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 Shusuke Murai

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Shusuke Murai
Shusuke Murai was born in Japan and spent his teen years in central Ohio. He graduated from New York University with a M.A. in Communication. His interests include the activities of virtual communities, intercultural interactions in the information society and futuristic gadgets.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Mar 1, 2016
Japan's Supreme Court dismisses liability of family in death of man with dementia
The Supreme Court says a family doesn't have to pay a railroad for its lost revenue when their relative with dementia wandered onto the tracks and was killed.
JAPAN
Feb 26, 2016
Bomb threat that forced Tokyo schools to close on Friday is likely a copycat
Dozens of schools canceled afternoon classes Friday in response to an emailed bomb threat sent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education warning that explosions would occur at 3:34 p.m.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 23, 2016
Biometric data carts to cut waiting times at Japanese airports
A unique system to collect visitors' data while they're still standing in line at passport control.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 16, 2016
Man who landed drone on roof of Japanese prime minister's office gets suspended sentence
The Tokyo District Court handed down a suspended sentence Tuesday to the man who landed a drone on the rooftop of the Prime Minister's Office last April.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 10, 2016
Detainees launch hunger strike over conditions at Osaka immigration detention center
About 50 detainees being held at the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau went on a hunger strike Wednesday to protest what they call "inhumane" treatment by Immigration Bureau officials, a group supporting them said.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Feb 8, 2016
U.N. rapporteur urges Japan to consider law banning hate speech
Japan should enact a law banning hate speech to protect the nation's ethnic minorities, according to a United Nations expert who said such a change would not impact freedom of speech.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Feb 2, 2016
Japanese Supreme Court hears its first case on dementia liability
The family of a 91-year-old man with dementia who was killed by a train after wandering onto railway tracks argued Tuesday before the Supreme Court that holding them liable for disrupting train services would essentially deny that healthy and disabled people can coexist in society.
JAPAN / Society
Feb 1, 2016
Asylum applications of four Nepalese rejected under new refugee recognition laws
Four Nepalese asylum applicants had their refugee claims rejected in October after entering the country disguised as Buddhist priests and claiming they wanted to visit victims of the Fukushima nuclear disaster and others.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 28, 2016
International school in Shibuya evacuates after bomb threat
An emergency evacuation order was issued at an international school in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward on Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat was received.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 26, 2016
Airport-style duty-free shop opens in Tokyo's Ginza
Mainland Japan will get its first duty-free shop outside of an international airport when the Japan Duty Free Ginza debuts at the Ginza Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo's Chuo Ward on Wednesday, a top company official said a day earlier.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 25, 2016
Changes in store for TOEIC, but test still not total gauge of fluency: experts
In Japan, having high English proficiency can be a strong advantage for students wishing to get into prestigious universities and companies and for businesspeople seeking a promotion.
JAPAN / Society
Jan 23, 2016
Japan recognizes only 27 refugees, despite rising numbers of applications
The number of people who filed applications for asylum in 2015 jumped nearly 50 percent to 7,586, but only 27 were recognized.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2016
Famed dog Hachiko's home city wants loan of much-loved statue
A northern Japanese city wants to be reunited with perhaps its most famous onetime resident.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016
2020 Olympics host to hold world forum on sport, culture
With a little over four years to go before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, discussions in Japan are gearing up about what positive legacies will come from the international sports extravaganza, sports minister Hiroshi Hase said in an exclusive interview with The Japan Times in January.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 15, 2016
Architect Kengo Kuma dismisses alleged similarities with Hadid stadium design
Kengo Kuma, whose flatter, less expensive design will be used for the Olympic Games' main venue, said his plan and Hadid's differed in concept and cost.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 14, 2016
Masuzoe favors leisure use for Tsukiji site, says public participation crucial in Olympics preparations
After Olympic host Rio de Janeiro wraps up events this year, attention will turn to Tokyo, and Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe seems ready for it.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 12, 2016
Japan sticks with Internet Explorer as Microsoft ends support for old versions
Four out of five companies and municipalities in Japan face a deadline of sorts Wednesday, the day Microsoft Corp. ends technical support for older versions of its Internet Explorer (IE) browser. About 30 percent of them use versions that may now be at risk.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society / DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES
Jan 6, 2016
Government weighs immigration to maintain population, boost workforce
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in September announced administrative measures seeking to maintain a population of at least 100 million people over the next 50 years with a target of significantly raising the fertility rate to 1.8.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2015
Giant squid wows Toyama and then the web
A rare encounter with a giant squid was caught on video when the mysterious creature from the deep emerged at a marina in the city of Toyama on Christmas Eve.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2015
Test astronaut hopefuls flood Japan's space agency in search of big payday
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's pitch to find male volunteers for a two-week stress test in return for nearly double the monthly salary of a new university graduate draws more interest than expected.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?