Japan

A powerful typhoon has struck Japan, with authorities issuing evacuation orders or advisories to nearly two million residents as the storm brings heavy rain and damaging winds. The evacuation calls cover multiple prefectures, with officials warning of flooding and landslides. Coverage is tracking the storm's path and any reports of injuries or damage.

Japan has begun scaling back its ultra-loose monetary policy in an effort to prop up the yen, which has fallen sharply against the dollar. Commentators note the move is being helped by expectations of looser policy from the US Federal Reserve, dubbed Japan's 'American friend', which narrows the interest rate gap driving the currency's decline.

Japanese authorities have urged nearly two million people to evacuate as a powerful typhoon sweeps across the country, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and the risk of flooding and landslides. Local officials have opened shelters and warned residents in low-lying and coastal areas to move to safety, with transport disrupted across affected regions.

US 10-year Treasury yields have climbed into 5% territory, a level not seen in years, prompting renewed concern across equity markets. A Japanese commentary highlights a rare combination of interest rate hikes in both Japan and the United States — the first US hike in over three years — and its knock-on effects: a stronger yen pressuring tech-heavy indices like the Nasdaq 100 and FANG+ stocks.

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical, the Japanese maker at the center of a supplement contamination scandal linked to suspected deaths, is reportedly considering a buyout offer valued at more than ¥500 billion. The possible deal comes as the company continues to face fallout from the scandal, which damaged its reputation and finances.

Japan's government is moving to tighten regulations affecting foreign residents, according to Al Jazeera, which reports the shift is throwing people's futures into doubt. The report frames the policy as having significant consequences for foreigners living and working in Japan, though details of the specific measures are not provided in the headline.

India played Japan in a one-off T20 International as part of the Suzuki Cup, with match highlights released by Star Sports drawing a huge response from cricket fans. The rare meeting between the two Asian sides drew attention, with viewers discussing India's performance and Japan's growing presence in international cricket following the contest.

Germany has chosen Munich as its candidate city for a future Olympic Games, according to the Japan Times. The decision puts Munich forward to compete internationally for the right to host, though which edition of the Games the bid targets remains unclear. Attention now turns to the International Olympic Committee's selection process and whether Bavaria's capital can build public and political support for the campaign.

South Korea has long avoided any commitment to involvement in a potential conflict over Taiwan, keeping its policy deliberately vague to balance ties with the United States and economic relations with China. Reporting by The Japan Times says that maintaining this discretion is becoming harder, as regional security pressures mount and Washington expects allies to clarify their roles in a Taiwan contingency. Observers are debating whether Seoul can continue to stay on the sidelines if tensions escalate.

The US dollar slipped while the Japanese yen rallied after remarks from Japanese officials, and oil prices eased, weighing on currency markets. Traders are watching whether the yen's move signals potential intervention concerns or a shift in Japanese policy talk, while softer oil prices are reshaping expectations around inflation and central bank policy.

Japan's finance minister stated that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is not a reflationist, aiming to calm investors who fear her government will spend excessively and pressure the Bank of Japan into keeping interest rates low. Markets have been watchful of Takaichi's fiscal stance, given expectations of expansive spending under her leadership. The remark is an attempt to reassure bond and currency investors that monetary discipline will be maintained.

Japan's Defense Ministry has announced it will support startups working on unmanned aerial vehicle development, according to a report by The Japan Times. The move aims to bring emerging companies into the defense technology sector, reflecting Tokyo's broader push to strengthen domestic defense capabilities and innovation amid growing security concerns in the region.

Japan's tourism industry is growing rapidly, but efforts to make the sector more sustainable are lagging, according to reporting by The Japan Times. The country has seen record inbound visitor numbers in recent years, raising concerns about overcrowding, strain on local communities, and environmental impact as the industry works to balance economic gains with greener practices.

India are playing Japan in the first T20 International of their 2026 series, with live score and commentary drawing heavy attention from cricket fans. The unusual matchup between an established Test nation and an emerging associate side has sparked curiosity about how competitive Japan can be against a full-strength India team.

Japan is considering stricter regulations on regenerative medicine as treatments in the field proliferate across the country. The move follows growing concern that clinics are offering unproven therapies under looser rules than those governing conventional drugs. Officials are debating how to balance patient access to innovative treatments with safety oversight, and medical groups are watching closely for what the revised framework could mean for practice.

India are playing Japan in the first T20I of their 2026 cricket series, with live score and commentary drawing a large audience following the action ball by ball. Fans are discussing the matchup, which is a notable fixture given Japan's emerging presence in international cricket against a major Test-playing nation.

A high-profile Japanese anime voice actor has taken TikTok to court, alleging the platform hosted videos featuring an artificial intelligence clone of his voice without his consent. The case highlights growing tension between voice performers and AI companies over unauthorised replication of their voices, and could set a precedent for how Japanese law treats voice rights in the age of generative AI.

