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JAPAN

Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2019
Record high 85% of Japanese view China unfavorably, despite improving ties between Beijing and Tokyo
Although bilateral ties between Beijing and Tokyo are on the mend, a new survey has found that a record high 85 percent of Japanese have unfavorable views of China — a stunning contrast with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's talk of creating a "new era" of friendship with Japan's top Asian rival.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Sep 30, 2019
Tenuous ties: Few signs of substance behind warming Sino-Japanese relations as communist China marks 70th anniversary
As Washington and Beijing increasingly clash over global primacy, Japan's own ties with communist-ruled China have experienced an upswing — at least on the surface — ahead of Tuesday's 70th anniversary of the People's Republic.
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2019
Japan's new Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai pledges reform with a focus on immigration
On Friday, newly appointed Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai promised to reform his ministry, including a pledge to more stringently enforce laws and regulations related to immigration.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2019
Magnitude 4.4 earthquake jolts Ibaraki Prefecture area
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake, which measured shindo 3 on the Japanese intensity scale, was detected at a depth of 60 km in northern Ibaraki Prefecture, on Monday at 1:02 a.m.

ASIA PACIFIC

Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 30, 2019
China has doubled troop levels in Hong Kong, envoys estimate
China has quietly more than doubled its deployment of mainland security forces in Hong Kong, according to foreign envoys and security analysts, in the most dramatic move yet by Beijing to prepare for a potential worsening of unrest in the global financial center.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 30, 2019
Hong Kong on edge ahead of sensitive Chinese anniversary
Hong Kong's metro stations and roads re-opened on Monday after a chaotic weekend that saw police fire water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who set fires and threw petrol bombs outside government offices and across central districts.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 30, 2019
Frozen pork threatens to put the chill on China National Day festivities
China's supermarkets are topping up their meat counters with frozen pork from state reserves, after prices of the nation's favorite protein source surged to budget-busting levels, threatening to mar this week's National Day festivities.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 30, 2019
Xi military parade to showcase China missiles spooking the U.S.
In Beijing, President Xi Jinping's grand military parade through the capital will be cheered as a display of national pride after 70 years of Communist Party rule. In Washington, many will see a growing threat to American dominance in the Western Pacific.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 30, 2019
Afghan polls set to see big drop in voter numbers amid Taliban threat and lack of interest
At least 2.2 million people voted in Afghanistan's presidential election with more votes to come, the election commission head Maulana Abdullah said on Sunday, indicating a very low turnout that could mar the result.
Bangladesh bans heartburn drug ranitidine over cancer fears after U.S. FDA issues warning
Bangladesh's drug regulatory authority on Sunday issued a ban on sales of popular heartburn drug ranitidine while it investigates a potential cancer-causing substance in the drug.

WORLD

Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Sep 30, 2019
Greta effect shakes up Austrian politics in signal for Europe
Two days after rallying 7 million protesters across the world by invoking the threat of climate change, Greta Thunberg got credit for motivating voters to re-draw the political landscape in Austria.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Sep 30, 2019
Boris Johnson battles sex allegations as Brexit opponents plot
Boris Johnson hoped to use his Conservative Party's annual convention to launch his campaign to win the next British general election. Instead, he is fighting for his credibility as prime minister as he faces allegations of sexual impropriety and plots to oust him.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Sep 30, 2019
Rudy Giuliani claims Trump didn't pay for his globetrotting push for Ukraine to probe Joe Biden
Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, says he met Ukrainian officials in Madrid, Paris and Warsaw this year as he pushed an investigation into one of Trump's main political rivals in the 2020 presidential election, former Vice President Joe Biden.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Sep 30, 2019
U.S. Democrats setting sights on Trump's secretive phone calls with Putin and other leaders
Congress is determined to get access to U.S. President Donald Trump's calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee said on Sunday, citing concerns the Republican leader may have jeopardized national security.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Sep 30, 2019
Crowded migrant camp on Greek island of Lesbos erupts into clashes as container fire rages
A fire broke out on Sunday at a container inside a crowded refugee camp on the eastern Greek island of Lesbos close to Turkey and then the refugees clashed with police, the emergency services said.
WORLD / Society
Sep 30, 2019
Scores of migrants scattered after being rescued off Libyan coast
At least 71 illegal migrants rescued after four days in distress at sea were brought to shore east of the Libyan capital Tripoli early on Sunday but then fled and no attempt was made to capture them, a navy official said.

