This week in Japan has been marked by a whirlwind of dramatic events, from military maneuvers above the Sea of Japan to a historic anime nomination and a startling discovery of cash among garbage. As the country grapples with mounting security challenges, natural disasters, and cultural achievements, each story reveals a different facet of modern Japanese society and its place in the world.
On Wednesday, December 10, 2025, the skies above the Sea of Japan were anything but peaceful. Two US B-52 nuclear-capable bombers, escorted by three Japanese F-35 stealth fighters and three F-15 air-superiority jets, conducted a tactical exercise that Tokyo’s Ministry of Defense described as a direct response to the previous day’s coordinated drills by Russian and Chinese forces encircling Japan and South Korea. According to AFP and Tokyo Weekender, the Japanese joint chiefs of staff emphasized that the exercise was held "amid an increasingly severe security environment," reaffirming the strong resolve of both nations to prevent any unilateral change of the status quo by force.
The show of force by the US and Japan came on the heels of a joint Chinese-Russian aerial patrol over the East China Sea and the western Pacific. Earlier that week, two Russian Tu-95 bombers rendezvoused with two Chinese H-6 bombers, circling Japan and prompting Tokyo to scramble its own fighter jets. South Korea, too, was drawn into the fray, reporting that Russian and Chinese warplanes had entered its air defense identification zone, leading Seoul to deploy its own interceptors. These air defense zones, as Technology.org noted, extend beyond sovereign airspace but serve as crucial early warning perimeters for both countries.
The tension ratcheted up another notch last Saturday when Chinese J-15 jets from the Liaoning aircraft carrier twice locked radar onto Japanese aircraft near Okinawa. The incident drew sharp criticism from the US State Department, which called China’s actions "not conducive to regional peace and stability" and reaffirmed the US-Japan alliance as "unwavering." Japan responded by summoning China’s ambassador, but the two countries offered conflicting accounts: while Tokyo accused Chinese pilots of targeting their jets, Beijing countered that Japanese aircraft had intruded into a Chinese training area without authorization. General Hiroaki Uchikura, Japan’s chief of joint staff, minced no words, describing the Chinese-Russian bomber flight as "a grave concern from the standpoint of Japan’s security."
Amid these military maneuvers, politics and diplomacy remain delicately intertwined. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi recently suggested that any Chinese military action against Taiwan could trigger a Japanese military response—a statement that has only heightened anxieties in Beijing, which claims the self-ruled island as its own territory. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, finds himself walking a diplomatic tightrope. With a planned visit to Beijing in 2026 for trade negotiations, Trump must balance America’s security commitments to Japan with the desire to maintain a working relationship with President Xi Jinping. As White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt put it, "Japan is a great ally of the United States as evidenced by their personal relationship and our continued trade relations with Japan. With respect to China, the president also has a good working relationship with President Xi, which he believes is a good thing for our country."
Not everyone is convinced by reassurances from Beijing. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun insisted that the joint patrol with Russia was simply part of an annual cooperation plan designed to "safeguard regional peace and stability," adding, "The Japanese side has no need to make a fuss about nothing or to take this personally." But for many in Tokyo and Seoul, the flurry of military activity feels more like a deliberate show of intimidation than a routine exercise. NATO chief Mark Rutte weighed in as well, describing the radar incident and joint patrols as "regrettable" and emphasizing the inseparability of Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security.
While military tensions dominated headlines, nature delivered its own jolt. At 11:15 p.m. on Monday, December 8, a 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Japan, injuring more than 50 people and triggering tsunami warnings for the coastal areas of Hokkaido, Aomori, and Iwate prefectures. According to NHK, waves up to 70 centimeters were detected at Kuji port. By Tuesday morning, the tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory, but the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) urged continued vigilance, issuing an alert for a potential megaquake along the Japan and Chishima Trenches. Tsukasa Morikubo, Cabinet Office official for disaster preparedness, warned, "Based on the statistics of earthquakes that have occurred around the world so far, there is a possibility that a large-scale earthquake with a magnitude of 8 or higher could occur as a follow-up earthquake along the Japan Trench and the Chishima Trench off Hokkaido."
Amid these sobering developments, an unexpected windfall made waves in Niigata Prefecture. Police announced the discovery of approximately ¥18 million (about $115,000) in cash among waste materials at a business establishment in Niigata city. The money, found by an employee in November, was handed over to Niigata Kita Police Station. As of December 8, no owner had come forward. Under Japan’s Lost Property Act, if the rightful owner does not appear within three months, the finder may be entitled to keep the entire sum. Police noted it was the highest amount of money found in the prefecture since records began in 2018.
Turning to culture, the Japanese animation industry celebrated a historic milestone. The Golden Globes nominations, announced on Monday, December 8, saw Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle nominated for Best Animated Motion Picture—the first time a Shonen Jump creation has been recognized by the ceremony. It will compete against Arco, Elio, Little Amélie or the Character of Rain, Zootopia 2, and the strong favorite KPop Demon Hunters. While the odds may not favor Demon Slayer, fans are already celebrating the nomination as a triumph for Japanese pop culture. The only previous Japanese winner in this category was Hayao Miyazaki’s The Boy and the Heron two years ago.
In the literary world, Takarajimasha’s revered Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook revealed its top picks for 2026. Leading the women’s manga category is Hanbun Kyodai (to be published in English as Half is More), which explores the everyday challenges mixed-race children face in Japan. For men, the top manga is Hon Nara Uru Hodo (The More Books We Sell), a collection of stories about a second-hand bookstore owner and his customers.
And in sports, the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup placed Japan in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Tunisia, and the winner of a UEFA playoff. Head coach Hajime Moriyasu acknowledged the challenge ahead: "Every team in our group is strong, and the team that comes through the play-offs will also be a tough opponent, so I expect it to be a challenging competition. Still, I’m really looking forward to every match. One of our main strengths is our organisation, which has grown significantly." Japanese players have been on a roll in European leagues, with Ayase Ueda, Ao Tanaka, and others finding the net in recent matches. Back home, Kashima Antlers clinched a record-extending ninth J-League title, edging out Kashiwa Reysol by a single point.
From the tense airspace over the Sea of Japan to the hopeful anticipation of global sporting events and cultural accolades, Japan stands at the crossroads of challenge and opportunity—ever resilient, ever watchful, and always ready for what tomorrow may bring.
