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JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Apr 2, 2020

With suicide note and lawsuit, Moritomo scandal back to haunt Abe

With the publication of a suicide note by a former Finance Ministry official and subsequent lawsuit by his widow, the Moritomo Gakuen scandal has returned to haunt Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. But with Abe saying the issue has been settled and Japan finding itself in the midst of the coronavirus crisis,...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 2, 2020

The unstoppable rise of Regal Lily

Regal Lily is supposed to be on tour at the moment. But instead of enjoying what the band’s members like about touring — eating hotel breakfasts, trying local dishes or simply exploring new towns — they’re staying put. There will be no early April show at Mynavi Blitz Akasaka, Tokyo, wrapping...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Apr 1, 2020

How a gulf prince charmed Indonesia's Jokowi and poured money into the country

During a visit last summer where he strolled through the tropical gardens next to Indonesia’s summer Presidential Palace, Abu Dhabi’s crown prince offered to build a grand mosque for his host, Joko "Jokowi" Widodo. If that seemed like a generous gesture, the two men struck a bigger bargain within...
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Mar 30, 2020

Ken Shimura’s entertainment legacy spans generations

Entertainer Ken Shimura didn’t belong to any single generation. Following news that the 70-year-old comedian had died on Sunday from pneumonia caused by COVID-19, TV broadcasters on Monday featured both Shimura’s contemporaries and much younger personalities visibly upset over his passing.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 30, 2020

Coronavirus pandemic fuels trend toward smaller funerals in Japan

From dispatching Buddhist monks to connecting grieving families with affordable funeral homes, Osaka-based end-of-life startup Uniquest Inc. is among the many firms that have been capitalizing on the growing preference toward simple, cheaper funerals and greater efficiency and personalization of services....
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 28, 2020

Nomura's new CEO faces tough initiation juggling overhaul and virus

It was supposed to be a smooth transition for Nomura Holdings Inc.'s new boss. Then the coronavirus struck.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 26, 2020

Kenyans brace for second — and possibly worse — onslaught of locusts

After desert locusts invaded her farm in central Kenya, Mary Muthoni, 61, ran around her corn fields shouting and banging on an old iron sheet in a desperate attempt to drive them away.
PRESS / Corporate Trends
Mar 25, 2020

Announcement of officer changes

The Company hereby announces that, at the general meeting of shareholders and the board of Directors meeting held on March 25, 2020, the following directors as well as the President have been elected. All of our employees will work on the development of the company with a new determination. We would...
PRESS / Corporate Trends
Mar 25, 2020

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JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 22, 2020

Apparent false conviction brings Japan's justice system back into the spotlight

After already having served a 12-year prison sentence following her conviction for murdering a patient, former assistant nurse Mika Nishiyama, 40, is expected to finally be acquitted on March 31.
BUSINESS
Mar 21, 2020

Tax agency bureaus in Japan on high alert for rise in consumption tax fraud

Tax authorities are preparing to act against a possible increase in abuses of a rule that exempts export transactions from sales levies following October's consumption tax hike from 8 percent to 10 percent.
SUMO
Mar 19, 2020

Tough training in high school forged Mongolian Ichinojo

One of the strongest sumo high schools in Japan is Tottori Johoku.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 19, 2020

Biggest factory shutdown since WWII cripples virus-hit U.S. and Europe

The economic impact of the growing coronavirus outbreak is shifting from service driven industries like hotels and restaurants to the manufacturing sector on both sides of the Atlantic, leading to a synchronized shutdown of heavy industry that historians and industry experts say is unlike any seen since...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 11, 2020

Fighting COVID-19: It's the story, stupid

The Japanese government is failing to effectively combat infections and unable to win the confidence of publics at home and abroad.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Mar 11, 2020

Japan's agriculture ministry to keep food self-sufficiency target at 45%

The agriculture ministry revealed Tuesday that it would maintain its goal of increasing the country's calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate to 45 percent by fiscal 2030, unchanged from the current target for years through fiscal 2025.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 10, 2020

Japan must provide multilingual information on COVID-19

The government should create basic guidelines on how to disseminate information and give consultation services in foreign languages on COVID-19.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 9, 2020

China loses a skirmish in fight for global influence

Beijing aims to increase its global influence by attaining leadership positions in international organizations.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 9, 2020

A sea change for Japanese sculptors

'Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe 2020' in Western Australia, brings together eight Japanese sculptural works, including Harayuki Uchida's new 2.5-ton stainless-steel kinetic 'Merry Gate.'
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Mar 6, 2020

Women in Japanese politics: Why so few after so very long?

To mark International Women's Day on March 8, there will be worldwide marches, parades, protests and public awareness activities on the contributions of women and the barriers and discrimination they still face.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 4, 2020

Innovation: The front line of the new great power competition

The race to innovate is behind the new U.S.-China cold war.
Mar 4, 2020

Suntory Group to Celebrate World Water Day Worldwide through “Suntory Group Global Water Action”

TOKYO, JAPAN (28th February 2020)—From the Americas to Europe to Asia, Suntory Group employees from across the world will celebrate the upcoming World Water Day (22nd March) under its Suntory Group Global Water Action program. As a collective effort supporting Suntory Group’s mission to create harmony...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives
Feb 29, 2020

Maison: The house that Sota Atsumi built

"Why did I leave Japan? I guess it's because I had nothing to do back home," says Paris-based chef Sota Atsumi as he takes a coffee break from prepping scallops for his dinner guests. "I didn't study much, so enrolling in a university was not an option. I wanted to be a professional snowboarder but I...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 29, 2020

'Stand with refugees,' Ethiopian Olympian says ahead of Tokyo Marathon

Nobody chooses to become a refugee: This is what Yonas Kinde, a 39-year-old from Ethiopia, wants people in Japan to realize when they see him competing in the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in his bid to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Feb 28, 2020

Tokyo Marathon last chance for 2020 hopefuls

The 14th edition of the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday could produce cutthroat battles among local men's runners, including current and ex-national record holders.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Feb 27, 2020

Climate activist Thunberg heads growing field of Nobel Peace Prize candidates

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, pro-democracy campaigners in Hong Kong and the NATO military alliance are among those tipped for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize, following nominations by politicians.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Feb 19, 2020

How to navigate social media and a social city with Netflix's 'Followers'

Artist and director Mika Ninagawa launches new streaming about the lives of Tokyo's bright young things and their quest for recognition

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