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Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 25, 2016

BOJ-fueled Tokyo property boom pricing average earners out of housing market

Rich buyers taking advantage of record low borrowing costs have pushed prices in Tokyo beyond the reach of many ordinary buyers, taking the wind out of property sales.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jan 25, 2016

Space development program a blackhole for public funds

Japan has poured huge sums of money into its space exploration effort, but with very little to show for it.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 25, 2016

There are many way-zu in Japanese to show there's more than one

In contrast to English, in Japanese the grammatical marking of plurals is optional, meaning the whole matter is dealt with a lot less systematically.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 25, 2016

Two Chinese killed in roadside blast in Laos

Two Chinese nationals were killed and another wounded in a suspected bomb blast in Laos, Chinese state media said Monday, the latest incident in which Chinese have been killed abroad as the country's economic footprint grows.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Jan 24, 2016

Eating crow on the issue of the clever critters we consume

The controversies surrounding the eating of various animals in our modern world are numerous: the hunting of bluefin tuna to near-extinction; eating shark fin soup (in which only the fin is used and the rest of the shark is often discarded); the consumption of dogs in various Asian countries; the use...
CULTURE / Music / STRANGE BOUTIQUE
Jan 24, 2016

Afrirampo reunion may save 2016

While 2016 kicked off for most of the music world with David Bowie tricking hundreds of thousands of people into buying a jazz-prog concept album about death, the message from the heart of J-pop was loud and clear: "DO NOT WORRY, NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE."
WORLD
Jan 24, 2016

Blizzard turns traffic-free Manhattan into winter playground

An otherworldly quiet descended over the streets of Manhattan on Saturday as a muffling blanket of snow and a complete ban on private vehicles transformed a city renowned for its bustle and horn-blaring traffic into a tranquil pedestrian mall.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 23, 2016

Giants hurler Sugano aims for winning season

Tomoyuki Sugano returned to Japan recently after spending several days training in Hawaii. He told reporters at Narita Airport that his workouts yielded great results and allowed that "my condition is the best it's been in three years."
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 22, 2016

Opposition leaves Diet floor in boycott of Amari speech

Opposition lawmakers mount a humiliating boycott of embattled economy minister Akira Amari's annual policy speech in the Diet.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Jan 22, 2016

12 refugees found drowned on Turkish shore; hypothermia claims trio who reached Lesbos

Twelve bodies were found on Turkey's western coast and 26 people were rescued on Tuesday after a boat carrying migrants bound for Greece capsized, the Turkish coast guard said in a statement.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 21, 2016

Amari vows to answer claims over ¥12 million in undeclared funds

Scandal-hit economic minister Akira Amari vows to answer allegations that he and two secretaries received large undeclared donations and hospitality.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 20, 2016

Pakistan Taliban kill at least 19 as they storm university

Islamist Taliban militants stormed a university in volatile northwestern Pakistan on Wednesday, killing at least 19 people and wounding dozens as the army hunted for any gunmen still holed up on the campus, officials said.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 20, 2016

Petroleum's plunge is great news for most of us

The initial shock from the oil collapse might be negative, but it will be outweighed by the positive effects before too long.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 20, 2016

J-horror master Yoshihiro Nakamura returns to form

Yoshihiro Nakamura entered the film world on a well-trodden path. After making 8 mm films while studying at Tokyo's Seijo University and winning a prize at the 1993 Pia Film Festival — a famous incubator for young Japanese filmmakers — he worked as an assistant director for Juzo Itami, Yoichi Sai...
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2016

Japan's Foreign Ministry councils caution when traveling to Bali after fresh terrorism fears

The Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued a warning calling on Japanese to exercise caution when traveling to the resort island of Bali, Indonesia, following recent media reports of an alleged terrorist threat made against the popular holiday destination
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

Turning challenges of cybersecurity into new opportunities for growth

As information and communication technology (ICT) has extended into all areas of society, we have become ever more reliant upon it. The subtle ways in which it is changing the world, though both exciting and frightening, are not widely recognized or understood. This year, Japan will host the G-7 summit...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2016

Visitors to Japan surge to record 19.73 million, spend all-time high ¥3.48 trillion

A record 19.73 million people visited Japan in 2015, marking the first time in 45 years that the number of incoming travelers surpassed the outbound figure.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 19, 2016

Will Cameron suffer Neville Chamberlain's fate?

Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to hold a referendum — perhaps as early as June — on the U.K.'s continued membership in the EU could bring down his government, destroy his political party and literally tear his country apart.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 19, 2016

Chinese ambassador hails 'inseparable' relationship, urges Japan not to adopt policy of containment

Adopting a policy of containment with regard to China's growing clout would be a mistake, the Chinese ambassador to Japan said Tuesday.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 19, 2016

Son's SoftBank vision at risk as Sprint goes from bad to worse

The acquisition of Sprint Corp. was supposed to help Masayoshi Son realize his vision of transforming SoftBank Group Corp. into the world's most valuable company. Instead, the 2013 deal has become his biggest setback so far, dragging down SoftBank shares and cutting into the billionaire's wealth.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 18, 2016

Kudo, Saito lead Class of '16 into Japan's Baseball Hall of Fame

Masaki Saito and Kimiyasu Kudo, a pair of former MVP hurlers, were voted into the Japanese baseball Hall of Fame, the organization announced on Monday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 18, 2016

As Xi heads into Middle East feud, China says aims for balance

China intends to retain a balanced stance in the Middle East, a senior Chinese diplomat said on Monday, as President Xi Jinping prepared to leave on an unusual visit this week to Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional powers currently locked in a bitter dispute.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo