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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 15, 2019

Don't mock Greta; listen to her

Let's put aside the finger-pointing, and let Time's choice be a reminder that the problem isn't going to solve itself. There's more carbon entering the atmosphere every day.
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2019

Japan moves to tighten rules on handling of browsing history data

The Personal Information Protection Commission wants to oblige companies to get user consent before providing their personal data to third parties but holds fire on punitive levies.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 15, 2019

Could merger talks finally produce a credible opposition force in Japan?

With the close of the extraordinary Diet session on Dec. 9, some of the largest opposition parties once again entered talks about merging before year's end, with an eye toward increasing their seats in the next general election. Here's a look at the talks and what they might mean for Japan's political...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 15, 2019

Thai opposition plans more protests after thousands join rally

Thailand's highest-profile opposition party warned of more demonstrations after drawing thousands of people to an anti-government rally Saturday that also protested the prospect of its looming dissolution.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 15, 2019

Renault offers CEO job to SEAT's Luca de Meo, says La Vanguardia

French carmaker Renault has offered the chairman of Volkswagen's SEAT brand, Luca de Meo, the job of chief executive, Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia reported on Saturday, citing anonymous sources.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 15, 2019

Congressional Democrat opposed to impeachment, Jeff Van Drew, reportedly will switch parties

A Democratic U.S. lawmaker who opposed his party's moves to impeach President Donald Trump told staff on Saturday he will become a Republican as soon as this week, the New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2019

60% of Japanese eat something special for Christmas, poll finds

A recent Jiji Press survey has shown that 57.4 percent of people in Japan eat something special for Christmas and that about half of such people buy take-out food.
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Dec 15, 2019

Major issues loom as Kansai looks ahead to the new year

It was a busy 2019 for Kansai, particularly in the days leading up to the June Group of 20 leaders summit in Osaka. While the Tokyo Olympics will be the focus of much of the nation's attention in 2020, here are some major issues that will impact Kansai next year:
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / Fiction
Dec 15, 2019

Christmas on Happy Road: Escape from Shibuya

Chapter 1
Japan Times
CARTOONS / ZERO GRAVITY
Dec 15, 2019

Mari Kondo Invite

LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 14, 2019

A cut above the rest: A new generation of barbers is trying to overcome an image problem

A group of men sporting tattoos and smoking cigarettes chats casually on benches outside Mr. Brothers Cut Club in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku neighborhood.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 14, 2019

News outlets miss pivotal factor in decision to shift 2020 Olympic events

When the International Olympic Committee announced that the marathon and race walk competitions for next year's Olympics would be moved to Hokkaido due to fears that the summer heat in Tokyo might be too intense, Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike had no choice but to accept the directive, although she made a point...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
Dec 14, 2019

Qanta Shimizu: Beating the Bassdrum of tech direction in the U.S.

The diversity of New York could help overlooked Japanese technical directors get the work and recognition they deserve.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 14, 2019

'Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister': Three sisters bear witness to China's raucous 20th century

Jung Chang's sweeping biography 'Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister' sheds light on China's most famous sisters and their influence on 20th-century Chinese politics.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / JAPANESE KITCHEN
Dec 14, 2019

Whether it's sweet or savory, zōni soup is a new year mainstay

For centuries, mochi rice cakes have been a part of festive occasions in Japan, especially during the new year holidays. A hearty zu014dni soup is one classic way to incorporate mochi into your new year meal.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / Kateigaho International Japan Edition
Dec 14, 2019

Mizuhiki: Paper with a spiritual twist

Mizuhiki are an indispensable part of the country's new year celebrations, embodying people's hopes and prayers for the 12 months ahead.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 14, 2019

Chaos Kitchen: Yokochō culture reimagined with 2020 vision

Occupying the entire basement level of the sparkling, reborn Parco luxury mall in Shibuya, Chaos Kitchen is not a food court. Nor is it anything like a typical department store dining floor, all straight lines and bland, standardized decor. In fact, it's like nowhere else in the city.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 14, 2019

Delifucious: The cult-classic fish burgers are reborn in Chaos Kitchen

Delifucious has resurfaced inside Chaos Kitchen, the casual basement dining floor in the hulking new Shibuya Parco building. And it already feels like it could be a perfect fit. While it lacks the rough-and-ready retro charm of the old digs, the new location brings with it both cachet and a much larger footfall.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Dec 14, 2019

Everything's better with butter and lobster, especially potato chips

Snack makers Calbee and Yamayoshi are bringing Japan's regional flavors to convenience store shelves ... in potato chip form.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Dec 14, 2019

Examining the humorous side of online shopping in Japan

An increasing number of people these days are choosing to shop online. This is especially the case in Japan, a country that has an estimated internet penetration rate of 93.3 percent and is currently the third largest e-commerce market in the world — and one of the fastest growing.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 14, 2019

Laughing at life's trials and tribulations in Japan

Life is tragic, life is comic; the glass is half-empty — no, half full. Point of view is all. Two magazines — President and Spa — represent the opposite poles of optimism and pessimism. For President, bad luck and good luck are all in the mind. The former is a failure of will, the latter always...
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Dec 14, 2019

'A Mature Woman': The truth squares off against corrupt Japanese establishments

Saiichi Maruya's 'A Mature Woman' takes on misogyny, power harassment and corruption with a witty, satirical touch.
CULTURE / Books / RECENTLY PUBLISHED BOOKS ABOUT JAPAN
Dec 14, 2019

'Zen in Japanese Culture': An astute explainer of Japan's spiritual aesthetics

With 'Zen in Japanese Culture,' Gavin Blair deftly sidesteps superficial how-tos and Orientalism to deliver a in-depth explainer that leaves readers wanting to dig even deeper.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / THE LIVING PAST
Dec 14, 2019

Poetic escapism for the end of the year

If the year-end seems less festive than foreboding, escape through the poems of the 'Koshinsu,' Japan's earliest poetic anthologies.

Longform

Growing families are being priced out of Tokyo’s condo market, forced to choose between downtown convenience and suburban space.
Is living in central Tokyo still affordable?