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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
A voter wearing a traditional kimono walks to a polling station in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: Reuters
Sanae Takaichi

Takaichi on course for emphatic win as snow-hit Japan votes

Takaichi’s tax cut pledges and popularity boost the ruling LDP coalition’s chances amid geopolitical tensions.

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2026 Olympic Winter Games

Japan’s Kimura wins Olympic snowboard big air gold

Artificial intelligence

Japan workshop helps young voters spot deepfakes ahead of general election

Banking & finance

Macroscope | Trump-Takaichi meddling in finance spells more turbulence ahead

The two leaders’ moves into economics despite their lack of knowledge threaten to further destabilise global finance and inflate debt levels.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, (left) gestures as US President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of US Navy personnel at the US naval base in Yokosuka, Japan, on October 28, 2025. Photo: AFP
China-EU relations

As traditional US allies hedge their bets, will China be the one to cash in?

‘Trump shock’ has prompted a thaw between other Western leaders and Beijing, a trend that raises questions about its deeper long-term impact.

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Viral stories

Japan couple spark child neglect concerns for letting son, 12, babysit 5 siblings

Young boy who cooks for, cleans, bathes, his younger brothers and sisters contacts TV station seeking relief from his responsibilities.

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Cambodia

Scripts, bank details and military rules: Cambodian scam compound secrets

Mostly run by Chinese criminal gangs and staffed partly by trafficking victims, these complexes have proliferated across Indochina.

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A Thai solider inspects a workstation inside a scam centre in O’Smach, Cambodia, on Monday. Photo: AP
Pokemon

Video | Tickets sell out fast for Tokyo’s Pokemon theme park

Social media video shows visitors brought to tears as Pokemon ‘comes to life’.

Sanae Takaichi

Video | Viral ‘sanamania’ craze boosts Japan PM’s popularity

‘Sanakatsu’ fever turns Japan’s PM Sanae Takaichi into unexpected youth icon ahead of election.

Made in China 2025

Fosun Pharma unit licenses lung cancer drug to Eisai in US$1.55 billion deal

The deal comes as Chinese novel drug makers are having more say in how their new medicines are developed with global partners.

A view of the Shanghai facility of Fosun Pharma’s biopharma unit Henlius. Photo: Handout
Asia elections

Opinion | Honking for votes: inside Japan’s tradition of election sound trucks

During election season, sound trucks drive around Japan’s cities blaring out candidates’ names and the parties they are standing for.

Japan’s Centrist Reform Alliance co-leader Yoshihiko Noda and local candidates attend an election campaign event for the February 8 snap election, in Yokohama on January 28. Photo: Reuters
Environment

In Japan, residents are bearing the brunt of the hay fever season. Here’s why

The extreme heat in Japan last summer has led to more pollen-producing male flowers blooming across the country.

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Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks drop as mainland tech firms, metals and crypto slide

Hang Seng Index follows US declines as AI worries and falling prices for gold, silver and cryptocurrency rattle investors.

South Korea

A new start for Pyongyang? Fears mount as US-Russia nuclear pact expires

The end of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty will be a blow to efforts to curb North Korea’s nuclear build-up, analysts say.

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A test-fire of a large-calibre multiple-rocket launcher system at an unknown location in North Korea on January 27. Photo: EPA/KCNA
China-Asean relations

Exclusive | Inside China’s rare meeting to lobby Southeast Asia against Japan

Beijing summons Southeast Asian envoys and invokes Japan’s WWII history, but campaign to isolate Tokyo gains little traction.

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Beijing has tried to drum up support among Southeast Asian diplomats following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s (centre) comments about Taiwan in November. Photo: Reuters
US-Japan relations

Trump announces White House visit by Japanese PM Takaichi on March 19

The US and Japan have been working to strike a ‘very substantial’ deal on trade, as well as collaborating on national security, Trump said.

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Hong Kong politics

Japan’s consulate in Hong Kong marks emperor’s birthday, but city officials absent

Envoy remarks on absence of traditional ‘guest of honour’ from city government, amid tensions between Tokyo and Beijing.

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TSMC

TSMC Japan plan for advanced chips seen as hedge against pressure from US, China

The expanded Japan presence will ensure that some of TSMC’s production is immune from Trump’s on-again, off-again import tariffs.

TSMC CEO CC Wei (left) meets Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo on Thursday. Photo: Kyodo
ByteDance

TikTok tax time: ByteDance ‘encourages’ Chinese staff to declare global income

ByteDance’s notice to overseas staff reflects Beijing’s widening net over citizens’ foreign income.

Rare earths

From China chokehold to US stockpile, Europe looks for least bad rare earth bet

The EU industry chief secured a ‘commitment’ in Washington for a memorandum on critical minerals, but anxiety is growing.

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Hong Kong property

Hong Kong property back as a top choice for foreign investors, study says

Commercial sector rebounds after missing top 10 a year ago, CBRE says, as Knight Frank research shows recovery in luxury residential deals.

A view of Central district in Hong Kong on January 26, 2026. Photo: Jelly Tse
Asia elections

Exams or election? Japan’s young voters face ‘extremely unreasonable’ choice

Opposition members have criticised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for holding an election during the university entrance exam period.

Applicants sit for an entrance exam at the University of Tokyo on January 18, 2025. Photo: Kyodo
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks eke out gain as mainland investors overpower tech jitters

Southbound Stock Connect inflows provide late-session support, helping the benchmark reverse earlier losses.

Canada

‘Devil’s in the details’: why Asia may not sign up to Canada’s alliance call

While Canadian PM Mark Carney’s vision appeals to many, analysts say a lack of detail and divergent interests make a unified front unlikely.

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North Korea

Could a ‘shock’ Pyongyang visit cement Japan PM Takaichi’s snap election bid?

Despite scepticism, a leading campaigner claims Pyongyang is ready to return surviving abductees for ‘immediate, large-scale’ aid.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi delivers a speech in support for a local candidate at a campaign rally near Tokyo on Tuesday. Photo: EPA
Ukraine

Video | Ukrainian sumo star eyes grand championship title in Japan

Aonishiki Arata, who fled the Ukraine war in 2022, has won 2 Japanese grand tournament titles back-to-back.

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Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki Arata. Photo: Handout
Asian cinema: Japanese films

Review | Tokyo Taxi: Takuya Kimura and Chieko Baisho lead moving Yoji Yamada drama

Tokyo Taxi is an utterly captivating ride that sees an elderly woman bond with her taxi driver while reminiscing about her eventful life.

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Ukraine

Video | Ukrainian sumo star eyes top title in Japan

Aonishiki Arata, who fled the Ukraine war in 2022, has won 2 Japanese grand tournament titles back-to-back.

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