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Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Jul 3, 2016

Western media cherry-pick facts and phalli to fit the 'no vagina' narrative in Japan

In Western media coverage of Megumi Igarashi's case, a commonly expressed view has been that Japanese society suppresses vaginal art while celebrating all that is penile. This view is untenable.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 2, 2016

Japan dances with the death penalty

Last week, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced his plans to reinstate the death penalty, which was abolished in his country in 2006. Duterte says he believes in retribution: If you kill someone, you deserve to die.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 30, 2016

Ranking the 2016 presidential primary polls and predictions

After more than 50 million votes cast in 100-plus nominating contests since early February, the U.S. presidential primary season is over and each major party finally has its presumptive nominee. Now, as the country prepares for the race between Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, and...
BUSINESS
Jun 28, 2016

Ratings agencies downgrade U.K.'s credit score following 'seminal' Brexit vote

Britain suffered further blows to its economic standing on Monday as two top ratings agencies downgraded its sovereign credit score, judging last week's vote to leave the European Union will hurt its economy.
WORLD
Jun 27, 2016

Only quarter of Canadians believe NAFTA benefits them

Only one in four Canadians say the North American Free Trade Agreement is good for their country, and more than one-third want it renegotiated, according to a poll ahead of a leaders' summit on Wednesday.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 27, 2016

Mongolians head to polls with slowing economy a worry

Mongolia will elect a new parliament this week hoping it can reverse four straight years of slowing growth, against a backdrop of concerns about an erosion of democratic values in a country sandwiched between autocratic China and Russia.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 26, 2016

In wake of Brexit shock, Australian leader Turnbull urges stability vote in July's national poll

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday used "Brexit" shock waves to urge voters to return his government with a majority at a July 2 election, arguing only stable government can deliver jobs, economic growth and tough border controls.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 25, 2016

Can foreign media pressure force changes in Japan?

Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara's first-person "biography" of late Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka, "Tensai" ("Genius"), remains atop best-seller lists. It is interesting to note that when Tanaka was alive Ishihara berated him as a crude opportunist. The years have obviously tempered his view, or perhaps...
Reader Mail
Jun 25, 2016

Thailand fostering democracy, reform

While respecting the opinion of Pavin Chachavalpongpun as expressed in the article titled "Thailand playing a risky game with China, Russia" in the June 7 edition, I would like to provide the following facts.
Reader Mail
Jun 25, 2016

It's Abe's turn to visit Pearl Harbor

Regarding U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Hiroshima last month, it is my opinion Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should now visit Pearl Harbor.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 23, 2016

Chinese newspaper says Brexit vote risky, reflects failings of democracy

An influential Chinese newspaper broke Beijing's Brexit silence on Thursday, saying the United Kingdom will lose global influence if it ditches the European Union.
EDITORIALS
Jun 23, 2016

Constitution as a campaign issue

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeatedly emphasizes that economy is the foremost issue in the campaign for the July 10 Upper House election — urging voters to choose whether to endorse his bid to go on with Abenomics or return to what he calls "those dark days" before the policy package was launched. But...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 21, 2016

Scandal, other outrages fuel Upper House race

A widespread growing sense of anger and concern among Japanese voters will be a key factor determining the outcome of the upcoming Upper House election.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 21, 2016

The West is getting Russia wrong

Western governments and publics need to see better through the self-serving rationale of the Kremlin's actions. To do otherwise plays into Putin's hands.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 21, 2016

City mayors forging alliance over Airbnb and Uber

Uber Technologies Inc. and Airbnb Inc. have set their sights on global expansion. They are about to face a global response.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Jun 21, 2016

European history hovers close to reverse gear as Britain weighs EU exit

European history may be about to go into reverse.
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 20, 2016

China cracks down foreign-inspired TV shows

China is clamping down on imported television shows and remakes that use formats from abroad in a bid to "promote domestic originality," the country's top media regulator has said.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / BLACK EYE
Jun 19, 2016

Offering support — and floor space — to Japan's refugees

While the Japanese government continues to give asylum seekers the cold shoulder, one American church worker offers them a helping hand.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 19, 2016

What Hillary must do to win over Bernie voters

Hillary Clinton faces an uphill battle to convince Sanders supporters to help her defeat Donald Trump.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jun 18, 2016

Why are Japanese women still bewitched by the Brontes?

Some years ago a sassy Osaka lady asked me to introduce her to the pleasures of Western literature. I duly handed her a variety of classic books, including "The Turn of the Screw," "Heart of Darkness," "Lolita" and "A Study in Scarlet." They were all methodically if unenthusiastically read, but when...
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 18, 2016

Maradona and Pele are wrong about Messi

Argentina's Lionel Messi proves once again he deserves his reputation as one of the three greatest soccer players of all time.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 17, 2016

Death and inheritance taxes: Japan's financial advisory firms enter the delicate but bountiful fray

Elderly Japanese, among the world's richest retirees, are flocking to inheritance advisers, tackling historical taboos on discussing death and providing a rare avenue of growth for the country's brokerages and banks.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jun 15, 2016

Clinton edge over Trump eases after Florida massacre but more also favor neither: poll

Hillary Clinton's lead over Donald Trump in the U.S. presidential race has narrowed since late last week, according to the results of the first Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted since the Orlando shooting rampage on Sunday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 13, 2016

Fiery Duterte mistakes media for the enemy

Asia's iron-fisted leaders see media as a threat to nationalism rather than a tool to drive economic reforms.
EDITORIALS
Jun 11, 2016

Scientists and defense research

Japanese scientists should maintain their long and proud tradition of not taking part in any defense-related research.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 11, 2016

Don't worry about a robot invasion just yet

Numerous factors argue against the doomsday specter of robots creating mass unemployment.

Longform

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