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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 27, 2019

Dogen: Humor that's not lost in translation

Living in Japan can, from time to time, present a fair amount of frustration for non-Japanese, especially if they can't speak the language well. Long-term resident Kevin O'Donnell, who creates YouTube videos about Japan under the name "Dogen," isn't afraid to vent but avoids any vitriol.
JAPAN / History
Feb 26, 2019

Writers recall their initiation to Japanese literature via Donald Keene

The Japan Times asked author Suzanne Kamata to reach out to some of her fellow writers for their memories and thoughts about Donald Keene, the noted scholar of Japanese literature who died Sunday in Tokyo at age 96. Here is a short collection of their replies.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Feb 25, 2019

Triumphant Akatsuki Five return after accomplishing World Cup mission

When Japan clinched a berth for the second round of FIBA World Cup qualifying last July in Taiwan, Nick Fazekas said that the Akatsuki Five had accomplished their mission.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Feb 25, 2019

Ambassador sets course to spread cultural knowledge

Iranian Ambassador Morteza Rahmani Movahed was appointed to his newest position in July, but although he's lived in Japan for over six months, his schedule hasn't given him a lot of time for sightseeing.
Special Supplements / The Emperor’s 30-year Anniversary
Feb 22, 2019

Exercising goodwill in symbolic role

Emperor Akihito marked the 30th year of his reign on Jan. 7, and the government will be holding a ceremony on Sunday to celebrate this milestone. On April 30, after three decades on the throne, the Emperor will be the first living Japanese monarch in about 200 years to step down.
Japan Times
Feb 22, 2019

Real-time Multi-language Translation “kotozna chat”
Adds new service “Kotozna Group Chat”

Tokyo, Japan – Kotozna, Inc (formerly known as Jaqool, Inc) adds group conversation capabilities with its new service “Kotozna Group Chat” to its roster of tools for kotozna chat, a multi-lingual real-time translation service for inbound travelers using social media platforms.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Feb 20, 2019

The onus is still on us to be black history

A few years back, I wrote a piece for Black History Month in which I challenged people of African descent living here in Japan to "be black history." I implored them not to necessarily dwell on the past but to: "Dwell on the now instead. Because everything you do now becomes history and herstory the...
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons
Feb 19, 2019

Ichiro Ozawa: The kingmaker and destroyer in Japanese politics

Reformer, kingmaker, shadow shogun, destroyer. With so many labels, no politician stands out like Ichiro Ozawa among Japan's conformist legislators.
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons
Feb 14, 2019

Sadako Ogata: Waging peace on war

A 1993 photograph of a diminutive, sexagenarian woman surveying the front lines of conflict has left an indelible mark on the international community as a true example of commitment to humanitarian aid.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Feb 10, 2019

Pioneering flexibility and empowerment in retail

Cartier Japan President and CEO Veronica Prat van Thiel and her team are testing the boundaries of the retail experience.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 10, 2019

The man who set the bar for British pubs in Yokohama

British pubs are everywhere in Japan these days. They, along with their Irish counterparts, are common drinking venues for both expats and Japanese eager for a cozy, dimly lit atmosphere, hearty pub fare such as shepherd's pie, fish and chips, and a tempting variety of draft beers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Feb 9, 2019

Heisei Era hindsight gives new meaning to established terms

The ubiquitous word "productivity" last summer acquired a new meaning — or at least a new twist. Members of the LGBT community, wrote Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Mio Sugita, "do not reproduce. In other words, they are unproductive. I wonder if it is appropriate to spend taxpayer money on them."...
EDITORIALS
Feb 8, 2019

U.S. and South Korea strike a deal on troops

Japan must be ready for U.S. demands to increase host-nation support when Tokyo commences its own negotiations with Washington next year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / History / Heisei Icons
Feb 7, 2019

Masayoshi Son: Betting big and winning

There's a well-known anecdote about Masayoshi Son, the maverick billionaire founder and chief executive of SoftBank Group Corp. and the man behind the world's largest technology investment fund.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Feb 6, 2019

The Supreme Court hews to the letter of the law on gender identity while laying the groundwork for future challenges

At no point have I ever had to grapple with the decision to have my genitals surgically removed. Perhaps the same is true for you. While these may seem an odd set of affirmations to open with, they help illustrate a basic truth: How we think about a law can vary greatly depending upon whether or not...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 6, 2019

With the G20 facing numerous challenges, do the summit's engagement groups have the answers?

In the run-up to the Group of Twenty Leaders’ Summit in Osaka in late June, several related meetings of what are known as engagement groups are scheduled to take place in Tokyo and around the country. One of the more influential engagement groups is T20, or Think 20, whose members include influential...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Feb 3, 2019

From cosplay fan to idol, Yuriko Tiger's journey has been a colorful one

It was 1964 when 19-year-old ye-ye singer Sylvie Vartan captured the hearts of Japanese cinemagoers in the French film "Cherchez l'idole," released here as "Aidoru o Sagase" and in English as "The Chase." Her track from that film, "La plus belle pour aller danser," was a hit here, selling more than a...
Japan Times
SOCCER / From the Spot
Jan 31, 2019

Do or die for Samurai Blue

This week has provided ample opportunity for all of us who doubted Japan's ability to reach the Asian Cup final to take a long, deep drink from the fountain of hubris.
Japan Times
Jan 30, 2019

TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING’s Tsuneishi Factory achieves ISO45001 Occupational health & safety management system certification

The Tsuneishi Factory (Director & Tsuneishi Factory Manager: Takuma Ashida) of TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (HQ: 1083 Tsuneishi, Numakuma-cho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan; President: Kenji Kawano), which engages in newbuildings, was granted ISO45001 Occupational health & safety management system certification...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 29, 2019

Trump's North Korean road to nowhere

Judging by the outcome of the first meeting between Trump and Kim, U.S. allies in the region have good reason to be deeply concerned.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 29, 2019

Arashi's hiatus spurs heartbreak, but hopes for a 2020 Olympic farewell

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics creep ever closer and one of the biggest arguments that remains is which musical performers will feature in the event's opening ceremony. Up until now, debate over who should represent Japan on the international stage has been raging.
EDITORIALS
Jan 28, 2019

An occasion for celebration and soul-searching

Tennis star Naomi Osaka deserves applause for her performance and the country's gratitude for showcasing qualities that it holds dear.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 28, 2019

Ghosn, Meng and the dangers of 'arrested diplomacy'

The arrest of Carlos Ghosn has put Japan's justice system on trial in the world court of public opinion.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 26, 2019

Isle dispute with Russia tied to base issues, argues author Koji Yabe

There seems to be little chance that Russia will ever give back any part of the four islands it seized from Japan at the end of World War II, but the Japanese government, as well as some mainstream media, continues to act as if the possibility exists. Prior to last week's meeting between Prime Minister...
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jan 25, 2019

BayStars slugger Yoshitomo Tsutsugo becomes advocate of pitch-count limits for youth

Yoshitomo Tsutsugo was struck by a strange thought while playing for Samurai Japan during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Japan Times
LIFE / EVENTS AND INFORMATION
Jan 24, 2019

Three-day halal festival draws around 7,000

As part of an international movement to showcase Malaysia's largest halal expo, Halfest Malaysia, Japan kicked off Halfest Tokyo at the Tokyo Ryutsu Center, in Ota Ward, from Nov. 27 to 29 under the theme "Gateway to Japan Halal Food Market."
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 23, 2019

Putin doesn't have the clout to get a deal with Abe

Resolving a dispute from WWII would require giving up territory, but that would be deeply unpopular in Russia.

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan