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Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jul 11, 2019

Viral Momo Challenge hoax, based on sculpture by Japanese artist, being turned into Hollywood horror film

Momo, the goggle-eyed creature created by a Japanese artist that triggered a viral social-media hoax terrifying children and parents alike, is receiving a Hollywood makeover.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 9, 2019

Central banks under siege of populism

In the age of Trump, the Fed's independence from the government is under even greater threat.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 8, 2019

Get in tune with the sound of Japanese vocabulary

Certain Japanese words sound like they should represent an action, can you guess what a word means by how it's pronounced?
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jul 8, 2019

Government must teach Japanese to all foreign residents

A look at an article that points out how Japanese officials should help the foreign residents of their cities and towns.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jul 6, 2019

Friction growing in Osaka over rising foreign population

The guests from the gala Group of 20 conference may be gone, but Osaka continues to garner attention in the media.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Jul 5, 2019

Quiet luxury in lesser-known Kansai

The Kansai area — think Kyoto, Osaka and surrounds — has some of the country's best anaba (little-known spots) where you can encounter the rich depths of Japanese culture, minus the crowds. Reserve one of these nine luxuriously uncrowded options to take your travels to new levels.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Jul 5, 2019

Tourism boom and psychological stress behind Okinawa bus driver shortage

Local bus operators in Okinawa Prefecture are facing a serious shortage of drivers, which is attributed to increased demand amid a tourism boom and the physically and emotionally taxing nature of the profession.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Jul 5, 2019

Guardian Angels Japan finding less to do in Kitakyushu, one-time city of yakuza 'endless conflict'

Up until five years ago, the city of Kitakyushu had for decades grappled with so many shootings and violent attacks by organized crime groups that it was known as a city of shura (never-ending conflict).
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 3, 2019

Abe squares off with opposition leaders ahead of Upper House election

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said during a debate with opposition leaders on Wednesday that he will go ahead with the planned sales tax hike in October but vehemently denied there will be further increases while he remains in power.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 3, 2019

Abe wins, no matter what Trump does

U.S. President Donald Trump's comments play into the prime minister's efforts at constitutional revision, particularly with regard to Article 9.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Jul 3, 2019

Newly created Aichi fund provides foster children with access to higher education

A fund set up by the Aichi Prefectural Government in March is providing financial aid to students from children's homes seeking to enter higher education.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 1, 2019

Pressing issues of the Reiwa Era

The nation cannot afford to postpone any longer discussion of how to ensure the stability of imperial succession amid a dearth of male heirs.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jul 1, 2019

Japan offers highest paid paternity leave in the world, but few take it

Read an article on parental leave and pick up some vocabulary related to raising kids in the modern world.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2019

Blame gender gap for Japan's low fertility rate

The only way to fundamentally turn around Japan's falling fertility rate is to build a society free of gender discrimination.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jun 29, 2019

As dementia cases rise, so a nation's character changes

"Your mother is senile, senile, senile!"
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 28, 2019

Carlos Ghosn's wife has a message for the G20

She wants the world leaders gathered in Osaka to notice how Japan's 'hostage justice' system has mistreated Nissan's ex-chairman.
Reader Mail
Jun 28, 2019

On to another foolish war

U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton and his fellow hawks in the Trump administration are trying to further escalate the situation with Iran and to encourage Trump to launch an attack on them, which he actually almost did, only to pull back at the last minute because "150 would have died." I don't...
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 28, 2019

France sets 2050 carbon-neutral target with new law

French lawmakers on Thursday voted into law the first article in a climate and energy package that sets goals for France to cut its greenhouse gas emissions and go carbon-neutral by 2050 in line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 27, 2019

New era, new Self-Defense Forces

The Reiwa Era is one of great promise for the SDF but not without significant challenges.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 27, 2019

Boris Johnson says chances of no-deal Brexit are 'a million to one'

Boris Johnson, the favorite to become British prime minister, said the chances of Britain leaving the European Union without a deal are "a million-to-one" even as he repeated his promise to leave the bloc without a deal by the end of October.
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 26, 2019

Episode 18: Is the Japanese wolf really extinct?

The last confirmed sighting of the Japanese wolf was in 1905, but is it really extinct? The Japan Times' Alex Martin talks to Oscar Boyd about chasing down the story.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / G20 Osaka
Jun 26, 2019

World leaders' bilateral talks likely to carry more weight than G20 Osaka summit

Some of the planned one-on-one meetings, such as the Trump-Xi meeting, could have a heavy influence on the fate of a number of key global issues.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Jun 24, 2019

1 in 4 aged 80 and over still drives: government survey

Read an article on elderly drivers and answer questions on major challenges that are being tackled.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 23, 2019

Johnson and Hunt on the campaign trail: How the two Tory rivals reckon they can fix Brexit

Boris Johnson will face his successor as foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt, in the final Conservative Party showdown to determine who takes over from Prime Minister Theresa May.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / Regional voices: Chubu
Jun 23, 2019

Schools urged to modify lunches for religious needs as foreign population grows

With foreign residents on the rise in Japan, schools and day care facilities are being called on to give more consideration to the dietary restrictions faced by people with different religious backgrounds.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 22, 2019

2020 Tokyo Olympics puts spotlight on animal welfare

The International Olympic Committee sets procurement standards for materials used in conjunction with the games. One of these standards is sustainability, which was first established for the 2012 London Olympics. In terms of meals supplied to athletes and others, ingredients must be produced and harvested...
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jun 22, 2019

Japan's print media ponder wealth, poverty and pensions

One of my recollections from the bubble economy of the 1980s was a passage in a 1987 book titled "Hokokuron" ("The Theory of National Wealth"). Its author, the late economist Taiichi Sakaiya, stood out as one of the bubble era's most fervent cheerleaders.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 22, 2019

NATO aims to make space a new frontier in defense

NATO aims to recognize space as a domain of warfare this year, four senior diplomats said, partly to show U.S. President Donald Trump that the alliance is relevant and adapting to new threats after he signed off on the creation of a U.S. Space Force.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji