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Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Oct 22, 2018

Let's discuss the 10-day Golden Week holiday for 2019

In a move that will create a 10-day Golden Week holiday period in 2019, the government plans to designate May 1, when the new Emperor is planned to ascend the throne, as a one-off holiday.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Society / FOCUS
Oct 19, 2018

After slew of complaints from sexually harassed women, India looks to tighten abuse laws

India is considering tightening sexual harassment laws, government officials said Thursday, after an avalanche of allegations of abuse lodged by women in recent weeks thrust the issue to the forefront of politics.
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 15, 2018

Trump weighs action against Saudis as denials about Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance continue

Saudi Arabia is running out of time to explain to the Trump administration what happened to journalist Jamal Khashoggi within its consulate in Turkey.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Oct 9, 2018

Northeast Asia as seen from Okinawa

Tokyo will continue to be the capital that is most concerned about North Korean medium-range ballistic missiles armed with nuclear warheads.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues
Sep 29, 2018

At the Kyoto dorm that time forgot, Japanese students dig in

The reception area at Yoshida Dormitory, a 105-year-old student residency in Kyoto University, is reached via a short lane lined by tall gingko trees and rows of bicycles, some of which look like they have been stationary for as long it would take to complete a Ph.D. The classic wooden entrance is a...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Sep 22, 2018

Social media falls in love with Naomi Osaka as tennis star sparks debate

Naomi Osaka’s women’s singles final victory at the 2018 U.S. Open on Sept. 6 excited netizens in Japan, turning the young tennis superstar into one of the most popular figures online. Her trip to Japan last week only generated more buzz, with users being perpetually wowed by her and serious discussions...
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 17, 2018

Let's discuss damage to Kansai airport

After Kansai International Airport was flooded by a typhoon, the central government and the region proposes temporarily routing some flights to other Kansai airports.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Sep 9, 2018

Theresa May wraps ‘suicide vest’ around U.K. over Brexit: Boris Johnson

Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal wraps "a suicide vest around the British constitution" and hands the detonator to the European Union, former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said in an article in the Mail on Sunday newspaper.
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Sep 1, 2018

Japan's celebrities are using social media to turn criticism on its head

Social media present a tightrope for celebrities in Japan. An increasing number of high-profile people are becoming savvy with platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, helping them to develop an online fan base. However, the internet also opens them up to criticism, and the past couple of weeks have...
Reader Mail
Aug 31, 2018

How North Korea and the U.S. kill

On Aug. 17, The Japan Times published an article titled "Seeking justice for Kim Jong Nam," about the killing of the half-brother of the North Korea's ruler. Below that article was a news item headlined "Libya militiamen get death for 2011 killings." I see great irony in these stories appearing on the...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Aug 25, 2018

Japanese media begins to break war orphan taboo

Japan typically reviews the tragedy of World War II in August, focusing almost exclusively on the Japanese who died in the conflict.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Aug 20, 2018

Let's discuss the Japan boxing scandal

Japan Amateur Boxing Federation President Akira Yamane has quit following numerous allegations of misconduct, including pressuring referees to fix matches and misuse of grant money.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jul 25, 2018

Japan's indigenous Ainu sue to bring their ancestors' bones back home

Activist group's hardball tactics expose rifts in the Ainu community over the fate of bones held at universities.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 2, 2018

Let's discuss the New Zealand PM's baby

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern becomes the first woman in the country's history to give birth while in office.
Japan Times
CULTURE / CULTURE SMASH
Jun 24, 2018

Can Japanese 'light novels' remain publishing heavyweights?

Two years ago, light novel publisher Kadokawa added Thailand to its list of foreign publishing investments, which already includes Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and the United States. Now there are signs that English-language readers are catching on.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
May 19, 2018

Japan's courts are being asked to define the role of the SDF

As discussed in Media Mix last week, news organizations are on the lookout for signs of whether the country’s Self-Defense Forces are becoming politically active. There have been indications the SDF wants to be the conventional military that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has in mind, but that...
JAPAN / Politics
May 7, 2018

Rock bottom in opinion polls, Japanese opposition parties Kibo no To and Democratic Party decide to merge

Only 62 of their combined 107 members plan to join the new entity.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
May 7, 2018

Let's discuss relations between Japan and North Korea

Despite what appears to be good news that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is eager to hold a bilateral summit with Japan, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe remains cautious, saying there are many hurdles to be overcome.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices
Apr 4, 2018

Readers' views on intercultural insensitivity, Japanese schooling, English gaps and an inspirational Indian

Some readers' responses to recent stories on the Community pages:
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Mar 24, 2018

Blog post sparks a constructive debate on office culture in Japan

One person’s cultural observations can be another’s daily gripes but, with any luck, they can lead to an enlightening debate. That was the case last week when a blog post about one non-Japanese individual’s experience working in the country’s information technology sector proved popular with...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Mar 4, 2018

Doling out some truths about Japan's 'share houses'

Many Japanese people are wary of investment as a means of growing their savings. There are a variety of reasons for this caution, so most keep their money in a bank, gaining almost no interest in the process, in the hope that they won't lose any in the long run. However, some salaried workers who understand...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 3, 2018

Japan's media out of step with mental health issues

In January, a couple in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, were arrested for allegedly confining their daughter for at least 15 years before she froze to death in December at the age of 33. The couple told police they had kept her in the tiny room where her body was found because she was mentally ill. They...
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Feb 5, 2018

Let's discuss cryptocurrencies

Echoing the Mt. Gox fiasco nearly four years ago, Tokyo-based cryptocurrency exchange Coincheck disclosed Friday it had been hacked and lost about u00a558 billion ($532 million) worth of its holdings, sending clients into a panic about the fate of their virtual assets.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Feb 3, 2018

Has Christel Takigawa cursed Japan with her 2020 Olympics omotenashi pitch?

"One thing made clear from (our) survey is that the wholehearted looking after guests is not necessarily appreciated."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
Jan 31, 2018

Trump drops Victor Cha as pick for envoy to Seoul, with implications for North Korea crisis

Victor Cha, a former White House official who had been the Trump administration's choice to be the next U.S. ambassador to South Korea, is no longer being considered for the post, U.S. officials said on Tuesday.

Longform

Atsuyoshi Koike, the president and CEO of Rapidus, says there is a “sense of urgency” when it comes to Japan’s efforts in manufacturing semiconductors. “We have to make sure we are successful,” he says.
Atsuyoshi Koike’s big game: Fourth down and 2 nanometers to go