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21.12.2025

The Day Sakamoto Secured Her Fifth National Title

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This page is an archive of main headlines from Japan for 21.12.2025.

It displays 30 headlines from many sources chronologically, as they appeared throughout the day, accompanied by AI overviews that were written in real time.

21.12.2025 โ‡ข The Day Sakamoto Secured Her Fifth National Title
โŒจOn December 21, Japanese editorial priority transitioned from governance and economic anxiety to national sporting achievement. Morning headlines remained focused on the fallout of sustained inflation, specifically the refusal of local municipalities to distribute government-issued rice vouchers due to high administrative fees, and the strategic pivot of major beef bowl chains toward the ramen market to offset rising costs. By the early afternoon, media attention shifted to the National Figure Skating Championships, where editors synchronized their reporting on Kaori Sakamotoโ€™s historic fifth consecutive title and her qualification for the Milano-Cortina Olympics.
In the political sphere, major outlets highlighted new polling showing Prime Minister Takaichi maintaining a robust approval rating between 67% and 75%, with public endorsement for the recent interest rate hike. Concurrently, NHK and TBS prioritized urgent seismic warnings following an M4 earthquake in Aomori, reporting on new research suggesting that M9-class megathrust events may occur at intervals of less than 100 years.
21.12.2025
09:16
ใ‚ใใ‚‰ใ‚ใชใ„ใƒ—ใƒฌใƒผใง2025ๅนดใฎๅคใ‚’็››ใ‚ŠไธŠใ’ใŸ้ซ˜ๆ ก็ƒๅ…ใŒใ€ๆฅๅนด3ๆœˆใซๅคง่ˆžๅฐใ‚’ๆŽงใˆใ‚‹ใƒ‘ใƒฉใ‚ขใ‚นใƒชใƒผใƒˆใซ่จ€่‘‰ใฎใƒใƒˆใƒณใ‚’ใคใชใ„ใ ใ€‚ใ€€็ฌฌ107ๅ›žๅ…จๅ›ฝ้ซ˜ๆ ก้‡Ž็ƒ้ธๆ‰‹ๆจฉใง็œŒๅฒ้˜œๅ•†ๆฅญ้ซ˜ใฎ4ๅผทๅ…ฅใ‚Šใซ่ฒข็Œฎใ—ใŸๆจชๅฑฑๆธฉๅคงๅณ็ฟผๆ‰‹๏ผˆ18๏ผ‰ใจใ€ใƒŸใƒฉใƒŽใƒปใ‚ณใƒซใƒ†ใ‚ฃใƒŠๅ†ฌๅญฃใƒ‘ใƒฉใƒชโ€ฆ
09:16 (00:16 in your timezone)
09:16
Kyodo News

Snowboarding: Yamada earns 1st World Cup win, Totsuka seals Olympic berth

Ryusei Yamada scored his maiden World Cup win and Yuto Totsuka booked his ticket to a third straight Winter Olympics as Japan grabbed gold and silver in the men's snowboard halfpipe final at Colorado's Copper Mountain on Friday.
09:16 (00:16 in your timezone)
09:48
Kyodo News

Figure skating: Kagiyama wins 2nd national title, books Olympic ticket

Yuma Kagiyama qualified for the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics by going back-to-back as Japanese men's national figure skating champion on Saturday.
09:48 (00:48 in your timezone)
10:06
ใ€Œๆ•ฐๅญ—็จผใ’ใ‚‹ใ€ใƒฌใ‚คใ‚ทใƒฃใƒซใƒปใƒ—ใƒญใƒ•ใ‚กใ‚คใƒชใƒณใ‚ฐใ‚’็”Ÿใ‚€ใ€ŒใƒŽใƒซใƒžๅˆถๅบฆใ€ใฎๅผŠๅฎณ
10:06 (01:06 in your timezone)
10:34

