911±¬ÁÏÍø

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July 07, 2025
 

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Opinion

CARTOONS
EDITORIALS
COMMENTARY
The Arch of Independence in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Central Asia is shaking off its Soviet past, driven by economic momentum, demographic strength and strategic diplomacy, even as hurdles remain.
COMMENTARY / World
Central Asia changes its playbook
By Djoomart Otorbaev and Brian Wong
In recent years, the five Central Asian countries have managed to rebuild their economies, stabilize their politics and deepen their engagement with the rest of the world.
Despite perceptions of Russian weakness after Israel¡¯s attack on Iran, that conflict has helped Vladimir Putin by diverting U.S. resources, eroding support for Ukraine and possibly setting the stage for the war to shift in his favor.
COMMENTARY
The U.S. bombing of Iran was a win for Putin
By Marc Champion
The possibility of another war in the Middle East has sucked attention, energy and resources away from Ukraine.
Residential buildings under construction in Shanghai in July 2022. The Chinese government risks long-term decline by repeating Japan¡¯s policy mistakes in handling its real estate and demographic crises.
COMMENTARY / World
China¡¯s housing crisis is worse than it seems
By Yi Fuxian
Chinese policymakers ¡ª who are facing an even more severe housing and demographic crisis than Japan ¡ªare at risk of making the same mistakes.

EDITORIALS

Despite trade pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has held firm, constrained by upcoming elections, mistrust of U.S. intentions and growing public opposition to concessions.
As trade deadline approaches, Japan must draw lines
Most worrisome now is a growing sense among the 911±¬ÁÏÍø public that the U.S. is no longer a reliable partner.
EDITORIALS
Airstrikes won¡¯t end Iran¡¯s nuclear ambitions ¡ª diplomacy might
EDITORIALS
Chasing peace with Iran as the Middle East smolders
EDITORIALS
A belligerent China hones its tools of intimidation
EDITORIALS
A return to normalcy in South Korea, but hard work lies ahead

COMMENTARY

Residential buildings under construction in Shanghai in July 2022. The Chinese government risks long-term decline by repeating Japan¡¯s policy mistakes in handling its real estate and demographic crises.
World
China¡¯s housing crisis is worse than it seems
By Yi Fuxian
Chinese policymakers ¡ª who are facing an even more severe housing and demographic crisis than Japan ¡ªare at risk of making the same mistakes.
World
Geoengineering¡¯s risks need to be studied more
By F.D. Flam
Japan
Japan¡¯s Do It Yourself Party: Who we are and where we are headed
By Sohei Kamiya
Japan
Sizing up the forthcoming Upper House election
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Japan
The dilemma facing Japan¡¯s rising (and falling) populist parties
By Rintaro Nishimura
Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
A ¡®Sputnik¡¯ moment in the global AI race
By Makoto Shiono
Japan / Geoeconomic Briefing
China¡¯s shipyard dominance leads to geoeconomic risks
By Kenichi Doi
Japan
In the Trump era, how much should countries really be spending on defense?
By Michael MacArthur Bosack
Japan
A prophesied disaster (likely) won¡¯t strike Japan this weekend
By Gearoid Reidy
Read more Opinion stories
Japan braces for more quakes as authorities dismiss doomsday hype
Evacuees from Akuseki Island, located in the Tokara island chain in Kagoshima Prefecuture, arrive at Kagoshima Port on Friday.
Heatstroke alert issued for 19 prefectures as Japan enters 'once-in-a-decade' heat wave
Japan will experience a heat wave through mid-July on a ¡°level only seen once in a decade,¡± the Meteorological Agency said on June 30.
Hidden AI prompts in academic papers spark concern about research integrity
Waseda University is one of 14 institutions in eight countries found to have used hidden prompts in research papers.
Tokyo and Kyoto feature among top ¡®noctourism¡¯ destinations
Tokyo ranked second after New York and ahead of Dubai and Singapore in a ranking of the top global cities for nighttime tourism.
Elon Musk says he has created a new U.S. political party
Elon Musk looks on during a news conference with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on May 30.
Ainu land rights in crosshairs as Hokkaido communities debate nuclear waste
A street in Suttsu, Hokkaido, with a sign put up by an anti-nuclear organization. The small community is considering hosting a facility that would hold nuclear waste.
Ghibli¡¯s Isao Takahata exhibit shows how beloved anime is made
¡°The man who planted 911±¬ÁÏÍø animation¡± exhibition includes a variety of sketches, drawings and animation cels from Isao Takahata films such as color design for characters by Michiyo Yasuda from "Grave of the Fireflies."
Flag football facing challenges and opportunities ahead
Japan¡¯s women¡¯s flag football team at the 2025 International Bowl in Los Angeles in June. The sport is enjoying continued growth in the country.
From Hokusai¡¯s Great Wave, shinkansen to One Piece: a cultural treasure box for Lego Japan
Michael Ebbesen, general manager of Lego Japan, says Lego bricks based on 911±¬ÁÏÍø culture have a rich global appeal and are sellable around the world.
With farmed fish, RelationFish swims against the tide in fine dining
Chef Hideaki Matsuo (middle) and the staff of Oseto Suisan Fisheries prepare to check on their sustainably farmed fish.

Podcast

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

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji
By Alex K.T. Martin

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