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October 31, 2026
The Independent Voice in Asia
October 31, 2026
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Maritime Self-Defense Force Adm. Tawara Tateki, commander of the Japan Joint Operations Command, delivers remarks during an opening ceremony commencing exercise Keen Sword 27 in Okinawa Prefecture on Oct. 19.
JAPAN / FOCUS
With China in mind, Japan eyes more realistic joint military exercises
By Maddie Baker
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the commitment at a bilateral meeting this week.
Maritime Self-Defense Force Adm. Tawara Tateki, commander of the Japan Joint Operations Command, delivers remarks during an opening ceremony commencing exercise Keen Sword 27 in Okinawa Prefecture on Oct. 19.
At its policy meeting in September, the Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 1.25% from 1%, taking Japan’s borrowing costs to their highest level since 1995.
BUSINESS / Economy
BOJ holds rates steady and says inflation target has been reached
By Kazuaki Nagata
Consumer prices are now rising more than 2% a year, and in a way that suggests these gains are stable and sustainable.
Keiichiro Ishiguro, a professor at Chiba University's Graduate School of Medicine, explains the findings of his research team at the education ministry on Thursday.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Japanese researchers discover protein that may shed light on fertility decline
By Jessica Speed
The findings could give insight into why older people face higher risks of infertility, miscarriage and their children having chromosomal disorders.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi speaks during an expanded ASEAN defense ministers summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on on Thursday.
JAPAN
Koizumi vows to uphold ‘defense-oriented’ policy at ASEAN meet
By Jesse Johnson
The pledge comes as China continues to accuse Japan of “accelerated remilitarization.”
Today a modern commuter hub, the Kinshicho neighborhood was once the epicenter of some of old Tokyo’s most chilling ghost stories.
LIFE / Travel
A haunting in Honjo: Tracing old Edo’s most famous ghost stories
By Alex K.T. Martin
The Seven Mysteries of Honjo are a group of once-famous ghost stories and urban legends tracing back to the Edo Period.
Today a modern commuter hub, the Kinshicho neighborhood was once the epicenter of some of old Tokyo’s most chilling ghost stories.

JAPAN

Tokyo's Kasumigaseki district, home to many government ministries and agencies. The Gennai generative artificial intelligence platform is available to about 180,000 government employees.
Generative AI reduces working hours for government staff, survey finds
Over 50% of the respondents said they were able to reduce working hours by at least one hour per week.
An East Japan Railway worker alongside one of two goats that the railway company has deployed to an area near Tokyo's Yotsuya Station in order to trim excess growth
JR East’s new four-legged landscapers are proving to be a hit
By Elizabeth Beattie
A pair of young goats are part of a new environmentally friendly initiative to tackle overgrowth near Tokyo’s Yotsuya Station.
Japanese police arrest 6 men over scam from Vietnam
Dressing as a nurse this Halloween? Adding a red cross breaks the law.
Renowned Japanese pianist found guilty of driving at 144 kph
Chinese man arrested over spray attack in Tokyo

BUSINESS

For years, Google executives have argued that AI chatbots and features won’t cut significantly into its search business, but investors have worried about AI’s impact.
Google erases a record $500 billion as AI eats into sales
By Julia Love and Davey Alba
The company’s reported disappointing search and advertising sales have reinforced investor concerns about AI’s threat to its core business.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announces support measures for electricity and gas bills to reporters at the Prime Minister’s Office on Thursday.
Takaichi says electricity and gas subsidies will resume in December
The prime minister said the subsidies will be offered until February and could save people about ¥7,000 over the three months.
Hackers steal $6.3 billion from Binance in record heist blamed on North Korea
Prices of nearly 1,500 food and beverage items to rise in November
Blackstone said to plan $1.9 billion central Tokyo office sale
By Ryo Horiuchi and Hideki Suzuki
Daiwa profit climbs on strong global markets trading income
By Takashi Mochizuki and Ryo Horiuchi

