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Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 17, 2015

Home away from home: the plight of refugees in Japan

On a cold winter's day in December, an African man sits in a meeting room at the Japan Association for Refugees, a nonprofit organization in Tokyo. The man, whose name and country of origin have been withheld to protect his identity from those who wish him and his family harm, has been seeking refugee...
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 16, 2015

Korean troops take part in exercises

Winter drills on either side of the demilitarized zone underscore the fragility of a potential thaw between North Korea and South Korea after Kim Jong Un raised the possibility of a summit.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 13, 2015

Delivering on the promise of 'Abenomics'

If politicians themselves participate in the taxpayer identification system, bureaucrats forgo some of the power that excessive regulation affords them and businesses give up some of their special tax benefits, the Abe government may yet fulfill its promise and build a thriving economy.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / TELLING LIVES
Jan 11, 2015

Foreign female dean opens doors for Japan’s working women

A brush with sexual discrimination gave Robin Sakamoto the drive to succeed as a working mom and push for on-campus facilities at Kyorin to help parents.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jan 8, 2015

'The Collection 2015'

The two rooms of "The Collection 2015" offer two different kinds of collections.
WORLD
Jan 6, 2015

CIA says its inspector general is resigning at end of month

CIA Inspector General David Buckley, who investigated a dispute between the agency and Congress over the handling of records of the CIA's detention and interrogation activities, is resigning effective Jan. 31, the CIA said on Monday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Dec 30, 2014

'Kohaku' rallies the J-pop acts, but don't count enka out just yet

On New Year's Eve, many families in Japan inevitably wind up gathered around the TV to watch a selection of holiday programming. One of the most popular shows is NHK's "Kohaku Uta Gassen."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Dec 29, 2014

Discussing sex crimes and Japan's 'safety myth'

A selection of responses to Rachel Halle's recent column, 'Foreign student's account of treatment in rape case points to gaps in Japan's safety myth.'
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 26, 2014

Digital tack taken to revive interest in New Year's cards

The tradition of sending "nengajo," or New Year's postcards, has been in decline as people turn to the Internet, social networking and digital gadgets like smartphones instead of putting pen to paper.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 24, 2014

Ballet meets noh in unique 'Feast of Beauty'

No matter what the weather early next year, a really special show being staged once only in Osaka and Tokyo is sure to set ablaze the hearts of noh and ballet fans alike.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Dec 24, 2014

Take the family out for a fancy holiday dinner — without the worry

Picking just the right spot for a holiday meal with children in tow can be a tricky affair; one that requires choosing a destination with good food, ambience and just enough room and background noise for junior to play — and stop you from pulling out your hair.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 22, 2014

Airport facial recognition system eyed but only for Japanese

As Japan braces for a surge in foreign visitors in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, pressure is mounting to expedite how visitors are processed at airports.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Dec 20, 2014

Love of robots may pave way for better treatment of animals

If chimps had history books, a few individuals would have important chapters devoted to them. One would be David Greybeard, the chimp who in 1960 was observed by Jane Goodall using a piece of grass as a tool.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 20, 2014

A better way to spend yen on schools

Japan's Finance Ministry wants to increase the number of students in each class to save ¥8.6 billion in personnel costs. This will result in 3,325 schools being shuttered and up to 4,000 teachers cashiered. A good idea perhaps, but why not prioritize spending on students who need the most attention?
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 18, 2014

Three 'geos' push the world but leave Russia in a cloud

All the colonial empires of the 20th century have given way to young nation-states and to a new kind of relations between a capital and its former colonies, yet official Russia goes on shedding tears about its disintegrated empire.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 18, 2014

Navigating Japan with a family at New Year's

Let's be honest. We're adults. New Year's in Japan can be a bit hectic. And then static. It's one of the longest, if not the longest, holiday periods in the year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 16, 2014

Unlocking growth potential is top task for Abenomics 2.0

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's election win strengthened his hand to move beyond the fiscal and monetary stimulus that brought an end to deflation in his first two years. The tougher task for "Abenomics 2.0" will be to boost Japan's growth potential.
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 13, 2014

Sony hack reveals health information on employees, children, spouses

Documents stolen by hackers include detailed health information on more than 36 Sony employees, children and spouses, showing how easily private data can become public.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 12, 2014

CIA torture: time to move on?

Even Sen. John McCain, who knows more about the subject of 'torture' than any other American politician since he was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam, confines himself to saying that torture is not a useful instrument for yielding credible information. He avoids mentioning it is also a grave crime under international law.
COMMENTARY
Dec 11, 2014

The devil lies in the details of Sino-Russian relations

Despite the much publicized energy transactions, a deep gulf remains between China and Russia. The moment of truth in their relations will come once the U.S. has pulled its troops out of Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Dec 8, 2014

U.S. raids to free hostages seen continuing

The death of two hostages during a rescue attempt in Yemen shows how little room there is for bad intelligence or bad luck when U.S. forces go into action on such high-risk missions.
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 7, 2014

MH17 crash victims' families say Dutch probe has failed, seek U.N. investigation

Relatives of MH17 crash victims, angered by what they see as Dutch mishandling of inquiries into the disaster, want a special U.N. envoy to launch an international investigation.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 7, 2014

Putin allies channeled billions to Ukraine oligarch with sweetheart deals

In Russia, powerful friends helped him make a fortune. In the United States, officials want him extradited and put behind bars. In Austria, where he is currently free on bail of $155 million, authorities have yet to decide what to do with him.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 6, 2014

Americans becoming fatter, sicker, poorer

The epidemic of fat in the United States is so great that more than one in five Americans is said to be too heavy to enlist in the armed services.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Dec 5, 2014

Lewis brings storied career back to track as coach

It's too early to know if Carl Lewis will one day be considered a legendary track coach.

Longform

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.
Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat