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The latest breaking news and stories on Japan, a country in East Asia known as a constitutional monarchy, and the world’s fifth largest economy. Also covering Japan’s relationship with China and Asia, plus commentary and updates on Japan’s economy, politics, society and trade.
Capital
Tokyo
Head of State
Emperor Naruhito
Head of Government
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Fumio Kishida
Shigeru Ida, president of the Japanese Society for Origins of Life and Astrobiology since 2025, is widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential planetary scientists. Photo: Handout
Science

Japanese Astronomical Society ex-president Shigeru Ida joins China’s Westlake

Top planetary scientist will lead young university’s new astronomy department after decades shaping human understanding of the universe.

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Banking & finance

Will Hong Kong’s board-lot reform bump HSBC’s share turnover?

Open Questions series

Exclusive | Wu Shicun on why Beijing will not rule out Scarborough Shoal construction

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My Take

My Take | How China’s rare missile test sparked hysterical hypocrisy

Western pundits were quick to denounce Beijing. But far more frequent US launches rate barely a mention.

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A long-range ballistic missile bursts out of the sea during a test launched from a Chinese nuclear-powered submarine in the South Pacific on July 6, 2026. Photo: Xinhua via AP
Space

Nasa knows how to deflect an asteroid. Can Japan’s Hayabusa2 pull it off?

Analysts say the Torifune fly-by highlights Tokyo’s growing role in global space safety efforts and its ‘goodwill science’ policy.

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South Korea

South Korean ticket touts to face the music when new penalties come into play

From August 28, authorities can impose fines of up to 50 times the resale price of a ticket, a sharp rise from the current US$6,600 maximum.

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Tourism

Japan wants 60 million tourists, but China isn’t sending them

Tokyo is banking on a massive visitor boom to do what its factories and financiers increasingly cannot: carry the economy forward.

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Tourists throng a shopping street in front of Sensoji Temple in the popular Asakusa district of Tokyo, Japan, last month. Photo: Kyodo
Hong Kong society

Youth suicides in Hong Kong hit 10-year high: court report

Population expert warns of ‘virtual alienation’ trend among youth as cases rise for those aged 10 to 19 in 2025.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

Formal China-US G2 framework key to world peace: top Beijing adviser

Noted political scientist Zheng Yongnian argues that de facto ‘Group of Two’ structure has already emerged between the rival powers.

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Artificial intelligence

Macroscope | Don’t expect the rising tide of AI to lift all boats

While economies linked to hi-tech supply chains may perform well, unequal outcomes and economic instability still loom for much of the world.

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Workers walk outside a data centre building under construction in Johor Bahru Malaysia, on September 28, 2024. Photo: AP
Typhoon Bavi

Flights axed, noodle shelves emptied as ‘pretty big’ typhoon nears Okinawa

‘I’ve been here when typhoons passed nearby, but nothing this severe,’ a tourist says.

A man looks around the partly empty shelves of bread at a supermarket, as Super Typhoon Bavi approaches Ishigaki, Japan, on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Religion

A Japanese city allowed Muslim park prayers for 30 years. Now, there’s unease

The Ichikawa mayor’s decision to restrict the gathering sparks debate on multicultural coexistence in Japan amid discrimination concerns.

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The Philippines

Why the Philippines is losing out in Southeast Asia’s investment boom

With Manila capturing just US$9 billion of the region’s US$244 billion capital influx last year, analysts urge reforms to close the FDI gap.

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Hong Kong weather

Hong Kong set for ‘extremely hot’ weather over the weekend as typhoon subsides

Occasional showers expected, with temperatures set to hit 35 degrees Celsius on Saturday, according to Observatory.

A resident shields himself from the sun at the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. Photo: Jelly Tse
China consumption

Uniqlo defies sluggish China market with double-digit profit growth

Parent company Fast Retailing shrugs off a 0.6 per cent drop in China’s total retail sales amid frayed Beijing-Tokyo ties.

The logo of the Fast Retailing clothing brand Uniqlo outside a branch in Tokyo. Photo: AFP
The Philippines

Why the Philippines is turning to space for a military edge in South China Sea

Having dedicated satellites is ‘something that makes sense’ as it would give the military more control over its territory, experts say.

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New Openings

Hong Kong’s hottest new openings, from Curry Room to Canto-American Lazy Suzy

Discover Hong Kong’s latest dining delights: customised meals at Curry Room, cross-continental fare at Central Table, ‘Baking Bistro’ The Spoon Focaccia and sandwiches galore at Lazy Suzy.

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Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific aircraft’s tail hit runway at Hong Kong airport, airline confirms

Aviation regulator orders Cathay to submit a report on tail strike involving Airbus A330 flight from Tokyo’s Narita airport.

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Extensive scraping can be seen along the underside of the aircraft’s rear fuselage. Photo: Handout
Pokemon

Video | Pokemon cards are fuelling a global crime spree

A burglary at a trading-card shop in Niigata, Japan, saw 5,000 cards worth 10 million yen (US$62,000) stolen on Monday.

Hong Kong transport

Super Typhoon Bavi: dozens of Hong Kong flights cancelled as storm nears Taiwan

More than 40 flights cancelled and 10 delayed as storm approaches Taiwan, but some carriers are offering special arrangements for affected passengers.

Currencies

Macroscope | 3 reasons behind the Japanese yen’s persistent decline

The continued slide in the yen has raised concern, but what happens in the bond market will determine whether the bearishness extends far beyond Japan.

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A local hunter touches a bear dummy during an emergency response drill for bear and other wildlife intrusions in Isehara, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan on July 3. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

Charlene Choi’s rise to fame; gluten-free Chinese food: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Mr Gay Japan’s first Taiwanese finalist to a technique known as ‘urge surfing’, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Charlene Choi on the red carpet of the 34th Hong Kong Film Awards at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, in Tsim Sha Tsui, in April 2015. Choi was nominated for the best actress award that year for her role in the film Sara. Photo: Sam Tsang
Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks retreat as regional tech volatility offsets short covering

Zhipu AI bucked the downward trend to surge over 11 per cent as volatility surrounding its recent IPO share unlocking began to ease.

Donald Trump

Trump blames ‘Islamic Republic of Japan’ for missile strikes on US warship

The US president said the missiles were shot at the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln over a period of one hour and they were intercepted.

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United States

As Japanese yen sinks to a 40-year low, focus turns to the carry trade

Analysts ponder what will happen if the conditions which currently support the currency’s carry trade begin to reverse.

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Focus has turned to the yen carry trade as the Japanese yen nears a 40-year low against the US dollar. Photo: Reuters
Architecture and design

Mujun Planet: one man’s quest to revive Japan’s artisanal legacy

So devoted was Japanese designer Shinya Kobayashi to preserving his country’s craft traditions that he bought an entire mountain to ensure their survival.

Shinya Kobayashi beside a cedar, the wood he uses as much as possible in the construction of his “village”. Photo: courtesy Mujun
Hong Kong society

Stars, vintage toys and comic masters all out to slay Hong Kong anime fair

Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong will accommodate 38,000 participants, 7,000 more than last year’s event, and host a record 201 exhibitors.

China's economic recovery

What was China’s FDI last year? US$174 billion keeps it the world’s No 3 source

As China redraws global investment map, mainland firms use leading roles to secure critical supply chains with overseas plans.

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