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Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese Behind the 'Conbini' Empire, Has Died. He Was 93.
TOKYO (AP) — Toshifumi Suzuki, the Japanese businessman credited with creating the 7-Eleven convenience-chain global retail empire, has died. He was 93. Suzuki, an honorary adviser at Seven & i Holdings, died on May 18 of heart failure at his Tokyo home, the company said Monday. Suzuki founded the ...
Monkey business: artist chimps paint in their own style, study shows
Several studies conducted in captivity have demonstrated that chimpanzees, like other great apes, enjoy painting and drawing. But new resreach led by French and Japanese primatologists has shown that…
Monkey business: artist chimps paint in their own style, study shows
Several studies conducted in captivity have demonstrated that chimpanzees, like other great apes, enjoy painting and drawing. But new resreach led by French and Japanese primatologists has shown that…
Phillies caught surveying Japanese slugger amid impressive NPB season
The Phillies were caught keeping an eye on Teruaki Sato during a recent scouting trip in Japan.
Famitsu review scores - May 24, 2026 - Yoshi and the Mysterious Book and more
The latest Famitsu review scores for the week of May 24, 2026 are as follows: Yoshi and the Mysterious Book – 9/9/8/9 Coffee Talk Tokyo – 8/8/9/7 Demon Kill Demon: Yomi 1984 – 8/8/8/8 Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered – 8/8/8/8 MotoGP 26 – 8/8/7/8 Trash Goblin – 7/8/8/7 JDM: Japanese Drift Master – 8/7/8/7 Note that for each review,...
Bond breakout? Big effects of bad data. Immigration and thermostatic politics & dad-chat is coming for dad-books.
Thank you for opening your Chartbook email. Anna Airy, A Shell Forge at a National Projectile Factory, Hackney Marshes, London, 1918 Bond breakout - John Authers Across the developed markets, bond markets are staging a slow-motion car wreck. Looking at the drastic moves in the US, Japan, the UK and France, Barclays’ Ajay Rajadhyaksha commented: “Last week, long bonds broke. Not in one country. In all of them. Simultaneously. Four countries. Four different political systems. Four different central banks. But the same trade — “get me out of duration!”” Each country has its own contributing political problems, but the uniformity of the shift out of long-term bonds with high duration makes clear that something broader is afoot. For Rajadhyaksha, it is “simple and uncomfortable.” The developed world “has too much debt, too little fiscal discipline, and no political appetite for fixing either.” If there’s a trigger, it has been the Iran war and the resulting shock to oil supply. Source: Bloomberg G7 countries are now borrowing at rates that were enjoyed by EM in the early 2020s For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Trade between China and Russia has grown in recent years For contributing subscribers only. Subscribe Big effects of bad data A decade ago nearly nine in ten Americans, when approached, agreed to fill out the Current Population Survey, which is administered to about 60,000 households each month and asks about, among other things, employment. Fewer than seven in ten do so now (see chart 1). For the Consumer Expenditure Survey, which tries to capture 3,700 households monthly, the response rate is down from 68% to 40%. … When the information becomes less reliable, investment decisions get more difficult to make. Some may be delayed, creating a potential drag on the economy. A new working paper by Nicholas Bloom of Stanford University, Erica Groshen, former head of the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) now at Cornell University, and Duncan Hobbs and Michael Strain of the American Enterprise Institute, a think-tank, hazards an estimate. Preserving trust in “the integrity and quality of official statistics”, the authors claim, generates economic benefits of about $25 for every $1 spent on the BLS, the agency with an annual budget of $700m that is responsible for many of these data. To arrive at their conclusion the quartet analysed an ignoble episode in the BLS’s recent history. On August 1st 2025 Donald Trump sacked Erika McEntarfer, appointed as the agency’s commissioner by his predecessor, Joe Biden. The president alleged, without evidence, that the BLS’s steep downward revision to recent jobs numbers had been “RIGGED in order to make the Republicans, and ME, look bad”. In fact, it was the wanton dismissal that looked bad in the eyes of many observers. In the following seven days there was a 50% leap, relative to the week before, in the average value of the index of Economic Policy Uncertainty (EPU), which tracks the number of articles mentioning such uncertainty that are published daily in American newspapers. This was a discernible jump even when compared to the chaos caused by Mr Trump’s trade war in April 2025 and his real one in Iran in the past two months (see chart 2). Based on Mr Bloom’s earlier study with other colleagues of the EPU’s impact on business investment, industrial production and employment, the authors estimate that the jump reduced American GDP by over $100bn (0.3%) and non-farm payrolls by 168,000 (0.1%). Source: The Economist Immigration and thermostatic politics (Sarah O’Connor in the FT) A strange thing happened a year and a half ago. No sooner had Americans elected Donald Trump as president on an explicitly anti-immigration platform than US public opinion began to swing much more favourably towards immigration. … to political scientists who study “thermostatic” politics, this development is no surprise at all. Public opinion often moves against the prevailing party, especially if they are perceived to have gone “too far” in one direction. The phenomenon was first explored in the 1990s with reference to fiscal policy, but in recent years it has been particularly evident in the realm of immigration policy. While these swings in opinion polls can make it seem as if people don’t know their own minds, they can be a useful democratic check on governments by sending bright flashing warning lights when policies stray too far from the public’s comfort zone. The problem comes when politicians misinterpret those signals. When people tell pollsters they want less immigration, or think it is bad for the country overall (or the converse), they are often expressing an opinion about how things appear to be going in that moment relative to their preferences, rather than a deep shift in their underlying