JapanOwnership & classification
Founded: 2000
Ownership
Japan Today is an English-language news website launched in September 2000 by Mark and Mary Devlin. In September 2007 GPlusMedia K.K. acquired 100% of JapanToday.com from Crisscross K.K., and the site has since been published by GPlusMedia (which also runs GaijinPot). In 2015 GPlusMedia itself was acquired by Fuji Media Holdings / the Fujisankei Communications Group, one of Japan's largest commercial media conglomerates, which is its ultimate corporate parent.
Funding
Japan Today is a free, advertising-supported site aimed at the foreign community in Japan, monetised through display advertising and the wider commercial operations of its parent GPlusMedia. It is not state-funded and does not run a hard paywall.
Affiliation & stance
Japan Today is a commercially owned outlet with no party or government control, which makes it INDEPENDENT, even though it ultimately sits inside the Fujisankei/Fuji Media commercial group. Its news desk and reader-comment culture are broadly centrist with no fixed partisan line, matching the site's INDEPENDENT / CENTER classification.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 547
84/100
Factual
78/100
Objective
756
Articles
752
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
M5.9 quake shakes eastern Japan, injuring more than 20 people
A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck eastern Japan, including the Tokyo area, early Sunday, causing injuries to over 20 people, mostly minor. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported the quake occurred at 2 a.m. in Ibaraki Prefecture at a depth of 70 kilometers, while the U.S. Geological Survey recorded it as 5.8. Officials noted that most victims were injured when they fell or collided with objects while startled during sleep. The event triggered emergency alerts and disrupted some train services, though bullet trains operated normally. No tsunami warning was issued, and there were no reports of nuclear facility issues. The government established a task force to evaluate potential damage.
Pegula dethrones Swiatek to reach Cincinnati final
In a tightly contested semifinal at the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Masters, Jessica Pegula defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. The match featured multiple breaks of serve and challenging weather conditions, including rain delays. Pegula showed resilience, capitalizing on Swiatek’s errors to secure victory and advance to the final. She will face either Sara Bejlek or Coco Gauff in the championship match. Meanwhile, France's Arthur Fils reached his first-ever Masters 1000 final after defeating Flavio Cobolli, where he will meet Frances Tiafoe. Both players expressed excitement about the upcoming final.
Israel says it has serious concerns with Hamas disarmament deal
Israel has expressed 'serious security concerns' to the White House over a proposed disarmament deal with Hamas, according to an Israeli official. These concerns follow Israeli military strikes in Gaza that killed at least 17 people, including children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesperson, Doron Spielman, stated that Israel believes Hamas is still focused on rebuilding its military rather than fully disarming. Spielman emphasized that Israel would not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas completely surrenders its weapons. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 20-point ceasefire plan that includes Hamas disarming, Israel withdrawing from Gaza, and establishing a new Palestinian government. However, the implementation of this plan faces numerous challenges and uncertainties.
In the Ukrainian attack on Belgorod killed six people, among the wounded children
On August 17, 2026, an Ukrainian missile attack struck the Russian region of Belgorod, killing six people and injuring four, including a 14-year-old child. The attack reportedly hit the village of Koloskovo in the Valuysky district, damaging a building and a vehicle. In addition, a woman was killed in another Ukrainian strike in Russia’s Astrakhan region, which targeted industrial infrastructure. According to French news agency AFP, at least 19 people were killed in mutual attacks between Ukraine and Russia over the weekend. Russia’s defense ministry described the Ukrainian strikes, some involving hundreds of drones, as the largest since the start of the year. One of the targets was a warehouse belonging to the Russian e-commerce company Wildberries, which Kyiv claims supplies parts for drones to the Russian military. Meanwhile, in southern Odessa Oblast, a Russian night attack on Izmail caused fires that have been extinguished. A civilian ship flying the flag of Tuva was damaged during the attack, leaving four people injured. Ukraine’s state energy company Naftogaz reported that Russia conducted 13 attacks on its facilities across Ukraine in the past week, targeting production and能源
Serena Williams will play mixed doubles with Carlos Alcaraz in her return to U.S. Open
Serena Williams will compete in mixed doubles at the U.S. Open alongside Carlos Alcaraz, marking her return to the tournament since 2022. The U.S. Tennis Association granted them a wild card entry, with the mixed doubles main draw starting Tuesday. Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, has not planned to play singles and instead focused on doubles, though she could still participate with her sister Venus. Alcaraz, the reigning U.S. Open men's champion, is returning after recovering from a wrist injury. The USTA also updated the field due to player withdrawals, adding several new teams including Americans Jessica Pegula and Taylor Fritz. The mixed doubles format was recently changed to attract top singles players, and the final field includes notable pairs like Sabalenka and Djokovic, Swiatek and Ruud, and others.
