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November 19, 2025
 

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Eric Johnston

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Eric Johnston
The transport ministry has proposed extending the runway at Sapporo's Okadama Airport from 1,500 meters to 1,800 meters to support longer routes amid rising inbound tourism.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Nov 17, 2025
Two plans proposed for runway extension at Sapporo¡¯s Okadama Airport
A longer runway will increase commercial flight capacity, attract more business jets and facilitate medevac flights.
The Japan Innovation Party has long sought to get Osaka designated as Japan's backup capital.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 13, 2025
What would a ¡®backup capital¡¯ look like for Japan?
The concept faces tough questions on its substance and whether its true purpose is to realize the Japan Innovation Party's goal of making its Osaka base the natural choice.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party head Hirofumi Yoshimura in Tokyo on Oct. 21. An agreement between the two parties included a promise, at the JIP's insistence, to introduce legislation in the current parliamentary session that reduces the number of Lower House seats.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 11, 2025
LDP-JIP coalition faces friction over parliamentary seat-reducing bill
Differences over the measure to reduce parliamentary seats could weaken the ruling minority coalition¡¯s unity and test its ability to compromise.
Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, attends an extraordinary session of the Lower House in Tokyo on Oct. 21.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 10, 2025
DPP finds itself on the outside after failing to join ruling coalition
Yuichiro Tamaki¡¯s indecisiveness is seen as having contributed to his party¡¯s drop in popularity.
Japan Innovation Party co-leader Fumitake Fujita speaks during a news conference in parliament on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 4, 2025
JIP co-leader refuses to resign over ?21 million payment to secretary¡¯s firm
Fumitake Fujita defended his payment to his secretary¡¯s firm, saying there was nothing illegal about placing orders for printing services.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (right) and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura pose for a picture after signing an agreement to form a coalition, at the National Diet Building in Tokyo on Oct 20.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 28, 2025
Smaller parties set to suffer most if LDP and JIP reduce Lower House seats
Smaller parties such as Komeito could lose out the most if a bill is passed to reduce Lower House seats by 10%.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 23, 2025
Polls show Takaichi Cabinet off to strong start with support for policy stance
Approval ratings were found to be especially high among younger generations and those in the Osaka and Nagoya regions.
Ruling Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi and Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura sign a policy agreement between the two parties at the Diet in Tokyo on Monday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 23, 2025
The newly formed LDP-JIP coalition may not be as solid as it seems
The Japan Innovation Party¡¯s insistence on passing a seat-reducing measure could prove to be a sticking point in the relationship.
In early October, 100 grams of autumn salmon roe in central Sapporo was priced at just below ?2,000.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Oct 20, 2025
Prices for Hokkaido¡¯s autumn salmon roe jump as catch numbers fall
As of early October, 100 grams of autumn salmon roe in central Sapporo was selling for just under ?2,000.
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, who leads Nippon Ishin no Kai, says a "definite condition" for forming a coalition with the Liberal Democratic Party is to reduce the number of parliamentary members.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 17, 2025
Coalition with LDP could give Nippon Ishin chance to advocate its pet projects
Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura, who leads Nippon Ishin, said a "definite condition" for forming a coalition with the LDP was reducing the number of parliamentary members.
Former Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama speaks during an interview in Tokyo in March 2007.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 17, 2025
Former PM Tomiichi Murayama dies at age 101
Murayama, who delivered a key statement apologizing for Japan¡¯s World War II aggression, died on Friday in his native Oita.
Rengo's head Tomoko Yoshino speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Oct. 8.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 16, 2025
As they wrestle for power, Japan¡¯s political parties must remember their base
Electoral fortunes are shaped ¡ª or undone ¡ª by parliamentary alignments, social and religious groups, and representation from industries and labor.
Newly-elected leader of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party Sanae Takaichi (right) celebrates with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after winning the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on October 4.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 14, 2025
Number of scenarios now on the table for who might be Japan¡¯s next prime minister
With Komeito¡¯s exit from the ruling coalition, there is now no guarantee LDP chief Sanae Takaichi will be voted prime minister when parliament convenes.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito speaks at a news conference in Tokyo on Friday after leaving the ruling coalition earlier in the day.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 12, 2025
