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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 22, 2019

Tsuyoshi Hoshino, the Heisei Era's last maestro of Japan's Diet formalities

When at home, Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Tsuyoshi Hoshino wouldn't dare let the hours pass without a humidifier on. The whole time the device is humming, he is also wearing a neck gaiter. Whenever he goes out, he makes sure his bag contains a constant supply of cough drops.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 22, 2019

'Ordinary people' in focus as over 1 billion Asians set to vote in elections

Rights over land and forests, a push for LGBTQ equality and getting more women on the ballot are some of the top election issues in Thailand, India and Indonesia as more than 1 billion people prepare to go to the polls, including many first-time voters.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 11, 2019

Ex-Vice Gov. Konishi tapped by LDP to run for Osaka governor after actor Takuro Tatsumi says no

After a frantic scramble, local political and business leaders remain concerned about who will support him.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 2019

Japan ranks at bottom of G20, and in lowest quarter globally, for percentage of female MPs

Japan ranked 165th out of 193 countries for its percentage of female politicians holding seats in lower or single parliamentary chambers, a report by the Inter-Parliamentary Union shows.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 4, 2019

Midnight's children

The only realistic solution to the conflict would be to recognize Kashmir as an autonomous state within a loose, federal regional structure through the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 4, 2019

Is Pyongyang slicing the salami too thin?

The second U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in Hanoi was a fiasco and provided no relief for Japan.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 26, 2019

A month ahead of election, Thailand's billionaire rising political star is energizing young voters

Young people line up to take selfies with him. His hashtags are trending. And when billionaire Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit promises an end to Thailand's military "dictatorship," supporters of his Future Forward Party roar their approval.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Feb 18, 2019

With every incident, fear grows that China is giving New Zealand the cold shoulder over Huawei ban

When an Air New Zealand jet to Shanghai was forced to turn around earlier this month, it seemed a relatively innocuous event put down to misfiled paperwork.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 14, 2019

Reality continues to leak from American life

The Green New Deal reveals Democratic progressives have embraced Trump's political style: A stew of frivolity and mendacity.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 11, 2019

Thailand faces escalating political risk as divisions flare

Thailand's political divisions are erupting again with just over a month to go to the first general election since a coup almost five years ago.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 10, 2019

Party that nominated Thai princess as leader could face ban

The Thai political party that nominated a princess as its candidate for prime minister could be banned from a general election in March after an activist said on Sunday he would file a petition seeking its dissolution.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 6, 2019

In State of the Union, Trump cites 'moral duty' to build wall and blasts 'partisan' probes

President Donald Trump cast his fight against illegal migration to the U.S. as a moral struggle, and charged in his second State of the Union address that "partisan investigations" threaten economic progress under his administration.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 3, 2019

There's a radical plan to make South Korea's legislature 50% female

Some South Korean women are so frustrated by the country's stubborn gender pay gap that they are seeking a radical shift: equal political representation.
Japan Times
SOCCER / From the Spot
Jan 27, 2019

Japan-Iran semi has high stakes, little drama

In the heat of the 2016 U.S. presidential election, a certain candidate promised his supporters that they would be "tired of winning."
EDITORIALS
Jan 27, 2019

Thailand sets an election date

Japan must not acquiesce to authoritarian impulses in Thailand, even if it facilitates relations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2019

Abe calls for rebuilding of trust in international trade at World Economic Forum meeting in Davos

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took the stage at the World Economic Forum's 2019 Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, where he stressed Japan's commitment to enhancing a free, open and rules-based international order.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2019

Despite Brexit, I'm still proud to be a Brit

Britain can take real pride that a messy, fraught, passionate struggle over a fundamental principle of democratic and civic life is taking place within it.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2019

Xi: Smooth talker vs. brass knuckle operator

The Chinese leader's latest global export strategy: tools for human control.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 11, 2019

Japan an underdeveloped country for women

Despite its rich, industrialized economy, Japan has yet to achieve much progress in equality between men and women.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 7, 2019

America's pullout from the Middle East is overdue

Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria and reduce forces in Afghanistan has exposed the hollowness of arguments in favor of endless intervention.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jan 4, 2019

Saudi prosecutor seeks death for five of 11 suspects in Jamal Khashoggi slaying

Saudi Arabian prosecutors is seeking the death penalty for five of the 11 suspects detained over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the state news agency SPA said on Thursday, as a Saudi court held a first hearing on the case.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 24, 2018

Trump's team attempts to reassure markets Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's job is safe

Trump administration officials moved to reassure financial markets that Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's job is safe following a report that said President Donald Trump has repeatedly discussed firing the central bank chief after last week's Fed rate hike.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 19, 2018

The environment and economy have become great power pawns

The new cold war has spread far from the geopolitical arena.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 15, 2018

Macron tells Trump that France is not a U.S. 'vassal state' and 'respect is due'

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the U.S. president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2018

A Democratic House can rein in Trump's foreign policy

Yes, it's only half of one branch, but they could do enough to put U.S. allies at ease.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / japan since the Meiji Restoration
Nov 5, 2018

A contextual look at the Heisei Era

To lament the 'fall of Japan' during the Heisei Era, as some pessimists do, misses the big picture.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 23, 2018

Time for Japan to shine in diversity

Expanding the definition of what it is to be Japanese and encouraging diversity will only further Japan's role as a country fully in tune with the needs of the 21st century.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 18, 2018

Amidst global upheaval, diplomats and experts eye greater role for Japan

Despite the fraught global environment — with U.S.-China animosity mounting alongside a bevy of regional security concerns — Japan appears to be viewing the situation as a glass half-full scenario, according to leading experts, as well as current and former officials.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years