Economy
Fed to start tapering bond purchases this year: Bernanke
The Federal Reserve maintains its $85 billion-a-month asset purchase program, but says it could begin scaling back later this year.
Editorial Jun 20, 2013
Persuading people to vote
When apathy rules, what more can political parties and local election officials do to encourage a greater Japanese voter turnout for July's Upper House election
Soccer Jun 16, 2013
Brazil out to prove Pele wrong in Japan match
With the words of Pele ringing in its ears that it is “not good enough” to win the tournament, Brazil opens the Confederations Cup on Saturday with an appetizing encounter in the capital against Asian champion Japan. With Italy and Mexico, which embarrassed the ...
Rugby Jun 15, 2013
Japan rugby squad trounces undermanned Wales
Japan recorded its first official test-match win against a Tier One nation Saturday, when it defeated Wales 23-8 at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground. But it was the defensive effort of the hosts that really won them the game — albeit against a ...
National Jun 15, 2013
Japan to lose top life expectancy spot to H.K. by '45: U.N.
Japan, which has held the top spot for the world’s longest living citizens, is expected to be surpassed by Hong Kong in 2045, according to projections in a U.N. population report released on Thursday. “It is notable that Japan certainly came from behind during ...
Editorial Jun 14, 2013
HPV vaccine raises questions
The health ministry is being pressed to weigh the benefits of the anti-HPV inoculations for schoolgirls against the risks that they cause serious side effects.
National Jun 13, 2013
Rescued castaways go home to Kiribati
by Jun Hongo
Two Kiribati natives who were rescued by a Japanese trawler in mid-May after spending some three months adrift go home after recovering from their ordeal.
Editorial Jun 11, 2013
Cease promoting nuclear power
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to move forward with the development of nuclear power technology represents his cynical disregard for the victims of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
Economy Jun 10, 2013
Japan, New Zealand foreign ministers confirm importance of reaching TPP deal
Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his New Zealand counterpart Murray McCully confirmed the importance of successfully concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, which Japan will soon join.
World Cup Jun 5, 2013
Japan vs. Australia ... storified in social media
In a penalty kick second, Samurai Blue became the first team to qualify for next year's World Cup. Here's a collection of fans' reactions on social media, curated by Mai Hasabe, Eric Ruble and co.
World Cup Jun 5, 2013
Japan becomes first to qualify for World Cup after Honda equalizer
by Andrew Mckirdy
Keisuke Honda scores a dramatic injury-time penalty to book Japan's place at the 2014 World Cup after a breathless 1-1 draw with Australia on Tuesday night.
Japan-related Jun 5, 2013
Abenomics cannot succeed without cheap nuclear power
by Ulrike Schaede
Everybody knows that Japan has an energy crisis. We also know that the yen has greatly depreciated, by some 20 percent in just a few weeks. It’s time to put these two facts together. “Abenomics,” the shorthand for the aggressive economic strategies being pursued ...
Japan-related Jun 5, 2013
Abe's economic revival runs into Japan's reality
by William Pesek
Is the Bank of Japan creating the biggest pyramid scheme in history? In recent weeks Haruhiko Kuroda has been the toast of the financial world, winning plaudits from Nobel laureates Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. The move by the BOJ governor to end deflation ...