Filtering byThe Japan Times

TJThe Japan Times

23 Sep 2026

PoliticsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

U.S. team meets with Iranians despite Trump’s annihilation threat
The U.S. president described the meeting as "very good." Iran has yet to comment on the meeting or say who attended.
1. 1. U.S. President Donald Trump said U.S. officials had a “very good” meeting with envoys from Iran in New York.
1. 2. Trump said the three-hour meeting — held on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting — was “very productive” and that another was being planned for the near future.
1. 3. Iran has yet to comment on the meeting or say who attended.

TJThe Japan Times

23 Sep 2026

BusinessControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

South Korea keeps fuel cheap for holidays as fiscal cost mounts
The country's fuel-price caps have already stretched beyond the six months initially budgeted, causing growing alarm among economists.
1. 1. South Korea is extending fuel-price caps for the upcoming public holiday, cushioning households from global oil price increases.
1. 2. The government's fuel-price caps are coming at a mounting fiscal cost, with economists expressing growing alarm.
1. 3. South Korea is among the few developed economies implementing extraordinary measures to shield motorists from rising oil prices.

TJThe Japan Times

22 Sep 2026

PoliticsInternational RelationsDiplomatic Consensus

Key takeaways

Japan, U.S. and South Korea back Taiwan at trilateral meeting
The top diplomats of Japan, South Korea and the U.S. expressed support for the democratic island, days before a U.S.-China leaders' summit.
1. 1. The top diplomats of Japan, South Korea and the United States expressed support for Taiwan during a trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly on Monday.
1. 2. In a joint statement released by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun following their talks, the three “emphasized the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
1. 3. The statement did not name China, but said the three diplomats “encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues and opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo” while signaling support for “Taiwan’s meaningful participation in appropriate international organizations.”

TJThe Japan Times

22 Sep 2026

SportsSportsPlayer Performance

Key takeaways

Matthew Stafford fires four touchdown passes as Rams cruise past Giants
On a night when the Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to a left knee injury, Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards and one interception.
1. 1. Matthew Stafford threw four touchdown passes, including two to Davante Adams, and the Los Angeles Rams bounced back from a disappointing season opener to notch a 28-6 victory over the New York Giants on Monday night in Inglewood, California.
1. 2. On a night when the Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to a left knee injury, Stafford completed 22 of 31 passes for 327 yards and one interception.
1. 3. Adams had eight receptions for 195 yards and raised his career receiving-TD total to 119, two behind sixth-place Larry Fitzgerald.

TJThe Japan Times

22 Sep 2026

BusinessBusinessMergers & Acquisitions

Key takeaways

Paramount settles lawsuits, allowing for Warner Bros. deal
The deal includes protections designed to limit the market power and ensure the editorial independence of the media giant.
1. 1. Paramount Skydance has settled lawsuits brought by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild trade union, a move that will allow the company to close its historic $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
1. 2. The parties worked through the weekend to reach the deal, which includes protections designed to limit the market power and ensure the editorial independence of the media giant, which will control two of Hollywood’s biggest studios, two major subscription streaming services and dozens of TV channels ranging from CBS to HBO.
1. 3. Paramount has promised to release 30 movies a year at the combined studios, a move designed to placate cinema owners and Hollywood talent who believed the merger would reduce film output.

TJThe Japan Times

22 Sep 2026

PoliticsControversialPolitics

Key takeaways

Yoshimasa Hayashi seen as LDP leadership contender after Cabinet exit
Of the four candidates who contested the party's last leadership election, Hayashi is the only one not to be holding a Cabinet or senior party post.
1. 1. Former internal affairs minister Yoshimasa Hayashi is drawing attention within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party regarding his next move after leaving the Cabinet in a reshuffle on Thursday.
1. 2. Of the four candidates who ran against Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the party’s leadership election last autumn, Hayashi was the only one not to remain in either a Cabinet or senior party post in the latest personnel changes.
1. 3. Those close to the prime minister are increasingly wary that Hayashi could emerge as a rallying point for forces opposed to Takaichi in the party leadership election next autumn.

TJThe Japan Times

22 Sep 2026

PoliticsControversialPolitics

Key takeaways

China expels two top generals from party and military, alleging disloyalty
Zhang Youxia, the vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a member of the commission, were also accused of corruption.
1. 1. China expelled two top military leaders, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the Communist Party and the military.
1. 2. The expulsions were cited as being due to alleged disloyalty, corruption and other serious disciplinary breaches.
1. 3. Zhang Youxia was second-in-command, under Chinese President Xi Jinping, as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and has long been seen as Xi’s closest military ally.

TJThe Japan Times

21 Sep 2026

Current EventsData-drivenSocietal Trends

Key takeaways

Japan’s elderly population grows to its largest share yet
About 36.24 million people — 29.6% of the country's population — are 65 and older, up 20,000 from a year earlier, government data shows.
1. 1. Japan's elderly population has risen to 29.6% of the country’s total, the highest percentage on record.
1. 2. The number of people age 65 and older stood at an estimated 36.24 million as of Sept. 15, up 20,000 from a year earlier.
1. 3. Japan had the highest proportion of people age 65 and older among 39 countries with populations of at least 40 million people.

TJThe Japan Times

21 Sep 2026

BusinessPromotionalBusiness

Key takeaways

Luxor is at the heart of Egypt’s medical tourism push
Egypt's authorities aim to compete with more-established destinations in providing services from major surgical procedures to dentistry and cosmetics.
1. 1. Egypt's authorities are hoping to revive that legacy as they seek to carve out a bigger slice of the global healthcare tourism market.
1. 2. The government sees the drive benefiting from the North African country’s location at the crossroads of three continents, and working in tandem with a booming hospitality industry.
1. 3. At the Grand Egyptian Museum last month, it launched online services designed to help international patients access care more easily.

TJThe Japan Times

21 Sep 2026

EnvironmentEnvironmental ConcernCommunity Impact

Key takeaways

Oil exploration in Brazilian Amazon offers wealth but puts communities at risk
While oil could fund a shift to clean energy and help address poverty, the search to find it disturbs the environment and could cause lasting damage.
1. 1. Indigenous Chief Wagner Karipuna gazes worriedly at the tranquil river flowing past his village in the Brazilian Amazon as he imagines the nightmare scenario of an oil spill being carried here by the tides.
1. 2. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is seeking reelection on Oct. 4, promptly visited the area, calling the oil a “passport to the future.”
1. 3. While some see the potential oil as a curse, Jacqueline Cadete considers it a “sign from God.”

TJThe Japan Times

21 Sep 2026

BusinessEconomic AnalysisMarket Watch

Key takeaways

Yen vulnerable with Japan on holiday after BOJ disappoints
A three-day holiday through Wednesday is set to reduce trading liquidity.
1. 1. The yen is vulnerable to sharp moves and further declines over the next week, with a three-day holiday in Japan set to reduce trading liquidity and investors disappointed that the central bank didn’t offer stronger guidance on the pace of future interest rate hikes.
1. 2. The yen fell more than 2% last week, its biggest weekly decline in almost a year.
1. 3. It seems fair to say that a material upturn in the yen’s fortunes vis-a-vis the U.S. dollar will depend on the U.S. side.

TJThe Japan Times

21 Sep 2026

SportsSportsTeam Culture

Key takeaways

New test coach Stephen Fleming wants to restore identity of English cricket
Fleming was appointed in July following England's slide in results and a series of off-field incidents.
1. 1. Restoring the team’s identity and standards would be as important as improving results.
1. 2. England’s new test coach Stephen Fleming said restoring the team’s identity and standards would be as important as improving results, after a turbulent year for English cricket that brought renewed scrutiny of player behavior and team culture.
1. 3. Fleming was appointed in July following England’s slide in results and a series of off-field incidents that led to Brendon McCullum’s departure from the test role amid accusations of a drinking culture among the players.