10:42 (01:42)โ‡ขFiscal Relief Fails the Kitchen Table

โŒจJapanese media focus is shifting toward political accountability and the economic impact of inflation. Editors prioritize the widening rift within the LDP-led government over Taiwan contingency responses (Sankei, Yahoo). Concurrently, coverage highlights the local refusal of government rice vouchers due to high fees, preferring direct cash, while experts warn that the ยฅ8.9 trillion relief package fails to address actual household hardship (Yomiuri, TBS).
10:48
โ– ้€ฃ่ผ‰ใ€Œๅธๅ›ฝใฎๅนปๅฝฑ๏ฝžๅฃŠใ‚Œใ‚†ใไธ–็•Œ็งฉๅบ๏ฝžไธญๅ›ฝใ€Žๆฑๆ˜‡่ฅฟ้™ใ€ใฎ้ญ…ๅŠ›ใจ็Ÿ›็›พใ€ใ€€ๅ—ใ‚ทใƒŠๆตทใชใฉใงๅŠ›ใซใ‚ˆใ‚‹็พ็Šถๅค‰ๆ›ดใ‚’ๆŽจใ—้€ฒใ‚ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใจๆ‰นๅˆคใ•ใ‚Œใ‚‹ไธญๅ›ฝใ€‚็ตŒๆธˆ็š„ใซใ‚‚ไป–ๅ›ฝใธใฎๆตธ้€ใถใ‚Šใฏใ™ใ•ใพใ˜ใ„ใ€‚ใŸใ ใ€็พ็Šถใงใฏ็ฑณๅ›ฝใซไปฃใ‚ใฃใฆไธ–็•Œใฎ่ฆ‡ๆจฉใ‚’ๆกใ‚‹ใคใ‚‚ใ‚Šใฏใชใ„ใจ่ชฌๆ˜Žใ™ใ‚‹โ€ฆ
10:48 (01:48 in your timezone)
11:15
ๆพๅฑ‹ใƒ•ใƒผใ‚บใƒ›ใƒผใƒซใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใƒณใ‚ฐใ‚น๏ผˆHD๏ผ‰ใจๅ‰้‡ŽๅฎถHDใŒใƒฉใƒผใƒกใƒณๅธ‚ๅ ดใงใ€Œๅ ดๅค–ๆˆฆใ€ใ‚’็นฐใ‚Šๅบƒใ’ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๆพๅฑ‹ใƒ•ใƒผใ‚บHDใฏใคใ‘้บบใ€Œๅ…ญๅŽ˜่ˆŽใ€ใฎๆพๅฏŒๅฃซ๏ผˆๆฑไบฌใƒปๅƒไปฃ็”ฐ๏ผ‰ใ‚’่ฒทๅŽใ™ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๅ‰้‡ŽๅฎถHDใ‚‚่ฒทๅŽใ—ใŸใƒฉใƒผใƒกใƒณใƒ–ใƒฉใƒณใƒ‰ใงๅ‡บๅบ—ๆ”ปๅ‹ขใ‚’ใ‹ใ‘ใ‚‹ใ€‚็‰›ไธผใซไฝฟใ†ใ‚ณใƒกใ‚„็‰›่‚‰ใฎไพกๆ ผ้ซ˜้จฐใง็‰›ไธผใซๆฌกใๅŽ็›Šๆบใฎ่‚ฒๆˆใซๅ‘ใ‘ใƒฉใƒผใƒกใƒณใ‚ทใƒ•ใƒˆใ‚’ๅŠ ้€Ÿใ•ใ›ใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚ ใ€Œใ‚ณใƒกใจ่‚‰ไธญๅฟƒใฎใƒใƒผใƒˆใƒ•ใ‚ฉใƒชใ‚ชใซๅฐ้บฆใ‚’ๅŠ ใˆใ€ๅ•†ๅ“ใ‚„ๅŽŸๆๆ–™ใฎๅคšๆง˜ๆ€งใ‚’ๆŒใŸใ›ใŸใ„ใ€ใ€‚ๆพๅฑ‹ใƒ•ใƒผใ‚บโ€ฆ
11:15 (02:15 in your timezone)
11:16
2025ๅนดใฏใ€ไธญๅ›ฝใŒๆ—ขๅญ˜ใฎๅ›ฝ้š›็งฉๅบใ‚’ๅค‰ใˆใฆใ‚†ใๆ„ๅฟ—ใ‚’่ฆ‹ใ›ใคใ‘ใ‚‹ๅนดใจใชใฃใŸใ€‚็ฑณๆฌงใซๅฏพๆŠ—ใ™ใ‚‹ๅŠ›ใ‚’ๆŒใคใซ่‡ณใฃใŸๅคงๅ›ฝใฏไฝ•ใ‚’็›ฎๆŒ‡ใ—ใ€ใใ“ใซๆ‡ธๅฟตใฏใชใ„ใฎใ‹ใ€‚ไธญๅ›ฝๅค–ไบคใซ่ฉณใ—ใ„ๅญฆ็ฟ’้™ขๅคงๅญฆใฎๆฑŸ่—คๅไฟๅญๆ•™ๆŽˆใซ่žใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€โ€•โ€•ไธญๅ›ฝใŒๅ›ฝๅค–ใธ็คบใ™ๅค–ไบคๅงฟๅ‹ขใŒใ€ใ‚ˆใ‚Šๅคงใใชโ€ฆ
11:16 (02:16 in your timezone)

11:17 (02:17)โ‡ขBeef Bowls Pivot to Wheat

โŒจJapanese media focus is shifting toward the survival strategies of businesses and households grappling with sustained inflation. Leading economic and regional outlets highlight a strategic pivot in the food industry, where major beef bowl chains are diversifying into the wheat-based ramen market to mitigate soaring beef and rice costs (Nikkei, Hokkaido). Meanwhile, public frustration grows as municipalities reject government rice vouchers due to high administrative fees (Yomiuri, TBS).
12:17
80ๅนดๅ‰ใฎๆ•—ๆˆฆๅพŒใ€้ˆดๆœจๆ”ฟๅญใ•ใ‚“๏ผˆ91๏ผ‰=็ฅžๅฅˆๅท็œŒ่—คๆฒขๅธ‚=ใฏใ€ๆ—งๆบ€ๅทž๏ผˆไธญๅ›ฝๆฑๅŒ—้ƒจ๏ผ‰ใ‹ใ‚‰ใฎๅผ•ใๆšใ’ใ‚’ไฝ“้จ“ใ—ใŸใ€‚ๆ „้คŠๅคฑ่ชฟใ‚„็—…ใงๆฌกใ€…ใจๅ‘ฝใ‚’่ฝใจใ™ๅนผใ„ๅผŸใ‚„ๅฆนใ€‚9ไบบใฎๅฎถๆ—ใฎใ†ใกใ€ๆ—ฅๆœฌใฎๆ•—ๆˆฆใ‹ใ‚‰ๆ•ฐใ‚ซๆœˆใง4ไบบใŒไบกใใชใฃใŸใ€‚้‹ญใ„่ƒธใฎ็—›ใฟใจใชใฃใฆ้ˆดๆœจใ•ใ‚“ใ‚’็”Ÿๆถฏโ€ฆ
12:17 (03:17 in your timezone)

12:19 (03:19)โ‡ขNagano's Fleet Feet Secure Consecutive Glory

โŒจJapanese media have pivoted toward a dual focus on sports achievement and political transition. Major outlets (Chunichi, NHK, Mainichi) are highlighting Nagano Higashi High Schoolโ€™s consecutive victory in the National High School Girls' Ekiden. Meanwhile, conservative outlets (Sankei) are framing the rise of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as a refreshing shift for the nation, contrasting her administration with the previous Ishiba cabinet's stagnation.
12:57

13:18 (04:18)โ‡ขYoung Harriers Race Through Kyoto

โŒจJapanese media focus has converged on the National High School Ekiden, with NHK and Chunichi Shimbun prioritizing the race dynamics in Kyoto. Following the girls' race, attention shifts to the boys' competition as Gakuhou Ishikawa maintains a lead. Concurrently, regional seismic activity in Aomori has prompted transit disruptions and renewed safety inspections of critical infrastructure, highlighting persistent domestic concerns regarding disaster readiness (TBS, NHK, Chunichi).
13:51
Kyodo News

