Japan This Week

Japan This Week

Japan Today

Episodes 105
Avg. Duration 16m
Activity Dormant
Since May 2018
Latest Episode Oct 2025

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Weekly
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About This Podcast

A weekly roundup of the week's biggest — and smallest — national news, crime, politics and entertainment stories from Japan Today with a dash of opinionated commentary and a sprinkling of readers' comments. Ready for you every Friday evening (JST).

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Recent Episodes

Oct. 31, 2025 | Japan’s foreigner problem: Kimi Onoda and the politics of coexistence

Oct 31, 2025 14m

When Sanae Takaichi became Japan’s first female prime minister on Oct. 21, one of her new cabinet pick's stood out. Kimi Onoda was appointed minister for economic security and the “Cool Japan”…

Oct. 24, 2025 | Trial of Shinzo Abe's assassin

Oct 25, 2025 13m

The trial of Tetsuya Yamagami — the man who assassinated former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe — has begun in Japan. But this case is about more than guilt or innocence. It exposed disturbing ties…

Oct. 3, 2025 | Why stalking cases in Japan keep ending in tragedy

Oct 03, 2025 8m

Stalking cases in Japan are becoming harder to ignore. Women are being targeted, threatened and, in too many cases, killed — even after going to the police for help. In this edition of Japan Today…

Sept. 26, 2025 | Why nuisance YouTubers are causing outrage in Japan

Sep 26, 2025 9m

A rise in obnoxious and aggressive content creators is sparking outrage across Japan — from graveyard stunts and sushi sabotage to harassment on public trains. Japanese media now calls them “nuisance…

Sept. 19, 2025 | Why Japan's 'lost generation' is still losing

Sep 19, 2025 8m

Japan’s “lost generation” came of age during the employment ice age of the 1990s and early 2000s. Promised stable jobs after graduation, they instead faced hiring freezes, temporary contracts and…

Sept. 12, 2025 | Why bear attacks are surging in Japan

Sep 12, 2025 10m

Bears are showing up in Japanese towns, supermarkets, even airport runways — and the number of bear attacks is now higher than anywhere else in the world. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we…

Sept. 5, 2025 | Why So Many People Go Missing in Japan

Sep 05, 2025 9m

Japan’s missing persons: Who disappears and why Every year, around 90,000 people are reported missing in Japan. Most are found quickly, but many vanish by choice — some turning to resignation…

Aug. 28, 2025 | Japan’s hostage justice: Guilty until proven innocent

Aug 29, 2025 13m

Japan’s justice system has a conviction rate of 99.9%. Critics say that figure isn’t proof of prosecutorial skill but the result of a system known as “hostage justice” — prolonged detention, repeated…

Aug. 21, 2025 | Scrolling for truth: News for the swipe generation

Aug 21, 2025 7m

Younger people in Japan aren’t avoiding the news — they’re consuming it differently. In this episode, we look at how platforms like TikTok, LINE, and Instagram have replaced the front page and the…

Aug. 8, 2025 | 80 years after the Pacific War Japan’s reckoning with history

Aug 15, 2025 14m

August 2025 marks 80 years since Japan surrendered in World War II, ending the Pacific War. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at how Japan is commemorating the anniversary — from the…

Aug. 1, 2025 | Why these Japanese homes are so cheap (and so creepy)

Aug 15, 2025 8m

Would you live in a house where someone died? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the world of jiko bukken — Japan’s so-called “stigmatized properties.” These are homes where…

July 18, 2025 | Japan’s far-right surge: Sanseito and ‘Japan First’ politics in 2025

Aug 15, 2025 17m

In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we examine the rise of Sanseito, a new political party gaining traction with Japan’s disillusioned voters. Is it a grassroots call for reform — or something…

July 11, 2025 | Is Trump blowing up Japan-US relations?

Jul 11, 2025 8m

In this episode, we look at rising tensions between President Trump and Japan. From the on again-off again-on again 25% auto tariffs and pressure to buy more U.S. rice, oil and weapons, to a national…

July 4, 2025 | Japan's newspaper crisis: Losing readers, relevance and the next generation

Jul 04, 2025 8m

Japan’s newspaper crisis: Losing readers, relevance and the next generation. Circulation is down, trust is fading and younger readers have moved on to digital platforms like LINE and YouTube. What…

June 27, 2025 | Japan's big heat: June's deadly start to summer

Jun 27, 2025 8m

Japan’s Big Heat: June’s Deadly Start to Summer It’s only June, but heatstroke deaths are already being reported across Japan. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at why the extreme…

June 20, 2025 | Why Japan’s 2,000-year imperial family may not survive this century

Jun 20, 2025 22m

Japan’s imperial family: Too old to modernize? Japan’s imperial family is the world’s oldest monarchy — but is it still relevant in 2025? With just three heirs, no reigning empress allowed and…

June 13, 2025 | Why Japan’s J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance

Jun 13, 2025 10m

What really goes on inside Japan’s idol industry? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the strict no-dating and no-sex rules placed on J-pop idols — especially young women and girls.…

June 6, 2025 | Japan’s rice crisis: Why prices are soaring and what’s behind it

Jun 06, 2025 12m

Japan’s rice crisis isn’t just about food — it’s about identity, politics and a decades-old system that’s now under pressure. In this extended episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at what’s…

May 29, 2025 | Why is Nissan failing and what speed bumps lie ahead?

May 29, 2025 7m

Nissan is planning to cut 20,000 jobs and may shut down factories in Japan. What’s behind the crisis at Japan’s No. 3 automaker — and can a new CEO turn things around? This episode explores the…

May 23, 2025 | Japan’s sex industry boom: How tourism and the yen are changing everything

May 23, 2025 8m

Japan’s tourism boom is fueling more than just hotels and souvenir shops. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the rise in sex work targeting foreign visitors — a shift driven by…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Japan This Week have?

Japan This Week has published 105 episodes since May 2018, covering topics in News.

Is Japan This Week still active?

Japan This Week is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 16m.

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