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Tim Culpan
For Tim Culpan's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 9, 2021
Japan's chip future lies in a Taiwan science park
Once a dominant name in electronic components, the nation has been overtaken by South Korea, Taiwan and China. Yet Tokyo may have a viable plan to revitalize its domestic sector.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 29, 2021
Dear Japan, the Olympics are a bureaucracy, not a democracy
While Tokyo could theoretically pull the plug right now — two months from the rescheduled start date — the city is contractually obliged to go ahead.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2021
Sexy tea, the 'Lion King' and Taiwan's lost innocence
In just one week earlier this month, the case count for COVID-19 infections in Taiwan spiked by more than 40%, and it's likely that figure will keep climbing.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 16, 2021
Regulators may be doing Alibaba a favor after all
Of great concern is that this core business once again contributed all of the operating profit because the rest of Alibaba's divisions remain a drag on earnings.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 13, 2021
How the world's biggest party is going antisocial
While vaccines are being rolled out globally, the COVID-19 pandemic still continues, threatening to severely dampen the Olympic spirit ahead of the Tokyo games.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 5, 2021
Making chips requires lots of water, and Taiwan has a drought
The global center of chipmaking is facing water restrictions that could impact Taiwan's most important export.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 20, 2020
Chinese tech companies need to disappear for a while
For China's technology companies, two months of a lame-duck Trump administration could turn out to be as damaging as the first 46.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2020
In China, big tech isn't the enemy. It's the strategy.
China is redoubling efforts to wean itself off foreign companies, with the result likely to be a cohort of domestic giants and a slow freeze-out of overseas competitors.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2020
SMIC joins the growing list of China security threats
U.S. export restrictions mean American companies will have to apply for a license to sell some products to the Shanghai-based chipmaker.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 23, 2020
Blacklisting U.S. tech would highlight China’s own weakness
Pulling the trigger on such a threat could end up proving that the importance of the world's most populous country as a global buyer may be smaller than many imagine.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 7, 2020
There's a better TikTok deal out there and SoftBank is eyeing it
SoftBank is putting together a coalition to bid for the company's business in India, Bloomberg News reported late Thursday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 7, 2020
Being a sore loser doesn't make WeWork’s Neumann wrong
There's little downside for the founder of the collapsed office rental company in taking on his former benefactor.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 2, 2020
A Masayoshi Son shopping list for 2020
Softbank's chief could do worse than to take this advice.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 9, 2014
China's hottest app inspired by devotion to Japanese manga
Erick Guo left Asia's largest Internet company last year to build a team of artists and engineers who could create smartphone applications inspired by Japanese manga.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 2, 2014
China case suggests hackers punch the clock at routine day jobs
Five Chinese men indicted for stealing thousands of emails and documents from U.S. companies had classic hacker nicknames. Yet one thing made them different: their clock-punching day jobs.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 7, 2012
Sharp needs Hon Hai ties, if only for Apple
Taiwan billionaire Terry Gou built a manufacturing empire that assembles iPhones and iPads. His Foxconn Technology Group may be key to ensuring Sharp Corp.'s survival and a stable supply of components for Apple Inc.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 5, 2012
Alliance between Sharp, Hon Hai tested by severe share-price drop
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., the assembler of Apple Inc. iPads, may seek to renegotiate a planned ¥133 billion alliance with Sharp Corp. after the Japanese TV maker's shares fell to their lowest in 34 years.

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces