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The red-roofed temple at the top of the hill closed about a decade ago, and now Yoshihiro Shibata can’t even remember its name, though the 54-year-old dairy farmer has lived in this picturesque village all his life. All across Japan, aging villages such as Hara-izumi have been quietly hollowing out for years, even as urban areas have continued to grow modestly. But like a creaky wooden roller coaster that slows at the top of the climb before plunging into a terrifying, steep descent, Japan’s population crested around 2010 with 128 million people and has since lost about 900,000 residents, last...

In Japan's Upper House election, NHK projects Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's governing coalition will reach and could surpass the benchmark he set before the election, a majority of the contested seats or 61. NHK's decision desk also says the governing coalition, and 2 smaller parties in favor of changing the Constitution may reach a key number. The main ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its partner Komeito are projected to walk away with between 67 and 76 seats. That, combined with their uncontested seats, would mean they keep their majority in the chamber as a whole. NHK decision desk is also...

TOKYO — Japan prides itself on having a low tolerance for guns and drugs, but a tiny political party has become the first to adopt an election plank of scrapping a research ban on medical use of marijuana. Proponents say such use could ease cancer-related pain, prevent dementia and cut soaring medical costs. But the government says its effectiveness has not been proved, and worries about the social harm weaker controls could bring. Japan outlaws owning and growing marijuana, besides the ban on clinical research, despite a trend in advanced countries, such as Canada and the United States, to free...

Could Japan’s F-3 program end up being built on the back of the X-2 technology demonstrator? Japanese defense ministry photo In late June, the Japanese ministry of defense made its initial request for information on next-generation jet fighters from manufacturers, kickstarting the long process of replacing the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighters with a new “F-3.” But as Tokyo looks to counter an increasingly sophisticated Chinese air and naval threat, none of the existing aircraft that are currently available for purchase seems likely to fit Japan’s needs. What Japan really wants is the American F-22. Legally barred...

Here is a country that is dealing with reality. There is a problem in Islam, and the reason the West is losing this war is that we will not recognize or acknowledge that problem. Japan does. This is war, and Japan is taking appropriate measures. If you are a Muslim who rejects the Islamic texts and teachings that call for holy war, creed apartheid, gender apartheid, Islamic Jew-hatred and domination over the unbeliever, then I am sure Japan will welcome you. If not, you should not be welcome in any Western country. This is what is required when a country...

Muslims in Japan lost a lawsuit over the government’s surveillance of them in May, with the court saying it’s a “necessary” counter-terrorism tactic. Japanese police have monitored places of worship, halal restaurants and Muslim organizations for years in what they label a counter-terrorism measure. A 2010 leak of 114 Japanese police files quickly spread across the world with 10,000 downloads in 20 countries. The files contained personal information of 72,000 Muslims in several countries, showing just how widespread the surveillance is. A group of 17 Muslims living in Japan sued the government for infringing on their constitutional rights. The Muslims...

Japan's Supreme Court has upheld the government's blanket surveillance of the country's Muslim community. The court struck down the second appeal by Japanese Muslim plaintiffs against what they perceive as an unconstitutional invasion of their privacy and freedom of religion. A 2010 leak of 114 police files revealed nationwide surveillance of Japanese Muslims. The files revealed that Muslim places of worship, halal restaurants and Islam-related organisations across the capital, Tokyo, were being monitored.

China’s new nuclear attack submarine is among the military’s most secretive platforms – and the world has just been given its first glimpse. The Chinese navy has released a rare photo of the Type 093B ‘Shang’ submarine, which can launch missiles vertically at ships and other targets overhead. This model improves upon the capabilities of earlier nuclear attack submarines, and is expected to be quieter and faster. According to the Popular Science blog Eastern Arsenal, this reveal marks an extremely rare event. It’s thought that there were three Type 093B SSNs launched last year. These were preceded by two Type...

Debris likely from N. Korean missile washes ashore in Japan By HAYASHI YANAGAWA/ Staff Writer June 18, 2016 at 13:10 JST Metallic casing found on the shores of Yurihama, Tottori Prefecture, is believed to be part of a North Korean missile. (Provided by the Tottori prefectural government) TOTTORI--What appears to be part of the casing of a ballistic missile launched by North Korea has washed ashore in Tottori Prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. Authorities in the western prefecture said June 17 that an employee of an affiliated agency of the prefectural government came across the metallic part around 2...

The yield on the 10-year benchmark German bund fell into negative territory for the first time ever on Tuesday morning, amid global growth concerns and jitters over the U.K.'s upcoming referendum on its European Union membership. At around 8.30 a.m. London time, the yield hit zero and briefly fell into negative territory as investors continued to flock to safe-haven assets. Bond prices and yields move in opposite directions and a negative yield implies that investors are effectively paying the German government for the privilege of parking their cash. By the end of the European trading day, the yield was still...

SAN DIEGO -- The closer Ichiro Suzuki gets to milestones, the bigger his media following becomes. About 50 Japanese media members were on hand Monday to watch the 42-year-old sensation inch closer to another significant benchmark. Ichiro had three hits, scored two runs and had an RBI in the Marlins' 13-4 win over the Padres at Petco Park. After he slapped a single down the third-base line in the eighth inning, he moved 23 hits shy of 3,000, and one away from matching a standard reached only by Pete Rose. • Ichiro moves within 23 MLB hits of 3,000 as...

More than 70 years after dying on a beach in World War II, Queens-bred Marine John F. Prince is finally coming home. His remains were excavated from a nondescript parking lot on Betio Island in the central Pacific, identified through dental records and due to arrive in New York next week for a burial with full military honors at Calverton National Cemetery, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Friday.

It's time to update your copy of the periodic table. Four new elements discovered in recent years have now been named, pending final approval by the international group of scientists in charge of the table. The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry has announced these proposed names: Nihonium and symbol Nh, for the element 113 Moscovium and symbol Mc, for the element 115 Tennessine and symbol Ts, for the element 117 Oganesson and symbol Og, for the element 118 The new superheavy, radioactive elements were actually added to the periodic table late last year and given these temporary and...

China Defense Blog has republished a series of photos depicting life on one of China's most modern ships. The photos show a world not too different from western navies, albeit with more spartan living conditions. Hefei, a Type 052D guided missile destroyer, is roughly the equivalent of the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Displacing 7,000 tons, Hefei has a Type 346 phased-array radar system for detecting aerial threats. It's equipped with 64 HQ-9 "Red Banner" missiles, roughly comparable to the SM-2 standard surface-to-air missile system, eight YJ-62 anti-ship missiles, a single 130-millimeter dual purpose ship gun, two close-in weapon systems,...

(snip) overnight a Toyota Motor unit sold yen bonds with the lowest coupon ever for a Japanese company. Toyota Finance Corp issued 20 billion yen ($186 million) of notes at a yield of 0.001%, according to a filing with the nation’s Finance Ministry. That’s the lowest coupon ever for a regular bond by a domestic company that isn’t backed by the government, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

U.S. Navy sailors in Japan can say goodbye to their sake. Following an alleged drunk driving incident by a 21-year-old Petty Officer 2nd Class Aimee Mejia, the Navy announced Monday that drinking alcohol would be banned for all 19,000 personnel in Japan. Imbibing will be banned both on and off base, and sailors will no longer be able to freely leave their bases. Leaving base grounds will be allowed only for running necessary errands, or commuting from an off-base home. "These measures are not taken lightly," said Rear Adm. Matthew Carter. "For decades, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with...

A human interest story at the center of the world's attention in early June 2016 concerns the seven-year-old Japanese boy Yamato Tanooka, the misdirected discipline by his parents which resulted in the child spending nearly a week alone lost in the woods, and the eventual discovery of the child, bruised but “genki” (healthy). The CBS news coverage, which is quite typical of American coverage, starts with a repetition of the bare facts known at this time, then opens up to speculation about the State's role in this kind of provocative case. Did the parents do the right thing? What is...

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) – Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet (C7F) and Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Japan (CNFJ) announced temporary liberty curtailment and restrictions on alcohol consumption for all Sailors in Japan as a response to a recent trend of alcohol-related incidents detrimental to the U.S.-Japan Alliance. Effective immediately, Sailors are prohibited from drinking alcohol, on and off base. Additionally, all off-base liberty will be curtailed. Sailors who live off base will be permitted to travel to and from work and engage in official actions such as childcare drop-off and pickup, trips to the grocery store, gas stations or the gym. The...

An interesting questionnaire for Palestinian Advocates By Yashiko Sagamori If you are so sure that ” Palestine , the country, goes back through most of recorded history,” I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine : take the quiz at : http://floppingaces.net/most_wanted/japanese-view-of-the-palestinians/

A Japanese View of the Palestinians by Yashiko Sagamori If you are so sure that "Palestine, the country, goes back through most of recorded history", I expect you to be able to answer a few basic questions about that country of Palestine: When was it founded and by whom? What were its borders? What was its capital? What were its major cities? What constituted the basis of its economy? What was its form of government? Can you name at least one Palestinian leader before Arafat? Was Palestine ever recognized by a country whose existence, at that time or now, leaves...