Japan's Go To Travel review is too little, too late, infectious disease experts say

National

Japan's Go To Travel review is too little, too late, infectious disease experts say

As COVID-19 cases spiral, critics decry the lack of a sense of urgency, saying a review should have been conducted at least two weeks ago.

National

Japan had plans to sail MSDF ship near Chinese-held islet in South China Sea

Tokyo eyed equivalent of a U.S. "freedom of navigation operation" near man-made islands, but fears of seriously harming bilateral ties nixed plans.
Japan considering cuts to child benefits for high-income families

National

Japan considering cuts to child benefits for high-income families

The government is examining the idea of reducing a special allowance for high-income households with children in junior high school or younger to ¥2,500 per month from ¥5,000.

National / Politics

Suga urges global access to COVID-19 vaccines as virtual G20 summit opens

The pandemic has offered the G20 an opportunity to prove how such bodies can facilitate international cooperation in crises — but has also underscored their shortcomings.
Bonsai artist Valentin Brose works on a forsythia for a customer.

Lifestyle

Masters of their craft: Foreign apprentices reveal their life-changing experiences in Japan

by Kathryn Wortley

You don’t master traditional Japanese crafts, says Japanese lacquerware artist Suzanne Ross, “they master you.”

EDITORS' PICKS

A partnership in coronavirus misinformation

World

A partnership in coronavirus misinformation

by Amy Qin, Vivian Wang and Danny Hakim
Tomoyuki Sugano's future bright despite loss in Japan Series opener

Japanese Baseball

Tomoyuki Sugano's future bright despite loss in Japan Series opener

by Jason Coskrey
A passion project that became a literary journey through Kyoto

Books

A passion project that became a literary journey through Kyoto

by Stephen Mansfield
U.S. election helps disinformation on social media thrive in Japan

National / Media | Japan Pulse

U.S. election helps disinformation on social media thrive in Japan

by Patrick St. Michel
Pandemic positive: 20% of Japan's married couples say relationships have improved

National

Pandemic positive: 20% of Japan's married couples say relationships have improved

Your news needs your support

Since the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, The Japan Times has been providing free access to crucial news on the impact of the novel coronavirus as well as practical information about how to cope with the pandemic. Please consider subscribing today so we can continue offering you up-to-date, in-depth news about Japan.

NATIONAL

Pandemic positive: 20% of Japan's married couples say relationships have improved

National

Pandemic positive: 20% of Japan's married couples say relationships have improved

As the pandemic forces people to spend more time at home, nearly 20% of wives and husbands said in a survey that their relationships had improved due to increased communication.

BUSINESS

ANA looks to raise ¥200 billion in share offering as early as next week

Corporate

ANA looks to raise ¥200 billion in share offering as early as next week

Japan's ANA Holdings Inc. plans to issue new shares following a board meeting as early as next week, two sources said, a move that would see it raise around ¥200 billion to bolster its balance sheet. Japan's biggest airline has picked Nomura Holdings and Goldman ...

SPONSORED CONTENT

WORLD

Denying defeat, Trump offers fodder for world's strongmen

World

Denying defeat, Trump offers fodder for world's strongmen

Trump is establishing a new American model — refusing to concede, making unsubstantiated claims of fraud and seeking the intervention of courts and allies in hopes of reversing his defeat.

MULTIMEDIA

SPORTS

Hawks cut Giants down to size in Game 1 of Japan Series

Baseball / Japanese Baseball

Hawks cut Giants down to size in Game 1 of Japan Series

by Jason Coskrey

Dating back to 2018 against the Hiroshima Carp, the Hawks have now won nine straight Japan Series games as they attempt to win their fourth straight title.

COMMUNITY

An outsider's look at the problems plaguing rural Japan

Issues | THE FOREIGN ELEMENT

An outsider's look at the problems plaguing rural Japan

by Eric Margolis

When new people come to town they bring a flurry of new ideas with them. In the small town of Nakatsugawa, this has meant an exciting cultural exchange.

LIFE

Top 5: The best soup curry restaurants in Tokyo

Food & Drink

Top 5: The best soup curry restaurants in Tokyo

by Florentyna Leow

With temperatures dropping, what’s more comforting than soup curry? The Japan Times shares five of the capital’s best bowls.

SPONSORED CONTENT

CULTURE

A passion project that became a literary journey through Kyoto

Books

A passion project that became a literary journey through Kyoto

by Stephen Mansfield

“Kyoto: A Literary Guide" was painstakingly collated by a group of friends whose dedication to studying the city’s literary legacy spans 10 years.

OPINION

Editorials

RCEP: Big numbers, bigger potential

The U.S. absence in both the RCEP and CPTPP partnerships obliges Japan to show leadership to direct both agreements toward integration, openness, good governance and the rule of law.

Editorials

Ant's IPO gets stepped on

The $37 billion initial public offering would have been the world’s largest and conferred a value of $316 billion on the Chinese financial giant.

Why Moderna’s vaccine win is a giant leap against pandemics

Alongside recent results from Pfizer, the news that a vaccine is proving effective is a great step forward.

Trump’s Afghan troop withdrawal puts Biden in a jam

Avoiding calamity is not the same as wise statecraft. Trump’s final military act is reckless, particularly in Afghanistan.