Search - 2016

 
 
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Oct 4, 2016

Reconnecting Japan's ancient cultural hub

"When I visited Todaiji Temple in Nara, just after I arrived as a Chinese student in Japan about 30 years ago, I felt somehow nostalgic as it had an atmosphere of old China," says Cai Guo-Qiang, as he explains his work for Culture City of East Asia 2016, Nara, a cultural project that launched in March....
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 15, 2016

In America, print books are down but far from out

Book reading, while not exactly booming, seems to be holding its own against the onslaught of new digital technologies.
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 5, 2016

U.S. economy sends mixed signals

The most reliable economic indicators are not enlightening, because they're telling opposite stories.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 2, 2016

Food security fears resurface in Asian as nations face rice shortage due to drought

Nearly a decade after a spike in global food prices sent shock waves around the world, Asia's top rice producers are suffering from a blistering drought that threatens to cut output and boost prices of a staple for half the world's population.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 3, 2016

A dangerous year for China

China probably won't crash in 2016, but the odds of big financial troubles are higher than they've been in well over a decade.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Oct 31, 2015

Tsukiji countdown: clock ticking on famed fish market

With a year to go until the wholesale fish market in Tokyo's Chuo Ward closes its doors for good, operators in the market prepare to say their last goodbyes to the landmark attraction.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 9, 2015

Next U.N. secretary general

With Ban Ki-moon's second term as U.N. secretary general ending Dec. 31, 2016, there are said to be at least three candidates to replace the South Korean. And former Prime Ministers Helen Clark of New Zealand and Kevin Rudd of Australia are believed to be interested in the world's top diplomatic post.
WORLD / Politics
Jan 25, 2015

Potential Republican presidential candidates compete for support in Iowa

For Republicans, the long road to the 2016 presidential election began in earnest on Saturday in Iowa when a group of potential candidates jockeyed for support among conservatives in the state that will hold the country's first nominating contest.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 21, 2015

Obama's State of the Union speech shows populism has gone mainstream in U.S. politics

President Barack Obama reached into his party's progressive past to deliver a robust endorsement of higher taxes for the wealthy, government intervention in the economy and an array of new benefits for lower- and middle-income Americans.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 6, 2014

Victorious Republicans face familiar dilemma: fight or cut deals

Victorious Republicans appeared at odds on Wednesday over how to capitalize on their new control of the U.S. Congress. Some lawmakers were eager to use their new muscle to step up attacks on President Barack Obama, while others talked hopefully of compromises that could lead to rare bipartisan legislation....
EDITORIALS
Mar 18, 2014

Overhaul the electoral systems

Diet members need to set their sights on overhauling the electoral systems for both houses before the next national election and explore what kinds of systems would better suit the different roles of each chamber.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 17, 2014

Games organizing committee clock is ticking

With the organizing committee for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics up and running, preparations for the mega-project have commenced. The main hurdles it faces are how to amass the vast sums of money needed to stage the games and the personnel needed to run them. There is also the task of maintaining...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 6, 2014

Nanbu takes control of men's national volleyball team

A day after the stunning news of Gary Sato's dismissal, the Japan Volleyball Association announced Thursday that Masashi Nanbu would replace the American as the men's national team head coach.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 6, 2013

For divided GOP, election proves no end to debate

Tuesday's elections, which produced a resounding Republican victory in New Jersey and a dispiriting loss for the GOP in Virginia, highlighted the challenges ahead for a badly divided party — and will probably intensify an internal debate about how to win back the White House in 2016.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 22, 2013

Cruz emerges emboldened from GOP debacle

The political consensus among many U.S. Republicans is that tea party members in the House have done grievous harm to their brand. But that's not how grassroot activists see it.
EDITORIALS
Oct 5, 2012

Environment tax in effect

The environment tax was introduced from Oct. 1. Although the introduction came very late, it is hoped that the new tax will help change the mind-set and behavior of enterprises and consumers so that they can contribute to mitigating global warming through reduction of carbon dioxide emissions, which...
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Jul 11, 2012

Mizuno confident Tokyo has what it takes to host 2020 Olympic Games

Persuasion is a powerful tool, especially when the stakes are high.
JAPAN
Oct 4, 2009

Lack of vision, flair sank bid: experts

As Tokyo lost the race to host the 2016 Olympic Games to Rio de Janeiro early Saturday, experts, while praising the bid's promises of secure funding and safety, criticized it as lacking vision and panache.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 7, 2008

Tadao Ando: Icon and iconoclast

One of the first houses built by Japan's most famous architect, Tadao Ando, is centered around an open atrium. That sounds nice until you realize that the atrium forms the only "corridor" between each of the rooms. Fancy a hot cup of tea before bed on a rainy winter's night? You'll need an umbrella and...
MORE SPORTS
Oct 20, 2006

Rogge: Baseball still has work to do before Olympic return

IOC President Jacques Rogge said Thursday the Olympics has not closed the door on baseball for good, but that the major leagues need to take an even tougher stance on doping and make their star players available for selection if the sport has any chance of being welcomed back to the fold.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 30, 2023

Erdogan's re-election dashes hopes for Turkish leader's jailed opponents

Secular challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu had pledged to release the high-profile opposition figures as part of an inclusive campaign message seeking to heal the wounds in Turkish society.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 6, 2023

Trump’s charges bring doubts, hopes and uncertainty in both parties

To some Republicans and Democrats, the charges appeared flimsy and less consequential than many had hoped. To others, the case had the potential to reverberate politically.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 5, 2023

Trump charged with 34 felonies in hush-money case

Trump was indicted last week on charges connected to a hush money payment to a porn star — becoming the first former American president to face criminal charges.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 20, 2023

Inside the payoff to a porn star that could lead to Trump’s indictment

Manhattan prosecutors investigating a payout to Stormy Daniels may be poised to make Donald Trump the first former president ever to be criminally indicted.

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