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TOKYO
January 22, 2026
The Independent Voice in Asia
January 22, 2026
Lower House Election
Sanae Takaichi
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Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visits a military camp in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in May 2024.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
With chips, investments and defense hikes Taiwan aims to appease Trump. Will it work?
By Gabriel Dominguez
The democratic island¡¯s attempts to accommodate the White House¡¯s priorities are critical for shoring up Taipei's crucial relationship with the U.S.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visits a military camp in Taoyuan, Taiwan, in May 2024.
Tokyo Electric Power Company¡¯s Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in late 2025. It was restarted on Wednesday after a 13-year shutdown.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Control rod alarm sounds at restart of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor No. 6
By Francis Tang
The nuclear power plant, the world's largest, was shut down 13 years ago in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.
Former Kadokawa Chairman Tsuguhiko Kadokawa (center) speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday after a court handed him a suspended jail sentence of two years and six months over bribes linked to sponsorship contracts for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Former Kadokawa chairman given suspended jail sentence over Olympic graft scandal
By Jessica Speed
Tsuguhiko Kadokawa, 82, was found guilty of bribing a former senior official of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, flanked by Liberal Democratic Party Secretary-General Shunichi Suzuki (left) and LDP Vice President Taro Aso, attend a party meeting at LDP headquarters in Tokyo's Nagatacho district on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
LDP uses election manifesto to pledge stable rare earths supply amid China row
By Himari Semans
The ruling party says it will also accelerate talks on eliminating the current 8% consumption tax on food for two years as Japan grapples with inflation.
Former Giants star Warren Cromartie worked with Kazuma Okamoto during his stint as a guest hitting instructor for Yomiuri.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
At peace with baseball and refusing to be benched by surgeries, Warren Cromartie mulls legacy
By Jason Coskrey
Former baseball star who came to Japan in 1984 and played seven seasons with the Yomiuri Giants dreams of reviving the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington for the 2005 season.
Former Giants star Warren Cromartie worked with Kazuma Okamoto during his stint as a guest hitting instructor for Yomiuri.

JAPAN

Members of civic groups hold a rally in the city of Niigata against the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant on Wednesday.
Local residents split over Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor restart
Civic groups opposing the restart gathered in front of Tepco's office in the city of Niigata to protest.
Cartoonist Mitsuru Yaku (center) and other executives of Freelance League of Japan announces their survey to reporters in Tokyo on Tuesday.
One in 10 Japanese creatives see income fall due to generative AI
By Jessica Speed
Survey respondents cited being asked to accept shorter deadlines and lower fees, or losing commissions altogether.
Campaigning begins for Osaka gubernatorial election on Feb. 8
Ex-boyfriend arrested on suspicion of murdering pregnant woman in Mito
Takaichi meets with victims of forced sterilization
High court rejects petition to halt reactors in southwestern Japan

BUSINESS

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi¡¯s proposed plan to cut consumption tax on food risks undermining Japan's finances in the long term, S&P Global Ratings says.
Takaichi¡¯s plan to cut tax on food may worsen Japan¡¯s finances, S&P says
By Toru Fujioka
The remarks come as superlong bond yields log a historic rise after the prime minister said she would lower the sales tax on food for two years if successful in a snap election.
Japan's overall exports gained 3.1% in 2025 from the previous year, led by electronic parts and food.
Japan¡¯s exports rise in 2025 despite drag from U.S. tariffs
By Yoshiaki Nohara
Overall exports gained 3.1% in 2025 from the previous year, led by electronic parts and food, the Finance Ministry has reported.
South Korea launches landmark laws to regulate artificial intelligence
By SHIM Kyu-Seok
South Korea¡¯s surprise contraction points to broad fragility
By Heesu Lee
Japan and EU affirm cooperation for stable supply of critical minerals
TSE pitches itself as cross-border listing venue for Asian startups' IPOs
By Yasutaka Tamura

WORLD

Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting in Moscow on Wednesday. He has suggested donating frozen Russian assets in the U.S. to rebuilding efforts in Ukraine and the proposed Board of Peace.
Putin offers frozen Russian assets in U.S. to Peace Board, Ukraine
The offer has been discussed with the U.S., Putin said, and he plans to talk about it more during a meeting with Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow.
Spain's Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares (left), speaks with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar during a visit to New Delhi on Wednesday.
Spain urges EU to create joint army amid Greenland dispute
By Victoria Walderse
A joint ?effort would be more efficient than 27 separate national armies, Spanish Foreign Minister ?Jose ?Manuel Albares says.
Philippines convicts journalist on terror charge called ¡®absurd¡¯
By Cecil Morella
China wins as Trump cedes leadership of the global economy
By Peter S. Goodman
U.S. appeals court lifts order curbing ICE tactics against Minnesota protesters
By Jonathan Allen and Nate Raymond
Trump backs down on Europe tariffs over Greenland, says deal framework reached
By Steve Holland and Trevor Hunnicutt

Sports

Former Giants star Warren Cromartie worked with Kazuma Okamoto during his stint as a guest hitting instructor for Yomiuri.
At peace with baseball and refusing to be benched by surgeries, Warren Cromartie mulls legacy
By Jason Coskrey
Former baseball star who came to Japan in 1984 and played seven seasons with the Yomiuri Giants dreams of reviving the Montreal Expos, who moved to Washington for the 2005 season.
Selection of curling director's daughter for Italian Olympic team met with controversy
WSL says current Club World Cup schedule could have 'catastrophic' impact
France defender Lucas Hernandez under investigation for human trafficking
Novak Djokovic brushes aside Francesco Maestrelli to advance at Australian Open

Opinion

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House on the one-year mark into his second term in office on Tuesday.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T šC What does it mean to Trump?
Brad Glosserman
Europe¡¯s animus is easy to understand and it¡¯s likely to harden as Trump threatens NATO solidarity ¡ª if not its existence ¡ª with his insistence on taking control of Greenland.
Takaichi¡¯s bad tax plan isn¡¯t worth this freak-out
By Gearoid Reidy
Fair trade: Jimmy Lai¡¯s freedom for China¡¯s very big U.K. Embassy
By Mark L. Clifford
ChatGPT's AI health care push has a fatal flaw
By Parmy Olson
Prime Minister Takaichi¡¯s gambit: A test of leadership
By Michael MacArthur Bosack

ENVIRONMENT

A solar farm in Nakai, Kanagawa Prefecture, in March 2016. Japan gets about a tenth of its electricity from solar panels despite having nearly no domestic production of photovoltaics (PVs).
Beijing row highlights need for Japan to reduce cleantech dependence on China
By Nithin Coca
To reach net zero, Japan will need to rapidly expand renewables, but its solar manufacturing capacity is virtually non-existent despite it being a pioneer of the technology.
Scientists look toward ancient ice for clues on saving present-day glaciers
By Hiroshi Hiyama
Scientists confirm 2025 was third-hottest year on record
By Eric Roston
How Japan¡¯s warming seas are affecting livelihoods and culture
By Eric Margolis
Japan to draw up action plan to reduce clothing waste

CULTURE

¡°Ground,¡± an underground installation added to Museum SAN in 2025, was codesigned by architect Tadao Ando and sculptor Antony Gormley.
Tadao Ando's ongoing architecture dialogue with Museum SAN
By Yoko Haruhara
Since Museum SAN opened in 2013, Tadao Ando has returned three times to design additional buildings and spaces.
Japanese anime ¡®A New Dawn¡¯ nominated for Berlin film festival¡¯s top honor
By Alyssa I. Smith
¡®Black Ox¡¯: A Zen riddle beautifully depicted in 10 chapters
By Mark Schilling
¡®Love on Trial¡¯: When romance becomes a legal risk
By James Hadfield
'Borderlines': A cacophony of dramatic personae unfolds a life of memories through 108 poems
By Kris Kosaka

LIFE

Cold-weather tips that work in Western countries usually need some tweaks to keep you cozy in Japan's winter months.
Don¡¯t let Japan¡¯s next winter storm catch you cold
By Simon Daly
Not used to snow and frigid temperatures now pummelling the Sea of Japan coast? Learn how to keep yourself warm until balmier temperatures return.
Stay warm with a Japanese-style ¡®pot-au-feu¡¯ stew
By Makiko Itoh
Valentino, Italian haute couture 'emperor' who painted fashion red, dies at 93
By Giulia Segreti
At the origin of the ¡®Mackerel Road,¡¯ this seaside town fed Kyoto
By Edward J. Taylor
With a dose of old-world charm, Bacha Coffee brews its way to Tokyo
By Weiwen Lin

COMMUNITY

The Amtrak Cascades line provides service along the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene, Oregon.
Shinkansen vs. Amtrak and the lost art of small talk
By Daniel Traylor
After years steeped in the sacred silence of the shinkansen, a Japan Times staffer returns stateside and gets his sea legs with small talk aboard Amtrak.
This Dalmatian is ready to bloom
Honey bunny Jaina is a sweet companion
Local radio connects Nishinomiya¡¯s foreign residents
By Sneha Nagesh
An affectionate Akita named Araki

Editors' Picks

JAPAN
In calling a snap election this soon, Takaichi is making it personal
By Gabriele Ninivaggi
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces her will to dissolve the Lower House in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN
U.S. and Japan turn to drones to help offset China¡¯s military advantages
By Gabriel Dominguez
Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command operating area in November.
JAPAN
Snap election in February presents wintry challenges in Hokkaido
By Eric Johnston
Workers in Sapporo's Odori Park prepare for the annual Snow Festival, which will take place during next month's Lower House campaign and Feb. 8 election.
ENVIRONMENT
Beijing row highlights need for Japan to reduce cleantech dependence on China
By Nithin Coca
A solar farm in Nakai, Kanagawa Prefecture, in March 2016. Japan gets about a tenth of its electricity from solar panels despite having nearly no domestic production of photovoltaics (PVs).
COMMUNITY
Shinkansen vs. Amtrak and the lost art of small talk
By Daniel Traylor
The Amtrak Cascades line provides service along the Pacific Northwest from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Eugene, Oregon.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

After a busy couple of weeks on the public lecture circuit, German-born physicist Albert Einstein took a few days of relaxation on Hiroshima Prefecture¡¯s Miyajima island.
When Einstein came to Hiroshima
By Patrick Parr

JT Directory Service

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COMFACTS

Kotozna Releases ¡°TPG 2.0¡±, a New Platform to Build High-Accuracy Generative AI Chatbots in Minutes
Kotozna Releases ¡°TPG 2.0¡±, a New Platform to Build High-Accuracy Generative AI Chatbots in Minutes
KOTOZNA, INC.

WHAT¡¯S TRENDING

JAPAN
Kabuki actor Nakamura Tsurumatsu arrested for alleged damage at Tokyo restaurant
Kabuki actor Nakamura Tsurumatsu, whose real name is Daiki Shimizu, has been arrested on suspicion of breaking a Tokyo restaurant's door by kicking it on Sunday, sources said.
JAPAN
Thai woman arrested in Japan for smuggling 'zombie cigarettes'
Seized cartridges containing etomidate are shown at Kansai International Airport in Osaka Prefecture on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Shinzo Abe¡¯s assassin gets life sentence
By Tomoko Otake
Outside the Nara District Court in the city of Nara ahead of the sentencing of Tetsuya Yamagami, the man behind the July 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Sony to cede control of Bravia TVs to China¡¯s TCL
By Mayumi Negishi
Sony Group is spinning off control of its home entertainment business to Chinese rival TCL Electronics.
JAPAN
Heavy snow hits wide areas of Japan as extreme cold front hits
By Yukana Inoue
Central Sapporo on Wednesday morning. Around 50 centimeters of snowfall is expected in Hokkaido in the 24 hours between Wednesday and Thursday morning.