Search - weekly

 
 
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Mar 10, 2018

Confusing power with powerlessness

"We're all terrified. It's like living in a mass grave." It's an underground shelter. "No water, no food, no ventilation, no toilets. Explosion after explosion. It never stops."
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Mar 10, 2018

Japan tries its hardest to keep up with the Kardashians

The internet desperately tried to keep up with the Kardashians last week when the famous family visited Japan. Kim, Kourtney and Khloe traveled to Tokyo and Kyoto while filming an episode of their enormously popular reality show that has been running for 14 seasons, and they brought their entire entourage...
BUSINESS
Mar 8, 2018

Israel's El Al seeks U.N. help in bid to fly through Saudi airspace as Air India service nears

El Al Israel Airlines has appealed to the United Nations over a bid to reroute its services between Tel Aviv and India through Saudi Arabian airspace.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics / ANALYSIS
Mar 5, 2018

Weakened Merkel tasked with performing delicate balancing act to keep coalition intact

Germany's Social Democrats (SPD) have bought Chancellor Angela Merkel time with their vote to join her conservatives in another coalition, but she risks losing her long grip on power if she fails to balance the awkward allies' conflicting demands.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League
Mar 4, 2018

Nick Fazekas heats up in second half to lead Brave Thunders past B-Corsairs

Anyone who forgot that Kawasaki Brave Thunders star Nick Fazekas was the B. League's 2016-17 MVP was reminded of his scoring prowess in the second half of Sunday's series finale at Yokohama International Swimming Pool.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Mar 3, 2018

Japan's media out of step with mental health issues

In January, a couple in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture, were arrested for allegedly confining their daughter for at least 15 years before she froze to death in December at the age of 33. The couple told police they had kept her in the tiny room where her body was found because she was mentally ill. They...
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Mar 3, 2018

NHK puppet show offers a rare glimpse into unconventional lives

Arguably the best interview show on terrestrial TV at present stars a bunch of puppets exploring the often unexamined corners of Japanese society.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Science & Health
Feb 24, 2018

One-dose flu drug Xofluza gets nod from health ministry

Osaka-based drugmaker Shionogi & Co. has announced that the health ministry gave it approval to manufacture and market its new flu drug Xofluza, which requires only a single dose regardless of age.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Feb 24, 2018

U.S. ready to open Jerusalem embassy in May

The United States said on Friday it will open its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem in May, a move from Tel Aviv that reverses decades of U.S. policy and is bound to trouble U.S. allies that have already objected.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos / HOME TRUTHS
Feb 11, 2018

Condo management is in need of repairs

On Dec. 18, the Supreme Court's petit bench ruled against a man from Fukuoka Prefecture who was suing the management association (kanri kumiai) of his condominium for firing him as its president of the board (rijicho) because the regulations of the association contained no stipulations for dismissal....
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Feb 7, 2018

A year in the (short) life of Japan's Cabinet

Early each year, Law of the Land likes to reflect on what one of Japan's three branches of government did the previous one. This time we'll look at the surprisingly durable Shinzo Abe habitat known as the Cabinet.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 7, 2018

Masayoshi Son plans measures to reduce discount on SoftBank stock

SoftBank Group Corp.'s Masayoshi Son became technology's biggest investor over the past year, taking major stakes in ride-hailing, e-commerce and semiconductors. But he doesn't get much credit for his investment acumen.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Feb 3, 2018

NHK tries to clear up LGBT misconceptions

Last month, publisher Iwanami Shoten was criticized for its definition of “LGBT” in the newest edition of Kojien, which is considered to be the most authoritative dictionary of the Japanese language. The complaint was specifically about the meaning of the acronym’s “T” portion, which stands...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Jan 31, 2018

'Country of cowards': Comedy duo's political satire stands out in gun-shy Japan

In what was perhaps a make-or-break moment for their careers, comedy duo Woman Rush Hour did something on prime-time television in December that most of their fellow comedians try their best to eschew: They talked about politics.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 27, 2018

Is artificial intelligence killing Japan's banks?

As part of an ongoing series about artificial intelligence, the Asahi Shimbun on Jan. 11 published a story that asserts the financial industry has adopted AI more readily than any other. Because finance is a data-driven endeavor, designing AI software to do things such as read and analyze reams of economic...
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Jan 26, 2018

More birth defects found in U.S. areas with Zika according to American health officials

The mosquito-borne Zika virus may be responsible for an increase in birth defects in U.S. states and territories, even in women who had no lab evidence of Zika exposure during pregnancy, U.S. health officials said Thursday.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / TRAVEL INSIDER
Jan 23, 2018

Free Wi-Fi service; Historic fashion showcase; New routes introduced

Free Wi-Fi service
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Jan 21, 2018

Media firm adapts to an ever-shifting Brazilian community in Japan

IPC serves the huge Portuguese-speaking community with radio, TV, mags and more.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jan 20, 2018

Debate grows over paying compensation to Olympic 'volunteers'

A  constant concern about the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympics is its cost. Projected operating expenses for the games as of the end of last year was ¥1.35 trillion based on calculations made last May. Although the figure is smaller than it once was, the International Olympic Committee says it is still...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Jan 20, 2018

The knives begin to sharpen for Hakuho after sumo scandal

At the start of last November’s Kyushu Grand Sumo Tournament, Shukan Taishu magazine (Nov. 20) led off its issue with a four-page article titled “What you need to know to enjoy the year’s final tournament tenfold.”
Japan Times
Figure Skating
Jan 14, 2018

Uno eager to escape Hanyu's shadow

Shoma Uno first stepped on the ice at five, but it was the rough-and-tumble of hockey he had his eyes on — until a chance meeting with a figure skater changed everything.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / COMMUNITY CHEST
Jan 7, 2018

More readers' responses to Japan Times Community articles from 2017

A selection of unpublished letters about Community stories from the second half of last year.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / B. League / HOOP SCOOP
Jan 5, 2018

Tyler Smith pleased by reaction to new book on hoop life

Tyler Smith, whose pro basketball career included stints with the Hitachi Sunrockers and Link Tochigi Brex in the now-disbanded JBL, has published his first book, "Called for Traveling: My Nomadic Life Playing Pro Basketball around the World."
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 28, 2017

Russia says Tokyo's deployment of U.S. missiles a blow to relations and will impact peace treaty negotiations

A decision by Japan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system will damage Moscow's relations with Tokyo and is a breach by Washington of a landmark arms control treaty, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Dec 28, 2017

Namie Amuro saves 'Kohaku' ... for now

The weekly Shukan Bunshun released a survey in early November highlighting the acts its readers wanted to see perform on NHK's yearend "Kohaku Uta Gassen" music program. They chose Namie Amuro as the artist they wanted to see the most, likely because she announced her plans to retire from the entertainment...

Longform

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