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Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Dec 24, 2014

Japan's night schools offer hope of a second chance for many

Takashi Kinoshita, 73, lived most of his adulthood with a secret that until recently he wouldn't dare divulge even to his children: he was nearly illiterate.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE PERSISTENT VEGETARIAN
Dec 24, 2014

Le Pain Quotidien serves up a hearty, organic vegetarian lunch

I try not to over-associate being vegetarian with being somehow fancy or trendy — organic-diet this or macrobiotic that. While I prefer to think of it as a rather everyday lifestyle, the oshare (hip) association in Japan runs strong.
EDITORIALS
Dec 23, 2014

Protecting sexual minorities' rights

A Japanese civic group survey has the ruling Liberal Democratic Party standing out from other parties in its failure to view issues involving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual people as human rights problems.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 23, 2014

Making obesity a disability will only fuel problem

The decision by Europe's highest court that obesity can be a disability will only give the many overweight people in rich countries legal grounds to feel righteous about their condition, regardless of its causes.
JAPAN
Dec 22, 2014

Conservative Abe's secrecy law doesn't hold a candle to Seoul's press suppression

For people concerned with the weakening of press freedoms under the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, its criticism of Asahi Shimbun and the new state secrets law, there should still be a sense of relief that media suppression in Japan has not quite reached the levels now being seen in South Korea.
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Dec 22, 2014

Rewinding some of Japan's top YouTubers

YouTube highlighted 14 of the Internet's best Japanese vloggers.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 22, 2014

Annals of cheap: Narita express buses

Narita Airport is still inconvenient for Tokyoites, but now getting there is less expensive.
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
Dec 21, 2014

In no-surprise poll, parties' main players re-elected in Kinki

In an election that produced no surprises, it's little wonder the biggest political names in the six prefectures that make up the Kinki region (Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara and Wakayama) were all returned to the Diet, though one or two had a close call.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 20, 2014

Soaking up the very best of Wakayama's hot springs

The two sounds occur almost simultaneously: Just as my cellphone alarm begins its melodious chime to rouse me from sleep, the dark clouds above my guesthouse in the town of Tanabe on the Kii Peninsula burst forth with a pounding rain. Within minutes, it's clear that my plans of spending three days hiking...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 20, 2014

Christmas in Japan is not for faint of heart

"Santa's not coming! You liar!!"
Japan Times
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 19, 2014

Pochettino making believers out of Tottenham fans

The accent was so rough the suspicion was it had been honed on a cheese grater. "Pochettino," said Mike from Edmonton, "he has to go . . . we ain't moving nowhere under him."
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / ON: TECH
Dec 19, 2014

Send out New Year's cards from your smartphone, and much more

Showcasing a rice cooker with a twist, a compact air purifier, a portable charger for all your devices and a New Year's card-making app.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Dec 19, 2014

Rare 'raicho' ptarmigans lose habitat following Ontake eruption, could disappear

The eruption of Mount Ontake in September killed dozens of hikers, but also probably decimated the population of a rare bird — the rock ptarmigan, a much-loved symbol of Japan's alpine region.
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Dec 18, 2014

Spending New Year's Eve in style ; a different take on traditional cake ; fresh fans find fare from farms

Spending New Year's Eve in style
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Dec 17, 2014

Hitting 60 in Japan offers a chance to start over, so don't waste time looking back

If one measures life in a 60-year cycle — and if you use the Chinese zodiac calendar, you do — then age 60 marks a new beginning or birth: You can be a child once again.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 17, 2014

Silence is golden in art-comedy for all

"I've been drawing pictures for as long as I can remember," Kentaro Kobayashi said when I asked him how he came to be such a versatile and popular entertainer.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 16, 2014

Hanyu reasserts dominance with Grand Prix Final win

Olympic and world champion Yuzuru Hanyu showed he has regained both his form and confidence with his dominating victory at the Grand Prix Final in Barcelona, Spain, on Saturday.
BUSINESS / NOTEBOOK
Dec 16, 2014

Meat treat for New Year's; friendship fun run

SEASONAL
WORLD
Dec 15, 2014

Islamic fighters capture two army bases in blow to Syria

BEIRUT
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / DECISION 2014
Dec 15, 2014

Abe claims mandate for economic, security policies despite lowest turnout ever

Emerging as the big winner in the Lower House election, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declares he has a renewed mandate to keep pushing his policy agenda.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 15, 2014

California city spotlights tough path to police reform

In 2000, police in the city of Oakland, California became a symbol of the worst of American law enforcement after a band of rogue officers known as "The Riders" were accused of beating suspects, planting evidence and falsifying reports.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 14, 2014

JCN on mission to tackle Japan's stray-cat problem

Japan Cat Network rescues abandoned felines and advocates for spaying and neutering as a means of cutting the country's stray cat population.
BASKETBALL
Dec 13, 2014

Iwate edges Ryukyu in thriller, extends winning streak to 19

For the Iwate Big Bulls, eight was a key number on Saturday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History
Dec 13, 2014

Tokyo Station at 100: all change

“Tokyo Station is not just a station, it is a symbol of Japan. It has always been a part of progress in rail technology but it's much more important than that. It is a landmark that represents Japan.'
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / WILD WATCH
Dec 13, 2014

Twelve ways to spend 2015 with nature

As 2014 winds down and the promise of another year lies ahead, it's time to come up with a few New Year's resolutions. Instead of planning for the future or trying some new-fad diets or exercise regimes, how about a resolution to spend a little more time connecting with our wonderful natural world?
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 13, 2014

China likely to covertly muzzle Hong Kong to prevent new protests

As the dust settles on Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, China is likely to embark on a sweeping but covert campaign across the territory's judiciary, media and universities to ensure there is no recurrence, activists and politicians say.
WORLD
Dec 13, 2014

Canadian Navy bans most drinking at sea

The Royal Canadian Navy on Friday imposed an almost total ban on sailors drinking at sea, after a warship had to be recalled from an international exercise because inebriated crew members got into trouble.

Longform

An illustration features the Japanese signs for "ganbare" (good luck) and the Deaflympics, which will be held between Nov. 15 and 26.
A century of Deaf sport finds its moment in Tokyo