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COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 21, 2015

Action at grass-roots level vital to success of COP21

Shared concern and empathetic openness to the suffering of others holds the key to fighting climate change.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 21, 2015

Joso disaster prompts ministry rethink of flood control, prediction policies

On Dec. 11, the land ministry released a new policy vision for dealing with floods in response to September's typhoon-triggered breach of the Kinugawa River, which inundated residential areas of Joso, Ibaraki Prefecture, stranding thousands for hours, and some for days.
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Dec 20, 2015

Nuclear power plants feared vulnerable to terrorist groups

Security at France's 58 nuclear power plants was purportedly raised to its highest level last month as a result of the terrorist attacks in Paris, stoking concern over the safety of Japan's nuclear facilities.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 20, 2015

Young music fans found their voices in 2015

The music industry in Japan has long been seen as lagging behind the times. Once every six months there is an article that marvels at the supremacy of CDs, and new albums from acts that were big in the 1990s tend to dominate charts alongside idol-pop groups that few would label "musically progressive."...
JAPAN / NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
Dec 20, 2015

Summit preparations to increase security, but for whom?

Last month's terror attacks in Paris and the closely timed suicide bombings in Beirut have raised fears in Japan of a similar attack to unprecedented levels. With Japan hosting next year's Group of Seven leaders' summit in Mie Prefecture, and a host of smaller ministerial conferences elsewhere around...
EDITORIALS
Dec 17, 2015

Paris agreement is just a start

The nations of the world have only promised to take baby steps to curb global warming, with no binding mechanism. The true test will be whether they follow through and actually effect change.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 16, 2015

First stop India, next stop Singapore-Malaysia for Japan's bullet train sales campaign

Fresh from beating China in a $15 billion rail contract in India, Japan now aims to sell its bullet trains to a high-speed line being planned between Singapore and the Malaysian capital. The project would open a new market for companies from Hitachi Ltd. to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.
WORLD
Dec 14, 2015

U.S., Japan, Germany among 18 nations to build carbon markets

Eighteen nations including the U.S., Japan and Germany will work together to develop international carbon markets to help speed the pace of emission reductions under the Paris climate deal struck Saturday, according to the New Zealand government.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 12, 2015

Investors see big returns as Airbnb takes off in Japan

While many see Airbnb as a possible fix for two seious problems in Japan — the shortage of hotel rooms and a steady increase in vacant buildings — others see an investment opportunity.
EDITORIALS
Dec 12, 2015

Abe's anti-terrorism measures

The government should weigh the benefits of measures to prevent terrorist acts against the risk of violating people's constitutional rights.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 12, 2015

Chinese military paper warns of lost wars and shame if reforms are thwarted

China's military risks losing wars and bringing millennia of shame upon itself if it drags its heels on reform, the army's official newspaper said on Friday, warning that modernization of the armed forces is behind that of advanced foreign counterparts.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Dec 10, 2015

Mexico approves world's first dengue vaccine after 20 years of research

The first vaccine against dengue fever won clearance in Mexico, an initial step toward preventing a mosquito-borne infection that puts half of the world's population at risk.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 9, 2015

Abe's dubious 'new arrows'

Abenomics has shifted from economic growth driven by the private sector to relying on government spending, and is even moving toward state capitalism.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Dec 8, 2015

Politicians launch support group for new men's basketball circuit

A group of nearly two dozen Diet members launched a basketball-supporting parliamentarians' association and held its kickoff meeting on Tuesday at the members' office buildings of the House of Councilors in Tokyo's Nagatacho district.
JAPAN
Dec 8, 2015

Tokyo's Ota Ward allows temporary condo rentals to tourists

To help meet rising demand for accommodations in Tokyo, the Ota Ward Assembly has passed an ordinance allowing condominium owners to rent vacant units to the record numbers of international travelers coming to Japan.
BUSINESS
Dec 8, 2015

BOJ dooms credit analysts as foreign banks let Tokyo posts lapse

Foreign brokerages are leaving credit analyst positions in Tokyo unfilled as record central bank bond-buying stimulus makes it hard for them to make profits.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 7, 2015

U.S. arms-makers strain to meet demand as Mideast conflicts rage

Top U.S. arms makers are straining to meet surging demand for precision missiles and other weapons being used in the U.S.-led fight against the Islamic State group and other conflicts in the Middle East, according to senior U.S. officials and industry executives.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 7, 2015

From 'faboru' to 'sanoru,' words define what people said, read and bought in 2015

A closer look at the Japanese words that have made headlines and become part of the lexicon over the past year.
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 7, 2015

China tells military officers not to whine about reforms

High-ranking officers in the Chinese army must hold their tongues about concerns over military reform and lead from the front to ensure the rank and file are on board, the People's Liberation Army said on Monday.
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT
Dec 5, 2015

Alien invasion: Vexatious foreign species are increasingly taking up residence in Japan

Shibuya has a rat problem.
BUSINESS
Dec 4, 2015

Abe visit unlikely to lead to nuclear deal with India's Modi

It may take a few more meetings between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and India's Narendra Modi before the two countries seal a civil nuclear agreement.

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan