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Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jun 27, 2014

Tiny shrew has jumbo relatives: DNA study

A new mammal discovered in the remote desert of western Africa resembles a long-nosed mouse in appearance but is more closely related genetically to elephants, a California scientist who helped identify the tiny creature said Thursday.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 27, 2014

'Reinterpreting' Article 9 endangers Japan's rule of law

The most serious problem with the recommendations of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's advisory panel on reinterpreting Article 9 of the Consititution is that they reflect a result-oriented analysis driven by national security imperatives rather than constitutional law principles.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 27, 2014

Doing more to ensure peace in Asia

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opines that a framework under which Asian governments publicly disclose their military budgets needs to be established if we are to build trust and avoid a regional arms race.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 26, 2014

Beer garden season begins with a hearty 'kanpai'

When the first Biergarten (beer gardens) started popping up in Germany's Bavarian region in the late 19th century, who would've thought that they would one day come to represent summer in Japan. Well, I guess it's not that unbelievable.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 25, 2014

Insects inspire butoh master Maro

"I think if you looked at Earth from space, you'd see that the ones who really hold the reins here are not humans, but insects," Akaji Maro, a master of the expressionist Japanese dance genre butoh, declared in a recent interview for The Japan Times.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 24, 2014

Tokyo lawmaker calls for change as Your Party asks for voice analysis

A Tokyo assemblywoman subjected to sexist taunts by male colleagues last week said Tuesday the capital's legislative body needs to be reformed so that the voices of women can be heard.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 24, 2014

Abe and Aquino pledge stronger security ties

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III pledged Tuesday to deepen security cooperation, at a time when their countries are facing growing military assertiveness from China.
JAPAN
Jun 23, 2014

Lawmaker apologizes for sexist jibe

A Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker apologized on Monday for shouting a sexist remark last week at a female colleague from Your Party during a plenary session of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 23, 2014

Rebooting China to a different growth model

China has no choice but to change its growth model by pursuing a balanced program of high-return investment, high-value government services and a higher level of household consumption.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jun 22, 2014

Basketball star Tokashiki ready to test ability at world championship

At the age of 23, Ramu Tokashiki is already a big presence in Japan's women's basketball scene. But she is also thirsty for tougher competition, which she can't really get at home.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Jun 21, 2014

Too much, too little: Water crises abound

After creeping slowly northward for weeks, the rainy season finally hit Tokyo earlier this month. And rain it has.
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2014

Nintendo loses Wii patents suit in U.K.

Royal Philips NV has won a U.K. court ruling in a global battle over patents for recognizing hand gestures and motion on Nintendo Co.'s Wii gaming devices.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jun 20, 2014

Confident LDP plays up victories as Diet session comes to a close

A confident Liberal Democratic Party trumpets its achievements as the 186th Diet session winds down as laying strong foundations for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's security and political goals.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 20, 2014

Tag pushed as an Olympic demo sport

If there is one thing Yasuo and Takao Hazaki feel confident about outdoing any other father-son duo in, it is their intense commitment to the ancient playground game of "onigokko," or team tag.
EDITORIALS
Jun 20, 2014

Meeting the 100 million goal

The Abe administration is poised to set a target of keeping the nation's population from falling below 100 million by 2060 in order to sustain economic growth and the social security system.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Jun 19, 2014

Abe's 'third arrow' misses the mark

Economists pan the revamped 'third arrow' of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's growth plan for lacking critical details on how he will achieve the jumble of bold reforms proposed.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Jun 19, 2014

Your ad in this space: Private companies fund cleanup of orbiting junk

Nobu Okada wants to save the planet from orbiting junk, which he says threatens to cut us off from the satellites we depend on and prevent us from traveling into space. But to help fund that, he needs to land a can of powdered sports drink on the moon.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jun 18, 2014

The Uemuras were not quite like mother, like son

Shoko Uemura (1902-2001) was born to Shoen Uemura, the most revered and financially successful female painter of the early modern period, who arguably did more to popularize the bijinga genre (pictures of beautiful women) than any other. Artistically, however, his mother is said to have taught him nothing.
EDITORIALS
Jun 17, 2014

Reforming Riken

The government-affiliated Riken research institute should heed the recommendations from an expert panel to undertake concrete reforms aimed at preventing the recurrence of a scandal that recently cast doubts on the credibility of scientific research in Japan.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 15, 2014

Developing nations reversing the brain drain

Something remarkable is happening in some developing countries. The brain drain has reversed its flow, and there is reason to be optimistic that the vicious cycle of migrating talent can be broken.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jun 14, 2014

One woman's mark on the nation's Constitution

In December 2012, 89-year-old Beate Sirota Gordon knew she was dying. The women's rights advocate and tireless promoter of cross-cultural exchange in the arts was ill at home in the New York borough of Manhattan. Yet, she pulled herself out of bed one morning, dressed formally and sat in a chair to await...

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