Datasets:

multiIR

/

toy_data

like 0

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2F4102497-fda-wants-donated-blood-tested-zika-virus.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7cwnsb25xdmfox2m.jpg?itok=r_U7Gumy

en

FDA wants donated blood tested for Zika virus

www.wctrib.com

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended on Friday, Aug. 26, that all blood donated in the United States and its territories be tested for Zika virus, as it moves to prevent transmission of the virus through the blood supply. The agency's move to expand its previous guideline for blood screening comes after Florida officials on Tuesday announced the first case of Zika transmitted by mosquitoes in Pinellas County, some 265 miles from Miami, where the first locally transmitted U.S. cases were reported. The FDA last month ordered blood banks in Florida's two most densely populated counties—Miami-Dade County and Broward County—to stop collecting blood. The FDA also recommended that nearby counties implement the same measures. Zika was detected in Brazil last year and has since spread across the Americas. The virus poses a risk to pregnant women because it can cause severe birth defects. It has been linked to more than 1,800 cases of microcephaly in Brazil. Health officials warned pregnant women last week not to travel to Miami Beach after Florida confirmed the mosquito-borne Zika virus was active there. The agency had recommended in February that blood should no longer be collected from regions where the Zika virus is circulating, and that blood needed for transfusions be obtained from areas of the country without active transmission. The FDA has authorized the emergency use of several investigational Zika screening tests, including products made by Hologic Inc and Roche Holding AG.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/4102497-fda-wants-donated-blood-tested-zika-virus

en

www.wctrib.com/a40f37b60251d99551d3937dcd428b0a09f05ae0d1918ba658cb4fece9e138e3.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F4103980-docs-facing-more-parents-who-refuse-vaccinate-kids.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Docs facing more parents who refuse to vaccinate kids

www.wctrib.com

Pediatricians are increasingly encountering parents who don't want their children immunized against infectious diseases, and a leading medical organization wants to help them address parents' fears and questions about vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics found in a 2006 survey of its members that about three quarters had encountered parents who refused to have their children vaccinated. That proportion grew to nearly 90 percent of doctors in 2013. Parents' attitudes toward vaccines are changing over time, said Dr. Kathryn Edwards, lead author of an academy statement published Monday in Pediatrics. Vaccines are often a victim of their own success since they—as intended—prevent diseases from sickening people, Edwards told Reuters Health. Roughly three quarters of doctors reported that parents delay vaccines due to concerns about discomfort and almost the same proportion say parents delay vaccines over fears about burdening the immune system. "Parental concerns must be addressed, and concerns will vary among parents," the American Academy of Pediatrics says in its statement. Some parents worry that the vaccine against the human papillomavirus is unsafe and increases sexual activity, the statement says. "Reassuring parents that the vaccine is safe and that there is no evidence that the HPV vaccine increases sexual activity may dispel their concerns," it says. About 94 percent of pediatricians surveyed in 2013 said they had tried to educate parents who refuse vaccines. About a third said education changed parents' minds. "I think parents who have concerns about vaccines should continue to discuss them with their pediatricians," said Dr. Catherine Hough-Telford, who led the survey of the American Academy of Pediatrics members. "Parents need to remember both they and the pediatrician want the best for the children and that continuing to discuss vaccines is important to address parental concerns," said Hough-Telford, who is also affiliated with the University of Alabama in Birmingham. The proportion of pediatricians who dismissed from their practice parents who refuse to vaccinate rose from about 6 percent in 2006 to about 12 percent in 2013. Pediatricians who turn away parents who refuse vaccinations need to make sure the children can still receive care and won't be turned away in illness, said Edwards, who is a professor of pediatrics at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. In a separate statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics says routine childhood vaccinations are integral to the public health infrastructure in the U.S. Most states allow children to be exempt from school-required immunizations; while the academy supports medical exemptions, it views non-medical exemptions as inappropriate for individual health, public health and ethical reasons. Edwards said required immunizations are important, because vaccinating the vast majority of children also protects those who for some reason are not protected by the shots. "As the measles outbreak showed in California, when you have large numbers of unvaccinated children, they also put those who are vaccinated at risk," she said. Even vaccinated are at greater risk for the disease if they live among unvaccinated children, "because the vaccines are not 100 percent effective," she said.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/nation/4103980-docs-facing-more-parents-who-refuse-vaccinate-kids

en

www.wctrib.com/a5dfd2d5b54a1331f02d7a4660def7d8a558abc2900fb2c99d1e6458be4c986f.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4102446-thomas-abolishing-man-princeton.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7mhd5zxg1ck9wquk.jpg?itok=aXXLHp7d

en

Thomas: Abolishing 'man' at Princeton

www.wctrib.com

"He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them "Mankind" when they were created. (Genesis 5:2 NIV) Poor God. He, or maybe I should say, "It," was so behind the times. If the deity had only gone to Princeton University and had its consciousness raised... Princeton, that once great school whose purpose at its founding in 1746 was to train ministers and whose motto remains Dei Sub Numine Viget (Under God's Power She Flourishes), has, like other schools of "higher" learning, jumped into the deep end of the pool of political correctness. Just in time for the fall semester, Princeton has issued "Guidelines for Using Gender Inclusive Language." The guidelines, approved by the university's Office of Human Resources and Office of Communications and endorsed by the Orwellian-like Institutional Equity Planning Group as a preferred University practice, show you where this is headed. "Gender-inclusive language is writing and speaking about people in a manner that does not use gender-based words," says the guidelines. "Gender binary is the traditional view on human gender, which does not take into consideration individuals who identify as otherwise, including and not limited to transgender, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, and/or intersex." Gone are references to men and women, male and female. It's what's in your head, not your genitalia, that defines you and me. Though Princeton insists this is not policy, merely guidelines, and no words are banned, it encourages the use of a vocabulary that is more gender neutral. So, instead of man and wife use spouses or partners. Instead of man made, use artificial, handmade, manufactured, synthetic. Gone is the verb to man, as in to work something, instead use to operate or to staff. Throw out workmanlike and replace it with skillful. No more actresses, only actors. Coed? Out. Replaced by student. Forefathers? Gone. Ancestors is the preferred word. Forget freshman. It's now first-year student or frosh. If students play Scrabble on campus, this could be a problem. A search of WordFind.com turns up scores of words with man in them. They include manifest. How will history students be able to study Manifest Destiny, a philosophy central to the creation and sustaining of America? What about the manna from Heaven eaten by the ancient Israelites? OK, that's easy. It can be called bread. Will they no longer serve a Manwich in the Princeton cafeteria? There is something deeper occurring in culture than any university guidelines seeking to wipe out common sense and a notion of who we are. Academic liberalism, once thought to be instructive, even ennobling, is now part of a larger effort to not only destroy America's foundations, but dilute and diminish God's greatest creation. It is an unrelenting attack on humanness (another word with man in it that Princeton will likely frown upon). John Witherspoon, a founding father of the United States and president of the College of New Jersey, which would later become Princeton University, was a Scottish-born American Presbyterian minister, the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence. His required course called "Moral Philosophy" was considered essential, not only for ministers, but also lawyers and people holding positions in government. Witherspoon would be shocked to read that moral philosophy has been replaced by gender neutrality. As a Christian, he would be astounded at how the nation has moved from the notion that we are created by God—who presumably may no longer be referred to as "He" at Princeton and from Whom our rights come—and replaced by a secular progressive worldview. C.S. Lewis put it this way in a classic quote that became the title of his book: "Man's final conquest has proved to be the abolition of Man."

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4102446-thomas-abolishing-man-princeton

en

www.wctrib.com/7811cca01951a09b4a6e56ce7cc8aa4c12eabab26da4253e7f37cc834be4dc16.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4103578-dionne-why-clinton-republicans-matter.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0828/0b7qj4zguowy7rgnoshl6nhzlme0.jpg?itok=Okb_URul

en

Dionne: Why Clinton Republicans matter

www.wctrib.com

WASHINGTON—Not since Barry Goldwater's 1964 campaign has there been such widespread public disavowal by Republicans of their party's nominee. The Hillary Clinton Republicans will be one of the most important legacies of the 2016 campaigns. The question is whether they will constitute the forward end of a political realignment, or just a one-time reaction to the unsuitability of Donald Trump for the presidency. Reasons for skepticism about long-term change are rooted in the differences between today's polarized politics and the more tempered partisanship surrounding the big-bang elections of 1964 and 1980. In 1964, there was a lively liberal wing of the Republican Party. GOP figures such as Jacob Javits, Clifford Case, Edward Brooke and John Lindsay had far more in common philosophically with Lyndon Johnson than they did with Goldwater. Thus, 1964 was genuinely realigning, setting off the flight of conservative white Southerners from the Democratic Party but also a defection of liberals from the Republican Party. Many (including Lindsay, Javits and Case) were pushed aside in primaries. The celebrated Reagan Democrats of 1980, in the meantime, came in several varieties. Many were the same white Southerners who began voting Republican in 1964 but didn't abandon their old party label. Others were Northern working-class whites who started voting Republican in Richard Nixon's 1968 and 1972 elections. And some were neoconservatives who disliked President Jimmy Carter's foreign policy. Here again, there was philosophical coherence. The Never Trump Republicans, including those who have endorsed Clinton, are a far more complicated group. Many of them are devout philosophical conservatives who have little in common with Clinton on either policy or ideology. They see Trump as unacceptable largely because of who he is: his tendency toward cruelty and viciousness, his racial attitudes and his lack of seriousness about policy. Many Republicans are praying the Trump episode will be an interlude and that they will be able to resume control of their party after it ends. Others are a part of an unusual alliance between hawkish neoconservatives and Republican foreign policy realists who often disagree with each other but are joined in the view that Trump's foreign policy, such as it is, is entirely outside the internationalist traditions their party has broadly upheld since World War II. Both ends of this anti-Trump alliance are especially suspicious of his friendly views of Vladimir Putin and his support of policies (on NATO and the European Union) that would advance Russia's interests. On foreign policy, there is some coming together between Clinton and her Republican allies. Dovish liberals worry about this aspect of the anti-Trump right. They suspect—partly on the basis of her history—that Clinton's instincts are more hawkish than President Obama's. Her allies on international issues cast the issue somewhat differently—and more positively: that Clinton's election could restore something close to an older consensus on foreign policy that was blown apart by the Iraq War. They argue that she occupies a middle ground between Obama and his hawkish critics. She is less interventionist than the neoconservatives but would, on some issues, be tougher in her approach to diplomacy than Obama has been. Any long-term electoral effect of the rise of Clinton Republicans is likely to be felt among the white college-educated whom Trump has so alienated. Trump's turn to the hard right, reinforced by his hiring of Breitbart's Steve Bannon as his campaign CEO, could further aggravate the GOP's problem with such voters. Trump muddled his position on immigration to try to win some of them back. Clinton's hope if she wins is that the existence of Clinton Republicans will make her relations with the GOP in Congress easier. Especially if Democrats take the Senate, Republicans in the House—even if they keep their majority—might give her some room to win legislative victories, particularly on immigration reform and large-scale infrastructure investment. On the other hand, GOP politicians who opposed Trump or were lukewarm about him might seek to restore their bona fides with Trump's constituency by being especially ferocious in their opposition to Clinton. All this, however, is premised on a Clinton victory. If the race tightens, Republicans who know that Trump should not be president will have to be less grudging about lending their full support to Clinton. She tried to encourage them last week by declaring that Trump's extremism represented neither "conservatism as we have known it" or "Republicanism as we have known it." Her unspoken message: The stakes for the party's dissenters are too high for halfway measures and bet hedging.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4103578-dionne-why-clinton-republicans-matter

en

www.wctrib.com/d3fdb16ae523e1ae92e9c7e423b819bb082b081d1c523974b728a89a594acb45.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4103577-parker-gops-trumpian-deflation.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0828/0b7qj4zguowy7qk5kvutpofjavle.jpg?itok=w0UEsZYX

en

Parker: The GOP's Trumpian deflation

www.wctrib.com

WASHINGTON—Donald Trump. Would that it were unnecessary to mention his name except, say, as a Viagra pitchman. Despite such casting perfection, this isn't intended as a personal metaphor for the man, though it is for the GOP. Cue sound of balloon losing vigor. The erstwhile party of Lincoln has rendered itself impotent by its clammy-handed embrace of the sad clown who made everybody laugh—for a while. But the enchanted evening Republicans fantasized when they nominated the biggest goofball ever to enter the Oval Office sweepstakes is over. The clock has struck midnight, the carriage is ablaze; the golden-haired prince is a bloated chimneysweep ranting at rooftops. The party's footmen, blind mice begging for scraps of mercy, scatter in search of cover. Even Rep. Mark Sanford, the disgraced former governor of South Carolina, took to the quill, writing in a New York Times op-ed that he might no longer support Trump if he doesn't produce his tax returns. Knowing with 99 percent certainty that this won't happen, Sanford has carved a tiny escape hole in the baseboard for himself. At the same time, talk radio hustlers who've more or less directed the GOP platform the past two decades or so, beginning with the Clinton administration, seem to be coming undone, floundering in the full-circleness of their anti-Clinton credo. Rush Limbaugh, to be precise, recently dissolved into a fit of giggles as he tried to pronounce the stupidity of Trump's "softening" on immigration. "Poor Ann," he rasped, referring to Ann Coulter's new book, "In Trump We Trust." Anti-amnesty Ann, now on what she says may be the shortest book tour ever, has had to dial back her support for the GOP nominee if he doesn't return to his hard-line deportation promise. Quelle situation! The very "policy" undergirding Trump's campaign suddenly became a negotiable talking point. Draconian Trump suddenly became Care Bear Trump: We need to be fair and maybe some should stay, he said. Then, just as suddenly—feeling the heat from his courtiers—he was back to dear old Draco. But of course he's going to send them all back. Then, when they come back legally, if they do, they'll have to pay taxes. Because every ordinary billionaire does? Trump was never going to build a wall, this columnist wrote. He was never going to deport 11 million people, she said. How exactly does one do this without sending armed forces to arrest Madre in the kitchen and Padre on the phone while their citizen-children watch in horror? Think back to the 2000 image of Elian Gonzalez's "rescue" by masked, armed men, brought to you by the Clinton administration, let the record show. For many of us scribes, Trump's true nature and character were obvious from the start, not to mention 20 years before that. No degree of fleeting niceness (which, ahem, I gamely recognized in a recent column written for sport in response to a challenge) was going to make Trump less repugnant or more appealing for long. Predictably, he couldn't sustain it. A person can only fake who he is for so long before the interior self emerges. Trump's nice side, you can be certain, isn't what appeals to members of the Ku Klux Klan or other white nationalist groups who find his ideas in sync with their own. Trump's calling Hillary Clinton a bigot when he is the bigot's candidate should be viewed as the last gasp of a desperate nominee with no one left to insult. African-Americans, previously ignored, are now in the sights of the flaming eye of Sauron. This dark fairy tale was bound to end, if later than many expected. Sure, droves will vote for Trump no matter what—and we've learned that no-matter-what has quite elastic boundaries. His fans aren't crazy or stupid, one is bound to say, and may justify their votes with concern for the future composition of the Supreme Court or for some variation of Trump's shifting immigration policy. But the truth is, most will be voting against Hillary Clinton, whom they dislike with such ferocity that they'd rather vote for Mickey Mouse—or even Donald Trump, master puppeteer and ringmaster of the Freakiest Show on Earth.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4103577-parker-gops-trumpian-deflation

en

www.wctrib.com/120c6abde18d77125d11810177c84049727826cf277f02ecce8a1c2d1c9685eb.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4102145-commentary-trump-charm-offensive-will-not-work-women.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7ohnrx0f0lvngq3c.jpg?itok=Bz5IWlH3

en

Commentary: Trump 'charm' offensive will not work with women

www.wctrib.com

"You know, it really doesn't matter what (the media) write as long as you've got a young and beautiful piece of ass," Donald Trump philosophized during an interview with Esquire magazine. The Republican presidential nominee has made many far less gentlemanly references to women's anatomy, all easily found online. This one ranks in the middle of the pack as measured by the vulgarity meter—and quite low on the maturity scale. Guess what. Women don't appreciate that sort of commentary. That would include many white Republican women who, in presidential elections past, could be counted on to vote for the Republican. The Democrat usually wins the female vote as a whole, but Republican women have prevented such deficits from turning into a rout. That is not a given this time. One more consideration: In the 2012 presidential election, some 10 million more women voted than men. That's all women put together. Trump's recent "charm" offensive—which in his terms means talking about Latinos and blacks without racist smears attached—will not make many educated women think, "Well, maybe he's not so appalling." That's in part because this group has been following the Trump trajectory and in part because the Clinton campaign will replay the tapes again and again. More to the point, women will rehear the lava flow of Trump's narration on women's appearance and on genitals—his own and others'. They will hear over and over about his "adult" lifetime of salivating over models and beauty queens and, on at least one unpleasant occasion, his daughter. This memory lane is longer than the Pacific Crest Trail. Here's another sampling, provided by Tucker Carlson: After Carlson made fun of Trump's hair on CNN, Trump left him a message. "But I get more pussy than you do." Trump's problem with many Republican women is not political incorrectness. It's not some largely harmless bit of ribaldry. It's that any woman who's been around the block once or twice can see the guy's got a screw loose. Note that in Trump world, women are not necessarily bad. They're just not players. The women are there to be seduced and discarded as a way to score points against other wannabe alpha males. As for the so-called security moms, one can't see those women wanting Big Hands anywhere near the nuclear button. That's in addition to his obvious ignorance of foreign and domestic issues, something that would disqualify even a totally nice fellow from the presidency. Trumpsters, please spare us the comparisons to Bill Clinton. Clinton strayed from his marital vows in conventional ways. No one is pinning a medal on his chest for these liaisons, but they were intended to be private matters. Clinton did not publicly brag about his escapades. Back to Trump's demographic problem: Mitt Romney won 93 percent of Republican women's votes four years ago—and lost. After the recent Republican convention, only 72 percent of Republican women polled said they'd vote for Trump. And since then, Trump's lead over Hillary Clinton among Republican women has actually shrunk by 13 percentage points. This is understandably of great concern to Trump's new campaign manager. The new toxic-lite Trump is intended to settle the stomachs of more Republican and independent women, especially in places like the Philadelphia suburbs in the swing state of Pennsylvania. Thing is, Clinton is all over places like Philadelphia ready to refresh women's memories of the pre-charm-offensive Trump—assuming the erratic Trump does not do it for her. In any case, Trump never did charm very well. The offense part is down pat. And as they say, the bell cannot be unrung.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4102145-commentary-trump-charm-offensive-will-not-work-women

en

www.wctrib.com/14c198fe21e8463e8db55eede361fea861c79f33766c28f73cd9544ffbbe1112.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2F4103773-podcast-series-announced-wetterling-case.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0829/wetterling.jpg?itok=y2IVVqsE

en

Podcast series announced on Wetterling case

www.wctrib.com

American Public Media will launch an investigative podcast next month looking at the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, the 11-year-old boy abducted from his hometown of St. Joseph almost 27 years ago. Wetterling was taken by a masked gunman on Oct. 22, 1989. A friend and younger brother say the three were bicycling home after renting a video when a man came down a driveway and ordered them to lie on the ground. The other two boys were told to run away and not look back or they'd be shot. The podcast, called In the Dark, is led by reporter Madeleine Baran, who won a Peabody Award for her reporting on clergy sexual abuse in Minnesota. The name of the podcast refers to the crime itself, Baran said, but also to the lack of transparency around the decades-long investigation. "So it has these two senses," Baran said. "There's this crime that happened in the dark and, also, there's this investigation that happened in the dark." The abduction was a pivotal moment in Minnesota and beyond, sparking concerns about child abduction and a national focus on sex offenders. Because the case has been closely covered by local media for all those years, Baran was surprised to find details that had been overlooked. "When I started reading just basic information about the case, there were certain things that stood out to me as interesting, like the fact that this happened on a dead-end street, this happened in a town of 3,000 people, the police got there right away," Baran said. "That changed how I thought about it and made me think, 'Why hasn't this been solved?'" In the Dark, from APM Reports Courtesy APM Reports The Wetterling case led to the passage of a federal law in 1994 that required states to create sex offender registries. "This was obviously a sensational crime in Minnesota, but for us to spend this much time as investigative reporters looking into it, it has to have something more than that," Baran said. "The something more in this case is that it's affected the lives of hundreds of thousands of people who are on sex offender registries in this country." Following the success of Serial, podcasts are seen as a way to tell a longer, more complex story. "It can go much deeper even than one long radio documentary can," Baran said. "It's hard for me to imagine, given what we've found out, doing it in a different way. The format really does lend itself, because these are complicated stories." Unlike Serial, though, In the Dark's mission isn't to solve the crime. Baran said it's looking at why the case hasn't been solved and the impact it's had on the people swept up in it, including Jacob's parents. "In the eyes of Minnesota there's this person, Jacob, who is missing, but he's their son," Baran said. "You can talk to a lot of people ... who want to talk about it as a mystery or this sensational crime. But, really, what is it like if that's your kid?" APM Reports editor-in-chief Chris Worthington is overseeing the reporting project. "While this case has been covered locally and nationally, no one has really gone in depth about the investigation itself," Worthington said in a statement. "We wanted to examine what went wrong and why this case has not been solved. And most importantly, why Jacob Wetterling hasn't been found." The podcast is produced by APM Reports, which began work last year as American Public Media's investigative reporting and documentary unit. American Public Media is the parent company of MPR News. In the Dark begins Sept. 13. After that, a new installment of the eight-episode series will be released each week. It will be available on iTunes.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/4103773-podcast-series-announced-wetterling-case

en

www.wctrib.com/b1a92a1b4cd205a28cf5adc40a75b0e8d0914f4fbd6fd58bc72670f2e25e339a.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fregion%2F4102577-5-year-old-watkins-girl-laid-rest.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b-otzzfloewbhu2nhv0c1o2ng8.jpg?itok=b7aMEODi

en

5-year-old Watkins girl laid to rest

www.wctrib.com

Briana Sanchez / Tribune Cars lined the streets of Watkins for Alayna Ertl's funeral service Friday morning. The 5-year-old girl was killed last weekend. Briana Sanchez / Tribune A pallbearer looks down at the casket Friday after Alayna Ertl's funeral service at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. Briana Sanchez / Tribune A large crowd attends the burial Friday of 5-year-old Alayna Ertl at St. Anthony Cemetery in Watkins. Briana Sanchez / Tribune The Rev. Aaron Nett leads the burial service Friday for -year-old Alayna Ertl at St. Anthony Cemetery in Watkins. Briana Sanchez / Tribune After the Friday morning funeral service for Alayna Ertl, pallbearers carry the casket from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. The 5-year-old girl was killed last weekend. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Kayla and Matt Ertl watch as the casket is placed in the hearse Friday outside of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins after the funeral for their 5-year-old daughter Alayna. WATKINS—"We must let this change us." A standing room-only crowd, which spilled into the overhead balcony of the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins, was silent as the Rev. Aaron Nett spoke Friday morning. They gathered for the funeral of 5-year-old Alayna Ertl, the little girl who was taken from her home in the night last Saturday, and allegedly killed by a man who was once a family friend. As much as the funeral was a time for the small central Minnesota town to remember Alayna, the smiley girl affectionately called a "little mama" for her caring nature, it was also a time to process what had happened. But not accept it. "Such a senseless violence, such an evil act. An act that could only be authored by Satan himself," Nett said. "It is incomprehensible and an insult to humanity." Along with the program, a pamphlet was distributed. A picture of Alayna filled the cover, dressed in sparkly blue as Elsa from the movie "Frozen." Her favorite movie, family friends said. Inside the pamphlet, several paragraphs painted a picture of the little girl and the things she loved. "Alayna was her Momma's little princess who always dressed up in a dress. It didn't matter if she was playing outside or going shopping with mom, she had her wedges or 'clicky shoes' (high heels) and lip gloss on." It talked about a girl who loved to sing and be sung to, and always requested to sing the "sun song" ("You are my Sunshine") before bed. Just before Alayna's casket was brought in for the funeral, everyone inside the church sang that song together a capella. Alayna's large family filled the front four pews of the church. They proceeded into the building behind Alayna's tiny coffin, which was covered with a white cloth. At one point, parishioners prayed together for the family. People broke down crying as the lector called for prayers for victims of abuse and kidnapping. In his homily, Nett told community members it was normal to feel numb and angry. "Why did this happen to such a beautiful, innocent girl? Why her, and why us? Why in this way?" he said. He said he believed everything happens for a reason, though it was hard to imagine how the town could be hit by another tragedy this year. Just over a month ago, a tornado devastated the town, seriously injuring one person. It hit the same street the Ertl family lives on. And last August, two Watkins teenagers were killed and one seriously injured in a crash with a drunk driver. One of the teens who was killed in that crash, Zachary Rohrbeck, was Alayna's cousin. It has been a hard year for the town of fewer than 1,000 people. So Nett's homily was also a call to action. "These things do not have the last word. Ever," Nett said. "We must be instruments, ourselves, of peace." At the funeral's close, the family followed behind the casket as it was carried from the church. Alayna's mother, Kayla, gripped Alayna's brother Carter tightly as they left the church. Following the funeral and burial at the nearby cemetery, Alayna's family hosted community members for lunch at the Watkins town hall. Kayla and her husband, Matt, did not speak during the funeral. No family member did. But the last paragraph written in the pamphlet, written in quotation marks, suggests it is directly from the couple. "We love you more than anything, baby girl, and miss you incredibly," it reads. "Please watch over us all and be the beautiful angel that you are up in heaven! Dance your heart out, Peanut."

http://www.wctrib.com/news/region/4102577-5-year-old-watkins-girl-laid-rest

en

www.wctrib.com/c357c72e7d9a72cc638c43032d96169d50dc8b50e9346f6e19fbc7d628b8d3e8.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F4104693-willmar-teen-injured-tuesday-crash-parked-car.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0830/police-lights.jpg?itok=46OqFboW

en

Willmar teen injured Tuesday in crash with parked car

www.wctrib.com

WILLMAR -- A 19-year-old Willmar man was injured Tuesday morning after he crashed into an unoccupied car on Fifth Street Southwest. The Willmar Police Department said Abdihakim Mohamed Abdi was transported by ambulance to Rice Memorial Hospital following the crash. It happened just before 9 a.m. Tuesday. Abdi had been driving a 2004 Dodge Caravan north on Fifth Street when he struck the parked car, a 2013 Kia Sorrento, near the intersection of Trott Avenue. No other injuries or damage were reported. The police department said the full crash report is pending. Police were assisted by the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, Willmar Ambulance, Willmar Fire Department and Kandiyohi County Rescue Squad.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/4104693-willmar-teen-injured-tuesday-crash-parked-car

en

www.wctrib.com/8d06ba7bea5c1d1ce5d738d96f4558bb1e2789d6b11c63344781dcf3c68fda50.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2F4105352-wife-recounts-ordeal-husband-who-survived-12-hours-floating-lake.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0831/dude.jpg?itok=7dJp63db

en

Wife recounts ordeal of husband who survived 12 hours floating in lake

www.wctrib.com

An elderly man floated in Devils Lake for 12 hours in a fight for his life, mostly under the shadow of darkness. It was his wife of more than 40 years who called police, but she says it was prayers that helped her husband get to shore. They're calling it a miracle. 73-year-old LeRoy Throlson’s small fishing boat started taking on water on Devils Lake, Friday night about an hour before sunset. Eventually, the lake would take his boat, but his family says it was because of his determination the lake would not take him too. Eunice Throlson, wife: “Praying and hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.” LeRoy's a retired farmer, who went fishing on Friday and didn't come home that night. Eunice Throlson, wife: “He's usually home by dark and usually out of the water by dark. 10:30 I was getting quite concerned, but then I thought, maybe he helped someone out.” But, it was LeRoy who needed help. Strong southern winds caused some waves to crash over the side of his small fishing boat. He dropped anchor to try to stabilize the boat and bail the water, but it was too late. LeRoy was in the water. Eunice Throlson, wife: “We came over here and saw the pickup and the trailer, and that was the hardest.” They knew something was wrong, and called authorities. Steven Rohrer, sheriff: “You know I felt just terrible, but there's really nothing I could do at 12:30 in the morning. So, I told them I'd be out at the lake at about 5:30, 6 o'clock right at daylight I'd be paging search and rescue and game and fish.” His wife says he doesn't always wear life jacket, but did on Friday and when his boat started going down. LeRoy made one other important move as well. Eunice Throlson, wife: “He saw the gas can floating. It was half full, it was floating and he thought this might come in handy. So he grabbed it and, basically, he floated and swam with that all night.” They're estimating LeRoy battled the cold night in the 330 square mile lake for around 12 to 14 hours. Eunice Throlson, wife: “Well he was watching the stars he said and I know he said he prayed the night wouldn't last real long.” Thankfully, for LeRoy's sake, mother nature was on his side. Steven Rohrer, sheriff: “If this was even two or three weeks down the road the water temperature is going to start changing real quick.” Shortly after day-break, LeRoy hit highway 19 several miles away from where he launched his boat. Eunice Throlson, wife: “I mean, I just, I screamed. My sister said she knew it was a good scream, or, yelled or something. It was what we all hoped and prayed for, but, probably not, I wasn't thinking that'd be the outcome.” They say it's a miracle, and wasn't a bad fishing day either. Eunice Throlson, wife: “He lost some walleyes and he likes walleyes.” Eunice says this won't keep him from fishing in the future, he'll just need a new boat. Officials say the man was very cold and dehydrated when he came out of the water, but is recovering well.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/4105352-wife-recounts-ordeal-husband-who-survived-12-hours-floating-lake

en

www.wctrib.com/e49e92d5b78351a954a2bac4901e0652b0aade6f9b3f46ef7c74bff748b2f6b0.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fregion%2F4102857-milan-dedicates-new-liberty-bell.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b-otzzfloewb0ozstq0exjrueu.jpg?itok=sqmxM153

en

Milan dedicates new Liberty Bell

www.wctrib.com

Tom Cherveny / Tribune Gabriel Elias performs on a ukulele next to the Liberty Bell dedicated Thursday evening in Milan. It replaces a bell built for the 1976 bicentennial celebration that was intended to last only six months. It held together for 40 years and the Liberty Bell has become a symbol of the community. Tom Cherveny / Tribune Gabriel Elias performs on a ukulele next to the Liberty Bell dedicated Thursday evening in Milan. It replaces a bell built for the 1976 bicentennial celebration that was intended to last only six months. It held together for 40 years and the Liberty Bell has become a symbol of the community. Tom Cherveny / Tribune Members of Milan’s Micronesian community gather around the town’s new Liberty Bell and join in song as part of the dedication ceremony Thursday. Roughly half of Milan's population, they made a generous donation toward replacing the bell originally built for 1976 bicentennial celebration. Tom Cherveny / Tribune Samora Tataciy celebrates as the Milan Community Band performs on Thursday evening during the ceremony to dedicate a new Liberty Bell in Milan. The original bell, dedicated 40 years ago for the community's bicentennial, was crumbling and the community raised funds to replace it. MILAN—For reasons only the late Vern Kleven knows, 40 years ago he decided that Milan needed its own version of the Liberty Bell to celebrate the country's bicentennial. "He got it in his mind he was going to build it and he did. So we just let him do it,'' said Larry Germann, who served on the Milan City Council at the time. Lt. Gov. Rudy Perpich came to Milan to dedicate the bell, and the community's bicentennial celebration turned into a big deal, with a parade featuring 125 floats. One problem with the bell: "It was supposed to last six months,'' said Gary Kleven, son of the original builder. How the original bell—made of wire mesh and plywood—lasted 40 years is a story in itself. How the town replaced it is another story, and what it says about Milan today is an even better story. "It's a symbol of Milan,'' said Mayor Ron Anderson when speaking about the new bell that stands on the town's triangle on the end of Main Street. When Gary Kleven told the Milan City Council last winter that the town's bell was literally crumbling, Anderson volunteered to raise funds for its replacement. Billy Thompson, longtime resident and keeper of the town's history, joined Anderson and in a couple of weeks raised over $5,000 for its replacement. The donations for the new bell came from a wide variety of sources. They included what Anderson called a generous contribution from the town's Micronesian community, which numbers over 200, or roughly one-half and better of the town's overall population. Many from the Micronesian community were on hand Thursday, as the city of Milan hosted a celebration to dedicate the new bell. The Micronesian residents gathered around the bell to snap photos of one another with it. And then, they gathered on the triangle to perform songs from their home island in the Micronesian state of Chuuk. There was no parade for this bell's dedication, but there were two "floats.'' An authentic outrigger canoe built on Guam stood next to a Sons of Norway float of a Viking ship. The outrigger is the property of Vince Diaz, who is teaching this year at the University of Minnesota, said Michael Elias, a Micronesian resident of Milan. After the Pacific island songs, the dedication ceremony featured music by the Milan Community Band. Mayor Anderson pointed with pride as the Micronesians gathered around the new bell. "See, they are taking ownership,'' he said. "What I like about this is they are taking ownership in their community.'' The mayor told those who had gathered that Milan has reason to celebrate. In a time when many small towns are losing population and aging, Milan is enjoying the benefits of the influx of working families from Micronesia with young children. The community also has a growing Hispanic population, likewise helping to make this a community filled with the laughter of children. The mayor said the town has its challenges, citing affordable housing as among the first. But he also noted that the town is doing well in terms of how the "new" and "old'' residents get along. There is more inter-mingling occurring as everyone gets to know one another, he said. The Milan City Council currently includes an appointed, ex-officio representative from the Micronesian community. It's an opportunity to increase communication and involvement, he added. The new bell dedicated Thursday includes a metal frame built by the town's blacksmith, Richie Adolph, a stucco covering and is set atop a cement slab. "We did it correctly,'' said Anderson, adding that it should last a long time into the future. The time might be needed to find the city's time capsule that had been interred during the 1976 celebration. After digging and probing dozens of holes, it could not be located and opened for the dedication ceremony as hoped. When it is found, said Anderson, the time capsule might be Milan's own version of the Vikings Runestone. The artifacts from 1976 will seem so far removed and different from the version of Milan now taking shape, he explained.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/region/4102857-milan-dedicates-new-liberty-bell

en

www.wctrib.com/2fbcbf1819d163fcdcb5b5facda82c391cb81a5a6a2de7f49d82f1e0cd4a4802.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F4104358-saltwater-shrimp-grown-prairie.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0829/0b-lfx6yocgrpn0jtyxnlehj3ejq.jpg?itok=diFzogKw

en

Saltwater shrimp grown on the prairie

www.wctrib.com

Carolyn Lange / Tribune Mark Tanner holds a beaker full of saltwater and baby shrimp at his New London fisheries business. The first batch of shrimp will be ready for sale this week at West Central Bait and Fisheries Company. Carolyn Lange / Tribune The saltwater in Mark Tanner's shrimp tanks is tested every day to ensure the proper levels of salinity, oxygen, etc. for the new shrimp-raising business he has added at West Central Bait and Fisheries Company. Carolyn Lange / Tribune This net is full of baby shrimp about half the size of an eyelash. West Central Bait and Fisheries Company in New London will begin selling fresh shrimp Wednesday. Carolyn Lange / Tribune The saltwater in Mark Tanner's shrimp tanks is tested every day to ensure the proper levels of salinity, oxygen, etc. for the new shrimp-raising business he has added at West Central Bait and Fisheries Company. Carolyn Lange / Tribune Just in time for holiday grilling, fully grown shrimp like this one will be for sale starting Wednesday at West Central Bait in New London. Mark Tanner is raising the saltwater shrimp as a sideline to his walleye stocking business. Carolyn Lange / Tribune A network of heating, feeding and oxygen tubes are connected to tanks of saltwater shrimp that Mark Tanner is raising for human consumption.The shrimp will be available for sale starting Wednesday at West Central Bait in New London. Carolyn Lange / Tribune Mark Tanner is raising saltwater shrimp as a sideline to his walleye stocking business. They will be available for sale starting Wednesday at West Central Bait in New London. NEW LONDON—Mark Tanner's business of raising walleye to stock popular fishing lakes is about as Minnesotan as you can get. But he hopes his new sideline business of raising saltwater shrimp for people to buy fresh by the pound and take home to grill, boil or saute with butter will become a new Minnesota tradition. "They're good," said Tanner, commenting on the home-grown shrimp he taste-tested recently. Locals will have a chance to find that out for themselves this week when his first batch of shrimp goes on sale. Starting Wednesday, customers can come to West Central Bait and Fisheries Company on the west edge of New London and Tanner will scoop up a net full of shrimp and toss them on ice. They'll be sold until the tank is empty. Tanner is hoping to produce about 300 pounds of shrimp each month. Unlike many commercial shrimp that are imported and eaten in the the U.S., Tanner said his locally grown shrimp are chemical-free and are not given antibiotics. He intends to sell them for $20 a pound with the guarantee that they will be fresh. "They'll be swimming until you walk in the door and tell me what you want," Tanner said, adding that taking the shrimp from their 85-degree water habitat and putting them on ice is a humane way of killing them. Raising shrimp is Tanner's effort to expand his fisheries business beyond hatching and raising walleye for stocking lakes, which he said is very competitive in Minnesota. The "pie just isn't big enough" to support all the fisheries in the state, he said. A big fish kill late this summer when deadly blue-green algae hit one of his brood lakes—it will take him five years to recover—also reinforced Tanner's desire to diversify his business. "It's good not to put all your eggs in one basket," he said. Tanner began working with the state Department of Natural Resources in February of 2015 to become licensed to raise shrimp. He got his first batch of 12,500 very tiny shrimp a year later from a Miami hatchery. When they arrived, they were about "half the size of an eyelash," Tanner said. "Twenty thousand will fit in the palm of my hand." Two weeks later they were the full size of an eyelash. Tanner isn't the only Minnesotan looking to generate income by growing and selling shrimp. Raising shrimp in a confined environment is being researched in Balaton in southern Minnesota. There Marshall-based Tru Shrimp Systems of Ralco Nutrition has teamed up with Texas A&M University, which has patented a technology to raise shrimp far away from coastal waters. A research lab is testing the shrimp-raising waters and a large-scale commercial shrimp farm is planned to be built next year in Tracy. Tanner has done his own research, and is using the expertise of a consultant, to raise shrimp here as economically as possible by retrofitting large, concrete tanks left over from when the company had a commercial bait business. He has installed a water heating and feeding system that he designed that goes to separate tanks that have batches of shrimp in various sizes. "I'm not afraid of new challenges," Tanner said. Since February, he has received four batches of shrimp, with an expected maturity time of about five months. The first batch has taken a bit longer to get to full size, in part because it takes a while to establish the correct balance of salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and food in the water. And it takes a while to learn how to raise shrimp compared to raising walleye. "This is like one big science project," Tanner said, adding with a quick grin, "And I should've paid more attention in biology class." There are more empty tanks in his facility that he intends to fill with shrimp. Tanner estimates it will take two years to fine-tune his system and determine if it's financially feasible to expand beyond that. "We're still in that experimental stage," he said. "I'm hoping to do it full-time, but we have to crawl before we can run." The community gets to benefit from his science project by having fresh shrimp available for sale. The first batch of shrimp will be for sale on a walk-in basis, from Wednesday through Sunday, while they last. For more information call 320-354-5533.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/4104358-saltwater-shrimp-grown-prairie

en

www.wctrib.com/6fea4d4c956b7061a4297708042c819491b566fcdf61415930b3f5d281c4cfd8.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4103585-klobuchar-cost-epipen-price-increases.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0828/0b7qj4zguowy7oc1nrwu0v0rez3m.jpg?itok=qm5DBYDH

en

Klobuchar: The cost of the EpiPen price increases

www.wctrib.com

There's a cost that comes with the 450 percent increase in the price of EpiPens. Parents worry that they won't be able to afford their child's medication. They drive to pharmacies miles away from their homes just to get the best deal on EpiPens. School nurses watch as families weigh the risk of sending their child to school without this life-saving medication because they cannot afford it. I heard from one family whose child's allergy is so severe that it takes two EpiPens to treat an allergic reaction. That means the family has to pay for two EpiPens for school, two more to have at home, and an additional two for the grandparents' home. Sure, it's expensive. But they do it because the alternative is terrifying. I experienced that firsthand. My daughter, Abigail, is one of millions of Americans who suffer from a life-threatening allergy. I'll never forget the scary day we discovered Abigail's nut allergy. She had eaten a cashew and suddenly started to swell up. We were worried her throat would close as we rushed her to the emergency room. She now carries an EpiPen with her everywhere. The EpiPen saves lives and provides peace of mind for patients and parents. However, an alarming and unjustified rise in the price of this medication has put lifesaving treatment out of reach for many of the consumers who need it most. In 2009, two EpiPens cost $100. Now, Mylan Pharmaceuticals is charging as much as $600. And as anyone who relies on an EpiPen knows, that $600 isn't a one-time expense. EpiPens must be replaced every year whether they are used or not, because the medication in the device expires. So what caused this dramatic price increase? Here's one possible answer: It's happened at the same time that Mylan has gained more market power. Last fall, a competing drug was recalled from the market, and a generic version failed to receive approval this spring. That leaves people with severe allergies with no practical choice but the EpiPen. That's why, as Ranking Member of the Antitrust Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have called on the committee and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate these outrageous price increases. Days after I called for these investigations, Mylan announced it would expand its EpiPen patient assistance programs. While this action by Mylan is welcome relief to many who are struggling to afford this lifesaving medication, it won't fully address the root of the problem. The burden of the EpiPen price increases and other prescription drug increases — including vital medications like insulin and Naxolone — persists for American families, taxpayers, and employers. We cannot rely on public outcry as the only solution to high prescription drug prices. And I've introduced multiple pieces of legislation that would help protect American consumers from the rising prices of prescription drugs. EpiPen packs cost hundreds of dollars less in Canada, Senator John McCain and I have introduced legislation that would help Minnesota families save money. The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would require the Food and Drug Administration to establish a personal importation program that would allow people to import a 90-day supply of prescription drugs from an approved Canadian pharmacy. Other bills I've introduced would change current laws that give pharmaceutical the upper hand in bargaining prices for prescription medication, expand access to cost-saving generic drugs, and deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. It's this simple: If you have a life-threatening illness then you should have access to affordable lifesaving medicine. But with the price of EpiPens on the rise, that's not the case for many who suffer from severe allergies. The cost for families is too high. That's why I'm going to keep fighting to bring the price of prescription drugs down.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4103585-klobuchar-cost-epipen-price-increases

en

www.wctrib.com/322fd0c0bf66878f2f10a14acc33cb60c1a20fda8928300748eae993ba6b17d6.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2F4105014-letter-governor-should-call-special-session.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Letter: Governor should call special session

www.wctrib.com

Someone needs to explain to me why our elected governor failed to call a special legislative session to complete the work that was supposed to be finished during the regular legislative session? When I was a kid, I had chores. When I failed to get my chores done, my mother or father would send me back out to get my chores done before I could go out and play with my friends. It didn't matter why. It didn't matter how long it took. I wasn't allowed to make excuses. I had to get my chores done. Governor Dayton, your job is to show leadership and make sure that our legislators get things done. What part of that do you not understand? Jim Blomquist Spicer

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/letters/4105014-letter-governor-should-call-special-session

en

www.wctrib.com/f440fc3565d10b7f290e6f99d095a882dcfa2e1594d98f168405590471f74249.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fbusiness%2F4103869-jennie-o-hires-subler-food-technologist.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0829/0b-otzzfloewmzrnvmdtyni0qza.jpg?itok=BaXJzNRI

en

Jennie-O hires Subler as food technologist

www.wctrib.com

WILLMAR—Kristen Subler has joined Jennie-O Turkey Store as a associate food technologist at the corporate office's research and development department. She will work on dark meat and cured products. Subler is a graduate of Ohio State University with a bachelor's in meat science.

http://www.wctrib.com/business/4103869-jennie-o-hires-subler-food-technologist

en

www.wctrib.com/0ce42124b0f613f9745b3c35af91763947de9203241330bccacf03fc1eb1a439.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fsports%2F4104879-watch-vikings-press-conference-teddy-bridgewaters-injury-live-wctribcom.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Watch: Vikings press conference on Teddy Bridgewater's injury live at wctrib.com

www.wctrib.com

The Minnesota Vikings have scheduled a press conference with coach Mike Zimmer at 4 p.m. today to address the injury suffered by quarterback Teddy Bridewater. Bridgewater exited practice on Tuesday after suffering a left knee injury on a non-contact play. The Vikings immediately stopped practice after 25 minutes and asked reporters to leave the field while medical personnel tended to Bridgewater. An ambulance drove onto the field at Winter Park for Bridgewater, who ESPN reported was being fitted for an air cast.

http://www.wctrib.com/sports/4104879-watch-vikings-press-conference-teddy-bridgewaters-injury-live-wctribcom

en

www.wctrib.com/58c057860832ffe23a02c12bcec3295d42b952fd236ef54ef6af4722499e5946.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F4103380-update-shots-fired-outside-zorbaz-spicer-early-sunday.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Update: Shots fired outside Zorbaz in Spicer early Sunday

www.wctrib.com

SPICER -- A 38-year-old Lake Lillian man was arrested early Sunday after people at Zorbaz restaurant allegedly witnessed him firing a gun as he drove out of the parking lot. According to information from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy heard five gunshots in the area of Zorbaz and reported them to dispatchers at 2:02 a.m. Zorbaz’ bouncers and other witnesses told the deputy that a white male in a vehicle had held a handgun out his window and fired shots into the air while leaving the parking lot. Deputies stopped the suspect’s vehicle a few miles south of Spicer on Kandiyohi County Road 8, according to the release. Two weapons were found in the car. The man was arrested on weapons and assault charges and for driving under the influence. The man is in custody at the Kandiyohi County Jail. His name has not been released. Formal charges are expected this week, according to the release. Update 11:15 a.m.: Shots fired outside Zorbaz in Spicer early Sunday SPICER -- A 38-year-old Lake Lillian man was arrested early Sunday after shots were fired outside Zorbaz restaurant in Spicer. According to a news release from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office, a deputy heard numerous gunshots in the area of Zorbaz a few minutes after 2 a.m. Zorbaz’ bouncers and other witnesses told the deputy that a white male in a vehicle had displayed a handgun and fired shots into the air while leaving the parking lot. Deputies found the vehicle a few miles south of Spicer on County Road 8, and the man was arrested on weapons and assault charges and for driving under the influence. The man is in custody at the Kandiyohi County Jail, and formal charges are expected this week, according to the release.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/4103380-update-shots-fired-outside-zorbaz-spicer-early-sunday

en

www.wctrib.com/82a387a70021bb32058c1181be8d2a778c47e2c1829566095f2f22d826c32582.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Flife%2Fcelebrations%2F4102138-koenen-smith.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b-otzzfloewsxjpr2rkx29zq1e.jpg?itok=O_kzRBql

en

Koenen--Smith

www.wctrib.com

Melissa Smith and Chad Koenen were united in marriage June 18 on Captiva Island, Sanibel, Florida. Melissa is the daughter of Stacy and Pam Smith of Longwood, Florida. Chad is the son of Jim and Audrey Koenen of Clara City. Maid of honor was Michelle Sanderson, sister of the bride. Melissa's attendants were Valerie Malloy, sister of the bride, and Nicole Fey, sister of the groom. Flower girl was Addison Sanderson, niece of the bride. Best men were Mike Koenen and Scott Koenen, brothers of the groom. Best junior groomsman was Skyler Koenen, son of the groom. Ring bearer was Drake Sanderson, nephew of the bride. A reception and dance were held at the Captiva House on the island. The couple resides in Chaska. Melissa is employed as the member retention specialist by Lifetime Fitness Corporate Office in Chanhassen. Chad is employed in sales and marketing by Push Pedal Pull Fitness in Burnsville.

