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March 21st, 2019

A new era

After a turbulent three decades, Japan welcomes a new emperor and a chance to reset

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The Big Story

A new emperor, a new era. A new Japan?

After an Imperial age marked by stagnation, nation hopes for a "reset"

Emperor Akihito greets crowds at his last New Year's public appearance on Jan. 2. When succeeded by his son, Naruhito, on May 1, it will mark the beginning of a new imperial era for Japan.
Crown Prince Naruhito, left, and Crown Princess Masako, right, pictured in full imperial dress ahead of their wedding in 1993. (Courtesy of Imperial Household Agency)
The Big Story

Oxford-educated prince to take baton from popular emperor

Year of gilded ceremonies rings in Japan's next age

An XAG drone sprays crops (Photo courtesy of XAG)
Startups in Asia

Chinese startup sows seeds of farm revolution with drones and AI

XAG aims to ease grueling work of country's aging rural population

Thai Union gets half its sales from canned tuna, but it is also looking to expand its lineup of more valuable products. (Photo by Kento Awashima)
Fisheries

Thai Union aims to turn tuna heads into gold

Seafood giant sees fish oil and other high-margin items as key to growth

Chinese display maker BOE Technology Group has put pressure on rivals such as LG Display and Japan Display since joining the Apple supply chain.
Trade war

Apple's Chinese suppliers overtake US for first time

iPhone maker's mainland ties deepened despite trade war

Before becoming Lippo Karwaci's chief executive, founding family scion John Riady headed a group e-commerce venture, with limited success. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Companies

Lippo heir takes helm of Indonesia developer, ready to raise $1bn

John Riady assumes CEO post after Lippo Karawaci is hit with credit downgrades

An Oyo hotel in Noida, near New Delhi. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Companies

Oyo pledges $800m to upgrade hotels in India and China

SoftBank-backed unicorn uses enlarged war chest to bolster presence

A deliveryman for an Alibaba logistics unit checks the status of a parcel in Lhasa. The e-commerce giant has also established an investment unit in the city.
China tech

China tech giants elbow into fast-growing Tibet

Tencent and Alibaba set up shop 60 years on from revolt

Renault Chairman Jean-Dominique Senard said he isn't considering a merger with Nissan now but does favor "a merging of our cultures." (Photo by Tallulah Lutkin)
Interview

Renault's Senard signals shift in auto alliance's sales focus

New chairman says merger with Nissan not on agenda now

Stream article image
Companies

Ping An beats profit view as insurance business gathers pace

Chinese insurer announces buyback for employee stock ownership plan

Lupin's North America sales jumped 30%. Sales in the U.S. too surged 30% to $218 million.
Companies

FDA again faults India's Lupin

Quality issues coincide with flagging US sales, weak drug pipeline

SGX has been relying on derivatives to grow revenues and profits in recent years.
Nikkei Markets

Singapore Exchange hurt by HKEX's China derivatives move

Competition could eat into SGX's most lucrative business

© Illustration by Daniel Garcia
Asia Insight

Widodo's state-enterprise reform skirts election-year layoffs

Critics say painless restructuring offers insufficient efficiency gains

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang at the National People's Congress in Beijing (Photo by Taro Yokosawa)
China People's Congress

Xi takes twin track approach to China's challenges

Beijing acts tough on foreign policy while taking steps to ease economic woes

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan hope to launch a joint visa soon that will allow ease of travel between the two countries.
International relations

Joint visa plan opens doors for Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

Easier travel between the two signals the start of warmer ties in region

Residents line up with containers as they wait for water trucks in Mandaluyong, in Metro Manila, on March 13.
International relations

Manila's water shortage turns spotlight on China-funded dam

Duterte's government seeks to fast-track new water source for Philippine capital

Foreign investors have become nervous over Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's tax reform.
Economy

Duterte's tax reform puts brake on foreign investments

Philippine FDI fall for first time since 2015 as investors await clarity on policy moves

A student assembles a model airplane at a secondary school in Singapore.
Politics

Singapore eases up on school testing to foster creativity

World's top exam performer seeks to boost competitiveness in information economy

Taiwan's youth-led Sunflower Movement in 2014 was sparked by a services trade agreement with mainland China.
Politics

Taiwan youth lose anti-China fury, 5 years after Sunflower Movement

Beijing's economic incentives sink in ahead of general elections

Pro-independence supporters take part in a New Year's Day march in Hong Kong. Uncertainty over the territory's political future is one reason why many young residents want to leave.
Politics

Goodbye Hong Kong: Territory sees rise in prospective emigrants

Political qualms and bad living conditions drive young people overseas

Kim Jong Un will see what comes out of the expected meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. 
Opinion

Xi holds key to North Korea nuclear deal

Trump's best hope of a lasting accord with Pyongyang depends on China

Tech companies, such as Google and Facebook, have come under fire for their seemingly indiscriminate personal data collection practices. 
Opinion

Handling Big Tech in ASEAN

Cooperate in crafting and enforcing privacy and competition rules in digital markets

Descente's general shareholders should be skeptical of Itochu's motivations. (Photo by Kento Awashima)
Opinion

Itochu versus Descente -- investors stuck in the middle

Trader's bid to up stake in sportswear maker Descente highlights Japan's systemic conflicts of interest

Chinese President Xi Jinping would do well to unlock the potential of the private sector. (Photo by Taro Yokosawa)
The Nikkei View

Don't ignore Xi's warning about black swans and gray rhinos

China's high-growth days are over; Stable growth must be the new priority

"18/28: The Singhaseni Tapestries," a work by Jakkai Siributr shown at APT9, is a family tale of political persecution in Thailand told through patchwork and embroidery.
Arts

Brisbane's Asia-Pacific art festival melds remote and familiar

Contemporary 'triennial' doubles down on quixotic regional focus

Contemporary artworks by Hiroto Rakusho combine oil painting with metalwork. (Courtesy of Gold Leaf Kyoto)
Arts

Japanese craftsman makes ancient art 'new' again

Hiroto Rakusho's gold leaf work gives soul to heritage facsimile project

The gardens of Sunder Nursery in New Delhi (Photo by Pallavi Aiyar)
Tea Leaves

Time to change course on New Delhi's crumbling heritage

Unguarded monuments are often razed or torn down for building material