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National / Politics

Abe and Xi expected to discuss food import ban, but chances of progress uncertain

China's import ban on Japanese food introduced following the March 2011 nuclear disaster is likely to be discussed between Japanese and Chinese leaders in upcoming summit talks in Beijing this ...
3 hours ago

National / Politics

Japanese Cabinet opts not to visit Yasukuni Shrine during Autumn Festival

The entire Cabinet along with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refrained from visiting Tokyo's war-linked Yasukuni Shrine during this year's four-day autumn festival that ended Saturday. They apparently opted not to visit ...
4 hours ago

National

Video of horse whipped at Japanese festival draws criticism

A video of a horse getting whipped in a traditional festival held last month in the city of Kumamoto has drawn criticism that it was a form of animal abuse. While ...
5 hours ago

National / Politics

Japan and South Korean spat over use of wartime flag discussed at Singapore ministerial talks

Japan and South Korea remained at odds during bilateral ministerial talks over the weekend over Seoul's call for Tokyo not to fly the Rising Sun flag, which was also used ...
4 hours ago

Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT

Non-Japanese YouTubers tackle the art of vlogging in the vernacular

by Patrick ST. Michel

Meet the foreign creators using the local language to build a Japanese fan base.
Asia Pacific / Science & Health | FOCUS

China's Baishui No. 1: One of the world's fastest-melting glaciers

by Sam Mcneil and Olivia Zhang

A loud crack rang out from the fog above the Baishui No. 1 Glacier as a stone shard careened down the ice, flying past Chen Yanjun as he operated a GPS device. More projectiles were ...
World / Politics

Trump says U.S. will pull out of intermediate range nuke pact

U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday he will exit a landmark arms control agreement the United States signed with the former Soviet Union, saying that Russia is violating the pact and it's preventing the ...
National / Social Issues

Rights advocates urge Japan to step up LGBT-inclusive efforts and legalize same-sex marriage

by Magdalena Osumi

Until a few years ago, Rin Okabe, then the general affairs department manager at a subsidiary of ad agency Dentsu Inc., would say goodbye to his wife and son, and commute to work wearing ...
Culture

Japonismes 2018 seeks to break down cultural stereotypes

by John L. Tran

A stupendous full autumn moon, bright orange and fat, flashes intermittently between the nondescript high-rise flats and offices on the drive to Charles de Gaulle Airport. It's an apt and beautiful reminder of one ...

Latest News

Asia Pacific

Malaysia says China and U.S. should not flex military muscle in South China Sea

3 hours ago

World

Central American migrants defy threats from Trump on trek north toward U.S.

3 hours ago

World

Dispute among Nigerian wheelbarrow porters leaves 55 dead

3 hours ago

World

Qatar suffers flooding as almost a year's worth of rain falls in one day

3 hours ago

World / Politics

Former Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok dies at 80

3 hours ago

Japan News

National | KANSAI PERSPECTIVE

Is Yumeshima safe as a casino site? Some question Osaka's pitch after flooding at Kansai airport

by Eric Johnston

Less than two months ago, Typhoon Jebi ripped through western Japan and slammed a tanker into the only bridge leading to Kansai International Airport, forcing it to shut down. Although the airport, built on an artificial island, quickly recovered and repairs to bridge are progressing, ...

World News

World / Politics | ANALYSIS

Trump claims China election meddling that cyberfirms don't see

by Alyza Sebenius

U.S. President Donald Trump has said China is interfering with the November midterm elections, but the findings of top cybersecurity firms are casting doubt on his claims. "We haven't observed any evidence of Chinese targeting the midterms or anything that would be relevant to upcoming ...

Business News

Business / Financial Markets

TSE mulls pay cuts for president and other executives over system glitch

The Tokyo Stock Exchange is considering cutting the salaries of its president and other executives over last week's system glitch, which left dozens of brokerages temporarily unable to place orders, sources have said. The TSE is looking to assign executive responsibility for the trading disruption, ...

Multimedia

View more Multimedia articles

Sports

Soccer / J. League

Title-chasing Frontale overcome two-goal deficit in wild win over Vissel

by Dan Orlowitz

There is a well-worn tradition in the J. League of championship contenders making their title run much more difficult than it needs to be. Kawasaki Frontale seemed content to follow in that tradition on Saturday, falling two goals behind before staging an explosive comeback in ...

Community

Our Lives | BLACK EYE

The empty seat on a crowded Japanese train: 10 years on, the 'gaijin seat' still grates

by Baye McNeil

If you're a conspicuous non-Japanese living in the country, then you've likely experienced the empty-seat phenomenon with varying frequency and intensity.

Life

Autumn is the season for <I>shinmai</I>, newly harvested rice

Food & Drink | JAPANESE KITCHEN

Autumn is the season for shinmai, newly harvested rice

by Makiko Itoh

Shinmai — rice harvested and processed during the current calendar year — is celebrated for its fresh, clean taste and subtle sweetness. But komai (old rice) also has its place in Japanese history and the kitchen.

Culture

Books

An insider's guide to surviving the world of Japanese martial arts

by Oscar Boyd

"Japan The Ultimate Samurai Guide," authored by longtime kendo practitioner Alexander Bennett, is part encyclopedia of martial arts — a historical resource tracking the evolution of Japanese martial arts over the last millennium — and part present-day guide to surviving in the world ...