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 288
85/100
Factual
79/100
Objective
616
Articles
616
reports
Top stories
Most covered right now
World Cup round-up: Messi breaks scoring record, Algeria survive, but Jordan are eliminated
Morocco won the world's respect after eliminating the Netherlands
Spain held to a draw by Cape Verde in World Cup clash
Elite Swedish strike force delivers Tunisian defence a reality check
In a game with 5 goals in 23 minutes, Switzerland knocks out Bosnia and wins 1st in the Cup; see best moments
Mexico's victory over South Korea has secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup.
Ecuador loses to Ivory Coast
Curacao leaves Germany speechless: this was the first goal in their history at the 2026 World Cup
2026 World Cup: Czech Republic lose to South Africa
Recent coverage
An American gets the maximum amount of recovery time at Wimbledon.
The article discusses the scheduling of the first-round doubles match at Wimbledon involving American tennis player Serena Williams and her sister Venus Williams against the Argentine-Colombian pair Solana Sierra and Camila Osorio. The match was initially scheduled for Thursday and Friday but has been postponed due to Serena's injury during her singles match. Tournament organizer Andy Murray (likely a misstatement, as Andy Murray is a British player, and the correct name might be someone like Ashley Barker or another official) stated they are giving Serena as much time as possible to recover. They ruled out postponing the match to later dates unless necessary for safety or tournament flow. The match is expected to take place on a larger court to accommodate the large crowd attracted by Serena and Venus, who are major stars. Serena returned to professional tennis after four years, but she lost her first singles match and injured her knee. She did not attend a press conference afterward due to health reasons and expressed her commitment to participating in the doubles event. Serena and Venus have won six doubles titles together, including a title in 2016.
Ukraine reports two dead after night attacks by Russia, with the death toll in Kiev rising to 30.
At least two people were killed and eight injured in Russian air strikes on the Sumy region and Kryvyj Rih in Ukraine during the night of Thursday to Friday, according to Ukrainian authorities. This follows a large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv earlier in the week which killed at least 30 people and injured around 100 others. In response to the attacks, Ukraine conducted missile strikes on Belgorod in Russia, causing a fire at an energy facility and killing one woman, according to Russian media. The overnight strike on the city of Romny in the Sumy region hit a residential building, killing two women and injuring a man, reported regional administrator Oleh Hryhorov via Telegram. Another seven people were injured in a missile strike on Kryvyj Rih, according to military city administrator Oleksandr Vilkul. In Kyiv, teams discovered three more dead bodies during the night, bringing the total number of victims to 30, according to Reuters citing Ukrainian health authorities. Kyiv's military administrator Tymur Tkačenko stated that the attack injured 99 people. Moscow claimed the extensive attack was a response to Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, including those carried
In the tropical Pacific, El Niño conditions have set in, researchers say.
The article reports that researchers from New Zealand’s Earth Sciences organization (ESNZ) have identified conditions consistent with the El Niño climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific. They warn that impacts on New Zealand’s weather are likely to intensify over the coming months. The ESNZ joined other organizations in Australia, Japan, and the U.S. in confirming the development of El Niño, which is expected to reach strong intensity between July and September. The effects are projected to peak during the Southern Hemisphere summer, spanning late 2023 into early 2024. According to lead researcher Chris Brandolini, this El Niño event is at least comparable in strength to five of the strongest recorded El Niños in modern history. The article outlines regional rainfall expectations, noting potential below-average precipitation in some areas and above-normal levels in others. It also mentions possible temperature fluctuations and increased wind variability later in the year. Additionally, it notes two lower-probability risks: sudden stratospheric warming and the occurrence of a tropical cyclone outside the typical season, both historically linked to El Niño. Brandolini connects the
We've drawn a line under the first part of the football World Cup: Messi is waiting for Ronaldo
The FIFA World Cup has moved into its second phase, with teams now eliminated and every match carrying significant weight. The first 18 days of the expanded tournament, which includes 48 nations, have delivered exciting moments, with some teams impressing while others disappointing. The introduction of breaks for rest has been expected to bring additional revenue, potentially adding 500 million euros to FIFA’s coffers. Fans have seen more goals than average over the past decade, with 215 goals scored in regular time across three matches. France leads the scoring table with the highest goal difference, maintaining its position among top favorites. Cristiano Ronaldo surpassed Eusebio’s record for Portugal, while Lionel Messi continues to lead the scoring charts with six goals. There is speculation about whether Kylian Mbappé could surpass Messi’s all-time record if he scores 19 goals. The competition promises more thrilling matches, especially between Messi and Ronaldo, though both face challenging paths to the final.
Putin recognizes the oil map for the first time
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time that Russia is building 'some oil reserves' during a meeting focused on energy issues. He emphasized the need to strengthen domestic oil production and increase output. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continued their attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, detonating an oil purification plant in the southern Krasnodar region, which produces around four million tons of crude oil annually. The Krasnodar region is one of Russia's largest oil-producing areas located near the Black Sea. On Tuesday, Ukrainian forces launched large-scale air strikes on Sevastopol, the largest city on Crimea, including attacks on oil facilities. In response, Russia, which annexed Crimea in 2014, has restricted fuel sales to the public to counteract the energy shortages. According to reports, these attacks have had no impact on the front line. During an interview with a Russian state television station, Putin described the Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil infrastructure as an attempt to destabilize Russian society. He stated that Ukraine's goal was to halt the deployment of Russian military units to improve their position in arms control talks.
