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Asia Pacific

North Korean tremor termed 'suspected explosion' by China, natural quake by South Korea

China's earthquake administration said on Saturday it had detected a magnitude 3.4 earthquake in North Korea that was a "suspected explosion," raising fears the isolated state had conducted another nuclear ...
11 hours ago

National

Firms seeking foreign help get guidance on visas

by Daisuke Kikuchi

The Justice Ministry drafts a set of visa guidelines to help companies hire foreign students who can ease their manpower shortages.
8 hours ago

National / Politics

Koike won't head new party planned by Diet ally Wakasa

Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike won’t lead the new national political party being set up by her close ally in the Diet, the lawmaker says.
13 hours ago

National

Huge damages awards fuel demand for cycling insurance in Japan

A string of exorbitant court rulings on bicycle accidents has sent sales of cycling liability insurance soaring nationwide.
13 hours ago

Lifestyle

A ruff guide to Seeing Eye dogs in Japan

by Masami Ito

Ariel is a devoted labrador. Named after the title character in Disney's "The Little Mermaid," Ariel can't get enough of her owner, 37-year-old Kanako Suzuki. Ariel rolls on her back, begging to be petted, ...
People | WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?

Conductor Tonio Shiga: Overcoming communication struggles with a baton

by Louise George Kittaka

As a conductor for the City Theater of Bremerhaven in the north of Germany, Tonio Shiga is used to being at the center of the action whenever he leads a musical performance with his ...
Food & Drink | Gourmet Trails

Eating a way through the Nakasendo's lower Kiso Road

by Amy Chavez

The Nakasendo was an Edo Period (1603-1868) road used for travel between the capital of Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto, the former capital. The 69 post towns along the way provided accommodation and services to ...
National / Media | BIG IN JAPAN

Prepare for the future, at your convenience

by Michael Hoffman

Japan's first convenience store was not, as many suppose, 7-Eleven in Tokyo in 1974 but Mitsui in Kyoto in 1673. The genius behind it was Mitsui Hachirobei, heir to the sake shop his father had ...
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 ...

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National / Politics

Analysis: Abe's aggressive approach to North Korea succeeds at the U.N., for now

by Sophie Jackman

12 hours ago

National

Ex-islanders make first flight to disputed Russian-held isles to visit ancestors' graves

12 hours ago

National

New NRA chief Fuketa vows to make Japan's atomic power plants safe

14 hours ago

Asia Pacific

China imposes limit on oil supply to North Korea

16 hours ago

Asia Pacific / Politics

Thai junta says three police officers helped Yingluck Shinawatra escape

17 hours ago

Japan News

National

Japan in unique position to take global lead in investment and trade: experts

by Kazuaki Nagata

Somewhat overshadowed in recent years by China's rise as a regional and global power, Japan still extends considerable influence as a world leader in various fields, including investment, policy management and trade, according to experts who gathered at a Tokyo conference earlier this week. But ...

World News

World / Politics

Trump signs order for sanctions targeting any entities engaged in trade with North Korea

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday aiming to tighten an economic noose around North Korea, days after he threatened to "totally destroy" the country if forced to defend the United States or its allies. The new order enables the U.S. to sanction individual ...

Business News

Business

First permanent Sailor Moon store opens in Harajuku

by Kazuaki Nagata

With the anime marking its 25th anniversary this year, the world's first permanent store for "Sailor Moon" goods opened Saturday in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku district. The Sailor Moon shop is inside the Laforet building and sells a variety of goods ranging from key chains and ...

Multimedia

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Sports

Figure Skating

Hanyu breaks own world record in short program

Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu opened his season by breaking his own world record in the short program at the Autumn Classic International on Friday night. The 22-year-old Hanyu pulled off an error-free routine to score 112.72 points, topping the 14-man field and adding ...

Community

Voices | FOREIGN AGENDA

Japan doesn't need to criminalize hate speech

by Shaun O'dwyer

Considering constitutional issues and the risk of creating 'martyrs,' the current law strikes the right balance.

Life

Food & Drink | Tools of the Japanese Kitchen

Storage matters: The various strata of Japanese fridges and other concerns

by Makiko Itoh

A frequently overlooked aspect of kitchens in general is the importance of storage. In fact, most of the space in a kitchen is given over to the storage of utensils and equipment as well as the food itself. Japanese kitchens have some unique features in ...

Culture

Stage | Backstage Pass

Theaters in Japan are increasingly looking at longer runs for their productions

by Nobuko Tanaka

As I turned the pages of a free magazine in London this summer, a picture of a beaming woman clutching a signed CD and program for the West End musical "Kinky Boots" caught my eye. She was a 27-year-old named Emily who'd seen the ...