The Asian Games are getting under way in Japan, with attention turning to ten athletes highlighted as ones to watch at the multi-sport event. Coverage is focusing on the stars expected to headline the competition, which brings together thousands of athletes from across Asia in one of the world's largest sporting gatherings after the Olympics.

Japan is considering replacing some of its military personnel with humanoid robots, according to a report carried by military-focused media. The proposal reflects Japan's broader push to address personnel shortages and modernise its Self-Defense Forces through robotics. Details on which roles could be automated, the timeline, and the budget involved have not been disclosed, and no official government decision has been announced yet.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed creating a Congress of Europe, framing it as a step in the right direction given the scale of the continent's geopolitical challenges. The idea, reported by international media including the Japan Times, is being debated as a possible way to strengthen European unity and coordination on security and foreign policy.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the starting lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their September 24 game against the San Diego Padres, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the mound as starting pitcher. Japanese baseball fans are closely following the matchup between the National League West rivals, with live radio-style commentary drawing heavy attention from audiences tracking the Dodgers' Japanese stars.

The Asian Men's Volleyball Championship is drawing attention in Japan, with focus on the national team's match against Uzbekistan on September 27. DAZN and other outlets have published viewing guides covering TV broadcasts and streaming schedules, and fans are checking how and when to watch Japan's games in the tournament.

Attention is on India's medals tally and winners list for the 2026 Asian Games, to be hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. A full table tracking every Indian medal and medallist is being compiled as the countdown to the Games gathers pace, with fans and media following how the country's athletes are shaping up for the continental showpiece.

Japan's national debt stands at roughly twice the size of its economy, the highest ratio among developed nations, but economists writing in Fortune argue the United States' debt load of around $40 trillion is the more worrying case. They point to America's faster-growing deficits and political gridlock over spending, contrasting it with Japan's domestic, stable creditor base.

A live table tennis broadcast carrying the branding of the 2026 Asian Games is circulating in multiple languages, including Chinese, Japanese and Thai. The Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, and table tennis is one of the region's most followed sports, particularly in China, Japan and South Korea. Viewers appear to be seeking early coverage, streams and match talk ahead of the Games.

Attention is on India's tennis contingent at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, with coverage tracking their scores, match schedule and results as the tournament unfolds. Fans and sports media are following how the Indian players progress through the draws, with results being updated as matches conclude. The event is one of the region's biggest multi-sport competitions.

India take on Iran in the kabaddi final at the 2026 Asian Games, with India also meeting Japan in hockey and Indian athletes competing in athletics events. The clashes are drawing major attention from Indian sports fans, with hundreds of thousands engaging with live coverage of the day's action across the Games.

Japanese secondhand bookstores are reporting a fivefold surge in sales as bulk buyers purchase entire stock loads, in some cases tens of tons at once. One order of around 50 tons was shipped to the United States, and store owners suspect many large purchases end up in overseas facilities where books are scanned to train artificial intelligence models and then destroyed. The trend has raised concern among booksellers about losing rare volumes and the fate of the books themselves.

India and Japan played the second match of their T20 cricket series, with highlights focusing on the final nine balls and full score commentary. Interest has centred on Japan's growing presence in international cricket and the dramatic closing overs of the match.

India will meet Afghanistan in the cricket quarter-final at the Asian Games 2026, a rematch of the Hangzhou 2023 final where India took gold. The match is a knockout, so the loser is eliminated. Fans are searching for live broadcast and streaming details as the tournament reaches its decisive stages in Japan.

India are playing Japan in a T20 cricket match today, with live scores and fan chat drawing a large online audience. The fixture is attracting heavy attention, with over two million people engaging with live coverage of the game as it unfolds.

The Japan Times carries an item headlined 'A congress for Europe's future', pointing to a gathering or initiative framed around the direction of the European project. No further details are given in the available evidence, so the specific participants, agenda and outcomes remain unspecified.

A prominent Japanese anime voice actor has filed a lawsuit against TikTok, claiming the platform hosts videos that use an AI-generated clone of his distinctive baritone voice without his consent. The case is drawing attention to the use of voice actors' voices in AI training and generation, a growing concern in Japan's anime industry, and could set a precedent for performers' rights over their vocal likeness.

Coverage of the Asian Games 2026 on September 27 centres on India's scores, updates and results from Day 8 of the competition. Sports outlets are tracking how Indian athletes are faring across events as the Games, hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, move into their second week, with medal standings and key match outcomes drawing particular attention from Indian audiences.

Interest is building around how to watch Japan's men's volleyball matches at the 2026 Asian Games, with reports detailing scheduled terrestrial TV broadcasts and free online streaming options for the national team's games. Fans are checking where they can follow the tournament as the event approaches.