Japan
Explore our coverage of Japan’s politics, economics, business and culture, in articles, charts, podcasts and video
Asia in 2025
This is the year Japan will really start to feel its age
Bold reforms and greater honesty are needed
Business
Can Japan’s toilet technology crack global markets?
The leading maker of electronic bidets shows the difficulties facing Japanese companies abroad
Asia
Voters deliver a historic rebuke to Japan’s ruling coalition
But the Liberal Democratic Party may still hang on to power
Asia
Japan is remarkably open to AI, but slow to make use of it
The land of Doraemon embraces the new technology in theory but not in practice
Culture
Why the world is so animated about anime
Japan’s cartoons have conquered its screens, and more
Leaders
Socially liberal and strong on defence, Japan’s new premier shows promise
But he must ditch his more eccentric ideas if he is to control his party
Asia
Japan’s new prime minister is his own party’s sternest critic
This could make it harder for Ishiba Shigeru to govern effectively
Asia
Ishiba Shigeru will become Japan’s next prime minister
The maverick won his fifth bid for leadership of the ruling party
China
Another attack on a Japanese local points to a big problem in China
Has anti-Japanese xenophobia gone too far?
Asia
Who will become Japan’s next prime minister?
The three leading candidates offer very different visions
Asia
Youngsters are fleeing Japan’s once-mighty civil service
Why would anyone sane and talented work for it?
Leaders
How to finish Japan’s business revolution
Tokyo-listed companies have become more friendly to shareholders, but the job is only half-done
Business
Japan’s sleepy companies still need more reform
The country’s corporate-governance crusade has a long way to go