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WORLD / Politics
Nov 24, 2014

Israeli Cabinet approves Jewish nation-state law

A divided Cabinet approved on Sunday a bill to anchor in law Israel's status as the nation-state of the Jewish people, legislation critics say could undermine its democratic foundation and the rights of its Arab minority.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Nov 20, 2014

Treasures worth standing in line for

There is a fundamental problem with the Tokyo National Museum (TNM), which I come up against time and time again. In a nutshell, the venue is too big for its exhibits and too small for its audience. This is underlined yet again by the latest exhibition "National Treasures of Japan."
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 18, 2014

Putin-bashing at G-20 meeting was juvenile

What were Western leaders trying to achieve by humiliating Russia President Vladimir Putin at the G-20 summit?
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 16, 2014

In Iraq, Iranian masters behind feared Shiite militias

Among the thousands of militia fighters who flocked to northern Iraq to battle the extremist Islamic State group over the summer was Qais al-Khazali.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Nov 15, 2014

Holiday gifts they'll cherish from cover to cover

As the holiday season rolls around, it's time to dash about in a mad panic in search of gifts that say "I've given this one some thought, honest." Or you can just let us do the thinking for you, with gift suggestions from our regular book reviewers — tailor-made for the Japanophile reader.
WORLD
Nov 14, 2014

Islamic State leader, in taped speech, calls for attacks in Saudi Arabia, 'volcanoes of jihad'

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi called for attacks in Saudi Arabia, said his caliphate was expanding across the Arab world and called for "volcanoes of jihad" in a speech purported to be in his name on Thursday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 10, 2014

Obama faulted over thinning bench of China policy experts

Three years after President Barack Obama vowed to shift his focus toward Asia in response to China's growing power, the advisers who set that policy in motion are gone. So is their expertise.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 8, 2014

Mediator says South Sudan rivals reach deal to end conflict

South Sudan's warring parties committed to ending fighting and bringing their months-long conflict to an end without conditions, the chief mediator for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)regional African group, said Saturday after two days of talks in the Ethiopian capital.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 4, 2014

Chinese Communist Party's great leap backward

Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign was supposed to signify a shift toward a more transparent system based on the rule of law, but the officials who have been purged so far have been Xi's political adversaries. Xi appears to be pulling China backward politically.
COMMENTARY / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Nov 3, 2014

Redaction of a 'comfort woman' story

One of the Japanese stories sometimes mentioned in the 'comfort women' controversy was written by the late Taijiro Tamura in the spring of 1947. It depicted Korean 'comfort women,' but the U.S. Occupation 'suppressed' it.
Reader Mail
Oct 29, 2014

Keep out the military jargon

The Oct. 11 article by William Pfaff, "The war against Islamic State," contains a reference to "asymmetric wars." Can Pfaff please tell us what this means? I am sure I am not the only one who is baffled by this arcane term, which was no doubt the intention of the Pentagon when they dreamed up this piece...
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Oct 29, 2014

Town hall meetings: Abandon logic, all ye who enter here

The first thing you want to do when you get to the meeting room, whether it be summer or winter, is open all the windows. This is because you'll have to throw all logic out the window. Open as many as possible, 'cause there's a lot of logic to heave.
JAPAN / Science & Health
Oct 28, 2014

Questions remain over how Japan would handle actual Ebola cases

Health experts have said authorities were correct to intercept a Canadian journalist who subsequently tested negative for the Ebola virus and remains under observation.
EDITORIALS
Oct 26, 2014

Moral education's slippery slope

An advisory body to Japan's education minister calls for upgrading grade school 'moral education' — which deals with children's way of thinking and their attitude toward life — to an official subject on a par with mathematics and science.
COMMENTARY / Japan / COUNTERPOINT
Oct 18, 2014

The Abe conundrum and the pitfalls ahead

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is a polarizing figure, lauded as the resolute leader Japan needs to revive its flagging fortunes and slammed for mishandling history issues in ways that undermine national interests.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Oct 15, 2014

Katsura Sunshine's a star at rakugo in English

"It was the first time I'd performed to an audience where there wasn't a single person from Japan, and I don't think anyone had even been there — yet their reaction was electric," Katsura Sunshine said with a beaming smile as he talked about his first show at this year's Edinburgh Fringe Festival —...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 15, 2014

China rebukes Taiwan for 'irresponsible' comments on Hong Kong

China's top body in charge of relations with Taiwan rebuked the self-ruled island on Wednesday for officials' "irresponsible" comments on the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong, and took an apparent swipe at the protests that often happen in democratic Taiwan.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 12, 2014

Modi's outreach to U.S. more than pageantry

Though some critics view the Indian prime minister's recent visit to the U.S. as puff and pageantry with no concrete results, Narendra Modi laid the foundation for long-term changes in the way India conducts its international affairs.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 9, 2014

Japan's chance to develop Antarctic marine sanctuary

Japan now has an opportunity to be a leader in supporting the creation of a marine sanctuary for the Ross Sea and East Antarctica.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji