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Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Oct 11, 2014

In-debt idols send wrong message to girls

Two weeks ago a female pop group called The Margarines debuted via a Tokyo news conference. Since Japanese show business has no shortage of young women who want to sing and dance in order to "fulfill their dreams," the new ensemble needed a gimmick.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Oct 11, 2014

Kim is still in charge of North Korea, injured leg in military drill: source

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is in firm control of his government but hurt his leg taking part in a military drill, a source with access to the secretive nation's leadership said, playing down speculation over the 31-year-old's health and grip on power in the nuclear-capable nation.
EDITORIALS
Oct 9, 2014

The dangers of intolerance

Two universities in Japan have received letter threats that nail-laden bombs will go off on their campuses if they don't dismiss two instructors who formerly reported on the 'comfort women' controversy for the Asahi Shimbun.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 7, 2014

Why so many Russians are addicted to Putin

Many foreign observers ask how President Vladimir Putin, who is so apparently driving his country toward the abyss, can remain so popular. The answer is that a hefty majority of Russians do not see the danger ahead.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 6, 2014

Lebanon as a Mideast model for moderation

The Islamic State recently could not find a single Lebanese to volunteer to be an emir. Lebanon must be able to continue inspiring its regional neighbors, and to provide a template for effective pluralism in the Middle East.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Oct 6, 2014

Tokyo: What can be done to restore Japan's relations with China and South Korea?

An international bunch around Tokyo offer their views on possible ways to rebuild trust between Japan and its East Asian neighbors over historical issues.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Oct 5, 2014

Families run into twin 'walls' as they seek after-school care

The gulf between day care for preschoolers and after-school care for elementary school students can come as a major shock to the system for parents and children alike.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Oct 5, 2014

Hong Kong student protest movement struggles to communicate with the government — and its own followers

To catch a glimpse of the ragtag group of students going eyeball to eyeball with the Chinese government, peek inside a room on the ninth floor of the Legislative Council building in downtown Hong Kong.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Oct 3, 2014

Inheritance tax in Japan may not be the burden you imagined

With the government cutting corporate tax, it needs even more revenue to make up for its already alarming fiscal shortfall. So far the media has fixated on consumption tax, which tends to be more punishingly felt by the average person than any other sort of tax.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 3, 2014

Hong Kong's Tiananmen moment challenging leadership in Beijing

Hong Kong's leaders have failed to let Beijing understand that, almost without exception, the leading Hong Kong politicians are good Chinese patriots.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 3, 2014

Don't look to Shanghai as next financial hub

If there's any likely winner from China's unprecedented clampdown on Hong Kong, it's Singapore. All it needs to do to attract the giant banks, hedge funds and multinational firms is sit back quietly as Beijing's henchmen do their worst.
JAPAN
Oct 3, 2014

North Korea envoy says door is open on nuclear issues, rights, abductees

North Korea is ready to resume six-party talks on its nuclear program but must maintain its readiness in the face of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises, a senior envoy in Geneva said on Thursday.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 2, 2014

Ray of hope for democrats

For those Japanese who grumble about low voter turnouts in local and national elections, or who complain about the secretive character of political procedures, the open, democratic process of the recent Scottish referendum on independence was an object of envy.
CULTURE / Music / STRANGE BOUTIQUE
Sep 30, 2014

Live houses need to rethink their product if they want to attract customers

In these times of declining music sales it has become a truism that the live arena is where bands and artists can make their money. Certainly that seems to have factored into the decision by U2 and Apple to give the Irish band's new album to iTunes users for free — whether they wanted it or not.
EDITORIALS
Sep 30, 2014

China's sentencing of a critic

lham Tohti, a moderate Uighur scholar who advocated for the rights of Muslim Uighurs, was sentenced to life in prison last week. Chinese leaders don't seem to realize that such severity will only deepen the resentment of separatists.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 26, 2014

North Korea's Kim absent from parliament meet, fueling health worries

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was absent from a gathering of top party and government officials on Thursday, state television showed, fueling speculation that health problems may be keeping the 31-year-old out of the public eye.
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Sep 21, 2014

The town that's battling the demographic tide

On Oki Islands off Shimane Prefecture, a bold wave of reform seems to be having a positive effect.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 20, 2014

Abe's female Cabinet picks warrant a closer look

In a Sept. 5 Twitter post, university instructor Akiko Orita pointed out that four of the five women appointed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to his new Cabinet do not use their legal names. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Sanae Takaichi, state minister in charge of abduction issues Eriko...
EDITORIALS
Sep 17, 2014

Learn from the 3/11 transcripts

The transcripts of the interviews of 19 people who dealt with the March 2011 triple meltdowns at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, including the late Masao Yoshida, then chief of the plant, may offer little new information about the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / FOCUS
Sep 17, 2014

Asahi Shimbun struggles with credibility amid retractions

Self-inflicted wounds to the 135-year-old liberal media flagship may create a tailwind for conservatives who want to recast Japan's wartime past in a less apologetic tone.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Sep 13, 2014

Waking up to child abuse

With reported cases of child abuse topping 70,000 per annum for the first time in August, Masami Ito examines the nation's changing attitudes toward violence at home.
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Sep 11, 2014

Vietnam creating submarine deterrent to Chinese expansionist efforts in South China Sea

Vietnam will soon have a credible naval deterrent to China in the South China Sea in the form of Kilo-class submarines from Russia, which experts say could make Beijing think twice before pushing its much smaller neighbor around in disputed waters.
WORLD
Sep 11, 2014

Islamic State terrorists talked of entering U.S. through Mexico: official

Islamic State extremists have discussed infiltrating the U.S. through its southern border with Mexico, a U.S. official said.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 9, 2014

Can Palestine win the peace?

The tremendous sympathy and support Palestinians received from international observers because of the high price they paid during their 51-day war with Israel will be useless if the leaders of Hamas and Fatah fail to maintain a united front.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 9, 2014

New Thai PM uses holy water, feng shui to ward off occult

As he prepares to move in to Bangkok's Government House this week, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is going to great lengths to sweep away any occult challenge.
Japan Times
WORLD
Sep 8, 2014

Britain's Prince William and wife Kate expecting second baby

Britain's Prince William, grandson of Queen Elizabeth, and his wife Kate are expecting their second baby and the mother-to-be is once again suffering from very acute morning sickness, his office said Monday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 8, 2014

Nissan building know-how at 'global mother plant'

While Nissan continues to shift its manufacturing base overseas, its factories in Japan still play a vital role in spreading production know-how and training workers in other countries.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear