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COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 25, 2014

Yamatoism is coming back

Although 'Abenomics' is at a standstill and its eventual success uncertain, the prime minister rushes to push a right-leaning agenda against the advice of close associates.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 22, 2014

Dilemmas of Adulthood: Japanese Women and the Nuance of Long-Term Resistance

As the '90s settled in and the new millennium was fast approaching, Japanese society saw an increase in the governmental status of "not yet married" women. The women classified under this category saw themselves as the up-and-coming future for postwar Japan. With an almost five-year increase in the age...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 18, 2014

Combating climate change

Britain's former ambassador to Japan urges public pressure on governments to stop their shilly-shalling over unresolved questions about whether human activity is contributing the most to climate change and to get on with concluding effective agreements on curbing carbon emissions.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2014

Enhancing IP protection amid increased globalization

The Japan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) held its 13th JIPA IP Symposium in Tokyo on Feb. 24 to raise awareness of importance of intellectual property (IP) in this era of globalization.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 17, 2014

Automation set to affect our job prospects

Who needs an army of lawyers when you have a computer?
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 14, 2014

Culture of safety can make or break nuclear power plants

On the third anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami and its devastating impact on Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima nuclear power plants, we need to understand why Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa Nuclear Power Station — which was even closer to the quake epicenter — had a drastically different fate.
Japan Times
JAPAN / ADVANCES IN PROGRESS
Mar 9, 2014

Honda's robotics tech headed for homes of the future

As technology evolves, every household is predicted to have at least one robot in the future, just as many of today's consumers feel incomplete without Internet access or a mobile phone.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB NOTEBOOK
Mar 8, 2014

Blanco out to prove stellar 2013 was no fluke

Tony Blanco was very good in 2013. Ridiculously good even, considering the already solid performer shattered a slew of career highs in one fell swoop.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 4, 2014

Protests in Ukraine, Thailand likely to backfire

The specter of secession suddenly haunts Ukraine and Thailand, two countries where demonstrators have uncompromisingly battled corrupt or unresponsive rulers. Are modern states in general strong enough to survive today's explosions of popular will?
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 2, 2014

Getting all mixed up with mixed kanji readings

Gyūdon (牛丼, beef-over-rice bowl) and tonjiru (豚汁, miso soup with pork and vegetables) have much in common. Not only are they a nice combo for a quick lunch (and that it's almost noon while I'm writing this), but on closer inspection both terms also turn out to be a little off with regard to...
EDITORIALS
Mar 1, 2014

Fukushima's appalling death toll

As the third anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake approaches, new studies show that more people have died of stress and other mental illnesses than from causes directly linked to the triple '3/11' disaster of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant meltdown.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Feb 27, 2014

Smaug the dragon to get fans fired up for 'Hobbit' sequel

The middle film in a trilogy can be a risky venture. The first film? Audiences are introduced to new characters and exciting possibilities. The final film? Hollywood pulls out all the stops to send those characters off with a bang. The middle? Well, directors often save their best tricks for the finale....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Feb 26, 2014

It's their plan for your money, so assume deception

An expat approaching a financial adviser with money to invest could be considered akin to the proverbial duck innocently waddling up to a nabe party with a bundle of leeks slung over his shoulder.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / EVERYMAN EATS
Feb 25, 2014

Prize-winning local dishes are the real taste of Japan

With memories of the Winter Olympics still fresh and with the Academy Awards just around the corner, Japanese food lovers are saluting some medalists of their own — prize-winning dishes from cooking competitions, public opinion polls and government surveys around the country. Here's a guide to some...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 24, 2014

Shinzo Abe isn't a nationalist in the traditionalist mold

Japan is still a country where its conservative leaders can't survive without showing glimpses of nationalism even as they advocate international cooperation. No way is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe nationalistic in the 'traditional' mold.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 24, 2014

'Abenomics' no help to breweries

While Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's policies help manufacturers such as Toyota Motor Corp. rack up record profits, challenges to his reforms are showing up in a more mundane spot: the outlook for beer.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 23, 2014

Plans don't make the grade

Don't count on the education ministry's plan to hire more foreign teachers and students to have much effect on its goal of getting at least 10 Japanese universities to place among the world's top 100.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / JAPAN WEB WATCH
Feb 20, 2014

'Kantai Collection': Social game of warships sets course for big money

Casual online games based on military themes and with a kawaii (cute) twist are currently a surprise hit in Japan. Is this related to the recent rightward tilt in national politics, or just part of Japan's creative desire to "cutify" everything.
EDITORIALS
Feb 20, 2014

Expanding the temp workforce

A labor law revision being prepared by the government would remove the three-year limit on dispatching temporary workers to the same job, and thus expand the ranks of a workforce that traditionally has had little job security and received less pay than regular employees.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / TRAVEL INSIDER
Feb 18, 2014

High-flying fashion, New SAS reward plan, Haneda to Jakarta

High-flying fashion
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 10, 2014

Mutual fears of China, Japan

China and Japan are perceiving more and more threats from each other, and their overactive responses are causing strong sense of insecurity for the region. The vicious circle is driving an escalating arms race.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 9, 2014

Getting the colors clear when filing taxes in Japan

Filing a tax return isn't easy at the best of times, but doing it in another country can be particularly challenging. Fortunately, if you work for a company and that's your sole source of income in Japan, they will take care of everything for you. However, those who are self-employed or have multiple...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 2, 2014

Post-school life can bring visa complications

After The Japan Times published a Lifelines column on Dec. 15 that focused on visa issues, we received a lot of mail from readers asking about their particular individual situations. We would like to stress that it is always best to have a professional look at personal cases.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Feb 1, 2014

Extinction threatens quarter of sharks, rays

A quarter of the world's sharks and rays are probably threatened with extinction, according to the most extensive assessment of the marine species.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 31, 2014

What exactly are these Obama 'executive orders'?

In the aftermath of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address, there is a lot of confusion about the phrase 'executive actions.' These are an optional tool the president can use to get something done.

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