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WORLD / Politics
Mar 3, 2016

Donald Trump Jr. appears with white supremacist on radio show

One of Donald Trump's sons appeared along with a white supremacist while giving an interview on a conservative radio show, adding to concerns that the front-runner in the battle to be the Republican candidate in November's presidential election is willing to accept support from extremist supporters....
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 2, 2016

The West has always been keen to divide the Arabs

It has been almost 100 years since colonial powers divided up the Arab world, and they have invested much time, energy, resources and all-out wars to ensure that the arbitrary divisions never truly end.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 1, 2016

Lower House approves record ¥96.7 trillion budget

The Lower House passes a record budget, marking a turning point in Diet deliberations in which the ruling and opposition camps will switch attention to the Upper House election.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 29, 2016

Joining Japanese words together to reveal the true nature of things

Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you can magically turn verbs into nouns and vice versa, expanding your Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 29, 2016

Bid for world heritage status for Christian sites retracted

The government has decided to retract its recommendation to UNESCO that a slew of churches and other Christian sites be listed as World Heritage sites.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 29, 2016

Taking a stance against strategic pessimism

Japan and Australia's special relationship is not based simply on shared interests but also on shared values.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Feb 29, 2016

Parental push for children to pass exams borders on abuse: experts

Many parents are strict regarding their children's education because they want their offspring to succeed in the future, but sometimes this discipline is excessive and goes beyond what kids can endure.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 28, 2016

City pop revival helps Suchmos at just the right time

Walk into a Tower Records store in Shibuya or Shinjuku and you'll eventually come across the apparel section. The current fashion aesthetic here leans retro: Hoodies and T-shirts come emblazoned with text highlighting throwback music signifiers, from equipment ("cassette tape," "analog") to genres ("surf...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 28, 2016

Canadians gear up to handle any influx of Americans if Trump wins presidency

Americans have said it many times before when eyeing a White House prospect they view as unpalatable: "If that guy is elected president, I'm moving to Canada!"
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 2016

Europeans should spend more for their defense

The question has to be asked: Why is the U.S. defending Europe? The need for America to play an overwhelming role disappeared when the Cold War ended.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 26, 2016

Undergoing the third degree in prewar Japan

A New Zealander who was taken into custody by prewar Japanese police provides a haunting account of jailhouse torture.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 26, 2016

Japan has reasons to be scared

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe himself seems to have forgotten Abenomics in his quest for Japan to be a 'normal' nation with a constitution to his personal liking.
Reader Mail
Feb 26, 2016

Player should get long suspension

Regarding the Feb. 23 article "New Marines infielder Navarro arrested after bullet found in bag," it is disconcerting that he would make such a careless mistake in bringing a live bullet to Japan from his home in the Dominican Republic.
WORLD
Feb 26, 2016

India near inducting its first nuclear-armed submarine

India is close to becoming the world's sixth country to put a nuclear-armed attack submarine into operation, a move that would give it a leg up on neighboring Pakistan and intensify a race for more underwater weapons in Asia.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Feb 22, 2016

Wasteful spending in Tohoku

The amount of wasteful government spending in the Tohoku reconstruction effort is truly staggering.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 22, 2016

Password hacks as simple as 1-2-3-4-5-6

Even after tens of millions of people had their online accounts hacked, many Internet users still rely on easy-to-guess passwords.
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Feb 22, 2016

Just take a snap and let Aichi smartphone app explain what's seen, and where

An Aichi-based electronic parts manufacturer has developed a free smartphone app that allows people to obtain information on tourist spots simply by taking photos of them.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 22, 2016

With eye on Downing Street, Boris bets all on 'Brexit'

With one hand in his suit pocket and the other mussing his signature blond hair, Boris Johnson on Sunday took the riskiest gamble of his career: to oppose Prime Minister David Cameron by campaigning for Britain to leave the European Union.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 20, 2016

Peeling back the layers of money politics

Last week the Asahi Shimbun reported on the relationship between Japan's larger corporations and the Liberal Democratic Party. Since regaining power in 2012, the LDP announced it would cut corporate taxes at rates that are twice those proposed by the previous Democratic Party of Japan government, and...
JAPAN / History / THE LIVING PAST
Feb 20, 2016

The Meiji Era and the soul of Japan: part 1

'Japan's first modern novel" was published serially between 1887 and 1889.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 19, 2016

The physicist who said no to Albert Einstein

Thanks to the rejection of a scientific paper written by Albert Einstein, his prediction of the existence of gravitational waves — which now has been proving true — was not retracted.
Reader Mail
Feb 19, 2016

NHK anchor a victim of the right-wing state

Regarding Jeff Kingston's Counterpoint column "Anchor's ouster is another blow to quality news" in the Jan. 24 edition, you don't have to be very smart to realize that the conservative right-wing state of Japan is following its pre-World War II modus operandi.
Reader Mail
Feb 19, 2016

What should we do in a missile attack?

The recent missile test by North Korea reminded me of the article in the Jan. 31 issue, "All eyes on North Korea missile test," with its reassuring statement that, in preparation for a possible missile launch by North Korea, the Self-Defense Forces have prepared a "two-layer missile shield" — the Standard...
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 15, 2016

SMAP's 2003 single tops chart

An old CD single by SMAP returned to No. 1 in the charts as fans alarmed by news of the group's apparently imminent breakup launched a campaign to show their support for the group.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Feb 15, 2016

Temples putting donated snacks to good use: feeding Japan's impoverished kids

With 1 in 6 children in Japan living in a household with financial difficulties, a growing number of temples nationwide are donating snacks that they have received as offerings to impoverished youngsters.
JAPAN / FUKUSHIMA FILE
Feb 15, 2016

Five years on, tsunami debris on ocean floor near Fukushima nuclear plant remains untouched

The Fisheries Agency will continue to subsidize efforts by Fukushima Prefecture to remove tsunami-related debris from the ocean floor.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 13, 2016

Should Japan's major newspapers be given a red card for sponsoring the Olympics?

Because it's never too early to talk about how expensive the Olympics will be, Tokyo Shimbun pondered the question on Feb. 6 and found out that no one involved has a clue about the cost of the 2020 Games.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Feb 13, 2016

When life deals a bad hand, be a tough cookie and visit Kyoto

"Some men dream of fortunes, others dream of cookies," goes an old saying from a fortune cookie. As for my good friend Dale, who has had a a mean case of winter malaise since he broke up with his girlfriend, he is still dreaming of finding a wife. Thus, on a January morning we set out for Kyoto and Fushimi...
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 12, 2016

Paternity leave trailblazer Miyazaki quits over affair

LDP lawmaker and paternity leave pioneer Kensuke Miyazaki quits his seat after admitting to an extramarital affair.
Reader Mail
Feb 12, 2016

No intent by Abe to revise history

Regarding the Hugh Cortazzi column titled "Abe's misplaced priorities" in the Jan. 30 edition, I have to point out that the article includes misleading descriptions that differ from the actual facts. If you read the Cabinet-approved statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war, you will find...

Longform

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What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji