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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
Global dividends paid by the 1,600 publicly traded companies rose 7 per cent year on year in 2025. Photo: Getty Images
Hong Kong stock market

World’s biggest companies return US$2 trillion to shareholders in dividends

Financial and technology firms powered a 7 per cent rise in global payouts, with 30 markets logging record dividend payments last year.

South Korea

South Korea axes visa barriers for Indonesians in 30 million visitor drive

Sanae Takaichi

Japan’s Takaichi defends US$190 election gifts to ruling party lawmakers

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks rebound in relief rally as global AI scare fades

Hang Seng Index climbs as concerns over AI disruption ease, with investors awaiting Nvidia earnings to gauge sentiment.

Hong Kong shares track a rebound in global tech shares overnight after jitters faded that AI could upend business models. Photo: Shutterstock
Singapore

Singapore prime minister attacked by hundreds of Chinese-language fake AI videos

The videos targeting Lawrence Wong spread false narratives about his leadership being under threat and political infighting in Singapore.

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US-China trade war

US warns of deep distrust even as officials seek stable China ties for summit

Congressional hearings reflect bipartisan concern and highlight persistent advanced tech market tension as key Trump-Xi summit looms.

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Hong Kong economy

Hong Kong firm to test tokenised concert stakes ahead of digital gold trading

Hong Kong firm unveils crypto-based concert funding model, marking the city’s latest step in fintech innovation and gold tokenisation.

Cantopop singer Chris Wong’s concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum is part of the first batch of tokenised shows. Photo: handout
Food and Drinks

Can Cadbury chocolate-fed Wagyu outshine Japan’s finest beef?

Raising cattle on confectionery might sound crazy, but to Australian Wagyu producer Mayura Station, it’s ingenious and makes a difference.

Trending in China

Video | Shoppers go bananas for Ikea orangutan plush

The Ikea stuffed toy has already sold out in-store and online across multiple countries.

Offbeat

Future of Japan’s ‘naked festival’ in doubt after 3 men left unconscious

Organisers said they would review safety rules after six men collapsed during the annual scramble for good-luck talismans.

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Participants at the Saidaiji “naked festival” gather inside the temple hall before sacred talismans are thrown in Okayama City on Saturday. Photo: Kyodo
China travel

Chinese tourism to Japan plunges 50% over Lunar New Year as Thailand cashes in

Thailand was the top destination for China’s outbound travellers over the extended holiday, with tourists avoiding Japan amid rising tensions.

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A lion dance troupe performs for tourists in Bangkok’s Chinatown during the Lunar New Year holiday. Thailand was the most popular destination for China’s outbound travellers during the holiday. Photo: EPA
Donald Trump

No takebacks: Japan wants US to stick to trade deal amid tariff turmoil

Japan could see extra tax burdens on some goods if Trump’s new 10 per cent tariffs were to be applied unilaterally, the trade minister said.

Scams and swindles

‘K-wave’ scams exploiting Brazil’s superfans trigger police pact

South Korea and Brazil are taking action to protect fans from fraudsters cashing in with phantom merchandise and exploitative ‘oppa’ tours.

SCMP Highlights

South Korean ex-president sentenced, Buddha’s early life: 7 Asia highlights

From ex-president Yoon’s sentencing to Singapore’s auntie matchmakers, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent Asia reporting.

A woman walks past a television screen in Seoul broadcasting a news report on Yoon Suk-yeol’s sentencing on Thursday. Photo: Reuters
China travel

‘Chinese everywhere’: why tourists ditch Tokyo for Seoul as Japan ties sour

Diplomatic row with Japan sent more Chinese travellers packing for Korea, filling its hotels over the nine-day holiday and offering relief to a sluggish domestic economy.

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Visitors wear traditional Korean attire in Seoul on February 17. South Korea saw a sharp influx of Chinese tourists over the Lunar New Year holiday period that ended on Monday. Photo: EPA
China-Japan relations

China adds Japanese entities to export control list, turning up heat on Tokyo

Beijing has also added 20 Japanese firms and institutions to a watch list for the export of goods with potential military applications.

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China-South Korea relations

Seoul’s protest seen as reluctance to let US Forces Korea confront China

South Korean complaint highlights growing difficulty in balancing ties with both security ally US and top trading partner China: analyst.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks retreat on AI worries, China markets rally in Year of the Horse

Tech heavyweights drag Hong Kong stocks lower as investors fret over AI disruption following Wall Street’s decline.

All major benchmarks in the US fell overnight over a pessimistic scenario in which advances in AI would disrupt white-collar employment. Photo: Shutterstock
Science

Nearly all advanced nations are part of a defence pact. Will China try to join?

International regime controls defence tech exports but a push for self-reliance has seen Chinese weaponry surpass that of Western nations.

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Hong Kong society

Bird flu outbreaks in parts of Japan, Denmark trigger Hong Kong poultry bans

Holbaek municipality in Denmark and Japan’s Iwate prefecture have been hit by outbreaks of highly pathogenic strains.

Social media

Video | Fans flock to Japan zoo to see viral baby monkey

The baby monkey went viral for dragging a stuffed orangutan around as a surrogate mother after he was abandoned.

Fans have been flocking to a zoo in Ichikawa, Japan, to catch a glimpse of a baby monkey who went viral on social media.
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Sanae Takaichi

Japan’s ‘Traitor Takaichi’ hit with online smear campaign using fake accounts

Using AI-generated images and simplified Chinese characters, a network of 3,000 fake accounts reportedly tried to sway Japan’s election.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is seen on Liberal Democratic Party poster boards in Date, Hokkaido prefecture, on Sunday. Photo: AFP
Trade

Tariff whiplash throws Asia’s recent US trade deals into doubt

India has already paused trade talks with Washington as other Asian nations are left to question the validity of their recent agreements.

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Tokyo

Tokyo Skytree tower closed after 20 trapped in lift for 5 hours

Operator apologises after ‘elevator malfunction’ at famous Tokyo landmark traps visitors until 2am.

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Jobs

Clocking off: is Japan’s culture of overwork finally dying?

The average hours put in by Japanese workers are lower than those of their American and Italian counterparts.

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People cross a road in Tokyo, Japan. Government reforms over the past two decades had helped reduce average working hours. Photo: AFP
US-China trade war

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

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Illustration: Lau Ka-kuen
China's military weapons

Satellite images show first glimpse of China’s Type 095 nuclear submarine

Next-generation SSN features advanced acoustic stealth and strike capacity, narrowing tech gap with rival US.

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Viral stories

Japan youth share before and after cosmetic surgery photos raise copycat fears

AI-generated before and after images posted online raise fears about promoting risky procedures; warping youngsters ideas about beauty.

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