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JAPAN / Politics
Dec 19, 2017

Shinzo Abe calls for Japan's 'rebirth' in 2020 along with constitutional revision

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday reiterated calls for rebooting long-stalled parliamentary debate on the revision of Japan's post-war Constitution, saying he wants to see a "significant rebirth" of the nation in 2020.
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 18, 2017

Researchers prevent kidney stones on long-term space missions with medication to manage bone loss

Research conducted by Atsushi Okada from the nephro-urology department at Nagoya City University Graduate School and others has revealed that the risk of kidney stone disease increases for astronauts who remain in space for a long period of time because diminishing bone mass triggers a rise in calcium...
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Dec 18, 2017

Kanji meaning north picked to symbolize 2017

Where was the 'Kanji of the Year' announced?
JAPAN / History
Dec 16, 2017

Heart of gold: The Ginza Line celebrates its 90th birthday

Born of disasters, war and massive infrastructure projects, 21st-century Tokyo has plenty of ghosts buried underground. If you ride the subway these days, you can catch a fleeting glimpse of two of them but, if you blink, you'll miss them. The Ginza Line is marking 90 years since its opening with the...
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 16, 2017

Showa's not giving up without a fight

The government has decided that the 31st year of Heisei will end with the abdication of Emperor Akihito 120 days into 2019, on April 30. Then on May 1, Crown Prince Naruhito will become emperor and a new nengō (name of the period of reign) will be announced.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2017

Nurture as important as nature for success

The world would be a better, richer, more equal place with less emphasis on natural talent and more on humans' potential to improve.
EDITORIALS
Dec 14, 2017

Top court rules on NHK fees

NHK should realize that it's desirable to win the support of TV owners when asking them to sign subscription contracts.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2017

Japan Times advisory board weighs in on the paper's past and future

The Japan Times Media Advisory Board met at the newspaper's office Oct. 24 to review the redesign implemented on April 1 and news coverage over the past year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 14, 2017

Edano's David goes after Abe's 'arrogant' Goliath in Diet

The leader of the small Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, which exceeded expectations in October's snap poll, now hopes that by offering clear policy alternatives he can oust Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition in the next election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / OKINAWA BEAT
Dec 13, 2017

Ishigaki package tour has couples scaling cliffs and diving into the sea before tying the knot

A unique package tour on Okinawa's Ishigaki Island for soon-to-be-married couples is creating a buzz.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 13, 2017

Whether you're Japanese or not, results are what count in music

There are many factors to keep in mind when trying to break into the Japanese music industry as a non-Japanese person. One that might be easy to overlook but ultimately rings true: You're going to have to work hard.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Dec 11, 2017

Dogo Onsen undergoes annual clean sweeping

The annual 'susuharai' took place at Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 11, 2017

Women in Nagoya form group to promote and communicate in sign language

Women with children in Nagoya have new opportunities to converse using sign language, after the creation of a new social group.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 9, 2017

Without an official father, kids can be stateless

On Nov. 29, the Kobe District Court dismissed a suit against the state filed by a woman in her 60s who claimed that the law that allows only men to deny paternity of a child is unconstitutional, since it discriminates against women. She said the law meant she was unable to register her daughter as the...
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 9, 2017

Saudi Arabia pushes Palestinians to consider nascent U.S. peace plan

Saudi Arabia pulled no punches when it condemned President Donald Trump's move to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. But Palestinian officials say Riyadh has also been working for weeks behind the scenes to press them to support a nascent U.S. peace plan.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 8, 2017

Abe's free day care pledge may be an appealing solution for the wrong problem

Just before the recent Lower House election in October, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged to make public day care services and kindergartens free for children between the ages of 3 and 5 and free for children below the age of 3 if they were from lower income households.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 7, 2017

Rookie standout Hassan Martin says defensive focus fuels Ryukyu's success

The retooled Ryukyu Golden Kings have reshaped their team with a savvy formula that combines speed, finesse and power and the vital contributions of newcomers.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 7, 2017

Kanayama rice terraces 'an impressive feat of human ingenuity'

Looking out the window as the bullet train crosses into northern Iwate Prefecture, the mighty Tohoku mountains stand tall behind deep forests, rice paddies and the occasional sleepy town. Long gone is the constant buzzing of cars and a view that stops on the other side of the street. If it weren't for...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 5, 2017

Paul Manafort tried to ghost-write positive op-ed on Ukraine work, even after court order: special counsel

The special counsel investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election on Monday accused President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, of working with a Russian colleague to draft an opinion piece about his political work for Ukraine.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 4, 2017

Brazilian cartoonist's manga helps his young compatriots adjust to school life in Japan

Famous Brazilian cartoonist Mauricio de Sousa has created a manga introducing Japanese school life to Brazilian children who have migrated to Japan.
JAPAN
Dec 1, 2017

Japan sets date for Emperor Akihito's abdication as April 30, 2019

The first retirement of a Japanese emperor in 200 years will take place on April 30, 2019.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 29, 2017

LDP backs away from election promise of 'free education' election promise

Ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers tasked with drawing up proposed constitutional amendments approved a plan Tuesday that does not include a guarantee to make all education free.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 29, 2017

Dance official confirms identity of Putin's daughter, later withdraws comments

A colleague of Katerina Tikhonova from the world of acrobatic rock 'n' roll confirmed that she is the younger daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and then later withdrew his comments, saying he had misheard the question.
COMMENTARY / World / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Nov 27, 2017

A clash brewing between the CCP and China's entrepreneurs?

China's rising private-sector corporate stars view Communist Party control as a recipe for economic disaster.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Nov 27, 2017

Japan's farms struggle to upgrade restrooms as people with disabilities bolster depleted ranks

The agriculture industry is faced with the problem of improving toilet facilities for people with disabilities as the movement to hire them on farms spreads amid a nationwide decline in farmers.
LIFE / Language / NEWS IN NIHONGO
Nov 27, 2017

Convenience store chain to stop selling pornographic magazines

Ministop has announced that it will suspend sales of pornographic magazines.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 27, 2017

As Akita deals with surge in bear sightings, some point to a human cause

Far from Tokyo's bright lights and noisy streets Kaori Kawashima walks cautiously on her way to the nearest convenience store in rural Akita Prefecture, where danger might be lurking in the shadows.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2017

Al Franken says he is 'ashamed' but won't quit U.S. Senate over groping accusations

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, trying to salvage his political career, said on Sunday he does not plan to resign but called himself "embarrassed and ashamed" by his behavior toward women who have accused him of groping or inappropriately touching them.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Nov 25, 2017

Ensuring women are not lost in translation

The literary arts are mainly solitary activities. Wordsmiths are, however, social animals and — the odd Pynchon aside — seek out the company of the rest of the species.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years