Peter Landers
@peterjlanders.bsky.social
Asia business and finance editor, The Wall Street Journal. Based in Singapore after a decade as Tokyo bureau chief.
At the 1885 house of spice merchant Tan Yeok Nee, newly restored and open to the public in Singapore. This carp serves as a gutter on a rainy day.
November 2, 2025 at 12:19 PM
At the 1885 house of spice merchant Tan Yeok Nee, newly restored and open to the public in Singapore. This carp serves as a gutter on a rainy day.
National Orchid Garden, Singapore
November 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
National Orchid Garden, Singapore
Corporate jargon peeve of the day -- why would a company talk about increasing DPS? Of course the dividend is per share. You could just say "increase the dividend."
October 23, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Corporate jargon peeve of the day -- why would a company talk about increasing DPS? Of course the dividend is per share. You could just say "increase the dividend."
Not a perfect analogy by any means, but Ishin could turn into a kind of Japanese CSU to the LDP’s CDU, with Osaka substituting for Bavaria.
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
「高市自民」へ急旋回 維新の「悲願」へ水面下で交渉、連立協議へ：朝日新聞
自公の連立解消からわずか5日。自民党と日本維新の会の党首会談で、連立協議を16日から開始することが決まり、事態が急展開した。政権維持と政策実現で利害が一致した形だ。 党首会談は自民側の呼びかけで開か…
digital.asahi.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Not a perfect analogy by any means, but Ishin could turn into a kind of Japanese CSU to the LDP’s CDU, with Osaka substituting for Bavaria.
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
It might be a moot point by now, but the Chinese rare-earth export restrictions released last week are ambiguous about what they cover, so far as I can tell. Let's take a look.
October 13, 2025 at 3:11 AM
It might be a moot point by now, but the Chinese rare-earth export restrictions released last week are ambiguous about what they cover, so far as I can tell. Let's take a look.
Japanese media are great at doing prep copy. Here's an Asahi Q&A on Susumu Kitagawa's research, published within minutes of the Nobel announcement. digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
【そもそも解説】ノーベル賞の北川さんの研究「多孔性金属錯体」とは：朝日新聞
今年のノーベル化学賞に、京都大の北川進特別教授が選ばれた。北川さんの業績に、「多孔性金属錯体の開発への貢献」がある。一体どんな研究なのか。 Q 多孔性金属錯体って何？ A 内部に無数の小さな穴が規則…
digital.asahi.com
October 8, 2025 at 10:26 AM
Japanese media are great at doing prep copy. Here's an Asahi Q&A on Susumu Kitagawa's research, published within minutes of the Nobel announcement. digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
The former imperial universities have always punched way above their weight relative to their virtually nonexistent international name recognition (except Todai) and terrible pay for the professors. I’m referring to Hokkaido, Tohoku, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and Kyushu universities.
Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance.
Trio Wins Nobel Prize in Medicine for Discoveries on Immune System
Mary Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi share this year’s award.
on.wsj.com
October 6, 2025 at 10:55 AM
The former imperial universities have always punched way above their weight relative to their virtually nonexistent international name recognition (except Todai) and terrible pay for the professors. I’m referring to Hokkaido, Tohoku, Nagoya, Osaka, Kyoto and Kyushu universities.
Takaichi: “I will throw out work-life balance. Work, work, work, work.”
October 4, 2025 at 6:06 AM
Takaichi: “I will throw out work-life balance. Work, work, work, work.”
Sanae Takaichi wins LDP vote. Likely next prime minister
October 4, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Sanae Takaichi wins LDP vote. Likely next prime minister
Itaru Ōishi defends the Japanese practice of trying to avoid shikori (bad feelings) after an election. www.nikkei.com/article/DGKK...
競争と協調のさじ加減 - 日本経済新聞
政治記者になって初めての自民党総裁選は1987年にあった。本社にいて現場の記者の電話を受け「何時何分 誰と誰が会う」という図をつくった。いまでいうタイムラインを作成しただけなので経験したというのもおこがましいが、総裁選の話題になると、このときのことを思い出す。厳密には中曽根康弘首相の総裁任期は前年に満了していたのだが、このときは総裁選がなかった。衆参同日選を勝利に導いた功績を考慮し、当時の党則
www.nikkei.com
September 21, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Itaru Ōishi defends the Japanese practice of trying to avoid shikori (bad feelings) after an election. www.nikkei.com/article/DGKK...
How one editor did it:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | These editor’s notes are poison. I learned from every drop.
Working with Starling Lawrence, who died last month, was a bracing course in a vanishing art.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 17, 2025 at 12:14 AM
How one editor did it:
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Not qualified to say much about the Beijing parade, but if you ask clarinets that have been out in the heat for hours to do a high C to D trill with RH key, you’re asking for intonation problems. And that’s what they got. Also noteworthy that they didn’t standardize the ligatures.
September 7, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Not qualified to say much about the Beijing parade, but if you ask clarinets that have been out in the heat for hours to do a high C to D trill with RH key, you’re asking for intonation problems. And that’s what they got. Also noteworthy that they didn’t standardize the ligatures.
Taipei metro goes 100 times farther than NY subway before a breakdown, on average.
(Source: Singapore Land Transit Authority cited in Straits Times)
(Source: Singapore Land Transit Authority cited in Straits Times)
September 6, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Taipei metro goes 100 times farther than NY subway before a breakdown, on average.
(Source: Singapore Land Transit Authority cited in Straits Times)
(Source: Singapore Land Transit Authority cited in Straits Times)
Today’s Connections puzzle (spoiler) hinges on people knowing that 7-Eleven is a place to fill up the gas tank. It is, but largely because of a relatively recent deal. Another reason to read a quality business publication www.wsj.com/articles/mar...
Marathon Petroleum to Sell Gas-Station Chain to 7-Eleven Owners for $21 Billion
Fuel maker Marathon Petroleum agreed to sell its gas stations to the owners of the 7-Eleven convenience-store chain for $21 billion in the largest U.S. energy-related deal of the year.
www.wsj.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Today’s Connections puzzle (spoiler) hinges on people knowing that 7-Eleven is a place to fill up the gas tank. It is, but largely because of a relatively recent deal. Another reason to read a quality business publication www.wsj.com/articles/mar...
I wrote about a $4 cup of gelato in Beijing, and what it says about doing business in China's deflationary era. (Also served as hand model for the pic, in the absence of a professional).
www.wsj.com/business/ret...
www.wsj.com/business/ret...
A Local Ice-Cream Chain Shows What American Brands Are Doing Wrong in China
During economic doldrums, products don’t necessarily have to be cheap, but they need to show value.
www.wsj.com
August 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I wrote about a $4 cup of gelato in Beijing, and what it says about doing business in China's deflationary era. (Also served as hand model for the pic, in the absence of a professional).
www.wsj.com/business/ret...
www.wsj.com/business/ret...
It’s become fashionable to celebrate the Edo- and prewar-era brothel district Yoshiwara as a hub of cultural expression—a kind of TikTok before its time—but don’t forget the human trafficking and sexual violence that made Yoshiwara possible, says a scholar.
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
吉原遊廓、増す「文化発信地」の側面 「性の尊厳見失わせないか」：朝日新聞
近年、江戸時代の「吉原」に代表される遊廓（ゆうかく）（遊郭）文化への関心が高い。テレビドラマやアニメ、漫画、展覧会などを通して「先進的な文化の発信地」という印象が流布している。だが、日本近世史の専門…
digital.asahi.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s become fashionable to celebrate the Edo- and prewar-era brothel district Yoshiwara as a hub of cultural expression—a kind of TikTok before its time—but don’t forget the human trafficking and sexual violence that made Yoshiwara possible, says a scholar.
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
digital.asahi.com/articles/AST...
“[I]n this island of gleaming modernity, foreign workers are still transported on the backs of lorries like cargo,” writes Bhavan Jaipragas of the Straits Times. “This is one practice I simply cannot bring myself to defend.” (page A22 today)
August 10, 2025 at 3:05 AM
“[I]n this island of gleaming modernity, foreign workers are still transported on the backs of lorries like cargo,” writes Bhavan Jaipragas of the Straits Times. “This is one practice I simply cannot bring myself to defend.” (page A22 today)
About one in every 30 babies born in Japan is not a Japanese citizen. www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
日本人90万人減、前年比で最大 外国人は35万人増で過去最多367万人【人口動態調査】 - 日本経済新聞
総務省は6日、住民基本台帳に基づく人口を発表した。1月1日時点の日本人は1億2065万3227人で前年から90万8574人減った。16年連続のマイナスで、前年比の減少幅は調査を始めた1968年以来、最大となった。日本人人口はピークだった2009年から642万2956人減った。少子高齢化の進展により、死亡数が出生数を上回る「自然減」が拡大した。死亡者数は159万9850人と過去最多で、出生者数の
www.nikkei.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
About one in every 30 babies born in Japan is not a Japanese citizen. www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
Visiting Beijing, I had a chance to see Jensen Huang in person at a lengthy press conference. My report:
www.wsj.com/world/asia/n...
www.wsj.com/world/asia/n...
