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Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 6, 2015

Toyota makes fuel cell patents free for other manufacturers to use

To boost expansion of fuel cell technology, Toyota is offering 5,680 of its hydrogen-power patent licenses to other manufacturers at no cost.
JAPAN / Media / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Jan 3, 2015

The biggest terrorism threat in Japan

Remember how the government said Japan needed a state secrets law to protect it from acts of terrorism?
EDITORIALS
Dec 25, 2014

Japan's space goals

Asteroid Explorer Hayabusa2, launched by Japan Space Exploration Agency on Dec. 5, is flying without a hitch so far. Regardless of whether this mission is successful, Japan needs to continue advancing its space exploration capabilities.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / STRANGE BOUTIQUE
Dec 23, 2014

Who was music being made for in 2014?

When looking back on the year in music, the big question music fans should be asking themselves is, "Who was music being made for in 2014?" Looking at the broader picture, we can find the answers writ large across the Japanese music scene.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 22, 2014

Airport facial recognition system eyed but only for Japanese

As Japan braces for a surge in foreign visitors in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, pressure is mounting to expedite how visitors are processed at airports.
ENVIRONMENT
Dec 12, 2014

Japan's coal binge stirs international climate fears

Once at the forefront of the global warming battle, Japan is being pressured to set fresh emissions targets as it burns dirty coal energy to replace nuclear.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 12, 2014

In Fukui, economy, reactors inseparable in election debate

For most of Japan, the issues of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies and nuclear reactor restarts are generally separate debates. But not in LDP-leaning Fukui.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 8, 2014

Sapporo takes chance on repeating as Olympic host

Sapporo Mayor Fumio Ueda announced Nov. 27 that his city will bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics.
EDITORIALS
Dec 5, 2014

The elephant in the room

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's decision to postpone the second phase of the consumption tax hike may be popular with much of the electorate, but it would be unfortunate if the decision diverts people's attention from the nation's real fiscal plight.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 2, 2014

With all parties opposed to tax hike, policy debates ring vague

Official campaigning for the Dec. 14 Lower House election started Tuesday, but voter enthusiasm remains low.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2014

Sino-U.S. climate deal mainly a political triumph

The U.S.-China emissions deal is a huge political triumph, but whether it alters the world's climate is an open question.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 27, 2014

FIBA hands down Japan ban; JBA sorry

It was something everyone expected to happen, so there shouldn't have been any surprise whatsoever. That, however, did nothing to lessen the gravity of the situation.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 25, 2014

Abe consumption tax backfiring with more debt, not less

What started as a plan to reduce the national debt is turning into a reason to issue more bonds.
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 22, 2014

Can women really 'shine' under Abe?

The prime minister has vowed to help women break the glass ceiling in the workplace but critics have questioned his motivation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Nov 21, 2014

Japan's robotics revolution gets a reboot as nation aims to regain lead in ¥3.4 trillion industry

Neurosurgeon Tetsuya Goto had just begun testing a robot to perform brain surgery when he discovered Japan was moving to tighten regulations that would shut down his seven-year project.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 20, 2014

Onus on lawmakers to tackle debt after Abe tax delay, Kuroda says

Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda is putting the onus on the government to strengthen its finances after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe postponed a sales tax hike and set plans for more fiscal stimulus.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2014

Shimomura wants to make English classes mandatory for fifth- and sixth-graders

Education minister Hakubun Shimomura proposes a root-and-branch overhaul of the elementary, junior high and high school curricula.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 15, 2014

Tokyo continues to pull people in, which pulls the rest of Japan down

Earlier this month, the government pledged for the zillionth time to "revive" Japan's "regions." Local governments are in danger of vanishing in coming decades due to depopulation, and former Liberal Democratic Party No. 2 Shigeru Ishiba was put in charge of the regional revitalization ministry, which,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / SYMPOSIUM ON EUROZONE
Nov 11, 2014

Europe, Japan face similar problems

Europe and Japan may want to learn from each other when it comes to dealing with mounting government debt, opportunities for the Japanese food industry, whether Japan and Britain should strengthen their ties in trade and consumption tax increases.
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2014

Renowned architect condemns Olympic stadium design

A revised design for the main Tokyo Olympic stadium is nothing more than a "white elephant" that's been stripped of its original designer's artistic talent and will forever burden the capital if built, internationally renowned architect Arata Isozaki said.
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 2, 2014

Denmark considers phasing out coal by 2025 in big green shift

Denmark should ban coal use by 2025 to make the Nordic nation a leader in fighting global warming, adding to green measures ranging from wind energy to bicycle power, Denmark's climate minister said on Saturday.
EDITORIALS
Oct 29, 2014

Take a balanced look at casinos

Before the government jumps on the casino bandwagon, careful consideration needs to be given to the negative aspects of legalizing this form of gambling.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 21, 2014

The battle to boost universities

The government should consider the latest lackluster global rankings for Japanese universities and undertake a fundamental review of its university education policies.

Longform

A mushroom cloud from the atomic bombing on Hiroshima taken from a U.S. military aircraft on Aug. 6, 1945. Copying the photo without permission is prohibited.
80 years on, a Japanese American hibakusha recalls the day the bomb dropped