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December 2019
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JAPAN

Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Dec 7, 2019
A sneak peek behind the doors of Tokyo's State Guesthouse
By Masami Ito
Standing on the grounds of the State Guesthouse, Akasaka Palace on a crisp autumn day in November, it's hard to believe you're in central Tokyo, just a few minutes' walk from bustling Yotsuya Station. Birds can be heard chirping in the nearby garden and, aside from catching the occasional word or two...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 7, 2019
News outlets take time to connect the dots in Kepco gift scandal
By Philip Brasor
In September, media reported that 20 executives of Kansai Electric Power Co. (Kepco) had, for a decade or so, received almost ¥320 million worth of cash and gifts from Eiji Moriyama, the former deputy mayor of Takahama, Fukui Prefecture, who died in March at the age of 90. The compensation was presumably...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Dec 7, 2019
Cheaper deals in Japan sometimes come at a personal cost
By Kaori Shoji
Although the cost of living in Japan is expected to increase in 2020, wages are forecast to remain about the same. This means consumers are constantly on the lookout for better deals, while businesses are scrambling for ways to cut prices and still protect their bottom line.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 7, 2019
The long arm of the law can't be rushed in Japan
By Mark Schreiber
In Japan, 2019 will be remembered as a year that ended twice. In addition to the Western calendar year, which ends on Dec. 31, April 30 marked the final day of year 31 of the Heisei Era, thereby bringing an end to the reign of Emperor Akihito, who had abdicated in favor of Crown Prince Naruhito. From...
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2019
Japanese transport ministry to study shinkansen accessibility for wheelchair users
Transport minister Kazuyoshi Akaba said Friday a study group will be set up as early as this month to consider how to make bullet trains more accessible to wheelchair users.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 7, 2019
Japanese government may offer companies 25% tax break on investment in startups
The government and ruling coalition plan to allow companies to deduct 25 percent of the amount they invest in startups from their taxable income, informed sources said Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 7, 2019
Japan's mega-banks named as world's biggest lenders for new coal plants
By Ryusei Takahashi
Japan's three biggest commercial banks are the world's top financiers of new coal plants, according to research released Thursday in Spain at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

ASIA PACIFIC

Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 7, 2019
North Korea plans to target visitors from China for medical tourism
North Korea, one of the world's most reclusive states, plans to branch out into medical tourism next year, offering foreign visitors — most likely from China — treatments including cataract surgery, dental implants and therapy for tumors.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 7, 2019
Giant bush fire near Sydney may burn for weeks
A giant blaze that has blanketed Sydney, Australia's largest city, in a hazardous smoke may take many weeks to put out, fire services said late on Friday, with the whole region fighting nearly 100 wild fires and expectations that the worst is yet to come.

WORLD

Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 7, 2019
Ahead of upcoming British election, Russia tied to leak of U.K.-U.S. trade documents online
The leak and distribution of classified U.K.-U.S. trade documents online is tied to a previous Russian disinformation campaign, the social media site Reddit said Friday, fueling fears that Moscow is seeking to interfere in Britain's upcoming election.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 7, 2019
White House tells Democrats it will not participate in Trump impeachment hearing
The White House said on Friday it would refuse to take part in hearings in the U.S. House of Representatives set for next week that will consider what articles of impeachment to bring against President Donald Trump.

BUSINESS

Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 7, 2019
Economists agree on one thing about Abe's stimulus package: It helps the Bank of Japan
Economists are divided over how much good Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's new stimulus package will do in terms of sparking extra growth, but there's one thing they do seem to agree on: The Bank of Japan is off the hook for now.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2019
China will waive some tariffs on U.S. soybeans and pork in a goodwill gesture
China on Friday confirmed that it will waive import tariffs for some soybeans and pork shipments from the United States as the two sides try to thrash out a broader agreement to defuse their protracted trade war.

Opinion

EDITORIALS
Dec 7, 2019
Fix the 'employment ice age' crisis
People in their mid-30s through mid-40s have gotten a raw deal from Japan, and it's high time for the goverment and employers do right by them.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 7, 2019
Natural-born climate commitments
By Sally Jewell
Concrete action is needed to leverage the power of nature.

Sports

SOCCER / J. League
Dec 7, 2019
Marinos capture J. League title on final day of season
By Dan Orlowitz
A month ago, Saturday's match between Yokohama F. Marinos and FC Tokyo was billed as potentially the most climactic finish ever to the J. League season, with the two sides neck-and-neck alongside the Kashima Antlers, a club that knows a thing or two about grinding out first-division championships in...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 7, 2019
Ryan Rossiter sparks Brex in fourth-quarter comeback victory over Diamond Dolphins
By Ed Odeven
Facing a 61-50 deficit after three quarters was not an insurmountable task for the Utsunomiya Brex.

LIFE

Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 7, 2019
The fermentation power of kōji, Japanese food's secret ingredient
By Momoko Nakamura
If Japanese food culture were pared down to its fundamental elements, the ingredient that might embodies them best is kome ku014dji (rice inoculated with Aspergillus oryzae).
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / Kateigaho International Japan Edition
Dec 7, 2019
Daisetsuzan: Life in the icy white forest
Winter lasts most of the year in Daisetsuzan, the high mountain range that stretches across the center of Hokkaido. Yet some animals live successfully and apparently quite happily in this frozen world.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / Women of Taste
Dec 7, 2019
Tokiko Iino: Appetizing tales begin with the plate
By Joan Bailey
In the past four years, if you've stepped into Isetan Shinjuku and checked out one of its in-store displays, chances are you've seen Tokiko Iino's food styling designs.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Dec 7, 2019
Faro: High-end plant-based fare with alcohol pairings to match
By Melinda Joe
Increasing numbers of high-end restaurants in Tokyo offer vegetarian and vegan tasting menus. But it's a surprising challenge to find drink pairings to accompany them.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / DESSERT WATCH
Dec 7, 2019
The McDonald's strawberry 'chocolate' pie: Confusingly named, but a worth-it guilty pleasure
By Patrick St. Michel
In all honesty, no one needs dessert following a meal at McDonald's.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Dec 7, 2019
A last triumph of autumn in rain-soaked Kokubunji
By Kit Nagamura
A dreary drizzle of rain falls on the November day I've set aside for walking out along the Kokubunji gaisen (cliff line) in western Tokyo. Despite the weather, my hope is to catch some late autumn colors, so I yank on my trusty rubber birdwatching boots and head out west on the Chuo Line.

CULTURE

Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 7, 2019
'Japan's Infamous Unit 731': Testament to the very worst of human experimentation
By Iain Maloney
The recent reprint of Hal Gold's book, 'Japan's Infamous Unit 731,' keeps alive the memory of human rights atrocities committed by the Imperial Japanese Army.
CULTURE / Books / Children's Literature in Japan
Dec 7, 2019
For children's book author Mitsumasa Anno, pictures speak louder than words
By Kris Kosaka
Travel around the world with Mitsumasa Anno's iconic 'Anno's Journey' series, which introduces children to countries and customs through meticulous illustrations.

COMMUNITY

Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Dec 7, 2019
Tohru Miyano: Reverse-engineering an unlucky situation
By Kaori Shoji
Though nomadic and grueling, Tohru Miyano's experience of being moved from factory to factory across East Asia and the U.S. has, he says, left him feeling liberated and more open-minded.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 7, 2019
Tomoki Yamada: Traveling high and low
By Mio Yamada
From jet lag to local lodgings — the life of a travel journalist
COMMUNITY / Voices / OVERHEARD
Dec 7, 2019
The sound of silence
'That guy's eating a bowl of soba without making any sound whatsoever.'
Tokyo hit by torrential rainfall at rush hour
People line up at Shibuya Station in Tokyo as they try to avoid the heavy rain on Thursday.
Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October
According to the National Police Agency, there were 75,905 people who converted their foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one in 2024, up from 48,885 in 2019.
Chinese fighters came within 30 meters of Japanese spy aircraft, Tokyo says
A Chinese JH-7 fighter jet makes an near an Air Self-Defense Force YS-11EB surveillance aircraft over the East China Sea this week in this image released Thursday.
Air India crash report to offer peek into last seconds
Members of the Indian Army's engineering arm prepare to remove the wreckage of an Air India aircraft in Ahmedabad on June 14.
What Japanese politics could look like after Upper House election
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who heads the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (center) waves to attendees as he departs after delivering a campaign speech in Yokohama on Sunday.
New IG Arena set to dial down temperature at Nagoya Basho, in a good way
With IG Arena getting glowing early reviews as the Nagoya Basho’s replacement venue, it may be a while before fans wax nostalgic about the Aichi Prefectural Gymnasium.
Once a niche, anime is now mainstream content for Netflix and other streaming services
Though Netflix remains the dominant choice globally for anime viewers, Amazon Prime Video has also invested heavily in anime, steadily adding titles to their catalogue.
NGOs condemn rise in anti-immigrant rhetoric ahead of Upper House vote
Sanseito head Sohei Kamiya holds a board that reads "Japanese First" in Tokyo on July 2. In a joint statement on Tuesday, eight human rights nongovernmental organizations described the far-right party's stance as "hate speech."
Japanese dancers find a home abroad at Houston Ballet
“Giselle” lead Yuriko Kajiya (center), performing with Connor Walsh as Albrecht, is one of six Japanese dancers at Houston Ballet.
From the Abes to the Ohtanis: How siblings shape athletic development
Olympic judoka Uta Abe (second from left) and Hifumi Abe (second from right) with their brother Yuichiro (center) and their parents. “I’m always consciously trying to be a good older brother,” Yuichiro said.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

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
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027
Looking ahead to Yokohama’s Green × Expo 2027

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