Search - 2015

 
 
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 16, 2018

Florida finishes first round of recounts in Senate and governor races

Florida election officials on Thursday completed an initial recount of ballots in close races for the U.S. Senate and governor's seat but did not immediately release updated statewide figures.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Nov 15, 2018

Dutch court rejects bid to ban 'Black Pete' pre-Christmas character

A court in the Netherlands has rejected a request by activists to ban the holiday character Black Pete from state television but encouraged debate over a tradition that has prompted protests on both sides.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 15, 2018

Vietnam-born rights advocate Bungo Okabe steps in to stifle abuse of technical trainees in Japan

When it came to light in March that a Vietnamese man in Japan's foreign trainee program was duped into performing radioactive decontamination work in areas devastated by the 2011 nuclear disaster, Bungo Okabe, 36, was the first to offer help in seeking justice.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 15, 2018

Nearly 70% of women in Tokyo back single-sex train cars, survey finds

Women in Tokyo strongly favor having single-sex train cars on public transport, according to a poll of five of the world's biggest commuter cities released Thursday, despite such policies facing growing criticism.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 14, 2018

More than 345,000 foreign workers predicted to come to Japan under new visas: government

Some 345,000 blue-collar foreign workers may join the workforce through the first five years of a new working visa system set to be introduced in April — if it wins Diet approval.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Nov 14, 2018

I feared the crush of the rush, but now my commute completes me

Everybody knows that it is hard to make a good living from writing alone. However, every aspiring writer I've met has thought they might end up as that one-in-a-million exception to the rule. Most learn the hard truth in their 20s, but some have to get to their late 40s, like me.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 14, 2018

A concert of democracies in the Indo-Pacific region

The deepening relationship between Japan and India serves the goal of forestalling the emergence of a China-centric Asia.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 13, 2018

Abe strikes a 'Belt and Road' balancing act

Tokyo is engaging in Beijing's BRI while also hedging its bets through similar initiatives with other partners.
BASEBALL
Nov 12, 2018

Yuki Yanagita makes major impression on MLB All-Stars

If there was one standout talent from the first half of the six-game Japan All-Star Series, it was without a doubt Yuki Yanagita.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 12, 2018

Jewish human rights group blasts K-pop band BTS over A-bomb T-shirt and hats with Nazi logo

A leading Jewish human rights group has denounced popular K-pop band BTS, whose live performance on Japanese TV was canceled last week, over a T-shirt mocking victims of the atomic bombing of Japan while also claiming that a photo shoot had shown them wearing hats with a Nazi logo.
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2018

Former Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroyuki Sonoda dies of pneumonia at 76

Hiroyuki Sonoda, a Lower House lawmaker who once served as deputy chief Cabinet secretary and acting policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, dies of pneumonia aged 76.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 10, 2018

Japan's news outlets weigh in on Jumpei Yasuda's culpability in Syria kidnapping

Freelance reporter Jumpei Yasuda gave a three-hour news conference at the Japan National Press Club on Nov. 2 about his hostage ordeal, describing in detail how he was kidnapped after entering Syria in 2015 and then held for more than three years. He also discussed the situation in the Middle East and...
Figure Skating
Nov 10, 2018

Shoma Uno, Rika Kihira earn NHK Trophy titles

Olympic and world silver medalist Shoma Uno won the NHK Trophy on Saturday night with a solid performance in the men's free skate.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 10, 2018

U.S. ends refueling support for Saudi coalition aircraft in Yemen conflict

Saudi Arabia and the United States have agreed to end U.S. refueling of aircraft from the Saudi-led coalition battling Houthi insurgents in Yemen, ending a divisive aspect of U.S. support to a war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.
Figure Skating
Nov 9, 2018

Shoma Uno, Elizaveta Tuktamysheva own slim leads after NHK Trophy short programs

Olympic and world silver medalist Shoma Uno holds a slim lead following the short program at the NHK Trophy on Friday night.
Japan Times
JAPAN / YEN FOR LIVING
Nov 9, 2018

Effort to nudge Japan to go cashless with offsets to sales tax hike faces many hurdles

On Oct. 15, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed during an extraordinary Cabinet meeting that the government would raise the consumption tax from 8 to 10 percent next Oct. 1. The tax hike has already been postponed twice owing to jitters over how it might affect consumption. The last consumption tax increase,...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 9, 2018

Department store Takashimaya joins new venture in Bangkok as it looks beyond traditional domestic sales model

Boxed in by a shrinking domestic market and consumer preferences shifting toward online shopping, the only way for Japanese department stores — as well as the broader retail sector — to survive is to get a slice of fast growing markets overseas, especially in neighboring countries.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Nov 8, 2018

Jail in Japan for cannabis in Canada? Possible but unlikely

Possession and receipt of marijuana are illegal for Japanese citizens even overseas, but don't expect urine checks at immigration.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 8, 2018

Democrats warn Trump after Attorney General Sessions forced out

The ouster of Attorney General Jeff Sessions by President Donald Trump on Wednesday drew sharp criticism from Democrats, who warned Trump against moving to squash a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years