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Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 9, 2015

Don't fight trips to the gym: Take it outside

It's January. The bars are empty and the gyms are full of people with good intentions. By February or March, of course, that situation will reverse, as new year resolutions begin to flag and it becomes increasingly difficult to justify that extortionate gym membership.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
Jan 9, 2015

Female inmates OK'd to give birth without handcuffs

Pregnant female convicts will in the future give birth without having to wear handcuffs, after the father of a baby born to an inmate in Kasamatsu prison, Gifu Prefecture, lobbied against the rule.
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 9, 2015

U.S. jobless claims dip; 2014 layoffs lowest in 17 years

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week and job cuts declined sharply in December, suggesting the labor market is tightening.
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2015

GM CEO sees U.S. auto market flattening out but room for growth

General Motors Co. Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra said she expected the U.S. auto market to flatten out this year, although growth is possible because of the strong economy and falling gasoline prices.
WORLD / Society
Jan 9, 2015

Experts warn governments to plan for climate change migrants

Governments need to plan better for rising migration driven by climate change, experts said on Thursday, citing evidence that extreme weather and natural disasters force far more people from their homes than wars.
BASKETBALL
Jan 8, 2015

Shimane signs forward Witherspoon

Forward Wesley Witherspoon, who saw action in three preseason games for the San Antonio Spurs in 2012 as an undrafted rookie, has joined the Shimane Susanoo Magic, the bj-league club announced on Wednesday.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jan 8, 2015

It's a mad, MAD world for committed chefs

Most chefs prefer to let their food do the talking. If they have anything else to say, it goes into a cookbook. But for Rene Redzepi there is far too much to be discussed — above and beyond the brilliant, inventive dishes he serves at his restaurant, Noma, in Copenhagen and (temporarily) in Tokyo....
JAPAN
Jan 8, 2015

Tokyo to set up free call center for Olympic interpretation services

Tokyo plans to set up a 24-hour call center this year so tourism-related businesses can obtain free interpretation in three languages ahead of the 2020 Olympics.
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 8, 2015

American Red Cross pressured to rid itself of tobacco money

The American Red Cross risks damaging the reputation of the global Red Cross brand because of its refusal to stop accepting donations from tobacco companies, a top official with the humanitarian network says.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Jan 7, 2015

100 Yen Love: Punching your way out of an old paper bag

Boxing films share a similar arc, typically climaxing in a big bout that decides everything — at least everything relevant to the hero's fate. This does not always means triumph, as fans of the "Rocky" series know, but even in defeat the hero usually inspires respect and sympathy, at the very least...
JAPAN / Politics
Jan 7, 2015

Okinawa development budget may be smaller than requested, Tokyo warns

The central government, irked by the election of a new Okinawa governor opposed to its plan to build a new military base in the Henoko district of Nago, has indicated that the prefecture's development budget for fiscal 2015 could be less than it originally requested.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jan 7, 2015

'Flies' festers at core of family life

Central to William Golding's dystopian novel "Lord of the Flies" is the notion of violence as a social construct. "Maybe there is a beast ... maybe it's only us," says the protective Simon before a hostile assembly of other schoolboys marooned on the uninhabited island where the English Nobel laureate...
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jan 7, 2015

Southern All Stars take swipe at Abe

Shinzo Abe appeared to be in a good mood at Yokohama Arena on the night of Dec. 28. Dressed in a casual gray sweater and black trousers, the 60-year-old prime minister and his wife, Akie, were taking in a performance by the Southern All Stars, a legendary pop rock band led by vocalist Keisuke Kuwata....
BUSINESS / Companies
Jan 7, 2015

Toyota sales in China fall short; dealers complain of losses

Toyota Motor Corp. delivered fewer vehicles in China last year than it targeted, as slowing growth in the world's largest auto market and vehicle stockpiles led some of its dealers to threaten to drop out of its sales network.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 7, 2015

Boehner re-elected U.S. House speaker, surviving conservative challenge

John Boehner narrowly won a third term as speaker of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, surviving a stiff challenge from 25 conservative Republicans which may signal a growing split in the party as it takes full control of Congress.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Jan 7, 2015

Sony's Walkman makes comeback in high resolution, for $1,200

Sony Corp. is bringing back the Walkman, with a new model of the music player pioneer that comes with high-resolution playback and Bluetooth-connected headphones.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 7, 2015

Snow forecast takes Holy Land by storm

With memories still fresh of the Holy Land's worst storm in 50 years last winter, Israelis and Palestinians stocked up on supplies for a forecast heavy snowfall on Tuesday.
Japan Times
TENNIS
Jan 6, 2015

Nishikori expresses confidence as new season commences

For Kei Nishikori, one of the rising stars of men's tennis, the start of the new year could not come quick enough.

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