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COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 29, 2014

Abe seeks mandate for floundering 'Abenomics'

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's call for snap elections, implausibly pitched as a referendum on "Abenomics," is a waste of time and money, and a stunning 63 percent of the public remains unconvinced there is any good reason to hold it.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 29, 2014

SDF admiral urges prompt action on crisis management pact with China

Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, has urged the early start of a "crisis management" mechanism with China amid conflicting claims with Japan over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands off Taiwan.
Figure Skating
Nov 28, 2014

Hanyu struggles in short program at NHK Trophy

Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu returned to competition for the first time since his collision with China's Yan Han three weeks ago and fell twice in his short program at the NHK Trophy on Friday night to end up in fifth place.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 28, 2014

Voting disparity to help LDP stay in charge amid Supreme Court inaction

In Japanese elections, it can take five city dwellers to match the voting power of a single farmer.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Nov 28, 2014

North Korean 'princess' moves closer to center of power

In her slim-fitting pantsuits and black-heeled shoes, Kim Yo Jong cuts a contrasting figure to her pudgy older brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 28, 2014

Yokohama big man Marshall sidelined with knee injury

With 10 losses in their past 11 games, the Yokohama B-Corsairs have been searching for any glimmer of hope, any good news.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: ARCHITECTURE
Nov 28, 2014

Hadid remains at the center of controversy

Exhibitions can have consequences, often unintended.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 28, 2014

Missing out on an Iran deal

Negotiators may have let slip the most opportune moment for ending the standoff on Iran's nuclear program.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 28, 2014

The Federal Reserve's culture war

The U.S. Federal Reserve wants to crack down on rogue individuals to reduce illegal conduct in the banking industry.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 28, 2014

China overtakes Japan as world's second-biggest stock market

China surpassed Japan as the world's second-largest stock market for the first time in three years amid growing investor confidence that policymakers in Beijing will revive the economy with monetary stimulus.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2014

Japan Communist Party chief outlines election planks, calls 'Abenomics' a failure

Japanese Communist Party Chairman Kazuo Shii pledged Thursday to scrap the second stage of the consumption tax hike as he outlined the party's platform ahead of the campaign for the Dec. 14 Lower House election.
BUSINESS / Markets
Nov 27, 2014

GPIF must add stocks to complement 'Abenomics' boost, research head says

The massive Government Pension Investment Fund must be ready to buy more stocks should Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policies succeed in reviving the economy, according to its head of research.
MORE SPORTS
Nov 27, 2014

Coe plans to run for IAAF presidency

Sebastian Coe confirmed on Thursday he plans to run for the position of president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Nov 27, 2014

Censorship distortion of 'comfort women'

When Toho Studios wanted to turn 'The Life of an Alluring Woman' into a film, U.S. censors stepped in multiple times to demand script revisions.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 27, 2014

Vote-value disparity ensures rural few maintain clout over urban masses

In the nation's elections, it can take five city dwellers to match the voting power of a single farmer.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2014

Romney tops Republican poll for '16, seen having edge on Clinton

Mitt Romney, the Republican Party's unsuccessful presidential nominee in 2012, leads the field for the 2016 election among Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 27, 2014

U.S. consumer, business spending data point to slowing growth

U.S. consumer spending rose modestly in October and a key measure of business spending plans on equipment fell for a second straight month, suggesting some slowing in the pace of economic growth.
WORLD
Nov 27, 2014

Switzerland's wealthy expats braced for vote on tax break

Many of Switzerland's foreign millionaires will be watching nervously on Sunday as voters decide whether to scrap one of the country's biggest tax perks for expatriates.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 26, 2014

Takata air-bag rupture in Japan signals more automaker recalls

The transport ministry said Wednesday a Takata Corp. air bag ruptured in a model not covered by existing recalls, suggesting automakers may have to expand safety campaigns to replace the devices linked to five deaths.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Nov 26, 2014

Would-be NTV announcer's fate hangs on issues of morality and fraud

How will Japan's odd mutation of the traditional job of news announcer impact the Tokyo court's decision on the fate of Rina Sasazaki?
JAPAN
Nov 26, 2014

Kepco wants to extend lifespan of 40-year-old Takahama reactors to 60 years

The utility said it hopes to apply for a 20-year extension for two aging reactors at the Takahama power plant, and it has begun conducting inspections toward that end.
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Nov 26, 2014

Vital Gamba win over Urawa breathes new life into title race

Gamba Osaka manager Kenta Hasegawa said he wanted to make the J. League title race interesting in Saturday's game against Urawa Reds, and after watching his team blow the field wide open with a 2-0 win over the league leaders, his wish was certainly granted.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 26, 2014

Japan is running out of economic options

The upcoming election vote could well leave Shinzo Abe with a smaller mandate for change than he won in 2012. Whatever the margin, though, the prime minister needs to act faster to increase competitiveness.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 26, 2014

Life's the star in new 'Constellations'

As the third play in its series titled Drama for Two — The Power of Dialogue, the New National Theatre, Tokyo, is set to stage acclaimed English playwright Nick Payne's two-hander quantum love story "Constellations" for a three-week run from Dec. 3.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Nov 26, 2014

Sarajevo's fine MESS shines light from yet more darkness

This year is the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, and among commemorations worldwide, in Sarajevo, in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, there have been numerous events marking the June 28, 1914 assassination there of the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie — the...
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 26, 2014

In raid on al-Qaida hideout, Yemeni forces free eight hostages

Yemeni security forces freed eight hostages including six Yemenis, a Saudi and an Ethiopian, in a raid in which seven al-Qaida kidnappers were also killed, the country's supreme security committee said.

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