http://www.wctrib.com/life/celebrations/4102138-koenen-smith

en

www.wctrib.com/ecafada72b37a726ea67ce464d9ab4a6647f59628b79f7a3c9b4c34f30761af6.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F4102580-managers-who-understand-motivations-introverts-extroverts-can-help-companys.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7unq2luhbsdzpr1k.jpg?itok=wg5ltBr2

en

Managers who understand the motivations of introverts, extroverts can help company's bottom line

www.wctrib.com

FARGO—Many people believe the difference between introverts and extroverts is that one is shy and the other outgoing. Kathryn Berg, a former employee assistance program trainer with The Village Family Service Center, said that's not necessarily the case. It's possible for an introvert to be outgoing and an extrovert to be shy. The difference is more about whether people get their energy from others or from within themselves. Extroverts are energized by interacting with a lot of different people and feel drained spending time alone. Introverts are the opposite, she said. Pam Matchie, a Fargo-based corporate trainer and speaker, said many people fall somewhere in between. She said those who fall near either end of the spectrum may perceive those who fall on the opposite end negatively. Extreme extroverts can see introverts as unsocial, secretive and aloof, while introverts might think of extroverts as aggressive, egotistical and socially needy. That's one reason Matchie said it's important for managers to understand where their team members fall. "If I ran the zoo, I would know my people, know the team and help the team know each other," she said. It's especially important during team meetings and brainstorming sessions. "If you're having a group meeting, for an introvert, it can be very draining. They come in with a bucket of energy and it goes down. The longer the meeting, the more it drains," she said. That's why Berg said introverts are often only interested in meaningful communication and interactions. "If it's not a meaningful interaction, then it just seems like it was unnecessary. It will feel draining for no reason," Berg said. On the other hand, extroverts are energized by meetings. "An extrovert could go from 8 to 8 and then suggest getting drinks afterward," Matchie said. Extroverts often think by speaking as well. "I know extroverts who make a joke out of it. 'Pardon me, you know that my brain doesn't work unless my mouth is moving,'" Matchie said. She said extroverts are uncomfortable with silence. They often try to fill it, and introverts are more than happy to let them. Matchie said that's why it's important for a manager to maintain control of a meeting. If they don't, they'll miss out on some potentially great ideas from introverts. She suggests giving time to introverts to speak at the start of the meeting, meeting with them separately or allowing them to share ideas and concerns via email afterward. Understanding the benefits Matchie said managers who understand the best way to nurture introverts and extroverts will help the company's bottom line. "It's huge because if you've got introverts or extroverts who are unhappy with their work environment, productivity drops or they leave," she said. Berg said introverts and extroverts can also bring out the best in one another. Extroverts can draw introverts out and help them be stronger contributors, Berg said. Introverts can show introverts the value of forming ideas before bringing them forward rather than constantly bouncing ideas off people. Overall, she said it's about valuing diversity. "Whether it's the difference between Democrats and Republicans or anything else, the best thing you can do is to not box anyone in and not assume anything about anyone. Do your research. Talk to people and get to understand them on a personal level. You'll run into a lot less problems," she said. Are you an introvert or extrovert? The Myers & Briggs Foundation website provides statements meant to help people determine whether they are introverted or extroverted. The information was adapted from "Looking at Type: The Fundamentals" by Charles R. Martin. Extraversion: -- I'm seen as "outgoing" or as a "people person." -- I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them. -- I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people. -- I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don't allow enough time to think it over. -- Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why. Introversion: -- I am seen as "reflective" or "reserved." -- I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own. -- I prefer to know just a few people well. -- I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don't move into action quickly enough. -- I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/nation/4102580-managers-who-understand-motivations-introverts-extroverts-can-help-companys

en

www.wctrib.com/5d1b238acac12449ea44a79a02421a86746d569f48830527aee76dbe068775b6.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2F4105416-first-us-cuba-scheduled-passenger-flight-decades-takes.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/1/0831/0b6mum1lhd6qbwnb4txhku3bwr1u.jpg?itok=EzRl5HP6

en

First U.S.-Cuba scheduled passenger flight in decades takes ...

www.wctrib.com

JetBlue Chief Executive Officer Robin Hayes speaks with reporters before boarding the first regularly scheduled commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than half a century, at Fort Lauderdale International airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida August 31, 2016. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin Passengers board the JetBlue Airways flight, the first regularly scheduled commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than half a century, at Fort Lauderdale International airport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida August 31, 2016. REUTERS/Jeffrey Dastin TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—The first regularly scheduled commercial flight between the United States and Cuba in more than half a century departed on Wednesday, opening another chapter in the Obama administration's efforts to open trade and travel with the former Cold War foe. The first of several U.S. carriers to begin serving Cuba in the coming months, JetBlue Airways Corp took off from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, en route to Santa Clara, a central city known for its monument to revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara. U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, JetBlue Chief Executive Officer Robin Hayes, other officials and journalists were aboard the 150-seat Airbus A320. Regular travelers, including some of Cuban descent, occupied nearly half the seats on a route that may be a commercial challenge, at least initially. Lázaro Chavez, a 49-year-old pharmacist who lives in Miami and returns frequently to his homeland, said before boarding the plane he was taking the flight for two reasons. "One, I am going to see my family. Two, I want to be on this historic flight." Cuba and the United States began normalizing relations in December 2014 after 18 months of secret talks and have since restored full diplomatic ties. The countries had been hostile for more than five decades, since Fidel Castro ousted U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista in a 1959 revolution that steered the island on a communist course and made it a close ally of the Soviet Union. Despite the opening, which has included a landmark visit to the Caribbean island by Obama in March, the U.S. president has been unable to persuade Congress to lift a longstanding trade embargo on Cuba. U.S. citizens are still prohibited from visiting as tourists, although there have long been exceptions to the ban, ranging from visiting family to business, cultural, religious and educational travel. The Obama administration has further eased the restrictions. Despite the travel limitations, U.S. airlines have rushed to start flights - adding a lot of capacity and setting themselves up to lose money on the trips in the short run, said industry consultant Robert Mann. "Most carriers look at international markets that have been restricted and are just opening up as an investment," Mann said. "You need to get your foot in the door." Services on regional carrier Silver Airways and American Airlines Group Inc from the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area that is home to a large Cuban-American population, to Cuba's outlying provinces will be the next to start, in September. Three other carriers will follow. Mann said the companies probably offered to fly to Cuban cities that are unfamiliar to many American travelers, so that U.S. officials would look favorably on their applications to fly to Havana. A memorandum of understanding between Cuba and the United States will limit Havana flights to 20 round trips per day. U.S. officials have yet to announce a final decision on which companies will get those coveted routes. "The Havana competition was one of the most over-subscribed competitions that I've been a part of," Foxx said in an interview before the plane took off. "I think that speaks to the interest on the part of the American people, and it also speaks to the level of commercial interest in the U.S. that exists."

http://www.wctrib.com/news/4105416-first-us-cuba-scheduled-passenger-flight-decades-takes

en

www.wctrib.com/e3f4b2f69779df36fed57ee1bf7874fab6b3ebbec7ad2bedda7d7d03ca95296d.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2F4102442-cartoon-dave-granlund.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7nhnmnjzsm1jfeja.jpg?itok=PGB0BxCA

en

Cartoon by Dave Granlund

www.wctrib.com

Dave Granlund is a Minnesota-based editorial national syndicated cartoonist. Cartoon feedback can be sent to: cartoons@wctrib.com.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/4102442-cartoon-dave-granlund

en

www.wctrib.com/a4ece5b513490e86976e9893b92c9fdccc670059544e8a9479659d0c700a0ef3.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Flife%2F4102141-milestones-launching-september.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/rings.jpg?itok=_A5OQfI5

en

Milestones launching in September

www.wctrib.com

For many years, the West Central Tribune has published wedding and engagement announcements in the "Extra" section every Saturday in the paper. In September, the newspaper will be expanding the page to include other types of family milestones as well. As of Sept. 10, the West Central Tribune will begin sharing this community news—milestones such as weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, births and going away parties—on this expanded page, which will appropriately be called "Milestones." This new page will still include the weddings and engagements as it always has, and it will be published each Saturday in our "Extra" section, just as before. This change in our publishing process will allow all the "Milestones" to be published in color in both print and online editions, and we also have extended the deadline for submissions to noon Wednesday. This will give readers more time to submit their "Milestones" to us, and still will allow us to prepare it for publication in the Saturday newspaper. The publication fee for this news will be $30 for announcements of weddings and engagements, and it will be $25 for all other "Milestones" announcements. However, please know that there will be no charge for all items that the Tribune has already received or will receive prior to noon Aug. 31, either at our email address weddings@wctrib.com or at the newsroom office. After Aug. 31, readers submitting their "Milestones" to the Tribune will use the newspaper's website to place their "Milestone" announcements. In addition to your news, you will be asked to include your contact and payment information. The website will allow you to choose how the information will be displayed in the newspaper, including the length and whether you would like to include a photo. And this website will automatically prepare your "Milestones" to be processed online at wctrib.com as well. We will provide that website address next week. For more information, contact our Content Services team at 1-866-910-9009 or email your information to milestones@wctrib.com.

http://www.wctrib.com/life/4102141-milestones-launching-september

en

www.wctrib.com/8045a7b6e4b2565516e4123a0153fd1e20a2b631671783abe4a4c213132ed3b7.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcommentary%2F4104219-story-not-over-epipen-scandal.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Story not over on EpiPen scandal

www.wctrib.com

So the seller of the EpiPen is now going to offer a generic alternative costing 50 percent less. The Mylan drug company has been drowning in public outrage for jacking up the list price of an EpiPen two-pack from about $100 to as high as $600 over nine years. The EpiPen is a lifesaving injection device for people suffering a severe allergy. Story not over, as much as Mylan would like it to be. Story not over by a long shot. Why did the Mylan execs raise the price of an old treatment sixfold? Because they could get away with it. Why could they get away with it? Because the United States Congress let them. The U.S. is the only advanced country that doesn't routinely negotiate drug prices with the makers. (The Department of Veterans Affairs and Medicaid are exceptions.) Mylan surely didn't want this scandal leading to serious efforts in Washington to start regulating what drug companies may charge the American people. Better to stage this semi-retreat and change the subject. Note that this is not an ordinary take-it-or-leave-it consumer product. For people severely allergic to spider bites, bee stings, nuts, eggs or shellfish, it's take it or possibly die. Our elected representatives have tied the American consumer down, belly up, to accept corporate abuse that other countries would not tolerate. Mylan showed its "thanks" by incorporating in the Netherlands to avoid U.S. taxes. When the EpiPen price backlash hit full force in the U.S., the Canadian government simply reassured its citizens: Don't worry. An EpiPen still costs only about $100 in Canada. Mylan's initial response to public anger was a program offering to help some patients with out-of-pocket costs. These patient-assistance deals are basically PR stunts, charitable gestures for which Americans are supposed to feel grateful. Mylan CEO Heather Bresch tried to distinguish herself from the soulless drug industry vampires who infamously bled desperate patients, taxpayers and buyers of insurance. That would be Martin Shkreli, who hiked the price of a 62-year-old HIV drug by 5,455 percent, and J. Michael Pearson, whose Valeant Pharmaceuticals raised the price of a lifesaving heart drug 525 percent in one day. Bresch is not different, only smoother. In an interview on CNBC about the EpiPen price hike, Bresch said, "Look, no one's more frustrated than me." "But you're the one raising the price," the interviewer gasped. Perhaps she isn't smoother. Defenders of the status quo argue that competition is the ticket to lower drug prices, not a more assertive government. They blame the federal Food and Drug Administration bureaucracy for hindering would-be rivals. Some criticize the excessive monopoly rights the U.S. government grants drug companies. They are not entirely wrong. More competition would help. But the fact remains that an EpiPen two-pack costs only about $85 in France, a fraction of the new $300 wholesale list price "deal" Mylan is now offering Americans—and it's not because drugmakers are tripping over one another to offer competing products. The real villain of the piece is a Congress that lets these companies prey on Americans. Congress actually forbade the government to negotiate drug prices on behalf of Medicare patients. (For the record, Bresch is the daughter of Sen. Joe Manchin.) The injuries to American drug consumers continue piling up. Over the past 15 years, the average price of new cancer drugs in the United States has risen five- to tenfold. Cancer drugs now cost about twice as much in this country as they do in Canada. Americans should be asking candidates for Congress whether they support government intervention against obscene drug prices. Until that happens, this disgraceful story will not be over.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/commentary/4104219-story-not-over-epipen-scandal

en

www.wctrib.com/ad59417bd3ef7ab5da9e3bc7c5cf2c26bcc3a5b62246637cd96e5496303be777.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fsports%2Fpro%2F4103516-anderson-repeats-match-play-tourney.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0828/0b6feistivh2jcm5sdmc2svu1tja.jpg?itok=6TXmvmUY

en

Anderson repeats in Match Play tourney

www.wctrib.com

Danny Anderson defended his title in the Eagle Creek Match Play Championships on Sunday at Eagle Creek Golf Club in Willmar. Anderson defeated Andy Jacobson 2-up. Clay Cunningham / Tribune. WILLMAR-- A strong short game was the key for Danny Anderson, who earned a two-up victory over Andy Jacobson in the Eagle Creek Match Play Championships at Eagle Creek Golf Club on Sunday. It was the second-straight Match Play title for Anderson and his third championship overall. Though he usually wins with power, Anderson said an improved short game was the catalyst for Sunday's performance. "I putted and chipped very well today," said Anderson, whose highlight was a 50-foot putt on the fifth hole. "I made some shots I wouldn't typically make." Anderson said this was the seventh time he and Jacobson faced off in the championship round, and he doesn't expect the rivalry to end anytime soon. "Andy and I will battle as long as we can," he said. It was father vs. son in the consolation round, with dad Shawn Bohlsen earning a one-up victory over son Ethan. Vollan wins marathon senior tourney One day after winning a 25-hole match to advance to the finals, Clark Vollan was again able to survive a lengthy affair to win the Match Play senior championship on Sunday. Vollan crept past Jim Schammel in 22 holes to win his first senior championship. Tom Wodash beat Chris Meinert for the consolation title. Jacobson dominantes back nine in women's final Down a hole going into the back nine, Lori Jacobson turned it on down the stretch, pulling away from Jean Larson in the Match Play women's final Sunday. Jacobson won 3-and-1.

http://www.wctrib.com/sports/pro/4103516-anderson-repeats-match-play-tourney

en

www.wctrib.com/ce107194b4d8cdf804f9a47e572e150cc618d13682de9ee569075c50da34b7c5.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fsports%2Fcollege%2F4102963-ridgewater-rallies-past-ellsworth-opens-2-0.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b6feistivh2jaxnicwqwtdhis28.jpg?itok=y3WdNhIP

en

Ridgewater rallies past Ellsworth, opens 2-0

www.wctrib.com

Ridgewater's Hailey Leiding (left) and Catelyn Haug battle for a ball at the net in a match against Ellsworth at the Ridgewater Classic Friday. The Warriors opened the tourney 2-0. Clay Cunningham / Tribune WILLMAR— After suffering an opening-set loss, Ridgewater rallied for three-straight wins to top Ellsworth in four games to finish 2-0 on the first day of the Ridgewater Volleyball Classic Friday. The Warriors downed Ellsworth 21-25, 25-16, 25-17, 27-25. Ridgewater opened the tourney with a 25-14, 25-16, 25-13 win over Riverland. Ridgewater opens day two of the Classic today against face Lake Region at 1 p.m. before facing Central Lakes, which also went 2-0 Friday, at 4:30 p.m. Central Lakes is currently ranked third in the NJCAA Division III poll. Ridgewater is fifth. In the Ellsworth match, the Panthers were one point away from winning the fourth set twice but the Warriors answered every rally. With her team up 24-23, Ellsworth's Alexis Charles hit her serve into the net. The Panthers were again in a position to win after a Catelyn Haug kill attempt went long. But that would be the final point the Warriors allowed. Following a Baylie Kubesh kill, Haug atoned for her previous mistake, serving an ace off the top of the net to put the Warriors at match point. Hailey Leiding then ended the set with a kill. After dropping the opener, Ridgewater looked to be in danger of falling in an 0-2 hole as Ellsworth jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the second set. But the Warriors closed with a furious rally, eventually scoring the final 11 points of the set. The momentum carried over to set three, where they never trailed and coasted to an eight-point victory. Kubesh had 31 assists, five kills and was one five Warriors to have at least eight digs. She finished with 12. Kiana Johnson had 13 kills and Leiding added 11. Johnson, a freshman, saw an expanded role in the absence of team captain Natalie Feldhake, who missed the second match for personal reasons. Against Riverland, Kubesh had 25 assists and tied Ashley Froelich with a team-leading six kills. Jamie Goblirsch, who had 20 digs against Ellsworth, led the team with 11 in the opener. While not thrilled with his team's performance, head coach Joe Sussenguth did complement the way his team handled adversity Friday, saying they would need to consistently do so throughout the season. "We got a lot of opportunities to challenge kids at different positions," he said. "That's what this team's going to be like. If someone's struggling, we've got players who can come in and step up to the challenge and compete." Ridgewater 3, Ellsworth 1 Ellsworth............................ 25 16 17 25 Ridgewater (2-0).............................. 21 25 25 27 Ellsworth Stats not provided Ridgewater Serving (aces): Jamie Goblirsch 2, Catelyn Haug 2, Sadie Pingel 2, Baylie Kubesh 1... Set assists: Kubesh 31... Hitting (kills): Kiana Johnson 13, Hailey Leiding 11, Kubesh 5, Ashley Vealetzek 5, Haug 5, Two with 1... Blocking (aces): Leiding 1... Digs (5 or more): Goblirsch 20, Haug 16, Kubesh 12, Lexie Skoglund 11, Sadie Pingel 8 Ridgewater 3, Riverland 0 Riverland............................ 14 16 13 Ridgewater (1-0).............................. 25 25 25 Riverland Serving (aces): Four with 1... Set assists: Marissa Hart... Hitting (kills): Samantha Siskow 5, Hope Landsman 4... Blocking (aces): None... Digs (5 or more): Allison Sharp 9, Siskow 7 Ridgewater Serving (aces): Kubesh 5, Haug 2, Natalie Feldhake 2, Skoglund 2, Goblirsch 1, Neumann 1... Set assists: Kubesh 25, Four with 1... Hitting (kills): Leiding 7, Kubesh 6, Haug 6, Froelich 6, Skoglund 4, Three with 2, Two with 1... Blocking (aces): Leiding and Skoglund 1... Digs (5 or more): Golirsch 11, Skoglund 9, Kubesh 5

http://www.wctrib.com/sports/college/4102963-ridgewater-rallies-past-ellsworth-opens-2-0

en

www.wctrib.com/6ad84096cb01f35d89b20dca93220c574fdc0af0ccbc465bddce02d8515528cf.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F4103739-alexandria-area-under-flash-flood-warning-early-morning.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Alexandria area under flash flood warning early this morning

www.wctrib.com

After heavy rain early this morning, a flash flood warning has been issued in southern Douglas County, including Alexandria, by the National Weather Service. According to the NWS, rainfall rates of 3 inches per hour were observed in Alexandria, with 2 to 4 inches of rain falling in 90 minutes. The rain ended about 7 a.m. Monday. Traffic near Broadway Street and Ninth Avenue was monitored this morning, as parts of the roadway were flooded. Additionally, the parking lot of Cornerstone Church on Seventh Avenue gathered a significant amount of water, with some cars partially submerged. Scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue into Monday afternoon.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/state/4103739-alexandria-area-under-flash-flood-warning-early-morning

en

www.wctrib.com/c78270e022498fae576015ee3e8e4eea9ed2d8f7e18ee33c68f3873bc8f6e39a.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fsports%2Fprep%2F4102825-nls-volleyball-team-wins-two-albany-invite.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

NLS volleyball team wins two at Albany Invite

www.wctrib.com

ALBANY—New London-Spicer opened up their volleyball season with a 2-2 split at the Albany Invite against Sauk Centre, Maple Lake, Braham and Albany. The Wildcats had a tough battle against Sauk Centre for their first match of the season. They snuck away with the first set with a 27-26 win but dropped the second set in unfortunate fashion, 25-13. The third and final set was well-fought but Sauk Centre topped the Wildcats 17-15. The second match of the day was against Maple Lake and it didn't go well for the Wildcats once again. Maple Lake walked away the victors 2-0 (25-22, 25-22). Down 0-2 to start the season, NLS used two strong performances to bounce back and reach .500 on the first day of the season. The Wildcats battled hard with Braham in the first set, topping the Bombers 26-24. Then they waltzed to a 25-20 second set win to win their first match of the day. NLS went down early in their final match of the day, dropping the first set 25-18 to the hosts. Once again, though, the Wildcats bounced back with a close victory, this time beating Albany in the second set 25-23 before earning the final set win 18-16. Brooke Beuning was in charge of setting her teammates up the entire day and she finished with 102 set assists. She also tacked on 15 kills which was tied for the third best from her team. Brennah Bergh was another key player on Friday, tallying 15 service aces with 24 kills, four blocks and 20 digs. Erin Tebben had the most kills, totalling 36. NLS will get their regular season underway on Tuesday with a rematch against Morris Area/Chokio-Alberta, the team that ended their season last year. Albany Invite Team scores Sauk Centre 2 (26-25-17), New London-Spicer 1 (27-13-15) Maple Lake 2 (25-25), NLS 0 (21-21) NLS 2 (26-25), Braham 0 (24-20) NLS 2 (18-25-18), Albany 1 (25-23-16) How NLS Fared Serving (aces): Brennah Bergh 15, Brooke Beuning 3, Erin Tebben 1, Kabrie Weber 2, Rachel Vraa 1 ... Set assists: Beuning 102, Ashton Engelke 2, Erin Tebben 1 ... Hitting (kills): Bergh 24, Beuning 15, Engelke 2, Tebben 36, Weber 14, Annika Olson 15 ... Blocking (aces): Bergh 4, Beuning 4, Engelke 1, Tebben 3, Weber 10, Olson 2 ... Digs (5 or more): Bergh 20, Beuning 15, Hunter Paffrath 20, Weber 24, Rachel Vraa 20, Olson 22 Tennis LQPV/DB sweeps at Milbank MILBANK, S.D.—The Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd tennis team swept its matches at the Milbank Invite on Friday. LQPV/DB dropped just to sets, defeating the host team 5-2 and recording a 7-0 win over Marshall. Molly Hacker and Ashtyn Oie won both their singles matches, and the doubles teams of Courtney Hanson and Karissa Jahn, Anna Hacker and Jessica Sigdahl and Addi Oie and Rachel Halvorson swept their matches. LQPV/DB 5, Milbank 2 Singles (1) Molly Hacker, L, def. Tiana Stemsrud 6-0 6-4 (2) Ashtyn Oie, L, Jodi DeVaal 3-6 6-4 10-2 (3) Jamie DeVaal, M, def. Katie Breberg 6-1 6-1 (4) Sarah Jarmon, M, def. Bree Kallhoff 6-3 6-1 Doubles (1) Courtney Hanson/Karissa Jahn, L, def. Hallie Essington/Rhianna Cantine 7-5 6-1 (2) Anna Hacker/Jessica Sigdahl, L, def. Rhianna Welberg/Jenna Johnson 4-6 6-4 12-10 (3) Addi Oie/Rachel Halvorson, L, def. Hattie Muellenbach/Kaitlyn Schmitt 6-0 6-1 LQPV/DB 7, Marshall 0 Singles (1) Molly Hacker, L, def. Criston Shultz 6-3 6-1 (2) Ashtyn Oie, L, 6-0 6-0 (3) Breberg, L, def. Katie Ewing 6-4 6-0 (4) Kallhoff, L, Rhianna Mastergard 6-0 6-1 Doubles (1) Hanson/Jahn, L, def. Tori St. Aubin 6-2 6-0 (2) Sigdahl/Anna Hacker, L, def. Kelsey Boerboom/Kaylee Hofloch 6-1 6-1 (3) Addie Oie/Halvorson 6-2 6-1 Benson/KMS 6, BBE 1 The Benson/KMS tennis team ran its win streak to seven with a victory over BBE on Friday in Benson. Kelli Enderson, Cassie Fugleberg and Sophie Curriel took singles victories for the Braves, who swept the doubles matches. Morgan Meyer picked up BBE's lone point at 2-singles. Singles (1) Kelli Enderson, BKMS, def. Erin Rooney 6-1 2-6 6-3 (2) Morgan Meyer, BBE, def. Anne Dieter 7-5 6-0 (3) Cassie Fugleberg, BKMS, def. Mallory Bents 6-0 6-0 (4) Sophie Curriel, BKMS, def. Ericka Greiner 6-0 6-2 Doubles (1) Katie Samuelson/Gracie Grussing, BKMS, def. Sonja Carson/Adison Wohlman 6-2 6-1 (2) Olivia Hoffman/Rose McDonald, BKMS, def. Kim Terhaar/Amanda Feldman 6-1 6-1 (3) Grace Ricard/Gracie Lenz, BKMS, Kylie Terhaar/Paige Prentice 6-0 6-1

http://www.wctrib.com/sports/prep/4102825-nls-volleyball-team-wins-two-albany-invite

en

www.wctrib.com/40161500311348f11319b6cfe5c86188c21cbba13ebde2bf2f4979587afbf096.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F4103782-police-kill-man-who-fired-gun-outside-minnesota-apartment-complex.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0829/eaganshoot.jpg?itok=VjrV9afY

en

Police kill man who fired gun outside Minnesota apartment complex

www.wctrib.com

Authorities were investigating an officer-involved shooting death outside an apartment complex Sunday in the 1200 block of Ironwood Lane in Eagan. (Pioneer Press / Julio Ojeda-Zapata) A man said to be firing round after round with a handgun outside an Eagan apartment building lay dead on Sunday afternoon after police shot him in the residential complex’s parking lot. This protracted discharge of firearms shortly after noon came as a shock to residents in what is described as a peaceful neighborhood. “I am a lifelong Eaganite, and we rarely have an incident like this,” said Jim Carlson, the state senator for District 51, which includes Eagan. Carlson was knocking on doors with a group of volunteers when the shooting erupted nearby. Eagan police said officers responded to “a weapons call” on the 1200 block of Ironwood Lane. “The initial report was of a male subject firing gunshots outside the building and at the building itself,” said Aaron Machtemes, a department spokesman. What followed was “an exchange of gunfire” between the suspect and police, Machtemes said. “A suspect was pronounced dead at the scene.” He didn’t elaborate on what he meant by “exchange” or whether the suspect fired on police before they killed him. No officers were injured, and no other suspects were involved, Eagan police said. Three officers were placed on administrative leave, standard procedure following an officer-involved shooting. Randy Nelson, who lives across the street, said he heard two sustained bursts of gunfire, several seconds apart, followed by sirens. He said he initially mistook the shots for a nail gun. Alexis and Laura Scott, who live in the apartment complex, said they heard about 10 shots followed by the sirens. Carlson also heard the two bursts of shots, which he said weren’t rapid-fire but evenly spaced and seemingly methodical. Then, just a bit later, gunfire picked up again, and at such a rapid pace he couldn’t count the shots. He said he initially mistook the gunfire for firecrackers. On police-scanner audio of the incident, a dispatcher is heard saying, “He is outside with a gun, looks like a silver Glock … couple callers on it now; they heard three to four gunshots … Party is shooting up in the air toward an apartment building. … Suspect is reloading his gun, vehicle is pulling out; SHOTS FIRED!” The gunman’s initial volleys represented a particularly acute danger because this “townhouse community is very dense,” Carlson later wrote on Facebook. The shots could have easily penetrated “the conventional siding, sheathing and wallboard walls,” he said. Carlson added that, “in my view, the Eagan Police acted swiftly with concern and skill to minimize the danger to the unsuspecting residents.” After the shooting, authorities cordoned off the apartment complex’s parking lot and appeared focused on a Ford Fusion believed to have been used by the suspect. Dan Thomas-Commins, one of Carlson’s door-knocking volunteers, also heard the shots. He said he initially mistook them for kids playing with cap guns. Thomas-Commins said he was later able to get a somewhat close look at the Fusion while retrieving his own car. He said it had an orange bumper sticker that read, “My other auto is a 9mm.” Alexis and Laura Scott said they knew the suspect casually, via friends and family, and “he was always a nice guy,” Alexis said.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/state/4103782-police-kill-man-who-fired-gun-outside-minnesota-apartment-complex

en

www.wctrib.com/be4a546909c6801ef0d01495aa53e0f98d8c62155eb8e009faf2436219a381d4.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fbusiness%2F4103886-radon-mitigation-business-launches-belgrade.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Radon mitigation business launches in Belgrade

www.wctrib.com

Radon mitigation business launches in Belgrade BELGRADE—Kale Graham announces the start of his radon testing and mitigation business Radon-B-Gone. Graham is certified and trained by the National Radon Proficiency Program and operates out of Belgrade. Those looking for more information can visit www.radon-b-gone.com, call 320-469-1712 or email radonbgonekale@gmail.com

http://www.wctrib.com/business/4103886-radon-mitigation-business-launches-belgrade

en

www.wctrib.com/d19012aa5c97b51ef1fc819116807bb8246618672129e4bff7adb40b88a1c73a.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcartoons%2F4103051-cartoonist-opinions-aug-27.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0827/0b7qj4zguowy7luw2dvj3sgh3d1e.jpg?itok=L89MAJvx

en

Cartoonist Opinions for Aug. 27

www.wctrib.com

Bruce Plante Cartoon: Trump's Magic Elixir, Donald J. Trump, The Donald, Republican Presidential Candidate 2016, Presidential Campaign 2016, immigration, watered down immigration policy, illegal immigration, snake oil salesman, Plante 20160826 Steve Benson is an editorial cartoonist for the Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Arizona.

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/cartoons/4103051-cartoonist-opinions-aug-27

en

www.wctrib.com/33f3f1856fde50b80e85045911b2e68429888e3a9b21ce0188c3b1a4378828da.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F4102896-tractor-roll-bars-help-save-lives-most-common-farm-accidents.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7tk5aqzlduwdkvhc.jpg?itok=KRV0Zv5i

en

Tractor roll bars help save lives in most common farm accide...

www.wctrib.com

Boston Bates tries out a Case tractor during a recent Dakotafest farm show near Mitchell, S.D. The tractor he is on, and others in the background, have roll bars to make them safer if they tip over. (Forum News Service photo by Matt Gade) This Farmall 400 is an example of one eligible for a rebate if the owner installs a roll bar and seat belts. Experts say tractors with narrow front ends, such as this one, are especiallhy prone to tipping over. (Forum News Service) MORGAN, Minn.—Ruth Meirick was like most members of most farm families: There was too much work to do to worry about safety. Then, "it just happened." Her brother-in-law was moving a bale of hay and the tractor he was driving on a northeastern Iowa farm flipped over, killing him. "It only takes a second to make a bad decision and another second to have a consequence of that bad decision," Meirick said. "We have dealt with the consequences of having a death in my own family." The accident happened while Meirick still lived on her Riceville, Iowa, family farm. Now, she lives in Kasson, Minn. "One thing I think we are failing is farm safety education," she said, something she is working to change as leader of a Minnesota Farm Bureau safety program. Farmers often have an attitude about taking safety measures of "I don't need to do that," Meirick said. "Everybody gets into their habits of the day," she said. "They forget to be mindful of farm safety." But with more than 200 farm deaths in a decade, safety experts say it is time for a change of habit. One of the country's most recent tractor rollover deaths was a common story. Dan Zaiser, 53, was driving an International 460 tractor, with a loader attached, down a small hill when the tractor rolled over on his Missouri Valley, Iowa, farm, a Harrison County Sheriff's Department news release reported. Zaiser was pinned under the tractor. The Aug. 20 accident came just after his wife, Kathy, announced on her Facebook page that the couple soon would move to Texas. With tractor rollovers the top cause of fatal accidents, they have garnered attention. Several states, most recently Minnesota, have implemented programs to encourage farmers to add roll bars and seat belts to old tractors. Assistant Commissioner Andrea Vaubel of the Minnesota Agriculture Department is running a program that began July 1 to offer rebates of up to $500 per farm or school tractor to install the roll bar and seat belt, known as the Roll Over Prevention System. The Legislature approved $250,000 of initial funding, and the department is seeking private donations. In Wisconsin, no state money has been used to rebate some cost of protection systems for 150 tractors, although a state lawmaker there plans to seek a legislative appropriation. Private donations have floated the program so far. The New York Center for Agriculture Medicine and Health administers roll over programs for Minnesota, Wisconsin and five other states. About 80 percent of tractor rollover deaths happen to experienced farmers, the organization says. Rollover systems, best known as ROPS, are 99 percent effective in preventing injuries and death when a roll bar is used with a seat belt, it reports. And ROPS are 70 percent effective when belts are not used. Roll bars costs can top $2,000, although many John Deere-sold ones are closer to $1,200. Minnesota rebates are capped at $500; more than $800 is available in other states. Even though he paid some of the expense himself, Wisconsin farmer Josh Goebel said that it is "a lot cheaper than dying." Scott Heiberger of the National Farm Medicine Center in Marshfield, Wis., posted on his blog that Goebel retrofitted his John Deere 3010 with a roll-over system after hearing another farmer talk about his accident. "He was dumping dirt when it tipped," Goebel recalled. "Broke his leg in 20 spots, required 11 pins, he had broken ribs, a punctured lung." Heiberger said that in Wisconsin many farmers seeking rebate money say they use the pre-mid-1980s model tractors more than other tractors, although some Minnesota farm leaders say the older tractors are being used less and less. Tractor makers voluntarily began installing roll bars or cabs with roll-over protection in about 1985. Minnesota's rebate program is for tractors without roll bars made before 1987. While Heiberger said Wisconsin farmers vary on whether they would wear seat belts on roll bar-equipped tractors, they say they always would ask family members and employees to. Long-time farm safety trainer Kevin Paap, Minnesota Farm Bureau president, said even he does not wear a seat belt on flat land, but certainly does when doing something dangerous or on hilly terrain. "Then you are going to click it." Papp, who became a Vernon Center, Minn., firefighter in 1978, said it is important to wear seat belts after a roll bar is installed. "I picked up a guy who it was the roll bar that killed him." Besides adopting the roll over system rebate program, legislators have required the state Agriculture Department compile a list by Oct. 1 showing existing farm safety resources. And by February, the department is to outline actions Minnesota can take to improve farm safety. ---- About the program Roll Over Protection system rebates of up to $500 or 70 percent of the cost for Minnesota farmers and schools are available on a first-come, first-served basis until the state's $250,000 and private donations run out. Farmers may call (877) 767-7748 or email rops@nycamh for more information or to apply.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/state/4102896-tractor-roll-bars-help-save-lives-most-common-farm-accidents

