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Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Feb 15, 2019

Abe's attacks on local governments yields backlash against his push to revise pacifist Constitution

Prime Minister Abe's dream of revising the Constitution gets harder after he claims 60 percent of Japan's local governments are resisting Tokyo's efforts to recruit new SDF members.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Feb 6, 2019

The Supreme Court hews to the letter of the law on gender identity while laying the groundwork for future challenges

At no point have I ever had to grapple with the decision to have my genitals surgically removed. Perhaps the same is true for you. While these may seem an odd set of affirmations to open with, they help illustrate a basic truth: How we think about a law can vary greatly depending upon whether or not...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 12, 2019

Japan's vernacular press coverage tiptoes around tattoo controversy

Before the Olympic Games come to Tokyo in the summer of 2020, Japan will get a chance to prove its mettle as an international sporting events host with the Rugby World Cup this fall. The games will be spread out among 12 stadiums nationwide, which means the whole country will be the focus rather than...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Jan 10, 2019

Mayor blasts Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki as Ginowan city abstains from vote on Henoko land reclamation

Amid long-standing political wrangling over construction of a new U.S. base in Okinawa, the mayor of the city of Ginowan in the prefecture has said the municipality will not participate in a prefectural referendum set to be held over reclamation of land in order to build the new military facility, and...
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jan 9, 2019

New documents link Huawei to suspected front companies in Iran and Syria

The U.S. case against the chief financial officer of China's Huawei Technologies, who was arrested in Canada last month, centers on the company's suspected ties to two obscure companies. One is a telecom equipment seller that operated in Tehran; the other is that firm's owner, a holding company registered...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 10, 2018

Japan, look in the mirror called Germany

Germany today reflects Japan's future.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / YEN FOR LIVING
Dec 7, 2018

Abuse is the norm for Japan's hometown tax donation system

On Sept. 11, then-Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Seiko Noda gave a news conference at which she stated the government's intention to revise laws for local taxes.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Nov 28, 2018

Chinese state media confirms country's third aircraft carrier is in the works

China has for the first time confirmed it is building a third aircraft carrier — a move that came ahead of an announcement by Tokyo that is considering transforming one of its helicopter destroyers into an aircraft carrier that can accommodate fighter jets.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 18, 2018

Putin faces hurdles of his own in territorial spat

Vladimir Putin would like to go down in history as the Russia leader who resolved all his nation's territorial disputes, but the road to reaching a settlement with Japan is littered with obstacles.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 17, 2018

Keidanren faces flak for falling behind the times despite change in leadership

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) published an article on June 17 that was critical of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), a lobbying organization made up of more than 1,300 of the country's biggest companies. The Nikkei has always been in Keidanren’s corner, so it was something of a shock to...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Nov 8, 2018

Jail in Japan for cannabis in Canada? Possible but unlikely

Possession and receipt of marijuana are illegal for Japanese citizens even overseas, but don't expect urine checks at immigration.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 5, 2018

Seoul moves the goalposts yet again

If the South Koreans remain obsessed with the past and do not respect the rule-based international system, they are committing international political suicide.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Oct 13, 2018

Kizuna AI's NHK appearance sparks debate on social media

Do virtual YouTubers dream of online controversy? Maybe not but they sure are good at courting it.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Sep 26, 2018

'Outrageous prejudice': Publisher suspends publication of Shincho 45 following furor in LGBT community

Shinchosha Publishing announced its Shincho 45 magazine will effectively fold after carrying articles that its president said contained “outrageous prejudice” against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 24, 2018

Let's discuss Namie Amuro

Fans across the country flocked to events paying tribute to pop diva Namie Amuro on the day she chose to step out of the spotlight.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Sep 17, 2018

When stumped in Japanese, go where stumped Japanese go

Reading Japanese explanations of Japanese grammar patterns is a surefire way to improve your reading ability and to make sure you're getting unadulterated content.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Sep 11, 2018

LDP contenders Abe, Ishiba joust over policy in first pre-election face-off

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated on Monday that he wants to revise war-renouncing Article 9 of the Constitution to clarify the ambiguous status of Japan's military if re-elected president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Sept. 20.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Sep 5, 2018

Dog tale bites judge: His tweets muzzled, Japan's 'Judge White Briefs' faces his own trial

Disciplinary hearings for outspoken jurist over a dog-dumping story can only damage Japan's judiciary.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Sep 3, 2018

Let's discuss flying cars

Japan is making a push to develop flying cars, enlisting companies including Uber and Airbus to join a public-private panel tasked with making airborne vehicles a reality in the next decade.
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 30, 2018

Abe touts fast change to Constitution in LDP election pamphlet

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is pledging to move quickly toward changing the Constitution, according to an internal campaign pamphlet seen by Bloomberg News, ensuring the divisive proposal is a key part of his bid for a historic third consecutive term as ruling party leader.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Aug 10, 2018

Much needs to be done before women can truly 'shine' in Japan

The government has done little to make it feasible for women to be both parents and workers and corporate Japan has repeatedly reinforced the glass ceiling.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Aug 10, 2018

Ex-Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba formally announces LDP leadership candidacy, pledging 'honest and fair' government

Ishiba touts “a 100-day plan” to reform government in a bid to regain the trust of the people.
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 30, 2018

Let's discuss the heat wave

Twelve people died and nearly 10,000 people were taken to hospitals with heat exhaustion or heatstroke during the week through July 15, as a heat wave continued to scorch wide areas of Japan.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 4, 2018

The 'Indo-Pacific' is nothing new

The regional concept has a lengthy past.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 30, 2018

'Military geek' Shigeru Ishiba not afraid to criticize Abe but election math eludes

Upon attending the opening ceremony of a museum in April in Tottori Prefecture, veteran Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Shigeru Ishiba made a sidesplitting appearance by dressing up as Majin Boo — the pudgy, baby-like villain in the popular anime "Dragon Ball."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
May 23, 2018

Readers' views: katakana name frustration, U.S. gun violence and Europe as a Japan study-abroad option

A selection of responses from readers to recent stories on the Community pages.

Longform

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