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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 29, 2013

Tokyo: Now that Abe's coalition has a majority in both Diet chambers, what should he do?

I would like to buy a house in the future, so while housing loan taxes are low now, I would like to see Mr. Abe help those looking to buy houses by lowering these taxes even further. Also, I think that until the economy improves, the consumption tax should not be increased — for now.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jul 29, 2013

Prove you're Japanese: when being bicultural can be a burden

Japanese are Japanese and foreigners are foreigners, and never the twain shall meet? In many aspects of daily life in this country, there is one way for the Japanese and another for the rest of us. Like it or not, that's just how it is. At least foreigners know where we stand.
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jul 29, 2013

There is more to my son than the fact he's a 'half'

For foreign residents, having a child in Japan can be a daunting prospect. Going to the hospital and trying to figure out what the doctor is saying in complex Japanese medical terms is just one of myriad trials.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Jul 29, 2013

Architecture and art of a Setouchi summer

In 1988, Soichiro Fukutake, then president and representative director of Fukutake Publishing (now Benesse Corporation), approached architect Tadao Ando and told him that he wanted to create a 'utopia' in Japan.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Jul 29, 2013

Egypt insurgency takes root in Sinai

More than three weeks after the military coup that ousted Egypt's first democratically elected — and Islamist — president from power, the roots of a violent insurgency are burrowing fast into the sands of the Sinai Peninsula.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 28, 2013

Taking stock of Burma, Japan and 'pivot to Asia'

Hope and change remain alive in Burma even as serious concerns continue about human rights violations and growing internal religious and ethnic tensions.
Reader Mail
Jul 27, 2013

When will 'experts' get serious?

Regarding the July 23 front-page AFP-JIJI article "Tepco now admits radioactive water entering the sea at Fukushima": What is it about Japan's nuclear village and its continued defiance, lies and arrogant denial in the face of mounting radioactive contamination and the threat of crippling illness or...
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 26, 2013

Bankrupt Detroit pins hopes on arts

James Morris is the owner of DSE, a downtown Detroit T-shirt business. He hadn't noticed that his city had filed for bankruptcy and he doesn't particularly care. "There hasn't been a moment when Detroit wasn't dealing with problems. Now it's just official," he said.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 25, 2013

Ishizaki planning to continue playing career in Europe

Contrary to some speculative chatter in recent days that guard Takumi Ishizaki is on the verge of retirement, the word out of Germany is that the Fukui Prefecture native has his sights set on extending his overseas career.
WORLD
Jul 25, 2013

Proposal to restrict NSA tracking fails

A controversial proposal to restrict how the National Security Agency collects Americans' telephone records failed to advance in the House of Representatives by a narrow margin Wednesday, a victory for the Obama administration, which has spent weeks defending the program.
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2013

Municipalities not issuing non-Japanese disaster guides

Many municipalities across the country don't offer disaster prevention guidebooks or maps in foreign languages and have no plans to do so, according to a recent survey.
WORLD
Jul 25, 2013

Republican's 'drug mule' remark hit

House Republican leaders are denouncing one of their own for remarks made last week that disparaged most illegal immigrants as drug smugglers. The comments by Rep. Steve King of Iowa came as the GOP is trying to improve its image and political prospects among the fast-growing Latino community.
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jul 25, 2013

Blood pressure medication huge cash cow

Earlier this month Kyoto University revealed that a study one of its researchers carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug Diovan, which lower blood pressure, was probably "erroneous." Though the university did not say the drug itself was ineffective, it did admit that the data of "those...
Reader Mail
Jul 24, 2013

Racism, police budgets, reports

Regarding LukeCorrigan's July 14 letter, "Fueling a sensationalist pitch," from The Japan Times Online: Corrigan (in response to Debito Arudou's July 8 Community Page article, "Police 'foreign crime wave' falsehoods fuel racism") seems to be of the view that racists and people who oppose racism are as...
BUSINESS
Jul 24, 2013

U.S. health-care law tied to pay cut for part-timers

For Kevin Pace, the president's health care law could have meant better health insurance. Instead, it produced a pay cut.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 23, 2013

Obama's toughest campaign yet: selling health care reform

Deep inside the White House, in a bare room that the chief of staff uses for meetings, David Simas is still thinking about turnout.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 23, 2013

Hezbollah military wing added to EU terror list

The European Union declares the military wing of Hezbollah a terrorist organization, a move designed to put pressure on the Shiite political and militant group after years of urging from the United States and Israel.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jul 22, 2013

Police stonewalling over death of U.S. teen in Shinjuku prolongs family's ordeal

The family of Scott Kang had hoped that the release the autopsy report would shed some light on the U.S. teenager's death in Shinjuku in 2010 and bring them nearer to obtaining closure. Instead, it has reopened old wounds and raised fresh questions about the original police investigation.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 22, 2013

Tokyo: Which famous Japanese person would you most like to meet and why?

If I had a chance, I'd like to meet the ex-Blue Hearts singer Hiroto Komoto, who covered issues such as many people entering companies all wearing the same suit, all wanting to join big firms and wanting to buy the same-style house. I like him because he 'sang out' about these things.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Jul 22, 2013

Think before you ink if you work with kids

I am very interested in getting an irezumi (traditional tattoo) in Japan. Are there any artists that will tattoo a foreigner? If so, who and where? My interviewer for the teaching position tried to warn me that tattoos are a 'no-no.
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jul 21, 2013

Hesitating on sales tax hike?

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is said to be considering delaying the increase in the consumption tax rate currently scheduled to take effect in April 2014.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 21, 2013

'Motor City Madman' rocks political world

On the final morning of the 2013 National Rifle Association annual convention in May, the day was bright, the mood was festive and Ted Nugent was neither dead nor in jail.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2013

Roadblock to U.S. nuclear arms cuts

While the likelihood of a nuclear war has fallen sharply since the end of the Cold War, nuclear deterrence has become more valuable for Russia and others.
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Jul 21, 2013

Indians fight to exercise new rights

Three years ago, a group of parents in a remote tribal hamlet in India handed local officials a petition demanding a new school. Their children had to walk nearly 3 km through farmland, forest and creeks to reach the closest public school, although, they argued, the country's new Right to Education law...
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jul 21, 2013

Martin rallies across U.S. urge 'justice'

In most places it was too hot for hooded sweat shirts. So they came with T-shirts.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Jul 20, 2013

Yokohama to name Katsuhisa coach

A familiar face will be on the sideline for the Yokohama B-Corsairs next season. Multiple league insiders have told The Japan Times that Michael Katsuhisa will be named the second coach in team history.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jul 20, 2013

Japan's weeklies debate modern man's burden

Pity the declining male in an age of expanding female empowerment!
EDITORIALS
Jul 19, 2013

Critical issues at stake in election

Besides 'Abenomics,' voters in Sunday's Upper House polls would be wise to weigh the merits of constitutional revision and nuclear power generation.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Jul 19, 2013

Pioneering Australian's outdoor adventures invigorate Hokkaido

Australian Ross Findlay is a doer. Name any outdoor sport and chances are he's done it, from kayaking to rock climbing to snowcat skiing and snowshoeing.

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