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COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2017

Why is Thailand's middle class so quick to reject democracy?

The Thai middle class and civil society organizations place top priority on their political interests rather than democracy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2017

The importance of cutting Islamic State's lifeline

To defeat Islamic State once and for all, we need to recognize — and eliminate — its many sources of sustenance.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 9, 2017

Founder of Italy's 5-Star proposes divorce with anti-EU party in European Parliament

Italy's maverick 5-Star Movement should cut ties with the anti-European Union U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) and consider hooking up with the Liberals in the European Parliament, 5-Star founder Beppe Grillo said on Sunday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 8, 2017

Japan's human rights issues fared better in 2016

Welcome back to JBC's annual countdown of the top issues as they affected Non-Japanese (NJ) residents of Japan. We had some brighter spots this year than in previous years, because Japan's government has been so embarrassed by hate speech toward Japan's minorities that they did something about it. Read...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 8, 2017

East Asia in the Trump era

What might happen to U.S. foreign policy, in particular its alliance in East Asia, under the leadership of incoming President Donald Trump? Japan faces an increasingly complex security landscape in East Asia. The Trump presidency could make it more uncertain and more unpredictable.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jan 5, 2017

Traditional crafts to welcome new year; luxury retreat for examination prep; inspired cocktails offer a twist

Traditional crafts to welcome new year
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 4, 2017

Impotent Democrats won't be America's savior

Americans who oppose Trump shouldn't waste time waiting for the Democratic Party to take action against him.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 3, 2017

With U.S. security umbrella at stake, Abe to go all out forging ties with Trump

Japan's foreign policy this year is drifting into uncharted waters inhabited by President-elect Donald Trump.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2017

Will Washington and Beijing's cool war heat up?

The big question for 2017 is whether the U.S. and China will let their troubled relationship unravel further.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 3, 2017

China's dangerous 2017 dominates the region

Fears of a Chinese financial crash loom large, but Japan and South Korea also face thorny challenges.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 3, 2017

Trump tweets Chicago must seek federal help if no progress is made in cutting murder rate

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said in a Twitter message Monday that Chicago's mayor must ask for U.S. government help if the city fails to reduce its homicide rate, which hit a 20-year high last year.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 1, 2017

Abe has no reason to rock the boat by calling early-2017 snap election

After weeks of speculation that 2017 may start with a snap election in late January, the prime minister said on NHK that it will not happen.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Dec 31, 2016

'The Teahouse of the August Moon': a subversive comedy in postwar Okinawa

Published in 1951 and later adapted for a movie and Broadway play, Vern Sneider's "The Teahouse of the August Moon" is a satirical take on the U.S. Occupation of Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Dec 30, 2016

British envoy, Japan Times turn tide in NHK history drama

Japanese love watching historical dramas, and one of the most popular times portrayed is the final years of the Edo Period (1603-1868), when the nation went through dramatic change politically, diplomatically and socially with the fall of the shogunate.
EDITORIALS
Dec 30, 2016

Democracy under siege in 2017?

The struggle between democrats and authoritarians will likely be the defining fight of the year to come.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 30, 2016

Who had the worst year? How Asian leaders fared in 2016

In a year dominated by Brexit and Donald Trump's surprise U.S. election win, Asia felt like a relatively stable part of the world. A closer look shows that the region endured its own seismic events in 2016, from a Philippine leader embracing China to massive street protests in Seoul to the elimination...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Dec 28, 2016

What's in a surname? It depends on who you ask

Some women want to keep their maiden names after marriage, yet many others choose not to.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 27, 2016

This year saw a bull market in skinny dipping

It's time to look back at a year when so many smart people were caught doing stupid things.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 27, 2016

In Hawaii, Abe looks to remember war, reinforce U.S. relationship

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe arrived in Hawaii Monday morning local time for a two-day visit that appears to be as much about shoring up his credentials as a statesman and trying to address concerns about the future of U.S.-Japan relations under Donald Trump as it is about remembering the past.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 25, 2016

Will Trump's foreign policy push Japan to go nuclear?

Japan is dancing with the devil in thinking of an arms race or the nuclear option to make up for lack of Donald Trump's support.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 22, 2016

Charges of Russian hacking fall flat without evidence

Why are the very same media outlets that let themselves get duped 13 years ago dutifully transcribing what amounts to nothing more than unsubstantiated allegations?
Reader Mail
Dec 22, 2016

A message of world peace at Christmas time

The article "Arlington cemetery offers a history beyond war" in the Nov. 27 edition reminded me of my visit to the grave of John F. Kennedy.
Reader Mail
Dec 22, 2016

Putin's hand in Trump's election

It now seems certain according to the world's most prestigious intelligence agency that one Russian single-handedly hoodwinked the entire population of the United States of America by manipulating its presidential election in Donald Trump's favor.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 21, 2016

U.N.'s Ban offers strongest hint yet of run at South Korean presidency

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gave his strongest signal yet on Tuesday that he will seek the South Korean presidency next year as a corruption scandal that reached the highest level of government continues to roil the country.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 21, 2016

The bad year that pervaded the screens

The past year has been a cursed one. It began with the death of David Bowie and proceeded to get worse on every level: political hysteria, impending ecological doom, the creeping encroach of net-connected tech into every corner of our lives, and a blurring of the lines between fantasy and reality now...
Japan Times
PRESS / Publications
Dec 21, 2016

Revised Edition to a Long-running Bestseller

Tokyo, December 21, 2016 - The Japan Times, Ltd. has released a revised edition to its bestselling fun-and-easy kana practice book, "Kana Can Be Easy [Revised Edition]."
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 20, 2016

Democratic Party's choice: fight Trump or die

Democrats have one last chance to act like Democrats — something they haven't done in 50 years — or watch their party come apart at the seams.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo