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Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 12, 2018

Japan toughens screening rules for refugees; automatic work permits ditched

The Justice Ministry gets tough on immigrants seeking refuge in Japan with new rules designed to weed out those who are primarily seeking jobs.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 11, 2018

People of Japan, take a clear stance

Japanese are all too often reluctant to offer an opinion — on anything.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Jan 10, 2018

Time for Japan to scrub off that blackface — for good

Oops, they did it again: offensive makeup for laughs on TV. But some Japanese viewers are far from amused.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2018

Nuclear arms: Look ahead to 2018 in hope, not back at 2017 in anger

The biggest positive story line of 2017 was a new nuclear ban treaty adopted July 7.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2018

Putin is 'un-Wolffable,' and that's no compliment

Americans have it good. Here's a mental exercise: Try to imagine the 'Wolffing' of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jan 7, 2018

Much for Japan Times Community readers to crow and squawk about in year of the rooster

A selection of unpublished letters about Community stories from the first half of 2017.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 6, 2018

Japan spends scant energy on renewables

Dec. 11, 2017, marked the 20th anniversary of the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty signed by 84 countries who committed to limit the release of greenhouse gases, which are considered the cause of global warming. Japan, of course, was one of the signatories, and a Dec. 14 feature in the Asahi Shimbun reviewed...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 4, 2018

Don't renegotiate 'comfort women' deal

Renegotiation efforts, no matter how well-intentioned, would undermine the agreement of 2015, with no guarantee of success and much risk of failure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 4, 2018

Security flaws affecting chips from Intel, AMD and ARM could put virtually all phones and computers at risk

Security researchers on Wednesday disclosed a set of security flaws that they said could let hackers steal sensitive information from nearly every modern computing device containing chips from Intel Corp., Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and ARM Holdings.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FINDING COMMON GROUND
Jan 3, 2018

Filipinos and Nepalese face challenges in Japan even as their communities grow

While Japan tends to be uneasy about immigration, it is simultaneously host to many non-Japanese people working hard to make lives for themselves, including sizable communities from the Philippines and Nepal.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 2, 2018

Imagine a Palestinian movement led by Gandhi

Renouncing violence would go a long way toward reviving negotiations with Israel.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 1, 2018

2018 seen as make-or-break year for Abe's constitutional revision quest

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe faces what is perhaps the biggest dilemma of his political career: whether to call the nation's first-ever referendum on revising the postwar Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Dec 30, 2017

Debate grows over the plight of foreign staff at convenience stores in Japan

Launched in 1993, Japan's Technical Internship Training Program for foreign nationals hasn't had the best reputation. The program was created to help visitors from developing nations live and work in Japan for as long as three years under the protective umbrella of Japan's labor laws.
Reader Mail
Dec 29, 2017

It's wise for Australia to be suspicious of China

I found Ramesh Thakur's opinion piece on Australia's approach to its foreign policy with China interesting, though with questionable arguments ("Australia charts a flawed foreign policy course" in the Dec. 8 edition).
EDITORIALS
Dec 27, 2017

Consensus needed on revising the Constitution

Government discussions on amending the Constitution should not be driven by time frames or political considerations.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 22, 2017

Judge chucks suit accusing Trump of violating 'emoluments' clause against foreign payments

A federal judge in New York on Thursday threw out a lawsuit that had accused President Donald Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution by accepting foreign payments through his hotels and other businesses, handing him a major victory on an issue that has dogged him since even before he took office in...
Reader Mail
Dec 21, 2017

Crown Princess Masako can highlight the needs of people with disabilities

Earlier this month, Crown Princess Masako appeared in public with her husband and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help celebrate 2017 Week of Persons with Disabilities. As expected, their role was simple: a photo shoot with the pamphlet for the event and very few words. Apolitical puppets these royals truly...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 20, 2017

Sexism sucks, but blame capitalism more

Most tragic cases of human underachievement are the direct result of economic discrimination.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2017

French Tycoon bets nuclear power will make comeback spurred by climate crisis

French tycoon Dominique Louis is doubling down on atomic power, betting that global warming will foster a nuclear renaissance.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 18, 2017

Hit products of 2017 home in on uchi

Nikkei Marketing Journal ranks the hit products for 2017, with Amazon and Rakuten sitting pretty among the grand champions.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 17, 2017

What do Western tourists want from Japan? Try asking one

How many other countries would attempt to lure Western tourists without at least having a tete-a-tete with a woman in their target audience who has lived for over 20 years in the very place they're hoping to attract people to?
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2017

Vahid Halilhodzic looks to bright side after Japan fails to capture E-1 Football Championship title

National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic declared Japan's performance at the E-1 Football Championship a success despite missing out on the title with a 4-1 defeat to South Korea on Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 15, 2017

A midterm review of Abenomics

So far the report card is good, but expect better for the future.
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2017

Osaka city assembly urges central government to pressure San Francisco to remove 'comfort women' memorial

The Osaka city assembly has called on the central government to pressure San Francisco to remove a statue to wartime "comfort women" — a euphemism used to refer to the women and girls who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels before and during World War II.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 12, 2017

When the 'Arab Street' and its protests come to Sweden

Anti-Jewish violence spreads to liberal Europe, where Muslim immigrants enjoy the freedom to protest.
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 12, 2017

DP chief offers up options for drastic change in party organization as onetime opposition force falters

Democratic Party President Kohei Otsuka offered up multiple options to drastically rejigger his party's organization — including the possible launch of a new party or a name change — during a meeting Tuesday, a party source said.

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan