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COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
May 3, 2015

'Sunagawa Struggle' ignited anti-U.S. base resistance across Japan

On May 4, 1955, a black car rolled into the Tokyo suburb of Sunagawa and sparked one of biggest anti-U.S. base protests in history.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
May 2, 2015

The alluring lofty peaks of Iya Valley

It's late afternoon as my family and I motor into the Iya Valley, a remote region of western Tokushima Prefecture. Billed as many things — a lost paradise, a secret hideaway, a rural escape — by the area's tourism brochures, I find that no adjectives can accurately capture the interplay of light...
COMMENTARY / World
May 2, 2015

What not to do after the Baltimore riots

To help avoid future riots, U.S. authorities could start by training cops not to automatically treat people in such predominantly black neighborhoods as criminals.
Japan Times
WORLD
May 1, 2015

Police hand prosecutors findings on Baltimore man's death after arrest

An internal Baltimore police report on the death of a black man who suffered severe spinal injuries while in custody was handed over on Thursday to prosecutors, who must decide whether to bring charges against any of the six patrol officers involved in the man's arrest.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 28, 2015

How far is Japan willing to go to back the United States?

What was once America's most stable relationship in Asia is moving into the category of 'it's complicated.'
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / FOCUS
Apr 16, 2015

Some prisons in Japan becoming 'like nursing homes' amid surge in elderly offenders

Most prisons spend a lot of time and effort keeping inmates from escaping, but a greater challenge is convincing some convicts to leave.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Apr 15, 2015

Family overcomes learning and health challenges to make cafe dream a reality

Originally a nurse by profession, Rhonda Tezuka is overcoming cultural barriers and helping others to take charge of their own health and welfare.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 11, 2015

Olympics provide golden opportunity for change

While there are many reasons why a city would want to host the Olympic Games, most have to do with money and prestige: The Olympics bring international attention to the host city for two weeks.
JAPAN
Apr 7, 2015

Japan's 'deep remorse' over war spelled out in Diplomatic Bluebook

Japan is actively contributing to world peace and stability based on the pledge of never waging war that grew out of "deep remorse" over World War II, according to the Foreign Ministry's diplomatic policy report for 2015, which was released Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Mar 21, 2015

Sexual identity isn't as simple as it once was

All societies are repressive — some brutally, others benignly, more or less. No society allows us to fully express our true selves. Some societies squash our true selves. Even those that don't will at least keep them in check to some degree. Society could hardly function otherwise.
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 15, 2015

Return of Fukushima elderly gives preview of future

The nation honored its dead last week from the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Tohoku's Pacific coastline on March 11 four years ago.
Japan Times
JAPAN / UN WORLD CONFERENCE ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
Mar 14, 2015

Using technology to lessen disaster risk

Technology and education are both necessary to reduce the risk of disasters.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / CHILD'S PLAY
Mar 13, 2015

Art is for everyone, including kids

Last fall, British artist Jake Chapman found a spectacular way to irritate arts-minded parents like me — all the while "coincidentally" generating controversy and interest in his latest show where there was previously none. Chapman is a shock merchant, so I should have realized that his words might...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 12, 2015

Sendai's Shimura remains key part of team's identity

During the past four seasons of major personnel changes for the Sendai 89ers, veteran guard Takehiko Shimura has been the one constant on the club's roster.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 6, 2015

Laos' Thongsing meets with Abe, vows to deepen ties with Japan

The visiting prime minister of Laos pledged on Friday to further develop bilateral ties with Japan amid increasing interest from Japanese companies.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Mar 6, 2015

Cheap rural homes come at a price

Though the hollowing-out of population in regional areas in Japan has become a major issue for the central government, it's been a problem for regional governments for more than three decades. Twenty years ago there was a popular promotional method called "I-turn," devised as a supplement to the "U-turn"...
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 4, 2015

Stance on 'comfort women' undermines fight to end wartime sexual violence

The prime minister's declarations on preventing sexual violence in wartime fly in the face of his government's refusal to recognize Japan's responsibilities toward the 'comfort women.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Feb 20, 2015

A stitch in time does much more than save nine

One of Tokyo Dome's most attended annual attractions might come as a surprise to some. Aside from being home to baseball games and big-name concerts, the huge stadium also hosts a number of fairs, including the Tokyo International Great Quilt Festival — which is the largest of its kind.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Feb 20, 2015

Temporary housing; famous siblings; CM of the week: Meiji

The temporary housing built for the survivors of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami is usually depicted as being dark and cold, inhabited by sad people. But according to the NHK regional documentary, "Egao no Kasetsu Jutaku" ("Temporary Housing of Smiling Faces"; NHK-G, Mon., 12:40 a.m.), at least one community...
WORLD
Feb 17, 2015

Copenhagen gunman's neighborhood no stranger to strife

Every Dane knows of Norrebro, the Copenhagen neighborhood where police shot dead the gunman suspected of carrying out shocking attacks on a synagogue and a cultural center hosting a free speech event.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS / TYSON-DOUGLAS SHOCKER REVISITED
Feb 10, 2015

Douglas reflects on Tyson fight 25 years later

The youngest heavyweight champion in history, making his 10th title defense, entered the fight with a 37-0 record and had never been knocked down during his pro career; Douglas was the 42-1 underdog. Tyson's reign ended 28 minutes, 22 seconds into the fight, at precisely 1:22 into the 10th round.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 3, 2015

Bullet train black gold awaits Ethiopian roasters

On a typically sunny January day in southwestern Ethiopia, smallholder coffee farmers gather beneath red, blue and orange canvases, propped up by wooden stakes, to watch and participate in a coffee-tasting competition with demanding Japanese standards.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 30, 2015

Fanatics, charlatans and economics

National chauvinism and religious fundamentalism are here to stay, and with them the terrorism that extremists of all stripes embrace, because both phenomena are ideally suited to the age of the individual, providing imaginary answers to personal angst.
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
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jan 19, 2015

Writer's critical take on Jolie's 'Unbroken' raises readers' hackles

Some emails and online comments in response to Nicolas Gattig's recent Foreign Agenda column, 'Japan may shun 'Unbroken' because it's old hat.'
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Jan 18, 2015

A top 10 for non-Japanese parents considering local schools

Whether your children are already in the local system or you are weighing up your future schooling options, here are 10 issues for parents to keep in mind.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society / FOCUS
Jan 18, 2015

Paris killings leave France troubled by 30 years of failure with immigrants

Latifa Ibn Ziaten knows a thing or two about terrorism.
JAPAN
Jan 16, 2015

Disaster experts warn of need for 'risk-informed' development policies

Disaster plans that combine risk reduction with the need to quickly erect new buildings and infrastructure are becoming crucial to rebuilding from natural disasters.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / WHEN EAST MARRIES WEST
Jan 14, 2015

Worst-case scenarios make good sense but can lead to silliness

Worst-case scenarios make good sense to too many people in Japan, and in turn influence decisions in ways that can only be described as . . . silly.

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