views. According to Alexander Kustov, a political scientist, most Americans’ views are quite stable and moderate: they support immigration that is controlled and in the national interest, and oppose flows that are disorderly or under-enforced. In the US, he argues the Trump administration over-interpreted dissatisfaction with high immigration under Joe Biden, and implemented policies that went too far for many voters. “People don’t necessarily change their idea about their ideal immigration policy, but they can react to what the government is currently doing,” he told me. “A lot of people are not happy with what the Trump administration are doing — right now we’re not talking about border enforcement, we’re talking about people not just getting harassed, but killed.” But similarly, he added, pro-immigration advocates would be making a mistake to interpret the recent, more favourable swing towards immigration as a deep-seated ideological shift in attitudes. The recent history of UK immigration policy offers another cautionary tale. After the 2016 Brexit referendum, public concern about immigration fell. This was partly because net migration statistics declined, but also because people felt a sense of catharsis and control, says Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think-tank. By 2019, the public ranked immigration as only the ninth biggest issue of concern, according to Ipsos polling. But when the Conservative government liberalised visa routes for students and care workers between 2019 and 2022, that helped net migration to surge. And so, too, did public concern. Today’s Labour government has implemented another sharply restrictive turn in immigration policy. As Kustov and researcher Caitlyn Yates argue, thermostatic public opinion should be a useful check on politicians. Instead it seems to have helped to magnify the pendulum swing in the UK. The government over-interprets and overreacts to a change in public opinion, which reacts in turn, prompting a sudden swing the other way. Source: Financial Times HEY READERS, THANK YOU for opening the Chartbook email. I hope it brightens your day. I enjoy putting out the newsletter, but tbh, what keeps this flow going is the generosity of those readers who clicked the subscription button. If you are persuaded to click, please consider the annual subscription of $50. It is both better value for you and a much better deal for me, as it involves only one credit card charge. Why feed the payments companies if we don’t have to. Subscribe Anna Airy, Shop for Machining 15-Inch Shells: Singer Manufacturing Company, Clydebank, Glasgow, 1918 Racing for a vaccine … we have been here before! The deadly Ebola outbreak in two African countries driven by a virus species with no vaccine has triggered an urgent search for a potential jab, in a test of troubled global efforts to avert threats posed by emerging diseases. A World Health Organization advisory group is due to would meet on Tuesday to recommend candidate jabs to prioritise for clinical trials, the global health body said. It will assess data including an analysis by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi), which was set up after failures in the international response to a previous Ebola crisis. The latest Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda has infected hundreds of people and killed more than 80, health authorities say. Cepi’s reaction will be a crucial indicator of its progress towards its wider goal of producing vaccines for pandemic threats in just 100 days, despite steep cuts to international health funding. “If there was ever a time that we could show the world why Cepi is needed and show the world why the 100-day mission is needed, it’s now,” Nicole Lurie, the organisation’s executive director for preparedness and response, told the FT. “We’re happy to accept that responsibility, but obviously we need help from partners — particularly financial help in the long run.” DR Congo and Uganda would make the final decision on whether to press ahead with any vaccine candidates endorsed for clinical trials by the WHO experts, the global health body said. “Other ethical and community acceptability issues will be considered,” said the WHO, which declared the latest outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. “This will be important to make sure that the trial, if it happens, will be adequately communicated to the population.” Lurie said Cepi had provided information from a survey of research teams and companies working on drugs that might be effective against the Bundibugyo virus behind the outbreak. The organisation hoped soon to announce partners in the quest for a jab, she added, although she declined to give a timescale for when one might be developed. Cepi’s Nicole Laurie said global health bodies were ‘getting some live-fire drills’ with hantavirus and the latest Ebola outbreak. The hunt for a vaccine should be helped by scientific advances including the use of artificial intelligence to find drugs active against viruses, Lurie said. Existing jabs against the Zaire Ebola virus responsible for many previous outbreaks might provide a basis for tackling the Bundibugyo species, she added. “We’ll see how far and how fast we can get,” Lurie said, adding that Cepi had done preliminary work recently on a possible jab for the rat-borne hantavirus responsible for a recent fatal outbreak on a cruise ship. “Both with hantavirus and now with Ebola, [we] are getting some live-fire drills.” Source: Michael Peel in the Financial Times Dad-chat is coming for dad-books. (By Pamela Paul and Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg in the WSJ) They were the go-to gifts for Father’s Day: a book about some little-known chapter of World War II, the sweeping narrative of a shipwreck, perhaps the latest presidential biography. These days, dad books are a dying breed. Nonfiction book sales have been in decline for the past four years, and are now the most challenged segment of the print book market. Publishers say certain types of books still fare well—including celebrity memoirs and religious titles. But in recent years, print sales in such categories as biography, current affairs and business and economics—what publishers refer to as “serious nonfiction” and which tend to resonate especially with men—have fallen considerably. Sales of nonfiction print titles were down nearly 8% through May 9 this year, and sales of books about politics and current affairs were down 19%, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Publishing