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April 25, 2024
 

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Takuya Karube
For Takuya Karube's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump react as results are announced by major news organizations during his New Hampshire presidential primary election night watch party in Nashua, New Hampshire, on Tuesday.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 25, 2024
In New Hampshire, Asian Americans back Republicans for perceived ideals
The small but important general election battleground with a population of about 1.4 million has little ethnic diversity.
Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (left) and trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura attend a ministerial meeting of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework in San Francisco on Monday.
BUSINESS
Nov 14, 2023
No trade deal struck at U.S.-led Indo-Pacific economic meeting
Japanese trade minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said progress was made on some aspects but "no substantial agreement was reached" for the whole trade area.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 11, 2023
Biden hints at attending G7 summit virtually if debt issue drags on
The U.S. president said he was 'still committed' to the gathering in Japan, but said 'obviously this is the single most important thing on the agenda,' referring to the debt issue.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 14, 2023
Japan, U.S. and South Korea united in response to Chinese balloon incident
Washington denied China's accusation that U.S. high-altitude balloons have illegally entered Chinese airspace more than 10 times since last year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Sep 5, 2021
As the Tokyo Games come to a close, the real test for Japan is yet to come
With a tinge of autumn in the air, the Tokyo Games are nearing an end. For Japan, however, the real test may still await.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 3, 2018
Asian Games combed for tips ahead of 2020 Games
Japanese officials have been busy over the past two weeks observing operations in and around the Asian Games venues in Indonesia to learn things that could help Tokyo put on a successful Olympics and Paralympics in 2020.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jun 27, 2018
Tokyo-raised American Chessy Prout fights for rights of sexual assault victims
Chessy Prout, an American teenager who spent most of her childhood in Japan, initially felt a sense of powerlessness as the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault gained steam last year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 28, 2017
LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai invites Xi to visit Tokyo next year amid warming ties with Beijing
A ruling party heavyweight has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Tokyo next year, as the two countries show promising signs of strengthening their sometimes strained relations.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 30, 2017
North Korea's avoidance of nuclear test could herald a return to diplomacy
North Korea's decision not to carry out a sixth nuclear test or a major missile launch in connection with its key anniversaries in April, contrary to widespread predictions, could herald a return to behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 24, 2016
Japanese movies may set ties with China in motion in 2017
Japanese movies have the potential to give fresh impetus to efforts by Tokyo and Beijing to warm political relations in 2017, as evidenced by the recent smash-hit animation "Your Name." in China.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 10, 2015
China says visit by popular North Korean band is important
China sees a six-day visit by North Korea's most popular all-female band as important, an ambassador said Wednesday, as the ensemble left Pyongyang for its first concerts abroad.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 30, 2015
Japanese falls from favor at elite Pyongyang university amid ongoing diplomatic tensions
Until a decade ago or so, Japanese was one of the most popular languages studied by elite students in North Korea, even though the two countries have never had good relations, diplomatic or otherwise.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 10, 2015
North Korea says fresh probe into Japan abductees almost done
North Korea has nearly completed a fresh investigation it promised Japan last year into the fates of Japanese citizens allegedly abducted by the country decades ago, according to a senior North Korean diplomat.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 4, 2015
Chinese skip military parade, head to Japan
China staged a massive military parade Thursday celebrating with fanfare the 70th anniversary of Japan's defeat in World War II, but not all Chinese were glued to the spectacle: Many had fled, for Japan.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 20, 2014
Abe's snap election puts Beijing on edge, although some believe it may empower him to ease tension
China is wary that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to call a snap election may lead to policy changes that would affect bilateral relations, amid tentative signs of thawing ties between the two countries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 22, 2014
North talks a balancing act for Abe
Japan's agreement with North Korea to restart government-level talks can be viewed as one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's few diplomatic achievements.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 22, 2013
China grows more wary about Abe
China is apprehensive about Japan becoming more nationalistic after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition scored a comfortable win in Sunday's Upper House election, giving the ruling bloc control of both Diet chambers for the first time in six years.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2013
Strains to gradually ebb: Chinese scholar
A leading Chinese expert on Japanese affairs is predicting a gradual improvement in relations between Asia's two biggest economies after this Sunday's Upper House election, regardless of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's hawkish political beliefs.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ANALYSIS
May 15, 2012
Three-way FTA talks have key hurdles to surmount
The leaders of Japan, China and South Korea have announced their countries will launch negotiations on a trilateral free-trade agreement by year's end. But the prospects are far from rosy.
JAPAN
Jan 10, 2012
Partnerships key to diplomatic revival
Japan's diplomatic outreach has grown since Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's government was formed in September, but the real challenge — whether it can play a pivotal role in reshaping the order in the Asia-Pacific region — will come this year.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Over 40% of Japan's municipalities at risk of vanishing, study finds
Of 1,729 local municipalities nationwide, 744 have been identified as being at risk of disappearing.
Tokyo issues strong warning on yen intervention as currency dips further
Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki speaks during a meeting with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and South Korean Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on the sidelines of IMF and G20 meetings in Washington last week.
Princess Aiko makes debut at imperial garden party
Princess Aiko attends an imperial garden party in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Japan's former PM Aso meets Trump for talks on security and economy
Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Taro Aso, vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in New York on Tuesday. The Japanese government’s top spokesman on Wednesday played down the meeting as one conducted "in the capacity of one lawmaker" and “without the government’s involvement.”
New workers name Shohei Ohtani as 'dream boss' for two years running
Shohei Ohtani has been overwhelmingly voted as the “dream boss” for people who started working in April, according to a survey.
A craft beer crawl through Tokyo’s top bars, brewpubs and dives
If all you drink is Asahi, Sapporo and Kirin, you're depriving yourself of some of the best craft beer Tokyo has to offer — and there sure is a lot of it out there.
'Sugar Baby Riri' gets nine-year prison term over romance scam
Mai Watanabe, who went by the moniker “Sugar Baby Riri,” dated older men and swindled them out of money by telling them fictitious heartbreaking stories about herself to gain their sympathy.
Tsukiji 2030s: A stadium, culinary center and transportation hub
A computer-generated image shows redevelopment plans for the former site of the Tsukiji fish market in Tokyo.
Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird call at a time
Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Later this month, author Shogo Imamura will open Honmaru, a bookstore that allows other businesses to rent its shelves. It's part of a wave of ideas Japanese booksellers are trying to compete with online spaces.
The story isn't over for Japan's bookstores
By Alex K.T. Martin

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability
Vol. 34: Tokyo, a vanguard city for sustainability

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