BUSINESS

BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2019
Japan Post CEO vows to restore trust in wake of insurance scandal
Japan Post Holdings Co.'s top executive vowed Monday to restore public trust after thousands of customers were missold insurance policies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 30, 2019
SoftBank plans to name former Sprint boss to help fix WeWork
SoftBank Group Corp. is tapping Marcelo Claure to help turn around WeWork after ousting co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Adam Neumann from the corner office last week.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Sep 30, 2019
Despite government steps, Japan's consumption will take a hit from tax hike, analysts say
The move remains unpopular among the public, and only time will tell whether the economy will suffer a deep impact.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2019
Forever 21 files for bankruptcy, adding to retail apocalypse
Forever 21 Inc. has filed for bankruptcy protection, adding another big fashion merchant to the tally of retailers who couldn't cope with high rents and heavy competition.
BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2019
China's factory activity shrinks for fifth month: Purchasing Managers' Index
China's factory activity shrank for the fifth straight month in September, and though the downturn eased off slightly the underlying trend pointed to persistent pressure on the economy as it navigates a bruising trade war with the United States.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2019
Japan's factory output slipped twice as much as expected in August on slowing overseas demand
Industrial output shrank more than expected in August, the latest warning that the economy and its manufacturers are facing intensifying pressure amid the bitter U.S.-China trade war.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 30, 2019
Trudeau plans deeper deficits if he wins power again in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is prepared to run larger deficits — growing Canada's debt by 31.5 billion Canadian dollars ($23.8 billion) more than previously projected over the next four years — to finance campaign promises if his Liberal government is re-elected.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2019
Democrats desperate to derail U.S. economy in order to beat Trump, commerce chief Wilbur Ross says
U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Democrats are trying to derail the economy with an impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump because they know that otherwise, he'll win re-election in 2020.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 30, 2019
Nasdaq cracks down on IPOs of small Chinese firms as U.S. investors elude
Nasdaq Inc. is cracking down on initial public offerings (IPOs) of small Chinese companies by tightening restrictions and slowing down their approval, according to regulatory filings, corporate executives and investment bankers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 30, 2019
Lebanese demonstrators decry deteriorating economic conditions, chant 'down with capitalism'
Protesters blocked several main roads in the Lebanese capital, some setting tires and rubbish bins on fire, as several hundred people gathered in the heart of the city on Sunday to protest corruption and deteriorating economic conditions.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Sep 30, 2019
Boeing omitted safeguards on 737 Max that were used on military jet, WSJ reports
Boeing Co. engineers working on the 737 Max passenger plane's flight-control system omitted safeguards included in an earlier version of the system used on a military tanker jet, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Opinion

EDITORIALS
Sep 30, 2019
The WeWork IPO didn't work
For all the flaws in WeWork's ambitions, the system worked. Public scrutiny laid bare the gap between WeWork's ambitions and its reality.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 30, 2019
Keep South Korean judiciary independent
What is truly at stake now is the future of democracy in South Korea.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 30, 2019
Japan-U.S. trade deal is a Trump ploy
The Abe administration has sacrificed so much to cooperate with the re-election of Trump.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 30, 2019
How Thomas Cook's 'excursions' lost their way
The 19th century concept of holiday travel is beginning to come apart.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 30, 2019
Impeachment could come with a foreign policy silver lining
It could rejuvenate America's image, tattered alliances and global leadership.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 30, 2019
Left, center and right: We're all in denial about climate change
Nothing else matters as much as attacking pollution and climate change.

Sports

Giants star Shinnosuke Abe bows out as one of NPB's great catchers
For nearly 20 years Shinnosuke Abe's go-to phrase during hero interviews, following some heroic feat on the baseball diamond, has been "saikō desu" (the best). He'd be asked a question and would often shout the phrase as his response as the crowd ate it up.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Sep 30, 2019
Milan Macvan, Alex Kirk lead Alvark Tokyo to FIBA Asia Champions Cup title
Entering the 2019-20 season, the Alvark Tokyo recalibrated their roster in order to set off on an ambitious quest for a third consecutive B. League title.

LIFE

Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Sep 30, 2019
Sing your way to fluency in Japanese
Some people will tell you to watch TV to improve your Japanese, but the real classroom is a karaoke box.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Sep 30, 2019
Figuring out how to count objects in Japanese? There are numerous ways
There's no one way to count in Japanese, it just depends on what you're counting. The most standard comes with a 'tsu' on the end.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Sep 30, 2019
Pope Francis to visit Japan in November
For the first time in 38 years a pope is visiting Japan. Read about his plans in Japanese.

COMMUNITY

Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Sep 30, 2019
Say bad thing, read boilerplate apology: Japan, we can do better
A joke about her skin hasn't bothered Naomi Osaka, but there are broader ramifications from such kind of comedy.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji