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JAPAN / Politics
Oct 22, 2017

Abe's gamble pays off as ruling bloc bags two-thirds majority in Lower House

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition is certain of a resounding victory in the Lower House election that will give it a two-thirds majority.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Sep 30, 2017

Japan's pensioners are literally getting older

Because of the election announced by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday, the new Cabinet he formed last summer to boost his falling support rate will do no work, since it was launched during the summer vacation and Abe dissolved the Diet as soon as it opened on Thursday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2017

Trump questions whether Japan's first lady can speak English

U.S. President Donald Trump is a man of controversy and nobody would be surprised if he caused another one.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 3, 2017

Let's discuss the Kake scandal

A June 8 article in the Asahi Shimbun reported that Japan already has 39,000 working veterinarians.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jun 5, 2017

Let's discuss the future of Japan's imperial family

Can the Imperial system survive without drastic reforms to its succession system?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 3, 2017

The arrested development of female prisons

Though the prison population in Japan is remarkably small compared to other countries, there have been increases in recent years among certain demographics. The media is particularly sensitive to elderly inmates. Less remarked upon are female prisoners.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 17, 2017

Trump highlights downside of 'Goldwater rule'

The American people and the world deserve to know the psychological profile of the U.S. president.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 3, 2017

Abe, Mattis reaffirm ties on defense

Visiting U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirms Washington's commitment to the U.S.-Japan military alliance amid Japanese concern over the rhetoric of U.S. President Donald Trump.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 19, 2017

U.N. Charter's anachronistic enemy state clauses

It's high time the U.N. shed its image as an institution created by the victorious Allied powers and create a level playing field for all its members.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 5, 2017

Day after 'economy first' comments, Abe promotes revising postwar Constitution to LDP

A day after stressing that the economy will be his top priority this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a different message to members of his party on Thursday, saying he will promote discussion on revising the postwar Constitution.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 4, 2017

The silencing of an anti-U.S. base protester in Okinawa

The extended detention of Hiroji Yamashiro is a shocking display of raw government power.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 17, 2016

Undercover journalist infiltrates Uniqlo

In her Dec. 14 Tokyo Shimbun column, media critic Minako Saito mentioned how the press is excited about the buzzword of the year and the kanji of the year. They are much less interested in another annual prize, the Black Company Award for the firm that most egregiously exploits workers. The nominations...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 7, 2016

U.S. Supreme Court drops ruling ordering Samsung to pay $399 million to Apple

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Samsung in its big-money smartphone patent fight with Apple, throwing out an appeals court ruling that the South Korean company had to pay a $399 million penalty to its American rival for copying key iPhone designs.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Dec 5, 2016

Let's discuss SMAP's 'Kohaku' no-show

NHK announced the lineup for the next edition of its 'Kohaku' music contest, but SMAP was not on the list.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 2, 2016

The tyranny of the majority

Only a small proportion of the British population voted to leave the European Union, but the whole nation will face the consequences.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Sep 26, 2016

The deeper meaning of the Emperor's video message

The main theme of Emperor Akihito's August message to the nation was not about abdication but succession of the postwar regime — which is synonymous with the continued existence of the Imperial family.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 26, 2016

Abe opens extra Diet session, urging action on Constitution and TPP

Abe gets a 66-day extraordinary Diet session underway with a speech vowing additional fiscal measures for the economy.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 19, 2016

Let's discuss young recluses in Japan

An estimated 541,000 people aged between 15 and 39 in Japan avoid social contact and shut themselves in their homes, according to a government survey.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Aug 24, 2016

The LDP's draft constitution

The 2012 draft constitution remains a heavy burden on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pursuit of revising the nation's supreme law while he's in office.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 18, 2016

The thrill of victory, the agony of another snub

The refusal of an Egyptian athlete to shake his Israeli counterpart's hand is symbolic of the Arab street's continuing rejection of the legitimacy of the Jewish state.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Aug 2, 2016

China puts Japan in cross hairs with blistering, sustained attack over alleged role in sea ruling

China has claimed to have unmasked Japanese malfeasance and "manipulation" amid a campaign to discredit an international tribunal ruling two weeks ago that largely invalidated Beijing's claims to most of the South China Sea.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Jul 24, 2016

A week’s worth of questions about paid leave

This month, a week of questions about paid leave. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the issue, and their answers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 23, 2016

Constitutional change may target Japan's elderly

In the week prior to the recent Upper House poll, the Kochi Shimbun asked 100 people at random what the significance of "two-thirds" was in relation to the election. Only 17 answered correctly that it was the minimum portion of Diet lawmakers needed to amend the Constitution. One of the main reasons...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Jul 20, 2016

Eiken broadens language tests to address criticisms

As the Eiken Foundation tries to meet the demands of a growing number of test-takers, what do students, parents and teachers make of the tests?
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jul 20, 2016

Readers' letters: Rote learning, vocab and Eiken's aims

Some readers' responses to last month's article by Hans Karlsson, 'Is the Eiken doing Japan's English learners more harm than good?'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 11, 2016

LDP-led ruling bloc, allies clear two-thirds majority hurdle in Upper House poll

The Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition scored a sweeping victory in the Upper House election Sunday that gave the Diet's pro-revision forces the two-thirds majority needed to initiate Japan's first constitutional referendum, final results showed Monday morning.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2016
Jul 6, 2016

A ruling bloc win in Sunday's poll puts Constitution in crosshairs

Keiko Hirai was surprised to see a letter addressed to her and her husband from the Self-Defense Forces, urging their 15-year-old son to enroll in a special high school run by the Ground Self-Defense Force after graduating from junior high.
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2016
Jul 6, 2016

Osaka Ishin struggling ahead of Sunday's Upper House poll

Just before the Upper House election campaign kicked off on June 22, Osaka Ishin no Kai leaders were plotting their schedules for the days leading up to Sunday's poll.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 2, 2016

On the campaign trail for the foreign right to vote

Permanent residents argue their tax contributions entitle them to a degree of representation at the ballot box. With the Upper House election just around the corner, we examine both sides of the debate.

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