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COMMENTARY / World
Feb 4, 2017

Dream of cheap, clean nuclear power is over

Far from the dream technology envisioned in the old science fiction novels, nuclear power has become a huge, risky government-subsidized boondoggle.
Japan Times
WORLD
Feb 1, 2017

Syrian Kurd-dominated militias see more U.S. support for Raqqa fight on Trump's watch

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has boosted support for its Syrian allies since President Donald Trump took office, supplying armored vehicles for the first time as they prepare to launch a new phase in their campaign for Raqqa, a spokesman for the militia said on Tuesday.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Jan 31, 2017

Medvedeva looks invincible a year from Pyeongchang

Collecting her second straight European title with a world-record score last Friday, Evgenia Medvedeva emphatically reinforced that she is a prohibitive favorite for the gold medal in Pyeongchang next year.
JAPAN
Jan 30, 2017

Nuclear fuel debris that penetrated reactor pressure vessel possibly found at Fukushima No. 1

Tepco on Monday found what may be melted nuclear fuel debris that penetrated the reactor 2 pressure vessel at the Fukushima No. 1 plant.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 28, 2017

Media starts to focus on Japan's aging prison population

When it comes to crime and punishment, Japan is a conundrum for progressives. It has low crime rates and small prison populations, but it is also one of the few developed countries that still enforces capital punishment, and its criminal justice system is often criticized for giving too much power to...
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Jan 28, 2017

Good fortune in the Tokyo suburbs

The Tokyu Setagaya Line, a sweet little tramline, makes stops between Sangenjaya and Shimotakaido stations. A mere 5.1 kilometers long and one of only two trams left in Tokyo (the other being the Toden Arakawa Line), the Setagaya Line boasts a sleek fleet in candy colors. I hop onto a cherry red one...
EDITORIALS
Jan 28, 2017

Making use of dormant accounts

The new program to funnel money from dormant bank accounts to NPOs will need the utmost transparency.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 27, 2017

Abe, Trump and a suddently foggy alliance

Shinzo Abe needs to act with care as the Trump administration will provide confusion instead of serving Washington's traditional role as a stabilizing force.
EDITORIALS
Jan 26, 2017

Rules on handing over a child

A revision of the law governing child custody is imperative to ensure that court decisions on child transfers are enforced.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 26, 2017

Trump voter fraud probe called pretext for curbing minority access to polls

President Donald Trump's plans to investigate the possibility of voter fraud in the 2016 election could pave the way for tough voting rules including stringent ID requirements that Democrats and rights groups say would amount to a new assault on voting rights.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 24, 2017

Failure and hope in Women's March

Coopted by the Democrats, the Women's March was doomed to join the list of fruitless liberal marches — yet it gave hint at the better country Americans could have.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 23, 2017

How data geeks could enable mass deportation

Technology companies have databases that document people's ethnicity, religion and other personal information on a massive scale.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 23, 2017

Davos conferees look to embrace windfalls from populist political shift, for now

Populism isn't necessarily bad for the global economy. It might even be boosting it — at least for now.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 21, 2017

Why hacking Trump might not be easy

Donald Trump's quip about using couriers instead of email may not be such a bad idea.
JAPAN / Politics / GAUGING TRUMP
Jan 20, 2017

Echoes of 1980s trade war seen in Trump comments on Japan

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump surprised and angered many in Japan with comments about how unfair Japan's trade policies were.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 20, 2017

Confidant says Emperor told him he wants abdication option codified for future monarchs

Mototsugu Akashi, an 83-year-old retiree in Tokyo, received a call at around 10 p.m. on July 21 at home from the most unexpected, unlikely caller: Emperor Akihito.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2017
Jan 17, 2017

Home to cutting-edge technology and innovation

Saitama City, a major bedroom community of Tokyo, is home to many leading technology companies that Japan can be proud to showcase to the world.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jan 16, 2017

Japanese law for endangered wildlife set for what critics call toothless revamp

The Law on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is set to be revised once again to further improve government measures to prevent vulnerable animal and plant species from becoming extinct.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 14, 2017

Trump's nominees stray from his path on Russia, torture

In two days of Senate confirmation hearings, Donald Trump's national security nominees have shown they aren't afraid of disagreeing with their boss, even on matters at the heart of his campaign promises.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 10, 2017

Syria and the Hippocratic principle: first do no harm

Western interference has caused far more problems than it has solved across the region from Afghanistan to North Africa.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2017

China shouldn't burn its 40-ton ivory stockpile

Despite the visceral appeal, 30 years of burning hasn't appreciably reduced elephant kills or ivory consumption. In fact, it likely raises its value on the black market.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 9, 2017

The importance of cutting Islamic State's lifeline

To defeat Islamic State once and for all, we need to recognize — and eliminate — its many sources of sustenance.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 9, 2017

Founder of Italy's 5-Star proposes divorce with anti-EU party in European Parliament

Italy's maverick 5-Star Movement should cut ties with the anti-European Union U.K. Independence Party (UKIP) and consider hooking up with the Liberals in the European Parliament, 5-Star founder Beppe Grillo said on Sunday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 8, 2017

Japan's human rights issues fared better in 2016

Welcome back to JBC's annual countdown of the top issues as they affected Non-Japanese (NJ) residents of Japan. We had some brighter spots this year than in previous years, because Japan's government has been so embarrassed by hate speech toward Japan's minorities that they did something about it. Read...
COMMUNITY / Voices / OVERHEARD
Jan 7, 2017

Missing a trick

'So long 2016! You won't be missed!'
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 4, 2017

From Japanese horror to American intrigue

As a second-generation Japanese-American working in Hollywood, Shintaro Shimosawa stands out. Take his name for example, he prefers Shintaro over his given "American name," Edward.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 4, 2017

Senator gets ball rolling on killing Obamacare, Ryan returned as Trump-era Congress kicks off, trips

Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi introduced on Tuesday a resolution allowing for the repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health insurance program, which provides coverage to millions of Americans, Enzi's office said in a statement.

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.