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COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 9, 2017

Japan's zero growth nightmare

It's the rare economic tale that involves suicides, robots and arms dealers. Welcome to Japan, where science fiction may begin to trump economic fact in ways the global audience has yet to realize.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 8, 2017

Japan's human rights issues fared better in 2016

Welcome back to JBC's annual countdown of the top issues as they affected Non-Japanese (NJ) residents of Japan. We had some brighter spots this year than in previous years, because Japan's government has been so embarrassed by hate speech toward Japan's minorities that they did something about it. Read...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 6, 2017

Chatty and funny, elite North Korean defector becomes media star in South

South Korea's newest celebrity took an unusual route to the nation's TV screens — years spent working his way up through the ranks of North Korea's diplomatic corps, followed by months secluded in the custody of the rival South's spy agency.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 4, 2017

'Wiener-Dog': Todd Solondz is always painfully funny

Trigger warning: I am about to discuss a Todd Solondz film.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Jan 3, 2017

Karl up to old tricks with new book

Many who know George Karl will tell you there's a good side, welcoming, generous, warm and funny, though George works very hard to hide it.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 2, 2017

Democrats: Stop the fear and loathing of 2017

Democrats need to stop wallowing in misery and start planning on how to take America back.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 2, 2017

Japanese is affecting the English lexicon in new ways

From 'emoji' to 'KonMari,' the English langauge is getting a pleasant dose of Japanese culture.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 31, 2016

Japan and the world enter a long night of 'post-truth'

In an essay titled "The Future of Mankind," British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) laid out three possibilities: "The end of human life," "a reversion to barbarism" or "unification of the world under a single government." He saw the third as the only alternative to either of the first two....
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 28, 2016

U.S. posts rules for addressing cyberbugs in medical devices

The U.S. government on Tuesday issued rules for addressing cybervulnerabilities in medical devices, providing manufacturers with guidelines for fixing security bugs in equipment, including pacemakers, insulin pumps and imaging systems.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 27, 2016

Modern Japanese men dogged by stoic salaryman stereotype

During the Showa Era (1926-1989), men were the mainstay of families, working for 40 or so years until retirement to better the lives of their wives and children. They were expected to be tough, stoic and competitive.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Dec 27, 2016

In China, George Michael had his own cultural revolution

It was strangely muted when George Michael, as part of the British pop duo Wham!, took the stage at the Workers Gymnasium in Beijing in April 1985, recalled one of those who attended that now legendary first Western pop act in Communist China.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 23, 2016

Trump's tweet on expanding U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal raises questions and fears

A call by President-elect Donald Trump for an expansion of the United States' nuclear capabilities has alarmed nonproliferation experts, who said a boost to the U.S. arsenal could fuel global tensions.
Reader Mail
Dec 22, 2016

A message of world peace at Christmas time

The article "Arlington cemetery offers a history beyond war" in the Nov. 27 edition reminded me of my visit to the grave of John F. Kennedy.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Dec 21, 2016

Quotes of 2016, from 'Die, Japan' to 'Trump shock'

Some of the good, bad and ugly of what various people said or shouted out loud in 2016.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 20, 2016

Face of the future: Iwano setting big goals

There is nothing in life like a moment of serendipity.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 17, 2016

Scientific discoveries inspire amid a turbulent 2016

A number of the notable science stories of the past year are, quite literally, out of this world.
CULTURE / Books
Dec 17, 2016

Love, obsession and perverted desires in Japan's age of steam

Japan began to open its doors to the West in the 1850s, after centuries of remaining closed. In the following decade, foreigners' "concessions" were established in port cities such as Yokohama and Kobe to cope with the new visitors. The Japanese, with their characteristic desire to extend guests every...
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 16, 2016

10% of dwarf planet Ceres is ice hiding under surface, NASA studies show

The dwarf planet Ceres, an enigmatic rocky body inhabiting the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, is rich with ice just beneath its dark surface, scientists said on Thursday in research that may shed light on the early history of the solar system.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 15, 2016

'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story' takes some cues from a galaxy not so far away

By the time you read this, the hype will have already begun. Dec. 16 marks the day "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" starts showing in cinemas around the world. Promotional campaigns began in Japan weeks ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 15, 2016

Proceeds from The Japan Times Readers' Fund go to four worthy causes

Every yen counts.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 14, 2016

'The Mole Song: Hong Kong Capriccio': Digging deep into the yakuza

Since his start as a director in 1991, Takashi Miike has accumulated nearly 100 credits, including his output for television broadcast and straight-to-video release. Far from being the faceless journeyman this number suggests, Miike is a genre auteur who has put his individual stamp on his films, with...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 13, 2016

When Rene Redzepi brought Noma to Japan

In April 2014, chef Rene Redzepi was riding the crest of a wave. Noma, his iconic Copenhagen restaurant, had just been voted back to No. 1 on the World 50 Best list, cementing its place as one of the top global dining destinations. And then, at the awards ceremony, he dropped a bombshell announcement....
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 13, 2016

Poverty: the dark side of the American empire

U.S. politicians must do more to help the 43 million Americans mired in poverty.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 12, 2016

Finn finds niche as Kyoto's first foreign jinrikisha driver

As the season for viewing autumn leaves comes to an end in Kyoto's Arashiyama district, a tall young blond rickshaw driver is drawing attention.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / PHOTO ESSAY
Dec 10, 2016

Arakawa River: In search of a bygone 'water city'

For much of its history Tokyo was known as city of water. Like Venice or Bangkok, canals were the arteries of commerce, and life was lived in close proximity to rivers and creeks. But that legacy was, for the most part, hidden under concrete in the rushed development leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 7, 2016

'The Old Capital': Stuck on the inside of tradition

Kyoto would seem to be the most international city in Japan, if the number of foreign tourists were the only criterion. More than a million visit the city annually, giving the 1.5 million locals, especially ones living and working in and near the major tourist sites, plenty of exposure to outlanders....
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 6, 2016

Tokyo court upholds deportation order for Thai teenager born and raised in Japan

A Thai teenager born and raised in Japan lost an appeal on Tuesday against a lower court ruling that upheld his deportation order, highlighting the country's deep reluctance to accept non-Japanese people, even as its population ages and shrinks.
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Dec 6, 2016

Ex-referee Vanak helped improve job with courage

John Vanak was a quiet revolutionary.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years