Search - 2014

 
 
WORLD
Dec 20, 2016

'Surreal' declared Merriam-Webster's 2016 word of the year

In a word, 2016 was "surreal."
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 19, 2016

U.S. may be losing East Asia to China

Emerging rifts between a number of East Asian states and the U.S. will likely grow worse with Donald Trump in power.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 19, 2016

Free-agent compensation choices usually risky bets

The Orix Buffaloes will hope taking right-handed pitcher Kazuyuki Kaneda from the Hanshin Tigers as compensation for the Tigers signing former Buffalos outfielder Yoshio Itoi in free agency ends up being a productive outcome for the loss of such a talented player, but history isn't really on their side....
Japan Times
JAPAN / JAPANESE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Dec 19, 2016

New program creates career path to international organizations

Takahiro Shinyo, vice president at Kwansei Gakuin University in Hyogo Prefecture, experienced an act of unexpected kindness in Germany when he was serving as Japan's ambassador to the country in 2011. It was a food charity event, organized by his fellow ambassadors of Southeast Asian countries to Germany,...
Japan Times
JAPAN / JAPANESE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Dec 19, 2016

Focus on future through U.N. activities

The sixth edition of the Sophia University United Nations Weeks event was held in the university's Yotsuya Campus in Tokyo from Oct. 17 to 28. Inaugurated in 2014, the event has been organized under the concept of "considering our future and the world through U.N. activities."
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 19, 2016

New law to fight bias against 'burakumin' seen falling short

Overshadowed by the 11th-hour furor over casino legalization and other legislation forced through the Diet by the ruling bloc last week was the enactment of a lesser-known law that has significant implications for Japan's minority burakumin.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 19, 2016

Leaders gather in Ashgabat to discus issue pivotal to prosperity

The issue of transport lies at the very heart of human prosperity, productivity and well-being.
CULTURE / Books
Dec 17, 2016

Love, obsession and perverted desires in Japan's age of steam

Japan began to open its doors to the West in the 1850s, after centuries of remaining closed. In the following decade, foreigners' "concessions" were established in port cities such as Yokohama and Kobe to cope with the new visitors. The Japanese, with their characteristic desire to extend guests every...
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2016

Recidivism among the elderly

The government needs to work harder at keeping elderly ex-convicts from becoming repeat offenders.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / FOCUS
Dec 17, 2016

Poverty turns Seoul seniors into subway couriers

Cho Yong-moon, 75, spends nine hours a day, five days a week using his free pass on the Seoul subway to shuttle parcels among clothing and jewelry stores.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2016

Abe-Putin summit ends with economic deals but no isle steps

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Friday to start talks on potential "joint economic activities" they could launch on the four disputed Russia-held islands off Hokkaido, saying it could be an important first step toward resolving their decades-long territorial...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 16, 2016

One of the first Syrians granted refugee status in Japan discusses the hardships of status limbo

For refugees, the first six months are the most difficult, according to one of the first people from Syria whose application was accepted by Japan.
EDITORIALS
Dec 16, 2016

A step forward for Japan-Russia ties

The summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin helped set the stage for future efforts to resolve the long-standing territorial row.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2016

Abe, Putin focus on peace treaty issues in first round of two-day talks in Yamaguchi

Despite ongoing pressure on Russia over its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday welcomed President Vladimir Putin — the first visit by a Russian leader in around 11 years — as he sought to make a breakthrough in a postwar territorial row that has left the countries...
EDITORIALS
Dec 15, 2016

Air base noise pollution problem

A Supreme Court decision is likely to set precedents against lower courts granting compensation for problems caused by the operation of military aircraft.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 15, 2016

Trump's top diplomat would carry Chinese baggage from Exxon days

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for top U.S. diplomat comes with Chinese geopolitical entanglements. In his favor is years of dealing with some of the country's biggest oil companies.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 15, 2016

On heels of Trump affront, GM, Ford shares slide as China warns it may fine monopolistic U.S. carmaker

Shares of U.S. automakers General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co skidded on Wednesday after a Chinese official warned the government could slap a penalty on an unnamed U.S. automaker for monopolistic behavior.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 14, 2016

Real Madrid focused on winning Club World Cup crown

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane believes four-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is capable of adding more awards to his bulging trophy cabinet and will prove it this week in Japan at the Club World Cup.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 14, 2016

Tokyo arcade looks to VR to highlight high-end tech, boost business

A Tokyo arcade operator unveiled a new virtual reality facility on Wednesday, aiming to showcase high-end virtual reality in a casual setting and boost shrinking industry profits.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 14, 2016

A new Russia policy needs Exxon CEO's skills

The moral satisfaction of not encouraging a dictator may be important, but the Obama administration's policy ended up enabling Putin's most reprehensible gambles and consolidated Putin's domestic support.

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