News

Japan news from Japan Times

• Japan’s household spending drops for first time in three months

  The drop, ahead of sweeping tariffs announced by the U.S., was led by falling outlays on clothes and footwear, housing and food.

• S&P 500 suffers worst drop since COVID as tariffs rattle traders

  The S&P 500 Index sank 4.8% — its biggest drop since June 2020 — to enter a technical correction again following a brutal global rout in markets from Tokyo to London.

• Dodgers look almost unbeatable after latest heroics from Shohei Ohtani

  Shohei Ohtani's walk-off home run on Wednesday night in Los Angeles lifted the Dodgers to a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Braves.

• Trump open to tariff cuts in return for ‘phenomenal’ offers

  "The tariffs give us great power to negotiate,” Trump said, adding that "every country has called us.”

• Israeli leader Netanyahu applauds Hungary's ICC exit on Budapest visit

  Hungary has rejected the idea of arresting the Israeli prime minister and has called the warrant "brazen."

• Japan's government warns Fuji TV over handling of scandal

  Dalton Investments, a major shareholder in Fuji Media, said Thursday that it has demanded the resignation of executives at the media group over the scandal.

• Trump presidency a key concern for Southeast Asia, survey shows

  Trump took third place at 46.9% in top concerns for Southeast Asians, according to a ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey published Thursday.

• Authors hold London protest against Meta for 'stealing' work to train AI

  Writer Gail Renard explained the situation by saying, "If you stole a diamond ring there'd be consequences and there has to be consequences."

Asia/Pacific news from Japan Times

• Trump presidency a key concern for Southeast Asia, survey shows

  Trump took third place at 46.9% in top concerns for Southeast Asians, according to a ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute survey published Thursday.

• South Korea's impeached President Yoon faces court ruling to decide his fate

  The court is scheduled to deliver its ruling at 11 a.m. in a nationally televised session.

• Myanmar quake toll tops 3,000 as weather poses threat for rescuers

  Rains will add to the challenges faced by aid and rescue groups, which have called for access to all affected areas despite the strife of civil war.

• With U.S. absent, China steps in for earthquake-hit Myanmar

  The American absence shows how U.S. President Donald Trump's moves to slash the size of the government has hobbled its ability to act during disasters.

• North Korean IT warriors push to infiltrate European firms

  North Korean IT workers have historically focused on infiltrating companies in the U.S.

• China ends two days of military drills with simulated strikes on Taiwan ports and energy sites

  The large-scale exercises prompted scathing criticism from the U.S. that China was fueling tensions in the region.

• Myanmar's deadly earthquake brings diplomatic payoff for junta chief

  The disaster opens up diplomatic channels closed to the junta for four years after it ousted an elected government in 2021 to unleash a brutal civil war.

• Scores hospitalized after huge fire at gas pipeline in Malaysia

  Authorities said the blaze in the town of Puchong, on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur, had been extinguished by midafternoon.

Culture news from Japan Times

• Authors hold London protest against Meta for 'stealing' work to train AI

  Writer Gail Renard explained the situation by saying, "If you stole a diamond ring there'd be consequences and there has to be consequences."

• ‘Unreachable’: An attractive but half-baked fantasy

  The combined talents of Suzu Hirose, Hana Sugisaki and Kaya Kiyohara can’t save this flimsy fantasy drama.

• Haruki Murakami TV adaptation revisits 30 years of watershed moments

  NHK's new four-episode miniseries, “After the Quake,” probes the ripple effects of past major disasters across Japanese society.

• AI may be coming for anime, but Hayao Miyazaki is irreplaceable, son says

  Goro Miyazaki says that though nothing can replicate the depth of his father's work, new technology brings "great potential for unexpected talent to emerge."

• ‘Let’s Meet at Angie’s Bar’: A granny like none other

  Acting veteran Mitsuko Kusabue brings wisdom and wit to Yurugu Matsumoto’s lighter-than-air comedy.

• Nintendo announces Legend of Zelda film for 2027

  Nintendo made the announcement on "Nintendo Today!", a new app for fans that was launched on Thursday.

• Yuki Tejima's metamorphosis from bookworm to literary translator

  An Instagram “bookfluencer” and professional translator for over 10 years, Tejima’s love of books was, strangely enough, a hurdle to working in literary translation.

• Cherry blossom-themed art to see this weekend in Tokyo

  With the cherry blossoms’ ephemeral beauty immortalized in art and literature for centuries, there's plenty of artworks to gaze upon on rainy days.

Sports news from Japan Times

• Dodgers look almost unbeatable after latest heroics from Shohei Ohtani

  Shohei Ohtani's walk-off home run on Wednesday night in Los Angeles lifted the Dodgers to a dramatic 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Braves.

• Five drivers to watch at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix

  From Lewis Hamilton to Yuki Tsunoda, here are five of the drivers to keep an extra close eye at this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

• Alex Ovechkin moves within two goals of Wayne Gretzky's record

  Gretzky's record of 894 goals is a mark that was once thought to be unapproachable.

• Yuki Tsunoda feeling relaxed ahead of blockbuster Red Bull debut 

  The veteran of 89 Formula One races appeared at ease in his new colors, exuding the quiet confidence that he’s had since making his debut in the series in 2021.

• Manchester City's Jack Grealish dedicates long-awaited goal to late brother

  Grealish's goal came on the 25th anniversary of the death of his younger brother Keelan, who died at the age of just nine months.

• Shohei Ohtani hits walk-off homer as unbeaten Dodgers make history

  The Dodgers became the first defending champion to open a season 8-0.

• Michael Johnson's ambitious Grand Slam Track series prepares for first event

  The circuit gets under way in Kingston on Friday.

• LIV Golf stars look ahead to Masters

  "It's almost a religious experience every time you set foot on Augusta National," said Phil Mickelson.

Life news from Japan Times

• Nintendo to launch the Switch 2 on June 5

  The gaming giant's newest console will retail for ¥49,980 for its Japanese-only version and ¥69,980 for multilingual and multiregion support.

• The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan

  A growing industry quietly erases the final traces of those who die alone, exposing deep societal fractures.

• The cold complexity of 'pure' Japanese cocktail ice

  To some Japanese bartenders, the secret to a great cocktail lies not just in the mixologist's skills but also the quality of the ice.

• Feast your eyes on 'The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking'

  In “The Complete Illustrated Guide to Japanese Cooking,” Sachiyo Harada has put together an uncomplicated book that appeals to both home cooks and seasoned chefs.

• Traveling the Three-Star Road, the tourist route made from thin air

  Linking mountainous Matsumoto and coastal Kanazawa, this clunkily named route includes nonetheless fantastic sites.

• 'Better than real life': In China, virtual boyfriends are emotional aids

  For many, virtual companions offer more than entertainment — they provide emotional fulfilment.

• Michelin awards stars to 172 restaurants in Kyoto and Osaka

  Ten restaurants join the two-starred rank, while Milpa earns Japan’s first-ever star for Mexican cuisine.

• New York's Brooklyn Kura becomes first U.S. sake exporter to Japan

  The brewer’s initial exports are “relatively small,” but it hopes drinkers in Japan are "open to trying" American-made sake.

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