TJThe Japan Times

20 Sep 2026

Current EventsOriginal

Key takeaways

The Japan Times
Brighton dominated from the start at Amex Stadium and punched holes in Arsenal's normally resolute defense.
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TJThe Japan Times

20 Sep 2026

SportsCurrent EventsSports

Key takeaways

13-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy Yu Zidi cruises through heats at Asian Games
Yu became the youngest swimming world championships medalist in history last year when she won bronze as a 12-year-old as part of China's 4x200-meter freestyle relay team.
1. 1. China’s 13-year-old prodigy Yu Zidi and Olympic champion Pan Zhanle cruised through their heats on Sunday as swimming got underway on the opening day of the Asian Games.
1. 2. Yu became the youngest swimming world championships medalist in history last year when she won bronze as a 12-year-old as part of China’s 4x200-meter freestyle relay team.
1. 3. Japan is looking for better results in the pool after winning only five golds and finishing a distant third in the swimming medals table at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

TJThe Japan Times

20 Sep 2026

PoliticsGeopoliticsTechnology

Key takeaways

AI ‘warning shots’ focus Beijing on national security risks
The hacking ability of AI is leading Beijing to see threats in a new light, with its spy agency warning that national security could be in danger.
1. 1. Chinese policymakers are shifting focus from immediate AI risks like deepfakes to national security threats due to alarming hacking abilities.
1. 2. The spy agency chief warned that AI technology could jeopardize national security.
1. 3. A cyberattack 'worm' built with AI could easily compromise millions of WeChat accounts.

TJThe Japan Times

20 Sep 2026

LifestyleLifestyleOpinion

Key takeaways

Kashiwamochi is sweet and shy and looking for a new home
Kashiwamochi seems to be quite a timid girl but she is inquisitive and photogenic — and there's a beautiful soul in her.
1. 1. Kashiwamochi, a timid but inquisitive cat, is looking for a new home.
1. 2. She was handed over to ARK along with a number of other cats when their owner became ill and was hospitalized.
1. 3. Kashiwamochi would likely be fine and even thrive in a household with multiple cats.

TJThe Japan Times

20 Sep 2026

BusinessBusinessMarket Expansion

Key takeaways

Buy SpaceX directly on Nasdaq as you eat lunch in Tokyo
U.S. exchanges will soon be open for business almost around the clock.
1. 1. Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are extending their hours and will be open almost around the clock by the end of the year.
1. 2. This will likely lower the barrier for Japanese retail investors to buy high-profile stocks, such as SpaceX and Magnificent Seven shares in a more casual manner.
1. 3. Investors will soon be able to trade SpaceX, or just about any other U.S.-listed company, directly on a U.S. exchange during the day in Tokyo.

TJThe Japan Times

19 Sep 2026

PoliticsSecurityPolicy

Key takeaways

Koizumi and U.S. defense chief Hegseth agree to boost security cooperation
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have held eight rounds of talks since taking up their posts.
1. 1. Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth agreed to further strengthen the capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
1. 2. Koizumi expressed a “strong sense of urgency” in boosting Japan’s defense capabilities as the Takaichi administration looks to revise the country’s three key national security documents by the end of this year.
1. 3. Tokyo is reportedly considering a new midterm defense spending target of 3.5% of gross domestic product, a figure that would match that of NATO, South Korea and other U.S. allies.

TJThe Japan Times

19 Sep 2026

PoliticsGeopoliticalDiplomatic

Key takeaways

Seoul affirms U.S. investment pledges, intent to help with Strait of Hormuz free passage
Talks between the allies' top diplomats came a day after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ruled out sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz.
1. 1. South Korea reaffirmed its willingness to make a substantive contribution to restoring free passage through the Middle East’s Strait of Hormuz.
1. 2. The State Department and South Korea’s foreign ministry said they would push to ensure the swift execution of South Korea’s investment commitments in the United States.
1. 3. Talks between the allies' top diplomats came a day after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung ruled out sending troops to the Strait of Hormuz.