has long been subject to cyclical changes, with trends in format and genre taking over bookshelves in grand sweeps. (Remember the adult coloring-book craze? Or the stratospheric rise of romantasy?) But many in publishing believe the decline in serious nonfiction is more existential. “The trend couldn’t be clearer,” said Jonathan Karp, the former chief executive of Simon & Schuster and publisher of the new Simon Six imprint. “This is a sea change and people should wake up and realize we’re living in a new world.” One culprit for the shift: a new media diet for fans of more serious nonfiction. … Sixty-two percent of men and 54% of women consumed a podcast in the prior month, according to a recent survey by Edison Research at SSRS, up from 46% and 39%, respectively, in 2023. “When we have internal meetings to talk about this problem, it always comes around to podcasts,” said Jonathan Burnham, president and publisher of the Harper Group at HarperCollins Publishers. “The man who wants to read American history is now tuning into one of the many good podcasts about history that lends the quiet attention to a serious subject he’s looking for. It makes the idea of sitting down with a 700-page Ron Chernow book less appealing. You’ve scratched that itch.” Source: Wall Street Journal Remarkable report by Novara from the nationalist rally in London in mid May. Anna Airy, Leopard Moth and Plums, 1915 If you’ve scrolled this far, you know you want to click: Subscribe
AANHPI Local Business Spotlight
To celebrate AANHPI month, Utah Royals FC players surprised some of their favorite Asian owned businesses with free ticket vouchers to Utah Royals games that customers can claim when they visit. The Japanese quartet of Mina Tanaka, Aria Nagai, Narumi and Miyabi visited Koyote (551 W 400 N, SLC, UT),
Famitsu sales (5/11/26 - 5/17/26) - big Nintendo Switch 2 sales ahead of price increase
The latest Japanese hardware sales from Famitsu are as follows: Switch 2 – 217,922 Switch Lite – 8,303 Switch OLED – 7,804 PS5 Digital Edition – 6,902 Switch – 5,285 PS5 Pro – 1,747 PS5 – 594 Xbox Series X – 193 Xbox Series X Digital Edition – 191 Xbox Series S – 47 For comparison’s sake, here are the...
Pokémon Company In Japan Demands ID Checks To Fight Scalpers
For some reason the same restrictions will also be in place for entering Japanese Pokémon tournaments
Pokemon Japan to Implement Government ID Verification for Pokemon...
To combat scalping, Pokemon Japan has announced that starting around August 2026, customers will need to verify their identity using the government-issued
Foreign business owners face frantic scramble to leave Japan amid tiger visa rules
Stricter criteria for the business manager visa has left many owners, some of whom have been in Japan for decades, out in the cold.
Japan’s immigration politics starves restaurants of workers
Japan’s restaurant sector desperately needs more migrant workers, but the Takaichi government is prioritising nativist politics over economic reality.
First Ingrid match footage released for Street Fighter 6 showcasing what the mystery magical girl is truly capable of in combat
Ingrid's big launch in Street Fighter 6 is now just a week away, and we're getting our best look as to how she'll actually function in the game.A bunch of Japanese publications have just now released ...
Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Sends Shohei Ohtani Message As Concerns Mount
The Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop offered his take on “what’s wrong with Shohei” as the Japanese superstar struggles.
Phillies Japanese Scouting Report Will Fire Fans Up
The Philadelphia Phillies organization has done a lot right over the past few years, but there have also been times when the organization hasn't done what's needed.
Building a Business Around Classic Niche Game Preservation
ININ Games and Strictly Limited discuss retro game preservation, Japanese publishing partnerships, physical collector editions, Neo-Retro indie games, and the evolving business of restoring classic games for modern audiences.
Yomiuri: Japan Post to Strengthen Real Estate Business, Aims for Top 10 Rank Among General Developers
Japan Post Holdings Co. announced Friday its policy to strengthen its real estate business in a new medium-term management plan. The company will develop asset-turnover businesses through such initiatives as the sale of condominiums and the establishment of a real estate investment advisory firm.
BUSINESS MONDAY: Spotlight on Bizen Gourmet Restaurant & Sushi Bar in Great Barrington
The Berkshire institution is celebrating 30 years of blending authentic Japanese cuisine, ancient pottery traditions, and a philosophy rooted in craftsmanship, care, and community.
AI reveals the invisible magnetic chaos wasting energy inside electric motors
Electric vehicles are pushing scientists to tackle one of the biggest hidden energy drains inside electric motors: magnetic energy loss. Now, researchers in Japan have developed a powerful AI-driven physics model that can peer into the chaotic “maze-like” magnetic patterns inside motor materials and reveal how heat and microscopic magnetic structures trigger wasted energy.
Tomoyuki Sugano notches his 150th career win
The Japanese ace finds himself adjusting to pitching at elevation.
This Week in Gaming (Week 21)
Welcome to the second to last week of May and this week is packed with bigger releases, so hold on to your hat as we kick off with this week's AAA release which involves you driving fast cars in exotic environments all over Japan. The rest of the week starts with a family friendly game where you ope...
AI camera blunder turns new Xperia 1 VIII into a meme: Sony roasted in viral social media trend
Sony faces social media backlash and mockery over the Xperia 1 VIII’s AI Camera Assistant. Users on X are roasting the company by sharing overexposed "before and after" memes after the Japanese giant posted promotional images that appeared lower in quality than the originals. Sony has since clarified that the AI suggests "creative looks" rather than automatic edits.
Forza Horizon 6 Won't Let You Smash Up Cherry Blossom Trees
Playground Games also opted to not include some Japanese temples and shrines to avoid being disrespectful
Japan’s Largest LSI Pledges More AI as Translation Business Falters
Honyaku Center’s revenue and profit fall in fiscal 2026 on macro headwinds. The company pledged more AI in its core translation business.
"Abyss Eye" All 81 Main Set Cards Revealed!
All 81 main set cards from Abyss Eye have been officially revealed! The set will release on May 22nd in Japan. This set is the first to introduce the
Japan runs out of robot wolves in fight against bears
The handmade, $4,000 Monster Wolf features solar panels, sensors, and intimidating audio.
Meet Anno Takahiro, founder of Japan’s hottest political party
The software engineer and sci-fi writer wants to use AI to reshape politics
Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics adds V-Tetris, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, and Vertical Force
The Virtual Boy – Nintendo Classics app has added V-Tetris, Jack Bros., Space Invaders Virtual Collection, Virtual Bowling, and Vertical Force, Nintendo announced. In Japan, Virtual Fishing w…
Who are the Japanese? Huge DNA discovery rewrites history
Scientists analyzing the genomes of thousands of people across Japan discovered evidence for a previously overlooked third ancestral group, challenging the long-accepted “dual origins” theory. The newly identified ancestry appears linked to the ancient Emishi people of northeastern Japan. Researchers also uncovered inherited Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA connected to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Japan's global defense business may be on the cusp of a big breakout
Can Japan be a major player in the international defense sector, like its neighbor South Korea?
A Massive Volcano Destroyed Methane in The Sky, And Scientists Are Stunned
Wait, what?
Arrest made after man threatens to blow up Nintendo's headquarters
Reports are emerging from Japan that a 27-year-old unemployed man has been arrested for threating to blow up Nintendo’s headquarters. Kyoto police made the arrest today, May 12. The man was arrested on grounds of suspected obstruction of business. In envelopes sent to Nintendo, the man included messages such as “I’m going to blow you all up” and “My plans...
Quantum breakthrough could revolutionize teleportation and computing
Scientists in Japan have developed a new way to instantly detect elusive quantum “W states,” a major milestone for quantum technology. The breakthrough could help unlock faster quantum communication, teleportation, and powerful new computing systems.
Win the Ultimate Car and Game Lover’s Jacket, Built with Forza Horizon 6
Be in with a chance to win a unique Japanese denim racing jacket inspired by Forza Horizon 6, designed in collaboration with actor and car enthusiast Sung Kang.
Avalere Health expands to Japan with a full-service Advisory, Medical, and Marketing offering, led by industry veteran Junji Yokokawa
/PRNewswire/ -- Avalere Health, a global strategic partner for the healthcare industry, today announces the launch of its Japan office. The move marks a...
Avalere Health expands to Japan with a full-service Advisory, Medical, and Marketing offering, led by industry veteran Junji Yokokawa
/PRNewswire/ -- Avalere Health, a global strategic partner for the healthcare industry, today announces the launch of its Japan office. The move marks a...
Avalere Health expands to Japan with a full-service Advisory, Medical, and Marketing offering, led by industry veteran Junji Yokokawa
Avalere Health, a global strategic partner for the healthcare industry, today announces the launch of its Japan office. The move marks a significant expansion of Avalere Health's global footprint, and the launch of a new strategic offering is designed to support Japanese biopharmaceutical companies end-to-end across the product lifecycle.
Rumour: Capcom insider spills the beans
A Capcom insider who appears to be trusted by Resident Evil-insider Dusk Golem has spilled the beans on what’s been happening at the Japanese developer. The biggest news is that a remake of the…
3D psychological horror adventure game A Passing in the Night announced for PC
Publisher PLAYISM and developer .iris have announced 3D psychological horror adventure game A Passing in the Night. It will launch for PC via Steam in 2026 with English, Japanese, Korean, Tradition…
Nintendo Switch 2 Is Harder To Get In Japan Ahead Of May 25 Price Hike
The Nintendo Switch 2 is getting a price increase faster in Japan than abroad.
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
By Sam Nussey TOKYO, May 8 (Reuters) - Sony forecast on Friday annual sales at its gaming business would fall 6% to 4.42 trillion yen ($28 billion) due to lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages and as the industry grapples with a surge in memory chip prices. The Japanese company, however, said it expects gaming profit to rise 30% due to higher first-party software sales and the absence
Legendary Zelda Director Takashi Tezuka Is Leaving Nintendo
The co-creator of Yoshi will no longer be an executive director at the Japanese firm
Sony forecasts lower gaming business sales amid memory price surge
STORY: Sony forecast lower sales in its gaming business due to a memory chip price surge.The tech giant said Friday annual sales in the segment would fall 6% to $28 billion.It also blamed lower hardware sales as its PlayStation 5 ages.Although the Japanese company said it expects gaming profit to rise 30%.That's due to higher first-party software sales and no repeat of the impairment loss it recorded a year earlier.Sony has been praised by analysts in recent years for its transformation into an entertainment powerhouse.But markets have grown concerned about the impact of AI on its business, while Sony also faces a perceived lack of growth catalysts.Both factors have weighed on shares in recent months.Investors are also concerned about the impact of a memory-chip price surge.As well as disruption to supply chains from the Iran war on margins at electronics manufacturers.The firm said it sold 1.5 million PS5 consoles in the fourth quarter, which was a 46% drop on the same period a year earlier.Looking ahead, the PS5 is expected to receive a major boost from the launch of the delayed "Grand Theft Auto VI."The game is due to release in November.Sony said in February it had secured the minimum quantity of memory needed to manage the year-end shopping season. Sony also said it sees higher profits at its pictures and chips units but a lower profit at its music business.The group reported operating profit for the year ended March rose 13.4% to $9.2 billion - below analyst forecasts. Meanwhile, rival Nintendo said it expects to sell 16.5 million units of its Switch 2 console in the financial year ending March 2027.It also projects profit to rise 2.7% to $2.36 billion.But, like with Sony, investors are concerned about the possible impact of a memory price surge on margins.
