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Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 20, 2019

'Obamacare' ruling likely to haunt Trump in 2020

While the eyes of America were on the House vote to impeach President Donald Trump, a court ruling to leave the fate of the Affordable Care Act, also known as "Obamacare," up in the air may be a bigger risk to his 2020 re-election hopes.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 20, 2019

Working mom fights the odds to become sole female LDP lawmaker in Kyushu

On a recent chilly November morning, aspiring politician Maiko Takahashi was undergoing a trial by fire as she stumped for just the second time in her life, addressing an ebb and flow of commuters near Oita Station.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / 2019 in Review
Dec 19, 2019

2019 saw just a few glimmers of hope in an otherwise mediocre year for Japanese film

The year predictably saw new iterations of long-running anime favorites top the box office, but the year's truly interesting films lay much further down the financial rankings.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / 2019 in Review
Dec 17, 2019

Creative expression stifled by 'safety concerns' in Japan

As the taboo-busting comic Joan Rivers used to say after pressing her audience's buttons, 'Can we talk?' On the evidence of this year's Aichi Triennale, if it's about World War II atrocities, the answer seems to be 'no.'
Japan Times
LIFE / Language
Dec 17, 2019

What would a 'kanji of the decade' say about the state of Japan?

This year's kanji of the year is 'u4ee4,' but writer Paul Dargan posits a guess as to what the kanji of the decade might be while looking back on the annual tradition and what the top picks say about the state of the country.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 16, 2019

On Nagano's Lake Suwa, climate change unravels 600 years of history held dear

Kiyoshi Miyasaka climbs the stone steps of his shrine, autumn leaves crunching under his feet. The Shinto priest, dressed in white, aims an orange leaf blower at a row of cobblestones and clears the path of fallen leaves.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 15, 2019

Could merger talks finally produce a credible opposition force in Japan?

With the close of the extraordinary Diet session on Dec. 9, some of the largest opposition parties once again entered talks about merging before year's end, with an eye toward increasing their seats in the next general election. Here's a look at the talks and what they might mean for Japan's political...
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Dec 12, 2019

Working with the Japanese at a senior level when you're a non-Japanese woman

While stories about mandatory heels and a ban on glasses are making the rounds in the media, the reality of working at a Japanese firm when you're a woman is not as bad as you may think.
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Dec 10, 2019

Yuzuru Hanyu must find formula to defeat ascending Nathan Chen

Yuzuru Hanyu incurred his largest defeat in more than 10 years at the Grand Prix Final on Saturday to American Nathan Chen.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 5, 2019

Brexit underlines perils of populist politics

The standoff between equally matched camps may solidify into a deep rupture in the national fabric.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 30, 2019

Taro Yamamoto blurs the popular line on climate change

Climate change is not much of a social issue in Japan. Even in the wake of three recent weather-related disasters, there has been little discussion across the political spectrum that climate change contributed to them. In Europe and the United States, left-leaning groups demand action to mitigate the...
Japan Times
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Nov 28, 2019

Yuzuru Hanyu shows he is much more than a great skater

Yuzuru Hanyu's destruction of the opposition at the NHK Trophy last weekend came as no surprise. The two-time Olympic champion is fully healthy and back in top form as witnessed by his 55-point victory.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 28, 2019

Revisiting Japan's nuclear arms debate

As long as the U.S. nuclear umbrella exists, the Japanese government will not have the political impetus to change its policy on nuclear weapons.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 26, 2019

Let will of the people decide succession issue

The emperor's position is determined by the will of the people, irrespective of the historical background of the imperial system.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 19, 2019

Will Yamaguchi's departure from Yomiuri Giants to MLB clear a path for Sugano?

The biggest question stemming from the Yomiuri Giants' decision to post pitcher Shun Yamaguchi to MLB is not how Yamaguchi might fare in the majors.
Figure Skating / ICE TIME
Nov 19, 2019

Masakazu Kagiyama helping his son pursue an Olympic dream

A new star was born on Sunday night and his name is Yuma Kagiyama.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / The Big Questions
Nov 17, 2019

Encouraging innovation among Japanese startups

“How lucky I am to be here, right now,” is something Tom Kelley often tells himself. The D4V chairman (Design for Ventures) and IDEO partner could be sitting in any one of IDEO's nine global offices, but the Tokyo studio is his favorite.
JAPAN / Politics
Nov 15, 2019

LDP might delay talks on constitutional referendum bill to avoid Diet extension that could hurt Abe

The drive to change the process for revising the Constitution is being blunted by fears the opposition will get more time to dig up dirt on Abe's cherry blossom scandal.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 15, 2019

Problems at WeWork may lead to a drop in co-working space leases, says high-profile New York developer Scott Rechler

The surge in co-working leases that accompanied the rise of WeWork will take a pause in the aftermath of the startup's abandoned IPO, a prominent New York developer said Thursday.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / How-tos
Nov 14, 2019

Ditch the debate tactics when it comes to persuading Japanese colleagues on a course of action

Coming to a compromise, PowerPoint presentations and group consensus will help you get your way at work over an impressive oral argument.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 12, 2019

How Russia could force a nuclear war in the Baltics

The Kremlin's 'escalate to de-escalate' nuclear strategy could easily get out of hand.
Japan Times
LIFE / Style & Design
Nov 9, 2019

Nakagin Capsule Tower: Can Tokyo's urban utopian dream secure a new lease on life?

The future of Ginza's iconic building hangs in the balance as architectural enthusiasts attempt to preserve the fading landmark.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Nov 8, 2019

Exxon calls New York climate case a 'joke' on last day of trial

A lawyer for Exxon Mobil Corp. mocked New York's fraud lawsuit against the oil giant, saying the state had falsely accused engineers and scientists of cooking up a massive scheme to mislead investors about the financial risks of climate change.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Nov 7, 2019

Trump tax return case teed up to hinge on Chief Justice John Roberts

Fighting to keep his tax returns secret, President Donald Trump will soon ask the Supreme Court to grant him "temporary absolute immunity" from any criminal investigation while he's in office. The case sets up yet another test for the court's new swing voter, Chief Justice John Roberts, who is devoted...
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 4, 2019

The killing of al-Baghdadi: Illegal, disgusting and degenerate

The assassination of the Islamic State leader by U.S. special forces operating under orders from President Donald Trump reminds us that America is a nation in moral decline.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 1, 2019

What Brexit reveals about the EU

The bloc's biggest problem is indifference, not Euroskepticism.

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.