All Blacks beat South Africa 33-16 to snap Springboks' 12-test win streak
In a high-stakes rugby match at Ellis Park, New Zealand's All Blacks defeated South Africa's Springboks 33-16, ending the latter's 12-game winning streak. After trailing slightly in the first half, New Zealand mounted a strong second-half comeback, capitalizing on defensive resilience and effective set-piece play. Coach Dave Rennie praised the team's composure under pressure and highlighted the crucial role of the scrum. South Africa struggled with missed opportunities and tactical errors, including poor decision-making in the set-piece and two yellow card suspensions in the final stages. The victory positions New Zealand as favorites heading into the next test in Cape Town.
Carrick keeps calm despite Man Utd misery; big-spending Spurs crushed
Michael Carrick remained composed after Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Hull in their Premier League opener, despite the team's poor performance. Hull, returning to the top flight after seven years, overwhelmed United with two first-half goals, exposing defensive vulnerabilities. Carrick emphasized maintaining calm to avoid emotional outbursts, contrasting with the approach of his former manager. Meanwhile, Tottenham, having spent over £200 million on new signings, faced a 3-0 loss to Brentford, whose lower budget allowed them to exploit tactical weaknesses. Despite setbacks, both managers acknowledged the need for improvement as they navigate challenging starts to the season.
Former nursing assistant arrested for allegedly stealing hospital patient's money
A former nursing assistant at Komaki City Hospital in Aichi Prefecture, Akiko Goto, has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 3,000 yen from a patient's wallet in July. Police report that since August of last year, the hospital has experienced at least 20 cases of missing cash from patients' and staff members' wallets, totaling around 1.5 million yen. Goto, who left her position at the hospital on July 31, has denied the allegations. Authorities are now investigating whether she is connected to these other incidents.
Man accused of attempted murder escapes from hospital and is found dead in mountains
A 77-year-old man, Kiyoshi Okawa, who was indicted for attempted murder after allegedly attacking his wife with a hammer in Hakodate, Hokkaido, escaped from a hospital where he was undergoing cancer treatment. His body was discovered in the mountains approximately one kilometer from Mount Hakodate Observatory, with no visible external injuries. Authorities believe foul play is unlikely and plan to conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death. Okawa had been released from the hospital after his detention was suspended for medical reasons, but his disappearance was not publicly disclosed until two days after he went missing. The prosecutors' office did not provide further information regarding his movements or the circumstances of his death.
PM explains why she spends long hours in seclusion at her official residence
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has explained that she spends extended periods at her official residence due to its proximity to her office, which allows her to work efficiently and respond quickly to emergencies. The residence, originally built in 1929, was previously the prime minister's office before being replaced by a new building nearby. Takaichi emphasized that she uses the residence both as a place of work and for remote meetings with staff. However, her decision to prioritize work over traditional political engagement has drawn criticism, particularly regarding her lack of work-life balance and perceived negative impact on gender equality. Her support ratings have declined amid controversial policies, including changes to the Imperial House Law, and reports suggest she avoids parliamentary sessions, relying heavily on social media for communication. Despite historical significance and local legends about hauntings, Takaichi remains undeterred by the residence's past.
Foreign tourist attacked by bear near Lake Towada in Aomori
A foreign male tourist in his 30s was attacked by a bear near Lake Towada in Aomori Prefecture while walking near an observation deck. The incident occurred around 10:10 a.m., and the man sustained a bite to his right arm before being airlifted to a hospital. He was reported to be communicative after the attack. The bear's size and whether it was alone remain unclear. Local authorities have noted a recent rise in bear encounters across Japan, raising concerns among residents and visitors. Lake Towada, surrounded by mountains, is a popular destination for outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing.
Only 1 of 2 required train horns confirmed in fatal Japan accident
A fatal train accident occurred north of Tokyo on Thursday when an express train traveling at approximately 50 km/h struck and killed four workers in their 50s and 60s at Shin-Kanuma Station on the Tobu Nikko Line in Tochigi Prefecture. According to Tobu Railway Co., only one of the two required warning horn blasts from the train driver was confirmed to have occurred. The incident is under investigation, with police suspecting communication failures may have played a role. Relay lookouts were stationed near the worksite to warn workers of approaching trains, but one lookout reportedly failed to communicate with the one closer to the work area. Ten workers from multiple companies were present at the site, and one of the deceased was the site supervisor. A 45-member investigative team has been assembled to determine if charges of professional negligence leading to death will be filed.
Why the bond market is flexing its muscles, and why everyone needs to care
The article explains how the bond market, particularly U.S. Treasurys, is influencing economic conditions by pushing up interest rates. Rising bond yields have led to increased borrowing costs, affecting mortgages, car loans, and savings returns. The U.S. Treasury recently intervened due to concerns over high yields potentially slowing consumer spending. The piece highlights growing competition from higher-yielding bonds in countries like Japan, the UK, and Germany, making U.S. bonds less dominant. This shift impacts everyday financial decisions, as mortgage rates closely track the 10-year Treasury yield, which has risen amid inflation fears and geopolitical tensions.