Search - opinion

 
 
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 1, 2017

Manafort gave wildly varying estimates of his wealth to banks

When Paul Manafort wanted to borrow money in the past five years he gave lenders wildly varying estimates of his wealth, ranging from $19 million to $136 million, according to special counsel Robert Mueller.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 31, 2017

Diplomatic experts urge Trump to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table

Diplomatic experts from Japan, the United States and South Korea are calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to seek ways to get Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table, possibly in the so-called six-party talks framework that includes the three nations plus North Korea, China and Russia.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Oct 31, 2017

U.S. Army deserter Bowe Bergdahl apologizes to troops wounded searching for him

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl took the stand at his sentencing on Monday, apologizing to the troops who got hurt searching for him after he deserted in Afghanistan in 2009 and detailing the harsh conditions of Taliban captivity.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Oct 30, 2017

Let's discuss Donald Trump's popularity in Japan

Support for the United States in Japan has dropped to the lowest level in nine years, according to a survey.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 28, 2017

Catalan police call on officers to maintain neutrality as Spain exerts control

Catalonia's police force told its officers to remain neutral in the struggle over the region's fight for independence from Spain, a step toward averting possible conflict as the Madrid government starts to impose control on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 28, 2017

Different styles define Hawks, BayStars

The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks and Yokohama BayStars had two very different paths to Game 1 of the Japan Series.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 26, 2017

Harrison Ford goes back to the future for 'Blade Runner 2049'

Harrison Ford admits he is about to spout a cliche, but goes for it anyway: "It really doesn't feel like 35 years since 'Blade Runner,'" he says with a sheepish grin.
EDITORIALS
Oct 25, 2017

Don't discount North Korean 'failures'

While North Korean successes demand the most attention, it is time to again pay attention to the dangers posed by North Korean failures.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Oct 25, 2017

Bicultural families in Japan take the educational road less traveled

Parents of international children share their diverse stories from inside and outside Japan's state school system.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Oct 25, 2017

PanCAN Japan makes strides against pancreatic cancer

PanCAn Japan supports research projects and advocates for new medical techniques to improve both treatment for pancreatic cancer patients and early detection of the disease.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 23, 2017

Catalonia warns of civil disobedience as Madrid readies direct rule

Catalonia said Monday it was confident all officials including police would defy attempts by Madrid to enforce direct rule on the region, in an escalating dispute that has raised fears of unrest among Spain's European allies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Oct 23, 2017

Japan stocks advance on Abe's win, signaling fiscal spending and continued loose monetary policy

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's landslide sends Tokyo stocks higher and the yen down, with the path paved for a continuation of loose monetary policy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Decision 2017
Oct 22, 2017

Abe emerges stronger with win, but faces nation still divided over constitutional revision

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might have emerged from the Lower House snap election with a stronger power base — but he faces a sharply divided nation.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Oct 22, 2017

Japan-born American finds freedom in not playing the part

Young man caught between two cultures finds freedom in disregarding the expectations of others, be they Japanese or American.
JAPAN / Politics / Decision 2017
Oct 20, 2017

Anchored by Edano's underdog charm, CDP turning into formidable force ahead of election

Yukio Edano was the face of Japan during the unprecedented nuclear crisis that hit Fukushima Prefecture in 2011, leading numerous news conferences as the government's top spokesman.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 20, 2017

Senators propose social media ad disclosures amid Russia probe

After months of congressional investigations into Russian interference with U.S. elections, legislation is gaining traction as senators introduced a bipartisan plan to impose new disclosure requirements for political ads on Facebook, Twitter, Google and other social media.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 19, 2017

Obama hits campaign trail for first time since leaving White House

Former President Barack Obama returns to the campaign trail on Thursday for the first time since he left the White House, venturing out to support Democrats in two governor's races that could offer a clue about the national mood before next year's midterm elections.
EDITORIALS
Oct 19, 2017

Judging responses to the North Korean threat

Before going to the polls on Sunday, voters should make a sober assessment of the government's approach to the North Korea problem and the policies advocated by the other partys.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 19, 2017

Voters in Abe's heartland fear future sales tax hike as they struggle with stagnant wages

Chiyoko Yamamoto works in one of the best regions in Japan — a place with one of the lowest rates of unemployment, a growing economy, and the highest level of female employment in the country.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Oct 18, 2017

Survey finds fewer Japanese now see United States in favorable light

Support for the United State in Japan has dropped to the lowest level in nine years as only a quarter of Japanese say they have confidence in U.S. President Trump's policies.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 17, 2017

Austria's millennial hope walks a fine line

If Sebastian Kurz fails to control the scary forces bubbling under the Freedom Party's surface, both Austria and the EU will regret that he got his chance to run a nation as early as he did.
JAPAN / Politics / Decision 2017
Oct 16, 2017

Edano taking center stage as CDP gains momentum

Yukio Edano, founder and president of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, is taking the spotlight ahead of the general election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 15, 2017

Abe's ruling coalition poised to win over 300 seats: election forecast

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could be heading for a big win in the coming Lower House election, Jiji Press forecasts.
EDITORIALS
Oct 15, 2017

Too much power for the prime minister?

If there is room for abuse, discussions are needed on whether the prime minister's power to dissolve the Lower House should be restricted.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 13, 2017

In fresh blow to Koike, majority of Upper House DP members rule out joining Kibo no To after election

More than half of Democratic Party's 47-member caucus say they won't link up with upstart party after poll, top official says.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Oct 12, 2017

Motosada Zumoto and the origins of The Japan Times

A 10-minute walk from JR Sapporo Station brings one to a small, white clock tower in the city center. The 13-meter-high Western timepiece is an iconic image of the city and Hokkaido.
JAPAN / Politics / Decision 2017
Oct 12, 2017

Koike's Kibo no To takes a hit as popular Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura cuts support

Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura has withdrawn his support for Kibo no To in a blow to Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike, who is also the fledgling party's chief. This setback comes less than two weeks after Omura agreed to cooperate with Koike and Osaka Gov. Ichiro Matsui, who serves as Nippon Ishin no Kai's co-leader....
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 12, 2017

Catalan conundrum: Spain gives its leader eight days to drop independence declaration, if it was made

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday gave the Catalan government eight days to drop an independence bid, failing which he would suspend Catalonia's political autonomy and rule the region directly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS,Decision 2017
Oct 10, 2017

Yuriko Koike’s tactics fail to inspire hope as Lower House election kicks off, analysts say

Just hours before his announcement last month that he would dissolve the Lower House for a snap election, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was blindsided by his biggest political adversary of late: Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike. The telegenic, populist governor had upstaged Abe by announcing that she would create...

Longform

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