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JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 19, 2016

Japanese team finds new way to create, research Parkinson's stem cells

Researchers from Juntendo and Keio universities have come up with a quicker and easier way to generate iPS cells from people with Parkinson's disease, a discovery they claim will go a long way in developing a cure for the neurological disease.
EDITORIALS
Feb 18, 2016

Early cancer detection is critical

Regular health checks are key to detecting cancerous conditions in their early stages when they are easiest to treat.
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2016

Sharp considering excluding Foxconn backers from vote

Sharp Corp.'s lawyers are recommending that two board members be excluded from a final vote on competing bailout plans, possibly tipping the balance in favor of a proposal from Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, people with knowledge of the matter said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 16, 2016

China defense spending rise 'in the cards'

China will likely announce another large rise in defense spending next month, as the ruling Communist Party seeks to assuage the military's unhappiness at sweeping reforms and as worries over the South China Sea and Taiwan weigh on Beijing.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 16, 2016

Mitsubishi gets $946 million plane order from U.S. leasing company

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp., the maker of Japan's first passenger jet, won an order for as many as 20 planes from a U.S. lessor, according to two people familiar with the deal.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 15, 2016

Abe pledges $78 million in humanitarian aid to visiting Abbas

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday offered $78 million in fresh humanitarian assistance to visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, renewing his vow to support the Middle East peace process amid yet another period of tension.
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 13, 2016

Bank of Japan talking with global peers about turmoil in markets

The Bank of Japan has been communicating with officials around the world over turmoil in financial markets, Deputy Gov. Hiroshi Nakaso said, as stocks tumble and the yen surges.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 12, 2016

Scientists bid comet lander Philae farewell after radio silence

European scientists have given up hope of restoring contact with space probe Philae, which successfully landed on a comet in a pinpoint operation only to lose power because its solar batteries were in the shade.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 12, 2016

Happiness is a warm farm: How home cooking is reviving rural Yamagata

It's late January in Tokyo, and a rare 6-centimeter snowfall plunges the city's famously efficient transport network into chaos. Train lines report delays of up to four hours, leaving snaking lines of frustrated commuters steaming, despite the freezing temperatures.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 2016

Tokyo's Ota Ward approves first short-term, Airbnb-style home rentals

An online travel service provider gets government accreditation to start renting out private homes on the model popularized by Airbnb.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KANPAI CULTURE
Feb 12, 2016

For the goodness of sake: international sommeliers test their senses

Early one morning in Japan last month, Taipei sake educator Michael Ou took a deep breath as he prepared to deliver a presentation about the stages of fermentation before a panel of experts from the U.K.'s Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). It was the last day of an elite sake instructors' training...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 12, 2016

Red Hot Chili Peppers return for 20th anniversary of Fuji Rock

Los Angeles alternative rock outfit Red Hot Chili Peppers and Icelandic post-rock trio Sigur Ros were among acts named Friday to perform at the 20th anniversary of Fuji Rock Festival in July.
EDITORIALS
Feb 11, 2016

Intimidation via the Broadcast Law

Communications minister Sanae Takaichi's statement strengthens the case for creating a neutral, independent body to take charge of broadcasting administration, including the issuance and withdrawals of licenses.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Feb 10, 2016

Educate the people and keep the 'manji' (卍) on Japan's maps

Why the ancient symbol should be left where it is, despite its dark connotations from the 20th century.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Feb 10, 2016

The 11th edition of the Osaka Asian Film Festival

Tokyo tends to suck up all the media oxygen when it comes to film festivals and events in this country, but there's plenty going on beyond the capital's borders, as evidenced by the Osaka Asian Film Festival. The 11th edition of the festival, unspooling March 4-13 at venues in Osaka, will present a wide-ranging...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 9, 2016

Japan should seek a society upholding human values

Japan can embrace its most positive characteristics and build on them to ensure an innovation-rich future.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 9, 2016

Just what you need: Japanese shop staff compete in the art of the sales pitch

Sell it to me. Sweet-talking sales clerks recently pitted their patter against fellow professionals who know what selling is all about.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 8, 2016

How far has the North's missile technology come?

North Korea's latest rocket launch raises a lot of questions about just how far its ballistic missile technology has come.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Feb 8, 2016

Deployment of U.S. missile defense system could reshape security in East Asia

The U.S. has opened the door to parking a ballistic missile defense system on North Korea's doorstep.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / ADOPT ME!
Feb 7, 2016

Fraser the rabbit enjoys a bit of company

It doesn't get any cuter than this little bunny named Fraser — and his 18 brothers and sisters — that ARK took in from an elderly couple that didn't seem to quite understand the birds and the bees when it came to bunnies. Fraser is the representative rabbit for the whole bunch that arrived at ARK...
CULTURE / Music
Feb 7, 2016

Megumi Wata goes dark in an effort to stand out from idols

Megumi Wata didn't want to be a typical idol. "I see it as twinkly and fuwa fuwa (soft), very pastel. My idol of idols is someone like Seiko Matsuda, who is so different than groups today," she says at a cafe in Ikebukuro, a neighborhood she prefers to the usual idol haunts of Harajuku and Akihabara....
CULTURE / Music
Feb 7, 2016

Melt-Banana, The Fin among acts at gig set in old bathhouse

"To get the community onboard with the show, we made some flyers with photos of us on that make us look like cult leaders," she says. "We were trying to look as wholesome as possible, which didn't really work too well."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 7, 2016

China faces diplomatic crisis over missing Hong Kong booksellers

For years Gui Minhai, a China-born publisher of tabloid books on China's leaders, had believed he could live and work overseas on a Swedish passport without fear of persecution by Chinese authorities, which ban such works on the mainland.
EDITORIALS
Feb 6, 2016

Science and technology plan

Hopefully the government's new five-year plan for science and technology plan will reverse a disturbing decrease in the quality and quantity of Japanese research.
Reader Mail
Feb 6, 2016

Money troubles facing education must be solved

The Yen for Living column titled "Mounting student debt may cost society dearly" in the Jan. 24 issue made me think long and hard. Let me share some of my thoughts from my perspectives as a parent and an educator.
Reader Mail
Feb 6, 2016

Thai lese majeste law used properly

With reference to the column titled "Thai military risks weakening the monarchy" by Pavin Chachavalpongpun published in the Jan. 22 issue, I wish to clarify some points as follows.

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