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COMMENTARY / World
May 16, 2013

UKIP rides wave of discontent

Britain as well as Japan must contend with xenophobic anti-establishment parties and politicians who want to take their nations back to imaginary periods of isolation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
May 11, 2013

Hashimoto rules out running in Upper House election

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, coleader of Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party), said again Friday that he won't run in this summer's Upper House election, saying his power as a Diet member would be so limited that all he'd be able to do is hang out at ramen stands.
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 1, 2013

Seoul to support U.N. probe of North Korea's human rights abuses

South Korea's decision to support a United Nations investigation into human rights abuses by North Korea signals that Seoul's new conservative administration is willing to pressure its neighbor on such issues — even if it hurts the chances for engagement.
SUMO
Mar 1, 2013

Wrestling's fall from Olympic grace sends wake-up call to International Sumo Federation

The quest of the International Sumo Federation (IFS) to have amateur sumo accepted as a bona fide Olympic sport has long been viewed as as a pie-in-the-sky proposition by many.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 18, 2013

The rise and decline of press freedom in Turkey

If Europe and the U.S. do their part, Turkey's prime minister may be persuaded to resume an earlier push for human rights reform and press freedom.
Reader Mail
Feb 7, 2013

Ripples in Japan's fan culture

Regarding Ian Martin's Feb. 1 article, "AKB48 member's 'penance' shows flaws in idol culture": Putting aside any particular opinion on the scandal surrounding AKB48 member Minami Minegishi, it is plainly wrong for Martin to imply that Japan's fan culture is the cause, rather than an effect, of Japan's...
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 4, 2013

Cameron lost in channel fog

In his speech demanding a new deal for Britain in the EU, British Prime Minister David Cameron sought a popular political fix to quiet his rightwing rebels.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Feb 1, 2013

AKB48 idol begs for fans' mercy after breaking dating ban

A member of AKB48 stirs up an online frenzy by getting a crew cut and posting an apology for breaking the all-girl group's rule against romantic relationships.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 7, 2013

Relatives of U.S. lawmakers lobby on bills before Congress

In 2007, in the wake of the biggest lobbying scandal in decades, Congress limited the ability of family members to lobby their relatives in the House of Representatives or Senate. But it declined to ban the practice entirely.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jan 1, 2013

Islamist 'guide' draws liberal Egyptians' ire

During recent opposition protests, people chanted against Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi and decried the draft constitution he was pressing.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Dec 29, 2012

Ozawa, Diet cohorts keep party, subsidy, leave Shiga Gov. Kada with Nippon Mirai name only

The shotgun political marriage between Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada and Diet veteran Ichiro Ozawa was formally annulled Friday night, with both sides promising to respect and work with each other where possible, and with Kada's future in doubt.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 20, 2012

Tokyo Girls' Style to perform first solo gig at legendary Budokan, but first — homework

The members of Tokyo Girls' Style have a lot to juggle in the next couple of months. This Saturday, the five-member pop group will perform a solo show at Japan's storied Budokan arena — a huge milestone for any musical outfit here. About a month later, their third album "Yakusoku" ("Promise") will...
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Dec 19, 2012

Firms move some eggs out of China basket

Anti-Japan riots in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere in China in September triggered by Japan's nationalization of the disputed Senkaku Islands brought vandalism and violence to Japanese restaurants, stores and car dealers and a boycott of Japanese products.
WORLD / Politics
Dec 6, 2012

Patriots bound for Turkey could aid future NATO action in Syria

NATO agreed Tuesday to send new American-made air defenses to Turkey's volatile southern border with Syria, a boost to an alliance member on the front lines of the civil war and a potential backstop for wider U.S. or NATO air operations if Syria deteriorates further.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / THE VIEW FROM EUROPE
Dec 3, 2012

The best-kept secret in Japanese politics is that policies don't matter

Political parties in Japan are busy preparing for the Dec. 16 Lower House election. Each day, voters face new or newly merged parties, most of them determined to become part of the "third political force" or "third pole" forming to challenge the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and its two rivals —...
COMMENTARY
Dec 3, 2012

Separatist dreams that are mostly just hot air

In other parts of the world, separatist movements are usually violent (such as Kashmir, Sri Lanka, the various Kurdish revolts) and they sometimes succeed (South Sudan, Eritrea, East Timor).
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 27, 2012

'Third force' elements scramble for poll position

So far 16 political parties are fielding candidates for the Dec. 16 Lower House election.
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Nov 20, 2012

Ishiharas — family ties with a twist

The Ishiharas trail the Hatoyamas 2-0 in prime ministers. But when it comes to the variety, prominence and celebrity of each individual member, not many families in Japan today can compete with the Ishihara bunch.
EDITORIALS
Nov 7, 2012

Stoking Okinawan anger

With the alleged rape of an Okinawa City woman by two U.S. servicemen on Oct. 16 fresh in people's minds, another U.S. serviceman allegedly broke into an Okinawan residence and struck a boy on Nov. 2.
EDITORIALS
Jul 12, 2012

Pension fund problems to remain

In the wake of the incident in which AIJ Investment Advisors Co. lost most of ¥145.8 billion in pension assets through bad investments, a panel of the health and welfare ministry on June 29 came up with a proposal on how to solve the problems related to the type of corporate pension fund known as kosei...
EDITORIALS
Apr 30, 2012

Smell of a power struggle in China

On March 15, it was announced that Mr. Bo Xilai was dismissed as Communist Party chief of the thriving southwestern Chinese metropolis of Chongqing. On April 10, it was reported that he was suspended from the Chinese Communist Party's 25-member Politburo as well as from the party's Central Committee....

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