After ruling bloc collapses, LDP and opposition scramble to find needed votes for PM
New LDP President Sanae Takaichi faces a higher hurdle in finding the votes needed to become Japan¡¯s next leader as opposition forces discuss a unified candidate.
Komeito head Tetsuo Saito and the party's executives (left) meet with the LDP's Sanae Takaichi and counterparts in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 9, 2025
LDP and Komeito's shaky ties throw doubt on Takaichi becoming prime minister
The inability of the LDP and Komeito to forge a quick agreement and vote for Takaichi to become prime minister has created uncertainty at a busy time on the political calendar.
Komeito leader Tetsuo Saito (left) and LDP counterpart Sanae Takaichi meet in Tokyo on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 8, 2025
After 26 years, Komeito may be showing signs it will break with LDP
Komeito not immediately endorsing Takaichi reflects deep concerns among Soka Gakkai members, the party¡¯s main supporters in the lay Buddhist group, about her ideology and policies.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi (center) speaks to reporters on Sunday after meeting Taro Aso, the party's supreme advisor, at the party's headquarters.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 6, 2025
Suzuki eyed for LDP secretary-general, reflecting Aso¡¯s growing influence
Former Prime Minister Taro Aso's influence in the Liberal Democratic Party under the newly elected Sanae Takaichi is becoming increasingly more evident.
Sanae Takaichi, the newly elected leader of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, poses in the party leader's office after the LDP leadership election in Tokyo on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 5, 2025
How Takaichi won the LDP¡¯s leadership race
A split of moderate votes in the first round and the support of an LDP kingmaker helped propel the former economic security minister to a historic victory.
A Lower House plenary session in November 2024. The next leader of the Liberal Democratic Party will need to make tough political compromises given the party needs opposition support to pass bills.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 3, 2025
Host of tough compromises on policy issues await next LDP president
Just how much the ruling party needs to compromise will depend on which opposition party it intends to work closer with for any given issue, and the level of that cooperation.
Komeito head Tetsuo Saito says his party cannot form a coalition government with any party that doesn¡¯t align itself with its moderate conservative policies.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 2, 2025
LDP presidential election could be turning point for Komeito
After Saturday¡¯s vote, the junior coalition partner will have to adjust to a new LDP, one whose values might differ from its own.
A beloved Tokyo penguin¡¯s end presages Suica¡¯s shift to payments giant
JR East is retiring the beloved Suica penguin as part of a rebrand to transform the contactless payment platform, used for both transit and retail, into a mobile fintech powerhouse.
More 911±¬ÁÏÍø firms relax rules in tussle for workers
Hinako Mori, 22, arranges products at a Don Quijote outlet in Tokyo in October. The 911±¬ÁÏÍø retailer, which relaxed its rules concerning hair and nail polish three years ago, says nearly a quarter of its employees sport brightly colored hair.
Japan sends senior official to China to cool boiling tensions
A Chinese tour group in the Ginza shopping district of Tokyo on Sunday. China has advised its citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, following a diplomatic feud sparked by remarks from Tokyo's new prime minister about a hypothetical attack on Taiwan.
What you need to know about the shift to My Number health insurance cards
With the government's integration of health insurance with My Number cards, conventional health insurance cards will no longer be accepted at clinics and hospitals across Japan from Dec. 2.
Japan seeks to placate China as strained relations move beyond political realm
Director-General of the Foreign Ministry's Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Masaaki Kanai (left) and Chinese Director-General of the Department of Asian Affairs Liu Jinsong depart after a meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Beijing on Tuesday.
How Band-Maid brought anime energy into the hard-rock sound of ¡®Scooooop¡¯
Members of Band-Maid combine heavy riffs and maid-inspired visuals in their latest project, "Rock Is a Lady¡¯s Modesty."
Japan uses series against South Korea to prep for World Baseball Classic title defense
Japan's Ryuhei Sotani pitches against South Korea at Tokyo Dome on Saturday night.
Who is cricket¡¯s Shohei Ohtani?
South African cricket legend Jacques Kallis plays a shot during the final day of a cricket test match against India in Johannesburg in December 2013.
Good fortune, wrapped in fried tofu
Golden "age-fukuburo," a culinary take on Japan's new year "lucky bags," can be served on their own.
Foreign Correspondents¡¯ Club of Japan celebrates 80 years at the forefront of press freedom
Located near the Imperial Palace, the Foreign Correspondents¡¯ Club of Japan prides itself on the accessibility of its events and the support it offers to budding and established journalists. The club is currently headed by Dan Sloan, a former reporter for Reuters.

Podcast

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

Longform

An illustration features the 911±¬ÁÏÍø signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo
By Kathryn Wortley

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