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The article focuses on how Rural Towns Keep Japan on a Conservative Track. Topics discussed include the mountain village of Chizu explains a lot about how one party has kept a virtual lock on power in Japan for close to seven decades; and the village, in western Japan, has long been in decline. Its population has dwindled to 6,600 people, close to half of them elderly.

The article reports on the support of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Sanae Takaichi to lead the governing Liberal Democratic Party in 2021.

The article reports on the restrictions imposed on Carlos Ghosn, the former chief of the Nissan-Renault-Mitsubishi automobile alliance, as he awaits trial in Japan, including the avoidance of any contact with his wife, Carole, while he is out on bail. Japanese prosecutors assert that Ghosn and his wife could conspire to destroy evidence related to allegations that the executive enriched himself with Nissan's funds. They also claim that Carole had disparaged the Japanese legal system.

The article focuses on the climate change has spurred more torrential rains in Japan, causing deadly flooding and mudslides in a nation with many rivers and mountains. Topics include flooding and landslides killed 237 people across 14 prefectures in western Japan; and the coronavirus pandemic is adding an extra layer of complexity.

The article reports on the 2020 coronavirus outbreak aboard the luxury cruise ship, Diamond Princess that was going to the port in Yokohama, Japan. Topics discussed include the number of people aboard the cruise ship infected by the disease, recollection of guests on every encounter that might have exposed them to the virus in the days before the ship's lockdown, and conditions of both guests and crews during the quarantine.

The article discusses the decision by a Japanese court to acquit three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (Tepco) who had been accused of criminal negligence related to the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The court acquitted Tsunehisa Katsumata, Sakae Muto and Ichiro Takekuro for their roles in the meltdown. The ruling has cleared the company of criminal liability.

The article focuses on South Korea's decision to extend the intelligence-sharing pact General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with Japan further before its deadline on November 23, 2019, with reference to pressure by the U.S. administration on South Korea in this regard.

The article reports that the North Korea have launched at least one ballistic missile toward waters near Japan on October 16, 2019, just after announcing hat it has agreed to resume long-stalled talks with the U.S. over its nuclear weapons program.