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Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 6, 2017

U.S. sees 'qualitative' improvement in North Korea's nuclear, missile capabilities

The United States said on Thursday North Korea had demonstrated a "qualitative" improvement in its nuclear and missile capabilities after an unprecedented level of tests last year, showing the needed to sustain pressure on Pyongyang to bring it back to disarmament negotiations.
WORLD
Jan 4, 2017

Turkey says identity of Istanbul attacker established, manhunt continues

Turkey has established the identity of the gunman who killed 39 people in an attack on an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Day, its foreign minister said, and further arrests were made on Wednesday, but the attacker himself remains at large.
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Jan 3, 2017

Release and renewal: Ando's life full of joy, challenges

Freed from the constraints of competition, retired athletes often change directions. Some go into business, a few into TV, others into coaching or various endeavors.
LIFE / Language / COMMUNICATION CUES
Jan 2, 2017

Nintendo teams up with Universal Studios

Universal Parks & Resorts and Nintendo are joining forces to add Nintendo-themed areas to Universal parks in Orlando, Los Angeles and Osaka, the companies announced on Nov. 29.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 31, 2016

Japan and the world enter a long night of 'post-truth'

In an essay titled "The Future of Mankind," British philosopher Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) laid out three possibilities: "The end of human life," "a reversion to barbarism" or "unification of the world under a single government." He saw the third as the only alternative to either of the first two....
ASIA PACIFIC
Dec 29, 2016

Five dead in attack in China's Xinjiang

Attackers drove a car into a government building in China's unruly far western region of Xinjiang on Wednesday and set off an explosive device, killing one person, the regional government said. All four of the attackers were shot dead.
WORLD
Dec 27, 2016

Russia finds first black box from crashed jet in Black Sea

Russia has found the first flight recorder from a military plane that crashed into the Black Sea, killing all 92 on board, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday, amid unconfirmed reports that authorities had grounded all aircraft of the same type.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 27, 2016

This year saw a bull market in skinny dipping

It's time to look back at a year when so many smart people were caught doing stupid things.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 25, 2016

Will Trump's foreign policy push Japan to go nuclear?

Japan is dancing with the devil in thinking of an arms race or the nuclear option to make up for lack of Donald Trump's support.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 24, 2016

A realistic view of Japan's island dispute

In the past month, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has snuggled up to two of the world's most distrusted national leaders in an attempt to prove his diplomatic mettle and boost support rates ahead of a rumored snap election next year. Abe was the first country head to gain an audience with President-elect...
Japan Times
WORLD
Dec 23, 2016

After passing written exam, health check, Santa gets pilot's license renewed in the nick of time

Santa Claus has successfully renewed his commercial pilot's license, passing a written exam as well as a health check — despite high sugar levels — and is good to fly for Christmas, Canada's transportation department said Thursday.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Dec 22, 2016

Tanaka, Iwakuma the dream ticket for Japan's WBC roster

Samurai Japan added the first major league player to its roster for the World Baseball Classic on Wednesday, when Houston Astros outfielder Norichika Aoki signed up for his third WBC.
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Dec 22, 2016

China launches carbon-tracking satellite into space: Xinhua

China launched a satellite to monitor its greenhouse gas emissions early on Thursday, the latest step in efforts to cut its carbon footprint, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 21, 2016

Finding courage and hope in 2016

The Year of the Monkey is drawing to a close. Despite the events in the real world, this year at least brought us some soulful films. Perhaps the filmmakers wanted to prepare us for the impending yuckiness of future reality. Still, my picks for the best films of the year intriguingly combined sweetness...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 21, 2016

Ban Ki-moon's mixed legacy

The United Nations has become less relevant after a decade of leadership by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Dec 19, 2016

Bus torchings cloud Aleppo evacuation effort as Russia threatens to veto U.N. resolution for access

Convoys of evacuees traveled from a rebel-held area of Aleppo and from two Shiite villages besieged by insurgents on Monday after a days-long stand-off.
EDITORIALS
Dec 18, 2016

Four years of Abe in power

Four years on, Abe's grip on power seems as strong as ever. The question remains how and where he will use his ample political resources.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 16, 2016

Putin exits onsen drama holding all the cards

The summit talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin did not end in hikiwake, or a draw, as Putin once phrased it.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2016

Abe-Putin summit ends with economic deals but no isle steps

Visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed Friday to start talks on potential "joint economic activities" they could launch on the four disputed Russia-held islands off Hokkaido, saying it could be an important first step toward resolving their decades-long territorial...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 16, 2016

Will Trump get trumped?

In January, Donald Trump will head to Washington with his team of radical, inexperienced and inordinately wealthy Cabinet picks. But he is not nearly as invincible as he seems to believe.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 15, 2016

Abe, Putin focus on peace treaty issues in first round of two-day talks in Yamaguchi

Despite ongoing pressure on Russia over its annexation of Crimea in 2014, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday welcomed President Vladimir Putin — the first visit by a Russian leader in around 11 years — as he sought to make a breakthrough in a postwar territorial row that has left the countries...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 13, 2016

Trump selects Tillerson for State, dismissing Russia ties

President-elect Donald Trump planed on Tuesday to nominate Exxon Mobil Corp. chief Rex Tillerson for U.S. secretary of state, setting off a confirmation fight that puts the oilman's ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin — and Trump's own — in the spotlight.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 10, 2016

Could easier adoptions stem child abuse in Japan?

The national news has recently reported a number of stories about young children dying at the hands of their parents or guardians, either from neglect or direct physical violence. It's hard to say if these tragedies constitute a trend since detailed child abuse statistics weren't really available until...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 8, 2016

Elites must engage populists

Populists cannot be eliminated, but they can be co-opted.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / LIFELINES
Dec 7, 2016

Japan's taxman sticks his OAR in, looking for leviable expat assets held abroad

Experts answer readers' queries about the overseas assets reporting law aimed at taxing wealth held outside Japan.

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