Search - about-us

 
 
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2017

A test for Europe's German anchor

The success of the far right and the end of Germany's grand coalition government have introduced new uncertainties in Europe's most powerful country.
Reader Mail
Sep 29, 2017

Election a waste of taxpayer money

As a long time Japanese tax payer, but of course without representation, I wonder why there is little noise from the general population about the election being called by the Abe administration, which will cost the country billions of yen in taxpayer money.
Reader Mail
Sep 29, 2017

Defending Abe administration

I was puzzled by Jeff Kingston's column in the Sept. 17 edition. I will focus on a few points to explain why.
Reader Mail
Sep 29, 2017

Jeff Kingston's column will be missed

I'm very sad to learn that the Counterpoint column by professor Jeff Kingston of Temple University Japan won't appear any longer in The Japan Times.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Sep 29, 2017

Love of poetry, books made Meschery unique in NBA

Second in a three-part series
BUSINESS / Economy
Sep 29, 2017

Japan's strong inflation, factory output point to robust recovery

A flurry of positive Japanese economic indicators bolsters optimism about the world's No. 3 economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 29, 2017

Genki Sushi to buy stake in rival Sushiro, source says

The owner of restaurant chain Genki Sushi Co. will buy a one-third stake in bigger rival Sushiro Global Holdings Ltd. from private equity firm Permira, a person with direct knowledge of the deal said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Sep 29, 2017

Foreign investors bet big on Japan stocks right before Abe's snap election call

In the two weeks before Prime Minister Shinzo Abe called a snap election, foreign investors using the futures market — which are often hedge funds — suddenly turned hugely positive on Japanese shares.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2017

Chinese automakers have until 2019 to meet new green-car sales targets

China has set a deadline of 2019 to impose tough new sales targets for electric plug-in and hybrid vehicles, slightly relaxing an earlier plan to launch the rules from next year that had left global automakers worried about being able to comply.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 29, 2017

North Korea's Ri Yong Ho: A 'polished, rational' foreign minister

The man who called Donald Trump "President Evil" last week at the U.N. General Assembly is actually a genteel intellectual who studies the memoirs of former U.S. presidents and has taste for fine whiskey, according to ten people who know him.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Sep 29, 2017

Giant tree-dwelling rat species found in Solomon Islands

People living on the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean long had spoken of a big, tree-dwelling rat called vika that inhabited the rain forest, but the remarkable rodent managed to elude scientists — until now.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 29, 2017

Opioids demand rises in Japan as seniors use drugs to ease pain and improve quality of life

Selling painkillers in Japan used to be like pulling teeth. That was until baby boomers discovered how analgesics could take the sting from arthritis, diabetic nerve damage and the ravages of cancer.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / Small luxury hotel special
Sep 29, 2017

Intimate resort promises 'infinite' peace

On top of a small hill lies INFINITO HOTEL & SPA Nanki Shirahama, which was rebranded and reopened in April as the one and only hotel resort in the Nanki Shirahama area of Wakayama Prefecture.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / Small luxury hotel special
Sep 29, 2017

Tranquility and peace in seaside paradise

Expanding on its hotels across the country, the Kato Pleasure Group is proud to present its line of small luxury resorts that includes the Fufu, Sekaie and Kaihourou properties in Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Sep 29, 2017

Health chief Tom Price pledges to cut $51,800 check to pay for charter flights, vows to take airlines

Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, under fire for his use of taxpayer-funded private jets, said he will pay back the U.S. government for expenses associated with the charters and vowed to fly commercial from now on.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 29, 2017

Twitter tells congressional aides it suspended hundreds of Russia-linked accounts but seen coming up short

Twitter said on Thursday it had suspended hundreds of Russian-linked accounts and would ramp up enforcement of its spam rules as it probes online campaigns to influence the 2016 U.S. election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Sep 29, 2017

Hazama Ando pair charged with padding expenses during Fukushima decontaminaton work

Two employees of general contractor Hazama Ando Corp. have been indicted without arrest for alleged fraud linked to a Fukushima radiation decontamination project.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 29, 2017

Trump tells Fox that NFL team owners are 'afraid of their players' and draws flak for false facts

President Donald Trump drew a rebuke from the National Football League on Thursday after he said football team owners are afraid of their players, his latest criticism of NFL players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 28, 2017

China says it wants closer ties with Singapore, but Taiwan may be a sticking point

China wants to improve its military relationship with Singapore, but is resolutely opposed to any country having defense ties with self-ruled Taiwan, China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday, obliquely criticizing Singapore's Taiwan links.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Sep 28, 2017

Japan's social security burden frustrates BOJ's inflation, spending efforts

Japanese companies are paying more for employees these days. Problem is, the money is going toward social security payroll taxes instead of wages, adding to the frustrations of Bank of Japan policymakers seeking higher wages and stronger inflation.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Sep 28, 2017

Japan's flops turning bond market stars amid hunt for higher yields

Japan's yield-hungry investors are helping turn companies that were once bond-market pariahs into stars.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 28, 2017

Yuriko Koike says second-place finish not good enough in snap vote, plans to wrench power from ruling LDP

Kibo no To is in it to win it in the upcoming national election, Koike says, expressing the intention to wrench power from Abe and his ruling party.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 28, 2017

Democratic Party effectively disbands, throwing support behind Koike’s party for Lower House poll

The effective sudden death of the largest opposition force could turn the Oct. 22 election into a two-party race between conservative forces: Abe's LDP and Koike's Kibo no To.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Sep 28, 2017

Equestrian Sassa hopes to realize Olympic dream at 2020 Games

Shion Sassa's ultimate goal is to compete as an Olympic equestrian rider, hopefully as soon as the 2020 Tokyo Games. The 22-year old Waseda University student would make history if she's able to achieve that goal.
EDITORIALS
Sep 28, 2017

And the great unwinding begins

Central bankers today must figure out how to end and reverse quantitative easing without triggering the effects they sought to avoid nearly a decade ago.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 28, 2017

Did quantitative easing do any good?

QE probably helped end the Great Recression, though we'll never know for sure.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 28, 2017

Could Japan be ready for 'Koikenomics?'

In calling the latest of what's been a five-year flurry of election after election, Shinzo Abe admitted what households have long known: Abenomics is a dud.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Sep 28, 2017

Lawyerless Turk challenges Osaka car dealer's snub of non-Japanese patrons, wins redress

In a highly unusual case that has surprised Japanese legal experts, a Turkish national based in Osaka sued a local second-hand car dealer for discrimination and won, all without the services of a lawyer.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’