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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 3, 2016

Abe retains key ministers in reshuffle, but defense chief pick likely to stoke controversy

Japan's leader chooses a right-leaning nationalist as defense minister while keeping most of his other key ministers in place.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 26, 2016

In Tokyo gubernatorial poll, more color than most know

What do a onetime Arabic translator, an advocate of decentralization and a former Tehran correspondent have in common?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 11, 2016

Abe says win gives him mandate to accelerate economic policies but remains mum on Constitution

Fresh from sweeping the polls in Sunday's Upper House election, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday called the outcome an endorsement of Abenomics and pledged to expand spending, particularly in rural areas, despite soaring public debt.
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 11, 2016

LDP's Masuda gets official Tokyo gubernatorial nod as former commentator Koga weighs DP bid

Former internal affairs minister Hiroya Masuda officially joined the Tokyo gubernatorial race Monday after receiving the backing of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Tokyo chapter, while a torrent of other candidates appeared ready to join him in throwing their hats into the ring.
SUMO / SUMO SCRIBBLINGS
Jul 1, 2016

YouTube poses unique challenges for Japan Sumo Association

Every few days, year-round, I receive emails from foreign visitors to Japan asking just how to gain access to morning training sessions at one of the sport's (current) 44 stables.
JAPAN / Media
Jun 17, 2016

Minor’s death sentence sees Japan media split on anonymity rule

The debate centers on whether to name a man who lost an appeal against a death sentence for a 2010 double murder.
JAPAN / Politics
Jun 15, 2016

Masuzoe resigns over expenses scandal; Sakurai vows not to enter forthcoming gubernatorial race

After weeks of mounting pressure over a political funds scandal that has tainted his office, Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe on Wednesday submitted a letter of resignation to the Tokyo assembly speaker, which takes effect on Tuesday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 14, 2016

Media gamed Democratic primary

The vast majority of U.S. corporate media outlets appear to have had their thumbs on the scale for Hillary Clinton throughout the Democratic primaries.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 14, 2016

In rare move, Trump denies Washington Post access to his campaign

Presumptive U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump took the unprecedented step Monday of denying press access to The Washington Post, one of the United States' most influential newspapers.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jun 6, 2016

Let's discuss Okinawan anger over U.S. military crimes

This week's featured article
Japan Times
WORLD
May 14, 2016

For Iran and Hezbollah, a costly week in Syria

A rebel onslaught on the town of Khan Touman near Aleppo last week delivered one of the biggest battlefield setbacks yet to the coalition of foreign Shiite fighters waging war on behalf of Syrian President Bashar al Assad.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 27, 2016

Being a Russian media mogul is dangerous

Putin now controls almost every wide-reaching news outlet in Russia. All he has to do is jerk the leash from time to time.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 27, 2016

North Korea announces rare policy-making congress next week

North Korea announced Wednesday it will convene a rare congress of its ruling party late next week — the first such policy-making meeting in more than three decades.
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2016

Japan's government defends against multiple accusations of stifling press freedom

The government is on the back foot in the wake of mounting global criticism to the effect that the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is threatening press freedom in Japan.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Apr 18, 2016

Trump campaign taking 'banana republic' tack by griping over GOP nomination process: Cruz adviser

A senior adviser to Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz on Sunday accused rival Donald Trump's campaign of taking a "banana republic approach" by complaining that party rules for selecting a nominee are rigged against him.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Apr 5, 2016

Transfixed by 'Archers' radio drama, Britons donate to charity, debate domestic abuse

A downtrodden wife tries to leave her abusive husband but in the course of a confrontation ends up stabbing him in front of her young son.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 24, 2016

Japanese man who reportedly tried to join Islamic State group arrives back home

A 23-year-old Japanese man who was reportedly trying to join the Islamic State militant group has returned to Japan after being deported by Turkish authorities who captured him close to the Syrian border.
BUSINESS / Tech
Mar 12, 2016

Knowledge is power: Navigating the household electricity market after deregulation

The country's household and small business electricity market will be deregulated from April 1, allowing individuals to choose their electricity provider. Optimists, especially renewable energy advocates and small entrepreneurs, hope the development will break the stranglehold that the country's 10 regional...
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 7, 2016

To furu or furareru: In Japanese or any language, breaking up is hard to do

The girl who dumped me wasn't Japanese, so I was surprised to get a Japanese language lesson out of the ordeal.
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 24, 2016

Bank of Japan to tighten information controls after probe of possible leak

The Bank of Japan said it will tighten control of information about policy decisions after questions were raised about a possible leak of officials' discussions just before last month's announcement of negative interest rates.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 23, 2016

To make a comeback, DPJ must empower supporters

The DPJ's turnaround can only be achieved by inviting broad participation of citizens in the selection of its candidates and the establishment of a policy platform, thereby creating a new energy in politics.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Feb 15, 2016

SMAP's 2003 single tops chart

An old CD single by SMAP returned to No. 1 in the charts as fans alarmed by news of the group's apparently imminent breakup launched a campaign to show their support for the group.
BUSINESS
Jan 20, 2016

The Onion worth more than the Washington Post

The Onion's top news, circa 2013: "Print Dead at 1,803." On Tuesday, it helped put the nail in the coffin.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 2, 2016

Seeing 2015 through a fragmented media lens

Media literacy means understanding that objective reality is impossible to comprehend, and that the best you can do to make sense of the world is to know how to interpret signals. Part of that process is identifying what's at stake: Newspapers and broadcasters have parties they think they need to please,...
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Dec 28, 2015

Kin call on police, mayor to answer for fatal shootings of two black Chicagoans

The families of two black Chicagoans killed by police on Sunday accused officers of having used excessive force and Mayor Rahm Emanuel of having failed them, piling pressure on a city facing a U.S. federal probe over possible racial bias in policing.

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