Fetch current top stories from The Japan Times, including titles, URLs, publication times, summaries, authors, and images.
Get The Japan Times top stories. Returns the current top stories from The Japan Times. It takes no parameters. Each item has its title, URL, publication time and a short publisher-written teaser in summary, not the article text, plus the author and image when the outlet provides them.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No arguments | |||
Changes observed during successful MCP inspections.
v1.17.9Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description carries the full burden and does well: it states the operation is parameterless and discloses the return shape, including the useful caveat that `summary` is a publisher-written teaser rather than article text. Auth requirements, rate limits, and result count are not covered, keeping it short of a 5.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Front-loaded and efficient, but the first two sentences are largely redundant: 'Get The Japan Times top stories' and 'Returns the current top stories from The Japan Times' restate the same fact.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
With no output schema, the description must explain return values and does so field by field (title, URL, publication time, summary teaser, author, image). It omits result count and whether the feed is paginated, which is a minor gap for a zero-param news feed.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Zero parameters, so the baseline is 4. The explicit 'It takes no parameters' matches the empty schema and prevents an agent from inventing inputs.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Specific verb and resource: 'Get The Japan Times top stories,' reinforced by 'Returns the current top stories.' It does not, however, differentiate itself from the sibling japantimes_headlines, so an agent cannot tell the two apart from the text alone.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description never states when to use this over japantimes_headlines, japantimes_article, or japantimes_sections. The 'top stories' framing implies a distinct feed, but no alternative or selection condition is named.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.