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JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 15, 2018

Supreme Court breaks new ground, ruling in favor of U.S.-based Japanese father in international custody battle

The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday in favor of a U.S.-based Japanese father seeking to reunite with his teenage son, who was taken by his estranged wife to Japan in 2016, concluding that the wife's dogged refusal to abide by an earlier court order mandating the minor's repatriation amounts to her "illegally...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 15, 2018

For Putin's Russia, a poisoned spy sends a political message

The poisoning is a sign of how just committed Vladimir Putin's Kremlin has become at eradicating its enemies — and reminding others it can do so.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 14, 2018

The Japanese lessons of a 'plastic Paddy'

A Briton of Irish stock finds the 'Irishness' he seeks not on the Emerald Isle itself but in the expat pubs of his adopted land.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Mar 14, 2018

Turkish Kurd seeking refugee status in Japan losing hope amid what critics call a flawed system

On a chilly afternoon in mid-January, more than 30 Kurdish asylum-seekers gathered in front of United Nations University in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward to call for U.N. action on Turkey's continued all-out attacks on Kurds in the northern Syrian town of Afrin.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 13, 2018

Why fossil fuels will survive

The real obstacle to dealing with climate change is the world's vast dependence on oil, natural gas and coal.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 13, 2018

The end of little Germany?

With a new government taking power, Europe's powerhouse must start thinking of itself as the major economic player it is.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 12, 2018

Abe's route to revising Article 9 crosses minefield of legalese

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is now entering a critical phase of debate on what has been one of the most contentious political issues throughout the postwar years: whether and how the war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution should be revised.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 11, 2018

A shooting at my school, Florida's Douglas High, viewed from afar in Japan but still so close

The rest of the world cannot understand America's problem with guns. This hit home for me when yet another school shooting occurred at my alma mater in Parkland, Florida.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 9, 2018

Abe to visit U.S. in April to discuss North Korea with Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to meet with the North Korean leader might give Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a chance to resolve the abduction issue.
Japan Times
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Mar 9, 2018

Wenger putting off the inevitable

Yes, it was a big win. No, Arsenal was not expected to beat AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro in the Europa League.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 7, 2018

The strange taste of Japanese immigration Kool-Aid: How living in Japan can transform you into a conservative

When it comes to thinking of the role that they themselves should play in Japan, many progressive expats are actually more in line with the Tiki-torch-carrying nationalists back home than against them.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 7, 2018

Clint Eastwood's Japan critics are always there to make his day

"Everybody knocks out a flop every now and then," quipped Clint Eastwood during a recent interview to promote his latest movie, "The 15:17 to Paris."
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 7, 2018

All 39 aboard confirmed killed in crash of Russian military plane at Syria base

A Russian military transport plane crashed in Syria on Tuesday, killing all 39 people on board, Russian officials said, an incident that sharply raised the death toll from the Kremlin's intervention in the Syrian war.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 6, 2018

Two Koreas agree to leaders' summit as North voices openness to denuclearization

In stunning and unexpected announcement late Tuesday, Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to a deal that could see South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meet for a rare leaders' summit at the two countries' heavily armed border next month.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 6, 2018

Italy's election was actually quite traditional

The nation's voters favor weak central governments for a reason.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Mar 5, 2018

Managing great (and not so great) expectations with 'dake atte' and 'dake ni'

Introducing Xu3060u3051u3042u3063u3066Y and its related expressions.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 5, 2018

Weakened Merkel tasked with performing delicate balancing act to keep coalition intact

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) have bought Chancellor Angela Merkel time with their vote to join her conservatives in another coalition, but she risks losing her long grip on power if she fails to balance the awkward allies' conflicting demands.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Mar 1, 2018

Can Japan's women skaters catch up with Russians?

In the wake of Alina Zagitova and Evgenia Medvedeva winning the gold and silver medals in such dominating fashion at the Pyeongchang Games, many are wondering how the Japanese women can close the gap on the powerful Russians going forward.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 1, 2018

Journalist murders are a major EU problem

Clearly not all European Union members are enforcing the bloc's stated values.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2018

China faces the downsides of dictatorship

The period of term-limited presidents corresponded with unprecedented growth. Now Xi Jinping is changing the rules
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 27, 2018

Japan asks wrong question about Olympic Games

Only bold reforms, not sporting events, will ensure the big wins that Abenomics promises
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 27, 2018

Rock act Joy Opposites detail infamous low points on ‘Find Hell’

When was the last time you found yourself "in hell"? For Adam Graham, frontman for Japanese rock act Joy Opposites, it was last year.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Feb 25, 2018

Japan Inc. seen embracing change slowly but surely

Sitting in a Shibuya meeting room at the Tokyo headquarters of human resources and specialist recruitment consultancy Robert Walters Japan, David Swan cuts a swarthy, muscular figure.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 23, 2018

Pyongyang says U.N. chief is 'picking a quarrel' with sanctions remarks

North Korea on Thursday accused United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of "picking a quarrel" with Pyongyang by praising international sanctions for putting pressure on the country over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 23, 2018

NRA chief slams Democrat anti-gun 'elites' after Florida school massacre

The head of the National Rifle Association lashed out at gun control advocates on Thursday, saying Democratic elites are politicizing the latest mass school shooting in the United States to erode the country's constitutionally guaranteed gun rights.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 22, 2018

U.S. women beat Canada in dramatic fashion in shootout to capture gold medal

A goal by Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson in the sixth round of the shootout gave the United States a dramatic 3-2 victory over Canada in the women's gold-medal game at Gangneung Hockey Centre on Thursday afternoon.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Feb 21, 2018

The false promise of missile defense

Excessive spending on missile defense could be detrimental to other defense programs, leading to a weakening of the nation's overall defense capabilities.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Feb 21, 2018

Japan Times readers sound off on courtesy, blackface and education

A selection of letters about recent stories on the Community pages.

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?