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Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 22, 2017

Judge chucks suit accusing Trump of violating 'emoluments' clause against foreign payments

A federal judge in New York on Thursday threw out a lawsuit that had accused President Donald Trump of violating the U.S. Constitution by accepting foreign payments through his hotels and other businesses, handing him a major victory on an issue that has dogged him since even before he took office in...
Reader Mail
Dec 21, 2017

Crown Princess Masako can highlight the needs of people with disabilities

Earlier this month, Crown Princess Masako appeared in public with her husband and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to help celebrate 2017 Week of Persons with Disabilities. As expected, their role was simple: a photo shoot with the pamphlet for the event and very few words. Apolitical puppets these royals truly...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 20, 2017

Sexism sucks, but blame capitalism more

Most tragic cases of human underachievement are the direct result of economic discrimination.
BUSINESS
Dec 19, 2017

French Tycoon bets nuclear power will make comeback spurred by climate crisis

French tycoon Dominique Louis is doubling down on atomic power, betting that global warming will foster a nuclear renaissance.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Dec 18, 2017

Hit products of 2017 home in on uchi

Nikkei Marketing Journal ranks the hit products for 2017, with Amazon and Rakuten sitting pretty among the grand champions.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 17, 2017

What do Western tourists want from Japan? Try asking one

How many other countries would attempt to lure Western tourists without at least having a tete-a-tete with a woman in their target audience who has lived for over 20 years in the very place they're hoping to attract people to?
Japan Times
SOCCER
Dec 17, 2017

Vahid Halilhodzic looks to bright side after Japan fails to capture E-1 Football Championship title

National team manager Vahid Halilhodzic declared Japan's performance at the E-1 Football Championship a success despite missing out on the title with a 4-1 defeat to South Korea on Saturday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 15, 2017

A midterm review of Abenomics

So far the report card is good, but expect better for the future.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 13, 2017

Osaka city assembly urges central government to pressure San Francisco to remove 'comfort women' memorial

The Osaka city assembly has called on the central government to pressure San Francisco to remove a statue to wartime "comfort women" — a euphemism used to refer to the women and girls who were forced to work in Japanese military brothels before and during World War II.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 12, 2017

When the 'Arab Street' and its protests come to Sweden

Anti-Jewish violence spreads to liberal Europe, where Muslim immigrants enjoy the freedom to protest.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 12, 2017

DP chief offers up options for drastic change in party organization as onetime opposition force falters

Democratic Party President Kohei Otsuka offered up multiple options to drastically rejigger his party's organization — including the possible launch of a new party or a name change — during a meeting Tuesday, a party source said.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 8, 2017

Aiming for truly universal health coverage

The idea that everyone should be able to access quality health services has finally claimed its rightful place at the top of the global health agenda.
Reader Mail
Dec 8, 2017

U.S. must honor treaty obligations

Doug Bandow, in his opinion piece "War with North Korea is not a viable option" in the Nov. 30 edition, writes: "Of course the problem of South Korea defending itself against a North armed with nuclear weapons would remain. Yet it still isn't in America's interest to risk Los Angeles, Honolulu, Seattle,...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Dec 6, 2017

In Japan, rarefied manners abound but courtesy is less common

Japanese manners are often remarked upon with awe and wonder by visitors, but you seldom hear a word about Japanese courtesy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 4, 2017

20 years after Kyoto Protocol, where does world stand on climate?

On Dec. 11, 1997, representatives from over 150 nations gathered in Kyoto to hammer out what would become the world's first international agreement to control and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Dec 4, 2017

Turnbull gets some good news as poll finds voters have tired of leadership roundabout

Embattled Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull received an unexpected boost from an opinion poll Monday that showed voters want their leaders to govern for their full terms rather than the revolving door that has marked Australian politics.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 30, 2017

Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez hints at 2020 U.S. presidential run, plans nationwide tour

U.S. Democratic Representative Luis Gutierrez, who has announced he will not seek re-election to Congress in 2018, said on Wednesday he wanted to concentrate his energies "on the national level" and indicated he might be interested in a presidential run in 2020.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Nov 27, 2017

Nihongo on the go: Words to know in 2018

Learn some of the latest youth slangs in Japanese, including the 'tooth cavity pose.'
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices
Nov 26, 2017

Japan is seen through a lens warily in 'You Only Live Twice,' James Bond's sole sojourn to Tokyo

"You Only Live Twice," the only "James Bond" film — to date — to be set in Japan, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. While undoubtedly great fun, it must be admitted that it's a long way from being a masterpiece of cinema.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 24, 2017

Newsweek causes stir by reporting 'Japan wants war' with North Korea

Misreporting an opinion poll, a Newsweek story claims 'Japan wants war with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, not dialogue.'
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 23, 2017

Putin's plan to rejuvenate Russian politics makes slow progress

Poised to run for a fourth term, President Vladimir Putin has started clearing out the old Russian political elite and says he is bringing in young people with "fire in their eyes."
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Nov 23, 2017

France's ban on gender-neutral language sets off national debate

France has banned the use of gender-neutral language in official documents, cheering defenders of linguistic tradition and angering feminists who see it as a setback for equal rights.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Nov 20, 2017

MLB scouts keep tabs on young players at APBC

There were no elite players like Shohei Otani or Yoshitomo Tsutsugo, but the Asia Professional Baseball Championship served as a good showcase for MLB scouts to try and identify some up-and-coming, and possibly future MLB, talent.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Nov 19, 2017

You're living in Japan — so now for something completely different

In a way, foreign residents who gravitate toward a third culture are simply following in a fine Japanese tradition.
Japan Times
JAPAN / View from Osaka
Nov 18, 2017

Osaka may be facing political headwinds in its quest to host World Expo 2025

"Look and see which way the wind blows before you commit yourself." — "The Bat and the Weasels," Aesop's Fables
Japan Times
BASEBALL
Nov 17, 2017

Lee Jung-hoo delivers game-winning triple in sixth inning as South Korea nips Taiwan

Lee Jung-Hoo's father may be a one of Korean baseball's former stars, but the 19-year-old is making a name for himself as a player in his own right.

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