Search - 2015

 
 
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 21, 2014

Selective consumption tax weighed

It's only been three months since the consumption tax was hiked to 8 percent, but the ruling coalition is already expediting talks on another increase scheduled to come into effect in October next year.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2014

Rouhani's remaking of Iran

Marking the end of his first year in office with some success at domestic reform, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani now says Iran would be willing to work with the U.S. in Iraq.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Jul 20, 2014

Japanese franchises cut loose by overseas brands after serving their purpose

Japanese companies are good at promoting overseas brands for the Japanese market.
Japan Times
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Jul 20, 2014

Osaka zone a litmus test of foreign worker policy

As prefectural officials begin talks with Tokyo on a deregulated economic area, local skepticism remains high over the content, necessity of the proposal.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / OLYMPIC NOTEBOOK
Jul 19, 2014

New sports center symbol of Haiti's recovery

Haiti's recovery from the 2010 earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation is a slow, difficult process.
EDITORIALS
Jul 18, 2014

More needed than NRA safety nod

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority has effectively given the green light for restarting an idled Kyushu Electric nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture under safety standards updated a year ago. After a period of public comment and local government approvals, two reactors of the plant, in the city of Satsumasendai, could restart by yearend.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 18, 2014

Recent votes suggest local dissatisfaction with LDP growing

The conservative Liberal Democratic Party seems unassailable at the national level, but leader Shinzo Abe's actions are causing a backlash that could hurt the LDP in local elections.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 18, 2014

Line said to pursue U.S. IPO with confidential filing to SEC

Line Corp., operator of Japan's most popular mobile messaging service, filed confidentially for an initial offering in the United States, people with knowledge of the matter said, taking a step closer to a dual-listing in New York and Tokyo.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 17, 2014

Man who named GPIF returns to fund, with new approach

The man who helped name the world's biggest pension pool is back as one of its money managers, and says the fund's new approach to buying stocks will rub off on other retirement investors.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jul 15, 2014

BOJ stays the course toward 2% inflation

The Bank of Japan on Tuesday kept its record stimulus unchanged and forecast inflation will pick up to its 2 percent price target.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 15, 2014

Backlog of orders, savvy marketing stave off carmaker crisis

A backlog of orders as well as concerted marketing efforts by carmakers have minimized the impact from April's consumption tax hike on sales between April and June — but there are still concerns about sales volume after July, the chairman of the nation's automaker lobby said Tuesday.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 15, 2014

Will Nagoya put Hakuho within reach of Taiho's 32-yusho record?

With 29 Emperor's Cup wins to date, yokozuna Hakuho is already the third most successful grand champion in the almost 260 years of sumo's recorded history. Only Taiho, who was primarily active through the 1960s with 32 wins, and Chiyonofuji, active from the 1970s to the early '90s with 31 wins, stand...
EDITORIALS
Jul 14, 2014

Rising costs of nursing care

Changes to the nursing care insurance system make the delivery of some services for people with less severe medical conditions the responsibility of municipalities, while raising the out-of-pocket share that some care recipients must pay.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Jul 13, 2014

Cyberdyne's HAL suits give lift to mobility-challenged

Robotics engineer Yoshiyuki Sankai, 56, has been driven by his passion for innovative technology for about half a century.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 11, 2014

China will struggle to cut CO₂ to safe levels: U.N.

China may struggle to cut carbon emissions to levels that prevent the worst effects of global warming, a United Nations study of 15 major emitters showed.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design / ON: FASHION
Jul 11, 2014

Summer's here — yukata, sales and back-to-school satchels

Mintdesigns' refreshing yukata
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Jul 9, 2014

Osaka Culturarium at Tempoza gets suited up for 'Gundam'

If giant robots excite you, then you will know Gundam — a name that has become synonymous with the sci-fi mecha genre.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Jul 8, 2014

Sotnikova to headline field at NHK Trophy

The epic 2013-14 season is behind us and it is onward to a new campaign, and in many ways a new era.
JAPAN
Jul 8, 2014

TV news should have English subtitles, panel says

Japanese TV broadcasters should introduce English subtitles in news programs by 2020 in light of an expected increase in the number of foreign visitors ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, according to an expert panel at the communications ministry.
EDITORIALS
Jul 7, 2014

Getting multiple tax rates to fly

The ruling coalition parties are trying to decide whether to introduce a reduced consumption tax on some daily necessities when the current 8 percent rate rises to 10 percent in October 2015.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 5, 2014

Irish Labour Party names first female leader

AP Ireland's Labour Party elected its first female leader on Friday, naming lawmaker Joan Burton to guide the country's traditional voice for the poor.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 3, 2014

Nash returns to Toyama Grouses for third season at the helm

With a familiar face still in charge, the Toyama Grouses will resume their quest for a championship when the season tips off in October.

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person