Exhibition on late Ghibli animator Takahata a surprise hit in Paris

The first European exhibition dedicated to the life and works of the late Japanese animator Isao Takahata, who cofounded the acclaimed animation production company Studio Ghibli, has been a hit in Paris, exceeding expectations.
13:51 (04:51 in your timezone)

14:39 (05:39)โ‡ขGakuhou Ishikawa Shatters Kyoto Records

โŒจJapanese media have converged on the conclusion of the National High School Ekiden in Kyoto. Mainstream outlets (NHK, Mainichi, Chunichi) are highlighting Gakuhou Ishikawaโ€™s record-breaking victory in the boysโ€™ race, marking a historic win for Fukushima. Simultaneously, editors are maintaining focus on international security concerns, specifically the diplomatic stalemate regarding radar lock-on disputes with China and reports of North Korean involvement in the abduction of Ukrainian children (Yahoo, Sankei).
15:16
2016ๅนด็ง‹ใ€‚ๅŒ—้™ธๅœฐๆ–นใซไฝใ‚€ๅฅณๆ€ง๏ผˆ40๏ผ‰ใฏ็”ŸๅพŒ6ใ‚ซๆœˆใฎ้•ท็”ทใจ2ไบบใใ‚Šใง้Žใ”ใ™่‡ชๅฎ…ใง่ฟฝใ„่ฉฐใ‚ใ‚‰ใ‚Œใฆใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€ใ€Œใ ใ‚ใชๆฏ่ฆชใ ใ‚ˆใ€ใ€€ใ€Œๆญปใ‚“ใงใ—ใพใˆใ€ใ€€ใ€Œใ„ใชใใชใฃใฆใ—ใพใˆใ€ใ€€ๅคงๅญฆ็”Ÿใฎ้ ƒใ‹ใ‚‰ๆฒป็™‚ใ‚’ๅ—ใ‘ใฆใ„ใŸ็ตฑๅˆๅคฑ่ชฟ็—‡ใฎ็—‡็Šถใฎไธ€ใคใ€ๅนป่ดใŒใฒใฉใใชใฃใฆใ„โ€ฆ
15:16 (06:16 in your timezone)

16:17 (07:17)โ‡ขTakaichi's Youthful Mandate Holds Steady

โŒจJapanese editors are prioritizing the National Figure Skating Championships and the Takaichi administration's public standing. Sport-focused outlets highlight Nagaoka and Moriguchi's Olympic qualification (Hokkaido Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun). Meanwhile, political coverage centers on Prime Minister Takaichi's stable 67% approval rating and high support among youth, despite emerging policy friction between left-leaning opposition parties regarding her leadership (Mainichi Shimbun, TBS News, Sankei Shimbun).
17:03
17:26

17:42 (08:42)โ‡ขTakaichi Anchors Her Crisis Command

โŒจJapanese editors are prioritizing the institutional consolidation of the Takaichi administration, focusing on her move to the official residence to enhance crisis management (Sankei, TBS, Mainichi). While conservative outlets emphasize her stable 67% approval rating and youth support, broader coverage highlights a strategic 1 trillion yen investment in domestic AI development (NHK) and ongoing winter sports success in figure skating (Yomiuri, Hokkaido).
18:02
Kyodo News

