Search - opinion

 
 
JAPAN
Nov 11, 2022

Justice minister ousted over death row gaffe in fresh blow to Kishida Cabinet

The minister's departure marks the second Kishida Cabinet member to resign in less than three weeks.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Nov 10, 2022

Abortion and Trump dashed Republican hopes for 'red wave'

Exit polling and interviews with analysts and voters showed that while inflation was a leading driver for voters, the issue of protecting abortion rights was nearly as paramount.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 9, 2022

Breaking Japan’s cash habit by nudging wage earners

The Japanese government plans to pay workers directly into digital wallets to move them off cash and into virtual payments.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 9, 2022

Big Tech layoffs deflate Musk and Zuckerberg

Twitter and Facebook can't afford their billionaire bosses' obsessions in a new age of austerity.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 8, 2022

BOJ debated impact of future exit from easy policy amid rising prices

A summary of opinions suggests some policymakers are slowly becoming more open to the possibility of an eventual withdrawal of the radical monetary stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 8, 2022

How corporate chiefs dodge lawsuits over sexual abuse and deadly products

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction landed him in prison. Allegations of serial sexual abuse cost him his career and his movie studio. His company went bankrupt and later settled legal claims by about 50 women.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2022

Midterms move climate battle beyond Washington

With the U.S. Federal government headed for gridlock, the fate of energy legislation lies with the states.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 7, 2022

In final midterm push, Biden warns of threats as Trump hints at another run

Nonpartisan forecasters favor the Republicans to win control of the House of Representatives.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 6, 2022

Can polls survive losing half the country?

Yes, U.S. voter surveys were very wrong two years ago, but the mistakes weren't the result of partisan bias.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 4, 2022

North Korea missile salvo hits the law of diminishing returns

These days, markets are more concerned with U.S. Fed Chief Jerome Powell than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his missiles. So what's Pyongyang's game plan?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2022

What do the U.S. midterms mean for Japan?

For many Japanese, the midterm U.S. elections will serve as an indicator of the health of American democracy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2022

Pakistan won’t quickly recover from Imran Khan’s shooting

The attack on the former prime minister is likely to put any political equilibrium out of reach for years.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 3, 2022

Rattle West? Force negotiations? Assessing threats made by Putin.

The prospect of even a small nuclear device going off is so terrible that officials in the United States and elsewhere are concerned.
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 16, 2023

Kishida’s popularity in free fall ahead of key political events

The government’s popularity hit a record low in four public opinion surveys over the weekend, just as the political calendar looks set to heat up.
The late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, is depicted on a leaflet marking the first anniversary of his death in September 2012
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 16, 2023

Japan's media has to account for its failures, too

The Unification Church is set to be dissolved and Johnny & Associates is undergoing structural reforms. What role did the media play, or not play?
South Korea's Aegis-equipped destroyer Yulgok Yi I (right), the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (top), the Aegis-equipped USS Shoup destroyer (bottom center), the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Hyuga destroyer (left) and the South Korean Navy's Cheonji (center) sail in formation during a joint maritime drill in international waters southeast of South Korea's Jeju Island on Oct. 10.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics / ANALYSIS
Oct 17, 2023

Military deterrence alone will not dissuade China, experts warn

Governments must be proactive in pressing for diplomatic solutions, as a focus on military power won't make the world safer, analysts say.
Hamas fighters take part in a military parade in Gaza on July 19 to mark the anniversary of the 2014 war with Israel.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 18, 2023

What pushed Hamas to launch its boldest attack ever?

Nothing justifies Hamas' brutality, but analyzing its motivations and goals is the first step to unpacking the present crisis.
JAPAN / Society
Oct 18, 2023

Japan panel compiles new system for foreign technical interns

The report clearly states that the new system is aimed at “securing and developing human resources in fields facing labor shortages.”
For Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, tackling the impact of rising prices has become a key priority.
JAPAN / Politics / FOCUS
Oct 19, 2023

Upcoming parliament session puts Kishida's stimulus package in spotlight

Tackling inflation has become a key priority for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, as economic trends have played a part in his low approval ratings.
Samples of The Japan Times winning news coverage, recognized by the World Association of News Publishers Asian Media Awards.
JAPAN
Oct 20, 2023

Japan Times wins awards for breaking news and feature reporting

The Japan Times receives gold awards for breaking news coverage and feature writing at the World Association of News Publishers Asian Media Awards.
Demonstrators march against the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians outside Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Oct. 14.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 20, 2023

Is silence on Israel support for Hamas?

One of the current problems with the Israel-Hamas debate is that a failure to condemn some wrongs is often taken as approval.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, make a toast during a reception at the Kremlin in March.  
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 18, 2023

Xi and Putin think they’re winning — and maybe they are

China and Russia's actions are contributing to an emerging Cold War and aligning other powers against the U.S. and its allies in Europe and Asia.
Swiss People's Party (SVP) leader Marco Chiesa (left) smiles next to the president of The Center (Die Mitte) Swiss political party Gerhard Pfister prior to a TV interview in Bern on Sunday.
WORLD / Politics
Oct 23, 2023

Switzerland’s right-wing party soars on immigration concerns

The SVP — as the People's Party is known by its German acronym — won 28.6% of votes, up from 25.6% four years ago.
New Zealand's blindside flanker Shannon Frizell (left) takes part in a training session in Rueil-Malmaison, France, on Tuesday ahead of the Rugby World Cup final.
MORE SPORTS
Oct 25, 2023

New Zealand and South Africa take ultimate rivalry to grandest stage

The rich history of this 102-year-old matchup has seen political turmoil, countless bruising battles, a previous World Cup final and even a 0-0 draw.
Asteroid mining only works in a science-fiction world where metals are thousands of times more expensive than they are today.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 25, 2023

Commercial asteroid mining has a astronomical cost issue

Asteroid mining only works in a science-fiction world where metals are thousands of times more expensive than they are today.
Despite shifts in the global economy and trade, the world remains highly integrated and globalization is far from over.
COMMENTARY
Oct 25, 2023

Globalization’s demise has been greatly exaggerated

Trade flows, allocation of dollars, and supply chains are evolving, but these changes are not uniform and can be challenging to predict.
Munakata Shiko's "Oshira-sama: The Flying Silkworm Deities" (1968)
CULTURE / Art
Oct 26, 2023

Major retrospective traces hero's journey of 'Japan's van Gogh'

An exhibition of Shiko Munakata's works shows evidence of a charismatic character and a career that reflects Japan's changing relationship with the West.
Israeli soldiers gather around a tank near the border with the Gaza Strip on Oct. 15. The IDF is preparing to conduct a ground offensive into the Palestinian territory.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 26, 2023

When history rhymes: Are we back in 2003, at the dawn of the Iraq War?

Given the parallels between the Israeli position today and the U.S. invasion of Iraq a decade ago, history can offer important lessons.
The simplest option for many Japanese industries facing labor shortages might be to do what the taxi sector is doing — keep people in the workforce longer.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 26, 2023

Octogenarian taxi drivers to the labor-crunch rescue

An option for many Japanese industries facing labor shortages might be to do what the taxi sector is doing — keep people in the workforce longer.

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