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JAPAN / Society
May 13, 2017

In Fukushima, a land where few return

The evacuation orders for most of the village of Iitate have been lifted. But where are the people?
JAPAN / Politics
May 12, 2017

Abe's bid to revise charter by 2020 irks LDP veterans

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's subtle strategy for marketing constitutional revision like a 2020 image commercial leaves his party's veterans feeling irritated and undermined.
EDITORIALS
May 11, 2017

Abe's pitch to amend Article 9

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has many questions to answer before setting a timetable in his quest to amend the Constitution.
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 9, 2017

Helping all children reach their potential

When it comes to meeting the needs of children with disabilities, the contrast between Japan and the United States is jarring.
JAPAN / Politics
May 8, 2017

Japan's defense-only posture to 'basically' remain unchanged under proposed constitutional change, Suga says

Japan's security policies, including its defensive posture, would 'basically remain the same' if the Constitution is revised as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe proposed last week, claims Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.
EDITORIALS
May 8, 2017

An alternative to the Henoko plan

Instead of clinging to the Henoko plan, the Abe administration should at least explore an alternative to the Futenma relocation project, which could prevent its confrontation with Okinawa from developing into a situation in which local sentiment deepens against the U.S. military presence on the island itself.
Japan Times
JAPAN / GENERATIONAL CHANGE
May 8, 2017

Entrepreneur taps Skype, tablets to offer sign language service across Japan

Imagine you're a hearing impaired person who wants to hire a sign language interpreter. The process is antiquated and lengthy. You have to send a fax to a local municipal government to make a reservation two weeks in advance, and officials then look for an interpreter whose schedule matches yours. Once...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 8, 2017

Election poised to bring South Korea change following months of political upheaval

After one of South Korea's most tumultuous political periods in recent memory, voters appear ready for change.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 4, 2017

Cram schools help children with developmental disabilities prepare for future

Following his teacher's instructions, 7-year-old Eita slid out of his chair, tidied it up and then — in front of his fellow group members and teachers — said a few words about his performance during an after-school programming class he attended in April.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
May 1, 2017

Rising 'power harassment' scourge now affects 33% of workforce: survey

About a third of Japan's workers have been targeted for “power harassment” over the past three years, up from a quarter in 2012, the labor ministry says.
JAPAN / History
Apr 29, 2017

Power politics: Japan's most popular political platforms

Looking back at some of the political platforms that have been heavily endorsed by voters over the past century in a bid to predict where the country might be headed under the 'third generation' of postwar Japanese.
EDITORIALS
Apr 29, 2017

Lawsuits against local officials

The government is trying to limit the power of residents to use the courts to demand accountability of their municipal and prefectural leaders.
BUSINESS
Apr 24, 2017

Government may pull plug on a quarter of clean-energy projects

About a quarter of all approved clean-energy projects in Japan may no longer qualify for government incentives after failing to meet a deadline to secure grid access, according to preliminary estimates from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 12, 2017

Guidelines on supporting preschool children with disabilities under final review

The government's first set of guidelines to help facilities improve services and opportunities for preschool children with disabilities are close to being finalized.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA / NBA REPORT
Apr 11, 2017

Russian influence on Nets leaves franchise in disarray

The United States is having a lot of problems with Russia.
JAPAN / Society
Apr 11, 2017

Rights group renews criticism of death penalty in Japan

Japan executed three people last year and imposed three new death sentences in what Amnesty International has also described as a secretive system.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 4, 2017

Moon, Ahn and a self-described strongman vie to lead South Korea

Five weeks from South Korea's election, it's down to a three-horse race.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Mar 25, 2017

Reassessing the negative impact of hosting the 2020 Olympics

The estimated cost of the 2020 Olympic Games has increased astronomically since Tokyo won the right to host it. On Dec. 22, Asahi Shimbun reported that the estimated price could be as much as ¥1.8 trillion. The original bid estimate for constructing new Olympic venues was ¥499 billion and that is now...
BASKETBALL / NBA
Mar 21, 2017

Silver weighs in on teams resting starters

NBA commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo to the league's board of governors Monday, describing the way teams are choosing to rest starters in some games as "an extremely significant issue for our league" and pressing owners to be more involved in the decision-making process.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2017

Malaysia intercepted, returned Thailand-bound arms-related shipment to North Korea in 2011

Malaysia intercepted and returned a shipment of North Korean military communications equipment sent to Thailand in 2011, the country's police chief said on Monday, amid growing scrutiny of the Southeast Asian nation's dealings with North Korea.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 20, 2017

What next for Japan's peacekeepers after withdrawal from South Sudan?

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced that Japan will end its peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in May and withdraw the Ground Self-Defense Force's engineering troops there. The troops have been deployed to the northeast African country for the last five years as part of...
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2017

DP convention exposes weakness

The Democratic Party's first convention since Renho took over as its chief highlighted the difficulties confronting the top opposition party.
WORLD / Society
Mar 13, 2017

To encourage more births, Chinese lawmaker proposes lowering nation's high marriage age

China should further ease population controls by lowering one of the world's highest marriage ages to encourage more births as the nation grows old, according to a lawmaker.
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Mar 12, 2017

Israel team turning heads at 2017 WBC

They arrived together in Japan as the toasts of the first round of the 2017 World Baseball Classic. Team Israel, a squad not many expected to qualify for this tournament, pulled off three upsets in South Korea to make an improbable run into the second round.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2017

Tsukiji fiasco heads to powerful investigative committee

The time is drawing near for Tokyo's lawmakers to use a powerful investigative tool in a bid to seek answers about the Tsukiji fish market relocation fiasco.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 5, 2017

Rule change could see Abe become nation's longest-serving leader

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party rubber-stamps an internal rule change to extend the maximum tenure of its president from the current six years to nine.

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