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Japan news from Japan Times

• Clock ticks in Cuba as Trump cuts off Venezuelan oil

  The question of how long the country can hold out in the face of vastly reduced oil imports is now top of mind for the island's ‌struggling residents.

• Trump’s exercise of raw power upends world order, sending friends and foes reeling

  Many are unsure of what he will do next and whether the latest changes will be long-lasting or can be undone by a more traditional future U.S. president.

• At Driftwood, cocktails flow to the sounds of city pop

  Fairmont Tokyo’s new bar concept is an open space of three sky-high bars, including a classy area serving cross-cultural sips and a listening bar playing retro hits.

• Takaichi and South Korea’s Lee to take ties to ‘new heights’ amid Japan-China rift

  The two leaders agreed to boost cooperation on economic security and reached a deal on DNA testing for Korean wartime laborers who perished in Japan.

• To realize a circular economy, Oji advances recycling, partnerships

  Amid the current trend of reducing plastic use and increasing resource circulation, there is growing momentum to expand the use of paper as an alternative to plastic, said Keiji Shimatani, general manager of the Packaging Innovation Center and Recycling Initiatives Department at Oji Holdings, Japan’s leading paper manufacturer.

• Amphipod species with panda-like coloring discovered in Wakayama

  Some in the prefecture hope the creatures will be a new local tourism resource after four giant pandas raised at a leisure facility in Shirahama, were returned to China last year.

• Saga University to launch faculty focused on science of cosmetics

  The initiative comes as the university cooperates with Saga Prefectural Government to promote the local cosmetics industry.

• Osaka governor mulls stepping down to pave way for secondary capital designation

  Both the governor and mayor of Osaka are considering resigning from their posts to pave the way for the city to become a backup capital.

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Prabowo affirms commitment to new Indonesian capital in first visit as president

  Analysts say the president may not have fiscal space to fund key programs as well as Nusantara, which his predecessor envisioned as a futuristic capital surrounded by forest.

• Pacts, patronage and fear: How Myanmar’s junta chief holds on to power

  His name isn’t on the ballet and he doesn’t appear on campaign posters, but Min Aung Hlaing looms large over the country’s general election.

• Myanmar made Rohingya lives a nightmare, Gambia says in genocide case

  Gambia, a predominantly Muslim West African country, filed the case at the International Court of Justice in ‌2019, accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against the Rohingya.

• Nephew of former Thai Premier Thaksin faces balancing act to win over electorate

  The Pheu Thai Party candidate must leverage his family’s legacy to win the support of the party faithful, while showing he has fresh ideas to revitalize the economy.

• Australian parliament to return to pass hate speech laws after Bondi attack

  The lawmakers will return next Monday, ‍and Prime Minister Albanese said he wanted to step up penalties for hate speech and authorize a gun buyback.

• In grim camps, Rohingya hope U.N. genocide hearing can bring justice

  Hope is a fragile but persistent force in Bangladesh's Rohingya camps of Cox's Bazar, where more than a million refugees forced to flee Myanmar live in squalid conditions.

• Novel concept: China’s spellbinding bookstores draw selfie snappers

  While physical book sales have failed to bounce back in postpandemic China, some bookstores have become tourist hot spots for their photo opportunities.

• Venezuela-style strike on Taiwan's leader could prove tricky for China

  Taiwan has prepared for years against a "decapitation operation," has extensive defenses and radar, and would likely receive support from the U.S. in the event of a conflict.

Culture news from Japan Times

• Japanese freelance announcer Hiroshi Kume dies at 81

  The announcer was known for hosting the popular music show "The Best Ten" and news show "News Station."

• 'One Battle After Another' and 'Hamnet' triumph at Golden Globes

  Paul Thomas Anderson’s screwball thriller and TV's teen murder saga "Adolescence" each received four prizes, but the night's final award was its biggest surprise.

