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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 2, 2019

Making inclusivity a goal for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics

The 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games are a potent catalyst for concrete progress in achieving a barrier-free, more equitable Japanese society.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 28, 2019

Carlos Ghosn's wife has a message for the G20

She wants the world leaders gathered in Osaka to notice how Japan's 'hostage justice' system has mistreated Nissan's ex-chairman.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 6, 2019

Which Tiananmen narrative is true?

There is little doubt about the Beijing spring of 1989 that called for greater openness, freedoms and democracy in China, or about its suppression. But there is a counter-narrative that receives no mention in the China-bashing mainstream media.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 5, 2019

U.S. shared nuclear power info with Saudi Arabia after Jamal Khashoggi slaying, senator says

The Trump administration granted two authorizations to U.S. companies to share sensitive nuclear power information with Saudi Arabia shortly after the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in October, a U.S. senator who saw the approvals said on Tuesday.
MORE SPORTS / Japanese Derby
May 24, 2019

Many ways to enjoy Derby Day

On a sunny afternoon last Sunday, more than 60,000 people witnessed Loves Only You, ridden by Mirco Demuro, win the Japanese Oaks at Tokyo Racecourse in Fuchu. The race, 11th of the day's 12, was scheduled to start at 3:40 p.m, but fans filled most seats by noon.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 17, 2019

Boris Johnson slim, trimmed and ready to fight for power

For a man who has made his name as a comical shambles, cracking jokes on talk-shows and scruffing up his famous blond mop, Boris Johnson is taking a deadly serious approach to his work.
ENVIRONMENT
May 11, 2019

Reading the air: Tokyo still has work to do on air pollution

There are days when Makiko Ishikawa can barely breathe. Indeed, the 62-year-old Tokyoite has been short of breath for decades. In the early 1970s, she began feeling the effects of the miasma of vehicle exhaust along Shin-Ome Road, which ran by her home in the city of Musashimurayama in western Tokyo....
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
May 11, 2019

Tabloids press pause as nation celebrates dawn of the Reiwa Era

Welcome one and all to Big in Japan, the Reiwa version. During the just-ended 10-day Golden Week holiday, only one general weekly magazine — Aera (May 13) — went to press, giving it the distinction of being the first publication out of the starting gates in the new era. Aera's coverage of imperial...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Apr 20, 2019

Downsized dwellings: Inside Tokyo's tiny living spaces

Twenty-five-year-old Sotaro Ito lives in a 9.46-square-meter apartment with a loft in the capital's retro-hip Koenji district.
Reader Mail
Mar 22, 2019

Chellaney wrong on Pakistan

I am writing with regards to the highly biased article by Brahma Chellaney in the March 6 edition. It is highly disappointing to see that once again the columns of The Japan Times have been used to make lopsided and misleading assertions against Pakistan. We firmly believe in the freedom of speech. However,...
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Mar 20, 2019

In search of family and friends in Japan

Here is another of our occasional columns featuring requests from readers who are hoping to reconnect with "long-lost" people in Japan.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 18, 2019

Twitter's former CFO joins SoftBank-backed farming startup Plenty

Twitter Inc.'s former chief financial officer has joined SoftBank Group Corp.-backed Plenty Inc. in the same role as the indoor farming startup prepares for international expansion and improvements to its vertical growing technology.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 26, 2019

Delving deep into the Kanto jazz bar scene

The tourist boom in Japan shows no sign of ending, with the number of visitors only set to increase in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Whether for bulk shopping, temple visiting or sushi-counter hopping, Tokyo and surrounding neighborhoods have endless adventures just waiting to be discovered....
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 12, 2019

U.S.-led coalition warplanes hit last Islamic State enclave in eastern Syria

U.S.-led coalition warplanes struck Islamic State's last stronghold in eastern Syria and hundreds of civilians fled the besieged enclave on Monday as U.S.-backed fighters pressed their campaign to seize it.
Reader Mail
Feb 1, 2019

Columnist's misguided take on Naomi Osaka

In his opinion piece titled "How Japanese is Naomi Osaka?" in the Jan. 28 edition, Kuni Miyake asks a leading question.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 26, 2019

Gillette's bad medicine for toxic masculinity

Women's defense will come from within.
Japan Times
WORLD
Nov 30, 2018

Fearing espionage, U.S. considers bringing in tighter rules for Chinese students

The Trump administration is considering new background checks and other restrictions on Chinese students in the United States over growing espionage concerns, U.S. officials and congressional sources said.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 29, 2018

Ignore the news and America seems pretty nice

Drive from coast to coast with the radio off and everybody seems to be getting along fine.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 7, 2018

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in consulate in Istanbul, Turkish officials say

Turkish authorities believe that prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who disappeared four days ago after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, was killed inside the consulate, two Turkish sources said on Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Sep 24, 2018

Religion and politics; hopes and disappointments

What a confused and frightened world needs from spiritual leaders is perception, wisdom and illumination, not the same old damaging socialist message from the 1970s.
SUMO
Sep 17, 2018

Sumo 101: Ryogoku

Sumo is Japan's national sport and can be seen from one end of the country to the other in both official tournaments as well as regional tours.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 12, 2018

Russia launches biggest war games in decades

Russia began its biggest war games since the fall of the Soviet Union on Tuesday close to its border with China, mobilizing 300,000 troops in a show of force that will include joint exercises with the Chinese army.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Sep 8, 2018

Kim looks to showcase might without drawing Trump's ire in parade

Kim Jong Un was expected to preside over a toned-down military parade Sunday designed to showcase North Korea's strength without jeopardizing his efforts to rejoin the international community.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Sep 2, 2018

Don Maloney's 'Never the Twain...?' Japan Times column: some choice cuts from the 1970s

Some excerpts from Don Maloney's 'Japan: It's not all Raw Fish' (1975) and 'Son of Raw Fish' (1977) collections of Japan Times columns.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Aug 31, 2018

The Tango Peninsula: A grand day out for the geologically inclined

The remote Tango Peninsula might be off the typical traveler's itinerary for Kyoto Prefecture, but its scenic views, unique geological formations and stunning coastline make this 'Kyoto by the Sea' a worthwhile trip.
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 29, 2018

More than 50,000 evacuated in Myanmar as homes, shops flooded after dam fails

More than 50,000 people have evacuated their homes in central Myanmar after part of a dam failed on Wednesday, inundating communities and damaging a bridge on a major highway, officials said.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 28, 2018

Trump's Mexico trade deal reveals another deficit

It never fails to amaze how little Donald Trump, that lifelong businessman, understands about business.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 23, 2018

Bidding Sir Hugh Cortazzi farewell

Sir Hugh Cortazzi was instrumental in building a foundation of goodwill between Japan and the United Kingdom.

Longform

In 2020, 38% of all households were single-person. That figure is projected to rise to 44.3% by 2050.
The rise of AI companionship in a lonely Japan