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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jun 8, 2023

Most Europeans share Macron's view on China and U.S., survey finds

The report suggests that both France and Germany's policy positions of seeing China as a global partner are “broadly in line with European public opinion.”
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jun 7, 2023

Is Japan going to legalize same-sex marriage?

A series of court cases is helping to shape the debate over whether or not Japan will act on legalizing same-sex marriage.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 7, 2023

Russia’s dam-busting is another war crime

Are dams fair game in warfare? Nuclear power plants? It’s not as if Vladimir Putin would care.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World / Geoeconomic Briefing
Jun 6, 2023

China’s vision of an international order firmly in the shadows of the G7

How members of the grouping assess China’s international influence and their long-term strategy and the role they want Beijing to play may highlight differences.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 31, 2023

Just how safe is Fukushima’s ‘contaminated’ water?

To build the clean energy sector the world needs, nuclear power advocates must sway public opinion their way. Just crashing through won’t cut it.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 26, 2023

What Exxon won’t tell you about climate costs

Society might be willing to make sacrifices if it meant avoiding even worse damage from global warming.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 24, 2023

Yet another bad week for abortion rights in America

Judges on the U.S. 5th Circuit appeared worryingly comfortable challenging the expertise of FDA scientists.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 22, 2023

As Rahm Emanuel pushes Japan on gay rights, conservatives bristle

The U.S. ambassador has enthusiastically embraced his host country. But critics say he has overstepped diplomatic bounds with his advocacy on equality.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 18, 2023

Kishida Cabinet's approval rate rises to 38.2% in Jiji poll

As the disapproval rate dropped 4.5 points to 31.8%, support surpassed disapproval for the first time in nine months, according to a Jiji Press survey.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 8, 2023

Long road ahead: Tokyo and Seoul look to take ties to the next level

While Fumio Kishida and Yoon Suk-yeol will look to bask in the success of a fruitful summit in Seoul, the Japan-South Korea relationship remains fragile.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 5, 2023

Nuclear weapons may not be in Seoul’s best interest

South Korean nuclearization could destroy all efforts to denuclearize North Korea and could also kill its alliance with the U.S.
JAPAN
May 5, 2023

Kishida seeks to 'add momentum' to Seoul ties as regular diplomacy resumes

The prime minister has expressed his desire for Japan to show that it is also invested in the neighbors’ rapprochement, with the trip to South Korea expected to highlight that resolve.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2023

Why Russian TV isn’t Tucker Carlson’s dream job

The Russian propaganda apparatus has long treated ex-Fox host Tucker Carlson — used him — as one of its own. The collateral damage he has inflicted on Ukraine is both real and insidious.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 19, 2023

Abortion pill rulings to impact pharmaceutical innovation

Bringing new drugs to market is already expensive and time-consuming. Undercutting the FDA will only make it harder.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 11, 2023

What is keeping Japan from sending weapons to Ukraine?

The ruling coalition has agreed to hold talks on the matter, but barriers range from public opposition to disagreements between the LDP and Komeito.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 7, 2023

Ma Ying-jeou’s historic trip: Can former Taiwan president help ease cross-strait tensions?

Despite being the first former Taiwanese president to set foot on mainland soil, the impact of this landmark trip on cross-strait relationships might be limited.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 24, 2023

After cyclones leave many homeless, Vanuatu takes climate plea to world stage

More than 3,000 people are still in evacuation centers three weeks after two category-four cyclones hit Vanuatu, which has a population of 319,000 spread across 80 islands.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 23, 2023

Japanese Communist Party expulsions cause jitters in party ranks

Citing a serious violation of party regulations, the JCP expelled Nobuyuki Matsutake and Hajime Suzuki after both used book publications to agitate for the vote among party members.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 22, 2023

Kishida in Kyiv: PM tries to burnish diplomatic chops, but will this translate domestically?

While Kishida was able to contrast himself with Xi and boost his own global profile, the affect the trip will have on his popularity at home remains uncertain.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 20, 2023

BOJ debated side effects of easy policy at March meeting

While global banking woes have taken some pressure off long-term interest rates, the debate underscores the challenge incoming BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda faces in keeping borrowing costs low.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 17, 2023

How China lost Asia

China’s efforts to bully its neighbors into acquiescing to its demands have not only failed, they have led Asia's democracies to deepen cooperation with the United States.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 12, 2023

Boris Johnson wants to knight his dad? That's Britain.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson may be causing the latest dismay, but much of Britain’s political class no longer knows how to behave.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 4, 2023

Taiwan wary of China charm offensive risks ahead of presidential vote

As Taipei and Beijing gradually resume travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan security officials expect China to relaunch an influence campaign.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 4, 2023

The Murdoch empire — and Fox News — is at a crossroads

Just how influential Rupert Murdoch remains looms large in Republican circles ahead of what portends to be a contentious 2024 U.S. presidential primary race.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 14, 2023

Britain needs some leveling up in its military

Worries mount over the British military falling behind as Vladimir Putin’s land war rages in Ukraine.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 6, 2023

Tokyo High Court to decide whether to reopen Iwao Hakamata murder case

The decision on whether to reopen the high-profile 1966 Shizuoka Prefecture murder case will come on March 13, defense lawyers in the case have said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Feb 5, 2023

After U.S. downing of suspected Chinese spy balloon, can ties can be stabilized?

Washington's dramatic decision to shoot down the balloon has highlighted the growing trust gap between the two superpowers and raised fresh questions about the trajectory of bilateral ties.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Feb 1, 2023

If Kishida's approval ratings remain in a rut, who might succeed him as prime minister?

Lawmakers like Taro Kono and Shigeru Ishiba might be popular with the public, but whether they can garner support from within their party is a major question mark.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Jan 29, 2023

Can South Korea and Japan repair their strained relationship?

Both nations are aiming to mend ties clouded by years of mistrust and a tumultuous past, but many challenges remain.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 29, 2023

Big Tech binged on workers during COVID-19 — now, comes the purge

The spate of Big Tech layoffs is a reaction to a hiring wave during the pandemic that got out of hand. But will it be an overreaction?

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes