Advertisement
Advertisement
TOPIC
 / location

Tokyo

Tokyo
The latest news, analysis and opinion on Tokyo. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.
Head of Government
Governor Yuriko Koike
The beloved penguin mascot of Tokyo’s Suica transport smart card is set to be replaced when it retires early next year. Regarded by many as the most popular mascot in the country and beyond, the Suica penguin will be replaced by a new character. The new mascot will be selected from three contenders by public vote, set to conclude on September 23.
Japan

Video | Japan’s ‘Suica penguin’ to be replaced in public vote

The public will pick the penguin’s replacement from among 3 candidates by September 23.

Singapore

US firm Waymo to launch robotaxi service in Singapore in 2028

Taiwan

Exclusive | ‘Provocation’ could accelerate Taiwan reunification: retired PLA major general

videocam
9
Japan

Is Japan’s Okinawa finally moving on from anti-base politics?

Frustrated by economic hardship, Okinawans have rallied behind a new governor, leaving long-standing anti-base resistance in disarray.

videocam
US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Japan’s Okinawa prefecture, is seen from the air in 2015. Photo: Kyodo/AP
South China Sea

‘Wolf in sheep’s clothing’: why Japan’s Natuna port plan raises alarm in China

Tokyo offers port upgrades to boost maritime security, but analysts say Jakarta is being pragmatic, not taking sides against Beijing.

videocam
7
Japan

Why Zelensky’s Kyiv invite puts Japan PM Takaichi in a diplomatic bind

Analysts say a Ukraine trip will be an ‘excellent opportunity’ for Takaichi to show her mettle, despite concerns about chilly Russia ties.

videocam
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Banking & finance

Hong Kong rated Asia’s top financial hub for fourth straight year: report

City also ranked third overall in the Global Financial Centres Index as Asian hubs strengthened their positions in the top 10.

Hong Kong has retained its ranking as Asia’s top financial hub for a fourth consecutive year. Photo: Jelly Tse
Japan

Japan jails man for forcing Thai girl, 12, into sex work

He had forced the girl to provide sexual services at his private-room massage parlour in Tokyo in 2025.

videocam
China-Japan relations

How Okinawa’s political shift could make Japan more prepared for a Taiwan contingency

Election of governor backed by nation’s ruling party could stabilise the US military presence and drive a defence build-up.

videocam
8
China-Japan relations

Japan’s WEGO fashion brand is latest firm hit by Chinese consumer backlash

WEGO scrapped a collaboration with an anime and manga franchise that triggered controversy with a perceived reference to wartime atrocities.

videocam
WEGO’s manga-themed collaboration has triggered a backlash in China. Photo: WEGO
The Philippines

Philippines wants to be a global semiconductor giant by 2030. Can it get there?

An ‘ambitious’ road map aims to more than double annual exports of chips and electronics to US$110 billion by 2030.

9
A staff of the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines shows chips manufactured in the country. Photo: AFP
South Korea

Can Japan, South Korea move past the ‘comfort women’ issue?

The issue is set to continue rattling ties between Tokyo and Seoul even as they seek to find common ground on security and trade issues.

8
Singapore

In Singapore, malls for shopping only are going out of style

Marina Square’s future revamp typifies the rise of mixed-use developments incorporating retail, office, residential and other components.

Japan

Opinion | A tension lies at the heart of Japan’s foreign labour policy

As Japan raises fees for residence permits and tightens the requirements for permanent residency, the effect on long-term settlement warrants attention.

videocam
Shin Okubo subway station in Tokyo on May 18, 2022. The neighbourhood is known for its large immigrant communities, including Korean, Southeast Asian and South Asian residents. Photo: SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Japan

Japan’s Shinjuku to ban more than half of holiday rentals

The policy will only apply to existing rentals, an official says. It is likely to result in the closure of about 2,000 properties.

Foreign tourists pull their suitcases as they walk along a street near Shinjuku station in Tokyo on Monday. Photo: AFP
Japan

Woman found dead in submerged car in Japan amid record rainfall

Authorities warn of landslides after more than 480mm of rain fell on Niijima Island, the largest amount since local records began.

Style Edit

Style Edit: 45R brings yarn-dyed indigo to Fair Isle and Cowichan knits

The Tokyo atelier channels its passion for textiles into a collection inspired by classic knitwear designs from Scotland and Canada.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
South Korea

What a viral Jennie clip reveals about South Korea’s deepfake struggles

Severe legal threats fail to deter a wave of teenage offenders who see digital victims as nothing more than pixels.

videocam
Jennie of Blackpink performs onstage during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 20, 2025 in Indio, California. Photo: Getty Images for Coachella
Japan

US wants foreign warships for its navy. Japan is hoping to be picked

Should Washington commission Mogami-class frigates, it will become Japan’s largest deal since relaxing the rules on weapon exports in April.

6
Japan

Japan goes on student suicide watch as school term starts

Government data shows student suicide spikes in September, when children return to school after a long summer break.

China-Japan relations

How Japan aims to convert ageing warships into leverage to counter China

Tokyo plans to send retired destroyers to Manila and Jakarta, but it may not demand alignment against China as part of deal.

videocam
Japan and Indonesia are discussing the transfer of Asagiri-class destroyers, which experts say is part of Tokyo’s broader effort to cultivate a “desirable security environment”. Photo: Kyodo
China travel

How Japan fell from China’s tourism top 3 despite record summer travel boom

Mainland carriers scrap more than 30 per cent of flights to Japan as travellers turn to South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia.

videocam
5
Chinese airlines transported 153.64 million passenger trips between July 1 and Monday, a historic high. Photo: AFP
Japan

Pufferfish peril: Japan’s deadliest delicacy is getting more dangerous

Rising sea temperatures are pushing pufferfish species together, spawning hybrids that even specialist chefs cannot safely prepare.

videocam
Japan

‘Unacceptable shift’: Japan relaxes overtime rules under workaholic Takaichi

Businesses grappling with labour shortage have called for flexible work hours but critics say the move risks a return to ‘karoshi’ culture.

Japan

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

A weak yen, which has pushed up import prices and broader inflation, has been blamed in part on the central bank’s slow pace of rate increases.

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
Japan

Japan to convert car park near Tokyo Station into missile shelter

North Korea has repeatedly test-fired ballistic missiles into regional waters in recent years.

Commuters walk outside Tokyo Station on August 12. Photo: AFP
Japan

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.

7
Japan

Video | Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama dies aged 97

The avant-garde artist, who enjoyed a strong following in Hong Kong, died on August 14 at a Tokyo hospital due to multiple organ failure.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Help preserve 120 years of quality journalism.
SUPPORT NOW
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement