Walter Sim
Japan Correspondent
Walter is Japan correspondent at The Straits Times. He joined The Straits Times in 2012, covering crime and politics in Singapore, and relocated to Tokyo as Japan correspondent in June 2016. He now reports on myriad issues from politics and the economy to socio-cultural trends, with datelines spanning the Japanese archipelago from Hokkaido to Okinawa. He has the highest N1 certification in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, and now chairs the Foreign Press In Japan.
Latest articles
Japan doubles down on Asia’s defence by expanding budget, reach of security aid scheme
Beware of bears: Japan’s 2025 kanji character reflects worries over attacks on humans
10 questions on what 2026 holds for Asia
Japan has a shrinking population of kids and a tepid economy. But its toy market is booming
From MSG to microchips: The lesser-known side hustles of Japanese legacy brands
Train to nowhere: Japan’s high-speed rail ambitions hit the skids
Japan’s nuclear odyssey comes full circle 15 years after Fukushima with restart of world’s largest plant
Fewer Chinese tourists might be the overtourism break Japan needs
Japan stiffens defence resolve to protect long-term interests amid row with China
Is Japan abandoning pacifism? Spat with China spotlights clash in regional security perspectives
