Japan Times

Japan Times

All the news, sports and feature stories from The Japan Times Online

Updated: 7 min 52 sec ago

NRA backs Tsuruga active fault finding

2 hours 18 min ago

The Nuclear Regulation Authority accepts an assessment that reactor 2 at the Tsuruga nuclear plant sits on an active fault, increasing the likelihood that the ...

Kim sends special envoy to Beijing

2 hours 19 min ago

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dispatches a high-profile official and close confidant to China at a time of strained relations and ahead of a ...

As Hashimoto self-destructs, party also reels

2 hours 20 min ago

Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto's remarks justifying the wartime "comfort women" brothel system have caused major parties to distance themselves from his Nippon Ishin no Kai. ...

Cesium levels in water, plankton baffle scientists

2 hours 21 min ago

Plankton and seawater samples taken less than a year after the Fukushima meltdowns show high concentrations of radioactive cesium at different locations, puzzling scientists.

Diet approves Japan joining child custody pact

9 hours 54 min ago

The bill necessary for Japan to join the treaty for handling cross-border child custody disputes has passed the Diet. Japan is now assured of ratifying the ...

Stalled abduction talks with N. Korea may resume soon

9 hours 55 min ago

Japan was considering the resumption of bilateral talks with North Korea in hopes of making progress on the abduction issue following a recent trip to ...

Search for tornado survivors wraps up

9 hours 56 min ago

Rescue efforts in the wake of the Oklahoma tornado that killed 24 people near an end, as it emerges the twister was far more powerful ...

Rafsanjani, Ahmadinejad aide cut from Iran presidential race

9 hours 56 min ago

Iran's election overseers removes potential wild-card candidates from the presidential race, blocking a top aide of outgoing President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and a former president who ...

Senators OK immigration overhaul

9 hours 57 min ago

A Senate committee approves a sweeping immigration reform bill that would provide a path to citizenship for up to 11 million illegal immigrants in the ...

Hashimoto brings South Korea into fray

May 21, 2013 - 11:10am

Just days after provoking a storm by labeling sex slaves a military necessity, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto says South Korean soldiers were guilty of abusing ...

Miike’s gore-filled flick panned at Cannes

May 21, 2013 - 11:10am

Takashi Miike's blood-soaked vengeance tale, one of two Japanese films being shown in competition at the Cannes Film Festival, draws the biggest boos so far, ...

Flawed strategy, mistakes jeopardizing Tokyo’s bid to host 2020 Olympics

May 21, 2013 - 11:06am

Have you ever given your best effort while striving to achieve something but felt like what you were doing was futile? That's the feeling I'm getting ...

Why China’s developmental state says no to liberalism

May 21, 2013 - 11:05am

Modern history is the story of how liberal democracy, originating in Britain and America, spread around the world. This may sound like an absurd fantasy. ...

Power and mastery of the blank space — Toko Shinoda

May 21, 2013 - 11:05am

When speaking of Japanese art, people use words such as wabi and sabi, words that speak of a delicate sensibility and an ephemeral existence. Viewing ...

Stranger than fiction: Ryukyu fires Toyama after setting wins record

May 21, 2013 - 11:05am

The Ryukyu Golden Kings failed to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2007-08, their inaugural season in the bj-league. That result ...

Politics goes pop in ‘Arab Idol’ show

May 21, 2013 - 11:05am

TV singing contests around the world tend to serve up light, glitzy entertainment with a dash of emotional drama. But in the Middle East's version ...

A fortunate life among hot springs

May 21, 2013 - 11:05am

Kazuhiro Shiraishi, 66, is a guest-house manager in the Izu-kogen Highlands, a famous resort area on the Izu Peninsula of Shizuoka Prefecture. Looking out onto ...

Mourinho out at Real Madrid

May 21, 2013 - 11:04am

Jose Mourinho will leave Real Madrid after three years as manager, paving the path for his return to England and a second stint as Chelsea's ...

Yahoo unveils makeover of Flickr photo hosting site

May 21, 2013 - 11:04am

Reinvigorated technology player Yahoo on Monday unveiled a dusted-off design of its Flickr photo platform only hours after the company's dramatic acquisition of blogging site ...

Toyoda takes second in car race

May 21, 2013 - 11:04am

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda took the steering wheel in the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race through Monday in western Germany, with his team finishing ...