Keiji Inafune’s Mighty No. 9 Studio Comcept Is Finished

The Fall of Comcept: A Cautionary Tale for Indie Studios and the Shifting Landscape of Game Development The recent dissolution of Comcept, the studio founded by industry veteran Keiji Inafune, serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing independent game developers. While the story is rooted in the troubled launch of Mighty No. 9, … Read more

Grad student’s film shows plight of detained foreigners

The “Imaginary Line” and Japan’s Shifting Stance on Immigration: A Looming Crisis? A powerful new film, “Imaginary Line,” born from a Tokyo University of the Arts graduate project, is sparking crucial conversations about Japan’s increasingly restrictive immigration policies. Inspired by the tragic death of Wishma Sandamali, a Sri Lankan national who died in detention, the … Read more

Japan’s last pair of pandas have arrived back in China

The Panda Diplomacy Pause: What Japan’s Loss Signals for Global Soft Power The recent return of the last two pandas to China from Japan marks more than just the end of a 50-year era of cuddly diplomacy. It’s a stark illustration of how geopolitical tensions are reshaping the landscape of soft power, and a potential … Read more

CNA Explains: Why is the US dollar weakening – and how much did the yen really matter?

Is the US Dollar’s Weakness a Sign of Things to Come? The US dollar has faced increasing headwinds recently, and it’s not just about what’s happening in Japan. A confluence of factors, primarily stemming from US policy and investor sentiment, are contributing to a potential shift in the dollar’s long-held dominance. But is this a … Read more

Netflix Japan Unveils Details of 2026 Slate, Forges MAPPA Partnership

Netflix’s Japan Strategy: A Glimpse into the Future of Global Streaming Netflix is doubling down on Japan, and the implications extend far beyond the Land of the Rising Sun. Recent announcements detailing a bolstered content slate, expanded studio partnerships, and a foray into live sports broadcasting signal a broader trend: the increasing importance of hyper-localized … Read more

Aaron Smith set for epic last hurrah? All Blacks legend shortslisted in France

Aaron Smith to Pau: A Sign of Things to Come for Top Rugby Players? The potential move of All Blacks legend Aaron Smith to French Top 14 side Pau is more than just a transfer rumour; it’s a potential bellwether for a growing trend in professional rugby. Experienced, world-class players are increasingly looking beyond traditional … Read more

Japan restarts nuclear power plant almost 15 years since Fukushima disaster

Japan Reboots Nuclear Power: A Gamble on Energy Security and a Nation’s Future The restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant marks a pivotal moment for Japan, nearly 13 years after the Fukushima disaster brought the nation’s nuclear ambitions to a standstill. While proponents tout the move as essential for energy independence and carbon neutrality, … Read more

Ex-Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s killer sentenced to life | News

Tetsuya Yamagami’s life sentence for the assassination of Shinzo Abe marks a turning point, exposing vulnerabilities in Japanese society and politics. Published On 21 Jan 202621 Jan 2026 The life sentence handed down to Tetsuya Yamagami for the 2022 assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe isn’t simply the conclusion of a criminal case; … Read more

Stocks shaken by geopolitical fears, Japanese bonds bounce after selloff

Global Markets on Edge: The Looming “Sell America” Trade and What It Means for Your Investments Asian markets opened Wednesday extending a downward trend, fueled by escalating geopolitical tensions and a growing sense of unease surrounding U.S. economic policy. The catalyst? President Trump’s increasingly assertive stance on acquiring Greenland, coupled with renewed threats of tariffs, … Read more