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EDITORIALS
Mar 29, 2016

Security legislation takes effect

Japan's postwar defense posture underwent a major change this week as new security legislation took effect, but how the government plans to implement the laws remains unclear.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2016

Drawing the right lessons from wars and interventions

Multilateralism may have its imperfections and shortcomings, but like old age it is still better than the alternative.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2016

Happiness is serious business in the UAE

Happiness is neither a transitory moment of delight nor a constant condition. It is a state of being beyond satisfaction, a flourishing and ambient joy.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Mar 28, 2016

Let's discuss tourists and their tattoos

The Japan Tourism Agency has asked spa operators to allow tattooed foreign tourists into their facilities in a bid to get more overseas visitors experiencing the nation's onsen.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 27, 2016

Democratic Party launches with vow to halt ruling coalition

At its inauguration ceremony, Japan's newest and largest opposition party vows to dethrone Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
BUSINESS
Mar 27, 2016

Americans on all sides united in opposition to free trade

A poll shows opposition to free trade is a unifying concept even in the deeply divided U.S. electorate, with almost two-thirds of Americans favoring more restrictions on imported goods.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Mar 26, 2016

'Teflon Abe' gets high marks despite unpopular policies

Is Japan a democracy?
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Mar 26, 2016

Tepco executives get a taste of citizens' wrath

Three Tokyo Electric Power Co. executives are now facing criminal prosecution for negligence in failing to anticipate a monster tsunami that cut off electricity and inundated back-up emergency generators, causing a cessation of cooling in the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant reactors that precipitated three...
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 23, 2016

Malaysia's Mahathir sues Najib, alleging abuse of power

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad filed a suit against scandal-plagued Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday, alleging corruption and abuse of power, his lawyers said, the latest salvo in his efforts to remove Najib from office.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Mar 21, 2016

Let's discuss the child care blog post that went viral

Mothers and their supporters have handed over some 28,000 signatures to the government from people seeking a better child care system, after they were inspired by an anonymous blog post written by a frustrated mother.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Mar 21, 2016

Despite signs of a drop in popularity, Turnbull sets early elections in motion

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull set the stage for early elections on July 2, despite signs his personal popularity is sagging, by recalling parliament in the boldest gamble of his short leadership.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Mar 19, 2016

Manner mode: Defusing tension on the train

Commuting to and from work during peak hours in Tokyo can be an utterly soul-destroying experience.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2016

Exposing government's lack of action may save Yasuda's life: security consultant

The video of abducted journalist Jumpei Yasuda highlights the government's reluctance to officially engage his Middle East captors despite advance knowledge of his plight.
EDITORIALS
Mar 16, 2016

More than a new name is needed

Without a common policy platform that can provide voters with a genuine alternative to the ruling coalition, the new leading opposition party's future won't be bright.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 15, 2016

Prelude to war with China?

The South China Sea contretemps has taken a decided turn for the worse.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 15, 2016

Trump gears for key state showdown, denies any violence in 'lovefest' campaign

U.S. Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump hunted for votes in three states on Monday ahead of a crucial round of nominating contests, and dismissed outbreaks of violence at his campaign events as "a little disruption."
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 14, 2016

Japanese go out on a limb for health (but not for love)

You could say that health has become a national obsession — one of the most obvious side-effects of Japan's super-aged society.
Japan Times
WORLD
Mar 14, 2016

Record Brazil protests put Rousseff's future in doubt

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians flooded the streets on Sunday in the biggest ever protests calling for President Dilma Rousseff's removal, reflecting rising popular anger that could encourage Congress to impeach the leftist leader.
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 13, 2016

China to create 'international maritime judicial center' amid rising sea tensions

China will set up an "international maritime judicial center" in a bid to help protect its sea rights, the country's chief justice said Sunday, a move that analysts say Beijing could use to bolster its claims in the disputed South and East China seas.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 12, 2016

Koroki leads Reds past Avispa

Shinzo Koroki scored a goal in each half to help Urawa Reds get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over promoted Avispa Fukuoka on Saturday.
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 11, 2016

DPJ, Ishin no To narrow names of new opposition party down to two

After weeks of intense debate, the Democratic Party of Japan and Ishin no To (Japan Innovation Party) are finally on the verge of sorting out the first daunting challenge of their scheduled merger later this month: what to name their new party?
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 11, 2016

Peru's Guzman seeks foreign allies in fight for presidential ticket

Julio Guzman said on Thursday he was rallying international support for his bid to be reinstated as a candidate for Peru's presidency after the electoral board barred him on a technicality one month before the election.
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 11, 2016

BOJ negative rate seen as top tool by analysts, with cut by July

The Bank of Japan's new negative rate is the most likely tool for any expansion of stimulus, with a majority of economists in a survey forecasting additional easing by July.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Mar 10, 2016

Looking for comfort in art following the Great East Japan Earthquake

In her film "Heart of a Dog," the American artist Laurie Anderson explores loss as exemplified by the death of a loved one. A recurring theme is the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, an incident that profoundly changed the way New Yorkers like Anderson confronted their environment....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Mar 9, 2016

Five years on, Fukushima evacuees voice lingering anger, fear and distrust

Some of the thousands of uprooted Fukushima residents speak out about the ordeal that began five years ago and continues to exact a toll to this day.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 8, 2016

Ronald Reagan owed his great success to Nancy

Without his wife Nancy, Ronald Reagan would not have come to the place he occupies in history.
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Mar 8, 2016

U.S. top court strikes down Alabama rejection of lesbian's parental rights over adopted trio

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned an Alabama judicial ruling that had refused to recognize a gay woman's parental rights over three children she adopted with her lesbian partner and raised from birth.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Mar 6, 2016

Slovakian premier leads election but lacks clear path to form a majority

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was poised to win Saturday's parliamentary election, partial results showed, but gains by opposition parties, including far-right extremists, will complicate formation of a new government.

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