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CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Oct 16, 2015

Exterminators in rural Japan; a wealthy family at war; CM of the week: Panasonic

Few vital professionals are as unheralded as exterminators, and these fearless protectors of property get their due on "Nihon Zenkoku Kujo no Tatsujin VIII" ("All-Japan Expert Exterminators Part 8"; TV Tokyo, Sun., 7:54 p.m.)
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 29, 2015

A failed tech revolution continues to haunt Kiev

Ukraine has the human resources to create a world-class technology hub, but the government is ignoring the industry and doing little to stop a brain drain.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Sep 27, 2015

VW scandal exposes cozy ties between Germany's auto industry, government

Angela Merkel learned early in her political career that taking on the German car industry carries risks.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 21, 2015

Vilifying China a bad campaign tactic

The more heated the anti-China rhetoric is in the U.S. presidential campaign, the more likely Beijing is to respond in kind.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Sep 18, 2015

How Japan compares with America; real footage of kidnappings; CM of the week: Suntory

International travel shows are ratings winners on Japanese TV, even if they betray a provincial view of the world. "Sekai Itte Mitara: Honto wa Konna Toko Datta?" ("Try and See the World; Is It Really Like This?"; Fuji TV, Tues., 7 p.m.) is one of the most popular, but it's going off the air and the...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Sep 4, 2015

Female news announcers; evaluating trash and treasure; CM of the Week: Coca-Cola Japan

TV stations rely on announcers for more than just news reading. Female announcers, in particular, represent their stations and are often as well known as the celebrity talent they present. So once in a while the stations treat them like the celebrities they are.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Aug 24, 2015

At Koch group summit, a restrained enthusiasm for Trump

While thousands streamed into a football stadium Friday evening in Mobile, Alabama to see Donald Trump, a much smaller crowd of committed conservatives unwound at a bar and mused over the good, the bad and the unknown of the unlikely Republican presidential front-runner.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Aug 17, 2015

Let's discuss emoji in ads

In a world where promotional videos are ignored and online ad banners are blocked, advertisers have learned to speak emoji.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 10, 2015

Trump's risky bet against political correctness

For a U.S. candidate, political correctness — making sure no chance remark can be construed as racist, sexist, ageist, offensive to a religion, elitist or otherwise insensitive — can be a ball and chain.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Aug 9, 2015

New marker's magic is ink's conductivity, user's creativity

Tokyo-based venture AgIC Inc.'s silver magic marker looks like any other average marker. But in fact, it's far from ordinary.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Aug 2, 2015

Harper set to call Oct. 19 election as Canadian economy takes a beating

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was set to call a parliamentary election for Oct. 19 on Sunday, kicking off a marathon 11-week campaign likely to focus on a stubbornly sluggish economy and his decade in power.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jul 25, 2015

Housecleaner of the dead; ridiculous quizzes; CM of the Week: Family Mart

The housekeeper who cleans the homes of dead people, Aiko Tanizaki (Atsuko Takahata), returns in the special two-hour drama "Ihin Seirinin: Tanizaki Aiko 5" ("The Cleaning Lady of Things Left Behind: Aiko Tanizaki 5"; TBS, Mon., 9 p.m.).
WORLD / Politics
Jul 19, 2015

Yeah right! Sarcasm poses problem for computer algorithms in data-driven U.S. election

When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld same-sex weddings in the same week that South Carolina debated keeping a controversial Civil War battle flag, Twitter user @xTomatoez posted "Gay marriage and the Confederate flag going down everywhere. Tough week for your redneck uncle on Facebook."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 9, 2015

LDP, DPJ take to Internet to mount security bill-related campaigns of persuasion

As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe prepares to ram through legislation that would drastically alter Japan's security stance, both the LDP and DPJ are taking their arguments to the people — via a variety of online media.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 28, 2015

Rap gets a new delivery from a wave of female artists

Hip-hop is a major force on the American music charts, but its presence has been less prominent in Japan. Elements of the wider culture have found their way into teenage wardrobes and pop-video dance routines, but even Japanese rappers admit they have a hard time grabbing the attention of new fans.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jun 19, 2015

Noah takes inspiration from Hokkaido on 'Sivutie'

The way Ayuko Kurasaki, who creates music as Noah, describes her childhood home of Chitose in Hokkaido is so lovely that I'm surprised it isn't being used in tourism ads.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 11, 2015

Record industry warily embraces Apple Music

A decade ago, Apple Inc. helped revitalize a music industry hit hard by online piracy with its iTunes Store. Now, amid a steady slump in digital downloads, the industry is hopeful that the tech giant's new streaming service will give record companies another desperately needed boost.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jun 5, 2015

Analysis of a Japanese princess; the eternal struggle of the left-handed; CM of the Week: Uniqlo

Knowing about Japan's Imperial Family is considered very important, which is why the Broadcasting Ethics and Program Improvement Organization is recommending young people watch the two-hour special, "Nippon no Princess Monogatari" ("The Story of Japanese Princesses"; Fuji TV, Tues., 7 p.m.).
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 31, 2015

Sexism no barrier for Japanese exile building India subways

A daring civil engineer blocked from working in Japan is giving Indian women not only a role model, but safe transportation in the city known as the rape capital.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
May 31, 2015

Beijing gets tough anti-smoking laws

Beijing will ban smoking in restaurants, offices and on public transport from Monday, part of unprecedented new curbs — though how they will be enforced remains to be seen.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 30, 2015

More than 200 protesters stage provocative anti-Islam rally outside Phoenix mosque

More than 200 protesters, some armed, berated Islam and its Prophet Muhammad outside an Arizona mosque Friday in a provocative protest that was denounced by counterprotesters shouting "Go home, Nazis," weeks after an anti-Muslim event in Texas came under attack by two gunmen.
JAPAN
May 10, 2015

Japan Today says it will retain foreign perspective despite acquisition by conglomerate Fuji Media

Recently acquired Japan Today will stick to its motto of presenting news 'through the perspectives of foreigners,' the Fuji Media Holdings group says.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
May 4, 2015

Dating in Japan never used to be this difficult — or creepy

It's spring and love should be in the air. But it's a bad, bad time to be out there in the dating scene.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Apr 27, 2015

After dropping finance for social media, Wantedly CEO eyes IPO

With experience at Facebook Inc. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Akiko Naka's resume at 26 already read like that of a corporate veteran. Then she decided to add entrepreneur to the mix.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Apr 19, 2015

Historically, Japan is no stranger to blacks, nor to blackface

I am a black Japanese half. I was bullied because of my skin color in elementary school, so I have a strong complex about my skin color. If Japanese truly adored blacks, it wouldn't bother me. But do Momokuro really adore blacks? I think if you asked them if they wished they had been born black, they...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 17, 2015

In positive sign ahead of Abe visit, members of Congress offer bipartisan fast-track trade bill

Senior U.S. lawmakers reached agreement on Thursday on a bill to give the White House "fast track" authority to negotiate a trade pact with 11 other Pacific nations that is central to President Barack Obama's strategic shift toward Asia.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Apr 15, 2015

Vagina artist pleads not guilty to obscenity charge

Taking the stand on the first day of her trial, Megumi Igarashi said she is fighting the charge to challenge the widely held belief in Japanese society that female genitals are “shameful.”

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