Justin McCurry

Japan election: Sanae Takaichi’s ruling conservatives on course for landslide victory Exit polls point to public endorsement of new prime minister Sanae Takaichi

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

‘Sana-mania’ grips Japan as ultra-conservative Takaichi expected to secure election landslide The country’s first female PM is the object of a personality cult revolving around everything from her outfits and snacks to her favourite pink pen

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

‘You can’t progress without a struggle’: Ukrainian sumo star Aonishiki on the next step, and life back home The 21-year-old, who is close to becoming the first European yokozuna or grand champion in Japan, is motivated by messages from his war-torn home

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...

‘Work of art’: Japanese volleyballer takes sorry to extremes with headfirst sliding apology Yuji Nishida’s dramatic gesture after accidentally striking courtside judge with ball seen by millions

www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

As Japan experiences a surge in bear attacks, survivors share grisly stories of blood, bites and broken bones A record 13 people have died in bear maulings in Japan this year, with experts blaming food shortages as the animals venture further into residential areas

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...

Sanae Takaichi expected to become Japan’s first female PM after winning ruling party leadership Admirer of Margaret Thatcher beat her more moderate rival Shinjiro Koizumi to become leader of the Liberal Democratic party

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Hiroshima’s fading legacy: the race to secure survivor’s memories amid a new era of nuclear brinkmanship Eighty years on from the destruction of the city, registered survivors of the blast - known as hibakusha – have fallen below 100,000

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

‘As thrilling as driving a sports car’: the Tokyo capsule tower that gave pod-living penthouse chic They had portholes, cutting edge mod cons – and the ultra luxurious models even came with a free calculator. As Japan’s beloved Nakagin Capsule Tower resurfaces, we celebrate an architectural marvel

www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

Japan’s rice crisis - podcast Reged Ahmad speaks to the Guardian’s Japan and Korea correspondent, Justin McCurry, in Osaka about why a home-grown grain shortage is putting pressure on consumers and politicians, leading many Japane...

Japan has a prized home-grown rice industry but as @justinmmccurry.bsky.social explains, with skyrocketing prices, the future is uncertain for a culturally and politically significant crop. He takes us through the whys & what next. @australia.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Just finished this tremendous book by @justinmmccurry.bsky.social on Japanese keirin racing.

Informative and beautifully written by someone whose vast cycling and cultural knowledge shone through.

It’s only increased my desire to go and watch a meet live when I (eventually) get to Japan.

Thank you very much for the kind words, Simon! Let me know when you make it to Japan and we'll go to a keirin meet.

Okinawa was the bloodiest battle of the Pacific war. 80 years on, are the dead being betrayed? A quarter of Okinawan civilians died during the US invasion, some after being told to kill themselves. But today the legacy of the war dead is being complicated by the presence of tens of thousands of...

Guardian photographer David Levene and I travelled to Okinawa a couple of months ago to make this video/text/photography package to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa. A real team effort that would not have been possible without colleagues in Okinawa, London and Sydney.

Coffee, sandwiches, underwear, beer: a day in the life of Japan’s beloved konbini stores Convenience stores are a neat and functional retail institution in Japan, where customers can access the daily essentials

Our Tokyo correspondent, the wonderful Justin McCurry, spent a day living only on the food and drinks sold at Japan's konbini stores - the result, and the video, is delightful
www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...