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WORLD
Feb 17, 2015

Russian researchers expose breakthrough U.S. spying program

The U.S. National Security Agency has figured out how to hide spying software deep within hard drives made by Western Digital, Seagate, Toshiba and other top manufacturers, giving the agency the means to eavesdrop on the majority of the world's computers, according to cyber researchers and former operatives....
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 17, 2015

Pope decries beheading of Egyptian Christians in Libya

Pope Francis expressed deep sadness at the beheading of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya, departing from the script of an address on Monday to emphasise the unity of all Christians regardless of the denomination they follow.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Feb 16, 2015

Who benefits from the new overtime pay system?

On Feb. 13, a Labor Policy Council sub-committee submitted to the labor ministry a report with suggestions for a bill to revise the labor standards law. The revision, which the ministry plans to submit to the next regular Diet session, applies to the work of skilled white collar professionals and will allow them to 'work in a manner that demonstrates their achievements' more effectively, which is another way of saying that employers will no longer be required to pay these workers overtime for extra hours on the job, which in turn means that employers cannot be accused of pressuring them to work overtime for no pay, a system popularly known as saabisu zangyo, or 'free overtime.'
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 16, 2015

New Ukrainian peace deal is wrapped in a time bomb

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko will find it hard to spin the second Minsk cease-fire deal as his victory. At least Western leaders will still treat him as an ally.
EDITORIALS
Feb 16, 2015

Minsk II: a pause, not peace

The second Minsk accord in six months, which was 16 hours in the making, may freeze the conflict in eastern Ukraine between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russia rebels, but it appears to lock in Russia's ability to meddle in Ukrainian affairs.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Feb 16, 2015

In appearance on far-right TV, U.S. official calls Okinawa base protests 'hate speech'

A senior official for the U.S. military has branded anti-base demonstrations in Okinawa as 'hate speech' in an appearance on a rightist TV network in Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Feb 16, 2015

Readers split over issue of U.S. military presence in Okinawa

Some emails and online comments in response to the claim by a U.S. military official that Okinawan protesters have faked their injuries.
BUSINESS
Feb 16, 2015

Japan has more car chargers than gas stations

There are more electric-car charging points in Japan than there are gas stations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 16, 2015

Tepco to mull rate hike if it can't restart Niigata nuclear complex

Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it will need to consider raising electricity rates for the first time since 2012 unless it can restart the world's biggest nuclear plant.
MORE SPORTS
Feb 15, 2015

IFAF worlds moved to Canton

The fifth world championship of American football will played in a new format in the sport's mother country this summer, according to the International Federation of American Football website.
EDITORIALS
Feb 15, 2015

Questions of self-defense

A legislative package of bills on security — prepared by the ruling coalition with the aim of implementing the Abe Cabinet's decision last July to enable Japan to engage in collective self-defense — will no doubt be the main focus of the current Diet session.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 15, 2015

Growth-stunting technology

Though information and communications technology has made remarkable strides since 1991, it appears to have stunted Japan's economic growth rate.
WORLD
Feb 15, 2015

China plans international tourism zone with North Korea, Russia

China is planning an international tourism zone in its northeastern border area with Russia and North Korea, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday, in Pyongyang's latest push for new investment.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Feb 15, 2015

Mainstream Japanese society slowly working to accommodate sexual minorities

When she was in her teens, Yumiko Higuchi was suicidal.
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 15, 2015

Chinese patients turn to black market for blood

China's rising demand for health care is exposing a chronic shortage of an essential commodity: blood.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Feb 14, 2015

Journey of 'eat, pray, bathe' awaits pilgrims to Mount Koya

Although pilgrims have been coming to this center of Shingon Buddhism since its foundation in 816, the 1,200th anniversary of the monastic settlement promises an increase in curious tourists who have heard of Mount Koya's serenity and want to experience it for themselves.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 14, 2015

The economics book everyone is talking about, but has anyone read it?

French economist Thomas Piketty's "Capital in the Twenty-First Century" was the surprise bestseller of 2014 in the United States, and it has also become a hit in Japan.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Feb 14, 2015

Media total up the targets for terrorist attacks

The 67-second video on YouTube opens with a black slate that reads, "A Message to Japan." The video then shows a kneeling journalist, Kenji Goto, clad in an orange outfit.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Feb 14, 2015

Japanese are quick to embrace robots

"Hello and welcome. I can tell you about money exchange, ATMs, opening a bank account or overseas remittance. Which one would you like?"
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Feb 14, 2015

Winter offers a wake-up call for local revitalization drive

Kansai's corporate titans gathered in Kyoto earlier this month for their annual retreat, formally known as the Kansai Economic Forum. While there was no shortage of the usual slightly daft old men with slightly daft ideas, this year saw two important, positive changes.
EDITORIALS
Feb 14, 2015

Miserly use of vacation days

Japan may be the most miserly country in the world when it comes to getting workers to feel free to use their legally entitled number of paid holidays each year.
EDITORIALS
Feb 13, 2015

Negative savings rates loom

The first-ever annual drop in Japan's household savings rate into negative territory might have been the result of people's rush to buy goods before the consumption tax hike last April. Yet, the long-term downtrend in the savings rate is forecast to continue.

Longform

Members of the nonprofit group Japan Youth Memorial Association search for the remains of dead soldiers in a cave in Okinawa Prefecture in February.
The long search for Japan’s lost soldiers