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COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2015

Risks to democrats who nod to blurred truth

Democratic societies are faced with the temptation to close one's eyes and ears to inconvenient truths. For example, we do not want to admit that Russian President Vladimir Putin has long since crossed the line into war with regard to Ukraine.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 26, 2015

Nous ne sommes pas Charlie: Voices that mock authority in Japan muzzled

Why is there no equivalent of Charlie Hebdo, 'The Daily Show' or 'Monty Python' in Japan?
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 26, 2015

Japan's media grapple with free speech, faith and immigration after Charlie Hebdo attack

What does the Japanese media have to say about the recent events in France? The weeklies have got something for everyone.
LIFE / Language / WELL SAID
Jan 26, 2015

Thanks to okage, it's easier to explain yourself

Last week, we introduced how to use u305bu3044 to express the cause of something (especially something bad) in negative way. Today, we will introduce how to use its antonym u304au304bu3052 (owing to).
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Jan 26, 2015

I wanna rock 'n' roll all night, and be kawaii, ev-er-y day

The Momoiro Clover Z + Kiss collaboration transcends generations, styles and sense.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 26, 2015

Netanyahu defends planned Congress speech as anti-Iran strategy

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended on Sunday a planned speech to the U.S. Congress about Iran, saying he had a moral obligation to speak out on an issue that poses a mortal threat to Israel.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 24, 2015

Smoke signals: Can Tokyo ever go smoke-free?

Japan has long held a reputation of being something of a paradise for smokers. Tobacco is, at least by Western standards, relatively cheap and people can still light up in many of the country's restaurants and bars. In fact, before the turn of the century smokers could pretty much puff away on a cigarette...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Jan 24, 2015

Monkeying around in Sarugakucho

Sarugakucho — which loosely translates as "monkey fun town" — is a hot spot near Daikanyama Station in Shibuya, Tokyo. As a place to hang out, this area sets the bar pretty high: Its backstreets are a zoo of uber-cute boutiques offering exclusive jeans, aromatic drip coffee made with gourmet beans,...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 24, 2015

Amid French crisis, Japan frets over virgins

Still in its infancy, the new year has already spawned a theme: diversity. Is it possible? Is it desirable? Is there any common ground, besides mutual, irreconcilable loathing, between those who declare "I am Charlie" and those who riposte "I am Mohammad"?
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jan 24, 2015

Jonathan Clements: Diving alongside a slowly sinking nation

When the pop singer Justin Bieber was in Japan in the spring of 2014 he asked his driver to make an impromptu stop at a shrine in Tokyo. Naturally, Bieber posted some photos of his shrine visit online, but instead of getting likes, his photos prompted outrage. Bieber, like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe before...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Jan 24, 2015

Stephen Gill: 'Don't believe everything you hear or read'

University lecturer Stephen gill on haiku, hiking barefoot and Kyoto ice-cream
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 24, 2015

Obama looking to leverage ties with Modi during India trip

Barack Obama will do something in India on Monday that an American president almost never does in public: He'll sit in one place, in a foreign country, for hours.
WORLD
Jan 24, 2015

Some counterterrorism efforts in Yemen frozen

The United States has halted some counterterrorism operations against al-Qaida militants in Yemen following a takeover of the country by Iran-backed Houthi rebels, U.S. officials said Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2015

Democrats fine-tune gaffes with homemakers

American Democrats have a knack for saying stupid things about full-time homemakers. And two of President Barack Obama's recent proposals with regard to tax credits reflect this weakness.
LIFE / Digital / ON: GAMES
Jan 23, 2015

Five things to keep you ahead of the game

Last year's monster hits "Pokemon Omega Ruby" and "Alpha Sapphire" are the theme to a new pop-up cafe in Shibuya. As Nintendo 3DS remakes of the 2002 Game Boy Advance titles "Pokemon Ruby" and "Sapphire," the new versions, with beefed-up graphics and new content, sold more than two million copies in...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 23, 2015

There's an etiquette to dealing with bouts of flu

If you think that etiquette is limited to which fork to use, think again. Etiquette is simply kindness with a heavy helping of common sense. That's why etiquette helps get things done, and it responds to what's going on in the world at any given time.
CULTURE / Music
Jan 23, 2015

DJ Obake brings a kaleidoscopic blend of elements to 'H'

DJ Obake "H" (Zoom Lens)
COMMENTARY
Jan 22, 2015

Punch from the pope when the cause is right

At least U.S. President Barack Obama — and Pope Francis — had the good sense to dodge world leaders' little pantomime of defiance in the streets of Paris after the Charlie Hebdo killings.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jan 21, 2015

Islamic State likely gave hostage ultimatum knowing difficulty of meeting it

The militant group, which aims to establish an Islamic caliphate, is likely using the hostage situation to generate renewed international attention, according to leading analysts.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 21, 2015

Jemaine Clement: Bloodsucking and bored at the end of the world

The newest vampire movie to take film festivals by storm, "What We Do in the Shadows," is the work of two New Zealanders: actor Jemaine Clement ("Flight of the Conchords") and actor/director Taika Waititi ("Boy"). Together they wrote, directed and star in a movie that was made on a small budget — "a...
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jan 21, 2015

Abe targets Finance Ministry

Angered by its resistance to some of his policy measures, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears bent on curbing the power of the Finance Ministry.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2015

Editors are killing U.S. political cartooning

The Charlie Hebdo massacre couldn't have happened in the U.S. because no American newspaper employs more than one political cartoonist, and most have none.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2015

Honda warns against 'stupid' loans driving U.S. sales gains

A top U.S. executive at Honda Motor Co. said competitors are doing "stupid things" to boost auto sales, including making seven-year-long car loans that harm buyers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2015
Jan 21, 2015

Japanese architects making mark on Swiss design landscape

As part of the events commemorating 150 years of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, an exhibition titled "JP-CH 2014: Building in Context" was held in Tokyo last October featuring five recent projects in Switzerland by four eminent Japanese architects.
Japan Times
JAPAN / DAVOS SPECIAL 2015
Jan 21, 2015

Sake: Best drink for 'washoku'

What are good alcoholic beverages to enjoy with "washoku," traditional Japanese cuisine? While beer, shochu and even whisky and wine are popular choices, the best match by far is sake, the national beverage of Japan. After all, washoku has been developed over many centuries as a cuisine to go well with...

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person