TJThe Japan Times

19 Sep 2026

Current EventsInternational RelationsGeopolitical

Key takeaways

U.S. warns allies of missile delivery delays due to shortage
Multiple European nations are expecting deliveries of key missile and air defense capabilities to be pushed back as a result of the Iran war.
1. 1. The U.S. has warned allies to expect delays of as much as five years in key weapons deliveries as it rebuilds its own depleted munitions stocks.
1. 2. Multiple European nations are expecting deliveries of key missile and air defense capabilities to be pushed back as a result of the U.S. military exhausting its own arsenal in the Iran war, officials said.
1. 3. Germany has asked the U.S. to speed up delivery of the long-range Tomahawk cruise missile and the ground-based Typhon launcher, but depleted U.S. stocks of the powerful weapon means its manufacturer, RTX’s Raytheon, is unlikely to fulfill the order in the next five years.

TJThe Japan Times

19 Sep 2026

Current EventsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

Flawed AI-linked intel almost led U.S. to board China ship, report says
The operation was called off after officials determined that an AI chatbot used by an analyst had misidentified the material the ship was carrying.
1. 1. The U.S. military came close to boarding a Chinese vessel in the Middle East earlier this year based on a flawed intelligence report prepared with the help of artificial intelligence.
1. 2. U.S. intelligence indicated the ship was carrying nuclear weapons-related components, leading American forces to prepare to intercept it.
1. 3. In a separate incident involving the U.S. military and China, Politico reported Friday that F-35 jet parts — including a sensitive stealth canopy for a cockpit — were diverted to Hong Kong and are now missing, raising fears that Beijing had obtained sensitive American military technology.

TJThe Japan Times

19 Sep 2026

Current EventsControversialGeopolitical

Key takeaways

Philippines says Chinese ship ‘rammed’ government vessel in South China Sea
China's coast guard subsequently blamed the actions of the Philippine vessel, which it said "bears full responsibility for the incident."
1. 1. The Philippines said a China Coast Guard ship “rammed” one of its fisheries department boats on Friday in contested waters in the South China Sea.
1. 2. China’s coast guard subsequently blamed the actions of the Philippine vessel, which it said “bears full responsibility for the incident.”
1. 3. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

TJThe Japan Times

18 Sep 2026

Current EventsInternational RelationsGeopolitical

Key takeaways

Japan’s rescued North Korean sailors at sea. How will Tokyo return them?
Thursday's rescue marks a rare circumstance in which North Korean authorities requested international assistance following the sinking of its vessel.
1. 1. Three North Korean sailors were recovered by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) off the western coast of Shimane Prefecture on Thursday, with one other person still missing at sea.
1. 2. The incident marks a rare circumstance in which North Korean authorities requested international assistance in recovering its maritime personnel.
1. 3. It now places Japanese authorities in an even rarer position of determining how to repatriate the recovered individuals amid the diplomatic stalemate between Tokyo and Pyongyang.

TJThe Japan Times

18 Sep 2026

Current EventsControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

2025 Tokyo Deaflympics helped raise awareness, but challenges remain, survey finds
While the event was significant for working toward an inclusive society, the survey also highlighted issues remaining after it was done.
1. 1. The Tokyo Deaflympics in 2025 significantly boosted public awareness of the event, with recognition rates rising from 24.3% to 55.4% nationally.
1. 2. Despite increased awareness, the survey revealed a decline in public perception regarding the reduction of bias against those with hearing loss and their integration into daily life.
1. 3. Experts suggest that while the Deaflympics generated positive interest, they were insufficient to enact substantial changes in public attitudes, possibly due to a perceived gap between expectations and the event's competitiveness.