Nintendo Switch 2 price rise takes effect from September
The Japanese company behind Mario says "global market conditions" contributed to the decision.
Nintendo hikes Switch 2 prices, revises console costs in Japan, US, Canada, and Europe
Original Switch lineup and Nintendo Switch Online subscription service also affected in Japan
Nintendo announces Switch 2 price increase, going into effect worldwide
Nintendo is increasing the price of Switch 2 worldwide, the company has announced. In the U.S. and Canada, the system is going up by $50. Europe will essentially see the console rise by €30. Over in Japan, Nintendo Switch 2 will increase by 10,000 yen, and there’ll be increases for Switch 1 there as well. The dates for the Nintendo...
Science diplomacy lessons from a North Korean volcano
Mount Paektu, a mythic, active volcano on the border between North Korea and China, is almost the epitome of a scientific challenge that crosses political lines. In 946 CE, it erupted in one of the five biggest volcanic events of the past 10,000 years, kicking up huge quantities of ash and sending destructive mud flows down river channels for hundreds of kilometres. Should this happen again, the entire region, including easternmost Russia, South Korea and even Japan could be hit. “It’s definitely got the potential to be big,” said James Hammond, a professor of geophysics at Birkbeck, University of London. An eruption on the scale of 946 would have “huge regional impact.” For the past 15 years, Hammond has helped lead a groundbreaking collaboration with North Korean scientists to study the volcano, navigating scientific sanctions, tough export controls on scientific equipment and a long, pandemic-enforced exodus from the country. Although he seems more at home on far-flung research expeditions – before speaking to Science|Business, Hammond was camping out on a Greenland ice sheet – he has also advised the European Commission on its changing science diplomacy strategy. His long experience with North Korea has made Hammond sceptical of blanket bans on science collaboration, no matter the country.This is a live question in Europe, where in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, institutional ties with Russian universities were almost entirely severed, although some scientists fear this could undermine our understanding of climate change’s impact on the Arctic. Here, Hammond tells the story of the Mount Paektu mission and the policy lessons he takes from it. Ominous rumblingsThe genesis of Hammond’s collaboration came in 2002, when Mount Paektu began to rumble ominously. Earthquake activity picked up and the volcano began to emit unusual gases. North Korean scientists took notice. “People felt we need to know more about this volcano,” said Hammond. In 2011, North Korean vulcanologists put out a request for international expertise to help them learn more. At the time, Hammond and his collaborator, Clive Oppenheimer, were working on a vulcanology project in another sanctioned country, Eritrea, and so decided to answer the call. Within a month, they had flown into Pyongyang. “It was pretty incredible,” recalls Hammond (left). “We were made to feel like honoured guests, and invited to official celebrations.” The scientific opportunity was huge. Paektu is unusually positioned, a thousand kilometres from where tectonic plates rub against each other in the Pacific. “It was an incredibly interesting volcano, but not much research had been done, at least not in the international community,” he said. “There was so much we felt we could do. And we had these partners that were super keen to engage.”The mission received an unusual visitor in the form of volcano-obsessed filmmaker Werner Herzog, who accompanied Hammond and Oppenheimer while directing his 2016 film Into the Inferno about volcanos across the world. Four days into the trip, the German director delivered a long speech about reunification to his North Korean hosts, recalls Hammond. “He got to the heart of the Koreans and how they felt, and how they thought, in a way that I'm not sure I ever will,” he said. UN sanctionsHowever, Hammond realised he’d been “naïve” about how difficult it would be to collaborate with North Korea, which was sanctioned far more heavily than Eritrea. “We didn’t fully appreciate the all-encompassing nature of restrictions,” he said. In 2016, as tensions escalated over Pyongyang’s nuclear tests, a United Nations resolution banned all joint scientific work with North Korea. However, the UN sanctions did allow countries to request carve outs, and the UK successfully requested an exemption for Hammond’s work. Related articlesEU pushes for joint science diplomacy, but care needed to avoid gridlock, experts sayRussia severs its last ties with German scienceAnchor Greenlanders in Arctic climate research, experts tell EU ahead of policy updateExport controls have also delayed Hammond’s work. In one case, it took 18 months to get approval from the UK government to take seismometers, which measure earthquakes, to North Korea. “It was frustrating,” he said. “But they didn’t just say no.” However, one instrument, called an induction coil, used to measure how the earth conducts electricity, was blocked entirely because it can in theory be used to detect submarines. Karaoke bondingSince the collaboration started in 2011, Hammond has visited the country around 15 times, although the pandemic closed off North Korea for more than five years. A trip last November was Hammond’s first since the outbreak. Despite this lengthy interlude, Hammond has deep bonds in the country. The North Korean scientists Hammond works with are somewhat isolated, as they struggle to access the latest research papers and travel to international conferences. That said, they are “excellent geophysicists” and are “very well trained in the field,” he said. Over karaoke and chats about their families, “we’ve made friendships, for sure,” he said. The authorities have to sign-off things like the placement of seismometers, for example, but Hammond said these requests have been approved. “Everything that we've asked for within a scientific context has been delivered.”Scientific backchannels? These kind of personal links between scientists across political lines are one purported benefit of science