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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.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 27, 2016

Uniqlo chief tells young entrepreneurs to be persistent and set goals

Do not underestimate your abilities, make sure to set high goals, and be persistent in striving to achieve them — these are just some of the bits of advice billionaire Tadashi Yanai gives to people who want to become successful business managers.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 27, 2016

Front-runner Trump abruptly rejects joining Iowa debate amid Fox spat

U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Tuesday abruptly withdrew from a debate with party rivals this week out of anger at host Fox News, leaving the last encounter before Iowa's first-in-the-nation nominating contest without the front-runner.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 25, 2016

Let's discuss new map symbols for tourists

The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) has released new symbols for foreign-language maps after criticism that some of its current pictograms are hard to understand or even offensive.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / THE UNRELIABLE FOOD CRITIC
Jan 22, 2016

Downtown Osaka's faded replica of Korea's kaleidoscopic markets

There's something suspicious about the way Japan and Korea differ so much in the taste and presentation of their foods, as if a kind of sibling rivalry were going on, some struggle for distinction and specialization.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 21, 2016

Davos forum kicks off with dour mood amid tough global conditions

The mood was glum as the World Economic Forum's annual meeting of academics and leaders from business and politics kicked off Wednesday in Davos, Switzerland, with worries ranging from energy to geopolitics and China's slowdown causing widespread unease.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 20, 2016

'The Walk' brings an infamous tightrope walker to life, in terrifying detail

If you could go back to one particular moment in history, what would it be? Someone (most likely the devil) must have asked Robert Zemeckis that question several times during his career and, in a way, many of his films could be described as different answers. In fact, the films Zemeckis is most well...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jan 19, 2016

SMAP fans relieved but perplexed by apology over rumored breakup

Exceptional TV ratings, the apparent overloading of Twitter's servers and even a comment by the prime minister show the importance that Japan placed on the announcement that SMAP isn't breaking up.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 18, 2016

China's chief stock regulator expected to resign as turmoil continues to roil markets: sources

Xiao Gang, the embattled head of China's securities regulator, has offered to resign, sources said, after perceived mismanagement wiped more than $5 trillion off the value of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets since they peaked last June.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 18, 2016

Let's discuss My Number

My Number, the new personal identification system for social security and taxation matters, kicks off amid data security fears.
EDITORIALS
Jan 18, 2016

Public access to government records

The principle of sovereignty resting with the people must be reinforced by improving public access to official documents.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 15, 2016

New centrist conservatism

To address the challenges confronting the nation, the LDP must move leftward and once again embrace center-right politics.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 15, 2016

Renault raided in emissions probe, says no emissions-dodging device found

French carmaker Renault said fraud investigators had inspected three of its sites to look into its vehicle emissions technology.
BUSINESS
Jan 15, 2016

Toyota labor group to slash wage-hike demand in further threat to Japan's inflation target

The umbrella labor group representing Toyota Motor Corp. and its related companies said it will seek half the minimum wage increase in 2016 compared with its plan entering the fiscal year.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 12, 2016

'Scene of Shinjuku in Ukiyo-e Prints and Watercolors'

Jan. 16-March 13
BUSINESS
Jan 11, 2016

Yuan loan rates soar in Hong Kong as Beijing halts currency's slide

Interbank yuan lending rates in Hong Kong climbed to records across the board after suspected intervention by China's central bank last week mopped up supplies of the currency in the offshore market.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 4, 2016

Let's discuss healthy eating in Japan

In a country where food culture permeates all aspects of life and society, it is perhaps unsurprising that Japan leads the 'World Health Olympics.'
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Dec 28, 2015

Let's discuss the law on surnames

Plaintiffs contesting family laws that require spouses to choose a single surname expressed shock and anger at Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling, saying it will force more women to suffer the misery of having to change their name upon marriage.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Dec 21, 2015

Let's discuss the Akatsuki space probe

Japan's space agency says its Akatsuki probe has successfully entered into orbit around Venus.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 19, 2015

Growing old, gracefully: senior citizens in the workplace

For Eiji and Kumiko Ishikawa, the working day starts as early as 5 a.m. Having loaded the requisite equipment into their van, they set off for their first job of the day, a 14-story high-rise in western Tokyo.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 19, 2015

Gangs, girl power and getting old: Japan's magazines ring out 2015

A roundup of the final weekly magazines of 2015 finds many preoccupied with the split within the Yamaguchi-gumi yakuza group.

Longform

Once smoky, male-dominated spaces, today's net cafes, like Kaikatsu Club, are working to make their operations more attractive to women customers.
The second life of Japan's net cafes