Search - opinion

 
 
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 18, 2019

For the U.S., Vietnam is a friend in need

The threat of China should bring the two former enemies into a tight security relationship.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 18, 2019

Three false claims muddying the impeachment debate

Each side is not only trying to spin the facts, but trying to spin itself as well.
BUSINESS
Nov 18, 2019

Takedown: The monumental fall of auto titan Carlos Ghosn

It took two decades for "le cost-cutter" Carlos Ghosn to carve out his three-way automobile empire. But in a matter of days, it was ripped from his grasp.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 18, 2019

Trump tweets at North Korea's Kim, tells him to 'get the deal done'

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday told North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to "act quickly" to reach a deal with the United States, in a tweet weighing in on North Korea's criticism of his political rival former, Vice President Joe Biden.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 16, 2019

Public divided over treatment of the homeless during Typhoon Hagibis

When Typhoon Hagibis struck Tokyo on Oct. 12, news emerged that three homeless people had been turned away from an emergency evacuation facility in Taito Ward. As the story spread, it varied in tone and content on social media. Some thought the persons refused entry were not actually homeless, while...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 16, 2019

Millennials missed their own boom times

Too many economic forces were against them when they came of age.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 15, 2019

Undermining activist investors will hurt Japanese companies

The government should be wary of alienating an ally that has aided its campaign to improve shareholder returns.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Nov 14, 2019

Ditch the debate tactics when it comes to persuading Japanese colleagues on a course of action

Coming to a compromise, PowerPoint presentations and group consensus will help you get your way at work over an impressive oral argument.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 13, 2019

Japan and South Korea still in game of chicken after superficial signs of detente

A handout photo of the two countries' leaders, taken on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting, has become another source of controversy in the ongoing quarrel between Tokyo and Seoul.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 13, 2019

U.K.'s Johnson to declare Britain can 'end the groundhoggery of Brexit' if he wins election

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Wednesday declare that the U.K. can "end the groundhoggery of Brexit" if he wins next month's election, saying the rest of the world was wondering why so much time has been spent agonizing over whether to leave the European Union.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 12, 2019

How Russia could force a nuclear war in the Baltics

The Kremlin's 'escalate to de-escalate' nuclear strategy could easily get out of hand.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 12, 2019

Trump impeachment inquiry set to reshape 2020 presidential race

The start of public impeachment hearings in the House this week are likely to push the race for the White House into a new phase, testing whether Democratic efforts to investigate President Donald Trump risk hurting the party in the 2020 election.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 11, 2019

Trade war frontlines are friendlier than you think

Here it's apparent that centuries-old ties between the nations can't be unwound by political rhetoric spewing from distant capital cities.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Commentary
Nov 11, 2019

Four-day workweek could be just what Japan needs

In the sitcom "The Office," a bumbling manager spends much of his time distracting the hapless employees of a paper company's local sales branch. Somehow, despite all the antics that seem to interfere with getting anything done, the branch consistently manages to be the company's most profitable. Though...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 6, 2019

Defending the perimeter isn't enough on election hacking

The to-do list for 2020: Eliminate passwords, add end-to-end encryption, counter look-alike accounts.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 6, 2019

Trump-backed Kentucky governor loses election; Democrats seize Virginia legislature

U.S. Democrats scored an upset victory in Kentucky on Tuesday over a Republican governor backed by President Donald Trump and seized control of the state legislature in Virginia, where anti-Trump sentiment in the suburbs remained a potent force.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2019

A New Parliament Will Decide

Far from losing votes, in the upcoming election Boris Johnson will stand out clearly for the one thing everyone really wants — a soft and orderly withdrawal from the EU
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2019

Democracy is on the march worldwide, not in retreat

Mass protests in country after country show how powerful the demand for social equality remains
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Nov 5, 2019

Gay Byrne, Ireland's 'most influential broadcaster,' dies at 85

Ireland's best known television personality, Gay Byrne, who hosted "The Late Late Show" for almost 40 years, died aged 85 on Monday, and was hailed by the prime minister as the "most influential broadcaster in the history of the state.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2019

Beijing is determined to reshape the globe

The Belt and Road initiative seeks to remake Eurasia in China's image.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2019

Germany's windmills are wildly unpopular

In renewable energy, competition from fossil fuels isn't the only problem: Local politics may be an even higher hurdle.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 4, 2019

In boost for Taiwan leader, China-friendly veteran James Soong set to run for Taiwan presidency

Tsai Ing-wen's chances of being re-elected as Taiwan's president received a boost as one of Taiwan's most senior China-friendly politicians appears set to enter the election, potentially sapping votes from the main opposition candidate.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 3, 2019

Trump's push for Seoul to pay more for U.S. troops throws alliance into question and puts Tokyo on notice

Despite faltering denuclearization talks, U.S. President Donald Trump has been heaping praise on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, brushing away concerns by top Asian allies over recent missile launches and boasting of his "very good" relationship with the dictator of the nuclear-armed pariah state.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 31, 2019

Questions over raising minimum wages

The adoption of a social security policy for the purpose of a competition policy must be avoided.
JAPAN / The Argument: Casinos
Oct 30, 2019

Japan is going all-in on casinos. Will the gamble pay off?

More and more municipalities in Japan are considering placing a bet on casinos following the enactment of a law last year that spelled out a raft of rules on the structure of the nation's planned integrated resorts (IR), nomenclature for casinos.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 30, 2019

Shin Adachi's mission to bust the myth of marital bliss in 'A Beloved Wife'

Shin Adachi discusses his latest feature, 'A Beloved Wife,' which will be screened in the main competition at the 2019 Tokyo International Film Festival
Japan Times
JAPAN / The Argument: Casinos
Oct 30, 2019

Any economic benefits of casinos come at far too steep of a price

Those who support bringing casinos to Japan boast of their economic benefits, but any perceived boon for the economy is far outweighed by their destructive consequences.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / The Argument: Casinos
Oct 30, 2019

Casinos are misunderstood and a needed part of destination resorts

As a longtime member of a nonpartisan group of lawmakers promoting integrated resorts, my basic stance is to promote the introduction of IRs as a whole, rather than casinos alone.
JAPAN
Oct 29, 2019

Over two-thirds of Japanese people say they read fewer books, blaming work and smartphones, government survey shows

Some 67.3 percent of Japanese say they are reading fewer books, with about a third of such people attributing the decline to time spent on devices such as smartphones, according to a Cultural Affairs Agency survey.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 29, 2019

How the Kurds helped in the hunt for al-Baghdadi

Now what they want is Washington's support in their negotiations with Damascus.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years