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JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 18, 2016

Photo of Helen Keller's 1937 visit to Gifu school discovered

A photo taken during a visit by Helen Keller, a noted humanitarian who overcame being deaf and blind, to Gifu Prefectural School for the Blind in 1937 has been discovered at a late student's house and was donated to the school.
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Jan 17, 2016

Foreign tourism emerges as bright spot amid Japan's dim economic prospects

With few positive signs of recovery for Japan's slumping economy, foreign tourism remains a sole ray of hope, and tourism authorities, local governments, industry players as well as retailers are eagerly awaiting another possibly record-breaking surge in Chinese tourists during next month's Chinese New...
Japan Times
JAPAN / FUKUSHIMA FILE
Jan 17, 2016

Fukushima town hopes to translate kanji and sake into tourism cash

Residents of Kitakata, a northwestern Fukushima Prefecture city known for promoting antiquated Japanese kanji, are stepping up efforts to attract more tourists by linking the pictographs to sake breweries in the area.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jan 16, 2016

Asia is imperiled by COP21's climate cop-out

The nations of the world gathered at the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) last month to come to an agreement on the urgent mission of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, all they produced was an attractive vision statement that is more sham than solution.
Japan Times
CULTURE / CULTURE SMASH
Jan 16, 2016

Online streaming keeps anime afloat

Last week in California, I caught up with some of the chief purveyors of Japanese popular culture in the United States and elsewhere in the world. It became rapidly clear that 2016 won't be at all like 2015 — or any other year before it.
CULTURE / Books
Jan 16, 2016

Up From The Sea

March 11 this year will mark the fifth anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Thus far, English-language literature has been slow to tackle the disaster. "Up From the Sea" by Tokyo-based Californian writer Leza Lowitz is, therefore, a welcome arrival.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jan 15, 2016

China's richest man eyes global film empire with purchase of Hollywood blockbuster studio

Flanked by models in white sequin dresses amid booming music and dazzling lights, China's richest man savored his latest entertainment triumph this week: the announcement of a $3.5 billion deal to take over a Hollywood blockbuster movie studio.
EDITORIALS
Jan 15, 2016

A call for civility and honest debate

In his final State of the Union address, President Barack Obama attempts to deflate the bubble of anger and fear animating U.S. politics, but it's probably a hopeless task.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Jan 15, 2016

Sake workshops in Tokyo spotlight Japan's lesser known regional breweries

On a recent chilly evening, I found myself in the heart of Tokyo's touristy Asakusa district for the first time in many years. I came to visit Kurand Sake Market, a popular standing bar that specializes in the offerings of local brewers, where Chris Hughes, a U.K. sake expert who is helping Kurand reach...
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 14, 2016

Global mercury emissions down 30% as less coal is burned

Global emissions of mercury from man-made sources fell 30 percent from 1990 to 2010, in part from decreasing use of coal, the U.S. Geological Survey reported Wednesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2016

Masuzoe favors leisure use for Tsukiji site, says public participation crucial in Olympics preparations

After Olympic host Rio de Janeiro wraps up events this year, attention will turn to Tokyo, and Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe seems ready for it.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 14, 2016

Dead fish float in to Rio bay, prompting renewed Summer Games venue water checks

Thousands of dead fish washed up on the shores of Rio's Guanabara Bay on Wednesday, not far from where events are being held at this year's Olympic Games, environmental officials said.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 13, 2016

Abe's global contradictions

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe talks big about Japan playing a greater role on the global stage, but the reality has been disappointing.
MORE SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Jan 12, 2016

It's a whole new ballgame for old-school coaches in today's NFL

"He treated us all equal — like
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 11, 2016

'Be strong and keep believing,' says the Trivago girl with the gift of the gab

Many foreign celebrities here speak Japanese to a high level, yet when it comes to pronunciation and intonation, few sound as accomplished as Natalie Emmons.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 11, 2016

Time for the world to face up to climate reality

Technological progress makes it possible to build a low-carbon economy; but strong public policies are necessary to ensure implementation.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2016

The hidden goods of 2015

If we were to judge the state of the world by the news headlines, 2015 was the year of Islamist terror, especially in Paris. But there were two major positive developments as well.
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2016

Irked by loud attire, Kitakyushu urges young adults to dress right on Coming-of-Age Day

With Coming-of-Age Day taking place Monday, the city of Kitakyushu has an important message for the attendees: Dress fittingly.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 8, 2016

Drought hits global cereals output, study finds

Droughts and extreme heat have cut national cereal production by 9 to 10 percent on average around the world in the last half-century, and the impact has worsened since the mid-1980s, researchers said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 8, 2016

Continued NYSE plunge puts Dow on course for worst start in century as China, yuan keep diving

Shares on major exchanges fell for a sixth consecutive day on Thursday and crude prices touched multi-year lows as investors fretted over the state of the Chinese economy and its ability to stabilize its stock market.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 7, 2016

Can the Dubai model inspire other Arab states?

The United Arab Emirates offer a path ahead based on globalization and compromise, which the region badly needs.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jan 7, 2016

German cops seek three in New Year's attacks on women but counsel against 'blanket suspicion' of refugees

German police have identified three suspects in connection with attacks on women at New Year's celebrations in the city of Cologne but have not yet made any arrests, the interior minister of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) said on Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 6, 2016

Spielberg captures Cold War fears in 'Bridge of Spies'

Mankind owes much to Steven Spielberg. Without him, many of us would never have known the existence of Oskar Schindler ("Schindler's List"), become aware of the events behind the Munich Olympics in 1972 ("Munich"), seen the U.S. slave trade depicted in a major Hollywood production ("Amistad") or learned...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jan 5, 2016

South China Sea tensions surge as China lands plane on artificial island

China's first landing of a plane on one of its new island runways in the South China Sea shows Beijing's facilities in the disputed region are being completed on schedule and military flights will inevitably follow, foreign officials and analysts said.

Longform

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