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COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2016

The lunar year that was — from bad to good

Entrenched economic interests and a 'little bric' of bureaucracy, regulation, interventionism and corruption continue to impede the structural changes needed to attract more foreign direct investment and drive long-term job creation in Asia.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 31, 2016

U.S. defies Chinese maritime claims after warship sails near island in disputed South China Sea

The U.S. Navy sent a Japan-based warship within 12 nautical miles (22 km) of an island in the South China Sea Saturday that is claimed by Beijing and others in an effort to challenge what the Pentagon called "excessive maritime claims."
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jan 28, 2016

Oregon occupiers urged to end their standoff after traffic stop turned deadly

State and federal authorities urged a group of armed men occupying a U.S. wildlife refuge in Oregon to abandon the protest over land rights on Wednesday, a day after their leader and seven other people were arrested and one man killed.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 27, 2016

North Korea suspected of targeting South with cyberattacks

South Korea said on Wednesday it suspected North Korea of attempting cyberattacks against targets in the South, following a nuclear test by the North this month that defied United Nations sanctions.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 25, 2016

Ginowan mayoral victory gives Abe much-needed ammunition in Futenma battle

Top government officials in Tokyo welcome the victory by the ruling bloc-backed candidate in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture's mayoral election, saying it will give momentum to the Futenma base relocation.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016

Britain facing a watershed year

A vote against EU membership, especially in such a dangerous international environment, would truly be an irrational move for Britain.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 25, 2016

Poland clouds NATO's nuanced plan to engage Russia

Poland is putting its own spin on a nuanced NATO plan to deter Moscow in eastern Europe without stationing permanent troops on Russia's borders, prompting disquiet from allies including Britain, which needs Warsaw's help in EU reform negotiations.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 23, 2016

SMAP dodges bullet; Becky isn't so lucky

When media leaked intelligence on Jan. 10 that eternal boy band SMAP might be dissolving, the outpouring of fan emotion overwhelmed anything else that was happening in the show business world. One person who was probably grateful for the distraction was Rebecca Eri Ray Vaughan, the TV personality better...
EDITORIALS
Jan 23, 2016

Fears over personal data security

People are understandably worried about the security of the My Number system, and the government has done little to reassure them.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 22, 2016

Seoul to set up intelligence data link that connects it to Japan-U.S. system

South Korea will set up a military data link to share imagery and real-time intelligence with Japan and the United States.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Jan 20, 2016

Hatoyama dreams of a Japan anchored within a united Asia

Former leader apologizes for his failures as PM and shares his views on Fukushima, Tokyo 2020 and his hopes for Okinawa, Japan and the wider region.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jan 19, 2016

SMAP fans relieved but perplexed by apology over rumored breakup

Exceptional TV ratings, the apparent overloading of Twitter's servers and even a comment by the prime minister show the importance that Japan placed on the announcement that SMAP isn't breaking up.
BASEBALL / MLB
Jan 19, 2016

MLB confirms probe in Darvish gambling case

Texas Rangers star pitcher Yu Darvish is being investigated by Major League Baseball in the wake of his brother Sho being charged last year with running an illegal gambling ring that allegedly took bets on both MLB and NPB games, The Japan Times has learned.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 18, 2016

China to build biggest cloning factory

The world's largest animal cloning factory is under construction in the northern port city of Tianjin
WORLD
Jan 17, 2016

In talks to free American prisoners held by Iran, U.S. blinked on new sanctions

The day before the Obama administration was due to slap new sanctions on Iran late last month, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry the move could derail a prisoner deal the two sides had been negotiating in secret for months.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 15, 2016

China seeks investment for disputed islands, plans to launch flights

China will invite private investment to build infrastructure on islands it controls in the disputed South China Sea and will this year start regular flights to one of them, state media said Friday, moves likely to anger other claimants.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 15, 2016

Renault raided in emissions probe, says no emissions-dodging device found

French carmaker Renault said fraud investigators had inspected three of its sites to look into its vehicle emissions technology.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 14, 2016

Don't believe all the myths about North Korea

Before figuring out what can be done about North Korea and its seemingly crazy dictatorship, we mustn't fall prey to four common myths about the hermit kingdom.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2016

The hidden goods of 2015

If we were to judge the state of the world by the news headlines, 2015 was the year of Islamist terror, especially in Paris. But there were two major positive developments as well.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 9, 2016

Iran complains to U.N. about Saudi "provocations"

Iran's foreign minister has complained to the United Nations about Saudi Arabia's "provocations" towards Tehran, as a diplomatic crisis between the region's two major powers entered its second week.

Longform

A sinkhole in Yashio, which emerged in January, was triggered by a ruptured, aging sewer pipe. Authorities worry that similar sections of infrastructure across the country are also at risk of corrosion.
That sinking feeling: Japan’s aging sewers are an infrastructure time bomb