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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 16, 2019

Sydney's wildfire smoke declared a 'public health emergency'

The smoke blanketing Sydney is a "public health emergency," according to a coalition of Australian doctors and researchers who say climate change has helped fuel the wildfires that have produced the unprecedented haze.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 16, 2019

Hong Kong protesters clash with police as Carrie Lam visits Beijing

Hong Kong's demonstrators clashed with police late Sunday as Chief Executive Carrie Lam visited Beijing, where she's expected to update Chinese President Xi Jinping and other senior officials on the violent protests that have gripped the city for the past six months.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Dec 16, 2019

The push for change in the 2010s: The first step is recognizing the problem

Japanese companies have been waking up to the idea that offending some of their customers might be bad for business.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / CHILD'S PLAY
Dec 16, 2019

Exercising can be fun with CrossFit for kids

Running around on all fours, jumping onto mattresses, lifting weights — CrossFit is a great way to for kids to expel excess energy.
LIFE / Digital / ON: TECH
Dec 16, 2019

Techie gifts for creative kids

It's the festive season and whether you take Christmas day off or not in Japan, kids will still be excited about Santa. This month introduces a few next-generation techy toys that are great for children but will probably be fun for the parents, too.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Dec 16, 2019

Argos is hoping for a miracle this holiday season

The fact that Argos is here at all is something of a miracle. Dumped before dawn at ARK in May, this white Japanese Akita, believed to be about 5 years old, was in horrific condition.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB
Dec 16, 2019

Out of the park: Babe Ruth's 500th home run bat fetches more than $1 million

Babe Ruth may have died more than 70 years ago, but the baseball slugger is still turning out big numbers. The bat he used to hit his 500th home run in 1929 has sold for $1,000,800, officials for SCP Auctions announced on Sunday.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 16, 2019

U.S. expelled two Chinese officials, including intel officer posing as diplomat, after they drove onto military base: NYT

The U.S. government covertly moved to expel two officials from the Chinese Embassy earlier this year, after they drove onto a military base, the New York Times reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.
Japan Times
SATOYAMA CONSORTIUM
Dec 15, 2019

Various potential opportunities to be found in forests, farms

The Japan Times Satoyama Consortium organized a two-day study tour in Tottori and Okayama prefectures in November to learn about a variety of projects and businesses that are making effective use of natural resources in both regions.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / Fiction
Dec 15, 2019

Christmas on Happy Road: Mystery Trains

Chapter 2
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 15, 2019

Former Seagulls star Kevin Jackson hopes to see Japanese players thrive at Hula Bowl

Kevin Jackson, one of the most successful U.S. players to have ever competed in Japan's football scene, is concerned about the lack of chances local players have to compete abroad with the ambition of one day playing in the sport's motherland.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Dec 15, 2019

Lifestyle and nature as a basis for global relations

The guest parlor at the Finland Embassy of Tokyo speaks of Scandinavian restraint and simplicity. Artworks by Finnish artists adorn the walls.
EDITORIALS
Dec 15, 2019

Slow start for new work visa scheme

To streamline and improve the system for inviting people from overseas to work in this country, the technical intern program should either be drastically overhauled or scrapped.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2019

Henoko dispute between Okinawa and Japan's central government seen further intensifying

While Saturday marked the first anniversary of the start of landfill work Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki blasted the Abe administration's “illegal” landfill work, calling it “an act of trampling on democracy.”
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2019

Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko visit the main war dead memorial in Okinawa

Crown Prince Akishino and his wife, Crown Princess Kiko, visited Peace Memorial Park in the city of Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on Saturday, laying flowers at the National Okinawa War Dead Mausoleum within the park.
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 / 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
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
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
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 / 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.

Longform

Tetsuzo Shiraishi, speaking at The Center of the Tokyo Raids and War Damage, uses a thermos to explain how he experienced the U.S. firebombing of March 1945, when he was just 7 years old.
From ashes to high-rises: A survivor’s account of Tokyo’s postwar past