https://www.scmp.com/rss/523793/feed The latest news and top stories on Sankei Shimbun. A Tokyo and Osaka-based entity in the media and publishing sector, Sankei Shimbun specialises in daily national newspaper publication, including Japan Forward. It primarily serves a Japanese readership with a conservative nationalist focus and is known for its right-leaning editorial stance. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Japan has moved swiftly to contain the diplomatic fallout after a member of its Self-Defence Forces broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo last week. But observers and local media say the incident has given Beijing an opening to reinforce claims of rising militarism and anti-China sentiment in Japan. Yoshinobu Kusunoki, commissioner general of the National Police Agency, on Monday called the break-in on March 24 “extremely unusual and serious”, adding that it “should not have happened”. His... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3348549/japan-races-limit-fallout-chinese-embassy-break?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 02:00:12 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall When Sanae Takaichi strode into her first press conference as Japan’s reappointed prime minister on Wednesday, she delivered a clear message to the economists and editorial boards warning her away from her signature tax pledge. Food consumption tax is going to be scrapped, and nothing is going to stop her. Formally confirmed in office after the Diet voted to reappoint her – following a landslide victory in the House of Representatives election on February 8 – Takaichi reiterated her commitment... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344015/japans-takaichi-pushes-scrap-food-tax-ignoring-economists-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3344015/japans-takaichi-pushes-scrap-food-tax-ignoring-economists-warnings?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:30:18 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall The broad anti-base alliance that has shaped Okinawa’s politics for nearly a decade is reeling after a bruising election defeat, raising questions about the future of organised resistance to the US military presence on Japan’s southernmost islands. All Okinawa – a coalition of opposition parties and civic groups that backs Governor Denny Tamaki and campaigns to curb the US military footprint in the prefecture – failed to win a single one of Okinawa’s four single-seat constituencies in the... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343763/what-next-okinawas-anti-base-alliance-after-japan-election-loss?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3343763/what-next-okinawas-anti-base-alliance-after-japan-election-loss?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Feb 2026 01:30:14 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s second term, conservative groups in Japan – from right-leaning media outlets to politicians – celebrated his return to the White House as a golden opportunity for Tokyo to deepen trade with the world’s largest economy and cement its role as Washington’s key security partner in Asia. Just over a year later, that optimism has faded. The same commentators who once predicted that Japan and the US would prosper together under Trump’s leadership, marching in... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340755/japans-conservatives-turn-sour-trump-fears-abandonment-deepen?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3340755/japans-conservatives-turn-sour-trump-fears-abandonment-deepen?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Jan 2026 03:00:09 +0000 Julian Ryall Julian Ryall An editorial in the Sankei Shimbun has reopened a long-taboo debate in Japan over whether the country should even discuss acquiring nuclear weapons, after off-the-record remarks by a senior security official arguing the country should have them sparked domestic and regional backlash. The conservative daily argued that growing threats from Japan’s neighbours meant no option for protecting the public should be beyond discussion, a stance that has drawn praise from some on the right and alarm from... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338570/why-talk-japanese-nuclear-option-resurfacing-and-why-it-alarms-critics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3338570/why-talk-japanese-nuclear-option-resurfacing-and-why-it-alarms-critics?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 01:30:24 +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 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 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