Search - 2017

 
 
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / The Climate Crisis
Jan 6, 2020

Emergency on 'lucky island': Iki Island seeks to lead Japan's fight against the climate crisis

It's golden hour on Iki, a pristine island in southwestern Japan. A gentle breeze cools the day to a perfect 24 degrees Celsius. The roads are clean, the trees are green, a playground sits atop a grassy hill. Locals call Iki a "lucky island" because it's rarely affected by natural disasters.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 3, 2020

Despite risk from the 'Big One,' are Shizuoka and the rest of Japan becoming complacent about earthquakes?

When Hokkaido native Tatsushi Ueda landed a job at the Shizuoka Prefectural Government nearly 40 years ago, he was given a somber send-off that made him feel like he might never see home again.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 8, 2019

The Asianized world has arrived

By 2040, Asia is likely to generate more than 50 percent of world GDP, and could account for nearly 40 percent of global consumption.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Invest in Italy Roadshow
Dec 28, 2018

Potential in numerous economic fields for investment

The Invest in Italy Roadshow was held on Dec. 13 to promote Japanese direct investment into Italy, organized by the Ministry of Economic Development of Italy, the Italian Trade Agency, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc., Invitalia and the Embassy of Italy, and supported by the Japan External Trade Organization....
JAPAN / Politics
Oct 11, 2018

Japan's top government spokesman denies Trump asked Abe to 'strongly consider' giving casino license to one of his benefactors

Yoshihide Suga responded tersely to an investigative report during a regular press briefing, referring to Abe's past denial in the Diet of the allegation.
EDITORIALS
Jun 27, 2018

U.S. sanctions against Iran begin to bite

U.S. sanctions will hurt U.S. allies as much as they do Iran.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Feb 21, 2018

What Trump's tax reforms mean for Americans in Japan

Changes under the U.S. Republican administration are likely to affect the bottom line for individuals and companies here alike.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 7, 2017

Heavy metal in Japan: Love of craft runs deep

Although 2017 is the Year of the Fire Rooster, fire is not the only element destined to influence the next 12 months. Each of the 12 Chinese zodiac years is governed by one of five elements: wood, fire, earth, water and metal, resulting in 2017 taking the element of fire. According to the Five Elements...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 27, 2015

Nomura says 'Abenomics' more likely to derail amid doubt over tax pledge

Nomura Holdings Inc. says the probability that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's economic policies will end badly is increasing.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Nov 3, 2021

Trump's real estate empire pays the price for poisonous politics

Trump's business brand was once synonymous with success, an image that now clashes sharply with a political brand rooted in the anger of his largely rural and working-class voter base.
COMMENTARY / Japan / Perspectives
Oct 1, 2021

How Kishida can avoid becoming another revolving-door prime minister

The new LDP president will focus on expanding his power, implementing policies that benefit the electorate and ensuring success in the upcoming elections before widening his policy window.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Aug 2, 2021

The recycling myth: Big Oil’s plastic waste solution littered with failure

While residents have dutifully packaged up their trash, expecting it to be put to a green use, many have been left disappointed.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / FOCUS
Apr 22, 2021

Macron’s job is on the line and these contenders might just grab it

The investment banker-turned-president has been bruised by rallies against police violence and his government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, among other issues.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FOCUS
Mar 24, 2021

Japan state-funded hotel deal pays rent to Myanmar Defense Ministry

The payments, starting in 2017, are not illegal but are potentially embarrassing for Tokyo given alleged human rights abuses by Myanmar's military.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Nov 17, 2020

Bitcoin is gunning for a record and no one is talking about it

Bitcoin has more than doubled since December and many fans are once again eyeing the $20,000 level as the next barrier to breach.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
May 14, 2020

Trump unmasks Obama administration’s unmaskers

The Trump administration's attempt to explain what happened to Michael Flynn isn't very revealing.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 3, 2019

How Li Ka-shing, Hong Kong's tycoon 'Superman,' went from friend of China to punching bag

In January 1993, an ambitious Chinese Communist Party boss — 39 years old, chubby cheeks and a mop of black hair — visited Hong Kong. He was seeking out the city's rich among the shimmering skyscrapers, hoping to secure investment in Fuzhou, the second-tier city he ran in mainland China. His name...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 2, 2019

SoftBank's startup bookkeeping draws scrutiny after WeWork fiasco

In early 2018, the founders of Chinese artificial intelligence startup SenseTime Group Ltd. flew to Tokyo to see billionaire investor Masayoshi Son. As they entered the offices, Chief Executive Officer Xu Li was hoping to persuade the head of SoftBank Group Corp. to invest $200 million in his three-year-old...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 3, 2019

In South Korea's deadly shipyards, subcontracted workers most at risk

Park Chol-hee was working a holiday shift at Samsung Heavy Industries' Geoje shipyard on Labor Day in 2017 when a giant crane collided with another and crashed to ground, killing six people, including Park's younger brother.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 2, 2019

Our critics' favorite Japanese books of the decade

As 2020 approaches, The Japan Times' book reviewers look back at a decade of literature and their favorite and most impactful books written about Japan or by Japanese writers.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Aug 29, 2019

Trump slams 'corrupt' Puerto Rico as Storm Dorian looms, looking to pack hurricane punch

President Donald Trump on Wednesday called Puerto Rico "one of the most corrupt places on earth" as the U.S. territory prepared for a hit by Tropical Storm Dorian, which brought back memories on the island of devastation from hurricanes two years ago.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 30, 2019

Billionaire friend of Trump aimed to profit from Middle East nuclear deal, congressional report says

Tom Barrack, a billionaire and friend of U.S. President Donald Trump, pursued a plan to buy Westinghouse Electric Corp. from Toshiba Corp. even as he lobbied Trump to become a special envoy to promote the building by the firm of nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia, said a congressional report released...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 4, 2019

Hokkaido adds Markeith Cummings in bid to right ship

After winning just 10 of 60 games this past season, the Levanga Hokkaido are aiming to flip the script.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Crime & Legal
May 27, 2019

Myanmar soldiers jailed for Rohingya killings freed after less than a year

Myanmar has granted early release to seven soldiers jailed for the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys during a 2017 military crackdown in the western state of Rakhine, two prison officials, two former fellow inmates and one of the soldiers said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
May 1, 2019

China's vast fleet seen tipping the balance of power in the Pacific

A generation ago, from mid-1995 into early 1996, China lobbed missiles in the waters around Taiwan as the self-governing island prepared to hold its first fully democratic presidential election. Washington forcefully intervened to support its ally, sending two aircraft carrier battle groups to patrol...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / FOCUS
Apr 28, 2019

New missile gap leaves U.S. scrambling to counter China, in shift that leaves Japan at risk

China's powerful military is considered to be a master at concealing its intentions. But there is no secret about how it plans to destroy American aircraft carriers if rivalry becomes war.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 2, 2019

U.S. intel veterans helped UAE spy on Al Jazeera boss and BBC host during row with Qatar, says report

A group of American hackers who once worked for U.S. intelligence agencies helped the United Arab Emirates spy on a BBC host, the chairman of Al Jazeera and other prominent Arab media figures during a tense 2017 confrontation pitting the UAE and its allies against the Gulf state of Qatar.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Feb 6, 2019

Abenomics under heavy fire after dodgy data hid apparent drop in wages across Japan in 2018

The government refuses to publicize the average real wage of workers for last year, causing heated debate in the current Diet session and raising questions about the credibility of Abenomics.

Longform

Professional cleaner Hirofumi Sakurai takes a moment to appreciate some photographs in a Gotanda apartment whose occupant died alone.
The last cleanup: Life and death in a lonely Japan