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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 23, 2016

The U.S. is now a country that can be ignored

One of Barack Obama's most important legacies is a sense that the U.S. is no longer the dominant global power.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Dec 23, 2016

China's name-and-shame campaign fails to deter polluters

China has publicly named more than 20 enterprises it says broke environmental rules during this week's outbreak of hazardous smog in the country's north, its latest attempt to bring lawbreaking firms to account by shaming them.
Japan Times
LIFE
Dec 22, 2016

Get in touch with your spiritual side at churches across Japan this Christmas

While it can be relatively easy to celebrate Christmas in Japan with all the seasonal illumination, food options and perhaps a visit from Santa Claus, finding a spiritual option is not always obvious.
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 22, 2016

Russia's disinformation campaign caught U.S. off guard

The U.S. government spent more than a decade preparing responses to malicious hacking by a foreign power but had no clear strategy when Russia launched a disinformation campaign over the internet during the U.S. election campaign, current and former White House cybersecurity advisers said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 21, 2016

Finding courage and hope in 2016

The Year of the Monkey is drawing to a close. Despite the events in the real world, this year at least brought us some soulful films. Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to prepare us for the impending yuckiness of future reality. Still, my picks for the best films of the year intriguingly combined sweetness...
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Dec 21, 2016

Quotes of 2016, from 'Die, Japan' to 'Trump shock'

Some of the good, bad and ugly of what various people said or shouted out loud in 2016.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 21, 2016

Romance dance routine featuring Santa-clad Ambassador Kennedy an instant online hit

U.S. Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and other embassy staff across Japan made a splash on social media Tuesday by releasing a Christmassy, U.S. Embassy version of a koi (falling in love) dance routine aired in a popular Japanese TV drama series.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 21, 2016

Philippine government files criminal charges against Duterte critic for alleged involvement in drug trade

The Philippine government filed a criminal case in court on Wednesday against a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, accusing her of trying to sabotage a congressional investigation into her alleged involvement in the drug trade.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 21, 2016

China uses island-building skills to develop Duterte's backyard

Among the first to gain from Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's China pivot could be the people who live on rickety wooden stilt-houses in a waterlogged area of his hometown of Davao City.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Dec 20, 2016

High time for Kings to dump insufferable Cousins

I was talking to an NBA general manager earlier this season about DeMarcus Cousins, the best player in the NBA most likely to be traded, or at least so we'll hear for the next few months.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Dec 20, 2016

Undersea arms race: Seizure of U.S. drone shines spotlight on China's nuclear submarine strategy

With its controversial seizure and return of a U.S. underwater drone, Beijing may have inadvertently thrust into the spotlight one of the main motivations behind its ramped-up moves in the South China Sea: the quest to create a safe-haven for its sea-based nuclear deterrent.
Japan Times
JAPAN / JAPANESE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Dec 19, 2016

Nation committed to foster more globally minded youth

Over many decades, Japan has contributed greatly in the areas of global cooperation and coordination, through its generous donations of funds to the U.N. Despite such generosity, the number of Japanese working for international institutions remains low and has been increasing only marginally over the...
JAPAN / JAPANESE IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Dec 19, 2016

Comments from workers of international organizations

According to statistics of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 800 Japanese are working for international organizations. Such professionals include those doing clerical work at the organizations’ Japanese units, appointed to lead an organization by using expertise gained through their careers...
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 19, 2016

New law to fight bias against 'burakumin' seen falling short

Overshadowed by the 11th-hour furor over casino legalization and other legislation forced through the Diet by the ruling bloc last week was the enactment of a lesser-known law that has significant implications for Japan's minority burakumin.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 18, 2016

Welcome to the age of hyper-uncertainty

The year 2017 will mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of John Kenneth Galbraith's 'The Age of Uncertainty.' But if Galbraith were writing the same book in 2017, he probably would call the 1970s the Age of Assurance.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Dec 16, 2016

Fall of Aleppo puts Iran on cusp of 'Shiite crescent' of influence

Iran has played a pivotal role in Syrian President Bashar Assad's campaign to crush rebel resistance in Aleppo, and is now close to establishing a "Shiite crescent" of regional influence stretching from the Afghan border to the Mediterranean Sea.
Reader Mail
Dec 16, 2016

Allow controlled legal ivory trade

As a former general-secretary of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), I wish to comment on the Media Mix column headlined "Japanese media fail endangered species" in the Dec. 4 issue.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Dec 14, 2016

The woman who brought the joys of kindergarten to Japan

German who blazed trails in preschool and music education is also believed to be the first to have registered a mixed marriage here.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 14, 2016

Is Southeast Asia now Japan's competition?

Japan is an Asian entertainment powerhouse, is it not? This October's Japan Contents Showcase, which was held in Tokyo's Odaiba and Shibuya areas, included markets for film and TV (TIFFCOM), animation (TIAF) and music (TIMM), with 356 Japanese companies selling to 1,539 registered buyers, most from Asia....
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 13, 2016

Japan's bosozoku bikers: a vanishing rebel breed

Shotaro Nagasawa knows about living on the edge.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 13, 2016

Poverty: the dark side of the American empire

U.S. politicians must do more to help the 43 million Americans mired in poverty.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2016

Trump selects Tillerson for State, dismissing Russia ties

President-elect Donald Trump planed on Tuesday to nominate Exxon Mobil Corp. chief Rex Tillerson for U.S. secretary of state, setting off a confirmation fight that puts the oilman's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin — and Trump's own — in the spotlight.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / PHOTO ESSAY
Dec 10, 2016

Arakawa River: In search of a bygone 'water city'

For much of its history Tokyo was known as city of water. Like Venice or Bangkok, canals were the arteries of commerce, and life was lived in close proximity to rivers and creeks. But that legacy was, for the most part, hidden under concrete in the rushed development leading up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 10, 2016

Japan's humble school lunch: social leveler and sacred cow

Beyond the inculcation of good eating habits and an appreciation of wholesome food, Japan's school lunch program stresses the importance of community and helps children understand their responsibilities within the group.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 10, 2016

Trilateral talks on shaky ground after Park impeachment

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga hinted Saturday a pending trilateral summit with Seoul and Beijing was unlikely to be held following the vote to impeach South Korea's president.

Longform

Bear attacks have dominated Japanese news headlines in recent months, with 13 people so far having been killed by the animals.
Japan’s bears have been on their killing spree for more than 100 years