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Japan
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
A woman takes selfies in front of a cherry blossom tree in Kawasaki, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. Photo: AFP
Tourism

Japan’s cherry blossom parties could wilt as inflation strains wallets

Spending on ‘hanami’ picnics drops as rising living costs, Iran war fears and weather woes threaten to dampen this year’s festivities.

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Crime

Man kills woman at Tokyo Pokemon shop before taking his own life

China's military weapons

What can the Iran war tell China about missile interception?

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US, Israel war on Iran

Macroscope | Iran war: Why a Trump climbdown won’t save Asia’s economies

Markets might be convinced Trump will chicken out again, but that won’t reassure Asian nations scrambling to deal with energy shortages.

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A delivery driver transports liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders in Amritsar, Punjab state, in India on March 24. Two more Indian-flagged tankers carrying LPG passed through the Strait of Hormuz on March 23, marking a fresh set of exceptions in the chokepoint disrupted by the Middle East war. Photo: AFP
US, Israel war on Iran

Enact special law to send warships to Hormuz, ex-adviser tells Japan PM

Former national security adviser Nagashima said a prolonged disruption in the critical shipping lane could work in China’s favour.

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Defence

Japan plans to deploy missiles to a faraway island in the Pacific. Here’s why

The deployment is a response to China’s military activity near Minamitorishima, a defence ministry researcher says.

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China-Japan relations

Should China be worried about Japan’s maritime force overhaul?

Reform reflects shift towards quasi-carrier operations and preparations for potential conflict with Beijing, Chinese analysts say.

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Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force ship JS Ise, a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer, is the flagship of the newly established Amphibious and Mine Warfare Group under the Fleet Surface Force. Photo: EPA-EFE
CPTPP

Opinion | Pacific trade vitality shows multilateralism is alive and well

With the US in retreat, nations committed to economic integration are moving forward through partnerships like the CPTPP.

Food and Drinks

Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for March 26-28

Easter might not be here yet, but Hong Kong’s bars are keeping things lively with guest shifts at Gokan and The Pottinger’s Dr Fern’s, as Bar Anima reopens.

Banking & finance

Opinion | Why a global private-credit meltdown would hit China hard

It could leave emerging economies scrambling for financing just as their repayment obligations to Chinese lenders mount.

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People wait to cross a road in Beijing on March 6. A private-credit crisis could prompt a wave of restructuring of loans due to China, complicating its efforts to counter a structural downturn. Photo: AFP
Stocks

Global buy-backs soar but mainland China, Hong Kong see drop: Capital Group

The repurchases, along with AI gains, help propel global equities to fresh peaks in 2025, asset manager says.

Buy-backs can be an efficient way to return surplus cash to investors once investment needs and balance sheets are funded, according to an analyst. Photo: Shutterstock
China-Japan relations

Japanese minister expresses regret over military officer’s arrest at Chinese embassy

Beijing says incident in which a man is accused of breaking in with a knife, reflects the growth of ‘rampant far-right ideology’ in Japan.

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Space

Nasa abandons orbital station, plans moon base and nuclear spacecraft

Nasa pivots resources to establish a long-term presence on the moon as the US races China.

Hong Kong stock market

Hong Kong stocks extend rebound on signs of diplomatic path in Iran conflict

Investors cheered progress on peace talks and falling crude prices, helping the Hang Seng Index rise for a second day.

An electronic signboard shows the prices of stocks at the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing building. Photo: AFP
China consumption

How ‘salmon’ raised in landlocked Xinjiang is netting fans in China

Aquaculture in the far-western region is expected to grow even more rapidly after a dependence on imported eggs is diminished or ended.

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Workers process “Xinjiang salmon” at Xinjiang Tianyun Organic Agriculture’s processing plant in Yili, Xinjiang. Photo: Handout
Tourism

Sacred deer have been a fixture of Japan’s Nara. Now they’re wandering away

More green spaces in nearby cities and the deer’s adaptable nature have led to them straying as far as 40km away from their habitat.

Asia travel

Profile | How a third-culture COO navigates culture clashes in frosty Niseko

The Luxe Nomad executive Patrick Ohtani talks about overcoming the issues that arise as cultures mix in the popular Japanese ski resort.

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Art

9 artists to look out for at this year’s Art Basel Hong Kong

From Kazakh warrior sculptures to speculative films by Andrew Thomas Huang and Ayoung Kim, these are the artworks defining this year’s programme.

The Deer of Nine Colors by Andrew Thomas Huang. Photo: Handout
Middle East

Opinion | As the Gulf grows riskier, the Arctic is gaining strategic weight

As traditional energy centres become less stable, the Arctic’s resources, shipping routes and infrastructure are growing in importance.

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China-Japan relations

Why Beijing is blaming Japanese PM as Tokyo moves to downgrade China ties status

Tokyo’s annual diplomatic blue book set to describe China ties as ‘strategic’ and ‘mutually beneficial’, a step down from ‘most important’.

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Iran

Japan to start release of state oil reserve on Thursday to ease Iran impact

Japan sources nearly all crude oil from overseas and relies on the Middle East for over 90 per cent of its crude oil imports.

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An oil refinery in the Keihin Industrial Zone in Kawasaki, south of Tokyo. Photo: Reuters
China-Japan relations

Economic ‘poison’? China has strong words for Japan’s ‘Takaichinomics’ strategy

Communist Party newspaper cautions against tying economic growth to ‘militaristic adventurism’, saying Japan’s citizens would shoulder the costs.

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Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi answers questions during a plenary session of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet of Japan, in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: AFP
China’s military drills

New Type 055 destroyers for PLA East China Fleet tested in first live-fire drill

Exercise will ‘rapidly integrate’ the advanced vessels into the joint combat system covering Taiwan and the seas near Japan.

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Sanae Takaichi

Trump’s ‘wind-up doll’? Japan’s PM faces backlash over White House fawning

White House imagery showing Sanae Takaichi cheering for a rock song and laughing at a jibe at Joe Biden left some in Japan feeling ‘ashamed’.

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China-Japan relations

China slams Japan’s ‘kill network’ as long-range missile deployment looms

PLA Daily describes upgraded Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles as offensive weapons capable of targeting neighbouring countries.

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A Japanese Type-12 surface-to-ship missile is launched by the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force at Beecroft Weapons Range near Jervis Bay, Australia, on July 22, 2025. Photo: Australian Department of Defence via AP
US, Israel war on Iran

The View | Trump’s energy war over Iran is failing just like his China trade war

Much like China’s rare earths dominance held off Trump’s trade war, Iran is using the Strait of Hormuz to outdo Trump in economic warfare.

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A Chinese-flagged tanker is seen moored at an oil terminal at Tsing Yi port in Hong Kong on March 19. Photo: Reuters
Viral stories

Japan food company’s ‘manly’ revolution of ‘boring’ tofu captures youth market

Ito begins by reshaping tofu into paddle boards, teardrops, stepping away from traditional moulds to give it a contemporary appeal.

Science

China-US study shows new EV battery tech can withstand global warming

Major advancements in electric battery technologies mitigate impact of future warming, study finds.

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