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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 26, 2017

America's Russian-roulette presidency

There's no relief in sight for Donald Trump as investigators probe whether his compaign colluded with Russian efforts to tip the U.S. presidential election in his favor.
Reader Mail
Jun 23, 2017

Japanese government upholds freedom of press

The opinion pieces by Jeff Kingston in the June 11 edition and William Pesek in the June 14 paper presented their interpretation of the relations between Japan and special rapporteurs mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 14, 2017

Russia may have deployed forces in Egypt, deepening influence in Libya

Russia appears to have deployed special forces to an air base in western Egypt near the border with Libya in recent days, U.S., Egyptian and diplomatic sources say, a move that will add to U.S. concerns about Moscow's deepening role in Libya.
EDITORIALS
Mar 1, 2017

Doubling down on chaos in Seoul

South Korea needs to get hold of the chaos currently paralyzing its political world.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 16, 2017

Samsung boss faces arrest as Park corruption scandal grows

South Korea's special prosecutor's office said Monday it was seeking a warrant to arrest the head of Samsung Group, the country's largest conglomerate, accusing him of paying multimillion dollar bribes to a friend of embattled President Park Geun-hye.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 16, 2016

When to speak and when to shut up: the art of a Japanese 'benshi'

The silent films screened in Japan from the 1920s to '40s were never completely silent. Katsudo-shashin benshi, or benshi for short, delivered live narration that provided everything an audience might need to appreciate a film — from commentary to translation. Derived from Japan's many narrative art...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / David Bowie in Japan
Jan 14, 2016

Like some cat from Japan: A tribute to David Bowie

The late David Bowie's appreciation of Japan and its culture was strong. Following his recent death, The Japan Times asked five people who share that connection with the country, and who witnessed the decade-spanning trajectory of this starman, to recall what his sound and vision meant to them.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 2, 2016

House of cards: Can traditional New Year’s greetings survive in modern times?

On Jan. 1, legions of Japan Post Co. employees delivered millions of nengajō (New Year's cards) to homes nationwide.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 12, 2015

Ruling coalition clinches deal on food tax rate

The Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito finalized plans to apply a lower sales tax rate to food purchases, a measure that will cost u00a51 trillion in revenue.
JAPAN
Jul 21, 2015

Xenophobic wave of tips target 'illegal' Korean residents; immigration bureaus overwhelmed

An Internet rumor that hundreds of thousands of ethnic Korean residents are to be deported has seen immigration bureaus nationwide deluged with 'tips' from bounty seekers.
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jun 27, 2015

Releases that will make you re-think your gameplay

Here comes a devlish re-release
EDITORIALS
Mar 22, 2015

To reorganize Osaka or not

A plan to reorganize the city of Osaka into five special districts appears on its way to an unprecedented referendum in which the 2.15 million eligible voters of western Japan's largest city will decide the future of their local administration as well as the political fate of Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues
Feb 23, 2015

Badges of honor: What Japan's legal lapel pins really mean

I finally have a lapel badge. After almost two decades of working in Japan-related law jobs, this is a big deal.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Dec 26, 2014

Sony marks 20 years of the PlayStation with a stylish new console

Monster transformer
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 24, 2014

Mastering the art of incense takes longer than you think

If you find all this incense as intriguing as I did and are ready to sign up to become a master in the Way of Fragrance, then I suggest you start right away, if not 20 years ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Nov 1, 2014

New tech brings cinema to the deaf and blind

The lights dimmed inside the theater at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the audience quieted down. As Masayuki Suo's film "Maiko wa Lady (Lady Maiko)" began, the viewers were ready — with glasses-shaped head-mounted displays and earpieces designed to make cinema accessible to the deaf and...
JAPAN / Media / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Oct 4, 2014

Yakuza do what Abe Cabinet pick can't

In most countries, police officers and criminals are supposed to be on opposite sides of the law, especially the higher up the chain of command you go, but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe doesn't appear to think this is necessary.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 3, 2014

Sudden switchbacks mark Canberra's ties with Tokyo

The Japan-Australia relationship is an odd one. Both are fairly loveless in Asia, and Australia has this ability to switch suddenly from an anti-Japan to an anti-China attitude of suspicion.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jun 5, 2014

Celebrating kaiseki cuisine; world foods for the World Cup; original cocktails mark 20 years

Celebrating kaiseki cuisine The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo in Roppongi will hold a special kaiseki dinner titled "Sake Journey," at the Hinokizaka Japanese restaurant on the hotel's 45th floor, on June 27.
EDITORIALS
May 13, 2014

Get serious on interrogation reform

A Justice Ministry legislative proposal for dealing with criminal investigations and trials evades the duty of electronically recording all interrogations of criminal suspects while broadening the range of tools that investigators may use.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jan 30, 2014

Sarabeth's celebrates Valentine's Day, Delicious decadence in Ginza, Grand Pacific shares the love

Sarabeth's celebrates Valentine's Day
WORLD
Dec 22, 2013

U.S. secretly helps Colombia kill rebel leaders

The 50-year-old Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), once considered the best-funded insurgency in the world, is at its smallest and most vulnerable state in decades, due in part to a CIA covert action program that has helped Colombian forces kill at least two dozen rebel leaders, according...
EDITORIALS
Dec 12, 2013

Repeal the state secrets law

Repeal of the recently enacted state secrets law appears indispensable for ensuring that Japan remains an open society with democratic principles fully upheld.
EDITORIALS
Dec 2, 2013

The politics of secrets

Flip-flops in government explanations of the contentious bill for protecting state secrets — now under deliberation in the Upper House — suggest that the government itself does not have a clear idea of how it plans to prevent the arbitrary designation of information as a special secret.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Nov 17, 2013

Abe's 'third arrow' of structural reform being deflected by vested interests

So far, so good. This is exactly how the global community and the Japanese public felt about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's deflation-busting economic program dubbed "Abenomics" — until a few months ago.
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 29, 2013

Public 'fed up' with vested interests

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's reforms may be aided by excluding the agriculture, trade and welfare ministries from oversight of special economic zones, according to the head of a working group on the plans.

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