https://www.scmp.com/rss/522408/feed The latest news and top stories on Asahi Shimbun, a prominent Japanese media conglomerate, with registered headquarters in Osaka and a significant Tokyo office. Founded in 1879, it is one of Japan’s five national newspapers and the second largest by print circulation. Asahi Shimbun provides extensive news coverage including political and societal developments, economic analyses and polls, serving primarily the Japanese public and international readers through its digital platforms. The company... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan could get a boost in its push for a next-generation fighter jet if Canada joins a multinational consortium backing the aircraft’s development, as Tokyo aims to narrow the gap with China’s fast-modernising air force. The Canadian government said it intended to take part in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), currently involving Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy, the Asahi newspaper reported on Tuesday. Japan is planning to replace its ageing F-2 fleet with a sixth-generation stealth... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348709/why-japans-advanced-fighter-project-may-get-canadian-tailwinds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348709/why-japans-advanced-fighter-project-may-get-canadian-tailwinds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:20 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Voters are less likely to support female politicians when they are wearing face masks, while there was no such effect for their male counterparts, according to a study by a Japanese university research team. The findings, published last month ahead of Sunday’s general election, underscored the differences in how the public perceived politicians following the Covid-19 pandemic, when wearing masks became more common for politicians across the world. “Differences in how masked faces are perceived... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342029/japanese-researchers-unmask-hidden-bias-against-female-politicians?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3342029/japanese-researchers-unmask-hidden-bias-against-female-politicians?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:57:16 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The vast majority of Japanese do not want to live close to an American military base, according to a new poll, with people expressing concern about worsening crime, pollution, noise and the risk of the facility being targeted in a potential conflict. Amid growing calls in Okinawa prefecture for some of the US facilities there to be relocated to other parts of Japan to ease the burden on the southern islands, the Asahi Shimbun published the results of its survey on September 13. In response to... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326278/most-japanese-against-us-military-base-near-home-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3326278/most-japanese-against-us-military-base-near-home-survey-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 01:30:15 +0000 Lawrence Chung Lawrence Chung An unprecedented wave of criticism from Japan’s major newspapers against William Lai Ching-te has sparked debate over whether Tokyo is losing trust in the popularly elected Taiwanese leader just over a year into his term. The “extraordinary” media backlash followed the failed July 26 mass recall vote targeting opposition lawmakers, which was initiated by Taiwan’s civil groups but publicly endorsed by Lai’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The recall bid was roundly rejected by voters,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321758/why-taiwans-william-lai-facing-extraordinary-japanese-media-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3321758/why-taiwans-william-lai-facing-extraordinary-japanese-media-backlash?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 13:00:14 +0000 SCMP’s Asia desk SCMP’s Asia desk Authorities in the Japanese city of Fukuoka have installed an “anti-voyeurism” mirror in a subway station in a bid to stop the rising number of cases in the bustling Tenjin entertainment area. The mirror, affixed beside an escalator at the Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) station, has a wide field of view to enable commuters to spot voyeurs or those taking upskirt photos, according to the online News on Japan. It was donated by the We Love Tenjin Council, a community group made up of local... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3319466/japans-fukuoka-clamps-down-upskirt-photos-anti-voyeurism-mirror?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3319466/japans-fukuoka-clamps-down-upskirt-photos-anti-voyeurism-mirror?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 24 Jul 2025 10:20:44 +0000