• ‘The Luminous Fairies and Mothra’: This monster is not like the others

  The Luminous Fairies and Mothra," translated to English for the first time, provides deeper insight into the political context in Japan in the 1950s.

• Sheng Wang is very good at noticing things

  The Taiwanese American comedian sits down with The Japan Times to discuss his style, themes and his upcoming show in Tokyo.

• ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ to make rare trip abroad to Japan

  The 17th century masterpiece will be loaned to the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka in August and September while its home in The Hague undergoes renovations.

• 'Macross' creator Shoji Kawamori breaks free with new film 'Labyrinth'

  After 40 years of anime franchises, Shoji Kawamori’s first fully original film takes on the smartphone age.

• ‘The Imaginary Dog and the Lying Cat’: Truth is elusive in meandering family drama

  Director Yukihiro Morigaki stretches one family’s secrets across decades, with mixed results, in this uneven but ultimately affecting drama.

• ‘Higuma!! The Killer Bear’: Monster movie proves a little too timely

  A bear with a taste for human flesh collides with illicit gig work and slapstick humor in this blood-soaked monster movie.

Sports news from Japan Times

• James Harden shoots past Shaq for ninth in all-time scoring

  The Los Angeles Clippers guard scored 32 points ​against the Charlotte Hornets while passing ‍Hall-of-⁠Famer Shaquille O'Neal for ‍ninth place.

• Dark horses or also-rans? Australian Open short on genuine contenders

  The chasm between the top two and the rest of the field makes third place seem more like a consolation prize than a ‌launch pad.

• Defensive touchdowns seal Texans' victory over Steelers

  The Monday contest might have been the final game for the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP.

• WNBA and union agree to moratorium on league business

  The sides failed to reach a deal for a new collective bargaining agreement by Friday's ​deadline.

• How Alonso's dream Real Madrid return crumbled so quickly

  The former midfield maestro was expected to overhaul Madrid's game with a cerebral and tactically adroit approach, but his team flattered to deceive.

• Canada defends skeleton withdrawals as American misses out on Olympics

  Due to the Canadian withdrawals, the field dropped to a ‍size that reduced the number of ranking points available.

• U.S. invests in counter-drone tech to protect World Cup venues

  The ‍FIFA ⁠World Cup will be a major ‍test of President Donald Trump’s pledge to keep the U.S. secure.

• Anthony Kim earns spot on LIV Golf tour for 2026 season

  Kim has gone through rehab for drug and alcohol addiction and ‍has said before that doctors had given him grave warnings about his health.

Life news from Japan Times

• At Driftwood, cocktails flow to the sounds of city pop

  Fairmont Tokyo’s new bar concept is an open space of three sky-high bars, including a classy area serving cross-cultural sips and a listening bar playing retro hits.

• Set your children up for financial success with the new NISA

  Details are not yet final, but plans for the new take on the tax-advantaged investment account indicate a contribution limit of ¥600,000 per year and ¥6 million in total.

• Japan's bestselling school notebook gets an illustrated makeover

  First released in 1970, the Japonica Gakushucho series has sold about 1.4 billion notebooks in total, boasting about a 40% share of the country's school notebook market.

• From ‘senpai’ to ‘love hotel’: 11 new Japanese words enter the Oxford dictionary

  Japanese culture keeps reshaping the English language — sometimes in unexpected ways.

• Sakemaking takes root beyond Japan, from India to Singapore

  A new breed of young sakemakers in Asia are reinventing sake by brewing with it indigenous rice and tailoring it to local palates and cuisines.

• Hot chocolate and soy sauce make perfect bedfellows in winter

  The combination of the two ingredients creates a cozy cup brimming with umami.

• Seeing Kyushu slowly aboard the 36+3 tourist train

  Named for the island’s status as the world’s 36th largest, the train offers a slower way to see some of the region’s rural treasures.

• Start 2026 with familiar flavors of home

  For foreign residents in Japan during the new year, homesickness can creep in. We show you where to go to feed your nostalgia.

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