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COMMENTARY / World
Jul 27, 2014

The pathetic state of infrastructure in America

The deliberate starving of public funding for America's roads, bridges, parks, schools, public hospitals, even hospitals charged with caring for U.S. veterans, reflects the economic and political system's ass-backward priorities.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 27, 2014

What economic policies will fit the 'growth strategy'?

The Abe government has decided on its new economic growth strategy — the 'third arrow' of 'Abenomics' — but what of today's production systems, which are quite different from the models depicted in economics textbooks?
JAPAN / History
Jul 26, 2014

Japan's baptism of fire: World War I put country on a collision course with West

World War I had massive political, economic, social ramifications on an ambitious East Asian nation.
SOCCER / World cup
Jul 25, 2014

Nishimura doesn't dwell on World Cup controversy

World Cup referee Yuichi Nishimura has shrugged off the controversy that surrounded his decision to award Brazil a penalty in the tournament's opening game, but admitted that being a referee is no easy task.
BASKETBALL
Jul 25, 2014

Veteran guard Murry joins Hamamatsu

Nile Murry, a dependable backcourt leader for four bj-league franchises, has joined his fifth club in the fledgling circuit.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 25, 2014

China sees growth in a cleaner environment

Surprisingly China — currently the world's largest emitter of carbon dioxide — is emerging as a global leader in climate policy as it seeks to build a cleaner and more efficient economy.
BUSINESS
Jul 25, 2014

GSK corruption allegations spread to Syria

GlaxoSmithKline faces new allegations of corruption, this time in Syria, where the drugmaker and its distributor have been accused of paying bribes to secure business, according to a whistleblower's email reviewed by Reuters.
MORE SPORTS
Jul 24, 2014

Kiryu claims bronze in men's 100m at junior worlds

Teen sprinter Yoshihide Kiryu gave Japan its first medal at the 2014 IAAF World Junior Championships on Wednesday.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jul 24, 2014

Ryukyu brings in Kent to try and fill Newton's shoes

The Ryukyu Golden Kings will begin defense of their title with a new veteran in the frontcourt in the post-Jeff Newton era.
Japan Times
Events / Events In Tokyo
Jul 24, 2014

Rise and shine to tai chi at Roppongi Hills

Tokyo's night-life area of Roppongi is probably one of the last places you would expect to find people exercising early in the morning, but on weekends from July 26 to Aug. 10, the Roppongi Hills shopping complex welcomes anyone, whether they are hungover or not, to free T'ai Chi sessions.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Jul 24, 2014

'ICC Kids Program 2014: Inspiring Questions — Questioning Inspiration'

The NTT Intercommunication Center's annual kids' program this year aims to inspire children to challenge and question the world during their summer vacation. Presented as a factory-themed modern-art show, the exhibition includes interactive installations with elements of surprise.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 24, 2014

Putin nears a tipping point

By overplaying its hand in Afghanistan and lying to the world about the downing of a Korean Air Lines flight 31 years ago, the Soviet regime exposed and accelerated the rot that made its collapse inevitable. There is no reason to believe in a different fate for Vladimir Putin's effort to re-establish Russia as an imperial power.
BUSINESS
Jul 24, 2014

Japan should replace risk-averse managers to prosper, Abe adviser says

Japanese businesses need different managers who are more willing to take risks as the country emerges from 15 years of deflation that hampered innovation, according to Takeshi Niinami, chairman of Lawson Inc.
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 24, 2014

Protective Life shareholder sues over $5.7 billion Dai-ichi deal

Protective Life Corp. is being sued by a shareholder who says a proposed $5.7 billion purchase of the company by Dai-ichi Life Insurance Co. is unfair to investors because other potential bidders were locked out.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 23, 2014

'Cuckoo's Nest' still flies in the face of oppression

Among the astonishing outburst of new American cinema in the 1970s, Milos Forman's multi-Oscar-winning "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" offered most Japanese moviegoers their first encounter with the peculiarly piercing eyes of Jack Nicholson, who played its central character, Randle P. McMurphy.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Jul 22, 2014

Ronaldo expects extraordinary success for Real Madrid in upcoming season

Cristiano Ronaldo says his injury problems are behind him. Now the Portuguese superstar intends to get back to the business of winning everything in sight with soccer superpower Real Madrid.
JAPAN
Jul 22, 2014

Japanese lawmakers say war-renouncing Constitution deserves Nobel Peace Prize

A group of lawmakers callfor the Nobel Committee to award Article 9 of the Constitution this year's Nobel Peace Prize, saying it would greatly encourage Japanese people as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushes to expand the nation's military capacity.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Jul 22, 2014

'Iron Man' Robert Downey Jr. highest-earning actor, Forbes says

Robert Downey Jr, the star of Disney's Marvel superhero film franchises "Iron Man" and "The Avengers," is Hollywood's highest-paid actor for the second consecutive year, with estimated earnings of $75 million, according to Forbes.com.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS / NFL NOTEBOOK
Jul 21, 2014

Noll lives on through Steelers legacy

The late Chuck Noll, legendary Pittsburgh Steelers head coach, has his name on a street outside Heinz Field and the team's training camp site. Now he will have a day named after him.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2014

Rouhani's remaking of Iran

Marking the end of his first year in office with some success at domestic reform, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani now says Iran would be willing to work with the U.S. in Iraq.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2014

Australia flirts with messed-up American dream

It was fascinating to hear American economist Joseph Stiglitz take on Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott for trafficking in the same economic ideologies threatening to turn the American dream into a nightmare of permanent haves and have-nots.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health / NATURAL SELECTIONS
Jul 19, 2014

If chimps inherit their intelligence, does that prove humans do, too?

Some people are smarter than others. And though animal intelligence is far less well studied, it turns out that within a particular population, say of chimpanzees, some animals are smarter than others, too — and these differences are heritable. To put it another way, some chimps' mothers are smarter...
CULTURE / Books
Jul 19, 2014

Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential

"Japanese Schoolgirl Confidential" was first published in 2010, offering readers a rare insight into a growing global fascination with the image of the Japanese schoolgirl. This revised edition features eight new sections that focus on developments on the subject, including an analysis of the fall and...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 18, 2014

High cost to new neutrality

South Korea's elite appears to be splitting into pro-Chinese and pro-American factions that transcend party lines, while German leaders' obsession with growing exports appears to have gagged them on China's human rights abuses and its aggressive behavior toward Asian neighbors.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 18, 2014

World needs to right Israel's wrongs

The Israeli bombardment of the Palestinians has proven a policy failure, demonstrated by the Israeli government's resumption of bombing. The Israelis tried to give up, but failed.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 18, 2014

Sino-Israeli economic and strategic ties growing

China is seizing the opportunity to expand its economic interests in Israel to fill the void left by the withdrawal of European business from Israel and the gap anticipated from the reduction in U.S. support.
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Jul 18, 2014

Abductee probe stirs thoughts of snap poll

As Tokyo presses North Korea for information on the fate of Japanese citizens abducted decades ago, speculation is simmering that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could use a possible breakthrough on the emotive issue to call a snap election.

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.