Nvidia CEO Lavishes Praise on China in Beijing, Drawing Rock-Star Reception
Jensen Huang extolled China’s technological advances and said President Trump wouldn’t mind his meetings in Beijing.
www.wsj.com
July 16, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Visiting Beijing, I had a chance to see Jensen Huang in person at a lengthy press conference. My report:
www.wsj.com/world/asia/n...
www.wsj.com/world/asia/n...
Social-media posts about foreigners in Japan are full of bogus claims, says Nikkei — crime and illegal overstays have fallen sharply (despite greater numbers), and foreigners pay a lot more into the health system than they use.
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
【参議院選挙2025】外国人の滞在増加で治安悪化？ 刑法犯は20年で大幅減 - 日本経済新聞
20日投開票の参院選で、国内に滞在する外国人への規制のあり方が争点として急浮上している。背景には外国人の増加が治安の悪化につながったり、日本の制度を不正に利用したりしているとの主張がある。データをみると必ずしも実態に沿った認識といえず、イメージが先行している可能性がある。法務省は2024年3月公表の調査で外国人の増加が「地域の環境（治安、風紀等）に悪い影響があると思うか」を尋ねた。「そう思う」
www.nikkei.com
July 15, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Social-media posts about foreigners in Japan are full of bogus claims, says Nikkei — crime and illegal overstays have fallen sharply (despite greater numbers), and foreigners pay a lot more into the health system than they use.
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
Burger King Japan collaborating with the Sumo Association on this burger. (1,876 calories, per Nikkei)
June 30, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Burger King Japan collaborating with the Sumo Association on this burger. (1,876 calories, per Nikkei)
I bought the magazine Ikkojin 一個人for the first time last month for its feature on Japan’s ancient history and they did a fine job. Sad to see that its final issue has come out today.
June 16, 2025 at 4:00 PM
I bought the magazine Ikkojin 一個人for the first time last month for its feature on Japan’s ancient history and they did a fine job. Sad to see that its final issue has come out today.
Distinguished ex-WSJer Bob Davis and American-Japanese author Ian Hideo Levy are second cousins.
momentmag.com/searching-fo...
momentmag.com/searching-fo...
Searching for Levy Hideo
Levy Hideo, born Ian Hideo Levy, left the United States and gave birth to a genre in Japan known as “border-crossing” literature.
momentmag.com
May 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
Distinguished ex-WSJer Bob Davis and American-Japanese author Ian Hideo Levy are second cousins.
momentmag.com/searching-fo...
momentmag.com/searching-fo...
About 70 years after people stopped using the telegraph, a Japanese company is removing the word from its name. Also getting rid of “Telephone.” group.ntt/en/newsrelea...
group.ntt
May 9, 2025 at 6:55 AM
About 70 years after people stopped using the telegraph, a Japanese company is removing the word from its name. Also getting rid of “Telephone.” group.ntt/en/newsrelea...
For nearly 40 years, Japan's biggest cigarette maker has had a pharmaceutical division and it discovered some FDA-approved treatments including a cancer drug (trametinib). Now that era may be coming to a close: www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...
塩野義製薬、JT傘下の鳥居薬品を買収へ 1500億円規模 - 日本経済新聞
塩野義製薬が日本たばこ産業（JT）傘下の鳥居薬品を買収する方針を固めたことが7日、わかった。JTや一般株主からTOB（株式公開買い付け）などを通じ全株を取得する。JTは医薬事業から撤退し本業に集中する。買収総額は1500億円規模とみられる。【関連記事】国内の製薬業界では2月に米投資ファンドのベインキャピタルが三菱ケミカルグループ傘下の田辺三菱製薬を買収することを決めている。国内の医薬品市場は頭
www.nikkei.com
May 7, 2025 at 6:53 AM
For nearly 40 years, Japan's biggest cigarette maker has had a pharmaceutical division and it discovered some FDA-approved treatments including a cancer drug (trametinib). Now that era may be coming to a close: www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZ...