Search - 2014

 
 
COMMENTARY / Japan
Jan 4, 2016

2016: the year of looking beyond Japan's Abenomics

After three largely squandered years, Abe must finally get serious about the reforms he's been promising.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 4, 2016

Russia and Ukraine are finally breaking up

The ongoing political and economic separation of Russia and Ukraine will likely be completed this year.
EDITORIALS
Jan 4, 2016

Expanding tourist accommodations

A shortage of accommodations threatens to hobble the nation's booming tourist industry.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / JUST BE CAUSE
Jan 3, 2016

Battles over history, the media and the message scar 2015

A rundown of the top 10 human rights issues of the past year as they affected non-Japanese residents.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Jan 2, 2016

House of cards: Can traditional New Year’s greetings survive in modern times?

On Jan. 1, legions of Japan Post Co. employees delivered millions of nengajō (New Year's cards) to homes nationwide.
EDITORIALS
Jan 2, 2016

Education deserves more attention

The government's conservative agenda is exposed by the rise in defense spending while funding for education remains static.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jan 2, 2016

14 U.S. states to see minimum wage hike in '16, bringing national hourly average to just over $9

As the United States marks more than six years without an increase in the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, 14 states and several cities are moving forward with their own increases, with most set to start taking effect on Friday.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 30, 2015

China sends Japan a message via former navy frigate

Tensions are rising in the East China Sea after China deployed an armed, former navy frigate for the first time to challenge Japan's control of contested islands in what may be an attempt to shift Tokyo's attention away from disputes in the South China Sea.
WORLD / Society
Dec 30, 2015

U.S. forces reveal Islamic State fatwa detailing when 'owners' can rape enslaved female captives

Islamic State theologians have issued an extremely detailed ruling on when "owners" of women enslaved by the extremist group can have sex with them, in an apparent bid to curb what they called violations in the treatment of captured females.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics / ANALYSIS
Dec 29, 2015

'Comfort women' deal likely to fuel Tokyo-Seoul military cooperation, aid Obama pivot

Japan and South Korea's landmark accord to end the divisive "comfort women" dispute will lead to increased economic and military cooperation between the U.S. allies, complementing the Obama administration's efforts to counter China's rise and North Korea's nuclear saber-rattling.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 28, 2015

Bad year for Asian democracy

Malaysia and Thailand are just two reasons to doubt Asia's commitment to openness and accountability.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 28, 2015

China faces twin challenges to maintain growth

China needs to transition away from unsustainable investment-led growth and move toward a more sustainable consumption-led growth model.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 26, 2015

'Ōsōji': ways to keep your home spick and span

Three experts discuss their philosophy on the New Year's chore that everybody loves — cleaning.
Japan Times
WORLD / Crime & Legal
Dec 23, 2015

San Bernardino shooter denied militant leanings in U.S. visa application; Saudi date discrepancies seen

San Bernardino shooter Tashfeen Malik denied having any militant sympathies or intentions when she was asked in an application form for a U.S. visa two years ago, documents described to Reuters on Tuesday showed.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Dec 22, 2015

Plenty of food for thought in a good year for great plays

The year now ending began gloomily with the Charlie Hebdo murders in Paris reminding us of hopeless breakdowns in mutual understanding and tolerance worldwide; now it's set to close hot on the heels of an agreement by nearly 200 countries at the COP21 talks in Paris on the need to counter threatened...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Dec 20, 2015

Gulf War trauma kicked off Japan's retreat from pacifism in '91

As the first Gulf War raged in February 1991, Ground Self-Defense Force Maj. Nozomu Yoshitomi was supposed to be conducting war games with U.S. officers at a military facility in Tokyo. But the Americans appeared distracted, watching the conflict live on CNN. On another TV, local news showed Japanese...
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle
Dec 19, 2015

Growing old, gracefully: senior citizens in the workplace

For Eiji and Kumiko Ishikawa, the working day starts as early as 5 a.m. Having loaded the requisite equipment into their van, they set off for their first job of the day, a 14-story high-rise in western Tokyo.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / COUNTERPOINT
Dec 19, 2015

Recommended reading for the holidays and beyond

'Black Dragon River' stands out among the nonfiction books that caught the eye of columnist Jeff Kingston over the past year.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 19, 2015

The troubling slump in American startups

Data on startups provide robust evidence of a pervasive decline in U.S. business dynamism over the last several decades.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
Dec 18, 2015

Japan and the 'maritime pivot' to Southeast Asia

Japan's security focus remains rooted in its immediate region centered on the East China Sea, Sea of Japan, and the open seas of the Western Pacific.
BUSINESS / Economy
Dec 15, 2015

Abe's deflation fight has automated foes on nearly every Tokyo street corner

They stand resolutely on street corners around Japan, proclaiming that deflation has not been vanquished, much as the Abe administration and the central bank have tried.
Japan Times
JAPAN / INVEST IN ITALY 2015
Dec 15, 2015

Promoting Japanese direct investment in Italy

The Italian Trade Agency held a symposium in Tokyo on Nov. 18 to promote Japanese companies' direct investment in Italy, with businesses from Italy and Japan, as well as diplomats and politicians from Italy, discussing opportunities in the country.
COMMENTARY / World
Dec 14, 2015

Singapore in the thick of U.S. strategy on China

Singapore may not want to admit it, but it is now part of the U.S. military challenge to China — and the risk that entails.
EDITORIALS
Dec 14, 2015

Background check too intrusive

The background check required of people who are going to handle state secrets is overly intrusive in some areas.

Longform

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