Search - 2012

 
 
WORLD / Society
Jul 16, 2015

U.N. human rights experts say China must end crackdown on lawyers

U.N. human rights investigators demanded an end to a Chinese crackdown on lawyers on Thursday after more than 100 people were detained, intimidated or went missing over the past week.
JAPAN
Jul 16, 2015

Government considering changing Olympic stadium construction plan in face of huge cost

The government is considering modifying the construction plan for the new National Stadium, exploring ways to curb the unexpectedly high construction costs of ¥252 billion, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Thursday.
Reader Mail
Jul 16, 2015

Help Greece by giving them the Olympics, permanently

How about this partial solution for the Greek crisis and for economies worldwide: Give the Olympics back to Greece. Greece started the Olympics, let's give it back to them and save billions of yen in the process.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 16, 2015

Philippines to station warplanes, frigates at former U.S. Subic base facing disputed sea

The Philippines will station new fighter jets and two frigates at the former U.S. naval facility in Subic Bay from early next year, officials said, the first time the massive installation has functioned as a military base in 23 years.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 15, 2015

Iranian Kurdish film 'Rhino Season' is a poetic tale of lust and loss

Unlike Iranian film giants Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Iranian-Kurdish filmmaker Bahman Ghobadi is little known outside Iran and the European film-festival circuit. But that's a huge loss to the movie world, as every single one of his works are unforgettable animals, leaving permanent claw...
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 15, 2015

Amid angry scenes, ruling parties force security bills through Lower House committee

A special Diet committee has sign off on legislation that would expand the scope of Self-Defense Forces' missions overseas, setting the stage for a vote in the Lower House.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jul 15, 2015

China-backed bid to take over tech firm Micron faces tough U.S. security scrutiny

A China-backed bid for chipmaker Micron Technology Inc. would encounter close scrutiny by American national security officials worried about Chinese control of U.S. technology firms.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Jul 14, 2015

Nuclear deal seen boosting Iran's economy, not regional aggression

An expected influx of cash from an easing of sanctions after a nuclear deal between Iran and major powers looks likely to be directed mainly at reviving a moribund economy rather than increasing Iranian assertiveness.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 14, 2015

Debate over security bills masks clash of views on pacifist Constitution

Is Japan's Constitution a symbol of peace and respect for universal values or a reminder of humiliating defeat?
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jul 14, 2015

Infamous shareholder activist Murakami returns to fray in league with daughter

Yoshiaki Murakami, Japan's most famous activist shareholder before he was convicted of insider trading in 2007, is once again pressing the nation's companies and this time it's a family act.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Jul 14, 2015

Detained Chinese lawyer 'blabbered' about rule of law, human rights

China's state media last month accused Wang Yu, the country's most prominent female human rights lawyer, of "blabbering about the rule of law and human rights."
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 13, 2015

The line between the state and the public broadcaster

The editorial independence of public broadcasters is vital to the health of democracies.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 13, 2015

Only legalization can win the war on drugs

More people are dying as a consequence of the bloody war on drugs than by the consumption of illegal substances.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Jul 13, 2015

Major players are bringing voice assistant tech to the fore

In sci-fi movies, it's common to see a character having spontaneous conversations with robots and humanoids, like C-3PO of "Star Wars" fame.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 13, 2015

DPJ's Okada says Abe on slippery slope with push to enact security legislation

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be taking a big risk if he pushes through a dramatic change in security policy despite objections from most citizens, who want a better explanation for why the change is needed, a top opposition figure has said.
EDITORIALS
Jul 11, 2015

More female soccer players needed

The nation can take pride in the accomplishments of Nadeshiko Japan, but efforts are needed to ensure future players can rise to the same success.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 11, 2015

U.S. personnel agency chief resigns over massive data breach

The chief of the U.S. federal hiring office resigned on Friday after massive computer hacks at the agency that put the personal data of more than 22 million Americans at risk, including people seeking sensitive security clearances.
EDITORIALS
Jul 10, 2015

Alarm bells in China

China's plunging stock markets place the credibility and legitimacy of the Communist Party at risk.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / A TASTE OF HOME
Jul 10, 2015

Britain's food revolution hits Tokyo

"It is a truth universally acknowledged that, generally speaking, English meals are bad." So begins Nozomu Hayashi's best-selling 1991 treatise on British food, "Igirisu wa Oishi" ("England is Delicious").
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / EMBASSY PRESENTS ECO-FRIENDLY LIFESTYLE
Jul 10, 2015

Bangladesh promotes benefits of jute products

Jute is receiving renewed attention as a versatile and eco-friendly material. As a major jute producer, Bangladesh shared some of its expertise with the commodity at a recent seminar in Tokyo.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 9, 2015

Greeks, Germans and these so-called deadlines

Some of what has gone wrong with the tedious bailout talks between Greece and its northern European creditors can probably be attributed to cultural differences.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji