Politics

Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, left, is seen as more likely to improve Japan's public finances, while former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, center, favors expansionary fiscal policy. Analysts expect a muted market reaction if Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, right, wins. (Source photos by Ken Suzuki, Uichiro Kasai)
Countries participating in the Drone Coalition are using experience gained from the Ukraine war to refine their own drone technologies. (Photo by Takayuki Tanaka)
Interview

Latvia invites Japan into coalition supporting Ukraine drones

Latvian foreign minister says Tokyo could offer nonlethal units in war serving as tech testbed

The five Liberal Democratic Party leaders competing to replace Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba appear so far to lack the fresh thinking needed in a shifting world order.
Comment

LDP candidates need to discuss Japan's place in a global context

Opposition parties must also contribute to shaping national policies

22 September 2025
After a two-month policy vacuum, the new leader of the Liberal Democratic Party is likely to focus on moving the legislative agenda forward instead of contemplating a snap general election. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai) 
Japan leadership race

Japan ruling party kicks off leadership race: 5 things to know

Election of LDP leader likely to become PM, with coalition expansion in mind

22 September 2025
People play games at the Tokyo Game Show in Chiba prefecture on Sept. 26, 2024. This year's edition will feature over 1,100 exhibitors -- the largest number ever. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
Your Week in Asia

LDP presidential race, ASEAN economy meeting, Tokyo Game Show

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

21 September 2025
Shinjiro Koizumi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 20 about running in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan leadership race

Who is Japan's Shinjiro Koizumi?

Reformist LDP minister and former leader's son could be youngest postwar PM

20 September 2025
The U.S. Navy's nuclear-powered submarines can travel faster and stay submerged for longer than their diesel-fueled counterparts in Japan. (Photo by Ryo Nakamura)
Defense

Nuclear submarines shouldn't be ruled out for Japan, defense panel says

Proposals stress sub-launched long-range missiles for China deterrence

20 September 2025
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japan will hold off on recognizing a Palestinian state at this year's U.N. General Assembly. (Photo by Kana Baba)
International relations

Japan plans not to recognize Palestinian state for now: foreign minister

Iwaya says it is not a matter of whether to make the move, but when

19 September 2025
Bank of Japan's decision follows the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday lowering interest rates in a stalling job market.
Bank of Japan

BOJ chief strikes cautious tone despite some board members urging rate hike

Gov. Ueda says tariff impacts need monitoring; selling off ETFs over course of 100-plus years

19 September 2025
Sanae Takaichi speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18 about running in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Japan leadership race

Who is Sanae Takaichi? The politician aiming to be Japan's first female PM

LDP leadership contender is a fiscal dove who was close to late PM Shinzo Abe

19 September 2025
Moviegoers line up to watch "731" at a cinema in Zaozhuang, in China's Shandong province, on Sept. 18.
Media & Entertainment

Chinese film '731' on Japan WWII unit pulls in $42m on opening day

Account of biological weapons program off to strong start but draws mixed reviews

19 September 2025
Geetanjali Kirloskar, co-chair of the Japan Council at the Confederation of Indian Industry, speaks at the Nikkei India-Japan Economy and Investment Forum in Bengaluru on Sept. 18. (Photo by Satoshi Iwaki)
International relations

Trade wars boosting India-Japan cooperation, business lobby figure says

Drive for 'self-reliance' is growing, Confederation of Indian Industry rep tells Nikkei event

19 September 2025
Container ships sit at the Chinese port of Qingdao. China has been exporting goods it cannot sell domestically amid a demand slump.
Trade

Japan's antidumping probes hit new high as China glut persists

Overproduction leads to South Korea, Taiwan redirecting goods normally sold to China

19 September 2025
Fences marked "traffic control" block off the Japanese school in Shenzhen on Sept. 18, the anniversary of the fatal stabbing of a student. (Photo by Shizuka Tanabe)
International relations

Japanese school in Shenzhen remains on alert a year after stabbing

Students stop using distinctive Japanese backpacks for fear of attacks

19 September 2025
Top contenders in the LDP leadership race are, from left, former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi, Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Tomoki Mera, Uichiro Kasai, Satoko Kawasaki, Akira Kodaka and Akitoshi Sugiura)
Japan leadership race

Japan's fiscal health in the spotlight as LDP leadership race heats up

Bond yields rise as tax-cut talk coincides with higher spending demands

18 September 2025
Sanae Takaichi, a veteran Japanese lawmaker and fiscal dove, speaks to reporters in Tokyo on Sept. 18 about running in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party leadership race. 
Japan leadership race

Japanese veteran lawmaker Takaichi says will run in LDP leadership race

Politician seen as a vocal proponent of government stimulus, monetary easing

18 September 2025
From left: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stand together at the start of their meeting of the Quad in Washington on July 1.
Opinion

This is how the Quad dies ... again

If the partnership does end, it would rack up yet another win for China

18 September 2025
Candidates to lead Japan's Liberal Democratic Party look to consolidate and expand support beyond their usual bases ahead of the LDP's Oct. 4 presidential election. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Nikkei)
Japan leadership race

Japan's LDP leadership hopefuls cast wider net for votes

Shinjiro Koizumi taps conservative finance minister Kato as campaign manager

17 September 2025
Stephane Sejourne, the European Commission's executive vice president for prosperity and industrial strategy, speaks with Nikkei in Tokyo on Sept. 16. (Photo by Seiko Ota)
Interview

Japan, EU should jointly develop rare earths in Greenland: senior EU official

Stephane Sejourne says European bloc will create own plan for deregulation

17 September 2025
After Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's departure, Japan will end up with its fifth leader since 2020. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
Comment

Japan's next leader must end nearsighted voter-pleasing policies

New prime minister must confront long-term domestic, diplomatic challenges

16 September 2025
Malaysian military personnel undergo training from Japanese counterparts in how to use drones that will be donated to the Southeast Asian nation as part of Tokyo's Official Security Assistance program 
Politics

Japan to donate ships, drones to Malaysia under security assistance program

Move is part of Tokyo's efforts to counter Chinese activity in South China Sea

15 September 2025
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi answers questions at a press conference on Sept. 4. (Photo by Ken Suzuki)
Japan leadership race

LDP heavyweight Hayashi to formally join party leadership race on Tuesday

Chief cabinet secretary expected to win support from former Kishida faction members

15 September 2025
Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, far right, meets with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, far left, at the Prime Minister's Office in July. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai)
International relations

Japan to aid Papua's disaster preparedness, countering China influence

Tokyo hopes to strengthening ties by providing heavy machinery

14 September 2025
Japan is experiencing a tourism boom that has helped lift demand for rice. (Photo by Hiromasa Matsuura)
Agriculture

Japan upgrades rice demand forecast, thanks in part to hungry tourists

Farm ministry was underestimating consumption of staple crop

13 September 2025
Sanseito leader Sohei Kamiya, left, has adopted anti-globalist rhetoric similar to that used by U.S. President Donald Trump. (Source photos by Kyodo and Reuters)
Politics

Trump's MAGA finds ready allies in Japanese-First Sanseito party

Activist Charlie Kirk connected with like minds in right-wing party during Asia trip

13 September 2025
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last met in Tokyo in August.
Japan-South Korea ties

Japan PM Ishiba eyes September South Korea visit before resigning

Embattled leader looks to ensure continuation of good relations

12 September 2025
Left to right: Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Shigeru Ishiba and K.P. Sharma Oli. These three prime ministers being forced to cut their terms short and step down shows the instability of Asia's "revolving-door" leadership. (Source photos by Suzu Takahashi, Koji Uema and Reuters)
12 September 2025
Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi looks set to take on former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and others in the LDP leadership election to be held on Oct. 4. (Photo by Ryo Nemoto)
Japan leadership race

Japan farm minister Koizumi intends to run for LDP presidency: sources

A victory for former prime minister's son would likely make him nation's next leader

12 September 2025
A smokestack emits exhaust at a liquefied natural gas power plant in the Japanese city of Sodegaura. (Photo by Konosuke Urata)
Climate Change

China, India among those yet to submit new emissions targets as COP30 looms

Four-fifths of climate pact nations still haven't turned in goals for 2035

12 September 2025
Japan's first large-scale, commercial wind farm off the coast of Akita prefecture. The government has moved to help operators of such projects. (Photo by Masayuki Kozono)
Energy

Japan offers more aid to offshore wind after Mitsubishi Corp. withdrawal

Tokyo to grant extended usage periods to lift profitability amid rising costs

12 September 2025