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Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 15, 2015

BOJ says minimum 1% gain in base wage needed for recovery: sources

Bank of Japan officials figure that average base wage gains of 1 percent are needed in the coming fiscal year to sustain the economy's emergence from two decades of stagnation, say sources familiar with central bank's discussions.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 15, 2015

Neeson is taken on another adventure

It's hard to believe that, a decade ago, Liam Neeson was better known for prestige Oscar dramas than high-octane action blockbusters. The Academy Award nominee spent the first 30 years of his career making his name in films such as "Kinsey" (2004), "Rob Roy" (1995) and Steven Spielberg's celebrated "Schindler's...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jan 15, 2015

Salvage plan keeps Wakayama playing in NBL

The Wakayama Trians will spend the remainder of the season under new management, NBL acting president Mitsuru Maruo said at a Tokyo news conference on Wednesday.
BUSINESS
Jan 15, 2015

GM sees improved profit in 2015 on China, U.S. growth

General Motors Co on Wednesday forecast its 2015 operating profit will increase from last year due mostly to growth in its two largest auto markets, China and the United States.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 14, 2015

A longer look at the problems of 'Unbroken'

Why can't "Unbroken" — Angelina Jolie's hit World War II drama — catch a break in Japan? There are presently no plans to release the film here in theaters, on DVD or online, even though it has a strong Japan focus as well as a major role for popular local rock musician Miyavi (whose real name is...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Jan 14, 2015

A note of concern to wounded MLK from a friend in Japan

Throughout Martin Luther King Jr.'s pursuit of justice and equal rights for African-Americans, he knew he had the support and consideration of Japan through an old classmate who had decided to study abroad and broaden his cultural understanding.
EDITORIALS
Jan 14, 2015

Risky nursing care cutbacks

The government should carefully monitor the nursing care industry to ensure that budgetary cutbacks do not reduce quality of their services.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 14, 2015

Toyota to build more SUVs as U.S. demand provides edge over VW

Toyota Motor Corp. will build more sport utility vehicles this year at factories in Japan and Canada to meet rising U.S. demand, the carmaker's top North American executive said.
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Jan 14, 2015

In Twitter hack, Pentagon sees perils of social media

If so-called cyberjihadis want to launch another social media attack on America's military, they will have plenty of targets: the U.S. Army alone lists more than 2,000 links to feeds on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other accounts.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2015

Of 20 leading economies, Japan worst at getting women on company boards

Women hold only 3 percent of seats on the boards of directors at Japan's largest companies, the lowest ratio of 20 major economies, a new study shows.
BUSINESS
Jan 14, 2015

Tesla to boost output to 'a few million' cars by 2025

Tesla Motors Inc. plans to boost production of electric cars to "at least a few million a year" by 2025 from fewer than 40,000 last year, Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk said Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 14, 2015

U.S. senator says Congress may get Pacific trade deal within two months

The No. 2 Republican in the U.S. Senate said on Tuesday that American trade officials hoped to present a Pacific trade deal to Congress for consideration within the next two months.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 13, 2015

Defiant Putin on a winning streak

Russian President Vladimir Putin has struck banking and nuclear deals with Iran and scored diplomatic successes with North Korea and Pakistan, all but negating the Western strategy of of economic sanctions and international isolation to compel the Kremlin to change its behavior.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 13, 2015

Keeping the peace in East Asia

If World War III ever breaks out, its origins will not lie in the Middle East, South Asia or Eastern Europe. It will be in East Asia — where the strategic interests of China, the United States and their respective partners intersect.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 13, 2015

Royal Blood reigns over British rock

The dressing room of Camden's Electric Ballroom in London is hardly the most glamorous of settings at the best of times, and for Royal Blood it is the early evening after the night before. The previous night, the blues rock duo played its biggest ever headline show at the venue and, preparing for an...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 13, 2015

Eat Osaka teaches you how to cook like a local

Here's a joke unlikely to be endorsed by the Osaka Government Tourism Bureau: "There are three great reasons to visit Osaka: great people, great food and because Kyoto doesn't have an airport." The truth hurts, even if it's also mildly humorous.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jan 13, 2015

Cheap smokes finally going up in price

Until the tobacco prices went up in 2010, third-class cigarette sales were very low.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Jan 12, 2015

Fighters' Saito braces for vital year

Yuki Saito is hard at work in Chiba, at Kamagaya Stadium, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters' ni-gun base, these days. He's busy preparing for the upcoming season, which might turn out to be a pivotal one for the star pitcher.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 12, 2015

Filipinos in Japan call for acceptance with new film

Documentary presents stories of women helping in Tohoku, working in health and education — and putting down roots.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 12, 2015

Residences left empty posing problems across the nation

The population keeps aging and shrinking, but new housing keeps getting built even though Japan has a glut of unused dwellings.
EDITORIALS
Jan 11, 2015

Private sector must do its part

On the campaign trail last month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he saw signs of a 'virtuous economic cycle' emerging, in which improved corporate earnings would create more jobs, leading to higher wages and increased consumption. Can his policies make that happen?
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK
Jan 10, 2015

Kenyan greats call for law to punish dopers

Is it time to make doping in athletics a criminal offense?
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 10, 2015

Code + culture: New Internet artists from Japan

If the Internet is an ocean, why do we spend so much time floating on its surface? What's really going on down there? Not just in the deepest, darkest trenches, but among the forgotten protocols, faulty algorithms and emerging parameters outside the busy shipping lanes and far from the crowded life rafts...

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.