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Japan Times
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 31, 2014

Events of 10 years ago still reverberate today

Ten years ago this month, Japanese baseball went into its deepest and most memorable crisis. In case you were not in Japan then — or have forgotten — here is a brief review of what happened.
Japan Times
JAPAN / CHUBU CONNECTION
May 30, 2014

As male hunters dwindle, 'hunter girls' take up shotguns

"Hunter girls" are taking up the sport of hunting to protect farmers' crops as the demographic changes sweeping Japan erode its traditionally male participants.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
May 30, 2014

Photo series charts the family unit in changing Japan

Family photos in Japan, especially ones taken for formal occasions such as shichi-go-san (seven-five-three) ceremonies, are often as stiffly posed as 19th-century tintypes, with Mom, Dad and Junior never cracking a smile.
COMMENTARY / World
May 30, 2014

Russia's hand in east Ukraine violence is exposed

After the fighting in Donetsk this week, there's no doubt Russia is working to destabilize Ukraine. Countries participating in Russia's South Stream natural gas pipeline project should pull out.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 29, 2014

Tropfest gives Japan a peek at Australia

The homegrown Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia will have competition for eyeballs this year as Australia's Tropfest descends on Japan. The event claims — perhaps a bit tongue-in-cheek — to be the "world's largest short-film festival."
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
May 29, 2014

Getting healthy with Maqui berries; time to try Portuguese barbecue; enjoying beer and summer views

Getting healthy with Maqui berries The Rihga Royal Hotel Tokyo is offering a special accommodation plan featuring treatment using Maqui berries, which are also known as Chilean wineberries, through March 2015.
JAPAN / Politics
May 28, 2014

Abe continues Diet push on collective self-defense

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made his case again Wednesday for enabling Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense, amid discussions between the Liberal Democratic Party and junior coalition partner New Komeito on security scenarios that would require Japan to defend the U.S. and other friendly...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
May 28, 2014

'X-Men: Days of Future Past'

The new “X-Men” plays like “The Terminator” crossed with “American Hustle” via “12 Monkeys.” Given that the series has spawned six films over 14 years, non-fans may need to do some homework to catch up before viewing.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 28, 2014

Outdoor kabuki marks Skytree anniversary

To commemorate the second anniversary of the May 22, 2012 opening of Tokyo Skytree, the leading kabuki actors Nakamura Shichinosuke and Onoe Matsuya last Saturday performed the popular dance-based piece "Dango-Uri" ("The Dumpling Sellers") on an outdoor stage in the Sky Arena at the tower's base.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
May 28, 2014

Ferocious clashes in Ukraine increase risk for Putin

An army assault on pro-Russian rebels in east Ukraine will not have taken Vladimir Putin by surprise, but the ferocity of the clashes may have — and could be a game-changer if they spin out of control.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 27, 2014

Ruling bloc spars over defense shift

The Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito are in the midst of wading through a number of thorny scenarios relating to national defense, including one that has sparked outrage from the coalition's junior partner.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
May 27, 2014

Gaijin band scene welcomes music fans of all kinds

A large multicultural crowd gathered at Club Edge in Tokyo's Roppongi district in March, socializing and laughing boisterously before watching three bands. They remained pretty boisterous throughout the performances.
COMMENTARY / World
May 27, 2014

Understanding Boko Haram

Action against the senseless violence of the so-called Boko Haram movement without understanding the group's attraction risks backfiring, as much of the Nigerian government's response to Boko Haram has done to date.
COMMENTARY / World
May 27, 2014

Will India's Modi resist the lure of nationalism?

If newly elected Narendra Modi runs into trouble as Indian prime minister, will he be the prime minister for all Indians, as he has promised, or will he revert to his divisive roots?
Japan Times
JAPAN / KANSAI PERSPECTIVE
May 25, 2014

Kyoto law puts 'upskirt' photography in focus

Each spring, Kyoto is at its busiest. The cherry blossoms bring in multitudes of tourists, and the start of the new academic year means not only thousands of local students returning to the classroom, but also busloads of junior high and high school students from around the country arriving at hotels...
Japan Times
WORLD
May 25, 2014

Supercharged CEO Musk aims for cars and stars

When Hollywood wanted to bring to life Tony Stark, the comic-book engineering prodigy who grew up to be the billionaire industrialist and slick playboy alter ego of Iron Man, it turned to the closest thing the real world seemed to offer.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 25, 2014

Murofushi urges Japanese athletes to expand horizons in preparation for 2020 Games

Former Olympic hammer champion Koji Murofushi has urged Japan's athletes to embrace the pressure of the 2020 Tokyo Games and end the country's track and field gold drought.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
May 24, 2014

Kiev pins hopes on oligarch's fighters in battle against eastern separatists

Ukrainian self-defense fighters who clashed with armed pro-Russian separatists on Friday are at the forefront of Kiev's efforts to prevent the country from splitting.
EDITORIALS
May 23, 2014

Reflect on Fukui nuclear ruling

The Fukui District Court's ruling that prohibits the restart of two nuclear power reactors run by Kansai Electric Power Co. challenges the Abe administration's energy policy of relying on nuclear power as a key source of the nation's electricity supply.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / Politics
May 23, 2014

Thai army chief summons ousted PM for talks a day after coup

Thailand's army chief, General Prayuth Chan-ocha, will begin to govern a polarized country on Friday, a day after he seized power in a bloodless coup in a bid to end six months of turmoil.
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2014

Regional reactions to the protests in Vietnam

Reversing China's oil-drilling activities in a part of the South China China also claimed by Vietnam may be asking too much. But it will take more than Washington's finger wagging to convince Beijing that there is real cost against taking further steps.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
May 21, 2014

Solid base puts Urawa top at break

There is no prize for heading into the J. League's World Cup shutdown in first place, but Urawa Reds can at least savor the view from the top of the table for the next two months.
Japan Times
JAPAN
May 21, 2014

Retailers scrambling to empty fat foreign wallets

In graying Japan, retailers are waking up to a hot new demographic: foreign visitors.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
May 21, 2014

Sequel eyed after 'Godzilla' crushes box-office rivals

Legendary Entertainment LLC is primed to commission a sequel to "Godzilla" following the film's roaringly successful debut at the box office, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
WORLD / Politics
May 21, 2014

Russia turns fire on dual citizens

Parliament approved legislation on Tuesday requiring Russians to declare dual citizenship or face criminal prosecution after President Vladimir Putin endorsed the measure as part of a more nationalist course taken since his annexation of Crimea.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 21, 2014

Shirai triumphs with 'The Tempest'

"I'd like 'The Tempest' I am creating to be on the smallest scale ever, but as it's a very spacious stage at the New National Theatre, Tokyo, it won't have the most compact set. Nonetheless, I will try to present it as stories from within the confines of one man's memory."
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
May 19, 2014

Post-Snowden, admiral seeks to repair the reputation and effectiveness of the NSA

As U.S. National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers seeks to repair the damage to the agency caused by leaks about its electronic spying programs, the abuses of government revealed in the wake of the Watergate scandal are very much on his mind.
JAPAN / History
May 17, 2014

Wrong to judge early imperialist Japan too harshly?

"Korea turned out to be this nice, laid-back place..."
BASEBALL / BASEBALL BULLET-IN
May 17, 2014

Foreign fans revel in ballpark fun

A beat writer for one of the Japanese papers called the other day and said, "I am seeing a lot of foreign fans at Japanese baseball games recently. What's going on?"

Longform

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