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Japan Times
JAPAN / GEARING UP FOR THE GAMES
Jan 2, 2017

Tokyo 2020 Olympics will come and quickly go, but the legacy is all-important

The eyes of the world will be on Tokyo for more than just the 16 days that it hosts the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Jan 2, 2017

Beijing enjoys brief respite, but choking smog to set return on Tuesday

The heavy smog that blanketed northern China over the weekend cleared somewhat on Monday, with flights in Beijing returning to normal, but it was likely only a brief respite.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 2, 2017

Islamic State attack on Iraq police checkpoint kills seven, shows guerrilla-style capability

Islamic State attacked an Iraqi police checkpoint near the southern city of Najaf on Sunday, killing seven policemen as government forces in the north made more gains against the militants in Mosul, their last major stronghold in the country.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / 2017 NEW YEAR SPECIAL
Jan 1, 2017

Big changes likely in '17

A year of surprises has come to a close, but its unresolved questions will generate many more quakes in 2017. Where are the fault lines, what about President-elect Donald Trump, and what does all this mean for Japan?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 1, 2017

Abe has no reason to rock the boat by calling early-2017 snap election

After weeks of speculation that 2017 may start with a snap election in late January, the prime minister said on NHK that it will not happen.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Dec 31, 2016

Buried alive in the shadow of a Kyushu volcano

"Is the temperature alright for you ma'am?" my Japanese attendant asks in a polished U.S. accent as he cheerfully heaps another pile of hot sand on my torso.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 31, 2016

Why Abe's Russian gambit is doomed

Say what you will about Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, he is a glutton for punishment. Too bad his bravado is not matched by canny discernment. Case in point is his plan to visit Russian President Vladimir Putin to follow up on the recent fiasco in Japan. In December, Abe came away from his 24 hours with...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Dec 31, 2016

Getting too cozy to the next-door neighbors

In its Dec. 20 issue, Asahi Shimbun reported on a couple in their 60s living in Saitama City. Two years ago their neighbor installed an Eco Cute system that uses heat pump technology to heat water more efficiently and, thus, reduce electricity costs. But since the system was installed, the older couple's...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Dec 31, 2016

Actors seek posthumous protections after big-screen resurrections

Tuesday's death of actress Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in "Star Wars," set off waves of remembrance among fans — but also speculation over her character's return in yet-to-be-filmed episodes.
Reader Mail
Dec 30, 2016

Make college more affordable

As seventh-graders at Seiko Gakuin in Yokohama, we are currently discussing the gap between the rich and the poor, researching all of the things that cause this social problem.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Dec 29, 2016

Japan-U.S. ties under Trump

Japan's lack of strong connections with the Trump team could leave it at a loss as it faces the unpredictable new U.S. administration.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 29, 2016

Lowest birthrates on record bedevil schools

Record low birthrates in Japan and the United States will raise unprecedented problems for education officials in both countries.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 28, 2016

Blood and benefits: Duterte imposes his formula on the Philippines

Rodrigo Duterte has kept his word.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 28, 2016

'Rogue One': On the Dark Side of reanimation

How much do you want a new "Star Wars"? When J.J. Abrams' "The Force Awakens" opened to enormous fanfare last December, it felt like watching a beloved rock band making its comeback tour after a long hiatus. Sure, the original members couldn't quite muster the same energy and half of them seemed to have...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Dec 28, 2016

'14 That Night': Not quite abreast of teenage angst

Japanese films about high schoolers are many; junior high schoolers, few. One reason is that producers can cast a film about 17 year olds with 27-year-old actors who have massive fan followings. The result: bigger box office than if they had used newcomers barely into adolescence.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / Wide Angle
Dec 28, 2016

'Ruined Heart': a belated release

When you're covering a film fest, sometimes you crave a quick jolt. I'm still not sure how Khavn's "Ruined Heart" (Japan title: "Kowareta Kokoro") snuck into the main competition section of Tokyo International Film Festival in 2014, but watching it at the time felt like necking a triple vodka and Red...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Dec 28, 2016

What's in a surname? It depends on who you ask

Some women want to keep their maiden names after marriage, yet many others choose not to.
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 28, 2016

U.S. posts rules for addressing cyberbugs in medical devices

The U.S. government on Tuesday issued rules for addressing cybervulnerabilities in medical devices, providing manufacturers with guidelines for fixing security bugs in equipment, including pacemakers, insulin pumps and imaging systems.
WORLD
Dec 28, 2016

Fault in wing flap becomes main theory of Russian jet crash in Black Sea

Russian investigators looking into the crash of a military plane that crashed, killing all 92 on board, believe a fault with its wing flaps was the reason it plunged into the Black Sea, an investigative source told the Interfax news agency on Tuesday.

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