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Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Nov 11, 2017

Kenny Fries: From memoir to mortality and impermanence

When asked about his affection for Pikachu, American author Kenny Fries breaks into laughter. No, he says in an interview via Skype, the iconic Pokemon character had nothing to do with his decision to come to Japan. He came initially because, after applying for various fellowships, he was awarded the...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 11, 2017

Japan to build four radar stations for the Philippines to counter piracy surge, sources say

Japan will build four coast guard radar stations on islands in the Sulu Celebes Seas separating the Philippines and Indonesia to help Manila counter a surge in piracy by Islamic insurgents, two sources said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / OKINAWA BEAT
Nov 10, 2017

Okinawa solar firm eyes new revenue by converting vacant house into lodging for overseas tourists

A solar power generation firm based in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, is pursuing a new line of business, tapping into a renovated vacant house as an inn for foreign visitors, especially large families.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 10, 2017

Lebanon believes Saudis are holding Hariri after forcing him to resign, and demands his return

Lebanon believes Saad al-Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia, from where he resigned as Lebanese prime minister, two top government officials in Beirut said, amid a deepening crisis pushing Lebanon onto the front lines of a power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Nov 9, 2017

Luxury accomodations on the sea

On Nov. 3, Atami Sekaie in Shizuoka Prefecture opened a new annex named Atami Sekaie Tsuki-no-michi featuring 13 rooms, including a luxurious penthouse and a Japanese grill restaurant 1 Shio (Hitoshio).
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 8, 2017

Talented Naoki Uto ready to grab long-awaited national team chance

With his exceptional height and confidence, Naoki Uto could add a new dimension to the Japan men's national basketball team.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 8, 2017

Trump issues warning to 'rogue regime' North Korea: 'Do not try us'

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday, telling him that the nuclear weapons he is developing "are not making you safer, they are putting your regime in grave danger."
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Nov 6, 2017

Let's discuss entrance exam reforms

Upcoming changes to Japanese university admissions have students, parents and teachers raising their hands to ask questions.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / FOCUS
Nov 6, 2017

Battle for grass-roots democracy in Cambodia sidelines U.S.

Sin Rozeth's attempts to show the benefits of grass-roots democracy to some of the poorest people in the Cambodian city of Battambang are in peril.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / Taking the Lead
Nov 5, 2017

Yoshiharu Hoshino: Inn innovator's winning formula born from bubble's crash

Yoshiharu Hoshino describes his experience taking over the reins of his century-old family business in 1991 as a "hard landing."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 5, 2017

Trump rallies troops in Japan before golf and steaks with Abe

At the start of his five-nation Asian tour, U.S. President Donald Trump calls Japan a “treasured partner” and “crucial ally” of the United States.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 5, 2017

Pentagon says securing North Korean nukes would require U.S. ground invasion

A top Pentagon official has said the only sure way of eliminating North Korea's nuclear weapons capabilities would be by putting U.S. boots on the ground — a move that some worry could prompt Pyongyang to use biological, chemical and even nuclear weapons against Japan and South Korea.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: DESIGN
Nov 5, 2017

Tokyo welcomes Designart

Last month saw the launch of Designart — the capital's new annual collection of exhibitions that bring together Japanese and overseas creators for collaborations on product design and objets d'art. Here are a few picks that showcase the inaugural event's embrace of color, versatility and humanitarianism.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Nov 4, 2017

Hokkaido chef Shinichi Maeda adds a modern touch to traditional techniques

An Dining chef goes out of his way to source his ingredients personally.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 4, 2017

North Korea says 'brutal sanctions' constitute genocide

North Korea called on Friday for a halt to "brutal sanctions," saying the measures — imposed after its latest nuclear test — constitute genocide.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Nov 3, 2017

Changing times in Setagaya's Shoin Jinjamae

There's something alluring about the suburban stops between Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido stations, which has been serviced by the Tokyu Setagaya tramway for the past 110 years.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 3, 2017

U.S. sends heavy bombers for training over South Korea ahead of Trump visit

The U.S. Air Force has again flown heavy B-1B bombers over the Korean Peninsula, this time just days ahead of Donald Trump's inaugural visit to Asia as president, with Japan set to be his first stop on Sunday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Nov 2, 2017

Experience the coziness of Denmark

The Imperial Hotel Tokyo is holding the "Nordic Bliss" Denmark Fair through Nov. 30. Supported by the Danish embassy, guests can experience "hygge" with Danish food and culture, while commemorating 150 years of diplomatic relations between Denmark and Japan.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Nov 1, 2017

Alex Kerr on Japan: From 'voice in the wind' to vindication

A quarter-century after his first book warned Japan of what it had to lose, Alex Kerr feels the nation is finally on the same page.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 1, 2017

'Goodbye, Grandpa!': Even at a funeral, there's no escaping a dysfunctional family

Funerals are just about as common in Japanese family dramas as weddings, but few films make them the focus of the story. The funniest would be Juzo Itami's "The Funeral," a 1984 black comedy about two married middle-aged urbanites negotiating the intricacies of a traditional Japanese funeral when the...
SUMO / INSIDE SUMO
Nov 1, 2017

Sumo needs to tackle cause of rising injuries

Yokozuna Harumafuji, who won his ninth championship in September, edged compatriot Hakuho for top spot in the newly released rankings for the Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 1, 2017

Toyota's solid-state battery to power future as automaker readies 'game-changer' for mass market

Toyota Motor Corp. is scrambling to solve outstanding issues as it races to commercialize a battery breakthrough during the first half of the 2020s with the potential to cut the cost of making electric cars.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Oct 31, 2017

Kajitani, BayStars remain positive as series resumes in Yokohama

Despite his team getting off to an 0-2 start in the ongoing Japan Series, Yokohama BayStars outfielder Takayuki Kajitani held his head up high as the series resumed at Yokohama Stadium for Tuesday's Game 3.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Oct 30, 2017

Qatar's emir reportedly open to Trump-hosted talks to defuse regional crisis

Qatar's ruler said he is ready for U.S.-hosted direct talks aimed at solving the worst diplomatic crisis in the gulf in years but has yet to hear a response to U.S. President Donald Trump's invitation to the four Arab states boycotting Doha.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Oct 30, 2017

Rohingya asylum seekers face dim prospects of gaining refugee status in Japan

The plight of Rohingya Muslims has made headlines as the Myanmar military's escalating attacks against the ethnic group, often described in media reports as "one of the world's most persecuted minorities," have captured global attention.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Oct 30, 2017

Energy edges out tech, finance in CEO lineup for Trump's upcoming China visit

U.S. energy and commodities firms will make up a major part of a business delegation visiting Beijing at the same time as U.S. President Donald Trump goes to China in November, according to an initial list.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami