By Akio Tanaka
Tokyo-based correspondent covering Japanese politics, economy and the region from a Japanese vantage.
China's wartime narrative targets Japan-US ties
Beijing is leveraging wartime memories to drive a wedge between Washington and Tokyo. Xi Jinping's remarks in Washington and Chinese officia
Geopolitical rifts overshadow 2026 Asian Games in Japan
The 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya closed on October 4 after two weeks of competition. Geopolitical tensions, including Japan-South Korea histor
Toyota bets on hydrogen trucks and racing as EV race tightens
Toyota is pushing hydrogen combustion engines in endurance racing and partnering with European firms to build a hydrogen trucking industry.
Sir Jackie Stewart brings dementia fight to Japan's Fuji Speedway
Sir Jackie Stewart, the three-time Formula One champion, returned to Fuji Speedway to promote his Race Against Dementia charity. The event c
BOJ's rate hike exposes cracks in Bessent's market facade
The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate to 1.25%, the highest in 31 years, despite dissent from two board members. US Treasury Secretary Sc
Japan's submarine propulsion debate signals shift on nuclear taboo
Japan's defense minister has confirmed that nuclear-powered submarines remain an option as Tokyo revises its security strategy. The debate r
Hormuz crisis pushes Japan to take charge of its energy security
Japan is rolling out a comprehensive energy-security package in response to the Hormuz crisis, including state-backed insurance and expanded
Bessent's Market Bravado Meets Reality in Tokyo and Washington
Scott Bessent's return to hedge funds is shadowed by failed market interventions. Oil, Treasury yields, and the yen defy his warnings, while
Remembering 9/11 from the still-screaming streets of New York
Days after the 9/11 attacks, Ground Zero becomes a pilgrimage site of grief and gawking. Vendors sell trinkets, evangelists preach, and surv
The Lockheed scandal's deeper roots in Japan's postwar politics
The Lockheed scandal that toppled Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka in 1976 had its roots in a 1958 fighter jet procurement battle. New
Why Asia should plan for a Russia without Putin
Dissent inside Russia is growing, hinting that Putin's regime may be more fragile than it appears. Japan, in particular, should prepare for
Japan's pension fund resists political pressure over JGB buying
Japan's finance minister and prime minister are pushing the GPIF to invest more in domestic assets, sparking market reactions. The fund's pr