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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Nov 25, 2015

Japan: surprisingly, sensibly and endearingly low-tech

The common image of Japan abroad as a high-tech country is severely out of step with the everyday experience of those of us who live here.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Nov 24, 2015

Hongo's shot at Grand Prix Final in doubt

Rika Hongo jeopardized her chance to make the Grand Prix Final for the second straight year after struggling through a poor free skate at the Cup of Russia in Moscow on Saturday.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 23, 2015

China warning Taiwan voters on independence

As China expands its regional military influence, its interest in keeping Taiwan from straying toward independence is greater than ever.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 22, 2015

Few dissenting voices as France curbs rights after massacre

France calls itself "the homeland of human rights" but has focused in the past week on limiting them as the government pushed through sweeping curbs on basic freedoms in the wake of the Paris massacre.
CULTURE
Nov 21, 2015

Yukio Mishima's enduring, unexpected influence

Forty-five years ago this week — at just after 10 a.m. on the bright, cold morning of Nov. 25, 1970 — a telephone rang at the Tokyo home of popular enka singer Hideo Murata. On the line was author Yukio Mishima, a man who in the short space of his 45 years had lived life more fully than perhaps seemed...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 21, 2015

Resumption of Antarctic whaling flouts rule of law

The rule of law has been Japan's trump card in its ongoing rhubarb with China over competing territorial claims in the East China Sea.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 20, 2015

WBSC's Fraccari sees potential for Premier 12 to grow on global stage

Riccardo Fraccari, the president of the World Baseball Softball Confederation, was in Sapporo for the Premier 12 opening game between Japan and South Korea on Nov. 8 before returning to Europe to attend an IOC summit in Lausanne. The Italian then traveled back to Japan for the final phase of his federation's...
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Nov 16, 2015

Refrain from using 'enryo' and you might come across as a bit of a boor

Introducing the proper use of u9060u616e(u3048u3093u308au3087), which means to refrain from doing something.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Nov 16, 2015

And now for something completely unconstitutional

When did the Abe-verse become an alternate reality where past violations of the nation's basic law can, with a straight face, be used to justify further violations of the same type?
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 13, 2015

Conte says WADA, IAAF part of problem, not solution

Hours after the World Anti-Doping Agency released the results of its exhaustive findings in a 323-page report on Monday about the wide-reaching Russian track and field doping scandal, Victor Conte was already weighing in on the matter.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 13, 2015

Modi can turn Bihar setback into opportunity

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi should learn from his ill-considered foray into the state election in Bihar and refocus on the needs of the nation as a whole.
JAPAN / Society
Nov 12, 2015

Welfare ministry proposes easing child care leave prerequisites

Amid a surge in nonregular workers, it would ease the current rigid requirement for child care leave that prevents many mothers from returning to work.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 12, 2015

U.S. cops and their unions are out of control

Every police department in America should be disbanded and replaced with civilian-run organizations designed to protect citizens instead of abuse them.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 11, 2015

Jeb Bush survives Republican debate with steady performance

A steadfast performance by Jeb Bush in Tuesday's Republican debate has halted the sense of desperation around his U.S. presidential campaign and may buy him time to counter the rise of chief rival Marco Rubio.
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 11, 2015

Fantasy sports websites to stop taking bets in New York state

The New York state attorney general on Tuesday ordered the fantasy sports sites DraftKings and FanDuel to stop accepting bets in New York, saying the operations are essentially illegal gambling, according to copies of letters to the companies seen by Reuters.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Nov 10, 2015

Mao begins long road to Pyeongchang with victory

"It's just the same as Patrick Chan last week. It's as if she has never been away. In fact, it looked fresher than ever."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 10, 2015

Thousands rally in Nippon Budokan Hall for constitutional change

Thousands of people packed Nippon Budokan Hall in Tokyo on Tuesday in support of revising the pacifist Constitution while pledging to collect 10 million signatures favoring their cause.
JAPAN
Nov 9, 2015

After controversial security laws comment, Doshisha president loses re-election bid

Koji Murata, the president of Doshisha University in Kyoto Prefecture who drew flak in July for supporting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security legislation, has lost his bid for re-election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 7, 2015

South Korea's new state textbook 'corrects' history

South Korea recently announced plans for a revisionist textbook that will whitewash that country's history and has the academic community outraged over political meddling. At least the move gives South Korean President Park Geun-hye something in common with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 4, 2015

Surveys suggest 5-Star Movement could win next Italian election

Electoral reforms passed in Italy this year could bring the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement to power, if the picture painted by a survey published on Tuesday holds until the next election, currently due in 2018.
WORLD
Nov 4, 2015

Unlike Iran, Russia may be open to Assad's exit

Russia does not see keeping Bashar Assad in power as a matter of principle, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on Tuesday in comments that suggested a divergence of opinion with Iran, the Syrian president's other main international backer.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 3, 2015

Beijing found to be covertly operating global public radio network

In August, foreign ministers from 10 nations blasted China for building artificial islands in the disputed South China Sea. As media around the world covered the diplomatic clash, a radio station that serves the most powerful city in America had a distinctive take on the news.
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Nov 1, 2015

Tackle embedded racism before it chokes Japan

Japan has a dire problem it must address immediately: its embedded racism.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2015

What a Russian 'win' in Syria would look like

While Putin's Syria campaign is risky, if events break the right way for him he could surprise the West with a geopolitical victory.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 31, 2015

Tsukiji countdown: clock ticking on famed fish market

With a year to go until the wholesale fish market in Tokyo's Chuo Ward closes its doors for good, operators in the market prepare to say their last goodbyes to the landmark attraction.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Oct 31, 2015

'Japan Lobby' takes the gloves off in PR battle

The Sankei Shimbun advocates a more aggressive diplomatic stance on history issues and this dovetails with the mission of Japan Conference, a reactionary organization that includes numerous lawmakers. From their perspective, Japan has been too reticent and polite on the world stage and the gloves need...

Longform

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How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan