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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Aug 10, 2016

These women ain't afraid of the 'Ghost-bros'

Excuse the time-honored phrase, but the new "Ghostbusters" is a whole new ball game. The hype surrounding its U.S. release last month was considerable, and not just because it's a long-overdue followup of a beloved 1984 Hollywood classic: It has also dared to do what few have done before, which is to...
Japan Times
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Aug 8, 2016

安: a peaceful character for these turbulent times

One kanji character that learners encounter at a fairly early stage is u5b89, pronounced 'an' or 'yasuraka' and meaning 'peaceful' and, by extension, 'safe.'
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Aug 8, 2016

Let's discuss the Emperor's possible abdication

Emperor Akihito does not necessarily intend to relinquish the throne early but has indicated he is prepared to abdicate if he becomes unable to fulfill his duties.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LAW OF THE LAND
Aug 7, 2016

Japan's Minor Offenses Act has major untapped potential

Law has the teeth to tackle everything from peeing and posters to more serious matters.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Entertainment news
Aug 5, 2016

Clint Eastwood makes Trump's day, notes Donald diverges from 'kiss-ass generation'

Clint Eastwood, the 86-year-old four-time Oscar winner, excoriated the current generation of Americans as weak and overly sensitive while backing Donald Trump even though the Republican presidential hopeful has "said a lot of dumb things."
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 2, 2016

Chinese Navy holds live-fire drills in East China Sea

The Chinese Navy held live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Monday, the Defense Ministry said in a short statement posted to its website.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Aug 1, 2016

Talking about Harajuku Station's new look

Harajuku Station is getting a makeover, let's describe how we think it should go.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / BACKSTREET STORIES
Jul 30, 2016

Inky points of interest in Tabata

Under glowering clouds, I decide to explore the area around Tabata Station in Tokyo. Though recently renovated, the station is one of Tokyo's oldest depots, dating from 1896. The station offers nifty spots for watching shinkansen trains bullet by, but I take the north exit to find the Tabata Bunshi Mura...
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 26, 2016

Kerry says U.S. backs resumption of China-Philippines talks on South China Sea

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday he supported the resumption of bilateral talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, following a ruling against Beijing over the dispute earlier this month.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jul 26, 2016

Trump says he would consider alliance with Russia to 'knock the hell out of' Islamic State

Republican nominee Donald Trump said Monday that if elected U.S. president he will weigh an alliance with Russia against Islamic State militants but rejected any suggestion Russian President Vladimir Putin might be trying to help him win.
LIFE / Language
Jul 25, 2016

Looking at vocabulary in the runup to 'Pokemon Go'

'Pokemon Go' fans in Japan are vexed by the wait for the popular game.
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jul 25, 2016

Watered-down ASEAN statement could diminish grouping's already waning clout: analysts

A watered-down statement Monday by Southeast Asian nations that failed to mention a landmark legal ruling over China's claims to most of the South China Sea could diminish the clout of the region's key grouping, analysts say.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 23, 2016

Since the '60s, imperfect progress on race

African-Americans have it better now than they did in the 1960s, but the progress has been woefully uneven.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jul 22, 2016

Abe's boys club makes mockery of 'womenomics'

If Shinzo Abe cared about gender equality he would back Yuriko Koike's bid to be Tokyo's first female governor.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / NEW IN TOWN
Jul 21, 2016

Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience

New to the Spiral building in Omotesando is Sakurai Japanese Tea Experience, which has relocated from its original Nishi-Azabu location to a spot directly next door to Mina Perhonen’s newly opened Call.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / LEARNING CURVE
Jul 20, 2016

Eiken broadens language tests to address criticisms

As the Eiken Foundation tries to meet the demands of a growing number of test-takers, what do students, parents and teachers make of the tests?
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jul 20, 2016

Pyongyang says triple missile test simulated attack on South Korean ports and airfields

North Korea said Wednesday it had conducted a ballistic missile test that simulated preemptive strikes against South Korean ports and airfields used by the U.S. military, a likely reference to the launches of three missiles on Tuesday.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2016

China's 'might makes right' strategy vs. international law

Unless China is made to realize that its future lies in cooperation and not confrontation, a systemic risk to Asian stability and prosperity is bound to arise, with far-reaching implications for the world.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 11, 2016

Let's discuss the chances of a drought in Kanto

The Kanto region may experience a serious drought this summer due to an 'unprecedented' shortage of water in lakes and reservoirs supplying the area.
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Jul 6, 2016

Obama arrives with Clinton in Charlotte, says he's set to 'pass baton' on to her

After months on the sidelines, President Barack Obama joined Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on the campaign trail at a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday, telling voters he was ready to "pass the baton" to his former secretary of state.
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Jul 4, 2016

Let's discuss the Upper House election

The nation's major political parties have kicked off their official House of Councilors election campaigns, with the ruling bloc and a united opposition giving speeches centered on the economy around the country.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Jul 2, 2016

Black Illumination: Zen and the poetry of death

On a winter morning in 1360, Zen master Kozan Ichikyo gathered together his pupils. Kozan, 77, told them that, upon his death, they should bury his body, perform no ceremony and hold no services in his memory. Sitting in the traditional Zen posture, he then wrote the following:

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A boom for business tourism in Japan?