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Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 19, 2022

Rising fertilizer costs are catching up to rice farmers, threatening supplies

Yields could drop 10% in the next season, translating to a loss of 36 million tons of rice, or the equivalent of feeding 500 million people.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 19, 2022

Japan to model digital yen tests on Sweden’s approach, not China’s

The Bank of Japan will explore the design issues of a central bank digital currency in measured steps like Sweden rather than pressing ahead with large-scale pilot tests like China.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Apr 18, 2022

Is COVID more dangerous than driving? How scientists are parsing COVID-19 risks.

Even two years into the pandemic, the coronavirus remains new enough, and its long-term effects unpredictable enough, that measuring the threat posed by an infection is a thorny problem.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 18, 2022

Russian teacher rejected Kremlin propaganda, then paid the price

Days after Russia's Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, Andrei Shestakov opened a set of files that contained instructions on how to teach the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 18, 2022

China Eastern resumes flying model of Boeing jet that crashed

China Eastern had grounded more than 200 of the Boeing 737-800 planes after the crash in Wuzhou, in the Guangxi region.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 18, 2022

As Kenyans farm in forests, incomes rise and deforestation falls

The country sees small-scale farming on forest land as an essential pillar of its commitment to have 10% of the country covered with trees by the end of this year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional voices: Chubu
Apr 18, 2022

As furusato nōzei tax program thrives amid COVID-19 pandemic, some lose out

Not all municipalities are benefiting from the program, under which people give tax-deductible donations to municipalities and receive gifts such as local specialties in return.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 18, 2022

China joblessness climbs and spending drops on COVID-19 lockdowns

With outbreaks showing no signs of ending and Chinese President Xi Jinping doubling down on his strict 'COVID zero' approach, the economy is in for more pain in the second quarter.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hiroshima
Apr 18, 2022

Businesses in Chugoku region making moves toward decarbonization

Despite its higher cost, some businesses are adopting LPG as fuel for their operations.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 18, 2022

Explosions rock Ukraine as bodies line streets of Mariupol

After failing to overcome Ukrainian resistance in the north, Russia has refocused its ground offensive on the Donbas region, while launching long-distance strikes at targets elsewhere.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Apr 18, 2022

No longer business as usual: The deteriorating Sino-EU relationship

It was a meeting that was supposed to emphasize the need for cooperation on global challenges. Instead, an EU-China summit earlier this month highlighted their growing divide.
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 18, 2022

Treasurys’ biggest foreign buyers to return on weakening yen

Money managers in Japan see conservative buyers like life insurers helping the country reaffirm its position as the biggest foreign holder of Treasurys after heavy selling in recent months.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 18, 2022

Atrocities in Ukraine war have deep roots in Russian military

Like the shelling of cities, the seemingly pointless, close-up killing recalls wars in Chechnya. Do they reflect intent or just indifference, propaganda and a military culture of violence?
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 18, 2022

COVID-shaming pits neighbor against neighbor in locked-down Shanghai

The tensions of lockdown have exposed divisions among Shanghai residents, pitting COVID-negative against COVID-positive people.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 18, 2022

China’s economic data hints at cost of 'COVID zero' strategy

The country's lockdowns have trapped truck drivers on highways, halted production lines and forced some importers to source goods from outside China.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 18, 2022

South Korea's bewildering stance on the Ukraine conflict

Elevating economics and trade over politics like Seoul has done with the Ukraine invasion will haunt it — especially with China, which has long used economic leverage as a policy weapon.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Apr 18, 2022

Sri Lanka's reluctance to tap IMF helped push it into an economic abyss

Faced with a rapidly deteriorating economic environment, the government chose to wait, instead of moving quickly and seeking help.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 18, 2022

Singapore aims to be Asia’s busiest international airport

Changi Airport is readying to welcome back visitors en masse, hoping improvements made during the pandemic will cement its status as Asia's premier aviation hub.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World / Geoeconomic Briefing
Apr 18, 2022

China’s bid to wage cognitive warfare over democracy and human rights

The Xi administration is attaching particular importance to redefining democracy and human rights, and other countries are getting behind it.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Apr 18, 2022

Global investors flee China fearing that risks eclipse rewards

A growing list of risks is turning China into a potential quagmire, with the central question being what could happen when the country goes to great lengths to achieve its leader's goals.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Apr 18, 2022

Seeing a new life: George Nobechi’s path to photography

Back in the day, photos used to be produced in a darkroom, where a film negative would be enlarged to expose a sheet of paper. The paper would appear blank, until swished gently in a bath of developer fluid. Gradually, an image would emerge.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / THE LIVING PAST
Apr 18, 2022

Saigo Takamori: The last ‘true’ samurai, defender of the Japanese spirit

Saigo Takamori's samurai rank was low, but that might account for his love for the land and disdain for wealth and power.
ENVIRONMENT / Longform
Apr 18, 2022

Japan’s ‘hydrogen economy’ runs the risk of being powered by coal

The government-led drive to boost hydrogen energy and lower emissions may end up giving coal-fired power plants a new lease on life.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 17, 2022

Is Donald Trump a lock for the 2024 nomination?

The argument that Trump has the nomination locked up is pretty straightforward. Still, we don't know for sure that he'll be running in 2024 but he is certainly running for 2024 right now.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 17, 2022

Yes, Russians know what their military is doing in Ukraine

They are finding out for themselves through unofficial news sources or from other citizens — even if they are too cautious to admit it fearing the police state.

Longform

Construction equipment sits idle in a park near Shiba Toshogu shrine in Tokyo's Minato Ward. While Japan has a history of treating its trees with reverence, green coverage is said to be lacking in most of the major cities.
Do Japan's trees no longer occupy the sacred space they used to?