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EDITORIALS
Apr 15, 1999

Justice for all, even prosecutors

The Public Prosecutor's Office, in any country, is the arm of the law responsible for investigating crimes, gathering evidence and seeing to it that justice is done. In Japan, where collusion among politicians, bureaucrats and business-people is not uncommon, the Public Prosecutor's Office is often the...
JAPAN
May 28, 1998

Finance official admits taking perks, denies giving favors

A Finance Ministry official accused of receiving bribes from the nation's Big Four brokerages and a major bank admitted Thursday that he had been entertained by them, but denied returning any favors.
JAPAN
Apr 28, 1998

Mitsubishi Oil fined 2.66 billion yen in taxes

Mitsubishi Oil Co. confirmed Tuesday that it has been ordered to pay 2.66 billion yen in additional taxes for deals it made with an Osaka oil broker who is now standing trial for income tax evasion.
JAPAN
Apr 10, 1998

BOJ reprimands 98 officials over bribery scandals

The Bank of Japan punished 98 officials April 10, including two executive directors, for their connections to the bribery scandal hanging over the central bank as well as other questionable conduct involving financial institutions.
JAPAN
Apr 6, 1998

More trapped prostitutes seeking help

Police received 32 calls for help from foreign women forced into prostitution in 1997, more than triple the figure for the previous year, the National Police Agency said April 6.
JAPAN
Feb 16, 1998

Former Finance inspectors face new bribery charges

Prosecution authorities have decided to indict two former Finance Ministry bank inspectors on charges of accepting entertainment totaling more than 3 million yen from major commercial banks other four already named in the ongoing scandal, informed sources said Monday.
JAPAN
Feb 3, 1998

Sour economy elevates Cabinet disapproval rate

A Kyodo News poll has found that some 58 percent of Japanese disapprove of the Cabinet of Ryutaro Hashimoto, an 11 percentage point increase from the previous poll.
JAPAN
Jul 15, 1997

NPA striving for new sex industry regulations

A National Police Agency panel met for the first time July 15 to study ways to regulate dating clubs, adult video home delivery services and other activities that are not currently covered by the adult entertainment business law.
JAPAN
Jun 24, 1997

American Malls remains optimistic about Japan plan

Despite what appears to be firm opposition from the agriculture ministry, American Malls International, a Washington-based developer, seems hopeful of opening a huge shopping mall in Moriya, Ibaraki Prefecture.
JAPAN
Feb 26, 1997

Video game makers fight a battle over hardware

There is a lesson to be learned from how VHS overthrew Sony Corp.'s Beta system and Microsoft Corp.'s Windows has nearly finished off Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh. Now it is being taught in the home video-game market. The lesson: To survive, forming alliances is essential.
JAPAN
Feb 3, 1996

Nintendo machine sales said safe despite switch

Nintendo Co.'s loss of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, two popular home video game series, will not affect sales of its 64-bit video game machine, Nintendo President Hiroshi Yamauchi said Feb. 3 in Tokyo.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jun 18, 2023

Meet the YouTubers and streamers revamping Japan’s online culinary scene

A new crop of post-pandemic channels and streams are being helmed by innovative creators hoping to offer a fresh take on the country’s culinary content.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
May 26, 2023

Opulence: The international drag show that owns everything

'Drag Race' stars and Tokyo-based queens set the stage for a spectacle that aims to put Japan’s drag scene on the global map.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 18, 2023

How Japanese media companies enabled Johnny’s abuse

The power dynamics of Japan's entertainment and media industries ultimately meant that accusations of sexual abuse were not investigated.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 12, 2023

The 'Black Ships' of anime: Streaming giants are in a battle for supremacy

Services like Netflix are coming into the anime-merchandising complex and shaking things up by focusing on productions that cater to niche fans.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
May 9, 2023

In a fickle sporting world, F1 understands need to entertain fans

The red-hot auto racing competition added new glitzy elements to the pre-race buildup at Sunday's Miami Grand Prix.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital
Apr 28, 2023

New audio platform gives virtual YouTubers the Japanese fan experience

The VTuber market is booming, and Oshi founder Leni Andronicos wants to help creators build closer relationships with devoted supporters in the spirit of “oshikatsu.”
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 5, 2023

Everyone wants to make Ryan Reynolds money

Celebs are looking for equity-based endorsements in the hope of a big pay day — but this strategy won’t work for everyone.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 14, 2023

Upper House committee votes to expel GaaSyy from Japan's parliament

The decision, made unanimously among ruling and opposition lawmakers, will almost certainly be finalized during an Upper House plenary session on Wednesday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 23, 2023

K-Pop battle shines spotlight on new wave of shareholder activism in South Korea

The new protagonists of shareholder activism in Asia are millennials steeped in the local culture who are using that knowledge to take on the old guard.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jan 26, 2023

What does 2023 look like for J-pop?

As virtual YouTubers give music a go, Japanese artists will seek out fresh inspiration from burgeoning music scenes in Asia as well as popular beats from farther afield.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Jul 19, 2023

Disney pins hopes for stock recovery on more Iger

The second coming of Disney’s Bob Iger has been extended given the challenges he faces — particularly when it comes to restoring the stock market magic of his first tenure.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Regional Voices: Okinawa
Jul 10, 2023

Business behind basketball: Ryukyu Golden Kings leap ahead

The Okinawa team is being seen as a leading model in Japanese basketball's rise and preparations for new reforms to the B. League in 2026.
A friendly between England and the United States drew a crowd of 78,000 at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 7, 2022.
SPORTS
Jul 20, 2023

Women's sports experiencing steady growth in popularity and value

Women's sports are growing in popularity and value. Better yet, that growth is no longer dependent upon quadrennial events like the Olympics or World Cups.
A cinema employee checks on a display showing a digital poster for Oscar-winning animator Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, "The Boy and the Heron," on the first day of its premiere in Tokyo on July 14.
CULTURE / Film
Jul 21, 2023

For his last movie, Hayao Miyazaki recycles himself

While visually and technically stunning, "The Boy and the Heron" might give some viewers an unsatisfying sense of deja vu.
A group of individuals that allege sexual abuse by Johnny Kitagawa was first established on June 26.
JAPAN
Jul 24, 2023

U.N. experts to probe Johnny Kitagawa's alleged abuse in Japan

The group will gather its findings and present a report to the U.N. Human Rights Council in June next year.
Jacob Curry puts some finishing touches on a sandwich spread at a Lizzo show.
LIFE / Food & Drink
Jul 23, 2023

The personal chefs feeding today's global tours

Many tours for A-list artists now include a vegan chef and place a priority on physical and mental well-being as well as lessening environmental impact.

Longform

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