Husband, wife go on trial for fatally abusing their 2-year-old daughter
A 26-year-old father and mother are facing trial for the fatal abuse of their 2-year-old daughter, Runa. The couple pleaded guilty to charges of abusive treatment and failure to provide adequate medical care, which led to Runa’s death. According to court proceedings, Runa was found unresponsive after suffering from heatstroke, with visible injuries including bruises and a fractured jaw. Medical professionals noted the severity of her condition, and the police were informed by the parents that they avoided taking Runa to the hospital due to fears of suspicion of abuse. Authorities also stated that the couple neglected her basic needs, including proper nutrition, and physically assaulted her. Prosecutors described the family dynamics as using the child as an 'outlet for stress.'
Koizumi to attend NATO summit events next week
Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced plans to attend the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he will participate in events alongside NATO leaders. The visit marks a significant step in Japan's expanding security collaboration with NATO, particularly in response to global security challenges such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's military activities. Koizumi will become the first Japanese defense minister to attend a NATO defense industry forum and a working dinner of defense ministers. His participation highlights the growing strategic alignment between NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The summit will focus on collective security, defense policy, and strengthening cooperation in maintaining international stability.
Australian prime minister condemns delay of changes to child social media ban
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized senators for delaying legislative changes to a social media ban targeting children under 16. The proposed amendments would empower the eSafety Commissioner to demand documents from tech companies, enabling enforcement of the ban on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. The delay risks allowing platforms to delete evidence, according to Albanese. The bill also increases potential fines for non-compliance and allows the commissioner to seek information from third-party age verification services. Opposition figures, including Greens Senator David Shoebridge and Liberal Party spokesperson Sarah Henderson, expressed skepticism, arguing the measures lack practical impact and are insufficiently stringent. The law, enacted in 2024, has seen over 5 million children affected, though implementation challenges persist.
Switzerland moves on with 2-0 win over Algeria
Switzerland defeated Algeria 2-0 in a World Cup match, advancing to the round of 16. Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye scored the goals for Switzerland. They will face the winner of the Colombia-Ghana match in the next stage of the tournament. This marks Switzerland's first knockout-round win since 1938. Algeria, making their return to the World Cup since 2014, was eliminated after losing to Germany in the previous tournament.
CNN: Why the future of oil prices will depend on China
The future of global oil prices may depend heavily on China, which has taken several measures to protect its economy from the effects of the conflict in Iran, which has restricted access to over 11 million barrels of oil per day. Through reducing imports, utilizing strategic reserves, and promoting clean energy, Beijing has absorbed much of the pressure from high prices, contributing to stabilizing the global market. Analysts estimate that China acts as an 'invisible regulatory force' in the oil market, with its ability to reduce imports by up to 3 million barrels daily—nearly equal to Japan’s total demand—helping prevent price spikes despite reduced supply due to the conflict. The Chinese government has created reserves exceeding 1 billion barrels and limited exports of refined products like gasoline and diesel to ensure domestic sufficiency and reduce international demand. Additionally, rapid development of electric vehicles has decreased oil consumption by approximately 1 million barrels per day. However, the International Energy Agency warns that potential re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz could lead to oversupply next year, potentially leading to replenishment or even growth
Ohtani homers to lead Dodgers' offensive onslaught in 9-4 win over A's
In a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oakland Athletics, Shohei Ohtani hit a three-run homer to help the Dodgers secure a 9-4 victory. Ohtani, along with Max Muncy and Andy Pages, contributed significantly to the offense, with each player recording two hits. The game took place at the Athletics' temporary home venue, Sutter Health Park, where the Dodgers, leading the Major League Baseball standings, received strong support from the crowd. The Athletics struggled offensively, losing their seventh game in nine, while the Dodgers' pitcher Eric Lauer performed well despite allowing three runs and nine hits. The game featured several notable moments, including Colby Thomas hitting a home run for the Athletics and rookie player Joshua Kuroda-Grauer achieving his first career hit.
Ruling party lawmaker rejects female monarch, cites marriage pressure
A senior member of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Hirofumi Nakasone, expressed opposition to allowing Princess Aiko, the only child of Emperor Naruhito, to ascend the throne under Japan's current Imperial House Law, which restricts succession to male heirs. Nakasone argued that a female monarch would face significant societal pressures, including difficulty finding a spouse and ensuring the continuation of the imperial lineage. The debate over gender-neutral succession has intensified as the imperial family continues to shrink, with only a few male members remaining. While public opinion largely supports allowing a female emperor, the conservative LDP remains hesitant, emphasizing adherence to existing laws. Nakasone stressed the importance of understanding legal frameworks before making changes, cautioning against hasty decisions driven by popular sentiment.
Seven reasons I fear for England against Mexico
The article analyzes England's potential challenges against Mexico in the World Cup, focusing on tactical and personnel issues within the team. It highlights concerns over defensive vulnerabilities, particularly on the right flank, where players like Noni Madueke and Djed Spence struggle with consistency and injuries. The piece critiques the selection of right-backs and the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold, suggesting these choices contribute to England's fragility. It also addresses Jordan Pickford's inconsistent performances and the impact of Mexico's forwards, including Raul Jimenez, who have scored against Pickford. The article further discusses the instability in central defense, noting Nico O’Reilly's struggles and the lack of a clear strategy to counter opponents' tactical shifts, such as those used by DR Congo. Finally, it questions the decision to keep Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson together in midfield, arguing that Kobbie Mainoo might offer better value.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
Serena Williams calls anti-doping system 'grueling' and says 'I hate it'
Taiwan not 'provoking' China; hopes new U.S. arms sale package can be approved soon, president says