Support rate for Japan PM Takaichi's Cabinet dips to 67.5%: Kyodo poll

The approval rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dipped to 67.
18:02 (09:02 in your timezone)
18:38
ใฏใ˜ใพใ‚Šใฏใ€10ๅ††็މใปใฉใฎๅคงใใ•ใฎ่„ฑๆฏ›ใ ใฃใŸใ€‚้ ญใฎใ†ใ—ใ‚ใ‚’่งฆใ‚‹ใจใ€ใƒ„ใƒซใƒ„ใƒซใจใ—ใŸ่งฆๆ„ŸใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚้ซชใฎๆฏ›ใŒๆŠœใ‘ๅง‹ใ‚ใฆใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€ๆฑไบฌ้ƒฝใซไฝใ‚€ๆญฆ็”ฐไฟกๅญใ•ใ‚“๏ผˆ51๏ผ‰ใฏๅฝ“ๆ™‚20ๆญณใ€‚ใƒใ‚นใ‚ฌใ‚คใƒ‰ใจใ—ใฆๅƒใ„ใฆใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€ใ€Œใ‚นใƒˆใƒฌใ‚นใ‹ใช๏ผŸใ€ใ€‚ๆœ€ๅˆใฏใใ†ๆ€ใฃใฆใ„ใŸใŒใ€ใฒโ€ฆ
18:38 (09:38 in your timezone)

18:54 (09:54)โ‡ขTakaichi Stabilizes Under Artificial Sunbeams

โŒจJapanese media are prioritizing the resilience of the Takaichi administration, noting her stable 67% approval rating amid a strategic 1 trillion yen investment in domestic AI development (Mainichi, Kyodo, NHK, Yahoo). Simultaneously, editors are highlighting domestic seasonal shifts, focusing on record-breaking warm temperatures in Miyagi and regional sporting achievements in the Mie Matsusaka Marathon and national figure skating championships (TBS, Chunichi, Yomiuri, Hokkaido).
19:06
ๆ—ฅๆœฌ็ตŒๆธˆๆ–ฐ่ž็คพใจใƒ†ใƒฌใƒ“ๆฑไบฌใฏ19ใ€œ21ๆ—ฅใซไธ–่ซ–่ชฟๆŸปใ‚’ๅฎŸๆ–ฝใ—ใŸใ€‚้ซ˜ๅธ‚ๆ—ฉ่‹—ๅ†…้–ฃใฎๆ”ฏๆŒ็އใฏ75%ใง11ๆœˆใฎๅ‰ๅ›ž่ชฟๆŸปใฎ75%ใ‹ใ‚‰ๆจชใฐใ„ใจใชใฃใŸใ€‚ใ€Œๆ”ฏๆŒใ—ใชใ„ใ€ใฏๅ‰ๅ›žใจๅŒใ˜ๅ€คใฎ18%ใ ใฃใŸใ€‚10ๆœˆใฎๅ†…้–ฃ็™บ่ถณๅพŒใ€3ใ‚ซๆœˆ้€ฃ็ถšใง7ๅ‰ฒๅฐใฎๅ†…้–ฃๆ”ฏๆŒ็އใ‚’็ถญๆŒใ—ใŸใ€‚ ๅ†…้–ฃใ‚’ๆ”ฏๆŒใ™ใ‚‹็†็”ฑใฎใƒˆใƒƒใƒ—ใฏใ€ŒไบบๆŸ„ใŒไฟก้ ผใงใใ‚‹ใ€๏ผˆ41%๏ผ‰ใ€2ไฝใฏใ€ŒๆŒ‡ๅฐŽๅŠ›ใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€๏ผˆ38%๏ผ‰ใจใชใฃใŸใ€‚ๆ”ฏๆŒใ—ใชใ„็†็”ฑใฏใ€ŒไบบๆŸ„ใŒไฟก้ ผใงใใชใ„ใ€๏ผˆ34%๏ผ‰ใŒๆœ€โ€ฆ
19:06 (10:06 in your timezone)
19:21
ใฏใ˜ใพใ‚Šใฏใ€10ๅ††็މใปใฉใฎๅคงใใ•ใฎ่„ฑๆฏ›ใ ใฃใŸใ€‚้ ญใฎใ†ใ—ใ‚ใ‚’่งฆใ‚‹ใจใ€ใƒ„ใƒซใƒ„ใƒซใจใ—ใŸ่งฆๆ„ŸใŒใ‚ใ‚‹ใ€‚้ซชใฎๆฏ›ใŒๆŠœใ‘ๅง‹ใ‚ใฆใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€ๆฑไบฌ้ƒฝใซไฝใ‚€ๆญฆ็”ฐไฟกๅญใ•ใ‚“๏ผˆ51๏ผ‰ใฏๅฝ“ๆ™‚20ๆญณใ€‚ใƒใ‚นใ‚ฌใ‚คใƒ‰ใจใ—ใฆๅƒใ„ใฆใ„ใŸใ€‚ใ€€ใ€Œใ‚นใƒˆใƒฌใ‚นใ‹ใช๏ผŸใ€ใ€‚ๆœ€ๅˆใฏใใ†ๆ€ใฃใฆใ„ใŸใŒใ€ใฒโ€ฆ
19:21 (10:21 in your timezone)

