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Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 2, 2016

Japan's picture ID before World War II

Last year, the number of tourists coming into Japan outnumbered those going out for the first time in 45 years. In absolute terms, it may be the first time that tourism has properly taken off for this country, despite numerous attempts by various ministries and semi-official agencies over the years to...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2016

Taiwan's balancer-in-chief

Tsai's election demonstrates that, while many Taiwanese want good relations with China, they are opposed to Beijing's 'One China' policy.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 1, 2016

BOJ memo to Abe: your move

Negative rates should spur Prime Minister Abe to be bolder in the fight against slow growth and deflation.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 1, 2016

'China shock' for U.S. workers was avoidable

What policy steps could the U.S. and other industrialized countries have taken to blunt the worst effects of free trade with China?
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Feb 1, 2016

U.S. risks credibility gap by swatting China with international treaty it has never ratified

In the wake of Washington's second "freedom of navigation" operation near Beijing's man-made islets in the South China Sea, an often overlooked fact remains: The set of laws governing global maritime behavior that the U.S. has been touting has never been ratified by the Senate.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 31, 2016

Suu Kyi's NLD allies set to form ruling party after decades of struggle in Myanmar

After decades of struggle, hundreds of lawmakers from Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) are set to form Myanmar's ruling party on Monday, with enough seats in parliament to choose the first democratically elected government since the military took power in 1962.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 30, 2016

Republican debate has second-lowest rating, but beats Trump rally

The Fox News debate without front-runner Donald Trump attracted the second-smallest audience of the seven such televised encounters among Republicans so far this election cycle, according to early ratings figures released on Friday.
EDITORIALS
Jan 29, 2016

Amari still has much to answer for

Even though he has stepped down as economic and fiscal policy minister, Akira Amari still owes an explanation of his acts to a public weary of the repeated money scandals involving key members of the Abe administration.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 29, 2016

Japan at risk if West unable to confront growing geopolitical threats, says analyst

The world can expect more geopolitical conflicts that will also impact Japan if Western powers fail to tackle global issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis and the rise of terrorism, according to leading political risk analyst Ian Bremmer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / AEC SPECIAL
Jan 29, 2016

Sophia exchange program offers expanded horizons

Eighteen students, including those from Southeast Asia, Japan and other parts of the world, were divided into four groups to hold intense discussions in English about various global sustainability issues. They were creating a rough draft of a poster they would use for next week's presentation.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 28, 2016

Lackluster polls, maneuvering by LDP may give DPJ a drubbing in July election

The Democratic Party of Japan is in the throes of an identity crisis, a fact not lost on delegates meeting for the party's annual convention Saturday in Tokyo.
EDITORIALS
Jan 27, 2016

Troubling TV confessions in China

China's recent televised confessions are a troubling indication of how far the government will go to silence any opposition.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 27, 2016

Abe weathers minister graft claim as Amari readies defense

Support for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has so far withstood graft allegations against the chief engineer of his Abenomics policies. His ability to ride out the storm before summer elections may hinge on how convincing an explanation Economy Minister Akira Amari offers this week.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2016

Cruz-hating Republicans need a reality check

The Republican Party would be better of with Ted Cruz as their candidate in the 2016 presidential election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2016

Will Obama's immigration overreach be policed?

The Supreme Court justices take up the president's immigration policy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016

'Illiberal democracies' trod a dangerous path

Instead of describing Europe's new authoritarian leaders as 'illiberal' we should be calling them what they really are: 'undemocratic.'
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 25, 2016

Stop blaming China for the Nikkei's gloom

Shinzo Abe is the architect of Japan's bear market as he's squandered a rare opportunity for bold reforms.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 25, 2016

Japan without ambition

The parochialism of Japan's ruling caste blinds it from seeing how the rest of the world is adapting. Therefore, unless a great leader shows up, Japan will require a massive shock to awake from its slumber.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016

The people of Taiwan have spoken clearly

Japan, the U.S. and other democracies should support President-elect Tsai Ing-wen in her endeavor to maintain pragmatic relations with China while advancing Taiwan's thriving democracy.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jan 25, 2016

Space development program a blackhole for public funds

Japan has poured huge sums of money into its space exploration effort, but with very little to show for it.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 25, 2016

Darling of Davos, Lagarde already has second IMF term sewn up

The darling of the Davos political and financial elite, Christian Lagarde has a second term at the helm of the International Monetary Fund sewn up just days after nominations opened, despite facing possible trial in France.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 25, 2016

With U.S. divided, China struggling, government and business leaders fret about power vacuum

A polarized U.S. presidential race; question marks over China's economic management; and a once-dominant German chancellor suddenly under threat.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 23, 2016

Hiroko Kuniya's ouster deals another blow to quality journalism in Japan

Hiroko Kuniya, the widely respected anchor for NHK's stellar "Close-up Gendai" news analysis program, has been ousted from her position after 23 years with the show. She now joins a growing list of prominent news presenters and commentators who have discovered the apparent perils of not kowtowing to...
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2016

The bigger Asia builds, the harder it falls?

Could the opening of the world's second-largest building in the heart of Shanghai portend a financial crash?
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 21, 2016

History repeats itself as U.K.'s Cameron risks party schism over EU vote

Hoping to hold together a party with a small majority in parliament and facing resignations, the British prime minister takes the unusual step of letting members of his Cabinet oppose the government ahead of a referendum on Europe.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2016

Where to find China's latest crop of shoppers

China's vast number of rural consumers are starting to make themselves felt in the realm of e-commerce.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2016

The bill for China's flawed ascent is coming due

The Chinese government's contract with its 1.4 billion subjects is that it will deliver prosperity and they will be obedient. But how much longer can this deal continue?

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