diplomacy. During the Cold War, some historians argue, scientific contact between the US and Soviet Union laid a groundwork of trust for other cooperation, such as on arms control. Hammond agrees that backchannel contacts to North Korean geophysicists are hardly likely to defuse a military crisis on the Korean peninsula, but the simple fact of the scientific collaboration makes contacts between diplomats that little bit easier. “It creates opportunities to understand each other a little bit better,” he said. “When maybe you have those more difficult discussions as diplomats, it's coming from a slightly better place.” Cutting tiesDrawing lessons from the Mount Paektu mission for today’s links with Russian science isn’t simple. The analogy is far from exact, Hammond said, “because one is essentially a Cold War, versus a pretty hot war in the case of Russia.” But Hammond’s broader argument is that the challenges we face, such as climate change, pandemics, biodiversity loss, pollution and so on, have globalised in an unprecedented way, making blanket shutdowns in collaboration with any country unwise.He’s somewhat critical of the UN scientific sanctions imposed on North Korea in 2016, even though they did allow for exceptions. “I think a blanket halt to some of these things, when we face big global challenges [. . .] that’s quite a risky thing to do,” he said.Institutional endorsement?European academics are still by and large free to work individually with Russian counterparts. However, official, institutional partnerships have largely ended. Shortly following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russian university rectors wrote a public letter endorsing the war, meaning European universities fear official collaboration could also be seen as a kind of endorsement. Hammond acknowledges there is a risk of legitimising regimes, and state-controlled universities, through scientific cooperation. “That’s the trade off you have to make,” he said. Strategic projectsWith Russia, instead of giving a green light to restart all Arctic science, a middle ground might be firing up a few carefully selected “strategic” projects, said Hammond. After all, European countries are still collaborating with Russia on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, an experimental nuclear fusion plant in the south of France. However, even if Europe did try to revive Arctic science with Russia, there’s no guarantee Russian scientists would play ball. A series of high-profile arrests of physicists in Russia accused of sharing their findings with the outside world has made collaboration fraught. Even before the invasion of 2022, “the Russian regime made it increasingly difficult, and this sort of discouraged people,” Dag Rune Olsen, rector of the Arctic University of Norway, told Science|Business last year.
STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT launches August 20 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PS4, Switch, and PC
Science Adventure series visual novel reboot STEINS;GATE RE:BOOT will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam on August 20 in Japan, MAGES. announce…
This startup built Japan’s first 3D-printed two-story home. It wants to solve the country’s construction crisis
Japan’s construction industry is facing a productivity crisis — is 3D printing the answer?
Star Fox Nintendo Switch 2 boxart, price revealed, official announcement
We have more on the just-announced Switch 2 remake of Star Fox, including the boxart, price, and official announcement from Nintendo. The game’s packaging image is attached below. As for the price, it looks like this one will be on the cheaper side for a Nintendo Switch 2 title. We should have official U.S. pricing very shortly, but in Japan,...
Anime News, Top Stories & In-Depth Anime Insights
Stay on top of anime news and updates straight out of Japan with Crunchyroll News. From breaking stories to evergreen content, get all your anime and manga news updates in one place. You heard it here first!
Project Motor Racing’s Japanese DLC reappears with a new name
Gone is the ‘GT500’ moniker, but the nine cars and one track appear to be back, with some subtle changes.
Persona 4 Revival due to be completed end of August and release early 2027
Tose is the Japanese third party studio which is co-developing the long-awaited Persona 4 Revival from Atlus. In a recent finical report, which shows the company’s progress on five projects…
Japan Wants to Build a Giant Solar Ring Around the Moon That Will Beam Limitless Energy to Earth
A Japanese construction firm drew up plans for a 6,800-mile solar belt around the Moon that would beam continuous power to Earth without fuel or emissions.
Inside Empire Entertainment Japan: 30 years of turning ‘Wow’ moments into global hits
As the entertainment industry increasingly blurs the lines between digital narratives and physical reality, Empire Entertainment Japan and SOHO Live are market leaders in redefining how Japanese creativity is exported to the global stage. At the spearhead of this evolution are Ted Miller, president and CEO of Tokyo-based Empire Japan,…
Japan’s health tied to exercise tradition
TOKYO -- This is how Japan wakes up. It's called Radio Taiso -- Exercise Radio in English -- a simple yet dynamic way to start the day.
LG Japan Drops Pre-Order Pricing For Its 5K2K UltraGear OLED, Slashing 21% Off The $2,099 Flagship Before Launch
LG Japan opens pre-orders for the 45GX950B-B 5K OLED at $1,653 and 32GX870B-B 4K at $1,081, featuring advanced specs and discounts.
Burgerville, Japanese restaurant and more. Top Tri-City business news
Big development plans took shape across the Tri-Cities last month.
Yankees news: Tests on Jasson Domínguez’s elbow come back clean
All appears well for “The Martian;” Paul DeJong, Randal Grichuk opt for free agency; Tanaka makes some history in Japan.
Naoya Inoue Vs. Junto Nakatani Full Card: Ringwalk Times
Inoue vs. Nakatani ringwalk times, full fight card, DAZN broadcast details, and everything you need for the all-Japanese undisputed super bantamweight title showdown.
Not Even Japanese Bathhouses Are Immune From Shocks of Iran War
High fuel costs are imperiling the Japanese sento, a long-declining industry that remains a vital social lifeline for the country’s isolated elderly.
