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Japan news from Japan Times

• AI’s volatile power demand is damaging its own data centers

  Power increments equivalent to the consumption of cities can appear and disappear within seconds, creating repeated shocks that connected equipment struggles to absorb.

• Nintendo tops estimates with strong games and tariff refunds

  The Kyoto-based company posted net income of ¥147.4 billion for the June quarter, compared with an analyst consensus estimate of ¥77.8 billion.

• Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing in Thailand on legitimacy quest as Bangkok backs engagement

  Thailand is pushing for reengagement between its war-torn neighbor and the regional bloc ASEAN.

• SoftBank beats profit expectations as chip bets compensate for muted AI gains

  The Tokyo-based technology investor's net income fell 18% to ¥347.3 billion in its fiscal first quarter, compared with a market estimate of about ¥166 billion.

• Mitsubishi Electric to start industrial buildup for GCAP fighter

  The Japanese company is a key participant in the ‌Global Combat Air ‌Program, which aims to deploy a frontline fighter ​by 2035.

• As hibakusha age, storytelling mantle passes to the next generation

  As the number of living witnesses declines, the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association is working to pass on their oral history through second-generation speakers.

• Japan’s police to monitor ‘<i>tokuryū</i>’ use of confidential messaging apps

  The method involves remote-controlling smartphones and other devices of high-ranking tokuryū members to access communication records and other information.

• FIFA apologizes to members and affirms support for president Gianni Infantino

  With the private investment proposal withdrawn, FIFA said it would "no longer tolerate any attacks on its integrity, good governance and due process."

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Myanmar’s Min Aung Hlaing in Thailand on legitimacy quest as Bangkok backs engagement

  Thailand is pushing for reengagement between its war-torn neighbor and the regional bloc ASEAN.

• In Taiwan drill, armored carrier takes president to command center

  Taiwan has kicked off the Han ‌Kuang ‌exercises, which are designed to bolster preparations for a possible future Chinese invasion.

• Exiled Bangladesh leader says she’ll return despite threats

  Hasina, 78, has lived in exile in India since fleeing Bangladesh in 2024 after a student-led uprising ended her 15-year rule.

• North Korean missile unit deploys in Russia for Ukraine war, Kyiv says

  Russia has fired scores of North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine for years, but the deployment of North Korean missile forces would be an expansion of the two's cooperation.

• How China keeps tabs on foreigners

  A futuristic dashboard — like something from the movie "Minority Report" — that appeared to track foreigners in a city was uncovered by an Amsterdam-based cybersecurity researcher.

• Police raid Starbucks Korea’s headquarters in Seoul over ‘Tank Day’ event

  The raid by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency came months after the coffee chain's "Tank Day" promotion was accused of insulting victims of South Korea's democracy movement.

• Taiwan launches major war games to test command flexibility

  Officials say the drills will see how commanders can fight when enemy movements defy expectations, while also temporarily limiting internet access for the first time.

• North Korea warns of more military steps over Japan’s rearmament

  Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said that Pyongyang would not remain a "passive onlooker."

Culture news from Japan Times

• Fans rush to buy copy of Keigo Higashino’s final work

  The release of "Eternal Memory" comes after the acclaimed mystery author died of colorectal cancer last month.

• Before the art islands, a reason to stop in Okayama

  The Rabbit Hole and Fukuoka Shoyu Gallery make Okayama a contemporary-art destination before visitors reach the Seto Inland Sea.

• Etc.books: A lone bookstore in Tokyo pushes against sexism

  Etc.books helped redefine feminist publishing in Japan. Now its greatest challenge is staying open.

• ‘Death Note’ musical eyes a London breakthrough

  Producers hope the hit adaptation opens the door for more Japanese original musicals overseas.

• ‘The Secret Battlefield’: An inside view of the machinery of war

  Yuya Ishii's historical drama about the Japanese think tank that failed to avert the Pacific War can't shake its made-for-TV origins, but it's a valuable cautionary tale.

• ‘Chiikawa’ was always darker than it looked

  Cute characters, folk horror and lingering trauma: "Chiikawa" makes an unexpectedly haunting leap to the big screen.

• ‘The Invisible Half’: Stylish J-horror anchored in a standout performance

  Masaki Nishiyama's debut feature is a polished, provocative take on horror tropes, with a riveting performance by newcomer Risa Sierra.

• BTS pulls out of Grammys after Asian pop category introduction

  Members say music should be "loved for what it is, rather than being defined by region."

Sports news from Japan Times

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Life news from Japan Times

• How one Japanese couple made the 1920s and ’30s into a way of life

  No refrigerator. No microwave. Just blocks of ice, records and a home built for another age.

• At Nonna Nietta, Italian magic in suburban Tsukuba

  Chef Kenji Kawamura spent six formative years training as a chef in Italy. That dedication shows in the deep, authentic flavors up and down the menu at his Ibaraki restaurant.

• A sushi rice pocket by any other name

  Japan's "inari-zushi" sushi pockets are normally plain compared to their Korean counterparts, but a blend of the two makes for a delectable treat.

• Beast of Reincarnation shows Game Freak has more to learn

  Game Freak's ambitious action RPG borrows familiar ideas but struggles to make them feel fresh.

• Luxury is pastoral at Iwate’s Azuma Farm Koiwai

  The rural accommodation finds decadence in the northern prefecture's natural resources.

• Japan shut out of Asia’s 50 Best Bars top 10 for first time

  Japan's reduced showing reflects Asia's rapidly expanding cocktail scene, as standout bars emerge well beyond the region's traditional hubs.

• J-pop idols are behind much of Japan’s Gen Z slang

  Japan's newest slang isn't new at all — it's a remix fueled by TikTok, fandoms and boy bands.

• A symbol of summer, this Japanese dessert brings sweet relief

  Not even 100 years old, "anmitsu" has nonetheless become a symbol of Japan's oppressive summers — and the sweet relief that a spoonful of the dessert provides.

 

 Singapore news from Today:

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