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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 23, 2019

'The Relative Worlds': A rough ride across two universes

The concept of parallel universes is a fascinating one. What if there was another you out there, making the big bucks, fighting in a war or writing bad poetry? And what would happen if you and your alternate self were ever to meet up?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Jan 23, 2019

Waxing philosophical in English class with 'Thinking Experiments'

If you've ever taught English at a Japanese school, you'll likely be familiar with a certain kind of silence — pervasive and tinged with teenage ennui. Authors Alexander Dutson and James Hill want to recommend breaking the ice with philosophy.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 23, 2019

As Taliban talks gather pace, Afghan women fear turning back of the clock

Eighteen years ago, at the height of the Taliban's power in Afghanistan, Roshan Mashal secretly taught her daughters to read and write alongside a dozen local girls who smuggled school books to her house in potato sacks.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jan 23, 2019

Rudy Giuliani compounds Trump's Russia woes with conflicting interviews

A lawyer's job is to make a client look innocent, if not to prove it — something President Donald Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has been struggling with in recent days.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 22, 2019

Despite Brexit, I'm still proud to be a Brit

Britain can take real pride that a messy, fraught, passionate struggle over a fundamental principle of democratic and civic life is taking place within it.
SUMO
Jan 22, 2019

Sumo 101: Keshō-mawashi

One of the first orders of business for a rikishi promoted to sumo's second-highest division (jūryō) is getting a keshō-mawashi (ceremonial apron-style belt).
JAPAN
Jan 22, 2019

Kei Komuro's family financial trouble resolved? Depends who you ask

Princess Mako's suitor — whose prospective engagement to her is currently up in the air over family financial trouble — claims the issue is resolved.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jan 22, 2019

Trump's Russian pop star pal Emin Agalarov scrubs U.S. tour over probes and fear of detention

Emin Agalarov, the Moscow pop star who arranged the now-infamous Trump Tower meeting in New York at the height of the 2016 election campaign, abruptly canceled his U.S. tour, citing the risk of being detained.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2019

How will AI change domestic politics?

Political stability and economic prosperity in the future seems likely to depend on who can control the anger and frustration of the critical mass of the unemployed.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2019

Beijing's global battle over human rights

China has turned human rights into an underrated, yet crucial battleground in the shaping of a new world order.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2019

U.S.-China trade talks making scant progress on make-or-break intellectual property problem

Ever since negotiators from the United States and China sat down in Beijing after a Christmas meltdown in global markets, Donald Trump has sought to calm investors and claim his trade talks are making great strides. But that glosses over a more uncomfortable reality.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 20, 2019

The U.S.-China rivalry and Japan

The uncertainty created by the Trump administration is encouraging many nations around to world to seek new friends and to hedge their bets, and Japan and China are no exceptions.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 20, 2019

Stop trying to create Japanese versions of overseas institutions

Japan lacks the human resources to create world-class educational institutions, research institutes and innovation ecosystems.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 19, 2019

Hitachi chief's remarks on nuclear industry spark debate

On Jan. 1, Hiroaki Nakanishi, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), held press interviews on the outlook of the business community and, at one point, the discussion turned to nuclear energy.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 19, 2019

Sumo 101: Championship portraits

One of the most striking features of Ryogoku Kokugikan is the ring of giant portraits hanging from the rafters.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 18, 2019

What the fall of Sears and GE teaches us about capitalism

We pay a high price for economic flexibility, but benefit enormously from the rising living standards it produces.
Reader Mail
Jan 18, 2019

Pursuit of cheap labor isn't helping

Regarding the Jan. 12 story "Rising labor costs biggest threat to Japanese firms in Asia," welcome to the 21st century. This is not a criticism aimed at any particular country, but against the corporate system of exploiting cheap labor in developing countries. That is just an extension of economic imperialism...
SUMO
Jan 17, 2019

Sumo 101: Retirement ceremonies

Now that Kisenosato has retired, one of the first orders of business for him will be arranging a retirement ceremony.
JAPAN
Jan 17, 2019

Osaka officials meet residents near G20 site to discuss traffic restrictions and other measures ahead of June meeting

Residents near the venue for the June 28-29 Group of 20 leaders' summit will face traffic restrictions immediately before and after the meeting, Osaka officials said Wednesday evening, but the exact measures are still being worked out.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY
Jan 17, 2019

#StandUpJapan and other hashtags allow for new voices to be heard

On the morning of Jan. 14, 20-year-old women decked out in brightly colored kimono scrambled to catch trains to take them to ceremonies across the country to mark Coming of Age Day.
Japan Times
SUMO
Jan 16, 2019

Despite injuries, Kisenosato embodied rikishi ideals

Kisenosato's retirement, while both inevitable and expected, casts a pall over the ongoing tournament.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 15, 2019

Trump's pick for attorney general to face questions on criticism of Russia probe

U.S. President Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr, will likely have to explain his past criticism of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe of Russian election meddling at his Senate confirmation hearing starting on Tuesday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 15, 2019

America's cold warriors hold the key to handling China

The West needs a plan for China like it had against the Soviet Union.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jan 15, 2019

Japanese Olympic Committee head Tsunekazu Takeda denies accusation of corruption linked to 2020 bid

Takeda's denial followed reports last week that French prosecutors have brought a preliminary charge against him for alleged corruption over bidding for the 2020 Games.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 14, 2019

Using 'kaneru' incorrectly is something we simply cannot do

The verb u304bu306du308b is slightly complicated. It translates as “being unable to” and is often attached to a verb (X) in its masu-stem form (the masu-form with u307eu3059 removed).
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 14, 2019

'Fork in the road': Top U.S. grocer says America's nervous about economic future

America's biggest supermarket chain is seeing signs that U.S. shoppers are getting nervous about the future.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’