TJThe Japan Times

18 Sep 2026

BusinessEconomic PolicyFinancial Markets

Key takeaways

Bank of Japan raises rates, and might do so again soon
The move was widely expected given the underlying indicators, the yen and pressure from the United States.
1. 1. The Bank of Japan raised rates on Friday in a move that was widely expected and might be followed closely by another.
1. 2. It took the uncollateralized overnight call rate to 1.25% from 1%, as the central bank’s policy board concluded its two-day policy meeting on Friday.
1. 3. The BOJ has been increasing rates steadily for more than two years, taking rates positive in March 2024.

TJThe Japan Times

18 Sep 2026

Current EventsInvestigativeInternational Relations

Key takeaways

U.S. strike on Iranian school may be war crime, U.N. panel says
The group also blamed the Iranian government for "gross human rights violations and crimes against humanity," including in recent violent crackdowns.
1. 1. A group of United Nations-backed experts has found “reasonable grounds” to believe that U.S. forces committed war crimes during the conflict against Iran, pointing to two airstrikes including one that hit a primary school in Minab, killing around 150 civilians.
1. 2. The U.N. Human Rights Council has accomplished nothing for human rights while spouting unserious nonsense for decades,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement.
1. 3. Even though the 18-page report is not binding, it adds to a growing body of evidence that could eventually be used to pursue accountability in international courts.

TJThe Japan Times

18 Sep 2026

Arts & CultureControversialOpinion

Key takeaways

‘Nagi Notes’: An intimate portrayal of rural rhythms and realities
The latest film by Koji Fukada reveals an understated charm through languid conversations and art-making.
1. 1. Koji Fukada avoids such romanticism in “Nagi Notes.”
1. 2. The film’s setting in rural Okayama Prefecture may initially look idyllic to an outsider like Yuri (Shizuka Ishibashi), an elegant 30-something visiting from Tokyo.
1. 3. But it’s a place where daily life is soundtracked by explosions from a nearby Japan Self-Defense Forces training ground, while residents are expected to conform to the conventions of a conservative, patriarchal society.

TJThe Japan Times

17 Sep 2026

PoliticsPoliticsInternational Relations

Key takeaways

Canada’s Carney pushes ‘new alliance’ with EU despite Trump threats
The Canadian leader pushed back at U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to cut trade ties with the EU should the plan go ahead.
1. 1. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pitched a 'new alliance' with Europe as a bulwark against outside pressures.
1. 2. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen suggested Canada could become the 27-nation bloc's first 'associate member.'
1. 3. Carney stated his country welcomed the EU proposal and wanted deeper cooperation on issues from artificial intelligence to defense and energy.

TJThe Japan Times

17 Sep 2026

BusinessTechnologyFinancial News

Key takeaways

Apollo mulls raising SoftBank loan to $9 billion for OpenAI bets
SoftBank has emerged as one of the biggest investors globally in AI, putting its various borrowings to finance that push in the spotlight.
1. 1. Apollo Global Management is in talks with SoftBank Group about boosting the size of a loan to $9 billion from $5.4 billion to help the Japanese firm finance its investment in AI giant OpenAI.
1. 2. SoftBank has emerged as one of the biggest investors globally in artificial intelligence, putting its various borrowings to finance that push in the spotlight.
1. 3. The Japanese conglomerate has committed to invest $64.6 billion in OpenAI, whose Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman recently said a long-anticipated initial public offering is still in the works but would not happen this year, as some investors had expected.

TJThe Japan Times

17 Sep 2026

PoliticsElection ResultsPolitical Outcome

Key takeaways

Sweden’s left wing wins election thriller
Around 50,000 votes separated the two sides in the country of 10.6 million people.
1. 1. Sweden’s left wing opposition won a narrow majority in the country’s general election after the vote count ended Thursday.
1. 2. The four parties in the left-wing bloc, led by Magdalena Andersson’s Social Democrats, hold a three-seat majority in the 349-seat parliament over outgoing prime minister Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing alliance, which includes the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats.
1. 3. But only around 50,000 votes separated the two sides in the country of 10.6 million people.

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