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Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirms he will call a snap election on Thursday and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike launches a new political party to take him on.
16 hours ago

Osaka's leaders complain about San Francisco 'comfort women' statue to U.S. Ambassador Hagerty

In a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty on Monday, Osaka's leaders expressed solidarity with America over North Korea but concern that San Francisco, Osaka's sister city, erected ...
15 hours ago

National / Social Issues

Number of middle-aged, first-time fathers on the rise in Japan

by Sawako Obara

More men in Japan are waiting until middle age to start fatherhood but find that their greater experience can help offset some of the worries.
20 hours ago

National / Crime & Legal

Court lets Aum splinter group Hikari no Wa off surveillance but keeps Aleph in check

The Tokyo District Court lifts state surveillance on Aum Shinrikyo offshoot Hikari no Wa (Circle of Light) but leaves it in place for Aleph, the doomsday cult’s successor.
14 hours ago

World

In a U.S. Marine Corps first, woman completes rigorous course to become infantry officer

A female U.S. Marine on Monday became the first woman to complete the Corps' notoriously rigorous training course for infantry officers. Many women serve in the Marines and other branches of America's armed forces but ...
Asia Pacific

North Korea says U.S. has 'declared war,' warns it could shoot down American bombers

by Jesse Johnson

North Korea's foreign minister said Monday that the U.S. had "declared war" on the isolated nation, pinning the blame on President Donald Trump's incendiary words days earlier while also threatening to shoot down U.S. ...
National

The public has spoken: Xiang Xiang is the name of Ueno Zoo's newest star

by Alex Martin

The new star at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo has been named Xiang Xiang, the kanji for which can mean either "fragrance" or "popular" in Chinese. After months of waiting and a record-breaking number of suggestions, Tokyo ...
Sumo

JSA offering foreign fans rare glimpse of special sumo rituals

by John Gunning

The Japan Sumo Association will hold an Ozumo Beyond 2020 Basho at Ryogoku Kokugikan on Oct. 4 for the second straight year. The event, which will feature many of the same activities found on regional ...
National

Tokyu unveils new tram with beckoning cat livery to mark 110th anniversary of Tamagawa Line

by Daisuke Kikuchi

Tokyu Corp. on Monday unveiled a new tram painted with manekineko (beckoning cat) livery to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Tamagawa Line and promote use of the Setagaya Line to tourists. Upon its completion ...

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World / Crime & Legal

NSA targeted 106,000 foreigners in past year's surveillance program soon up for renewal

2 hours ago

World / Politics

Trump ally Roger Stone denies Russia collusion in statement ahead of House appearance

2 hours ago

Asia Pacific / Politics

White House: Pyongyang claim that U.S. has declared war on North Korea is 'absurd'

4 hours ago

World / Crime & Legal

Killer who sold William F. Buckley on his claims of innocence, only to later confess, dies in prison at 83

4 hours ago

World / Politics

Senator seen effectively dooming Obamacare repeal bill despite GOP move to woo holdouts

4 hours ago

Japan News

National

Japan shouldn't neglect humanities studies in favor of other disciplines: Oxford professor

by Mizuho Aoki

In June 2015, the education ministry sent shock waves through Japan's academic humanities community when it issued a notice urging national universities to restructure their humanities departments and shift their focus to fields that have greater social demand. Since then, the value of humanities studies ...

World News

World / Social Issues

Trump travel ban seen on more solid ground as top court drops hearing but critics say Muslims still target

The Supreme Court signaled on Monday it may dismiss a challenge to President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban after the White House announced tailored restrictions on eight countries that legal experts said stand a better chance at holding up in court. The high court canceled ...

Business News

Business

With election looming, Aso may skip meeting of G-20 finance chiefs next month

Finance Minister Taro Aso may skip a meeting of the Group of 20 finance chiefs that kicks off Oct. 12 in Washington, with a Lower House election scheduled to be held later that month, sources said Monday. Aso is expected to send a representative in ...

Multimedia

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Sports

Sumo / Basho Reports

Harumafuji savors sweet taste of victory at Autumn sumo tourney

Yokozuna Harumafuji, who won his ninth career title at the just-ended Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament, let his guard down to media after a hard-fought playoff bout against ozeki Goeido, allowing his dramatic come-from-behind victory to finally sink in. "How delicious the sake tastes after you ...

Community

Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Buying a house in Japan can be an investment in joy

by Damian Flanagan

The "return" on your investment in a home in Japan is best measured in terms of the pleasure it will yield and the doorway to the intimacies of community and the Japanese mind it will lure you into.

Life

Language | BILINGUAL

Learn Japanese as you travel the world

by Daniel Morales

Japanese guidebooks are more than just vocabulary lessons. They provide subtle insight into Japanese grammar as well.

Culture

Books / Reviews

'Devils in Daylight' and 'The Maids': The literary sleuthing of Junichiro Tanizaki

by Damian Flanagan

Question: Is it really the case that for a large part of the 20th century Japan enjoyed a golden age of literature? Or is this just misty-eyed nostalgia? One of the hallmarks of a golden age is an atmosphere of competitive creativity in which a ...

Opinion

Editorials

Merkel wins fourth straight election

While the election results validated her policies and were widely anticipated, they nevertheless hint at future difficulties for the chancellor.

Editorials

What's at stake in Chinese Communist Party convention

When the Chinese Communist Party holds its convention next month, President Xi Jinping, who has already been given the designation of "core" leader, is expected to make every effort to concentrate power with himself. Japan needs to work out its strategy toward China by ...

Cesar Chelala

Breaking down the barriers to peace in the Middle East

Peace between Israelis and Palestinians will not be achieved overnight, and it is only through a massive effort involving the citizenry that reconciliation and cooperation can occur between both peoples.

George F. Will

America's engine is being slowed by complacency

America is losing the dynamic drive that made it the world's leading economic power.

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