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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 17, 2019

Is U.S. attention on the Mideast yet again?

Tokyo should strive to not let U.S. policymakers' strategic attention be diverted from East Asia to the Middle East yet again.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 6, 2019

Which Tiananmen narrative is true?

There is little doubt about the Beijing spring of 1989 that called for greater openness, freedoms and democracy in China, or about its suppression. But there is a counter-narrative that receives no mention in the China-bashing mainstream media.
Reader Mail
May 31, 2019

Keep preschool kids away from busy streets

Regarding the Big in Japan column titled "Fatal traffic mishaps put drivers in the media spotlight" (May 26), I am losing count of the number of traffic accidents in recent years where the vehicle involved has ridden up onto the sidewalk, injuring and even killing pedestrians.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
May 27, 2019

Let's discuss food waste

Seven-Eleven Japan Co. and Lawson Inc. said Friday they will start discounting rice balls and lunch boxes that are close to their expiration date in order to reduce food waste, a large issue in the country due to the 6 million tons of edible food discarded annually.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
May 20, 2019

Let's discuss dangerous driving

A couple of high-profile car accidents raises the topic of traffic safety in the media.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 11, 2019

JR Hokkaido confronts the harsh realities of financing rail lines in depopulated areas

Privatization of public enterprises is a core tenet of neoliberalism, and probably the most representative domestic development in this regard was the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1987. The resulting rail companies, distinguished primarily by region, have demonstrated differing...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
May 11, 2019

'Trails': Blood spatters across an empty field of snow

After a decade of visits to annual deer culls in Hokkaido's Shiretoko National Park, photographer Takashi Homma has recently released a photo book, 'Trails,' about the project.
Japan Times
JAPAN / YEN FOR LIVING
May 9, 2019

Cracks forming in Japan's premium-based universal health care system

One of the issues U.S. voters say they care the most about right now is health care. America is almost alone in the developed world in not providing its citizens with universal medical care.
EDITORIALS
Apr 24, 2019

Reassurances on security alliance

The SCC's reaffirmation of the Japan-U.S. security partnership is a much needed and much welcomed statement.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Apr 22, 2019

Let's discuss diversity in Japan

Get into the vocabulary of diversity and mixed-race Japanese by taking a look at a new book on the topic.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 20, 2019

South Korea's ruling party retracts critique of Bloomberg reporter

South Korea's ruling party withdrew personal criticism of a Bloomberg News reporter for writing an article about President Moon Jae-in, after international press groups warned the remarks threatened journalistic freedom and demanded a retraction by the party.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 15, 2019

Abe's attacks on local governments yields backlash against his push to revise pacifist Constitution

Prime Minister Abe's dream of revising the Constitution gets harder after he claims 60 percent of Japan's local governments are resisting Tokyo's efforts to recruit new SDF members.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Feb 6, 2019

The Supreme Court hews to the letter of the law on gender identity while laying the groundwork for future challenges

At no point have I ever had to grapple with the decision to have my genitals surgically removed. Perhaps the same is true for you. While these may seem an odd set of affirmations to open with, they help illustrate a basic truth: How we think about a law can vary greatly depending upon whether or not...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 12, 2019

Japan's vernacular press coverage tiptoes around tattoo controversy

Before the Olympic Games come to Tokyo in the summer of 2020, Japan will get a chance to prove its mettle as an international sporting events host with the Rugby World Cup this fall. The games will be spread out among 12 stadiums nationwide, which means the whole country will be the focus rather than...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Jan 10, 2019

Mayor blasts Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki as Ginowan city abstains from vote on Henoko land reclamation

Amid long-standing political wrangling over construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa, the mayor of the city of Ginowan in the prefecture has said the municipality will not participate in a prefectural referendum set to be held over reclamation of land in order to build the new military facility, and...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2019

New documents link Huawei to suspected front companies in Iran and Syria

The U.S. case against the chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies, who was arrested in Canada last month, centers on the company's suspected ties to two obscure companies. One is a telecom equipment seller that operated in Tehran; the other is that firm's owner, a holding company registered...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 10, 2018

Japan, look in the mirror called Germany

Germany today reflects Japan's future.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 7, 2018

Abuse is the norm for Japan's hometown tax donation system

On Sept. 11, then-Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda gave a news conference at which she stated the government's intention to revise laws for local taxes.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 28, 2018

Chinese state media confirms country's third aircraft carrier is in the works

China has for the first time confirmed it is building a third aircraft carrier — a move that came ahead of an announcement by Tokyo that is considering transforming one of its helicopter destroyers into an aircraft carrier that can accommodate fighter jets.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 18, 2018

Putin faces hurdles of his own in territorial spat

Vladimir Putin would like to go down in history as the Russia leader who resolved all his nation's territorial disputes, but the road to reaching a settlement with Japan is littered with obstacles.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 17, 2018

Keidanren faces flak for falling behind the times despite change in leadership

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) published an article on June 17 that was critical of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), a lobbying organization made up of more than 1,300 of the country's biggest companies. The Nikkei has always been in Keidanren’s corner, so it was something of a shock to...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Nov 8, 2018

Jail in Japan for cannabis in Canada? Possible but unlikely

Possession and receipt of marijuana are illegal for Japanese citizens even overseas, but don't expect urine checks at immigration.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 5, 2018

Seoul moves the goalposts yet again

If the South Koreans remain obsessed with the past and do not respect the rule-based international system, they are committing international political suicide.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 13, 2018

Kizuna AI's NHK appearance sparks debate on social media

Do virtual YouTubers dream of online controversy? Maybe not but they sure are good at courting it.
JAPAN
Sep 26, 2018

'Outrageous prejudice': Publisher suspends publication of Shincho 45 following furor in LGBT community

Shinchosha Publishing announced its Shincho 45 magazine will effectively fold after carrying articles that its president said contained “outrageous prejudice” against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 24, 2018

Let's discuss Namie Amuro

Fans across the country flocked to events paying tribute to pop diva Namie Amuro on the day she chose to step out of the spotlight.

Longform

Mount Fuji is considered one of Japan's most iconic symbols and is a major draw for tourists. It's still a mountain, though, and potential hikers need to properly prepare for any climb.
What it takes to save lives on Mount Fuji