20:05 (11:05)โ‡ขTakaichi Anchored in High Approval

โŒจJapanese media are prioritizing the resilience of the Takaichi administration, noting her 75% approval rating in recent polling and public support for the Bank of Japan's interest rate hikes (Nikkei, Mainichi, Kyodo). Concurrently, editors are highlighting economic security through deepening Japan-EU cooperation on semiconductors and rare earths to counter regional supply chain pressures (Sankei). Domestic focus remains on record-breaking warmth and the National Figure Skating Championships (TBS, Yomiuri).

20:56 (11:56)โ‡ขThe Approaching Megathrust Rhythm

โŒจJapanese editors are balancing political maneuvering with national safety concerns. Major outlets analyze the Takaichi cabinet's sustained high approval ratings and the potential for the Democratic Party for the People to join the ruling coalition (Nikkei, Mainichi, Kyodo, Sankei). Simultaneously, NHK and TBS prioritize urgent warnings regarding the increased frequency of M9-class earthquakes and record-breaking winter warmth, signaling a focus on environmental and seismic risks.

21:50 (12:50)โ‡ขSakamoto's Fifth Blade Glides to Milano

โŒจJapanese editors are highlighting Kaori Sakamoto's historic fifth consecutive national title, securing her place for the Milano-Cortina Olympics (Yomiuri, Sankei, Hokkaido). Simultaneously, major outlets continue to emphasize high public support for the Takaichi administration, ranging from 67% to 75%, with specific praise for her leadership and the Bank of Japan's recent interest rate hike (Asahi, Nikkei, Kyodo).
22:16
ๆœๆ—ฅๆ–ฐ่ž็คพใฏ12ๆœˆ20ใ€21ใฎไธกๆ—ฅใ€ๅ…จๅ›ฝไธ–่ซ–่ชฟๆŸป๏ผˆ้›ป่ฉฑ๏ผ‰ใ‚’ๅฎŸๆ–ฝใ—ใŸใ€‚้ซ˜ๅธ‚ๆ—ฉ่‹—ๅ†…้–ฃใฎๆ”ฏๆŒ็އใฏ68%ใ€ไธๆ”ฏๆŒ็އใฏ19%ใ€‚ๅ†…้–ฃใŒ็™บ่ถณใ—ใŸ10ๆœˆใ‹ใ‚‰3ใ‚ซๆœˆ้€ฃ็ถšใง7ๅ‰ฒ่ฟ‘ใ„ๆ”ฏๆŒ็އใ‚’ไฟใฃใฆใ„ใ‚‹ใ€‚ๆ—ฅไธญ้–ขไฟ‚ใŒๆ‚ชๅŒ–ใ™ใ‚‹ใชใ‹ใ€ไธญๅ›ฝใซๅฏพใ™ใ‚‹้ฆ–็›ธใฎๅงฟๅ‹ขใ‚’ใ€Œ่ฉ•ไพกใ™ใ‚‹ใ€โ€ฆ
22:16 (13:16 in your timezone)

23:04 (14:04)โ‡ขFive Consecutive Glides for Sakamoto

โŒจJapanese media are prioritizing the sustained dominance of the Takaichi administration, as multiple major polls confirm approval ratings between 67% and 75% three months post-inauguration (Nikkei, Yomiuri, Asahi, Kyodo). Editors highlight public endorsement of her leadership and recent interest rate hikes. Simultaneously, sports reporting focuses on Kaori Sakamoto's historic fifth consecutive national title and third Olympic qualification (Sankei, Hokkaido, Yomiuri).