The Japan Times
@japantimes.co.jp
News, features and commentary from the oldest (est. 1897) and most widely read English-language media outlet in Japan.
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JT staff on Bluesky: https://jtim.es/bskysp
Our newsletters: https://jtime.es/newsletters
Elsewhere: jtim.es/m/social
Pinned
One woman’s wedding to a chatbot reflects a quiet shift in how intimacy, commitment and companionship are starting to be redefined in Japan. 👉 ebx.sh/Qj5Vgh
Improper DNA analyses by a former employee at the police department of Saga Prefecture may have influenced investigations in 19 cases, the National Police Agency said in a report.
Improper DNA analyses may have affected Saga police probes in 19 cases
A total of 643 cases handled by a former employee from 2015 to 2024 are currently being investigated by the NPA.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Improper DNA analyses by a former employee at the police department of Saga Prefecture may have influenced investigations in 19 cases, the National Police Agency said in a report.
Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper, authorities said Friday, in a move likely to further heighten tensions with Beijing.
Japan seizes Chinese fishing vessel, arrests captain
The incident happened inside Japan’s exclusive economic zone off Nagasaki Prefecture, 165 kilometers south-southwest of the island of Meshima.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Japanese authorities seized a Chinese fishing boat and arrested its skipper, authorities said Friday, in a move likely to further heighten tensions with Beijing.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the IOC's decision to ban Vladyslav Heraskevych for refusing to ditch a helmet depicting victims of the war with Russia plays "into the hands of aggressors."
Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasts IOC after Ukrainian banned for helmet honoring war victims
The International Olympic Committee said Heraskevych had failed 'to adhere to the IOC athlete expression guidelines.'
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 5:57 AM
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the IOC's decision to ban Vladyslav Heraskevych for refusing to ditch a helmet depicting victims of the war with Russia plays "into the hands of aggressors."
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has shelved a number of key tech security measures aimed at Beijing ahead of an April meeting between the two countries’ presidents.
Trump pauses China tech bans ahead of Xi summit
The measures include a ban on China Telecom’s U.S. operations and restrictions on sales of Chinese equipment for U.S. data centers.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 5:24 AM
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has shelved a number of key tech security measures aimed at Beijing ahead of an April meeting between the two countries’ presidents.
U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to end his unprecedented and hotly protested deportation surge in Minnesota, White House border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday.
Trump is ending deportation surge in Minnesota, White House border czar says
It was a rare retreat by the U.S. president that came after even some fellow Republicans raised questions about the operation.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 4:54 AM
U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to end his unprecedented and hotly protested deportation surge in Minnesota, White House border czar Tom Homan said on Thursday.
In what was widely billed as a showdown between Canadian Mikael Kingsbury and Japan's Ikuma Horishima, it was Australia's Cooper Woods who emerged from an epic men's mogul final with Olympic gold.
Horishima settles for bronze in epic men's moguls final
Horishima was forced to settle for bronze for the second straight Olympics.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 4:04 AM
In what was widely billed as a showdown between Canadian Mikael Kingsbury and Japan's Ikuma Horishima, it was Australia's Cooper Woods who emerged from an epic men's mogul final with Olympic gold.
One woman’s wedding to a chatbot reflects a quiet shift in how intimacy, commitment and companionship are starting to be redefined in Japan. 👉 ebx.sh/Qj5Vgh
February 13, 2026 at 3:46 AM
One woman’s wedding to a chatbot reflects a quiet shift in how intimacy, commitment and companionship are starting to be redefined in Japan. 👉 ebx.sh/Qj5Vgh
Fish markets, barbershops and corner stores — student-led DJ project Login.jp brings club sounds into Japan’s everyday spaces.
Login.jp spotlights everyday Japan, one DJ set at a time
The student-led project brings club sounds into fish markets, barbershops and corner stores, reframing everyday Japan through music.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Fish markets, barbershops and corner stores — student-led DJ project Login.jp brings club sounds into Japan’s everyday spaces.
Today's top headlines:
February 13, 2026 at 3:23 AM
Today's top headlines:
Season Two of “Drops of God” abandons easy sympathy, turning its once-lovable underdog siblings into something messier, darker and more compelling.
Season Two of 'Drops of God' offers a dark swirl of sibling drama
In its second season, “Drops of God” shows that characters don’t need to be likable to be compelling.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Season Two of “Drops of God” abandons easy sympathy, turning its once-lovable underdog siblings into something messier, darker and more compelling.
PayPay, Japan's largest mobile payment service, has filed for an IPO in the United States and a Nasdaq listing.
PayPay files for U.S. IPO and Nasdaq listing
The biggest mobile payments service in Japan is also seeking to expand its business in the U.S.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 2:54 AM
PayPay, Japan's largest mobile payment service, has filed for an IPO in the United States and a Nasdaq listing.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may visit South Korea in March to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, sources have said.
Takaichi may visit South Korea in March
The leaders of Japan and South Korea are expected to confirm the stable development of bilateral relations, which have been improving.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi may visit South Korea in March to hold talks with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, sources have said.
Rising South Korean star Choi Gaon bounced back from a brutal fall to fly past two-time defending Olympic champion Chloe Kim and win gold in the women's halfpipe, with Japan's Mitsuki Ono taking bronze.
South Korea's Choi dethrones halfpipe star Kim as Ono takes bronze
Choi bounced back from a brutal fall in her first run to triumph over the two-time defending Olympic champion.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Rising South Korean star Choi Gaon bounced back from a brutal fall to fly past two-time defending Olympic champion Chloe Kim and win gold in the women's halfpipe, with Japan's Mitsuki Ono taking bronze.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration made its most sweeping climate policy rollback to date by revoking a scientific finding that underpins U.S. climate regulations.
Trump revokes basis of U.S. climate regulation and ends vehicle emission standards
It is the most sweeping climate policy rollback to date, after a string of regulatory cuts and other moves intended to unfetter fossil fuel development.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 2:27 AM
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration made its most sweeping climate policy rollback to date by revoking a scientific finding that underpins U.S. climate regulations.
A spotlight has fallen on Prudential Life Insurance’s fully commission-based remuneration system, which is thought to have been a factor that led some of its employees to commit fraud over more than three decades. 👉 ebx.sh/QLrSjD
February 13, 2026 at 2:06 AM
A spotlight has fallen on Prudential Life Insurance’s fully commission-based remuneration system, which is thought to have been a factor that led some of its employees to commit fraud over more than three decades. 👉 ebx.sh/QLrSjD
Sandwich lunches need not be a boring affair. Whip up a scrumptious Nagasaki shrimp toast that is packed with umami. 👉 ebx.sh/GPveDe
February 13, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Sandwich lunches need not be a boring affair. Whip up a scrumptious Nagasaki shrimp toast that is packed with umami. 👉 ebx.sh/GPveDe
A serial killer undergoes various transformations to get closer to his victims in “Sai: Disaster.”
‘Sai: Disaster’: Evil has no clear shape or meaning
Directed by Yutaro Seki and Kentaro Hirase, the chilling thriller centered on a shapeshifting killer is more interested in mood than motive.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 12:57 AM
A serial killer undergoes various transformations to get closer to his victims in “Sai: Disaster.”
Commentary: The Epstein scandal endures because it reinforces public belief that wealthy elites operate with impunity through powerful global networks that shield them from consequences.
Epstein saga confirms fears of a class above the law
The word ‘impunity’ is the key to understanding the power of this sickening sex-trafficking scandal.
ebx.sh
February 13, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Commentary: The Epstein scandal endures because it reinforces public belief that wealthy elites operate with impunity through powerful global networks that shield them from consequences.
Despite the rapidly greying, shrinking population of blademakers in Japan, their fine steel swords known as katana are amassing a new generation of fans, particularly younger women, on the back of pop culture. 👉 ebx.sh/Hni7md
February 12, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Despite the rapidly greying, shrinking population of blademakers in Japan, their fine steel swords known as katana are amassing a new generation of fans, particularly younger women, on the back of pop culture. 👉 ebx.sh/Hni7md
After months of hesitation, the Japan Innovation Party is set to join Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet, tightening coalition ties and signaling a shift to shared responsibility. 👉 ebx.sh/vo8UpV
February 12, 2026 at 10:59 PM
After months of hesitation, the Japan Innovation Party is set to join Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s Cabinet, tightening coalition ties and signaling a shift to shared responsibility. 👉 ebx.sh/vo8UpV
Commentary: Sanae Takaichi’s election victory is boosting regional support for a stronger Japan as Asian countries seek stability amid U.S. unpredictability and rising Chinese pressure, even as Beijing views her leadership warily.
Most in Asia want a stronger Japanese security presence — except for China
A more confident Tokyo complicates Beijing’s preferred regional order. For many of Asia’s middle powers, that makes Japan an appealing counterweight.
ebx.sh
February 12, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Commentary: Sanae Takaichi’s election victory is boosting regional support for a stronger Japan as Asian countries seek stability amid U.S. unpredictability and rising Chinese pressure, even as Beijing views her leadership warily.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election win saw a largely positive initial response from investors. But they remain wary of another market meltdown over her expansive spending plans. 👉 ebx.sh/V0j1Vj
February 12, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election win saw a largely positive initial response from investors. But they remain wary of another market meltdown over her expansive spending plans. 👉 ebx.sh/V0j1Vj
The Pentagon is pushing the top AI companies to make their artificial-intelligence tools available on classified networks without many of the standard restrictions that the companies apply to users.
Pentagon pushing AI companies to expand on classified networks, sources say
It is the latest development in talks between the Pentagon and top AI companies over how the U.S. will use AI on a future battlefield.
ebx.sh
February 12, 2026 at 6:14 PM
The Pentagon is pushing the top AI companies to make their artificial-intelligence tools available on classified networks without many of the standard restrictions that the companies apply to users.
Japan's producer price index, which measures the costs of goods traded between companies, rose 2.3% in January from a year earlier due to higher rice and copper prices, but slowed from a 2.4% gain the previous month.
Japan producer prices rose 2.3% in January, BOJ reports
The pace of increase in the producer price index, which measures the costs of goods traded between companies, slowed from a 2.4% gain the previous month.
ebx.sh
February 12, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Japan's producer price index, which measures the costs of goods traded between companies, rose 2.3% in January from a year earlier due to higher rice and copper prices, but slowed from a 2.4% gain the previous month.
Commentary: The Epstein scandal endures because it reinforces public belief that wealthy elites operate with impunity through powerful global networks that shield them from consequences.
Epstein saga confirms fears of a class above the law
The word ‘impunity’ is the key to understanding the power of this sickening sex-trafficking scandal.
ebx.sh
February 12, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Commentary: The Epstein scandal endures because it reinforces public belief that wealthy elites operate with impunity through powerful global networks that shield them from consequences.