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Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 14, 2016

After fall of Aleppo, Syria's Assad still far from regaining his country

When President Bashar Assad turns from the wreckage of Aleppo to assert his authority across a fractured Syria, it will be as a figure who is virtually unassailable by rebels, but still faces great challenges in restoring the power of his state.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 13, 2016

Hanyu adds to legacy with latest triumph

Yuzuru Hanyu's victory at the Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France, on Saturday made it five straight years that a Japanese man has won the title at the event.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Dec 13, 2016

Indonesia transfixed as tearful Jakarta governor appears at blasphemy trial

A tearful governor of Jakarta denied Tuesday he had intended to insult the Quran at the start of his blasphemy trial in the Indonesian capital, which is seen as a test of religious freedom in the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 10, 2016

Last splash: How long will the immodest Japanese tradition of mixed bathing continue?

The main reason that mixed baths have endured for so long is that communities have still supported them. When an onsen stops being a gathering place for locals, there's less to stop it slipping into disrepute.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / THE LIVING PAST
Dec 10, 2016

Meiji Restoration leader's lessons of sincerity

Is there any understanding a man like Saigo Takamori? His spirit seems as vast as his bulk, and his bulk was that of a sumo wrestler. He is "the quintessential hero of modern Japanese history," said historian Ivan Morris.
EDITORIALS
Dec 10, 2016

Keeping Olympic costs down

Solid efforts have been made to cut the cost of hosting the Olympics, but even more should be done.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 9, 2016

Pressure U.S. on free trade

The biggest loser in the U.S. presidential election was free trade.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 9, 2016

China's colleges must serve the Communist Party, Xi says

China's President Xi Jinping has called for allegiance to the ruling Communist Party from the country's colleges and universities, the latest effort by Beijing to tighten its hold on education.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 8, 2016

China should heed Pearl Harbor's lessons

Just as Japan did in the 1930s, China is defying international opinion and challenging the maritime status quo in the western Pacific.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Dec 7, 2016

So you want to write about Japan?: the 10 essential tips

Having taken the daring — not reckless or avoidant — step of leaving your home country, you now have a million stories to tell.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 7, 2016

Setting the record straight on war's start

Startling evidence has been unearthed revealing machinations by the Japanese military to shift blame after the war over the surprise attacks that started the conflict.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 6, 2016

Hamada's magic touch getting results, attention

For the second year in a row three skaters who are mentored by the same coach will be representing Japan at this week's Grand Prix Final in Marseille, France.
EDITORIALS
Dec 6, 2016

Europe shaken by Italian vote

Matteo Renzi's decision to resign ushers in a political and economic crisis for Italy — and for Europe.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 6, 2016

U.N. chief Ban may be unwitting loser in South Korean presidential scandal

Besides South Korean President Park Geun-hye, the biggest casualty of the country's mushrooming political corruption scandal may be the presidential aspirations of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 3, 2016

Trump reportedly invites Philippines' Duterte to visit next year

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump invited Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte to the White House next year during a "very engaging, animated" phone conversation, a Duterte aide said on Friday, amid rocky relations between their two countries.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2016

Trump touts victory as plant stays in Indiana but Sanders warns of job losses as layoffs continue elsewhere

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump visited a factory in Indiana on Thursday to kick off a "thank you tour" for his election win and celebrate persuading air conditioner maker Carrier Corp. to preserve around 1,000 jobs in the state rather than move them to Mexico.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 1, 2016

Ryukyu struggling to adapt in new era

The Ryukyu Golden Kings have experienced incredible success over the past nine years. The Okinawa-based franchise's record fourth title was its crowning achievement in the final game in bj-league history in May at Ariake Colosseum.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 1, 2016

Fillon can beat Le Pen, but don't bank on it

Given pollsters' massive predictive failures elsewhere this year, no one should count on left-wing voters turning out to help defeat right-winger Marine Le Pen.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2016

How Russian propaganda works in the West

The 'crazies' that populate the alternative news sphere, those dismissed by the mainstream, consume pro-Vladimir Putin information with their general diet.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Nov 29, 2016

LDP ignores needed reform by focusing on term limits

The Liberal Democratic Party is being very shortsighted by focusing its reform effort so narrowly.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 29, 2016

Divining the new U.S. Asia policy

Experience tells us to discount at least half of what is said during presidential campaigns. The challenge is predicting correctly which half to discount.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 28, 2016

Some Japanese find frustration, others freedom in foreign tongues

The Japanese have never been skilled at communication, but they have been able to fall back on the belief that everyone understood each other without saying anything. Unfortunately, this has never applied to non-Japanese.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 28, 2016

China protests to Singapore over troop carriers in Taiwan

China said on Monday it had lodged a protest with Singapore after Singaporean armored troop carriers were seized by Hong Kong customs en route back from Taiwan, as a state-owned newspaper warned against Singapore's "hypocrisy."
CULTURE / Books
Nov 26, 2016

The hidden heart of Natsume Soseki

Dec. 9 marks the 100th anniversary of the death of Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), a novelist widely regarded as being the one of the greatest writers of modern Japan. Events commemorating this anniversary have been held throughout 2016 but, in case you think it will all be over by Christmas, another milestone...
Reader Mail
Nov 25, 2016

Method for killing dolphins is inhumane

We were interested to see the article 'Taiji's dolphin hunters have a new voice' (Media Mix, Oct. 23) exploring some of the social issues and controversy surrounding the hunting of dolphins in Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture. Nevertheless, we are concerned that while the article explores the social issues...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 25, 2016

Harnessing Trump and Sanders, South Korean populist Lee rises in polls

He respects Donald Trump and enjoys being compared to Bernie Sanders.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 24, 2016

Vladimir Putin is winning the French election

Unless the Socialists can pull a rabbit out of a hat, France will get a Putin-friendly president next year.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2016

Board examines the future direction of news coverage

Identity of The Japan Times

Longform

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