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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 1, 2013

Who is Xi? Chinese leader enigma to world

In early November, China's most powerful man, Xi Jinping, stepped into a rustic farmhouse while on an inspection tour in far-flung Hunan province. The occupants' sole electrical appliance, a fluorescent light bulb, burned overhead. Shi Pazhuan, the family matriarch, was confused. "What should I call...
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 1, 2013

China's new air zone at top of agenda for Biden's visit to Tokyo

When U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visits Japan on Monday, his most urgent task will be to assure Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that the U.S. stands firmly against China's new air defense identification zone.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Nov 30, 2013

HIV: 'The fire across the river'

When 44-year-old Tokyo resident Isao was struck down by chronic diarrhea in June earlier this year, AIDS was the furthest thought from his mind. "I just thought I had a regular illness," said Isao, who asked for his surname to be withheld.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Nov 30, 2013

Delving into the dark side of longer life

Longevity is like prosperity — it seems an unalloyed good but on closer examination turns out not to be. Longevity spawns dementia, infirmity, loneliness and a demographic imbalance favoring the very old at the expense of the young.
EDITORIALS
Nov 30, 2013

Employees temper claims to holidays

The government's plan to make sure full-time regular employees take their paid holidays has apparently failed. A survey shows that workers claimed even fewer holidays in 2012 than they did in 2011.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Nov 30, 2013

Imagining post-nuclear Japan

Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi has sent shock waves through the political establishment by calling for the end of nuclear power generation in Japan. "There is nothing more costly than nuclear power," Koizumi was quoted as saying during an interview with Tokyo Shimbun — something Japanese taxpayers...
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Nov 30, 2013

Fujitsu import adjusts

Once, or twice at most. That's the number of times that a quarterback usually throws a pass to the side of the field occupied by a great cornerback.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Nov 30, 2013

Expect greater influx of Latinos in NPB

Fan Dayan Viera was born in Cuba and currently lives in Miami, Florida. He emailed to say, "As a Cuban, I wonder if Japanese teams will be taking advantage of the new policy change where Cuban players are going to be allowed to play in foreign leagues without needing to defect from Cuba."
JAPAN / DARK SIDE OF THE RISING SUN
Nov 30, 2013

Japan: The new Uzbekistan of press freedom in Asia

If you're living in Japan, you may be surprised to know that your right to know has been replaced by the right to remain silent. Shhh ... don't protest. It's practically a done deal.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 29, 2013

What are the next steps in the Iran nuclear deal?

The interim agreement with Iran recognizes that Tehran's nuclear program is not going away, and that neither tougher sanctions nor the threat of military strikes can change that.
EDITORIALS
Nov 29, 2013

Reducing Japan's emissions

The upshot for Japan from the just-ended Warsaw conference on climate changes is that it must come up with a new longer-term emissions reduction plan within 16 months.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 29, 2013

India and Vietnam add a punch to their ties

In accepting Vietnam's invitation to explore oil and gas in the South China Sea, India's state-owned oil company expressed New Delhi's desire to deepen its friendship with Vietnam as well as ignored China's warning to stay away.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 29, 2013

Russia wins on Ukraine, but neighbors wary

Russia's success in getting Ukraine to pull back at the last minute from signing an agreement with the European Union obscures a deeper trend: Moscow's relations with its neighbors have been on a downward slope for several years, and they show no signs of improving.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Nov 29, 2013

Future teachers get prepped for foreign pupils

A lot of teachers have a tough time teaching children of foreign nationalities due to the language barrier and cultural differences.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 28, 2013

Yamashita and Maeda reunite for slacker dramedy

Nobuhiro Yamashita has used a variety of sources for his films since his 1999 feature debut "Donten Seikatasu (Hazy Life)," including his own experiences as a struggling indie director. But the inspiration for his latest, "Moratorium Tamako (Tamako in Moratorium)," is out of the ordinary by any standard:...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Nov 28, 2013

'Wara no Tate (Shield of Straw)'

Director: Takashi Miike
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 28, 2013

Getting away with murder in the cradle of the Libyan revolution

It is exceedingly easy to get away with murder in the cradle of the Libyan revolution.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 28, 2013

China's move to establish air defense zone appears to backfire

It was designed as a forceful response to Japanese assertiveness. But Beijing's creation of an air defense zone may have backfired, experts said, eliciting a strong joint response by the United States and Japan.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Nov 27, 2013

Pope criticizes unfettered capitalism in statement

Pope Francis on Tuesday sharply criticized growing economic inequality and unfettered markets in a lengthy paper outlining a populist philosophy that he says will guide his papacy as he pushes the Catholic Church to reach out more, particularly to the disenfranchised.

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