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Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 7, 2016

Is Zuma to blame for South Africa's malaise?

President Jacob Zuma does bear the blame for the collapse in international confidence in the South African economy — but not for its long-term failure to grow as fast as was expected.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Mar 7, 2016

Let's discuss the Tokyo Marathon

February in Tokyo was the season for running, as thousands prepared for one of the world's major sports events: the Tokyo Marathon.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Mar 5, 2016

Bunshun editor Manabu Shintani returns in a blaze of scoops

Shukan Bunshun magazine has been making headlines since late January thanks to a string of major scoops on no fewer than seven topics.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 4, 2016

DPJ, Ishin no To invite entries for new party name

The Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) took to the Internet on Friday seeking an answer to a first key issue facing them ahead of their merger: a new name.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Feb 29, 2016

Joining Japanese words together to reveal the true nature of things

Once you understand how the pieces fit together, you can magically turn verbs into nouns and vice versa, expanding your Japanese vocabulary by leaps and bounds.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 29, 2016

Let's discuss Ota Ward's Airbnb-style rental plan

Tokyo's Ota Ward has given permission to an online travel service provider to start renting out private homes based on the popular Airbnb model.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Feb 28, 2016

City pop revival helps Suchmos at just the right time

Walk into a Tower Records store in Shibuya or Shinjuku and you'll eventually come across the apparel section. The current fashion aesthetic here leans retro: Hoodies and T-shirts come emblazoned with text highlighting throwback music signifiers, from equipment ("cassette tape," "analog") to genres ("surf...
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 27, 2016

Syrian fighting largely ends after landmark ceasefire comes into effect

Fighting appeared to stop across most areas of western Syria on Saturday after a landmark "cessation of hostilities" came into effect under a U.S.-Russian plan that warring sides in the five-year conflict have accepted.
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 23, 2016

China's 'princelings' urge patience with 'complex' changes under Xi

The atmosphere in the gilded banquet hall at Beijing's State Guesthouse was festive Sunday afternoon, as the children of Communist Party revolutionaries gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year and praise the most prominent member of their class, President Xi Jinping.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 22, 2016

Let's discuss the dangers of human pyramids at schools

New guidelines to help prevent injuries when students take part in coordinated group gymnastics will be drafted by the end of March.
Japan Times
CULTURE / CULTURE SMASH
Feb 20, 2016

CG gains a 'real' foothold in anime

Japanese audiences have long responded tepidly to the use of extensive computer graphics (CG) in anime. Even as CG has become the global standard for animation studios, anime fans prefer their homegrown artists to stick to labor-intensive 2-D illustration techniques and cel animation — or to at least...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 19, 2016

Ranjatai: Inventive yakitori in the backstreets of Jinbocho

Chicken and charcoal are a classic combination: Morsels of meat carefully skewered and cooked over glowing coals until they're tender, juicy and golden brown. Good yakitori is always a pleasure. At its very best it's worth crossing the city for. And Ranjatai's certainly belongs in that category.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Feb 18, 2016

Chef Rodolfo Guzman rediscovers his roots

On a cloudless afternoon a little over a year ago, chef Rodolfo Guzman contemplated a plant he had discovered while wandering up to the Salar de Tara salt flats, which lie 4,860 meters above sea level, in the middle of northern Chile's Atacama Desert.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 15, 2016

Deceit and hypocrisy in the South China Sea

The deceit and hypocrisy of nearly all the claimants and major actors are complicating and confusing the issues in the South China Sea.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 15, 2016

Let's discuss English language education in Japan

Junior high and high school students in Japan have failed to meet the government's targets in all four English skills.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Feb 9, 2016

Dutch painters cut from the same canvas

The first noticeable thing about the exhibition "Vermeer and Rembrandt: the Masters of the 17th Century Dutch Golden Age" at the Mori Arts Center Gallery is the juxtaposition of the names. Vermeer's name comes before that of Rembrandt, marking him as the leading Dutch artist as far as the modern art...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 8, 2016

As perceptions of animals evolve, so does English

In a language like English, which implicitly categorizes animals as things rather than persons, adopting the personal pronoun would embody the same recognition — and remind us who animals really are.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 8, 2016

China suffering from a transparency problem

Effective communication with market participants and real-economy players will be crucial if China is to achieve market credibility and stability.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 8, 2016

Let's discuss the 'hometown donation' system

More people are remitting cash to municipalities where they do not live using the tax-deductible hometown donation program.
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.
WORLD
Feb 6, 2016

Bahrain says it is ready to commit ground forces to Syria

Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria as part of a U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State group, the Persian Gulf island state said on Friday, a day after its larger neighbor and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge.
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2016

LDP eyeing pop singer Eriko Imai as Upper House candidate: report

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party is considering fielding pop singer Eriko Imai, formerly of the megahit dance group Speed, as an official candidate in the Upper House election this summer, a report said Friday.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2016

Literacy, technology fuel Arab unrest

Rising literacy rates and rapid advances in communication technology have stirred the Middle East into a maelstrom of competing cultural narratives.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 1, 2016

Let's discuss Japanese food sold overseas

The government plans to adopt a certification system for chefs of Japanese cuisine, in a bid to guarantee quality at establishments serving fare overseas.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jan 30, 2016

'Harry Potter' author reveals Japanese wizarding school

J.K. Rowling, author of the fantasy series “Harry Potter,” has let muggles in on a big secret — there is a hidden magic school in Japan.

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