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Japan Times
JAPAN
May 22, 2017

Olympic mascot contest to start in August with over ¥1 million in prize money

The contest to design the official mascot for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will kick off in August, and Japan's schoolchildren will pick the winner.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
May 22, 2017

Time to ditch the polar bears? Climate change looks for a new image

What does climate change look like? For many people, the first — or perhaps only — image that comes to mind is of smokestacks, or polar bears perched on ice floes.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHY DID YOU LEAVE JAPAN?
May 20, 2017

Shoemaker Hidetaka Fukaya models creations on feline elegance

A renowned craftsman in Florence is working hard to maintain his freedom of expression as a shoemaker.
JAPAN
May 19, 2017

Ex-residents set to visit two of disputed isles off Hokkaido in June

Former residents of the four Japan-claimed islands that were seized by Russia at the end of World War II may soon fly to two of them on June 18, as plans are now being finalized, according to multiple reports quoting government sources on Friday. That would mark the first time they have been allowed...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
May 16, 2017

Music schools to sue Japan's largest copyright collection group over plan to collect fees

The school operators said they would file a lawsuit with the Tokyo District Court as early as July, a representative told The Japan Times.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
May 16, 2017

On the Daoism of 'Dudeism'

As the phrase goes, "s—- happens." Walead Beshty explores different ways that it may happen, and in doing so, he gently suggests that we consider the implications. His solo show at Rat Hole Gallery exemplifies this. There are two series of works: a selection of framed sheets of large-format film that...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
May 16, 2017

Samsung looks beyond smartphones to next-generation biologics market

The Samsung brand is best known for its smartphones and wide-screen TVs. Yet behind the scenes the conglomerate is also making a name as a contract manufacturer of complex medicines to treat diseases like cancer.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 15, 2017

France and Great Britain: an unbeatable combination

That French prosperity is essential to Britain and British prosperity is essential for France is the reality that should shape all relations between the two nations in the months of negotiations and discussions ahead.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 15, 2017

Abe's dangerous 2020 vision

It is time to come into the open to consider the costs and benefits — psychological, diplomatic and financial — of revising Japan's Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 14, 2017

Can Japan, land of lifetime employment, handle the rise of freelancers?

For public relations specialist Mari Hirata, the perks that drew her into the world of freelancing were the flexible working hours and the opportunity to work for various companies.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 14, 2017

Ex-North Korean propaganda artist turns his skills to satire

For seven years North Korean artist Song Byeok painted propaganda posters glorifying the world's most secretive regime. Today, having defected to South Korea, he uses his talents to satirize his repressive homeland.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
May 13, 2017

Brut Wine Bar pop-up brings taste of Israel to Tokyo

On a cool afternoon in mid-April, Israeli chefs Yair Yosefi and Omer Ben-Gal, co-founders of Brut Wine Bar in Tel Aviv, examine a shipment of fresh silver-skinned sawara (Spanish mackerel) from Tottori Prefecture in a tiny kitchen on Cat Street — in the middle of Tokyo's bustling Harajuku neighborhood....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
May 13, 2017

'The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia': A look at Okinawa's distant past

On May 15, Japan will mark the 45th anniversary of the return of Okinawa. For 27 years prior, the U.S. administered the islands, a continuous period of occupation that began after the Battle of Okinawa in June 1945. This makes the new translation of Mamoru Akamine's 'The Ryukyu Kingdom: Cornerstone of East Asia' both welcome and timely.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 11, 2017

The road to revising the pacifist Constitution

Amending the pacifist Constitution might be in Japan's national interest, but Abe will require plenty of skill if he is to extract himself and the country from the political quagmire of constitutional revision.
Rugby
May 10, 2017

Japan drawn with Ireland, Scotland for 2019 Rugby World Cup

Host nation Japan was drawn to face Ireland, Scotland and two teams yet to qualify in the group stage of the 2019 Rugby World Cup at a lavish ceremony at Kyoto State Guest House on Wednesday.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 10, 2017

The firing line: Ouster of FBI's Comey tests new Justice appointee

The newly appointed second-in-command at the U.S. Justice Department faced a weighty task just two weeks after taking office — writing the rationale for firing FBI Director James Comey.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2017

The personality cult lives on

Despite the horrific legacies of the 20th century's ruthless and criminal despots, the cult of personality shows no signs of decline.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
May 9, 2017

Step aside, Siri: A new AI-powered assistant is in town, and she's kawaii

When Siri is asked whether she has a boyfriend, the iPhone's digital assistant is usually quick to deflect the question with a quip about drones always trying to pick her up.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
May 6, 2017

'Mouthfeel: How Texture Makes Taste': Exploring the science behind how food feels

Few people are likely to forget the first time they try shirako. The thought of eating cod sperm sacs may sound downright nauseating to the average Western diner, but those who pluck up the courage to try some are rewarded with an explosion of silkiness, more typical of a dessert than a savory dish....
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
May 6, 2017

'Press Freedom in Contemporary Japan': Persuasive and important but incomplete

May 3 marks the United Nations' World Press Freedom Day, an annual reminder of the necessity of unfettered media in the maintenance of healthy societies.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 4, 2017

Politics and pop: a perfect pairing

It's official: You can't escape politics in America. On a recent trip to Seattle, everyone I spoke to wanted to talk about President Donald Trump. Fittingly, the 2017 edition of the Museum of Pop Culture's Pop Conference, which I was invited to speak at, took on a political theme with "Sign O' The Times:...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 4, 2017

As it approaches 50, Iwanami Hall remains vital to cinema lovers

The Tokyo neighborhood of Jinbocho is a favorite of mine. Mostly known for bookshops, it is a bastion of quaintness amid a metropolis that can be downright oppressive at times.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 4, 2017

China's all-girl pop band crushes hopes of besotted female fans

Just a little under a year ago, Min Junqian was an unknown art student in China's eastern province of Shandong, dreaming of becoming a star and hitting the big time.

Longform

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