Tag Archives: japan

Fumio Kishida set to be new Japanese PM after winning party election

Former foreign minister to become PM following face off against vaccination minister Taro Kono Fumio Kishida, a former foreign minister with a reputation as a consensus builder, is set to become Japan’s prime minister after winning the ruling Liberal Democratic party’s presidential election in a runoff against the vaccination minister, Taro Kono. The LDP-led coalition […]

Tokyo Rose review – fiery musical revolves around radio DJ’s fight for justice

Southwark Playhouse, LondonIva Toguri’s trial for treason, accused of broadcasting Japanese propaganda to American troops, forms the backbone of this production This real-life story of Iva Toguri tells of an innocent young woman caught in the tangle of historical and wartime bigotries. Toguri, who came to be known as “Tokyo Rose”, was an American citizen […]

Fumio Kishida: a ‘safe pair of hands’ for Japan’s ruling party

Analysis: Election result marks return of pragmatic and centrist policies, spearheaded by a decent, if unexciting, leader Japan’s governing Liberal Democratic party [LDP] has chosen stability and moderation in electing Fumio Kishida as its new leader – a post that all but guarantees that he will become the country’s prime minister on Monday. Kishida, like […]

Meera Sodha’s vegan recipe for black rice congee | The new vegan

A rice porridge comfort dish, popular across all of south-east Asia, served with mushrooms for bite and pickles for sharpness Most roads to comfort, for me at least, end up in a bowl of rice – and I’m not the only one. Congee is a centuries-old comfort dish that’s made across south-east Asia. From India’s […]

Japan urges Europe to speak out against China’s military expansion

Exclusive: in the first piece in a new Guardian series on China and tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Japan’s defence minister says the international community must bolster deterrence efforts against Beijing’s military Japan has urged European countries to speak out against China’s aggression, warning that the international community must bolster deterrence efforts against Beijing’s military and […]

How Japan is making 1 million tonnes of radioactive water safe – video

Since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, more than 1m tonnes of radioactive water has been building up at the power plant in central Japan. Soon the plant will run out of space to store the water, which is a big problem. The plan at the moment is to dump it all in the sea. So […]

Outgoing Japanese PM backs vaccine minister Tara Kono as successor – report

Yoshihide Suga understood to want social media-savvy 58-year-old to take over, according to local media Japan’s outgoing prime minister Yoshihide Suga will back Taro Kono, the popular minister in charge of the country’s vaccination rollout, as his successor, according to reports. Suga announced on Friday that he will not run for leader of the ruling […]

10 of the best things to do in the Azores

Now on the UK’s travel green list, the Portuguese archipelago offers stunning volcanic landscapes and its own delicious cuisine, wines and even coffee The Azores archipelago (Açores in Portuguese) lies about 1,000 miles west of mainland Europe and is made up of nine volcanic islands: São Miguel (the largest), São Jorge, Terceira, Pico, Faial, Ilha […]

Strides made but stigmas remain: Japan hesitant in embracing Paralympics

Viewing figures and television scheduling show historical attitudes to disability in Japan may be improving but not quickly enough When the Tokyo Paralympics opened on 24 August, the Japanese capital became the first city to host the Games twice. The first official Paralympics were held in Rome in 1960 and the second after the 1964 […]

Afghanistan duo arrive in Tokyo for Paralympics after Kabul evacuation

Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli went to Japan via Paris ‘We never gave up hope’, says IPC president Andrew Parsons Afghanistan athletes Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli will take part in the Tokyo Paralympics after being safely evacuated from Kabul. The pair looked set to miss the event following the Taliban’s return to power in […]

Resilience and perseverance prepare to take stage at Tokyo Paralympics | Paul MacInnes

Athletic talent and relentlessly compelling human stories will be at the heart of a Games that has a rhythm all of its own “Any athlete you talk to, they have resilience,” said Shahrad Nasajpour during a press briefing in Tokyo on Monday. “Part of it comes from the athletic background, so any athlete you talk […]

A Paralympian’s long journey to Tokyo

In 2012, Sophie Carrigill was a complete beginner at wheelchair basketball. Now she’s going to Japan with real hopes of a gold medal – and inspiring a new generation of athletes Sophie Carrigill has played wheelchair basketball all over the world for Team GB. She’s been an Olympic torchbearer, won a string of medals and […]

Japan’s economy bounces back as Covid restrictions ease

Economic output defies expectations to expand in Q2 – but analysts warn of contraction risk Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Japan’s economy recovered strongly in the second quarter to join the turnaround seen across G7 countries as the easing of lockdown restrictions sent consumers rushing to the shops. Beating the expectations […]

Million urged to seek shelter as floods and landslides hit Japan

Authorities in Hiroshima and northern Kyushu issue evacuation alert amid unprecedented rainfall More than a million people have been urged to seek shelter as torrential rain triggered floods and landslides in western Japan, leaving at least one dead and two missing. Authorities in Hiroshima and the northern part of Kyushu issued their highest evacuation alert […]

The Olympics proved the IOC will do anything to save face. But we still love the Games | Race Imboden

The Olympic experience in Tokyo was hard on us athletes, run by an organization that cares little for us as individuals. But we still dream The Tokyo Olympics were set to be one of the greatest Games ever held. As a fan of Japan and its culture, I was looking forward to these Games more […]

Economic recovery from Covid ‘running out of steam’ – OECD

Data collected from 38 member countries says UK among the major economies now in the slow lane Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The world’s major economies have seen their rapid recovery after easing Covid restrictions begin to run out of steam in the past month as a resurgence in the virus […]

Tokyo 2020 Olympics briefing: farewell and arigato to Japan

Sign up here and receive the Tokyo 2020 daily briefing Today in a nutshell: a dominant marathon display from Eliud Kipchoge, final day gold success for Team GB and for Ireland, the USA’s climb to the top of the medal table, and a closing ceremony that simply said “Thank you”. Tomorrow’s key moments: that hollow […]

Tokyo says goodbye to the Games with grace and sense of relief | Barney Ronay

Japan’s Olympics has been troubled but quietly glorious, reminding us the world can be fun Farewell then, Tokyo 2020. On a sweltering night at the Olympic Stadium, Japan said goodbye to its troubled, quietly glorious Games with a closing ceremony that was by turns elegant, sombre and hilariously unbound. Not to mention, in the grand […]

Japan shrugs at name-and-shame policy amid Covid fatigue and changing norms

Social pressure and group mores have become less powerful as people become tired of staying home See all our coronavirus coverage The Japanese government has named three people this week who broke quarantine rules after returning from overseas in an attempt to shame others into complying with anti-virus measures. The authorities are hoping to tap […]

‘It’s like a dream’: Sky Brown delights in Olympic medal a year after horror crash

Skateboard bronze medallist aged 13 fractured skull in 2020 ‘I’m going to try surfing,’ says Brown on 2024 Olympics plans What do you say when you’ve just become the youngest person ever to win an Olympic medal for Great Britain? For Sky Brown, the extraordinarily gifted kid who won bronze in the women’s park skateboarding, […]

The lobbying push that killed off a fight to save the Great Barrier Reef

The successful campaign to keep the Great Barrier Reef off Unesco’s ‘in danger’ list has been greeted with dismay – and gloom about the reef’s chance of recovery. Graham Readfearn explains the fierce global effort to deny the impact of the climate crisis on a prized natural asset. This episode includes explicit language The Great […]

Tokyo review – lust and loneliness in Japan’s pleasure quarters

Ashmolean Museum, OxfordA seductive encounter with past and present at the Olympic city shows that Tokyo practically invented modern art Love hotels and cross-dressers make Tokyo’s nightlife eye-popping – and that’s just in 18th-century woodblock prints. The Ashmolean’s seductive overview of the Olympic city’s art sets these classics alongside images of contemporary Tokyo to create […]

Japan’s golden day at Olympics softens mood of Covid misgivings

Host country sets aside its concerns – at least for now – to cheer wins in judo and skateboarding Two days of Olympic sport in Tokyo have created a moral dilemma for millions of people in the host country who had hoped the day would never come when Japan’s athletes would win their first gold […]

Celtic will not make fortunes from Japan with Furuhashi – it’s a myth

Attacker’s signing sparked more talk about the Asian market but even he succeeds few Japanese will rush to buy a club shirt The idea that Asian players are signed for commercial reasons should be a bit noughties. There was much talk of Junichi Inamoto making millions for Arsenal when the Japanese midfielder arrived in 2001 […]

Ellen White’s flash of subtle brilliance lights up Team GB’s sluggish display | Barney Ronay

Hege Riise’s best finisher, who scored the winner against Japan, has hit top form at exactly the right time at the Tokyo Olympics For long periods in Sapporo, as this Group E game between Japan and Team GB meandered and sagged at the edges, Ellen White did very little of note. White moved into useful […]

Surreal spectacle of a superbly set up Olympics with no one here to enjoy it | Andy Bull

Covid scandals, beach volleyball played to crickets and Japan’s gymnastics king bowed out in silence as the Games began And it all started so smoothly, too. A frictionless dawn trip through the Olympic labyrinth, navigating all those buses and badges and scans and forms and apps and depots and checkpoints, two temperature checks, a ticketing […]

Naomi Osaka provides spark at subdued opening of Tokyo Olympics

Ceremony began as the most downbeat in Olympic history but finished in spectacular fashion Tokyo Olympics – live updates Amid the darkness of the Tokyo skyline, a moment of hope and raging illumination. After nearly four hours of an opening ceremony that veered from the sombre to the spectacular, the Olympic flame was passed to […]

Living legends and young pretenders: Olympians expected to shine in Tokyo

Dominant figures in their chosen sports will aim for more glory in Japan while new events will help to create fresh global stars Biles is more than an athlete. She is one of the Olympic movement’s brightest stars of all time: a role model away from her sport and, inside the arena, a gymnast who […]