The Japan Times, Ltd. (Chairperson, Publisher and President: Minako Suematsu) has received two awards from the World Association of News and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) at the WAN-IFRA Asian Media Awards 2026. A photograph in a series on Sanae Takaichi being elected as Japan’s Prime Minister by staff writer and photographer Johan Brooks received a Best News Photography 2026 award. Additionally, a longform article focusing on the rise of AI companionship in Japan by staff writer Alex K.T.
Martin received a Best Technology News Story 2026 award. In pictures: The day Japan’s glass ceiling finally cracked (Johan Brooks) The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan (Alex K.T. Martin) The Best News Photography category celebrates powerful visual storytelling and news photography covering topics which can be considered news, including politics or political figures, disasters, war, violence, crime, sports, economics and immigration.
The Best Technology News Story category spotlights stories that explain technology, uncover emerging innovations, or break news of new developments while showing how these technologies affect daily life. The Japan Times Managing Editor, Mark Thompson, said, “We are honored for both Alex’s journalism and Johan’s photography to be recognized by WAN-IFRA. Alex’s balanced reporting offered crucial insights into the evolving impact of AI companionship, while Johan’s enthusiastic coverage captured the profound human element of a historic moment in Japanese politics.
These awards reflect the strength, depth, and fresh perspectives our newsroom brings to defining stories.” Commented Johan Brooks, “I’m very grateful to receive this recognition for my coverage of the day Japan elected its first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi. I hope these photographs serve as a faithful record of this landmark moment, as well as of the long and frantic day behind the lens.” Commented Martin: “A question that interests me is how advances in artificial intelligence will transform human communication, and whether AI can offer comfort to people experiencing loneliness, particularly in Japan, where a rapidly aging population and a growing number of single-person households make social isolation an increasingly important issue. I’m grateful and honored that WAN-IFRA has recognized the story.
At the same time, I wonder whether, in just a few years, even my own perspective on AI companionship will have changed as the technology continues to evolve.” Award winners were announced at the Asian Media Leaders Summit held in Singapore on October 26. The World Association of Newspapers (WAN-IFRA) is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization representing the world’s press. Its authority and legitimacy stem from its global network of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs and its 60 member publisher associations representing 18,000 publications in 120 countries.
Serving as the nation’s premier English-language news source since 1897, The Japan Times provides both the local angle and a global perspective under the core values of independence and fairness. Readers now access our world-class journalism via newspaper, digital, podcast and newsletter form. The press release may be downloaded in PDF format
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