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EDITORIALS
Jun 24, 2014

Funding the corporate tax cut

The Abe administration's decision to cut corporate taxes as a key feature of its economic growth strategy doesn't indicate how a fiscally weak government will make up the lost tax revenue even as households face another consumption tax hike next year.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 22, 2014

Hirai refuses to pull plug on Sony TV business

Sony CEO Kazuo Hirai said Thursday the company still expects to turn around its loss-making home electronics business, which includes TV sets, this fiscal year after completing restructuring.
BUSINESS / Economy
May 1, 2014

Assured BOJ foils analysts' predictions

The confidence that Bank of Japan officials are demonstrating in achieving their inflation target is lowering the chances of additional monetary easing this year even as the economy weakens.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Jan 3, 2014

Economy faces headwinds in 2014

The first stage of the sales tax hike next April will likely put a major drag on growth this year, although the nation will avert an outright recession, economists say.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 31, 2013

Energy rivals to face eased demand

Even as new renewable energy projects come online and changes in the law designed to increase competition and use power generated from all sources more efficiently start to come into effect this year, predictions for the nation's energy landscape show total energy consumption slightly down.
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Dec 24, 2013

Debt-issuance levels point to lack of concern for debt: experts

Experts say the draft fiscal 2014 budget doesn't show that the Abe team is serious about revising the debt-driven fiscal structure as more than 40 percent of the budget will be paid for through new debt issuance.
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2013

Heavy tax hit on households

Japan's tax guidelines for fiscal 2014 again reflect the Abe administration's apparent emphasis on providing economic benefits to corporations at the expense of households.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Oct 11, 2013

Hydrogen prototype takes to the road in race toward fuel cells

Toyota Motor Corp. has long held out hydrogen as the ultimate alternative to gasoline for powering automobiles. Soon, consumers will be able to kick the tires of its fuel-cell car and those of other automakers.
BUSINESS
Oct 8, 2013

With 8% hurdle cleared, Aso eyes 10% sales tax

Just a week after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his intention to raise the 5 percent consumption tax to 8 percent next April, Finance Minister Taro Aso said he was upbeat about raising the levy further to 10 percent.
EDITORIALS
Sep 5, 2013

A path for fuel cell electric vehicles

Fuel cell electric vehicles are a pillar of the Abe administration's economic growth strategy, but obstacles remain in the way of their commercial success.
EDITORIALS
Aug 19, 2013

Inadequate financial plan

The Abe Cabinet-endorsed medium-term financial reconstruction program does not present adequate concrete measures for restoring health to Japan's finances.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jun 11, 2013

New ID system for keeping tax tabs, finding cheats

The Diet passed the "common number" bill May 24, paving the way for every resident, including foreigners, to be assigned a personal identification number.
COMMENTARY / World
May 24, 2013

Global call to women standing on the sidelines

Hardly a day goes by without a news story on some violation of women's rights. In recent months, appalling incidents of violence against women and girls — from Delhi to Johannesburg to Cleveland — have sparked public outrage and demands to tackle these horrific abuses.
COMMENTARY / World
May 23, 2013

Conservatives ungovernable on EU

It is now almost impossible to imagine how Conservative British Prime Minister David Cameron will find a compromise on Europe that will satisfy members of his party.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 24, 2013

BOJ seen deploying price forecasts as tool in fighting deflation: analysts

As the Bank of Japan prepares to boost its inflation forecasts this week, analysts from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to JPMorgan Chase & Co. say the estimates may themselves be used as a tool for ending deflation.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 23, 2013

Suu Kyi can't wait forever to defend minorities

With Myanmar's army complicit in anti-Muslim violence, it hopes Aung San Suu Kyi speaks out in defense of Muslim Burmese and thus lose nationalist support.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 22, 2013

Key points of U.K. austerity budget

London
EDITORIALS
Jan 29, 2013

Tax plan benefits the wealthy

The tax outline for fiscal 2013 adopted by the LDP and Komeito places the heaviest burden on poorer people.
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 24, 2013

Ruling bloc airs tax plan, eye on poll

The LDP-led government outlines a list of tax reform goals for fiscal 2013 that raises taxes on the rich, scratches breaks for the poor and curries favor ahead of Upper House poll.

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami