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COMMENTARY / World
Dec 15, 2014

The real history of Putin's Crimean 'Jerusalem'

In his state-of-the-nation speech early this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin put forward an astonishing and 'spiritual' justification for his annexation of Crimea. The actual history is murky.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 15, 2014

How China spies on Hong Kong's democrats

James To was growing uneasy. When the veteran Hong Kong Democratic Party lawmaker looked in his rearview mirror, two silver Mercedes Benz saloons kept appearing behind his gray Volvo sedan.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 14, 2014

Sumo robots converge on Ryogoku for first international competition

Robot sumo wrestlers from 10 countries battled each other Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, the Mecca of traditional sumo, in the first such event of its kind.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 14, 2014

JCN on mission to tackle Japan's stray-cat problem

Japan Cat Network rescues abandoned felines and advocates for spaying and neutering as a means of cutting the country's stray cat population.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Dec 13, 2014

Tokyo Station at 100: all change

“Tokyo Station is not just a station, it is a symbol of Japan. It has always been a part of progress in rail technology but it's much more important than that. It is a landmark that represents Japan.'
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 13, 2014

From a hostess club to a mountain village: Five notable Japanese photo books of 2014

While selecting some of the best photography books released in 2014, I was struck by the range of specific places that Japanese photographers captured — from a pleasure district to a mountain village and an old rooftop. Photo books with such a geographic focus might be a good way to store up energies...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 13, 2014

Fight or flight: Narita's history of conflict

The recent increase in international flights in and out of Haneda Airport has clearly pleased Tokyo residents, who, since the late 1970s, have had to trek out to Narita International Airport in Chiba Prefecture when they wanted to go overseas.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / CHILD'S PLAY
Dec 12, 2014

Brightening your holiday mood

It's the most wonderful time of the year — well, that's what the song says, anyway. For many, December is a flurry of tinsel, wrapping paper and anxiety, while for others it as a time to reflect on the year ahead.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 12, 2014

Loeb's opponents cheered even as Sony tightened belt

When activist investor Daniel Loeb announced in October he'd sold his Sony Corp. stake, executives at the company's Culver City, California, studio lot expressed relief.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 11, 2014

Ecology product confab at Big Sight kicks off with higher youth turnout

In the face of pressing environmental challenges, the nation's biggest event on eco-friendly products kicked off Thursday in Tokyo, giving everyone from elementary school kids to businesspeople an opportunity to think about what's good for future generations.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 10, 2014

Gone Girl: 'Misogynistic or a pointed satire of the illusions underlying some marriages?'

The Bible tells us that Elijah came unto the people and asked, "How long halt ye between two opinions?" David Fincher came forth and spake: "One hour and five minutes." Which is precisely how long he keeps us guessing in his new murder mystery "Gone Girl." Is Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) a disgruntled husband...
EDITORIALS
Dec 10, 2014

A slippery slope in education

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pushing school reforms that give the government a greater role in school children's 'moral' education.
Reader Mail
Dec 10, 2014

Students take on nuclear debate

The Dec. 4 editorial, "Debating nuclear energy," raises many issues on which high school students have been focusing — in English — for much of this year. The proposition for the Ninth Annual All Japan High School English Debate Tournament is that "The government should abolish nuclear power plants."...
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 9, 2014

Gold's motive for GP Final pullout in question

When you grow up in a country or culture, you can usually tell when somebody from the same place or background is being insincere. The tone of voice and body language often give them away.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 9, 2014

New York prosecutor seeks to investigate killings of unarmed civilians by police

New York's top prosecutor on Monday sought the power to probe all police killings of unarmed civilians in his state, following sometimes violent U.S. protests over two grand juries' moves to clear officers in the deaths of unarmed black men.
OLYMPICS
Dec 8, 2014

IOC OKs moving events away from host cities, countries

The IOC on Monday voted to allow Olympic Games host cities to move competitions to other towns, cities or even countries, breaking with a long tradition of keeping the games contained in one location.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 7, 2014

Group offers free English to kids in care in Japan and aid to children in Philippines

JOYFUL — the Japan Outreach Youth Foundation for Underprivileged Learners — is a volunteer group that helps children here in Japan and in the founder's homeland of the Philippines.
EDITORIALS
Dec 7, 2014

Yet another extension for Iran

Rather than declare international negotiations to cap Iran's nuclear ambitions failed, seven countries have agreed to extend the talks for another seven months.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 7, 2014

Putin allies channeled billions to Ukraine oligarch with sweetheart deals

In Russia, powerful friends helped him make a fortune. In the United States, officials want him extradited and put behind bars. In Austria, where he is currently free on bail of $155 million, authorities have yet to decide what to do with him.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Dec 6, 2014

Code + culture: new media art from Japan

Domestic media artists have been using programming code in recent years to create some astonishing works of art. We look back at how this scene developed over the years and examine four contemporary artists who have defined the way the genre has evolved.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 6, 2014

What's beneath all that latex, fabric and plastic?

In 1910, a man named Otto James was arrested for parading down a busy street in Tacoma, Washington, wearing fancy dress. The charge of "public masquerading" — so quaint to modern ears — was itself nothing new, but the choice of costume was notable: James had gone for a stroll dressed as the main...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 5, 2014

Lewis brings storied career back to track as coach

It's too early to know if Carl Lewis will one day be considered a legendary track coach.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 3, 2014

Kyoto-based NICCO refuses to forget about women of Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, where social norms prohibit women from appearing in public and their rights are limited, the Taliban's repressive regime and years of war have heavily damaged the country's heritage and society.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 2, 2014

Shizuoka set for a rock fest with local flare

A raucous bassist shouting at the top of his lungs, a guitarist who models himself on AC/DC's Angus Young and a drummer dressed in nothing but a fundoshi (loincloth) — meet The Wemmer.
BUSINESS
Dec 2, 2014

JAL Dreamliner battery fire triggered by Boeing design, NTSB probe finds

Inadequate design and testing caused last year's battery fire that led to the grounding of Boeing Dreamliner jets for more than three months, investigators concluded.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
Nov 30, 2014

Video shop worker jolted into career as diversity advocate

When the Great Hanshin Earthquake hit in January 1995, Taro Tamura, then 23, was quick to sense the need in foreign communities for disaster-related information.
EDITORIALS
Nov 30, 2014

Sudden departure at the Pentagon

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has resigned. Many observers were surprised by the sudden departure, even though President Barack Obama had indicated that he would be shaking up his foreign policy team in the wake of the disastrous midterm elections held last month. Officially Hagel is leaving...

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?