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Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 29, 2016

The future of rice farming in Japan

Rice has been at the center of Japan's economy and culture for centuries. But changes are afoot. There is growing concern among Japanese farmers that the country's rice-producing capabilities are diminishing in the face of international trade pacts such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In fact, all...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 29, 2016

Japan at risk if West unable to confront growing geopolitical threats, says analyst

The world can expect more geopolitical conflicts that will also impact Japan if Western powers fail to tackle global issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis and the rise of terrorism, according to leading political risk analyst Ian Bremmer.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / AEC SPECIAL
Jan 29, 2016

Contributing to Southeast Asian development

ASEAN is currently attracting much attention as a major growth center in the global economy. With a market of more than 600 million people and an abundant young labor force, whose working-age population will peak in the second half of the 2040s, ASEAN has achieved remarkable economic growth with its...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 28, 2016

Embattled economy minister Amari resigns over graft claims

Embattled economic minister Akira Amari on Thursday resigned over a graft scandal involving the misappropriation of funds within his office.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Science & Health
Jan 28, 2016

Blue skies over Beijing? Decaying suburbs bear cost as China cuts pollution

On the outskirts of Beijing, the disused factories of Chaomidian show the impact of China's drive to shut down thousands of small firms causing big pollution. Amid scrap heaps and idle machinery, the community has clean air these days — and no jobs.
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 28, 2016

Breakthrough in mapping tropical forests reveals broad extent of tree loss

New advanced satellite maps of tropical countries reveal that more than 90 percent of recent tree cover loss took place in natural forests rather than plantations, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity, research shows.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / FOREIGN AGENDA
Jan 27, 2016

Do your Japanese colleagues drive you nuts? Maybe it's you, not them (or both)

The Trail Mix Incident — where cultural conditioning trumped Japanese social etiquette — highlights how the defense of territory is universal.
BUSINESS
Jan 27, 2016

Bank of Kyoto snubs Abe's plea to cut cross-shareholdings

As Prime Minister Shinzo Abe urges Japanese banks to reduce their stakes in client companies, at least one lender is not playing ball.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 26, 2016

Sony to buy Israeli chipmaker Altair in push to develop Internet of Things

Sony Corp. has agreed to buy Israel's Altair Semiconductor Ltd. for $212 million, acquiring technology to power the next generation of smart appliances as the firm looks for growth beyond chips for smartphone cameras.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016

Britain facing a watershed year

A vote against EU membership, especially in such a dangerous international environment, would truly be an irrational move for Britain.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 25, 2016

Stop blaming China for the Nikkei's gloom

Shinzo Abe is the architect of Japan's bear market as he's squandered a rare opportunity for bold reforms.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016

The people of Taiwan have spoken clearly

Japan, the U.S. and other democracies should support President-elect Tsai Ing-wen in her endeavor to maintain pragmatic relations with China while advancing Taiwan's thriving democracy.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan / SENTAKU MAGAZINE
Jan 25, 2016

Space development program a blackhole for public funds

Japan has poured huge sums of money into its space exploration effort, but with very little to show for it.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jan 25, 2016

Let's discuss new map symbols for tourists

The Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) has released new symbols for foreign-language maps after criticism that some of its current pictograms are hard to understand or even offensive.
CULTURE / Music / STRANGE BOUTIQUE
Jan 24, 2016

Afrirampo reunion may save 2016

While 2016 kicked off for most of the music world with David Bowie tricking hundreds of thousands of people into buying a jazz-prog concept album about death, the message from the heart of J-pop was loud and clear: "DO NOT WORRY, NOTHING WILL EVER CHANGE."
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Jan 24, 2016

Canadian town reels after shooting left four dead

The remote, northern Canadian community where a shooter killed four people and injured seven on Friday has long struggled under the weight of poverty, high suicide rates and disadvantages that most of the country can hardly imagine.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 23, 2016

Australian submarine tender narrows to Japanese and French bids: sources

The competition for a 50 billion Australian dollar ($34.55 billion) contract to build Australia's next submarine fleet is narrowing to a race between Japan and France as a bid from Germany's Thyssen-Krupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has lost ground over technical concerns, multiple sources said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 22, 2016

BOJ on verge of fresh inflation target delay, putting monetary policy under scrutiny

The Bank of Japan is poised, for the third time in less than a year, to push back the time frame for reaching its inflation target, making it harder for policymakers to hold off from enlarging monetary stimulus.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 21, 2016

Japan Post Bank unfazed by global stocks turmoil

The worst-ever start to a year for stock markets and oil's historic slump have not deterred Japan's postal savings bank, which is preparing to shift more of its $1.8 trillion portfolio into equities and alternative assets.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / DAVOS SPECIAL 2016
Jan 20, 2016

City supports and encourages high-tech innovation

Saitama City, a major bedroom community of Tokyo, is proud of many things, including the fact that it is home to 1 percent of the country's population, a percentage that is likely to rise as the population is still increasing.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 19, 2016

Visitors to Japan surge to record 19.73 million, spend all-time high ¥3.48 trillion

A record 19.73 million people visited Japan in 2015, marking the first time in 45 years that the number of incoming travelers surpassed the outbound figure.
BUSINESS
Jan 19, 2016

Japan approved 85,550 MW of renewable energy projects since 2012

Japan has given the go-ahead to 85,550 megawatts of clean-energy projects since the introduction of an incentive program in July 2012, with solar comprising the vast bulk of the new capacity.
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Jan 19, 2016

After signing of nuclear deal, Iran moves from being pariah state to regional power

Iran's release from sanctions testifies to its new relationship with the United States as it moves from pariah state to regional power, a status that could come at the cost of Saudi Arabia, Washington's chief Arab ally.
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 18, 2016

Rise of the robots, genetics to eliminate more than 5 million jobs, World Economic Forum research claims

Over 5 million jobs will be lost by 2020 as a result of developments in genetics, artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological change, according to World Economic Forum research.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Jan 18, 2016

China's chief stock regulator expected to resign as turmoil continues to roil markets: sources

Xiao Gang, the embattled head of China's securities regulator, has offered to resign, sources said, after perceived mismanagement wiped more than $5 trillion off the value of the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets since they peaked last June.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 18, 2016

Toward a new Islamic golden age

Muslim nations must reverse their sorry state of science if they are to provide better lives for their booming populations and keep up with global development.

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