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JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Jan 24, 2016

Politics heating up over Hokuriku Shinkansen Line's undecided last leg

The opening last March of the Hokuriku Shinkansen Line extension to Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, brought the Hokuriku region closer to Nagano and Tokyo than ever before, and similar efforts are underway to connect the region with Kansai.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 24, 2016

Kerry to press China over North Korea, urge ASEAN unity over South China Sea

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry begins a visit to East Asia on Sunday in which he plans to press China to put more curbs on North Korea after its nuclear test and to urge Southeast Asia to show unity in response to China's claims in the South China Sea.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 22, 2016

Opposition leaves Diet floor in boycott of Amari speech

Opposition lawmakers mount a humiliating boycott of embattled economy minister Akira Amari's annual policy speech in the Diet.
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 Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 20, 2016

'The Walk' brings an infamous tightrope walker to life, in terrifying detail

If you could go back to one particular moment in history, what would it be? Someone (most likely the devil) must have asked Robert Zemeckis that question several times during his career and, in a way, many of his films could be described as different answers. In fact, the films Zemeckis is most well...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

Japan takes on global role under 'Vision for Tomorrow'

Vision for Tomorrow is a regional partner community project of the World Economic Forum in collaboration with consulting firm Accenture Japan Ltd. In short, the project aims to contribute to the world by Japan's experience together with today's advanced technology.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

2020 Olympics host to hold world forum on sport, culture

With a little over four years to go before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discussions in Japan are gearing up about what positive legacies will come from the international sports extravaganza, sports minister Hiroshi Hase said in an exclusive interview with The Japan Times in January.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 19, 2016

A wake-up call for Widodo

Indonesian President Joko Widodo must show the same leadership on the economy as he has in response to the Jakarta attacks.
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Jan 19, 2016

After signing of nuclear deal, Iran moves from being pariah state to regional power

Iran's release from sanctions testifies to its new relationship with the United States as it moves from pariah state to regional power, a status that could come at the cost of Saudi Arabia, Washington's chief Arab ally.
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.

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