Mr. Karate revealed for Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves though he looks a bit different now
Although it just began months ago, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves is quickly approaching the end of its second season already, but there's still a few characters left joining the roster soon.During Evo Japan 2026, SNK revealed ...
Business Lookahead: Eyeing oil, US jobs, and European earnings
STORY: From high oil prices and the conflict in the Middle East to U.S. jobs data and corporate earnings, here’s what you need to watch in business and finance in the week ahead.:: Crude and currencyOil prices briefly topped $120 a barrel this week to hit their highest level since 2022 as the war with Iran enters a third month.While the U.S. and Iran face pressure to end a conflict that has shut the Strait of Hormuz, the world watches anxiously as the biggest-ever disruption to energy supplies unfolds.For each week the Strait is closed, keeping oil elevated, the greater the economic risks via higher inflation or weak growth or, for some, both. Oil importer Japan just intervened to prop up a yen that has been weakened by the conflict.A new month is now underway and some traders will be mindful of that old adage, "Sell in May and go away.":: Jobs gyrationsAs the U.S. economy grapples with fallout from the Middle East war, Wall Street's radar turns to Friday's April monthly payrolls report.The U.S. economy likely created 73,000 new jobs, economists polled by Reuters forecast. In March, payrolls increased by 178,000, the most since December 2024, but that followed a sharp decline in February.The U.S. employment data comes amid signs of hawkishness at the Federal Reserve, as Donald Trump pick Kevin Warsh prepares to take over as chair with the U.S. president keen on rate cuts.:: Starmer’s statusThursday's local elections in Britain, usually a non-event for investors, could move markets in a big way, with opinion polls pointing to a heavy defeat for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour Party.A heavy defeat could spark more widespread demands for his dismissal among his own lawmakers and stoke expectations of a successor more willing to run looser budgets. That would bring more bad news for British bonds.::European earningsIt's a big week for European earnings with Shell and Commerzbank among those reporting.On aggregate, profits are expected to grow 3.2% in Q1, according to LSEG I/B/E/S. Under the surface, it's a little bit more complicated. Growth is expected to be driven by just three sectors: financials, tech and energy. The latter is seen as the biggest beneficiary of the Iran war due to higher oil and gas prices.But if the war, and energy surge, persist, the overall outlook for Europe's earnings could turn.
Naoya Inoue is the greatest show in sports today. Now comes the fight of his life
The Japanese wrecking ball known as the Monster takes center stage at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday, facing unbeaten rival Junto Nakatani in a matchup for the ages
Her plan was to travel the world until she discovered rural Japan
Kira Bella, now 25, wasn't ready to leave Japan when her visa was expiring. She came up with an idea to secure a business manager visa.
In Japan, US nationalism and conservatism has fed the growth of a political party
As Sanseito, a right-wing populist party of Japan, gradually builds strength and influence, its members draw inspiration from figures in American conservative politics. Despite the parallels, Sanseito is working to adapt “Japanese first” to its own needs.
Business grad’s journey took him from Japan to the cutting edge of battery tech
Dolan Ma ’26, who is graduating from the Binghamton University School of Management, uncovered a passion for learning about new cultures and how to drive commercial strategy during his academic journey.
Dancer Ryota Takaji Talks Journey to U.S. Entertainment & Dancing in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl Halftime Show: Unbound Japan Interview
Takaji calls the Super Bowl halftime "one of the biggest shows in America and every dancer's dream" in new Billboard Japan interview.
Visual Voice and JAEBC Launch Strategic Partnership to Bridge Japan-Africa Entertainment Sectors
/PRNewswire/ -- Visual Voice Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Tetsuya Bessho), the operator of Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia (SSFF & ASIA)—one of...
Investor Supporting Japan’s Entertainment Industry, Yoshihiro Shimamura, to Visit France Workshop to be Held During the Cannes Film Festival
Shimamura Yoshihiro Film Planning Inc. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; CEO: Yoshihiro Shimamura), a company engaged in film production and investment, will host ...
Japan’s Nippon TV Bolsters U.S. Unscripted Business With Nick Ower Hire
EXCLUSIVE: Nippon TV, the Japanese broadcaster, is stepping up its unscripted business in the U.S. and has hired former ITV America exec Nick Ower to help. Ower joins as director of development and sa...
Japan’s Nippon TV Bolsters U.S. Unscripted Business With Nick Ower
Ower joins as director of development and sales, unscripted. He joins after nearly ten years at the Love Island and Hell’s Kitchen producer.
Steam Controller to Arrive on May 4 in Japan
Valve's Steam Controller is reportedly just a few days away from launch, as the company is preparing for a May 4 release in Japan. According to a now-deleted post by 4Gamer, the Japanese launch is expected on May 4, with a price of $99. This price includes the controller, a charging cable, and a 2.4...
Imperial College London and Institute of Science Tokyo sign partnership
Five-year deal marks a further strengthening of scientific collaboration between the United Kingdom and Japan
Steam Controller release date revealed as another review leaks online
The leak comes from a Japanese gaming website, which briefly published a review of the Steam Controller before taking it down.
Dodgers to Host Japanese Heritage Night on Monday
The Los Angeles Dodgers will host Japanese Heritage Night in their series opener against the Miami Marlins on Monday.
Where do Honda motocross bikes get built?
Our man Aaron Hansel has spent the week touring Honda's engineering and production facilities in Japan. How's your bike actually built? Here's what we can share.
Washington’s Allies? Japan, Germany and South Korea
The recent increase in defense spending by Germany, Korea and Japan also signals a new phase in this relationship of dependency with the US.
Civil-Military Relations under the Trump Administration (Part I) -- Politicians and Military Leaders | List of Articles | International Information Network Analysis
IINA provides ongoing analysis of international affairs both by region—such as North America, China, and Europe—and by such topics as human security, nontraditional security threats, and cyber security. The articles on this site, written by experts at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and guest contributors, are carefully selected for their objectivity, accuracy, timeliness, and relevance for Japan.
Earliest octopuses were Kraken-like sea monsters, fossils show
Whale-sized, monstrous octopuses prowled the seas during the Age of Dinosaurs, snatching prey with their huge tentacles and crunching them with powerful jaws, fossils from B.C. and Japan suggest.
Considering History: Jackie Robinson, Japanese Americans, and the Best of American Sports and Community | The Saturday Evening Post
Jackie Robinson can help us better remember a largely forgotten teammate and childhood friend, Shigeo “Shig” Takayama, and the connections between African American and Japanese American baseball.
Plano delegation in Asia makes pitch for bringing business to Texas
Plano officials traveled to Japan, Korea and Taiwan to tell business leaders the “Plano story” and why several Asian corporations have chosen to grow in the Collin County city.
Sayonara Wild Hearts, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just released
Two more Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have just dropped with Annapurna releasing new versions of Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. Right now we’re only seeing it in Japan, but it should be rolling out in other regions over the next day. Sayonara Wild Hearts now includes a Remix Arcade mode in which players are tasked with aiming...
Prudential Financial Stock Is Falling on Report of Potential Misconduct at Japan Insurer
Shares were down 6% in Tuesday trading.
Yomiuri: Nojima to Acquire Hitachi's Home Appliance Business for 110 Billion Yen
Nojima Corp., a major Japanese consumer electronics retailer, announced Tuesday that it will acquire Hitachi Ltd.'s home appliance business for about 110 billion yen.
Google rolls out Gemini in Chrome in seven new countries
Google is rolling out Gemini in Chrome in Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam.
An Imperial Week in Photos: Celebrating Global Achievements in Science
Among the Imperial Family's mid-April engagements was the Japan Prize ceremony, which honored laureates for advancing science for peace and prosperity.
Super Mario-kun manga may finally be ending after more then 30 years
Super Mario-kun has been a long-running manga in Japan having started in 1990, but it could finally be coming to an end soon. We’re hearing that the series has reached its final arc. The story seems to be wrapping up and fans believe that it won’t be long until it’s over. Outside of Japan, Super Mario-kun is a bit more...
Failure of communication is a problem in today’s politics [column]
“I came to see if words are still an effective method of communication,” Japanese writer and political activist Yukio Mishima said during a famous political debate at the University of
USWNT beats Japan 3-0, displaying dominance after Tuesday’s loss
On a cool night at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., the U.S. women’s national team didn’t just beat Japan, it looked like itself again. And at the very center of their 3-0 score was defender Kennedy Wesley. After a scoreless first half, Wesley set up Naomi Girma in the 47th minute, who calmly finished at the back post. Less than 10 minutes after the first goal, Wesley intercepted a pass and found Lindsey Heaps in midfield. Heaps slipped it to Rodman, who dribbled her defender
Japan: Chrono Trigger form-ism figures spotted at official pop up store leading to speculation about remake
New fully painted Chrono Trigger form-ism figures have been spotted by fans at a Square Enix pop up store in Ikebukuro, Japan. These intricacy detailed form-ism figures look incredible and give us a…
"Abyss Eye" Set Featuring Mega Darkrai ex Officially Revealed for...
Abyss Eye starring Mega Darkrai ex has been officially revealed! It will release in Japan on May 22nd as their M5 set. Oddly, the set was revealed four
SBI Sets Up Entertainment Fund with Cool Japan Fund
Tokyo, April 17 (Jiji Press)--SBI Holdings Inc. said Friday it has set up a fund with Cool Japan Fund Inc. to …
I had 5 nights with Seventeen in 3 cities, and this one was the best
I've seen Seventeen perform in three places — South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. Incheon's encore concert was my favorite for a few reasons.
Star of Japanese hit series 'The Solitary Gourmet' hopes to share its joy of eating
Japanese TV drama “The Solitary Gourmet” quietly started in a late-night slot 14 years ago featuring a suit-clad, middle-aged man’s joy of solitary dining at a local eatery after work | KMBZ
Japan Pledges $10 Billion to Help Countries Cope With Oil Prices
With supply chains at risk, the aid to Southeast Asian nations is aimed at securing the availability of oil-based products, including medical equipment.
30 years of Pokémon—how the Japanese franchise mirrors real-world science
As Pokémon turns 30, we take a look at how the beloved Japanese kids’ franchise was inspired by—and has shaped—real-world science
Ask the Developer Vol. 21: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — Part 3 - News
This article has been translated from the original Japanese content. This interview was conducted before the game was released. In this 21st volume of Ask the Developer, an interview series in which developers convey in their own words Nintendo's th…
Ask the Developer Vol. 21: Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream — Part 1 - News
This article has been translated from the original Japanese content. This interview was conducted before the game was released. In this 21st volume of Ask the Developer, an interview series in which developers convey in their own words Nintendo's th…
Dodgers’ Ohtani Chasing More Records With On-Base Streak
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 46 games Sunday, and grew ever-closer to even more records. Ohtani broke the record for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in Friday’s game against the Texas…