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COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 25, 2016

Japan without ambition

The parochialism of Japan's ruling caste blinds it from seeing how the rest of the world is adapting. Therefore, unless a great leader shows up, Japan will require a massive shock to awake from its slumber.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 22, 2016

Let Japan's zombie firms die

If Japan wants to generate long-term growth, it needs to allow creative destruction. New companies can't grow when they are blocked by failing incumbents.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Jan 20, 2016

Hatoyama dreams of a Japan anchored within a united Asia

Former leader apologizes for his failures as PM and shares his views on Fukushima, Tokyo 2020 and his hopes for Okinawa, Japan and the wider region.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 30, 2015

China sends Japan a message via former navy frigate

Tensions are rising in the East China Sea after China deployed an armed, former navy frigate for the first time to challenge Japan's control of contested islands in what may be an attempt to shift Tokyo's attention away from disputes in the South China Sea.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 20, 2015

Gulf War trauma kicked off Japan's retreat from pacifism in '91

As the first Gulf War raged in February 1991, Ground Self-Defense Force Maj. Nozomu Yoshitomi was supposed to be conducting war games with U.S. officers at a military facility in Tokyo. But the Americans appeared distracted, watching the conflict live on CNN. On another TV, local news showed Japanese...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 18, 2015

Japan and the 'maritime pivot' to Southeast Asia

Japan's security focus remains rooted in its immediate region centered on the East China Sea, Sea of Japan, and the open seas of the Western Pacific.
BUSINESS
Dec 18, 2015

EU pushes Japan to reach FTA in 2016 or else face renewed skepticism

Japan should aim to reach a free-trade agreement with the European Union next year or risk undermining EU interest in a deal, the 28-nation bloc's chief negotiator warned.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 15, 2015

Japan and India get serious

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to India highlighted the two countries' growing economic and security ties.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 14, 2015

Japan's U.S. entanglement

Japan's overreliance on America at times causes its diplomacy to act in a way seemingly at odds with its own interests.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2015

Japan needs to seek out regional allies, view U.S. as 'second resort,' says head of think tank

Japan needs to stop relying on the U.S. for its defense and form a security alliance with other Asian nations if it is to become a respectable global leader in the decades to come, according to the founder and president of Washington-based think tank Economic Strategy Institute.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 8, 2015

Nikkei Bull run masks Japan's poverty bubble

The Bank of Japan's monetary easing has boosted stocks to levels not seen since 1996, but has also led to a surge in inequality.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 30, 2015

Japan's looming debt nightmare won't fix itself

Given that its long-term potential real GDP growth is no more than 1 percent, Japan needs to rein in its ballooning national debt through spending cuts or tax hikes.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 30, 2015

From 'samurai' to 'Hello Kitty,' search data show how the world's view of Japan has changed

Analytics data suggest Japan is better known abroad as the land of Hello Kitty than as a country full of swaggering samurai and mincing geisha.
BASEBALL
Nov 17, 2015

Japan shuts down Puerto Rico to make Premier 12 semifinals

Samurai Japan is returning home with no problem.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 6, 2015

Japan weighs course of action in disputed South China Sea

As tension mounts in the South China Sea over the U.S. military's recent patrol challenging China's territorial claims there, speculation has centered on what action Japan may take in the region.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 5, 2015

Japan Post's epochal IPO

Japan Post's $12 billion listing is a symbol of the bold change that needs to be embraced to rejuvenate Asia's second largest economy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 2, 2015

With massive IPO of Japan Post, the nation seeks to shake decades of torpor

As Japan prepares this week for the biggest initial public offering in the world since Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. in September 2014, the government hopes that the ¥1.5 trillion privatization of the postal service will help revive the country from its 20-year slump.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Oct 31, 2015

'Japan Lobby' takes the gloves off in PR battle

The Sankei Shimbun advocates a more aggressive diplomatic stance on history issues and this dovetails with the mission of Japan Conference, a reactionary organization that includes numerous lawmakers. From their perspective, Japan has been too reticent and polite on the world stage and the gloves need...
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 30, 2015

Trilateral East Asia summit will signal symbolic thaw with Japan: experts

When East Asia's top leaders finally convene in Seoul Sunday, expect little progress and lots of symbolism as China and South Korea make nice with Japan, experts say.
EDITORIALS
Oct 30, 2015

Japan Post's murky privatization

Despite the upcoming listing of the Japan Post group, a distressing number of questions about its full privatization remain unanswered.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 21, 2015

As U.S. eyes South China Sea patrols, will Japan play a role?

Some experts say Japan, with its newly empowered military, could play a larger role in Washington's activities near China's man-made islands is the South China Sea.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 20, 2015

Abe eroding Japan's soft power

Japan's considerable soft power is being undermined by political insensitivity, provocative policies and a reluctance or inability to explain and justify.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Oct 20, 2015

Japan Post's IPO might just shake up lagging regional lenders

The nation's regional banks need a little shaking up: There are far too many of them, profits from loans are shrinking, and their customers are disappearing. The enormous privatization of Japan Post, coming up next month, may just help spur them into action.
BUSINESS / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Oct 18, 2015

Much riding on giant Japan Post Group IPO

Three state-affiliated companies in the Japan Post Group are set to go public on the Tokyo Stock Exchange as the government seeks to raise ¥1.4 trillion.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 28, 2015

China's Japan-bashing: Is there any hope for goodwill?

As China regularly whips itself up into frenzy over Japan, it is easy to forget that the anti-Japanese sentiment is only a recent phenomenon.
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 19, 2015

Japan's defense shift is hailed, but weaknesses will remain: experts

Passage of security bills satisfies the U.S. desire for Japan to be more of a regional military player, will strengthen defense cooperation with other countries.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Sep 14, 2015

Japan Post IPO could provide much-needed jolt

The Japan Post initial public offering could be just what the doctor ordered to enliven the country's stagnant banking sector.

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