Search - 2014

 
 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 1, 2014

Abe's economic bull's-eye

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has unveiled the so-called third arrow of what has come to be known as Abenomics. It involves the removal of obstacles to growth for business, particularly the easing of regulatory barriers. Expect some officials to resist this initiative.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 1, 2014

Escaping Moscow's bear hug in Eastern Europe

Three former Soviet republics — Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine — have now signed association agreements with the EU, but it would be naive to think that Russia will give up easily on influencing their geopolitical decisions.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jul 1, 2014

Whaling town preserves tradition

The whaling season opened with a public carve-up and barbecue in the coastal town of Minamiboso, Chiba Prefecture, where workers last Thursday sliced a whale before a crowd of elementary school students and residents. Onlookers later received pieces of fried whale meat.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 1, 2014

Square Enix seeks China game partners beyond Tencent, Shanda

Square Enix Holdings Co., maker of the "Final Fantasy" and "Dragon Quest" video game series, is seeking partners in China to win sales in Asia's biggest economy. The shares rose the most since February.
BUSINESS / Markets
Jul 1, 2014

World's oldest population drives Asian bonds in quest for yield

Asian bonds are reaping the benefits of Japan's ageing population like never before.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jun 30, 2014

Rakuten exec takes action to help moms

Mie Kurosaka, Rakuten Inc.'s first female executive, returned to work at Japan's biggest online mall operator only three weeks after giving birth in 2002.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2014

Why are 6,000 reporters keeping a U.S. nonsecret?

Why would thousands of journalists representing hundreds of press and broadcast media outlets agree to keep a CIA secret that wasn't much of a secret in the first place and that ceased being secret the second they learned about it?
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2014

The government decides 'Redskins' bothers you

Some Americans who are paying attention to the absence of Native American revulsion over the name 'Washington Redskins' are not comfortable with the government saying, in effect, that if people are not offended, they should be.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 30, 2014

Tokyo: What can Japan learn from its dismal World Cup experience?

In the wake of Japan's early exit from the competition, Mark Buckton went looking for answers about what went wrong.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 30, 2014

Who'll pay for the Iraq sins?

Will the purveyors of the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq ever do penance for their sins of warmongering?
Japan Times
JAPAN / JAPAN TIMES FORUM ON FEMALE SCIENCE MAJORS
Jun 30, 2014

Examining women's roles in Japan's corporate structure

Rikejo, or women majoring in the sciences, are currently under the spotlight in Japan. As the country faces a severe labor shortage, a declining birthrate and a rapidly aging population, there is a need to employ more female talent.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 29, 2014

Cesar's heroics carry Brazil past Chile, into quarterfinals

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar kept the host nation's hopes of World Cup glory alive on Saturday, saving two spot-kicks in a shootout against Chile to send it into the last eight 3-2 on penalties following a pulsating 1-1 draw after extra time.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 29, 2014

Rodriguez fires Colombia by Uruguay, into last eight

A sensational display from James Rodriguez fired Colombia into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time on Saturday with the attacking midfielder scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Uruguay including a contender for goal of the tournament.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 29, 2014

Beijing's struggle to control a military district

China's ability to bring North Korea into line may depend on the outcome of an epochal struggle to bring the Shenyang Military District, which borders North Korea, under central authority.
SOCCER / World cup
Jun 27, 2014

Chiellini says Suarez ban 'excessive'

Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has said the ban FIFA handed down to Luis Suarez is "excessive" and that he feels no anger toward the controversial Uruguay striker.
BASKETBALL
Jun 27, 2014

Upcoming bj-league season set for Oct. 4 start

The 2014-15 bj-league season, the league's 10th, is set to tip off on Oct. 4.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / NBA
Jun 27, 2014

Cavaliers tab Wiggins with first pick in draft

The Cleveland Cavaliers made Canadian Andrew Wiggins, a University of Kansas standout, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on Thursday, launching a great night for Canada and international players.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jun 27, 2014

Doing more to ensure peace in Asia

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe opines that a framework under which Asian governments publicly disclose their military budgets needs to be established if we are to build trust and avoid a regional arms race.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 27, 2014

U.S. Mideast policy crumbles

The Middle East has been torn apart by American invasions and attacks, and careless ideas about how to remake other peoples' lives. Iraq and Syria, as they exist today, may never recover from it.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 27, 2014

How to end the Philippines' Moro insurgency

Though questions remain about the durability of the landmark peace deal that Philippines President Benigno Aquino struck with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in January, the political autonomy granted to the country's Muslim areas seems to have persuaded most fighters that the time has come to end a half-century of carnage.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jun 26, 2014

UFC returning to Saitama on Sept. 20

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is bringing its brand of mixed-martial arts back to Japan with not only one of the most highly anticipated heavyweight bouts in recent memory, but also what may be among the most important UFC debuts by a Japanese fighter in some time.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 26, 2014

Kurds to pump more oil from new fields

Iraq's self-ruling Kurds outlined plans on Wednesday to swiftly ramp up oil exports now that their forces have taken control of Iraq's main northern oil fields, a move that could tear up the settlement holding Iraq together since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Jun 25, 2014

Casino legislation? Abe says you bet

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his ruling party will seek to pass a law in the next Diet session to legalize casinos as part of a plan to boost tourism before the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Longform

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