov An exhibition of works by Ilya Repin – the realist painter at the centre of a culture war between Moscow and Kyiv – has opened in Beijing as part of an exchange series between China and Russia. A collection of 48 oil paintings and 44 sketches by Repin (1844-1930), one of the most renowned 19th-century artists in the Russian Empire, is on show at the National Museum of China. The exhibition – titled “Ilya Repin: Encyclopedia of Russian Life” – will run until mid-January as part of the 2024-25... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321944/china-hosts-exhibition-emphasising-russianness-realist-painter-ilya-repin?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3321944/china-hosts-exhibition-emphasising-russianness-realist-painter-ilya-repin?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 17 Aug 2025 06:00:14 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Nishijin-ori, the intricate weaving technique for kimonos that dates back more than 1,000 years in Japan’s ancient capital of Kyoto, is getting a hi-tech collaborator: artificial intelligence. The colourful weaving style – named after Kyoto’s Nishijin district – has gone through its share of ups and downs, but its survival is more perilous than ever today, as demand for kimonos nosedives among Japanese grappling with modernisation. Hironori Fukuoka, the fourth-generation successor to his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3320411/how-ai-could-help-keep-nishijin-ori-ancient-japanese-kimono-weaving-art-alive?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3320411/how-ai-could-help-keep-nishijin-ori-ancient-japanese-kimono-weaving-art-alive?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 04:15:09 +0000 Reuters Reuters One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Russia’s Far East early on Wednesday, triggering four-metre (13-foot) tsunami waves and sparking evacuation orders in Hawaii and across the Pacific. The shallow earthquake damaged buildings and injured several people in the remote Russian region, while much of Japan’s eastern seaboard – devastated by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami in 2011 – was ordered to evacuate. A resident in the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky said the shaking... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3320062/tsunami-warnings-issued-after-magnitude-8-quake-russia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3320062/tsunami-warnings-issued-after-magnitude-8-quake-russia?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Jul 2025 00:20:03 +0000