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July 02, 2026
 

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BUDGETS

An artist's rendering of the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate
WORLD
Nov 26, 2025
U.S. Navy cuts orders for frigate Trump once touted as ‘beautiful’
The Navy is reducing its orders for the Constellation-class frigate to two from six, and even those two will remain under review.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has said that overall new bond issuance for this year will remain below last year’s level, even with the announcement of the largest round of extra spending since the easing of pandemic restrictions.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 26, 2025
Sanae Takaichi seeks to fund stimulus without spooking markets
The prime minister last week unveiled Japan’s largest round of extra spending since the easing of pandemic restrictions.
Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama (left) and U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during a meeting in Tokyo on Oct. 27. Katayama seemed dismissive of concerns that the new “Office for Administrative Reform and Promotion of Efficiency” would cause widespread havoc similar to that seen in the United States.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 25, 2025
Japan gets its own bureau of government efficiency, but no Elon Musk in sight
Concerns of DOGE-like chaos were dismissed, with the finance minister stressing the importance of cutting back on wasteful spending.
The Cabinet is expected to submit an extra budget bill to finance the package to parliament, which is in session until Dec. 17.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 21, 2025
¥21.3 trillion stimulus package approved by Cabinet
Markets have been volatile amid concern about the plan, which includes ¥17.7 trillion of spending, ¥2.7 trillion in tax breaks and ¥900 billion in special account spending.
The Liberal Democratic Party is planning to add ¥20,000 to child allowances as part of an economic package, LDP policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi has said.
JAPAN
Nov 19, 2025
LDP eyes adding ¥20,000 to child allowances
The addition is expected to require funds totaling ¥400 billion, according to Liberal Democratic Party policy chief Takayuki Kobayashi.
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is reportedly set to propose a stimulus package of about ¥17 trillion.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 18, 2025
Extra-big extra budget pushed by some Japanese lawmakers
Bonds and stocks sink as they ask for an additional $50 billion and say debt might be the answer.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (left) and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby attend a meeting at the Pentagon in Washington on July 21.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 16, 2025
Pentagon No. 3 praises Seoul’s defense budget hike as eyes turn to Tokyo
South Korea has become the first U.S. treaty ally outside of NATO to hike defense spending to 3.5% of GDP — a move expected to impact Japan’s own spending plans.
The Japanese government is mulling an extra budget for the current fiscal year which will be larger than last year’s, according to local media reports.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 15, 2025
Japan plans bigger extra budget this fiscal year, reports say
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government is mulling an extra budget for the current fiscal year which will be larger than last year’s.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a meeting of the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy at the Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 13, 2025
Japan panel members call for extra budget topping ¥14 trillion
Members also urged the government to abandon its goal of achieving a surplus in the primary balance at the central and local governments.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi speaks during a session of the House of Councilors Budget Committee in parliament on Wednesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 12, 2025
Japan to use extra budget to address bear attacks
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on Wednesday that a proposed supplementary budget would include spending to help local governments address attacks by bears.
Officials of the six ruling and opposition parties attend a meeting to discuss scrapping the provisional gasoline tax surcharge, held at the parliament building on Wednesday.
JAPAN
Nov 5, 2025
Search for alternate funding after gas tax abolition to be delayed one year
Abolishing the provisional gasoline tax, which the ruling and opposition parties formally agreed to scrap on Dec. 31, is expected to generate a revenue drop of about ¥1.5 trillion.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi looks on during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers' meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 2, 2025
Koizumi builds ties with partners and airs concerns with China defense chief
The defense minister also said that Tokyo had “identified a concrete demand” for Japanese defense gear from a number of countries.
Volunteers sort donated food items at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's South Los Angeles warehouse on Friday.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 1, 2025
Trump administration cannot suspend food aid benefits, U.S. judges rule
Two federal judges ruled that the administration must use contingency funds to pay for the benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raises her fist as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech in front of U.S. Navy personnel on board the U.S. Navy's USS George Washington aircraft carrier at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Tuesday.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 28, 2025
At first summit with Trump, Takaichi pledges ‘new golden age’ for alliance
The meeting was a crucial test of Takaichi’s diplomatic chops as she seeks to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance while staving off pressure from the U.S. on defense spending.
U.S. President Donald Trump is welcomed by Emperor Naruhito upon his arrival at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Monday evening.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 27, 2025
Trump arrives in Japan for security and trade talks in test for Takaichi
The prime minister will be seeking to build a solid relationship with the U.S. president as she looks to navigate increasing pressure on trade and defense issues.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reacts as East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao greets her during the ASEAN-Japan summit in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 26, 2025
Takaichi’s ‘Trump card’ for meeting U.S. leader? Her relationship with Abe.
Sanae Takaichi’s ties to slain former leader Shinzo Abe are expected to get her off on the right foot with Donald Trump as she aims to navigate defense and trade pressure.
The Pentagon has said it has accepted a $130 million anonymous donation to cover pay for U.S. troops amid the government shutdown.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 25, 2025
Pentagon received $130 million anonymous gift to pay troops
The Pentagon said it received a donation to pay the military amid the government shutdown, but using it would be legally questionable.
Since medical and nursing care services are offered at fixed prices set by the state, many service providers are struggling to cope with rapid inflation and are operating at a loss.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 23, 2025
Balancing medical services and costs will be major challenge for Takaichi
With services offered at fixed prices set by the state, many service providers are struggling to cope with rapid inflation and are operating at a loss.
Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi, who was elected prime minister on Tuesday, holds up a policy agreement with Japan Innovation Party leader Hirofumi Yoshimura after signing the deal at parliament in Tokyo a day earlier.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 21, 2025
On defense policy, Japan’s new ruling bloc packs a lot of punch
The LDP and Japan Innovation Party aim to revise key security documents while eliminating curbs on exporting lethal defense gear and building up Japan’s defense industrial base.
The U.S. Capitol in Washington on Friday. The current government shutdown is the most acute symptom of a general lack of goodwill in Washington, where bipartisan deal-making has increasingly gone out of vogue.
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 12, 2025
Trump layoffs and broken trust harden Democrats’ shutdown stand
Democrats have expressed doubts that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will deliver a health care fix unless forced to do so.
More facilities in Japan placing sanitary bins in men’s restrooms
A sanitary bin with an awareness sticker placed in a men's restroom in the Nagasaki Municipal Government building
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Reform panel calls for easing data center building standards
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized that the government will promote reforms of regulations and systems that fit the artificial intelligence era.
Japan’s fertility system offers few safe paths for same-sex couples
A Tokyo Pride parade participant holds a sign that says "we want to be a married couple, not a couple."
Life inside Japan’s largest prison for women
Western-style rooms spanning the size of four tatami mats with hardwood floors, a toilet and soft mattresses on bed frames are designated for foreign nationals and those with health conditions at Tochigi Prison.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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