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CULTURE / Books
Jun 3, 2017

'Contents Tourism in Japan': How popular narratives drive people to 'sacred sites'

Japan is an extremely successful brand. It's also a tightly controlled one. The government wants lots of foreigners to visit its 2020 Tokyo Olympics, buy its Abenomics, experience the unmatched beauty of its four unique seasons and overlook its urban blight while searching for the few heritage sites...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / HOOP SCOOP
Jun 3, 2017

Inconsistent level of B. League officiating a cause for real concern

Rising attendance figures across the nation and increased media attention were two byproducts of the merger that created the B. League, when the disbanded NBL, NBDL and bj-league joined forces to make this a possibility.
JAPAN / Media / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Jun 3, 2017

The not-so-shady world of Japan's singles bars

On May 22, the Yomiuri Shimbun published a curious article about Kihei Maekawa, a former administrative vice education minister who has said that he is willing to testify under oath about the Kake Gakuen scandal dogging Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jun 2, 2017

Gunman kills himself after causing panic in apparent robbery attempt and torching of Manila casino

A gunman killed himself after bursting into a Manila casino, firing shots and setting gaming tables alight, Philippine police said, sowing panic in a country on high alert after martial law was declared in the south.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
May 31, 2017

Puppeteer pulls the strings from the sticks of Toyama, with a point to prove

From Toyama to schools far and wide, Jack Lee Randall lives his lesson — that art can thrive wherever people are.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / A MATTER OF HEALTH
May 31, 2017

Pro-tobacco LDP clouds chances of indoor smoking ban in time for Tokyo Games

May 31 marks World No Tobacco Day, but the prospect of Japan banning indoor smoking in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics looks hazier than ever.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
May 30, 2017

Cozy ties between the police and pachinko industry

With the legalization of casinso in Japan around the corner, the police are desparately trying to defend their own sphere of interest.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
May 27, 2017

Brex claim first B. League title

An exciting new era for pro basketball in Japan produced an appropriate final chapter to close out its inaugural season on Saturday afternoon.
LIFE / Travel
May 26, 2017

Looking for 'omotenashi' in Cuba's southeast

Though half a world apart in geography, history, language and just about anything else you could name, Cuba and Japan are not entirely without similarities.
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 25, 2017

A taste of summer on the French Riviera

Back by popular demand, The French Kitchen at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo is hosting Soiree Blanche 2017, a series of luxurious summer events every Saturday from June 24 through Sept. 2.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 24, 2017

Tokyo International Art Fair to kick off in Shibuya's Hikarie

While many people in Japan undoubtedly know someone who owns a brand name handbag, few may know anyone who owns a work of art. If Tokyo-based artist Satoshi Maruhashi has his way, that will soon change.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 23, 2017

Manchester concert suicide attack prompts security rethinks worldwide

Countries from the United States to Japan and Singapore are considering tightening security ahead of major theater and sports events following a suicide bomb attack in Britain that killed at least 22 people.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 23, 2017

Sony about to get its groove back, CEO Kazuo Hirai says

After five years of restructuring by Sony Corp., Chief Executive Officer Kazuo Hirai said Tuesday he is confident the once-dominant electronics giant will see an operating profit of ¥500 billion, the largest in two decades, in the current business year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
May 23, 2017

Japan's 'Superhuman' sports games meld high-tech and athletics

When it comes to culture and entertainment, Japan has a rich history spanning from ancient legends and sports to modern manga and video games.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 23, 2017

Symantec says 'highly likely' North Korea group behind 'WannaCry' ransomware attacks

Cybersecurity firm Symantec Corp. said on Monday it was "highly likely" a hacking group affiliated with North Korea was behind the "WannaCry" cyberattack this month that infected more than 300,000 computers worldwide and disrupted hospitals, banks and schools across the globe.
EDITORIALS
May 22, 2017

Final curtain call for 'The Greatest Show on Earth'

Circuses are made from the stuff of dreams, and one that lasted 146 years has come to an end.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2017

America's dangerous internet delusion

The more we connect our devices and instruments to the internet, the more we create paths for others to use against us.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2017

Trump's words returning to haunt him

What goes around, comes around, especially with a man who flip-flops his position on an almost daily basis.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 17, 2017

Dance troupe Condors summon teen spirit for new show '17's Map'

Sitting down with Condors frontman Ryohei Kondo, he says something a bit surprising: “’17’s Map’ is a work in progress.”
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 16, 2017

Music schools to sue Japan's largest copyright collection group over plan to collect fees

The school operators said they would file a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court as early as July, a representative told The Japan Times.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / CHILD'S PLAY
May 14, 2017

Weekend drama can be great for the kids

My two daughters rub the backs of their ears to retrieve some magic dust, which they then use to summon a pile of pizza and ice cream, before tucking into the newly created feast with arm-waving gusto.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
May 8, 2017

Entrepreneur taps Skype, tablets to offer sign language service across Japan

Imagine you're a hearing impaired person who wants to hire a sign language interpreter. The process is antiquated and lengthy. You have to send a fax to a local municipal government to make a reservation two weeks in advance, and officials then look for an interpreter whose schedule matches yours. Once...
EDITORIALS
May 6, 2017

The labor drag on the economy

The labor shortage brought on by the shrinking and graying population is starting to have a profound impact on companies.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 4, 2017

China's all-girl pop band crushes hopes of besotted female fans

Just a little under a year ago, Min Junqian was an unknown art student in China's eastern province of Shandong, dreaming of becoming a star and hitting the big time.
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2017

The technology policy debate

With governments and citizens already struggling with the consequences of recent innovations — from job displacement to security risks — technology policy is likely to take center stage in the coming decade.
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2017

Pachinko industry raises money for low-income students, but critics call it a marketing stunt

The pachinko industry is urging customers to donate steel balls from their winnings to help put hard-up students through university.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami