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William Wilkes
For William Wilkes's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. As the European Union’s biggest economy wrestles with a persistent slump and a surge in immigration, the specter of German nationalism has returned, leaving citizens more conflicted over their country’s direction than at any point since World War II.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 6, 2023
The far right is on the rise in Germany and Scholz is at a loss
Amidst economic challenges and surging immigration, German nationalism has reemerged.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 26, 2023
Deep structural challenges in Germany threaten Europe’s economic engine
The basis of Germany's competitiveness and resilience is being systematically challenged by changing social, environmental and regulatory pressure, observers say.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Feb 5, 2023
Germany's Olaf Scholz is learning that it’s not easy going green
Under the leader's stewardship, German industry is struggling to find new technologies and trade partners to provide the backbone for the coming green transformation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 1, 2022
European defense firms see boost as Ukraine crisis prompts bloc to rearm
Defense stocks had already moved higher last week after the Ukraine conflict escalated, fanning concern over Russia's offensive potentially expanding to other nations.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 4, 2022
COVID’s endemic shift means a slowdown for virus product makers
Demand for at-home tests will probably slow first while sales of more reliable PCRs will show more resilience, according to medical supply executives.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jan 25, 2022
The logistical nightmare of getting athletes to the Olympics
The official playbook stipulates people must take two COVID-19 tests within 96 hours of their departure to China, and one of those two tests must be within 72 hours.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Nov 15, 2021
If Elon Musk is the modern day Henry Ford, he’ll have to prove it in Germany
One analyst recently compared the series of innovations the Tesla CEO is pursuing at the plant to Henry Ford's revolutionary moving assembly line.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Nov 30, 2020
Airlines face ‘mission of the century’ in shipping vaccines
Laid low by a COVID-19 outbreak that's decimated passenger demand, airlines will be the workhorses of the attempt to eradicate it, hauling billions of vials to every corner of the globe.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 3, 2019
Air cargo carriers caught in crossfire of Trump-China trade dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump's intensifying trade war with China dented air cargo traffic even before FedEx Corp. got dragged into the brawl, as companies worldwide reconfigure their supply chains in the face of increasing tariffs.

Longform

Historically, kabuki was considered the entertainment of the merchant and peasant classes, a far cry from how it is regarded today.
For Japan's oldest kabuki theater, the show must go on