By Akio Tanaka
Tokyo-based correspondent covering Japanese politics, economy and the region from a Japanese vantage.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Launches Physical AI Hub in Silicon Valley
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has established a Physical AI development center in San Jose, California. The facility aims to integrate AI and ro
Japan's Takaichi Navigates Budget, Party, and Defense Spending Challenges
Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae is pushing a ¥3 trillion supplemental budget but faces opposition demands for stimulus. Her LDP study group dr
ULVAC to Build Rare Earth Furnace Factory in Japan, Reducing China Dependence
ULVAC, a Japanese vacuum technology firm, will establish a new factory in Chigasaki to produce rare earth melting furnaces. The move respond
Global Bond Selloff Rattles Japan as Yields Hit Multi-Year Highs
Global bond yields are surging, with Japanese 30-year government bonds reaching their highest since 1999. The selloff is straining Tokyo's f
Ming Furniture: How Wood, Craft, and Time Forge a Living Tradition
Ming-style furniture is not merely antique; it embodies a civilization through wood, joinery, and proportion. The Donghu Rosewood Museum in
Japan's Rearming Ambition Hits Hard Limits: Manpower, Demographics, and Strategy
Japan's defense budget has reached 1.9% of GDP, but manpower shortages and demographic decline threaten sustainability. The southwestern isl
From Tokyo: Iran Conflict Erodes Japan's Trust in US Leadership
Japanese media polls show 75-86% opposition to US-Israel attacks on Iran. Tokyo officials worry about a power vacuum in East Asia as US forc
Japan's Care Robot Ambitions Still Fall Short of Human Touch
Japan leads the world in care robot development, but lab tests reveal a wide gap between controlled demonstrations and real-world care envir
Japan's Military Normalization: Why It's Time to Scrap Postwar Constitutional Constraints
Japan's cabinet approved revisions to arms export regulations in April, allowing sales of lethal equipment. The country is deepening defense
Japan's Balancing Act: Energy Ties With Russia vs. Defense Support for Ukraine
A Sakhalin-2 oil tanker arrived at Imabari in May, highlighting Japan's continued reliance on Russian energy. Meanwhile, Japanese drone firm
A Tang Spring Outing: How a Handscroll Survived an Emperor's Flight
A Song dynasty copy of a Tang painting captures the elegance and fragility of Emperor Xuanzong's court. The work, now in Liaoning, shows Lad
Takaichi's Vietnam and Australia Visits Redefine Japan's Role in Asia
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visits Vietnam and Australia to advance energy security and critical minerals partnerships. A foreign