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BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 18, 2019

Hong Kong job market starts weakening as recession deepens and riots exact toll

After months of political protests and the onset of a recession, Hong Kong's resilient labor market is starting to crack.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Nov 16, 2019

Japanese celebrities are using YouTube in new ways to connect with fans

The baseball offseason has arrived and Chicago Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish has taken up a few extracurricular activities. The Osaka-born player has expanded his social media presence, with recent posts on Twitter —  poking fun at teammates and playfully roasting other starters — being picked up by...
SUMO / Rikishi Files
Nov 16, 2019

Ozeki Kaio ruled the sport

Raiden is often mentioned as the greatest rikishi never to reach yokozuna.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Nov 15, 2019

Foreign students in Japan hold back on applying for newly created visas due to past illegal overwork

Many foreign students in Nagoya have recently been found to be reluctant to apply for newly created visas intended to bring more workers from abroad, fearing their applications might not be accepted because they have been working more part-time hours than permitted for those with student visas.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 15, 2019

North Korea says U.S. is seeking December nuclear talks, warns of 'trick' to buy time

North Korea's top nuclear envoy said Thursday that the U.S. is seeking a return to denuclearization talks in December, but warned that he believed the move could be a "trick to earn time" ahead of a year-end deadline set by Pyongyang for progress in the talks.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 15, 2019

Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan

Do you know the songs? 'Heavy Rotation,' 'Gingham Check,' 'Ponytail to Shushu' .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
PODCAST / deep dive
Nov 14, 2019

Episode 29: Is Tokyo ready for the next big earthquake?

There is a 70 percent chance of a devastating magnitude 7 earthquake striking Tokyo in the next 30 years. Daniel Hurst joins Oscar Boyd to discuss how ready Japan's capital city is.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 14, 2019

World's energy watchdog is undermining climate change battle, critics say

A short walk from the Eiffel Tower, Fatih Birol oversees the world's energy watchdog, whose analyses of fuel demand have long been viewed as the gold standard by government officials, energy executives and investors.
JAPAN
Nov 13, 2019

Clandestine Japanese enthronement rite embodies tradition but is marked by controversy

The Daijosai, the most secretive and controversial part of the ceremonies, is a Shinto rite that begins on Thursday and involves the new emperor praying for peace and a rich harvest.
JAPAN
Nov 12, 2019

A month after Typhoon Hagibis, volunteers, local officials and SDF tackling mountains of waste

The SDF is working to coordinate disaster waste and rubble removal efforts through officers dispatched to municipalities affected by the 19th named storm of the season.
Japan Times
LIFE / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW,2010s: Decade in review
Nov 7, 2019

Mascots: The secret weapon in Japan's soft power arsenal

What makes a good mascot? It used to be that being cute was enough, but 'yuru-kyara' in the 2010s needed storylines and Instagram followings if they want to make a mark.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2019

Democracy is on the march worldwide, not in retreat

Mass protests in country after country show how powerful the demand for social equality remains
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 5, 2019

Iconic owner Roger Penske buys Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IndyCar Series

Roger Penske was a car-loving, 14-year-old who regularly listened to the Indianapolis 500 on the radio when his father landed tickets to the 1951 race. They made the trek from Cleveland, and when Penske saw the cars zipping around Indianapolis Motor Speedway at 200 mph (nearly 323 kph) he fell instantly...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 5, 2019

SoftBank to tighten governance standards for firms it invests in: report

Following related issues at WeWork, SoftBank Group Corp. will introduce new standards to tighten corporate governance at companies in which it invests, the Financial Times reported Monday.
Japan Times
Rugby
Nov 5, 2019

Video replay of the fantastic fans of the 2019 Rugby World Cup

The 2019 Rugby World Cup took Japan by storm for six weeks as millions of fans packed 12 host venues across the country for 48 thrilling games contested by 20 participating nations. The tournament was praised by World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont as “one of greatest, if not the greatest of all time,”...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 4, 2019

How to express the ups and downs of a tax hike

Describing the rise in a tax hike and a rise in prices means using two different words in Japanese. In either case, things aren't looking up.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Nov 4, 2019

Let's discuss Uber unions

The Japanese staff of Uber Technologies Inc.'s food delivery service Uber Eats have formed a labor union to negotiate contract terms and seek improved working conditions.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2019

U.S. baseball fans are too old, too white and too few

One thrilling World Series can't make the sport's viewership problems go away.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 4, 2019

In boost for Taiwan leader, China-friendly veteran James Soong set to run for Taiwan presidency

Tsai Ing-wen's chances of being re-elected as Taiwan's president received a boost as one of Taiwan's most senior China-friendly politicians appears set to enter the election, potentially sapping votes from the main opposition candidate.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 2, 2019

Our critics' favorite Japanese books of the decade

As 2020 approaches, The Japan Times' book reviewers look back at a decade of literature and their favorite and most impactful books written about Japan or by Japanese writers.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 1, 2019

Tokyo Gov. Koike gives up fighting IOC's decision to move Olympic marathon to Sapporo

The governor was reluctant to acquiesce to the unilateral move, but said “the chances of winning were slim.”
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 1, 2019

For Akiyoshi Koji, Asahi's bold dealmaker, beer remains at heart of global growth strategy

The biggest dealmaker in Japan this year has one thing on his mind: beer, and then more beer — more than $20 billion worth of it in the past four years, to be precise.
Reader Mail
Nov 1, 2019

Foreign population adds to Japan

Regarding the story "Foreign population hits record 2.83 million" in the Oct. 26 edition, I strongly believe that the rise has had a positive impact in terms of the economy and culture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / The Argument: Casinos
Oct 30, 2019

Any economic benefits of casinos come at far too steep of a price

Those who support bringing casinos to Japan boast of their economic benefits, but any perceived boon for the economy is far outweighed by their destructive consequences.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 29, 2019

Industrial JP: Bringing Japan's factories to the dancefloor

Industrial JP has embarked on a project to document the sounds of Japanese factories and turn them into music fit for the dancefloor
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Oct 29, 2019

With full power restored, Yuzuru Hanyu looks unbeatable

Two-time Olympic champion Yuzuru Hanyu opened his Grand Prix campaign in dominating fashion with a huge victory at Skate Canada on Saturday. More important than winning, however, was his return to what appears to be complete health.

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan