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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Feb 24, 2020

South Korean primaries could make or break Moon Jae-in's presidency

South Korean President Moon Jae-in must win upcoming elections to avoid becoming a lame duck in the second half of his single, five-year term. But first he's got to consolidate power within his own party.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Feb 24, 2020

Behind the mask: The show must go on

As the impact of COVID-19 leads to the postponement or cancelation of various fashion events, the industry faces a quandary — it is unseemly to focus on the relatively trivial business of style at a time of great concern?
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2020

With biryani and rice balls, Malaysia aims for halal Olympic gold

A small factory in Malaysia's capital is preparing thousands of ready-to-eat halal meals, from fried rice to chicken biryani, to be shipped off to Japan for 2020's biggest sporting event.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 24, 2020

Japan's next restroom revolution? Phasing out squat toilets for Tokyo 2020

On southwestern Miyajima island, Hiroshima Prefecture, a short walk from one of the country's most famous ancient temple sites, there's a brand new attraction for tourists — a state-of-the art public toilet block nearly as big as a tennis court.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 24, 2020

Climate change gets first mention in G20 finance communique of Trump era

Finance officials from the world's 20 biggest economies (G20) on Sunday referenced climate change in their final communique for the first time in U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, but stopped short of calling it a major risk to the economy.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 22, 2020

Rethinking the need for personal stamps and seals in modern society

Last month, MUFG Bank Ltd. started offering ¥1,000 to each of its first 100,000 customers willing to give up their paper passbooks. MUFG wants people to switch to online banking, which is cheaper for banks — and not just because they can save on production costs. Banks pay billions of yen a year in...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Feb 22, 2020

‘33⅓ Japan’ has nerdy but accessible tales of albums and artists

With the '33u2153 Japan' series, music aficionados bring classic Japanese albums and artists to life in nerdy, but accessible, prose.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Feb 22, 2020

The rebirth of cool: It's not easy being a lovable middle-aged man in Japan

For the first time since … never, the ojisan (middle-aged man) is on a roll. 
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 22, 2020

Olympic snub: Dance of Japan's indigenous Ainu dropped from opening ceremony

Olympic organizers have dropped a dance by Japan's indigenous Ainu people from the opening ceremony of this year's Summer Games, a representative of the minority group said on Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Regional Voices: Hokkaido
Feb 21, 2020

After Hokkaido backcountry skiing deaths, experts call for enforcing 'Niseko Rules'

Following two cases of backcountry skiers being killed by avalanches in Hokkaido since the beginning of this year, safety experts in the prefecture are working to fully enforce the so-called Niseko Rules to keep skiers safe.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / B. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Feb 20, 2020

Henare's open-minded approach hitting target with B2's Five Arrows

After losing 41 of 60 games last season under former head coach Kohei Eto, the Kagawa Five Arrows have made positive strides this season under new leadership.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Feb 20, 2020

Yen near nine-month low as China moves to help coronavirus-hit firms

The yen traded near a nine-month low versus the dollar on expectations that China would continue to act to reduce the outbreak's economic impacts.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 20, 2020

Machine lubricants leave bad taste for palm oil producers and buyers

The palm oil industry, long accused of large-scale deforestation, is bracing for another hit to its business: machinery lubricants seeping into the world's most consumed edible oil during processing.
ASIA PACIFIC
Feb 19, 2020

Malaysia never ruled out 'murder-suicide plot' by MH370 pilot, says former PM Najib

Malaysia has never ruled out the possibility that missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 could have been downed by a suicidal pilot, the country's former prime minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 19, 2020

Changing attitudes, not regulations, is the key to Japan's future

There is little indication that the Japanese public will change and allow the reforms required to put Japan's economy on a more stable footing and facilitate growth.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2020

Nissan CEO tells angry shareholders he is ready to be sacked if no turnaround

Nissan Motor Co.'s new chief executive said Tuesday he will accept being fired if he fails to turn around Japan's second-biggest automaker, which is grappling with plunging sales in the aftermath of the scandal surrounding former Chairman Carlos Ghosn.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2020

Tokyo commuters set for Olympic crush as many firms rule out telework

When Emi Tanimura failed to find a day care slot for her newborn daughter, the need to avoid long periods away from her job at communications firm Sunny Side Up made it necessary to take what is a radical step in Japan; she started working from home.
WORLD
Feb 18, 2020

Pakistan confirms escape of Taliban leader who justified Malala shooting

A high-profile local Taliban figure who announced and justified the 2012 attack on teenage Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has escaped detention, Pakistan's interior minister confirmed a few days after the militant announced his breakout on social media.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 18, 2020

Masayoshi Son's big real estate venture with Oyo runs into real problems in Japan

Last March, months before the meltdown at WeWork, Masayoshi Son worked through the prospects for another one of his favorite portfolio companies — a startup from India called Oyo.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Feb 18, 2020

ICC trial in The Hague one option for Sudan's al-Bashir, says minister

Sudan could send former leader Omar al-Bashir and other suspects to The Hague for trial before the International Criminal Court, but any decision would need approval from military and civilian rulers, the information minister said on Monday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 17, 2020

Fears over coronavirus prompt surge in telecommuting across Japan

The NTT group, Yahoo Japan and GMO Internet are among the companies trying to reduce the risk of their employees contracting the COVID-19 virus.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Feb 16, 2020

Rui Hachimura, Yuta Watanabe and Yudai Baba reunite during All-Star Weekend

Washington Wizards rookie Rui Hachimura met up with basketball-playing compatriots Yuta Watanabe and Yudai Baba as part of NBA All-Star Weekend festivities on Friday in Chicago.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 16, 2020

Tourism hit from coronavirus will carry into 2021, travel experts say

Even as infections of the novel coronavirus seemed to be slowing at one point last week, the effects of the epidemic on the global tourism industry were accelerating rapidly.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 2020

Japan cancels brand protection for Aichi's Nishio Matcha tea as producers seek flexibility to boost sales

The agriculture ministry has removed Aichi Prefecture's Nishio Matcha tea from its list of geographically protected local specialty brand names so its producers can be given the freedom to try more efficient growing methods.

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