WORLD

Cranes remove wrecked carriages of a train crash between a Renfe AVE train and an Iryo train, one day after the deadly accident in Urda, in the province of Toledo, on Thursday.
Grieving Spain demands answers for latest rail disaster
By Diego Urdaneta
The second high-speed train collision this year, following one in January that killed 46 people, has raised fresh questions about safety.
Israeli protesters attend a demonstration outside Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot's home, calling on him to form a coalition with Israel-Arab parties rather than allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to serve another term, following Israel's national election, in Herzliya, Israel, Oct. 29.
Netanyahu bloc finishes ahead in Israel vote, but well short of majority
The results set the stage for tough coalition talks or potentially another vote.
Pentagon tells Europeans to cool their rhetoric on Russia, sources say
Fire pollution killed 3,560 people in Indonesia in September, report says
By Mariëtte le Roux
Kim urges drone dominance as North Korea fires missiles and rockets
By Joyce Lee and Heejin Kim
Brazil’s Lula forced into tricky top court reform by unrestrained judge
By Martha Beck and Simone Iglesias

Sports

Naomi Osaka hits a shot against Mia Pohankova during their match at the Pan Pacific Open at Ariake Coliseum on Thursday.
Naomi Osaka upset by 144th-ranked Mia Pohankova at Pan Pacific Open
By Sam Byford
Osaka got off to a good start, but her 18-year-old opponent quickly took control of the match
MLB heads into offseason of uncertainty with lockout looming
By Frank Pingue
Jordan Love tosses 3 TD passes as Packers beat Panthers
Africa making Olympic debut with 2026 Dakar Youth Games
Fernando Alonso doubles down on comments about backmarkers
By Alan Baldwin

Opinion

The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. Japan should support the ICC while leading reforms that strengthen its legitimacy.
Tokyo should lead ICC reform, not just defend it
Masahiro Matsumura
The better path is harder but more defensible: preserve the court, reform its operation and confront the limits of international law honestly.
The naive case for deploying U.S. nuclear weapons to Japan
By Gregory Kulacki
Japanese journalist arrested in Russia is a pawn, not a spy
AI is changing motherhood for the worse
By Abby McCloskey
Can Japan beat the data center backlash?
By Catherine Thorbecke

ENVIRONMENT

A drone view of data centers in Sparks, Nevada, on Oct. 9. Data centers are emerging as a major new source of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the U.S., where big tech companies are racing to bring them online by developing new gas-fired power stations.
AI is part of solution for climate change, COP31 pledge says
By John Ainger
It’s not clear which countries will sign up and the U.S., the biggest developer of data centers, is no longer part of the COP process.
Climate-threatened Fijian utopia rejects calls to relocate
By Ben Strang
What can Asia do to avoid crossing crucial climate tipping points?
By Tomoko Otake
Summer heat’s toll on Europe: 50,000 deaths and a €17 billion GDP hit
By Olivia Rudgard and Laura Millan
Nearly all coral reefs risk collapse in 50 years: IUCN

CULTURE

Ryu Murakami's debut novel "Almost Transparent Blue" was published in 1976 and demonstrated the provocative sensibility that defined his career.
Ryu Murakami was a provocateur to the very end
By Alyssa I. Smith
The late author saw creativity and destruction as two sides of the same coin.
‘Arrested Memory’ filmmaker Sabu likes to stay on his toes
By Blake Simons
Is the viral book rave real? We go to the second event to investigate.
By Sarah Yang
A charismatic outsider is reborn in ‘Ryuji’
By Mark Schilling
Patrick Stewart, Shakespearean actor turned ‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ star, dies
By Will Dunham

LIFE

Today a modern commuter hub, the Kinshicho neighborhood was once the epicenter of some of old Tokyo’s most chilling ghost stories.
A haunting in Honjo: Tracing old Edo’s most famous ghost stories
By Alex K.T. Martin
The Seven Mysteries of Honjo are a group of once-famous ghost stories and urban legends tracing back to the Edo Period.
Satisfy your kneads at the Setagaya Bread Festival
By Weiwen Lin
‘Stupid Never Dies’: A zombie B-movie resurrected in game form
By Owen Ziegler
James Suckling’s Great Wines World Tokyo marks its third edition
By Weiwen Lin
Amid potato protests, Hokkaido has its best spud harvest in years
By Simon Daly

COMMUNITY

Tourists enjoy themselves while crossing the famous Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo on Oct. 12.
How this long-term resident avoids the annoying tourist label in Japan
By Daniel Traylor
Don’t like being lumped in with the growing crowds of foreign tourists? We have you covered.
People-pleaser Kumaji is a true ‘bundle of joy’
In tourist-weary Kyoto, U.S. college targets deeper ties between students and residents
By Joel Tansey
Castella searching for a home, sweet home
The do’s and don’ts when applying for permanent residency in Japan
By Mai Yoshikawa

Editors' Picks

CULTURE
Japan has mastered the red carpet. Almost.
By Patrick St. Michel
"Ghost — End of Night" director Shingo Natsume is joined by voice actors Issey Takahashi and Mayu Hotta (and a few ghosts) on the red carpet at the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival.
LIFE
A Japanese guide to things that go bump in the night
By Yaeko Kabe
An illustration depicts four samurai wearing masks to do battle with otherworldly demons. They wear the masks of a "kappa," "yuki-onna," "kitsune" and "oni."
CULTURE
Festival de Frue offers an antidote to Japan’s samey music festivals
By James Hadfield
Uganda’s Nakibembe Embaire Group gives an open-air performance at the Festival de Frue in 2025. A giant pit was dug in the venue grounds to house a log xylophone for the group's show.
LIFE
Convenience stores, toilets and the allure of everyday Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie
Famima Park Azabudai is a concept store by FamilyMart that combines convenience store staples with branded apparel, merchandise and a landscaped outdoor space.
ENVIRONMENT
A dramatic bear hunt in a midsize Japanese city could be a harbinger of what is to come
By Tomoko Otake
Zookeeper Tetsuo Iso at the site of frantic search for a wild bear in Utsunomiya on June 9. Iso, 65, was asked by the prefectural government to help capture the bear and it was his shot with a tranquilizer gun that put an end to the saga.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Famima Park Azabudai is a concept store by FamilyMart that combines convenience store staples with branded apparel, merchandise and a landscaped outdoor space.
Convenience stores, toilets and the allure of everyday Japan
By Elizabeth Beattie

JT Directory Service

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SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Nomura Holdings builds a vision for uniting global staff
Nomura Holdings builds a vision for uniting global staff

COMFACTS

A Mountain Temple Founded by Kobo Daishi, and 2,500 Hydrangeas Along the Stone Path to Wisdom
A Mountain Temple Founded by Kobo Daishi, and 2,500 Hydrangeas Along the Stone Path to Wisdom
YAMAGATA CITY

WHAT’S TRENDING

JAPAN
M5.4 Chiba quake shakes Tokyo and nearby prefectures; no tsunami warning issued
A screenshot of seismic intensity information displayed on the Japan Meteorological Agency website following a magnitude 5.4 earthquake in the town of Yokoshibahikari, Chiba Prefecture, early on Thursday.
WORLD
Netanyahu bloc finishes ahead in Israel vote, but well short of majority
Israeli protesters attend a demonstration outside Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot's home, calling on him to form a coalition with Israel-Arab parties rather than allow Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to serve another term, following Israel's national election, in Herzliya, Israel, Oct. 29.
BUSINESS
U.S.-aligned countries, led by Asia, slash U.S. Treasury purchases by 60%
The U.S. Treasury Department in Washington. The $32 trillion U.S. Treasury market remains unmatched in its depth, liquidity and near round-the-clock trading, while the dollar retains its role as the world’s dominant reserve currency.
JAPAN
Japan eyes using Indian test ranges for powerful missiles and small attack drones
By Jesse Johnson
A surface-to-surface Agni V missile is launched from the testing range on Wheeler Island off the eastern Indian state of Odisha in April 2012.