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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 15, 2017

Abe coalition rams contentious conspiracy bill through Diet

Brushing off a stern outcry from the opposition camp, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling coalition rammed a contentious bill to criminalize conspiracy through the Diet Thursday morning, after it resorted to the extremely rare tactic of outright bypassing its committee-level approval.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 14, 2017

North Korean detainee Otto Warmbier, in coma for over a year, is evacuated to U.S.

An American college student who fell into a coma more than a year ago while detained by North Korea was returned to the U.S. Tuesday in a stunning display of diplomatic dexterity by the White House.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Jun 14, 2017

Conspiracy theory becomes frightening reality for Japan

So-called conspiracy legislation massively expands the state's coercive powers, with few checks in place to prevent abuse.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 14, 2017

Russian breach of 39 states threatens future U.S. elections

Russia's cyberattack on the U.S. electoral system before Donald Trump's election was far more widespread than has been publicly revealed, including incursions into voter databases and software systems in almost twice as many states as previously reported.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 14, 2017

U.S. lawmakers sue Trump over foreign state payments to businesses

More than 190 Democratic lawmakers sued U.S. President Donald Trump in federal court on Wednesday, saying he had accepted funds from foreign governments through his businesses without congressional consent in violation of the U.S. Constitution.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / A MATTER OF HEALTH
Jun 14, 2017

Transplants using iPS cells put Riken specialist at forefront of regenerative medicine research

When she entered medicine in the mid-1980s, Masayo Takahashi chose ophthalmology as her specialty, she said, because she wanted to have a family and thought the discipline would spare her from sudden work calls in the middle of the night, helping her best balance work and life.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 14, 2017

Trump authorizes Mattis to set troop levels in Afghanistan: U.S. official

U.S. President Donald Trump has given Defense Secretary Jim Mattis the authority to set troop levels in Afghanistan, a U.S. official said on Tuesday, opening the door for future troop increases requested by the U.S. commander.
WORLD / Politics
Jun 14, 2017

Friend says he's turning over Comey's Trump memos to FBI: MSNBC

A friend of former FBI Director James Comey said on Tuesday he is turning over to the FBI any memos he has of Comey's conversations with President Donald Trump, MSNBC reported.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 13, 2017

Rodman's return to North Korea brings with it speculation of Trump connection

Former U.S. professional basketball star Dennis Rodman arrived in North Korea on Tuesday, bringing his "basketball diplomacy" back to the country amid heightened tensions between Washington and Pyongyang over the reclusive nation's nuclear and missile program and its jailing of four Americans.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 13, 2017

Why Japan's poor media grade matters

Japan has a media problem, and it's holding back the economy and undermining Abe's goal of raising Tokyo's global status.
EDITORIALS
Jun 13, 2017

An extraordinary moment of political theater

Former FBI Director James Comey's testimony confirmed the dangerous inclinations of U.S. President Donald Trump.
CULTURE / Music
Jun 13, 2017

The cultural legacy of erhu artist WeiWei Wuu

When erhu artist WeiWei Wuu took to the stage at Shanghai Concert Hall on April 30, she delivered a show that could be described as out of the ordinary.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 12, 2017

Kake Gakuen probe to be relaunched without third party oversight, Suga implies

The government will release the results of the reopened Kake Gakuen probe “as quickly as possible,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga says.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 12, 2017

Philippines' Duterte says didn't seek U.S. support in city siege

President Rodrigo Duterte said Sunday that he did not seek support from Washington to end the siege of a southern Philippines town by Islamist militants, a day after the United States said it was providing assistance at the request of the government.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Jun 10, 2017

Association aims to raise the profile of sparkling sake

Around the world, the sound of popping corks brings just one thing to mind — Champagne. However, a new organization of sake producers is working to tweak that image.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Jun 10, 2017

Arrogant Abe disrespects U.N. and the press

What is with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's arrogant disrespect for the United Nations?
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 9, 2017

The reason Republican senators weren't smiling

The picture of the former FBI chief, known for his integrity, taking the oath to tell the truth about Trump under penalty of perjury was a powerful one and not comforting to the White House.
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jun 9, 2017

In case you missed them: a year of responses to Community stories, part 2

The second in a series of selections of unpublished letters about Community stories from the previous year.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 9, 2017

U.S.-backed Kurd, Arab fighters move cautiously into Raqqa as Islamic State ranks fall back to fortifications

At Raqqa's eastern edge, a handful of Syrian fighters cross a river by foot and car, all the while relaying their coordinates to the U.S.-led coalition so they don't fall victim to friendly fire.

Longform

After the asset-price bubble crash of the early 1990s, employment at a Japanese company was no longer necessarily for life. As a result, a new generation is less willing to endure a toxic work culture —life’s too short, after all.
The rise of a new work culture in Japan