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EDITORIALS
Dec 9, 2014

A test for Taiwan and China

It's been a rough year for Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. His popularity has been dragged down by sluggish economic growth and doubts about his commitment to Taiwan's sovereignty. And the recent unrest in Hong Kong as well as last month's stunning defeat for the ruling party in local elections have magnified his worries.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 8, 2014

Sapporo takes chance on repeating as Olympic host

Sapporo Mayor Fumio Ueda announced Nov. 27 that his city will bid to host the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 8, 2014

Nintendo heads for a happy Christmas with Wii U revival

Nintendo Co. looks like it is finally going to be able to celebrate this Christmas.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Dec 4, 2014

Roby powering Akita with strong all-around game

The Akita Northern Happinets (14-4) have played nearly one-third of their 52-game schedule, and forward Richard Roby is having an MVP-caliber season.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 4, 2014

Designers illuminate us on their winter wonders

When you think of Japanese art forms, many cultural pursuits will come to mind. The grace of ikebana, perhaps, or the beauty of ukiyo-e woodblock prints. At this time of year it becomes clear, though, that holiday lighting displays — referred to simply as "illumination" — are where the country's...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 1, 2014

Abe needs to butter up dairy industry as weakening yen wreaks havoc

Japan's dairies and cake lovers just cannot seem to catch a break.
BUSINESS
Dec 1, 2014

Dairies seen losing cost battle as Abe weakens yen

apan's dairies and cake lovers just can't seem to catch a break.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy / ANALYSIS
Nov 28, 2014

Crude oil slide thorn in BOJ's side

When a country imports almost all its energy, a slide in oil prices to a four-year low should be helpful — cutting costs for companies and households. For Japan, it may not be so simple.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 28, 2014

Hagel leaves a Cabinet adrift

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel's real problem seems to have been to support too many wars for President Barack Obama and not enough for the Pentagon.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL
Nov 27, 2014

FIBA hands down Japan ban; JBA sorry

It was something everyone expected to happen, so there shouldn't have been any surprise whatsoever. That, however, did nothing to lessen the gravity of the situation.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 27, 2014

Romney tops Republican poll for '16, seen having edge on Clinton

Mitt Romney, the Republican Party's unsuccessful presidential nominee in 2012, leads the field for the 2016 election among Republican voters, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released on Wednesday.
EDITORIALS
Nov 26, 2014

Revitalizing local economies

Can the Abe administrative accomplish what past governments have tried and failed to do, and revitalize Japan's regional economies?
BUSINESS
Nov 26, 2014

Abe will have chance to name more women to BOJ board

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has a chance to appoint a second female to the Bank of Japan's Policy Board next year, which would mark a first in the institution's 132-year history, said one of his advisers, Etsuro Honda.
WORLD
Nov 26, 2014

U.S. Supreme Court to weigh challenge to Obama mercury air pollution rule

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to weigh a challenge by industry groups and some states to an Obama administration regulation intended to limit emissions of mercury and other hazardous pollutants mainly from coal-fired power plants.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 25, 2014

U.S. senator calls for declaration of war against Islamic State

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, a possible Republican candidate for president in 2016, is calling for a formal declaration of war against Islamic State militants who control parts of Iraq and Syria, the New York Times reported Monday.
BUSINESS
Nov 24, 2014

China ready to cut rates again on fears of deflation: sources

China's leadership and central bank are ready to cut interest rates again and also loosen lending restrictions, concerned that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, according to sources involved in policymaking.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 24, 2014

With ethics classes receiving upgrade in 2018, worries of nationalism rise

Starting in the 2018 academic year, so-called "dotoku" (moral education) will be part of the regular curriculum in elementary and junior high schools, instead of its current status as an "activity outside the set subjects."
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Nov 23, 2014

UKIP victory sets stage for EU upheaval

Some 16,867 voters in southeast England ushered in a season of European political tumult that in an extreme scenario could lead to Britain exiting the European Union, Greece quitting the euro or Catalonia seceding from Spain.
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2014

Shimomura wants to make English classes mandatory for fifth- and sixth-graders

Education minister Hakubun Shimomura proposes a root-and-branch overhaul of the elementary, junior high and high school curricula.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Nov 20, 2014

Heritage listing a wake-up call for taking charge of Mount Fuji cleanup

Alpinist Ken Noguchi was devastated by Mount Fuji's designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site last year because the mountain's problems, including its excessive garbage and the irresponsible people who climb and manage it, had not been resolved.
WORLD / Science & Health
Nov 20, 2014

Rosetta poised to probe comet as lander sleeps

As the first probe ever to be stationed on a comet hibernates, attention is turning to the Rosetta orbiter, which is still buzzing around the space snowball.
BUSINESS / Companies
Nov 19, 2014

Nomura's European CEO, Jeremy Bennett, resigns after less than two years

Jeremy Bennett, Nomura Holdings Inc.'s chief executive officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, has resigned after less than two years in the job.
SOCCER
Nov 17, 2014

Hiddink feels heat despite Dutch win

Speculation over the future of Netherlands coach Guus Hiddink dominated the Dutch media on Monday even after Sunday's comprehensive 6-0 win over Latvia revived the team's Euro 2016 qualification campaign.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Nov 17, 2014

Japan's economy takes a dive as Abe weighs delay of second tax hike

The economy unexpectedly sank into a recession in the last quarter, unable to shake off the impact of April's consumption tax hike and raising the odds that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will postpone a second increase next year.
Japan Times
JAPAN / FUKUSHIMA FILE
Nov 16, 2014

Minamisoma to get top-flight robotics R&D center

A Tokyo machinery maker will launch a cutting-edge research and development center for robots in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, in April to support the recovery of the disaster-hit prefecture.

Longform

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