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Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 3, 2018

NHK tries to clear up LGBT misconceptions

Last month, publisher Iwanami Shoten was criticized for its definition of “LGBT” in the newest edition of Kojien, which is considered to be the most authoritative dictionary of the Japanese language. The complaint was specifically about the meaning of the acronym’s “T” portion, which stands...
JAPAN / Society
Jan 31, 2018

'Country of cowards': Comedy duo's political satire stands out in gun-shy Japan

In what was perhaps a make-or-break moment for their careers, comedy duo Woman Rush Hour did something on prime-time television in December that most of their fellow comedians try their best to eschew: They talked about politics.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 27, 2018

Is artificial intelligence killing Japan's banks?

As part of an ongoing series about artificial intelligence, the Asahi Shimbun on Jan. 11 published a story that asserts the financial industry has adopted AI more readily than any other. Because finance is a data-driven endeavor, designing AI software to do things such as read and analyze reams of economic...
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 26, 2018

More birth defects found in U.S. areas with Zika according to American health officials

The mosquito-borne Zika virus may be responsible for an increase in birth defects in U.S. states and territories, even in women who had no lab evidence of Zika exposure during pregnancy, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / TRAVEL INSIDER
Jan 23, 2018

Free Wi-Fi service; Historic fashion showcase; New routes introduced

Free Wi-Fi service
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 21, 2018

Media firm adapts to an ever-shifting Brazilian community in Japan

IPC serves the huge Portuguese-speaking community with radio, TV, mags and more.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 20, 2018

Debate grows over paying compensation to Olympic 'volunteers'

A  constant concern about the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics is its cost. Projected operating expenses for the games as of the end of last year was ¥1.35 trillion based on calculations made last May. Although the figure is smaller than it once was, the International Olympic Committee says it is still...
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 20, 2018

The knives begin to sharpen for Hakuho after sumo scandal

At the start of last November’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Shukan Taishu magazine (Nov. 20) led off its issue with a four-page article titled “What you need to know to enjoy the year’s final tournament tenfold.”
Figure Skating
Jan 14, 2018

Uno eager to escape Hanyu's shadow

Shoma Uno first stepped on the ice at five, but it was the rough-and-tumble of hockey he had his eyes on — until a chance meeting with a figure skater changed everything.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jan 7, 2018

More readers' responses to Japan Times Community articles from 2017

A selection of unpublished letters about Community stories from the second half of last year.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / HOOP SCOOP
Jan 5, 2018

Tyler Smith pleased by reaction to new book on hoop life

Tyler Smith, whose pro basketball career included stints with the Hitachi Sunrockers and Link Tochigi Brex in the now-disbanded JBL, has published his first book, "Called for Traveling: My Nomadic Life Playing Pro Basketball around the World."
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 28, 2017

Russia says Tokyo's deployment of U.S. missiles a blow to relations and will impact peace treaty negotiations

A decision by Japan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system will damage Moscow's relations with Tokyo and is a breach by Washington of a landmark arms control treaty, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Dec 28, 2017

Namie Amuro saves 'Kohaku' ... for now

The weekly Shukan Bunshun released a survey in early November highlighting the acts its readers wanted to see perform on NHK's yearend "Kohaku Uta Gassen" music program. They chose Namie Amuro as the artist they wanted to see the most, likely because she announced her plans to retire from the entertainment...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 27, 2017

Tokyo's Kabutocho financial district gets creative in bid to revive its quiet streets

It's a Monday night in late November and Ryutei Ichiya, a kimono-clad 34-year-old rakugo comic raconteur, is performing a skit in front of a crowd of over 100.
Japan Times
SPORTS / MAN ABOUT SPORTS
Dec 26, 2017

NFL seems to be getting stranger by the week

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A classic Clint Eastwood spaghetti Western flick.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 23, 2017

Men still making houses as women try to leave home

Dogen Ogata's name is known worldwide before he knows it himself. He's 8 months old. One day last month, in all innocence, cradled in his mother's arms, he attended a session of the Kumamoto municipal assembly.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 23, 2017

Fuji TV's home-improvement wrecking ball

A popular sub-genre of reality TV is the home-improvement show, and as with many things having to do with television, Japan did it first.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
Dec 20, 2017

Myanmar mum on whereabouts of Reuters journalists week after their arrest

Two Reuters journalists completed a week in detention in Myanmar on Tuesday, with no word on where they were being held as authorities proceeded with an investigation into whether they violated the country's colonial-era Official Secrets Act.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 18, 2017

Hit products of 2017 home in on uchi

Nikkei Marketing Journal ranks the hit products for 2017, with Amazon and Rakuten sitting pretty among the grand champions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 16, 2017

Why do some old men age disgracefully?

It's a universal belief that life is unfair, though there are many ways in which people manifest this belief. Some withdraw from the world, while others engage with it in an attempt to correct imbalances. Sometimes this engagement takes the form of anger.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 16, 2017

Showa's not giving up without a fight

The government has decided that the 31st year of Heisei will end with the abdication of Emperor Akihito 120 days into 2019, on April 30. Then on May 1, Crown Prince Naruhito will become emperor and a new nengō (name of the period of reign) will be announced.
Japan Times
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Dec 15, 2017

Sean Dyche has Burnley moving in right direction

The Visit Lancashire website lists as one of the things to see in Burnley as the "iconic Singing Ringing Tree which towers high above Burnley on Crown Point Moor and has been named in the top 10 pieces of 'sound art' in the world."
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 13, 2017

Music acts found new ways to get noticed in 2017, but nothing beats an established brand

The path to J-pop stardom used to be pretty simple: Align yourself with the right talent agency and label — they'll do all the work.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Dec 6, 2017

Rape allegation against high-profile journalist, dropped by prosecutors last year, returns in civil suit

A female journalist who is suing a high-profile journalist over an alleged rape in 2015 expressed hope that the truth will come out in open court as the oral hearings of her civil lawsuit began at the Tokyo District Court on Tuesday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Dec 3, 2017

Golden Kings ease to victory over B-Corsairs

The Ryukyu Golden Kings put points on the board in a hurry on Sunday afternoon.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 29, 2017

Gender equality and the mass media

Mass media in this country remains a male-dominated community and its understanding of gender equality is far too insufficient.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 25, 2017

#MeToo movement confuses media in Japan

During a recent discussion on Bunka Hoso's radio talk show, "Golden Radio," about sexual misconduct in the U.S., the participants wondered if the #MeToo social media movement would catch on in Japan. "Me Too" as a movement was started more than a decade ago by American social activist Tarana Burke to...

Longform

A small shrine perched atop rocks braves the waves hitting the shoreline during a storm in Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture. The area is under threat of a possible 31-meter-high tsunami if an earthquake strikes the nearby Nankai Trough.
If the 'Big One' hits, this city could face a 31-meter-high tsunami