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Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OLD NIC'S NOTEBOOK
Jul 28, 2019

Will our insects keep on disappearing?

With concern, but little surprise, I read an article by Daphne Rousseau in The Japan Times on July 2 about a mass extinction of insects in Krefeld, Germany, near the Dutch border.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jul 27, 2019

Makoto Shinkai isn't afraid of a bit of rain in the pursuit of his art

It has been raining for weeks, but director Makoto Shinkai doesn't seem to mind a bit.
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Kyushu
Jul 26, 2019

Data shows Kyushu river pump systems were overwhelmed by 2018 torrential rains

A year after torrential rains hit western Japan, newly disclosed data by the Fukuoka Prefectural Government showed that massive inland flooding of the six tributaries flowing into the Chikugo River in the prefecture occurred because the amount of rain that fell is estimated to be about three to 10 times...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / Regional voices: Chubu
Jul 26, 2019

Toyota looks to develop ways to disaster-proof its supply chains

Toyota Motor Corp. has been applying its kaizen (continuous improvement) principle to the management of its parts suppliers so that it can maintain or swiftly resume production in the event of natural disasters.
Rugby
Jul 26, 2019

Pacific Nations Cup provides vital testing ground before Rugby World Cup

With just under two months remaining before Japan faces Russia in the opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the Brave Blossoms return to the Pacific Nations Cup after a three-year hiatus.
JAPAN
Jul 26, 2019

Five things to know about the scandal enveloping top Japanese comedy agency Yoshimoto Kogyo

From one channel to the next, almost every comedy and variety show on Japanese TV features personalities from entertainment powerhouse Yoshimoto Kogyo Co.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jul 26, 2019

Julian Alaphilippe uses dramatic final descent in 18th stage to retain overall lead

Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe cracked at the top of the ascent to the Col du Galibier on Thursday, but a high-speed final descent in the 18th stage helped him regain contact with most of the big guns and retain the overall lead in the Tour de France.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 25, 2019

Ryuji Aoki set to launch pro career with Shinshu Brave Warriors

Ryuji Aoki will begin his pro basketball career with the Shinshu Brave Warriors.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jul 25, 2019

Tantalizing parfaits to satiate the sweet tooth

The Westin Tokyo is celebrating its 25th anniversary in October this year and in anticipation of this momentous occasion the hotel is presenting an indulgently themed parfait event, Evening Surprise — Twilight Parfait, until Aug. 31.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage / CULTURE NOTES
Jul 25, 2019

Bringing opera to Tokyo 2020

Among the many absurdist opera stories in existence, nothing is more preposterous than the happy ending generally used for Giacomo Puccini's final opera "Turandot," in which Princess Turandot suddenly accepts Prince Calaf's wooing right after the suicide of Liu, a slave, as if her death was nothing....
Japan Times
PODCAST / deep dive
Jul 24, 2019

Episode 20: Fear and loathing on Mount Fuji

On this week's episode, Oscar Boyd takes Shaun McKenna to the top of Japan to see what it's like to climb the fabled Mount Fuji.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 23, 2019

'Sandra Binion: Distille'

July 27-Aug. 18
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 23, 2019

Welcome ... to contested island: Philippines eyes tourism for islet in bid to bolster South China Sea claims

The Philippines is considering inviting tourists to its biggest and most strategically important outpost in the South China Sea as part of efforts to assert its claim to sovereignty over some of the world's most contested islands.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jul 22, 2019

Japanese features a lot of ways to complain about the heat in summer

As we make the shift from u6885u96e8 (tsuyu, rainy season) to u590fu672cu756a (natsu honban, summertime in earnest), you'll find that the weather will take center stage in many Japanese conversations.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 22, 2019

China strikes secret deal to allow armed forces at Cambodian naval base: report

China will be able to place armed forces at a Cambodian naval base under a secret agreement the two nations have reached, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 20, 2019

Citizen campaigns seek to increase voter turnout in Upper House election

Thanks to Japan's fairness guidelines, NHK offers free air time to all political parties participating in national and regional elections, a service that earlier this month resulted in the leader of the Party to Protect Citizens From NHK, which advocates the elimination of NHK's mandatory viewing fees,...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / KONBINI WATCH
Jul 20, 2019

Gear up for summer with three new sweets from Seven-Eleven

Seven-Eleven is on a hot streak with its new watermelon ice bar, double cheesecake and tapioca milk tea jelly.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 20, 2019

China-backed Dara Sakor project in Cambodia rings alarm bells in Washington

Along pristine Cambodian beaches, past parades of elephants in its largest national park, sits an area half the size of Singapore that is raising alarm bells among military strategists in the U.S. and beyond.
Japan Times
Rugby
Jul 20, 2019

Cheer song 'Daenzakura' unites players and fans

Music and sports are completely different fields. There are many situations, however, where their paths cross. Often it's music and songs that help cheer up fans and teams and allow supporters to develop strong bonds with the players and each other.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Fukushima
Jul 19, 2019

Growing foreign resident population in Fukushima Prefecture now numbers more than 14,000, says new report

Reflecting a nationwide trend of an increasing number of foreign residents in Japan, Fukushima Prefecture is also seeing its foreign community expand.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Regional voices: Chubu
Jul 19, 2019

Better known as a manufacturing center, Chubu region is turning its talents to nurturing startups

The Chubu region, with Nagoya at its center, has never been known as a land of startups. Although the area is recognized as one of the nation's largest manufacturing hubs, few IT startups have been established and many students in the region tend to prefer joining big companies to becoming entrepreneurs....
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jul 19, 2019

In Akita, close Upper House race serves as symbol for fierce battle between ruling and opposition camps

The campaign office of the Liberal Democratic Party's Matsuji Nakaizumi, an incumbent running in Sunday's Upper House election, features something rather unusual: Dozens of endorsement posters signed by top party heavyweights.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 18, 2019

Remembering the role Japan played in the Forgotten War

For Japanese and South Koreans, this anniversary ought to present a reminder that back-and-forth erosion of trust is in neither of their self-interests.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
Jul 18, 2019

Various summer delicacies to choose from

Grand Hyatt Tokyo is pleased to introduce its new summer menus, perfect for enjoying indoors or on the hotel's spacious open-air terraces.
SOCCER / From the Spot
Jul 17, 2019

J. League embraces discussion of controversy

Knowledge is not always power, but a little communication can go a long way.
CULTURE / Art
Jul 16, 2019

'Insects: Models for Design'

July 19-Nov. 4

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.