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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
People walk past a foreign currency indicator board showing the rate of the US dollar against the Japanese yen in Tokyo on August 3. Photo: EPA
Currencies

US Treasury’s Bessent calls on Japan to boost yen through interest rate hikes

A weak yen, which has pushed up import prices and broader inflation, has been blamed in part on the slow pace of rate hikes by the BOJ.

Hiromi Murakami

He called staff ‘human trash’. Now another Japanese mayor falls

US-China trade war

Opinion | Move over Strait of Hormuz. Innovation chokepoints are the ones to watch

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China-Japan relations

Why Japan’s hypersonic and underwater weapon plans might worry China

Beijing has hit out at Tokyo’s moves to arm submarine drones with long-range missiles and test hypersonic weapons in Australia.

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Japan plans to arm its fleet of unmanned underwater vehicles. Photo: Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force
Banking & finance

Hong Kong leads Asia in start-up potential, ranks fifth globally: study

City shows growing strength in nurturing scalable ventures and unicorns, CB Insights study says.

South Korea

South Korea’s Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja jailed 2 years for bribing officials

Han is accused of giving luxury items to former first lady Kim Keon-hee and providing illegal funds to a prominent lawmaker.

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Indonesia

Indonesia-US joint military drills with allies kick off with 4,700 soldiers

The exercises, which have been held for nearly two decades, will include special forces infiltration training and cyberdefence drills.

A US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter flies past during the Garuda Shield joint multinational exercise in Lampung, Indonesia, on September 3, 2025. Photo: AFP
SCMP Highlights

China-Nepal floods, Japan to deploy fighter jets to India: 5 weekend reads

From foreigners missing in the China-Nepal disaster to Canada ending a migration path for Hongkongers, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

Bonds

China, US bond markets diverge as Warsh strikes hawkish tone at Jackson Hole

Strong momentum is predicted to drive the yield on China’s 10-year government bonds to a low of 1.65 per cent, according to analysts.

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Sanae Takaichi

Chief of Japan’s biggest lower house opposition party confirms alliance’s split

The Centrist Reform Alliance was formed in January to counter the ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Representatives from Japan’s Centrist Reform Alliance hold its political campaign posters at a press conference in Tokyo on January 20. Photo: AFP
Science

Chinese map of South China Sea floor has ‘twice the resolution’ of Western ones

More than two decades of effort sees Chinese researchers develop maps of ocean terrain up to five times more accurate than global models.

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Chinese researchers have developed maps of ocean terrain in claimed waters including the South China Sea, using methods up to five times more accurate than global models. Photo: Shutterstock

‘Chilling effect’: Japan’s whistle-blowers weigh high price of speaking out

Legal experts and those targeted in such cases say whistle-blowers can face termination, costly litigation and difficulty finding work.

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Animals

Japan probes 39kg of bread dumped in national park

The bread was initially believed to have been used as bait for cameras live streaming images of animals, but no such equipment was found.

China-Japan relations

What Japan’s coming fighter jet deployment to India means for China

The historic move signals Tokyo’s desire to strengthen defence ties with ‘like-minded’ Indo-Pacific powers, analysts say.

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Japan plans to send three F-2 fighter jets to the Veer Guardian 26 joint exercise in India next month. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Macroscope | Global debt crisis will mean higher taxes – or worse

Bond markets are in revolt in response to rising government debt, meaning urgent change is needed in how national priorities are financed.

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A sign displays national debt at a bus stop in Washington on August 20. Similar signs have been put up across the US by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Photo: Getty Images
Tokyo

Japan to convert car park near Tokyo Station into missile shelter

North Korea has repeatedly test-fired ballistic missiles into regional waters, including the Sea of Japan, in recent years.

Video | Torrential rain triggers heavy flooding and landslides in Japan

Authorities issued the highest level of rain alert for parts of Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures on Thursday.

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National Police Agency (Japan)

Japan police to roll out body-worn cameras nationwide in 2027 after trials

The National Police Agency has requested US$1 million to deploy 2,000 cameras to verify questioning and gather evidence.

Police officers at Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, Japan in June. Photo: Reuters
Artificial intelligence

China’s ‘rice of electronics’ makers jump on strong profits from AI surge

CCTC and Guangdong Fenghua have reported strong first-half results as AI data centre demand drives MLCC orders and a global pricing upcycle.

South Korea

South Korea backs Trump’s North Korea talks, but warns against being sidelined

Seoul insists any diplomacy between Washington and Pyongyang must yield nuclear progress and preserve joint defence readiness.

Taiwan

How typhoons and extreme weather could undermine Taiwan Strait combat readiness

This year’s storms and record temperatures highlight how climate conditions can disrupt military planning and operations.

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Taiwan’s annual Han Kuang military exercises are regularly disrupted by typhoons. Photo: Reuters
South Korea

South Korea, Japan and US to hold trilateral Freedom Edge drills in September

The three countries will proceed with the multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise near Jeju Island.

South Korea, the US and Japan take part in the Freedom Edge exercise in international waters off South Korea’s Jeju Island in November 2024. Photo: South Korea Defence Ministry/AP
Indonesia

Japan to expand security aid to 12 Indo-Pacific nations

Tokyo has more than doubled its security assistance programme to US$114 million in a strategic push.

The Philippines

Why Filipino migrants are rethinking their futures in Japan

The weak yen, rising costs and uncertainty over immigration rules have made staying long term in Japan difficult for foreign workers.

Defence

US base dispute hangs over Japan’s Okinawa governor election

The LDP is mounting an all-out campaign to unseat the incumbent, wagering cash promises can quiet anti-base opposition.

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US marines stand in front of the Marine Air Defence Integrated System and the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa last year. Photo: Kyodo
Hong Kong entertainment

US singer Post Malone delays Hong Kong concert, sparking fan complaints

Concert organiser Live Nation Hong Kong says September 16 show at Kai Tak Stadium has been postponed.

Post Malone performs at the 2025 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in California. Photo: TNS
Hong Kong culture

Hong Kong arts figures, fans pay tribute to Yayoi Kusama after her death at 97

West Kowloon arts hub chief Bernard Chan and AllRightsReserved founder Lam Shu-kam among those expressing sadness at Japanese artist’s death.

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US-China relations

US lawmakers condemn right-wing podcast’s calls for Chinese-American internment

Members of Asian-American congressional caucus warn the ‘dangerous and unacceptable’ rhetoric fuels discrimination and violence.

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