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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 4, 2015

In the cinematic wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster

In January 2013 Eiga Geijutsu magazine released its annual "Best 10 and Worst 10" lists. The two worst films of 2012, as chosen by the magazine's panel of critics, were Sion Sono's "Himizu" and "Kibo no Kuni (Land of Hope)." The former is about a teenage boy (Shota Sometani) driven to violence by his...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 4, 2015

Netanyahu's U.S. speech draws mixed response in Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have made an argument that many Israelis support when he warned Congress Tuesday about a potential nuclear deal with Iran, but critics are asking whether it was worth the widening rift with the White House.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Mar 4, 2015

U.S. author recounts 'lecture' he got about 'comfort women' from uninvited Japanese guests

The American historian whose book has been slammed by the Japanese government for its content on WWII sex slaves speaks out.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 3, 2015

On global stage, North Korea's top diplomat is man of mystery

The young Kim Jong Un may be the public face of isolated North Korea, but the man who represents Pyongyang on the international stage is an urbane 75-year-old who lived under an assumed name for decades and survived a vicious purge over a year ago.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Mar 2, 2015

Yokohama: If you could live anywhere in Japan, where would it be?

Tyler Parr asks passers-by where they would choose to live on this archipelago if money and jobs were not an issue.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Mar 2, 2015

LEDs fuel drive to cut energy use

Japan's push to keep power flowing after it shuttered its nuclear program may best be illustrated by 73 million light bulbs.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 28, 2015

Shibuya's same-sex move kicks off debate

On Feb. 13, Asahi Shimbun's daily Vox Populi, Vox Dei column mentioned Morizo and Kiccoro, the official mascots of the 2005 World Expo held in Aichi Prefecture. These two "woodland fairies" supposedly hailed from Seto, which issued them the same resident cards (jūminhyō) held by everyone who lives...
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Feb 28, 2015

Omotenashi — Japanese hospitality?

As the Tokyo 2020 Bid Committee's appointed "Cool Tokyo" ambassador, multilingual television journalist Christel Takigawa set media buzzing worldwide with her Sept. 7, 2013, speech to the International Olympic Committee in Buenos Aires in which she made great play of the word "motenashi" by attaching...
JAPAN / Society
Feb 27, 2015

Most Tokyo wards less keen on recognizing same-sex unions

Most of Tokyo's wards are hesitant to propose or consider certificates that would declare same-sex unions as equivalent to marriage, The Japan Times finds.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 27, 2015

Bunkyo plans measures to aid sexual minorities

Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward will consider measures relating to sexual minorities by March 2016, a ward official said, following a recent proposal by Shibuya Ward to issue certificates recognizing same-sex unions.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 26, 2015

Korean-American activist raps Suga's response to failed lawsuit against 'comfort woman' statue

A Korean-American leader in California criticizes Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga's regret after a lawsuit failed to remove Glendale's 'comfort women' war memorial.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Feb 25, 2015

Under Japanese law, breaks are sacred and standby counts as work

If your employer is keeping you waiting long hours on standby without paying you and calling it 'break time,' they are breaking the law.
EDITORIALS
Feb 25, 2015

Risky expansion of SDF missions

New Abe administration policies in the works appear to expand the scope of of SDF activities abroad to almost anything short of direct use of force.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 24, 2015

Brazilians, Japanese and the virtues of integration

Japan can strengthen its future by integrating foreigners and rejecting voices that call for separation.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 23, 2015

Repucom touts importance of Olympic sponsorship

There's no doubt sponsorships have played a huge role in helping the Olympic Games become the biggest sporting extravaganza in the world today. And when Tokyo hosts its second Summer Games in 2020, it will receive a substantial amount of financial backing from corporate funds, while the companies should...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 23, 2015

Tokyo: Why did you decide to run the Tokyo Marathon?

Mark Buckton caught up with some of the runners in a sweaty state after Sunday's big race.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2015

Palestinians, Israelis who refuse to be enemies

Arabs, Israelis and Israeli Arabs are uniting in the 'We Refuse to Be Enemies' campaign against the unnecessary deaths in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2015

Poroshenko aims for arms by calling for peacekeepers

It's a shame that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's call for U.N. peacekeepers to help enforce the Minsk ceasefire is so belated and insincere.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 23, 2015

Russia will never 'submit' to U.S.

American treatment of Russia since the Cold War has been an historical mistake — and though doubtless too late now, such a course is still ours to unmake before it is too late.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 23, 2015

Homeland security chief worried about al Shabaab threat to U.S. malls

The U.S. homeland security chief said on Sunday he takes seriously a threat made by Somali-based Islamist militants against shopping malls, including the Mall of America in Minnesota, and urged people going there to be careful.
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 22, 2015

More tips for filing your U.S. taxes from Japan

With the help of a tax specialist, Lifelines tackles a number of queries in response to the special on U.S. taxation a few weeks back.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Feb 22, 2015

Where's the beef? Kyoto looks to carve out global niche

The quintessential tourist image of Kyoto cuisine is one of a refined "bento" (boxed lunch) containing all sorts of small treats, but heavy on fish, tofu and vegetables, with much attention devoted to presentation and tastes that are sublime, but not overpowering. Certain Kyoto vegetables like "kujo...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 21, 2015

Japan's adherence to nuclear power critical at home and overseas: MIT luminary

Japan's continued commitment to atomic energy will be important in reducing its emissions and also in improving global nuclear safety, the head of MIT's nuclear science department says.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Feb 21, 2015

Inside the trenches of environmental rights

With the gruesome beheadings of journalists in the Middle East, an ugly truth is now common knowledge — being a reporter can be deadly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 21, 2015

Japan, Qatar agree to strive for Middle East peace

Japan and Qatar agreed Friday that stability in the Middle East serves as a foundation for international peace and prosperity and pledged to cooperate on addressing the threat of terrorism.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Feb 21, 2015

Virginia ex-first lady sentenced to prison for corruption

Former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell was sentenced Friday to 12 months and one day in prison for her federal corruption conviction for taking bribes from a businessman.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: TECH
Feb 20, 2015

Apps for tourists and kids, plus Sony's most expensive Walkman yet

Mapple goes for coupons
JAPAN
Feb 20, 2015

Outrage grows over Sono 'apartheid' column

Public outrage over what is widely seen as a pro-apartheid column penned by conservative author Ayako Sono shows no sign of abating more than a week after its publication.

Longform

After pandemic-era border regulations eased, Indian migrants began returning to Japan. Their population now stands at more than 50,000 across the country.
How remote work is rewriting the migrant experience in Japan