April 18th, 2019
Overbooked
Japan’s tourism boom pushes locals to the brink
The Big Story
Japan gets more than it bargained for with tourist boom
Can the country welcome 60 million visitors a year without losing its culture -- and its mind?
The Big Story
Airbnb begins to recover in Japan, a year after crackdown
City hosts face stringent controls but countryside could be ripe for the taking
Company in focus
Seven-Eleven rebel lays bare the price of convenience in Japan
One franchisee's fight against 24/7 operations is a symptom of bigger pressures
Startups
Grab vs Go-Jek: Duel of digital 'decacorns' escalates in Indonesia
$10bn ride-hailers' battle for food orders and e-payments threatens to leave both bruised
Most read in 2019
Tesla and Panasonic freeze spending on $4.5bn Gigafactory
Japanese company also suspends planned investment in Shanghai plant
Companies
Months of delay in 737 Max deliveries hit Chinese jet lessors
Longer wait offers possible blessing in disguise as overcapacity looms
China tech
Applied Materials halts work for red-flagged Chinese chip maker
US chip tool leader pulls staff from San'an Optoelectronics following government listing
Environment
Southeast Asia's energy majors pivot sharply to green power
Renewables tapped to feed region's steep rise in power demand
Business deals
Hyundai taps Tencent for connected-car entertainment
Move marks rare partnership for South Korean automaker in telematics
Markets
Infosys, TCS beat estimates of profit growth
Technology spending expected to slow this year, along with growth
Nikkei Markets
Singapore Press Holdings loses advertisers and investors
Once-mighty media company now gets bulk of earnings from property
Asia Insight
Private schooling booms in Japan and South Korea fuel inequality
'Premium education' enriches minds but puts governments across Asia to the test
India elections
Five Indian politicians to watch on last day of election
PM Modi likely to return to power with thin majority for ruling coalition
Economy
Chinese construction rush aggravates Cambodia's electricity shortage
Hun Sen threatens energy denial to critics of heavy hydropower dependency
Commodities
Asia cleans up commodities industry with transparent trading
Initiatives trace product origins in bid to tackle deforestation and corruption
Environment
Southeast Asia looks for outside help to flush sewage problems
Water treatment projects lure foreign expertise to deal with rising raw effluent
Politics
South Korea moves to legalize abortion
Constitutional Court rules punishment for women and doctors is unconstitutional
Companies
Singapore's Changi bets on $1.3bn mall as Asian airports up game
'Jewel' to open next week as state strives to attract travelers
Economy
China's $1.4tn distressed debt pool draws global buyers
Bain and Goldman Sachs among the most active players in deeply discounted deals
Opinion
The mirage of interest rate normalization
Many advanced economies are trapped into a low-interest rate, low-growth era
Opinion
Social media abuses threaten Asia's democratic elections
Singapore shows governments are ready to curb fake news but such actions can limit free speech
Opinion
Thailand's military is big election winner
But power may still elude ex-general Prayuth as skewed polls fail to subdue opposition
The Nikkei View
Bold denuclearization is the only path forward for North Korea
Kim Jong Un's 'have it both ways' strategy will not work
Life
How star baseballer's US success changed postwar Japan
Ichiro Suzuki's career helped overcome 'national inferiority complex'
Life
Asia's top chefs go green
Singapore's Royer tops 50 Best Restaurants awards beating Bangkok's Gaggan in glittering Macao ceremony
Tea Leaves
Tailor-made uniformity threatens Thai creativity
Strict social hierarchy leaves growth prospects hanging by a thread