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Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 17, 2020

Osaka referendum: Merger gets second chance, but are voters on board?

Five years after voters in the city of Osaka narrowly voted down a referendum on consolidating its 24 wards into five with more autonomy and eliminating the municipal assembly and mayor, another referendum is set for later this year.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 17, 2020

Japan recession fears grow as GDP shrinks at 6.3% rate with COVID-19 hit to come

The contraction in the annualized gross domestic product for October-December was the worst in five quarters.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 16, 2020

Power and money in Japanese politics

The income and terms of office for lawmakers can help explain Diet bribery and corruption.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Feb 15, 2020

'Introduction to Zen Training': Sogen Omori's road map to enlightenment

An introduction to Zen practice, by one of Japan's leading practitioners.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 14, 2020

Olympics minister denounces South Korean posters of Tokyo 2020 torch runner in a hazmat suit

Seiko Hashimoto, minister for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, on Friday denounced South Korean-made posters showing an Olympic torch relay runner wearing a hazmat suit and what appears to be radioactive material spewing from the torch.
Japan Times
EDITORIALS
Feb 13, 2020

Coming to terms with what's behind the Sagamihara killings

To help prevent a recurrence of abhorrent crimes against the disabled, society as a whole needs to come to grips with the widespread prejudice and discrimination against such people, and take steps to amend the situation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 12, 2020

Japan to expand coronavirus testing as 39 more on cruise test positive

The increase in the number of people on the Diamond Princess diagnosed with COVID-19 continued as the health ministry announced 29 passengers, 10 crew members and one quarantine officer have tested positive.
JAPAN
Feb 11, 2020

Japan may expand China travel ban as outbreak grows in Zhejiang province

The government is considering expanding the coverage of its entry ban to also include foreign nationals who have been to the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang in response to the spreading outbreak of the new coronavirus originating in the country, it was learned Tuesday.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 7, 2020

Japan finds 41 more virus infections on Diamond Princess; two more cruise ships turned away

The tally of cases aboard the quarantined cruise ship off Yokohama is now 61 and growing.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2020

Cabin fever on the Diamond Princess: Inside the virus-hit cruise ship off Japan

For one American couple, what was supposed to be a weeklong trip in Japan has been abruptly replaced by two weeks confined to their room aboard a quarantined cruise ship.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 6, 2020

Japan decides to refuse entry to noncitizen cruise ship passengers bound for Okinawa due to virus concerns

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Thursday that Japan has decided to refuse entry to noncitizen passengers on board a luxury cruise ship that is set to arrive in the country later this week as some are suspected to be infected with the new coronavirus.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Feb 6, 2020

Indonesian president orders officials to find a permanent solution to forest fires

Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo on Thursday ordered government officials to find a permanent solution to prevent devastating annual forest fires, mainly started by humans but made worse by climate change.
JAPAN
Feb 6, 2020

Communications ministry asks NHK to cut viewing fees further

Communications minister Sanae Takaichi asked NHK on Wednesday to make further cuts to its subscription fees.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 5, 2020

Japan won't seek to delay Xi's visit, Suga says, as virus spreads from China

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has said that Japan is not planning to postpone a state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping expected for early April.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 5, 2020

Ten passengers on quarantined cruise ship test positive for coronavirus

Fear of possible coronavirus infections on a cruise ship carrying about 3,700 people became reality Wednesday as 10 of 31 passengers tested positive for the virus.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 4, 2020

Japanese government OKs bill to tackle issue of unclear land ownership

The government is aiming to curb the growing trend of land plots with no identifiable owners by clarifying owners' responsibilities, with the Cabinet approving a bill to revise the Basic Act for Land at a meeting Tuesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 4, 2020

Japan to see first drop in GDP in five quarters, estimates show

Japan's real gross domestic product is believed to have dropped for the first time in five quarters in the October-December period, partly due to the consumption tax hike taking a bite out of domestic demand, according to estimates by 10 think tanks.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 4, 2020

Hilton chases post-Olympic gold by bringing new luxury hotel brand to Kyoto in 2021

The Hilton group said Tuesday it will open a hotel under its newest luxury brand in Kyoto in autumn 2021, counting on a further upswell in lodging demand from tourists even after the Tokyo Olympics this summer.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Feb 3, 2020

The Kawai scandal and the race to succeed Shinzo Abe

Hiroshima-based Liberal Democratic Party Diet member Anri Kawai admitted in January to receiving ¥150 million from LDP headquarters prior to the July 2019 Upper House election. Kawai, a novice in national politics, is also the wife of disgraced former Justice Minister Katsuyuki Kawai, who was forced...

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