Search - 2014

 
 
JAPAN
Mar 10, 2015

Asylum seekers in Japan soared to record level in 2014

The number of people seeking asylum in Japan jumped 53 percent in 2014 to a record 5,000, but only 11 were officially recognized.
WORLD
Feb 1, 2015

Vatican found two in-house cases of child pornography in 2014

The Vatican, which is still struggling with the effects of a worldwide paedophilia scandal in the Catholic Church, discovered two cases of possession of child pornography within its own walls last year, its chief prosecutor said on Saturday.
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Jan 26, 2015

From laundry detergent to foreign tourism: The heavyweights of consumption in 2014

Toward the end of every year, the media, advertising agencies, think tanks and other organizations look back on the "hit products" whose successes helped define consumer preferences over the previous 12 months.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jan 17, 2015

2014 was hottest year ever recorded, U.S. scientists say

Last year was Earth's hottest on record, two U.S. government agencies said Friday — new evidence that people are disrupting the climate by burning fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases.
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.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 30, 2014

A great year for the far right

The far-right resurgence is impossible to miss, and 2014 will be remembered as the year extreme nationalists in Europe and Asia made a credible bid for power for the first time since the end of World War II.
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 20, 2014

The good, and not-so-good, reads from 2014

I was lucky enough to read a number of good and informative books on Japan in 2014, but also read my share of clunkers.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 17, 2014

Low voter turnout mars Abe's claim of election triumph

The Liberal Democratic Party won 43.12 million votes in Sunday's snap poll, nearly 3 million fewer than in the 2009 election, which it lost.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 16, 2014

Controversial to the end, Shintaro Ishihara bows out of politics

Hawkish former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara officially puts an end to his nearly 50-year political career after losing his Diet seat in Sunday's Lower House election.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Dec 13, 2014

From a hostess club to a mountain village: Five notable Japanese photo books of 2014

While selecting some of the best photography books released in 2014, I was struck by the range of specific places that Japanese photographers captured — from a pleasure district to a mountain village and an old rooftop. Photo books with such a geographic focus might be a good way to store up energies...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 18, 2014

Japanese women still at a disadvantage, first lady says

Career women continue to face significant hurdles in Japan's male-dominated business culture, according to first lady Akie Abe.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jul 19, 2014

Eldred, Carp like their chances in CL

One can only imagine what went through Hiroshima Carp manager Kenjiro Nomura's mind in the Central League dugout when Brad Eldred went down after fouling a ball off his foot in the seventh inning of the 2014 All-Star Series opener on Saturday at Seibu Dome.
Japan Times
SOCCER / PREMIER REPORT
Jun 20, 2014

England's weaknesses exposed in two defeats

Roy Hodgson was like a man who knew his fate, but the inevitable could not be confirmed for a while. Hodgson and England had to wait at least 24 hours after losing 2-1 to Uruguay for the next update on its World Cup future.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup / PREMIER REPORT
Jun 13, 2014

Hodgson giving nothing away ahead of opener

We know seven of the England team Roy Hodgson will select for the opening 2014 World Cup final tie against Italy. Two others are virtually certain. It is the Manaus Two that have kept the media guessing, looking for the tiniest of tips that would complete England's starting XI.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Jun 6, 2014

PS3 game predicts success for Japan in early soccer stage

Right now, soccer fans across the globe are wondering how their nation will fare at the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. Usually some company finds a psychic animal to "predict" the results: Paul the Octopus for the 2010 World Cup, an Indian elephant for Euro 2012, and this time a panda.
Japan Times
CULTURE
May 31, 2014

Essential summer festivals 2014

A summer without festivals simply wouldn’t be a proper summer in Japan, so now that the humidity has returned, it’s time to slop on an extra layer of sunscreen and line up some outdoor activities.
Japan Times
Events / Events In Tokyo
May 30, 2014

FIFA World Cup 2014 brings the fun to Tokyo

When you're on the other side of the world finding a place to watch World Cup matches usually requires meticulous planning — from persuading friends with giant TV screens to let you join them, to preparing for an assault on your body clock. Flying to Brazil is an option, but for those of us with a...
COMMENTARY / World
May 29, 2014

World Cup without succor

International sports events such as the upcoming World Cup Championship in Brazil have become a severe burden on host countries. Haven't we had enough of this slapstick?
Japan Times
WORLD
May 25, 2014

Soccer's crown jewel can't hide Brazil tensions

Brazil, by both area and population, is the fifth-largest nation on Earth. Its economy is perhaps the sixth- or seventh-largest and will soon surpass those of France and Britain. Yet this great state has barely registered its presence globally. In the complex flux of globalized popular culture or the...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 23, 2014

French to the fore on SPAC's 2014 festival menu

It is often said that "variety is the spice of life," but in the multifarious world of theater it is more a staple than a special condiment. That said, "variety" is the keyword chosen by Satoshi Miyagi, artistic director of the Shizuoka Performing Arts Center (SPAC), to capture the upcoming and especially...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
Apr 19, 2014

Carp roster built to contend for title in 2014

There is excitement in Hiroshima where the Carp are off to a nice start in the Central League pennant race.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS / ICE TIME
Feb 22, 2014

Controversy rages on after Kim denied second Olympic gold

Two days after the shocking decision that gave Russia's Adelina Sotnikova the gold medal over defending Olympic champion Yuna Kim, the controversy surrounding the move shows no signs of abating.
Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Feb 6, 2014

Hanyu chosen for team competition

Grand Prix Final champion Yuzuru Hanyu will represent Japan in the men's singles portion of the inaugural Olympic Games figure skating team competition, it was revealed on Wednesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE
Jan 9, 2014

Will Cool Japan finally heat up in 2014?

After years of talk, 2013 marked a watershed moment in the government's Cool Japan campaign. Which begs the question: Is Japan cool?
EDITORIALS
Jan 8, 2014

Shaky foundation for recovery

The Japanese economy appears to be on the recovery path for now, thanks to the policy of the Abe administration, but the effects from the consumption tax rise, beginning in April, and the extra financial burden that households can expect under the fiscal 2014 draft budget do not place the recovery on a solid foundation.

Longform

Construction takes place on the Takanawa Gateway Convention Center in Tokyo, slated to open in 2025.
A boom for business tourism in Japan?