en

www.wctrib.com/4257399cb7b5ea9f8b7508337fa233e0d0b95fe31e1052a54d7f2fc19c41d9fb.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F4102785-video-moving-history-down-road.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Video: Moving history down the road

www.wctrib.com

NEW LONDON -- Built in 1886 and moved in 1976, the original New London train depot made another historic move Friday. As Boy Scouts and parents from Boy Scout Troop 228 watched, the old depot was moved off the Peace Lutheran Church property, where it sat for 40 years after it was donated by Burlington Northern Railway to the Scouts for use as a meeting site. When the church decided to put that piece of property up for sale, the Scouts decided to move their Scout hut -- and preserve an important part of the town’s history -- to a different piece of property the church owns.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/4102785-video-moving-history-down-road

en

www.wctrib.com/c1cfade57b705858f7a385dfd72bdc70ff6e29bb33d316316bf53b157f89e76f.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fstate%2F4103776-minnesota-man-dies-after-going-overboard-during-boat-test.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0829/police-tape.jpg?itok=lmUI0oVo

en

Minnesota man dies after going overboard during boat test

www.wctrib.com

A 29-year-old man is dead after he apparently went overboard while testing a boat in a Minnesota lake. Authorities say they got a call Saturday morning about a man overboard on Lake Le Homme Dieu in Alexandria. Rescuers found the body of Brandon Darryl Randt of Alexandria about four hours later. He was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy. A witness told Douglas County sheriff’s officials that Randt was testing a boat and seemed to be heading to shore, but the witness then saw the boat circling and Randt was in the water. He was not wearing a life jacket.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/state/4103776-minnesota-man-dies-after-going-overboard-during-boat-test

en

www.wctrib.com/645bcd5a0c42222a5612ce00e522ff4b5c185ff79e5b1186a288c80bf6c1932f.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Flocal%2F4103476-national-guard-soldiers-return-willmar-after-kuwait-deployment.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0828/0b7qj4zguowy7njvflvhsdgzqqtq.jpg?itok=pNH2kg2t

en

National Guard soldiers return to Willmar after Kuwait deployment

www.wctrib.com

Jackson Buchan, 3, tries to move his dad's bag off of the street Saturday at Willmar Senior High School as he waits for his dad. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Soldiers get off the bus Saturday at Willmar Senior High School to greet family members after 11 months of deployment. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Anna Sheldon holds her son, Benaiah, as her husband, Micah Sheldon, hugs their other two daughters Saturday at Willmar Senior High School. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Soldiers get off the bus Saturday at Willmar Senior High School to greet family members after 11 months of deployment. Briana Sanchez / Tribune A solider waves to family as he gets off the bus Saturday at Willmar Senior High School. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Courage Ochoada, 4, holds a balloon and wears an Army hat while he waits by the buses Saturday at Willmar Senior High School. Briana Sanchez / Tribune Alexis and Samantha Maus run and hug their dad, Matthew Maus, Saturday at Willmar Senior High School. Maus was deployed for 11 months. Briana Sanchez / Tribune WILLMAR—Fran Gonzalez had spent the last two days cooking in anticipation of her son's return home from Kuwait. E4 Specialist Jose Martin Gonzalez Jr. was among more than 150 members of the 682nd Engineer Battalion who returned to Willmar Saturday afternoon. Members of the unit had left Willmar in early October 2015. Yellow ribbons around trees and signposts greeted visitors on the drive up to Willmar Senior High School Saturday. Related Story: Patriot Guard riders lined the road outside the school as families waited on the lawn for the four coach buses that had carried their loved ones from Texas. Many were checking their phones, as the soldiers were texting information about their progress toward Willmar. Loud cheers filled the air as the buses pulled up at about 3:30 p.m. Many families had brought homemade signs, balloons. One woman stood along the sidewalk with a sign that read, "Out of my way; my sister's home." Babies were there to meet their dads for the first time. Kids were waiting to feel mom's arms around them after nearly a year away and to show off how they'd grown while their parents had been off serving the country. The soldiers stood in formation on the school lawn for a couple minutes before they were dismissed to wrap their arms around their family members. Specialist Gonzalez was greeted by his parents, sister and several friends. He had made his request for his mother's flautas, and she was going to deliver later that day. He had lived at home before he deployed and is planning on attending St. Cloud State University now that he's back. "It's tough to see them leave," but it's bound to happen, said his father, Jose Sr. The house was quiet after he deployed, his mother said. "I think I missed the noise more than anything, you know, when all the boys would come over." Gaby Gonzalez said her brother had made it clear the he was "starving" when he got off the bus. "He's hungry for a home-cooked meal." Cheila Maus and her three daughters were easy to pick out of the crowd. The girls, Alexis, Samantha and Lily, wore bright tie-dyed T-shirts that read, "Keep Calm and Soldier On." The shirts had been free gifts from the National Guard booth at their county fair. "They were white when we got them," Cheila Maus said, as she watched the girls hang on and around their dad. The family stayed in touch using Skype while her husband was gone, she said, and they were able to talk nearly every day. Sgt. Maus's request for his return was to be able to ride his motorcycle home to Appleton, so his family had it waiting for him in Willmar Saturday. Cheila Maus said she would ride back with him, while their girls rode home with their grandparents. Specialist Kalicia Berg of Hanska was greeted by her parents and little sister, and by her son Kaiden, 6. With Kaiden standing in front of her, she said she could tell that he had grown a lot while she was gone. Her father said the family had lots of food "waiting to hit the grill," According to a news release from the National Guard, the soldiers provided engineering and construction support for 285 construction projects worth $20.2 million in their deployment. They worked in seven countries—Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. The soldiers from Minnesota were recognized during their deployment for hard work and dedication, according to the news release.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/local/4103476-national-guard-soldiers-return-willmar-after-kuwait-deployment

en

www.wctrib.com/6220eb968d5e2b9efd907db0f1c44c03090d5b4e71fb1f70fccbb6e81ed0b8e8.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2Fnation%2F4102498-racial-politics-loom-over-election-obamas-legacy-seen-mixed.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/0b7qj4zguowy7mfbuahhmalu2t2c.jpg?itok=meb8nGBA

en

As racial politics loom over election, Obama's legacy is seen as mixed

www.wctrib.com

U.S. President Barack Obama, having completed a tour of flood-affected boards Air Force One at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S., August 23, 2016. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst WASHINGTON—When Barack Obama became the first African-American to win the White House in 2008, his victory was a turning point in U.S. race relations that set high expectations for progress to come. Nearly eight years later, with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton attacking each other over racial politics, the legacy of Obama's presidency looks decidedly mixed, black leaders said. To some, the tone of the Republican presidential nominee's campaign, as well as a recent series of racially charged shootings involving police, show that the United States has come no closer to overcoming its history of racial strife. Having a black president, two attorneys general and a chief of homeland security did not result in basic fairness for victims of racially charged violence, said Cornel West, an academic and former Obama supporter who has become a high-profile critic of the Democratic president. "How many policemen who have murdered unarmed innocent black civilians have gone to jail with that kind of black power at the top? Zero," West said. Obama could have acted more directly while in office to help blacks, West added, citing persistently high childhood poverty among African-Americans. "The (economic) recovery has not filtered over into black and working poor communities," he said. Others said Obama showed leadership on race while making real achievements on healthcare and the economy that helped Americans of all ethnicities. Al Sharpton, a civil rights leader with close ties to the White House, described Obama as a "transformative" president held back by the need to serve varying constituencies and compromise with lawmakers who had different priorities. "He tried to be as balanced and respectful as he could, to the chagrin of many in the black community, who felt that he was leaning over backwards," Sharpton said. Unemployment among African-Americans fell by half under Obama, Sharpton noted, while Obama's remarks on race elevated the issue. In 2012 at the White House, Obama referred to Trayvon Martin, a black youth gunned down by a white Hispanic man, as a boy who would have resembled the son he did not have. "We've never had a president do that," Sharpton said. False sense of progress Andrew Young, a former Atlanta mayor, congressman, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and adviser to slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., said Obama, as a black leader, had to seek compromise more than previous white presidents. "It was easier for (Jimmy) Carter or Lyndon Johnson, even Bill Clinton as southern whites to do things specifically for black people," Young said. Backlash from white working class voters had contributed to Trump's rise, Young said. "We really haven't had a complete psychological adjustment to a multi-racial society," he said. "That's what's rallying people behind Trump. They're frustrated by the complexities of this day and age. And (Trump), like others, gives a simple answer and blames it on somebody else." Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, blasted Trump on Thursday as a divisive candidate who was stoking racist groups. Trump criticized Clinton, saying she had let black Americans down and was falsely labeling Republicans as bigoted. Clinton supporters were more likely to want to address race relations than Trump supporters, a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll of more than 2,800 people found in late March. Obama has said race relations are not as bad as some suggest. Friends say he never expected his presidency to wipe away centuries of racism and slavery's legacy. "To expect to erase all of that legacy of injustice or racism and discrimination in eight years is unrealistic," said Valerie Jarrett, a White House adviser and close Obama friend. "Were there people who probably had a false sense of progress based just on an election? Sure," she said. The administration wants to advance criminal justice reform legislation before Obama leaves office, aiming for a win on an issue watched closely in the black community. But prospects of passage in Congress during an election year are uncertain. Obama, who has made clear his disdain for Trump and his frustration with Congress, has said he hoped his own voice on race would help improve things for future generations. "We plant seeds, and somebody else maybe sits under the shade of the tree that we planted," Obama said at a news conference in July.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/nation/4102498-racial-politics-loom-over-election-obamas-legacy-seen-mixed

en

www.wctrib.com/df20f56bc977d49bc779dec312750e0d9992034b9ef0894d0b8ebe61e9adc18d.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fsports%2Fpro%2F4103595-roundup-rockets-advance-class-c-state-tournament.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/all/themes/wctrib_theme/images/touch-icon.png

en

Roundup: Rockets advance in Class C state tournament

www.wctrib.com

DASSEL—Kyle Knott and Tyler Steen hit big home runs, Alex Lothammer threw a complete game, a Raymond advanced in the Class C Amateur Baseball State Tournament with a 5-2 win over Lamberton Sunday. After the Long Sox pulled ahead 2-1 with a two-run fourth inning, the Rockets went ahead for good when Knott blasted a two-run shot in the fifth. Steen then added key insurance runs with a two-run homer of his own in the eighth. The scoring was more than enough for Lothammer, who struck out nine with just one walk. Both of the runs he allowed were unearned. The Rockets advanced to the Round of 16 and play the Sartell Huskies at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Hutchinson. Class C State Tournament Raymond 5, Lamberton 2 Raymond 001 020 020-5 9 1 Lamberton 000 200 00x-2 6 2 Hitting—Raymond: Mike Jeseritz 1-4, Tyler Steen 3-4 hr r rbi-2, Kyle Knott 1-4 hr r rbi-2, Jordan Smith 2-4, Eric Hulterstrum 1-4... Lamberton: Cody Pack 1-4 2b, Tyler Reiner 1-4 2b Pitching—Raymond: Alex Lothammer (W) 9-6-2-0-1-9... Lamberton: Johnny Pistulka (L) 7-8-5-4-0-6, Mitch Kelly 2-1-0-0-0-2 College Volleyball WILLMAR — The Ridgewater volleyball team improved to 4-0 with a pair of victories on Saturday to wrap up the Ridgewater Classic. The Warriors, ranked No. 5 in NJCAA Division III, defeated No. 3-ranked Central Lakes in four games, and they dispatched Lake Region in three. "Overall, I'm pleased with how we competed in our opening weekend tournament," said Ridgewater head coach Joe Sussenguth. "I felt we made improvements as a team in each match and our competitive level increased." Against Central Lakes, the Warriors dropped Game One 26-24, then rebounded to ease through Games Two and Three, 25-16 and 25-17. Central Lakes pressed the Warriors on the fourth game but Ridgewater prevailed in extra points, 27-25. The Warriors took out Lake Region in solid fashion, 25-16, 25-19 and 25-15. Against Central Lakes, the Warriors got top-shelf production from several players, with Catelyn Haug and Kiana Johnson both finishing with 11 kills. Hailey Leiding had nine kills and two blocks, and Baylie Kubesh had seven kills and 37 set assists. Johnson and Kubesh also both had two blocks. Johnson and Ashley Froelich both had seven kills against Lake Region. "We made marked defensive improvements at the net, which complimented our strong back row play," Sussenguth said. "With time, our offense will improve, but it's encouraging to see many players contribute on the attacking front. We missed more serves than we should, but our ability to score and put teams out of system with the serve is very viable." The Warriors play next at Minnesota State in Fergus Falls at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Ridgewater Classic Ridgewater 3, Central Lakes 1 Central Lakes............................ 26 16 17 25 Ridgewater (4-0).............................. 24 25 25 27 Central Lakes Statistics not provided Ridgewater Serving (aces): Baylie Kubesh 3, Hailey Leiding 2, Catelyn Haug 3, Sadie Pingel 3, Lexie Skoglund 1 ... Set assists: Kubesh 37, Jamie Golirsch 3 ... Hitting (kills): Kubesh 7, Leiding 9, Haug 11, Ashley Froelich 6, Kiana Johnson 11, Ashley Vealetzek 2, Kallee Anderson 3 ... Blocking (aces): Johnson 2, Leiding 2, Kubesh 2 ... Digs (5 or more): Kubesh 8, Leiding 4, Goblirsch 14, Haug 7, Pingel 5, Skoglund 11 Ridgewater 3, Lake Region 0 Lake Region............................ 16 19 15 Ridgewater.............................. 25 25 25 Lake Region Statistics not provided Ridgewater Serving (aces): Kubesh 2, Goblirsch 3, Haug 2, Pingel 1, Froelich 2, Skoglund 3 ... Set assists: Kubesh 25 ... Hitting (kills): Kubesh 4, Leiding 2, Haug 3, Froelich 7, Natalie Feldhake 2, Johnson 7, Skoglund 1, Vealetzek 1 ... Blocking (aces): Feldhake 2, Leiding 1 ... Digs (5 or more): Kubesh 6, Goblirsch 9, Haug 6 College Football VIRGINIA — The Ridgewater football team opened its season with a 16-0 victory over Mesabi Range on Saturday. Ridgewater kicked a field goal in the opening quarter and added 13 more points in the second. No other information about the game was provided. Ridgewater 16, Mesabi Range 0 Ridgewater (1-0).................3 13 0 0 — 16 Mesabi Range (0-1).................0 0 0 0 — 0 Scoring plays not provided Ridgewater Statistics not provided Mesabi Range First downs: NA ... Rushing: 26-13 ... Passing (com-att-yds-int.): 5-18-134-2 ... Fumbles lost: 0 ... Penalties: 0-0 Rushing: LaQuan Thomas 3-10, Tyus Skaife-Harris 3-8 ... Passing: Ricardo Guzman 3-12-76-2 ... Receiving: Malik Grace 3-59 ... Punting: Ahmad Queider 3-89 ... Interceptions: Kyle Williams 4 ... Fumble recoveries: 0 ... Tackles (solo-assist): Kyle Williams 10-2 ... QB sacks: Williams, Thomas Dorsey 1, Trechane Shanklin 1 Prep Volleyball HOWARD LAKE — The Paynesville volleyball team won four matches to claim the Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted Tournament championship on Saturday. The Bulldogs defeated HLWW twice, 25-21, 25-23 and 25-7, 28-30 and 15-6. They also downed Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 25-17, 25-8 and Eden Valley-Watkins 25-12, 25-9. HLWW Invite Team scores Paynesville def. Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted 25-21, 25-23 Paynesville def. Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart 25-17, 25-8 Paynesville def. HLWW 25-7, 28-30, 15-6 Paynesville def. Eden Valley-Watkins 25-12, 25-9 How Area Teams Fared Paynesville Serving (aces): Katelyn Dingmann 15 ... Set assists: statistics not available ... Hitting (kills): Skylar Bayer 16, Katelyn Dingmann 20 ... Blocking (aces): Sara Schaefer 7, Jacqueline Hoeft 3, Abby Schaefer 3 ... Digs: Olivia Riley 40, Richelle Buermann 51 Boys Soccer WILLMAR — Sakawe Shadoor was at midseason form on Saturday, helping the Willmar boys soccer team open the 2016 season with a win. Shadoor scored all three goals in the Cardinals' 3-0 win over Mound Westonka at the Kennedy School pitch. Shadoor's first goal set the tone of the match, said Willmar head coach Jeff Winter. Shadoor took the ball in up the wing from midfield, cut in and set a shot across the goal mouth in the 11th minute. "It was a nice shot," Winter said. "I liked way we moved the ball and built on that first goal." Gerson Maldonado-Garcia assisted on Shadoor's first goal. Shadoor scored a second-half goal in the 51st minute on an assist from Abdi Hakim Abdi, and he notched the hat trick in the 75th minute on an assist from Fernando Zavala. The Cardinals play host to Heritage Christian at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Kennedy. Willmar 3, Mound Westonka 0 M-W................. 0 0 — 0 Willmar (1-0)................... 1 2 — 3 FIRST HALF — (1) Willmar - Sakawe Shadoor (Gerson Maldonado-Garcia) 11th minute SECOND HALF — (2) Willmar - Shadoor (Abdi Hakim Abdi) 51st minute ... (3) Shadoor (Fernando Zavala) 75th minute SHOTS ON GOAL — Mound Westonka 4 ... Willmar 16 GOALIE SAVES — Mound Westonka: Jonathan Neve 13 ... Willmar: Manny Obregon 4 DEFENSIVE SAVES — None Friday's result Girls Swimming Willmar Invite WILLMAR — The Willmar Cardinals opened the swimming and diving season with a fourth-place finish at their own invitational on Friday at the Willmar High School pool. The Cardinals got a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay, and Anna Backes placed fifth in the 200 freestyle. Moira Revier placed third in the 100 backstroke and the Cardinals also placed third in the 200 free relay. Hannah Arnold also pulled in a fifth-place finish in the 200 individual medley and Revier was fourth in the 50 freestyle. Backes earned another fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle and Olivia Welsh placed fifth in 1-meter diving. Team scores (1) Melrose 535 (2) Sauk Centre 318 (3) St. Cloud Tech 312.5 (4) Willmar 284 (5) Bemidji 242 (6) Sauk Rapids 229 (7) Rocori 207 (8) Minnewaska/Morris 134.5 (9) Montevideo 63 (First place and Willmar in top 5) 200 MEDLEY RELAY — (1) Sauk Rapids 1:58.87 (2) Willmar (Moira Revier, Hannah Arnold, Abby McCormick, Amanda Mathiasen) 1:59.37 200 FREESTYLE — (1) Kali Sayovitz, Tech, 1:55.74 (5) Anna Backes, Will, 2:08.57 200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY — (1) Anna Lucas, SR, 2:17.52 (5) Arnold, Will, 2:30.30 50 FREESTYLE — (1) Savana Bitz, Mel, 26.01 (4) Revier, Will, 26.83 DIVING — (1) Meredith Matchinsky, Tech, 242.95 (5) Olivia Welsh, Will, 168.30 100 BUTTERFLY — (1) Lacey Entzi, MM, 1:05.22 100 FREESTYLE — (1) Bitz, Mel, 56.75 (5) Backes, Will, 57.56 500 FREESTYLE — (1) Sayovitz, Tech, 5:15.66 200 FREESTYLE RELAY — (1) Melrose 1:45.95 (3) Willmar (McCormack, Mathiasen, Backes, Arnold) 1:47.64 100 BACKSTROKE — (1) Mikayla Von Wahlde, Mel, 1:02.04 (3) Revier, Will, 1:05.51 100 BREASTSTROKE — (1) Ellie Benoit, SR, 1:13.76 400 FREESTYLE RELAY — (1) Melrose 3:50.76

http://www.wctrib.com/sports/pro/4103595-roundup-rockets-advance-class-c-state-tournament

en

www.wctrib.com/b49f0bd8049bd4c7d779ebed1653afbd72d220bbc3d7af418ce414ae34af757a.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fopinion%2Fcartoons%2F4105012-cartoon-dave-granlund.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0830/0b7qj4zguowy7blc1v1vusktrmxc.jpg?itok=3WNHhf_S

en

Cartoon by Dave Granlund

www.wctrib.com

http://www.wctrib.com/opinion/cartoons/4105012-cartoon-dave-granlund

en

www.wctrib.com/e968bc34f0d55fe06f129866c8839c5f8a924f44a54261647baaa1eae3784a1a.json

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wctrib.com%2Fnews%2F4102332-search-continues-victim-after-boat-collision-minnesota-lake.json

http://www.wctrib.com/sites/default/files/styles/square_300/public/fieldimages/37/0826/search.jpg?itok=H4TpNN9x

en

Search continues for victim after boat collision on Minnesota lake

www.wctrib.com

Members of the Lakes Area Dive Team put their dive suits on as they leave the public access of Highway 71 to join the search for a missing man following a two-boat accident Thursday on Fish Hook Lake. (Kevin Cederstrom/Enterprise) One man remains missing on Fish Hook Lake on the north edge of Park Rapids in northwest Minnesota following an accident involving two boats on Thursday. The search for the unidentified missing man continued into Thursday evening, but Hubbard County Sheriff Cory Aukes said late Thursday night the search was suspended at dark and will resume in the morning with cadaver dogs out in the boats and a DNR helicopter searching from the air. Aukes said the victim is a 73-year-old local man, but his name has not yet been released. The Hubbard County Sheriff's Office confirmed three men were in a 14-foot aluminum boat that capsized after a collision with a second boat, described as a bass fishing boat The two injured men were transported from the public access off Highway 71 and one was believed to be airlifted to a Twin Cities hospital. The third man is the 73-year-old who remains missing. The two men in the second boat were not injured. Names of those involved in the accident have not been released by the sheriff's office. Hubbard County Chief Deputy Scott Parks said the cause of the accident was unknown but said the boats simply collided as a result of an accident. He said the investigation continues and alcohol was not a factor in the crash. The Lakes Area Dive Team joined the search for the missing man, along with the Hubbard County Sheriff's Office and a Minnesota DNR airplane. Also responding to the scene at both the public access and Loon's Nest Resort, which made the initial call, was Hubbard County Sheriff's Office, Hubbard First Response & Rescue, North Memorial Ambulance and Park Rapids Police Department.

http://www.wctrib.com/news/4102332-search-continues-victim-after-boat-collision-minnesota-lake

en

www.wctrib.com/6bdb86d75900e58f16cf3a991eccea49e659deff559527baa626425b7b4fa231.json

Please fill out the form below to submit your obituaty notice. Thank you.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fcontent%2Fobituary-notice.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

Obituary Notice

www.thenews-gazette.com

This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. What code is in the image? * Enter the characters shown in the image.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/content/obituary-notice

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/7aafae00e3b2814e51278c7f50a3c4e3385ad3fba47a370e3ca873bc7f92b9e6.json

Have a news tip? Submit your tip online. Please note that a submission will not guarantee this item will be placed in the print or online edition of the newspaper.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fnode%2F69.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

News Tip

www.thenews-gazette.com

Have a news tip? Submit your tip online. Please note that a submission will not guarantee this item will be placed in the print or online edition of the newspaper.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/node/69

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/5b2b6bfb59dcf84fec0916f8fcc7712380da8fec68ce61cab0ed0caa5f9328d0.json

Submit your wedding announcement online.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fcontent%2Fwedding-announcement.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

Wedding Announcement

www.thenews-gazette.com

This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. What code is in the image? * Enter the characters shown in the image.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/content/wedding-announcement

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/ee5b9ab253837488cb1223074214b457096edd9921f5fdf254140d21cf40be42.json

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIRTH OF YOUR NEW BABY! Submit your birth announcement online by completing the form below.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fnode%2F65.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

Birth Announcement

www.thenews-gazette.com

This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. What code is in the image? * Enter the characters shown in the image.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/node/65

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/5a15b569b199877980f8f7d863fb9f349f9fba95d9f5fad1df092d548a2ef079.json

We welcome letters to the editor online. Letters are published at the sole discretion of the newspaper staff in the order they are received. Letters must be 500 words or less.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fcontent%2Fletter-editor.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

Letter to the Editor

www.thenews-gazette.com

We welcome letters to the editor online. Letters are published at the sole discretion of the newspaper staff in the order they are received. Letters must be 500 words or less.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/content/letter-editor

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/e86ce7e6b512be34d0a22a9b190a7d3a788dc394dbebf79d69abda5a8a091941.json

Please complete all fields below so that we can accurately enter your business listing into the LexingtonGPS mobile app.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenews-gazette.com%2Fcontent%2Flexingtongps-basic-listing-sign.json

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/misc/favicon.ico

en

LexingtonGPS Basic Listing Sign-Up

www.thenews-gazette.com

The News-Gazette Corp Authorization (Required) * I Accept I Do Not Accept I authorize The News-Gazette Corp. to list my business on its LexingtonGPS mobile app. I understand that The News- Gazette Corp. may change the terms of providing this listing and that I will be notified prior to any such change, and will have the opportunity to continue this listing or cancel. I understand that I may cancel this listing at any time, or may upgrade to an Enhanced or Key Listing at any time. I authorize The News-Gazette Corp. to contact me by email with questions concerning this listing or with offers for other services connected with LexingtonGPS or other News- Gazette product. I understand that The News-Gazette Corp. may accept or reject any submission for free basic listings on LexingtonGPS based upon a determination of applicability, suitability and compatibility with the app.

http://www.thenews-gazette.com/content/lexingtongps-basic-listing-sign

en

www.thenews-gazette.com/b22252019d156175fd11472a2e168710a053566bb3343a0cf5f4202a862fa901.json

Scientists confirm that sleep deprivation has a detrimental impact on physical and mental health.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Flifestyle%2Fjapan-get-enough-sleep%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sleep-slider-870x489.jpg

en

Does Japan get enough sleep?

www.japantimes.co.jp

When Fumiyoshi Shimizu was promoted to store manager just nine months after entering his company, he couldn’t believe his luck. A traffic accident during his final year at high school left him hospitalized, affecting his studies and work prospects. Then, convenience store chain SHOP99 offered him employment as a trainee, before rewarding him for his industriousness with a promotion to manager of one of its outlets in the western Tokyo suburb of Kokubunji. However, Shimizu’s dream job quickly turned into a nightmare. Regular eight-hour shifts turned into 15-hour workathons. He had no time for breaks and was lucky if he could take one or two days off a month. On one day he started work at 7:45 a.m. and clocked off at 7:32 a.m. the following day — a mammoth 23 hour, 47-minute shift. However, it didn’t end there. After a 90-minute break, he started again, this time on a 23-hour stint. During his trainee days he had been paid overtime, earning him ¥300,000 per month on average. Once promoted, he was considered to be on the same level as a CEO or other “executive” and, therefore, not entitled to overtime pay. A 350-hour month earned him ¥220,000. “On the days when I could get home at a reasonable time I knew I had to get to bed quickly, but my pulse was still racing,” Shimizu says. He would often be expected to cover for part-time staff who called in sick. “My phone became an object of fear, to the extent that I could never get any meaningful sleep,” he says. “I just expected it to ring and be called in to work.” Not only was sleep quantity in short supply but so, too, sleep quality. He rapidly lost weight and suffered a variety of ailments. He tried discussing his situation with his two superiors, only to learn that they had been hospitalized due to similar circumstances, Shimizu says. Seven months later during a company health check, he was ordered to stop working immediately and seek specialist help. “If that order hadn’t been made, I really don’t think I’d be here today,” says Shimizu, who was eventually diagnosed with clinical depression, a not uncommon outcome of insufficient sleep. “That I didn’t end up down that unthinkable road is pure happenstance. I had never understood the true value of sleep until then and how a lack of it can mess with your mental wellbeing.” Affect of sleep on health If national figures are any indication, Shimizu is not alone. According to the Japan Organization of Better Sleep 1 in 3 Japanese report not getting enough sleep, compared with the U.S. National Sleep Foundation’s finding that 12 percent of Americans experience “poor” sleep. In a 2009 sleep study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Japan was placed 28th in the 29 countries surveyed, just one minute ahead of South Korea and a long way behind the world’s snooze champions, the French, who enjoy one hour more sleep than their counterparts in East Asia. Yet, while the OECD survey found that the average Japanese slept seven hours and 50 minutes per night, a 2010 study by national broadcaster NHK concluded that average sleep time in Japan is 35 minutes shorter. Equally revealing was the increasing tendency for “eveningness” in the country: In NHK’s first national lifestyle survey in 1960, 70 percent of those surveyed reported being in bed by 10:30 p.m. Thirty years later that figure had dropped to 30 percent. In the 45 years between that first survey and 2005, the amount of time spent sleeping had fallen by 50 minutes. This resulted in an estimated ¥3.5 trillion loss to the economy due to decreased productivity and other losses resulting from human error, such as vehicle and other accidents, according to sleep expert Makoto Uchiyama, chairman of the Nihon University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. If medical costs due to injuries brought about as a result of sleeplessness are included, that figure could be as high as ¥5 trillion per year, Uchiyama says. “Gray areas exist in sleep research,” says Uchiyama, who in 1999 led Japan’s first research into insomnia, “but there is little doubt that, for most people, sleep affects functionality and health.” Uchiyama says that one of those gray areas is the exact purpose and function of sleep. Indeed, a pioneer in sleep research, William C. Dement, who founded the globe’s first sleep laboratory at Stanford University, has famously commented that the only “solid” reason humans need sleep “is because we get sleepy.” Yet, in recent years researchers have unveiled far more compelling reasons to get a decent amount of shut-eye, not least of all the now well-established links between sleep and an increased risk of various medical conditions, including cancer in night-shift workers, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, depression and, in cases of zero sleep, death. One research project with particular relevance for Japan in general, and the likes of convenience-store manager Shimizu in particular, is the possible link between sleeplessness and suicide. In 1998, Japan’s suicide rate surged above 30,000, peaking in 2003 when the number of Japanese taking their lives reached 34,427. In 2014, the rate fell below 30,000 for the first time in 15 years, returning approximately to pre-1998 levels, though not for all age groups. “If you look at the demographics, the biggest improvement was those over 60, where the suicide rate had fallen 7.4 percent since 1997,” says lead researcher Yuki Matsumoto of Kurume University School of Medicine’s Department of Environmental Medicine. “The rate also fell in those in their 50s. However, suicides among those in their 20s and 30s continued to increase. As our 24-hour society becomes ever-more pervasive and lifestyles become increasingly irregular, more and more younger people are not getting sufficient sleep. … So, I wondered if this might be connected to the suicide rate.” Matsumoto points to previous research that has shown the effect of poor sleep on the brain, how blood flow in the frontal lobe — the human brain’s seat of reason — becomes restricted. The result, Matsumoto says, is our powers of reasoning are hindered and we tend to lean toward life choices with higher risk, he adds. “In other words,” he says, “frontal lobe issues could trigger suicidality.” Another part of the brain that Matsumoto believes could be affected by poor sleep is the amygdala, an almond-shaped set of neurons located deep in the brain’s medial temporal lobe that processes emotions, memory and decision making. Abnormal functioning of the amygdala is thought to be a contributory factor in a number of conditions, including post-traumatic stress disorder, phobias and nightmares. In cases of poor sleep, Matsumoto says these neurons become hyperactive, causing irritability, depression and extreme negativity. “Such an outcome could result in feelings of isolation and a perception that you are a burden to others,” says Matsumoto, whose paper appeared in the journal Sleep and Biological Rhythms in June. A low sense of belongingness and perceived burdensomeness are two key components in the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicidal behavior, which was first proposed by Florida State University psychology professor Thomas Joiner in 2005, he adds. The theory proposes that an individual will not commit suicide unless he or she has both the desire and ability to do so. For his research, Matsumoto developed a unique “three-dimensional sleep scale” that not only looked at the time that people slept, but also sleep rhythm and quality. This meant that people who slept eight hours but woke up feeling unrefreshed would score lower than someone who slept four hours but felt it did not cause them any significant inconvenience. Matsumoto’s team concluded that while each of the sleep measurements could on their own result in suicidality, workers suffering from a wider range of sleep problems are at even greater risk of experiencing suicidal feelings. “It seemed evident that what is important when it comes to sleep is not just the time that people slept, but whether or not it is sufficient for each individual, which is why we developed this scale,” Matsumoto says. “For the purposes of our research we focused on those who felt their sleep was insufficient, no matter how long they actually slept.” Mitigating factors Interestingly, international surveys into sleep, such as those conducted by the OECD, still tend to focus on sleep quantity, which Nihon University School of Medicine’s Uchiyama says can be misleading. Japan’s lowly ranking in the OECD research has led to calls for improved methods to mitigate what some have called a problem of pandemic proportions. Yet, Uchiyama is not convinced. Uchiyama points to a 2015 study by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society that gathered 15 leading sleep experts to review thousands of published studies that examined the link between sleep duration and well-being for adults. The group’s meta analysis eventually concluded that adults should sleep seven hours or more per 24 hours (on a regular basis) to promote optimal health. However, they also reported that sleeping more than the recommended number of hours per 24-hour period on a regular basis could also increase the risk of adverse physical health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity, as well as mental health problems. Moreover, a 2002 University of California San Diego survey of more than 1.1 million people, which looked into the connection between the amount of time people sleep and risk of death, showed those at lowest risk slept between 6½ and 7.4 hours per day. Indeed, survey participants who reported sleeping eight hours or more “experienced significantly increased mortality hazard, as did those who slept six hours or less,” according to the paper. Based on these findings, Uchiyama believes that, if anything, the Japanese and South Koreans are getting pretty much the optimum level of sleep. “If the OECD and U.S. reports are right, then the French, who finished top in the OECD report (with eight hours and 50 minutes of sleep) are putting themselves at risk of adverse physical outcomes such as diabetes and hypertension, which can result from too much sleep,” Uchiyama says. Uchiyama says a lot has been made about the Japanese and sleep, citing a book by Cambridge researcher Brigitte Steger suggesting that a tendency among Japanese to sleep on trains is a sign they are sleep-starved. However, the veteran sleep researcher believes there are other factors to be considered. “I would argue that sleeping on a train is more an example of a sense of safety and security that perhaps does not exist in some countries,” Uchiyama says. Uchiyama contests that such cultural misrepresentations are in fact at the heart of the huge sleep time gap that appears in the OECD report. He believes that the average daily sleep figures for Western nations appearing at the top of the OECD graph — France (530 minutes), the U.S. (518 minutes), Spain (514 minutes) and New Zealand (513 minutes) — represent time spent in bed as opposed to time actually sleeping. “My guess is that if measurements were to take into account such cultural factors, there would be very little difference in the actual sleep time of nations around the globe,” Uchiyama says, adding that contrary to popular belief, sleep time in pre-industrialized Europe also was around six to seven hours, as has been demonstrated by research undertaken by the likes of U.S. historian Roger Ekirch. In his book “At Day’s Close: Night in Times Past,” Ekirch showed that while preindustrial sleep patterns featured two stages, with a waking period in between where people in Northern Europe would work or play, the total amount of time that people slept each night was little different than the time recommended in 2015 by the U.S. Sleep Research Society. In Japan, too, examples have been found from as far back as the Heian Period (794-1185) of people — including samurai — having a waking period between two periods of sleep. Uchiyama’s own research, which studied the brainwaves of 4,000 individuals during sleep, also came to the similar conclusion: 25 year-olds need seven hours sleep, people in their 40s need 30 minutes less and those older than 65 require six hours of sleep, he found. “One thing we have learned since 2000 is the detrimental impact that sleep deprivation has on physical and mental health,” Uchiyama says, adding that the percentage of insomniacs in Japan (21 percent) is one of the lowest in the world (30 percent in the U.S.) largely because the short time in bed means insomnia is not experienced so often. “With regards to Japan and the physical impact, what the OECD is saying is bad is not, in fact, bad,” Uchiyama says. “If the question is, ‘Do the Japanese get enough sleep?’ the answer has to be, ‘Yes.'” This is little comfort for the likes of Shimizu and others whose sleep deprivation was not the outcome of conscious volition. “Overwork and sleeplessness go hand in hand in this 24-hour society,” says Shimizu, who later successfully sued his employer. Ultimately, he says, it was a lack of sleep that pushed him to the verge of death, just one step short of another more tragic story in 2008, when an overworked employee of major pub chain Watami, 26-year-old Mina Mori, committed suicide after her work left her feeling “exhausted” and “emotionally numb.” “Although I didn’t know it, I was speeding along that same road,” says Shimizu, who six years on is fully recovered and now works a three-day week. “Luckily for me someone applied the brake.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/27/lifestyle/japan-get-enough-sleep/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/0ec4f1baef66ff1a4e4bd84434bd25f76e7149144c5a2491123d9985c2a3684a.json

Davis Webb threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in a sensational debut for California, leading the Bears to a 51-31 win over Hawaii on Sat

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fmore-sports%2Ffootball%2Fcal-routs-hawaii-sydney%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-ncaa-a-20160828-870x971.jpg

en

Cal routs Hawaii in Sydney

www.japantimes.co.jp

Davis Webb threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in a sensational debut for California, leading the Bears to a 51-31 win over Hawaii on Saturday in college football’s season opener at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. Khalfani Muhammad had 94 yards rushing and one touchdown, and Chad Hansen had 14 receptions for 160 yards and two scores to help Cal win the game played Down Under as a tourism initiative and to increase awareness of “gridiron” in the country. The teams provided plenty of early entertainment for unfamiliar fans, scoring two touchdowns each by midway through the opening quarter. But Webb, the graduate transfer from Texas Tech replacing Jared Goff — the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick by the Los Angeles Rams — helped move Cal into control in the second quarter. Hawaii fumbled on a kickoff following Matt Anderson’s second field goal for Cal, and Webb’s 34-yard pass to wide Hansen on the next play gave Cal a 27-14 lead. Webb got into the act himself, rushing three yards off-tackle for another Cal touchdown and a 34-14 halftime lead. Webb was 38- for-54 and 441 yards total passing with no interceptions. Hawaii was led by wide receiver Marcus Kemp with four receptions for 73 yards and one TD. Ikaika Woolsey was 17-for-34 and 234 yards passing with one TD and one interception.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/27/more-sports/football/cal-routs-hawaii-sydney/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/c7d2b3f6dc6c8ac34439b6782711b53dc7ea89bc8787543ce81faaa0b5efabe2.json

It's been the driving issue of Donald Trump's campaign. Build a wall along the southern border. Make Mexico pay for it. And expel everyone living in the U.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fworld%2Fpolitics-diplomacy-world%2Ftrump-goes-vague-things-policy-polling-audiences-immigration-cues%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-trumple-a-20160831-870x567.jpg

en

Trump goes from being vague on all things policy to polling audiences for immigration cues

www.japantimes.co.jp

It’s been the driving issue of Donald Trump’s campaign. Build a wall along the southern border. Make Mexico pay for it. And expel everyone living in the U.S. illegally with the help of a “deportation force.” Ten weeks before the election, however, buffeted by conflicting advice from aides and advisers, Trump has seemed to be in full indecision mode. At a Fox News town hall tall taping last week, in the face of pressing questions, he proceeded to poll the audience at length on the fate of an estimated 11 million people. Trump is now planning a major speech on Wednesday, during which he’s expected to finally clarify his stance. Supporters are hoping for a strong, decisive showing. But for critics, many already disposed to vote against him, his wavering on what has been his signature issue, seems like a warning that he’s unable to handle a central element of any president’s job — making decisions. It also underscores how little his Republican campaign has invested in the nitty gritty of outlining what he would do as president, especially when compared with the more detailed plans of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. “It’s just puzzling,” said Lanhee Chen, who has served as a policy adviser to several Republican presidential candidates. “This is the issue on which he rose to prominence in the primary and the issue on which he continues to stake much of his campaign.” From the start, Trump has never been the kind of candidate to pore over thick policy books. Indeed, he has mocked Clinton on the subject. “She’s got people that sit in cubicles writing policy all day. Nothing’s ever going to happen. It’s just a waste of paper,” he told Time Magazine in June. “My voters don’t care and the public doesn’t care. They know you’re going to do a good job once you’re there.” To date, Trump’s campaign has posted just seven policy proposals on his website. There are 38 on Clinton’s site, ranging from efforts to cure Alzheimer’s disease to Wall Street and criminal justice reform. “I’ve laid out the best I could, the specific plans and ideas that I want to pursue as your president because I have this old-fashioned idea,” Clinton said during a recent speech in Colorado. “When you run for president, you ought to tell people what you want to do as their president.” Trump’s new campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, has said she’s pushing her boss to get more specific. Yet his positions on a host of issues remain vague at best. For example, while Trump has slammed the Common Core education standards and touts the benefits of local control of education, he has no formal, detailed plans for improving public schools. He talks about student loan debt and the increasing costs of higher education, but has yet to propose solutions. He has teased plans to make childcare more affordable, but has missed his own deadline for unveiling them. Until recently, however, there has been no doubt about where Trump stood on illegal immigration. The wall was going up — Mexico would have to pay — and those estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally were going to have to leave. But over the summer, Trump began suggesting in closed-door conversations with Hispanic leaders that he might be open to softening his stance. On Aug. 20, he convened a closed-door round table of Hispanic lawmakers and business leaders, and left some with the same impression. The day after, campaign manager Conway said his position on deportations was “To be determined.” Trump’s supporters say questions about his recent waffling are overblown. His running mate, Mike Pence, describes him as “a CEO at work” as he consults with various stakeholders. “You see someone who is engaging the American people, listening to the American people,” Pence told CNN on Sunday. “He is hearing from all sides.” But Stephen Moore, a conservative economist who has worked with Trump to shape his tax and economic plans, says the vagueness on policies is also by design. “We want to talk about the big visionary stuff. We don’t want to have a big debate about this loophole, that loophole,” he said. “This is a campaign, it’s not a write-up of a tax bill in the Ways and Means Committee.” Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary under George W. Bush, says the confusion that now exists about Trump’s plans for immigration underscores “the risk in electing someone whose candidacy is based on his personality and image, as opposed his experience and policy knowledge.” While a Trump could succeed as president as a “big picture, set the tone, drive the direction and move the government” kind of leader, Flesher said that would require him to surround himself with a knowledgeable and capable staff. “But the lesson in how he’s run his campaign — and frankly in how he’s run his businesses — doesn’t give you confidence that he would surround himself with a lot of capable people,” he said. In addition, Chen said that a President Trump arriving at the White House without detailed plans could be limited in how much he might achieve. “If you’re not able to hit the ground running, chances are you’re going to run into serious resistance if you sit there studying something for the first 100 days,” he said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/world/politics-diplomacy-world/trump-goes-vague-things-policy-polling-audiences-immigration-cues/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/d1674105e24302c0f5408990b6d05285bfaffb92d8787b3992bdff9cea99ef7f.json

The famous human ancestor known as Lucy walked the Earth, but it was her tree climbing that might have led to her demise, a new study suggests. An analysis

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fworld%2Fscience-health-world%2Fresearchers-speculate-famed-human-ancestor-lucy-fell-death-tree%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-lucy-a-20160831-870x1613.jpg

en

Human ancestor Lucy's tree-climbing may have led to her demise: study

www.japantimes.co.jp

The famous human ancestor known as Lucy walked the Earth, but it was her tree climbing that might have led to her demise, a new study suggests. An analysis of her partial skeleton reveals breaks in her right arm, left shoulder, right ankle and left knee — injuries that researchers say resulted from falling from a high perch such as a tree. Lucy likely died quickly, said John Kappelman, an anthropologist at the University of Texas at Austin, who published the findings Monday in the journal Nature. “I don’t think she suffered,” Kappelman said. But several other researchers, including Lucy’s discoverer, disagree. They contend most of the cracks in Lucy’s bones are well documented and came after her death from the fossilization process and natural forces such as erosion. How Lucy met her end has remained a mystery since her well-preserved fossil remains were unearthed more than four decades ago. Her discovery was significant because it allowed scientists to establish that ancient human ancestors walked upright before evolving a big brain. Lucy was a member of Australopithecus afarensis, an early human species that lived in Africa between about 4 million and 3 million years ago. The earliest humans climbed trees and walked on the ground. Lucy walked upright and occasionally used her long, dangling arms to climb trees. She was a young adult when she died. Tim White, a paleoanthropologist at the University of California, Berkeley, called the study’s conclusion a “misdiagnosis.” The Texas researchers “appear to have focused only on the cracks that they could attribute to an imagined fall, ignoring the additional abundant cracks,” White said in an email. The split highlights the difficulty of pinpointing a cause of death from fossilized remains. Scientists rarely know how early humans died because skeletons are incomplete and bones tend to get crushed under sand and rocks. Over the years, Lucy’s discoverer, Donald Johanson, has tried to solve the mystery. Lucy’s skeleton, which is 40 percent complete, was recovered in Ethiopia in what was an ancient lake near fossilized remains of crocodiles, turtle eggs and crab claws. “There’s no definitive proof of how she died,” said Johanson of Arizona State University. The Texas team examined Lucy’s bones and used high-tech imaging. Kappelman said the scans revealed multiple broken bones and no signs of healing, suggesting the injuries occurred around the time of death. He reconstructed her final moments: The 3-foot-6-inch (1.06-meter) Lucy fell from at least 40 feet (12 meters) and hit the ground at 35 mph (56 kph). She landed on her feet before twisting and falling. Such an impact would have caused internal organ damage. Fractures on her upper arms suggest she tried to break her fall. Kappelman theorized that Lucy’s walking ability may have caused her to be less adept at climbing trees, making her more vulnerable to falling from heights. Not everyone agrees that her tree-climbing skills were lacking. Other scientists point out that there have been documented falls by chimpanzees and orangutans, which spend more time in trees than Lucy’s species. “Without a time machine, how can one know that she didn’t just get unlucky and fall?” William Harcourt-Smith of the American Museum of Natural History said in an email.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/world/science-health-world/researchers-speculate-famed-human-ancestor-lucy-fell-death-tree/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/326d768c56dd594eada13421c2f5ce5a0fc0f06f1b3f909b52c863c7787fd3cd.json

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have faced each other in eight major finals, plan to team up as doubles partners next year during the inaugural Laver C

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F25%2Fmore-sports%2Ftennis%2Ffederer-nadal-team-laver-cup%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-tennis-a-20160826-870x585.jpg

en

Federer, Nadal to team up in Laver Cup

www.japantimes.co.jp

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have faced each other in eight major finals, plan to team up as doubles partners next year during the inaugural Laver Cup. With a combined 31 Grand Slam titles, Federer and Nadal have committed to the team event, which attempts to create a tennis version of golf’s Ryder Cup. Named for Australian great Rod Laver, the competition pitting a squad of European men’s players against a group from the rest of the world was first announced in January. On Wednesday, organizers said the first edition would be held in Prague on Sept. 22-24, 2017, indoors at O2 Arena. Former rivals Bjorn Borg of Sweden (Europe) and John McEnroe of the U.S. (World team) will serve as captains for the first three years. Laver, Borg, McEnroe, Federer and Nadal — accounting for 60 major singles titles — gathered at a Manhattan hotel Wednesday for the announcements. The plan is for the Laver Cup to be held annually, except during Olympic years, two weeks after the U.S. Open, with the location rotating. There will be six men on each team: four based on the rankings after Wimbledon, and two captain’s picks announced after the U.S. Open. There will be 12 matches played over three days (nine singles and three doubles), with the number of points awarded for victories increasing each day. Each player will take the court once or twice for singles, with at least four of the six taking part in doubles. All the matches will be best-of-three, but if the first two sets are split, they will go to a 10-point tiebreaker. Borg hopes that the other half of the “Big Four” — the current top two men in the rankings, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and Britain’s Andy Murray — will join Switzerland’s Federer and Spain’s Nadal on the Europe team. McEnroe acknowledged that for now at least, his World squad would be the heavy underdog, though a lot can happen in just over a year. Beyond the Big Four, Europe boasts 13 of the current top 15 players in the men’s rankings. And active European players have combined for 49 Grand Slam titles; for the rest of the world, it’s just one, by Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro. Federer’s management company, TEAM8; Brazilian businessman Jorge Paulo Lemann, a former Davis Cup player; and Tennis Australia partnered to create the Laver Cup. Kvitova into quarters New Haven Connecticut AP Two-time defending champion Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic advanced to the Connecticut Open quarterfinals, beating Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-2 on Wednesday night. Kvitova, the two-time Wimbledon winner and a bronze medalist in the Rio Olympics, won 10 straight games after falling behind 3-1 in the first set. She will face Ekaterina Makarova of Russia. Makarova won her second-round match Tuesday. Once Kvitova overcame her slow start and broke Bouchard’s serve to make it 3-2 in the first, she went on the attack. By the time she lost another game, she was leading the second set 5-1. “I need a couple of games to find my rhythm,” Kvitova said. “I’ll never be the player who will wait for the (opponent’s) mistake.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/25/more-sports/tennis/federer-nadal-team-laver-cup/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/0adccdb8ebad6e5b8a68d462badef9516e58b2d652f2069fb206efad99cba9cc.json

Japan will pour $30 billion of investment into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F28%2Fnational%2Fpolitics-diplomacy%2Fabe-pledges-japan-will-invest-30-billion-in-africa-by-2018%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-abeafrica-a-20160829-870x579.jpg

en

Abe pledges Japan will invest $30 billion in Africa by 2018

www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan will pour $30 billion of investment into Africa by 2018, including $10 billion in infrastructure development, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Saturday at a summit in Nairobi. Abe is using the conference to meet dozens of leaders from across Africa, among them Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and South African President Jacob Zuma. It is the first time that the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) is being held in Africa, with all five previous events hosted in Japan. “When combined with the investment from the private sector, I expect the total real amount to be $30 billion,” Abe said as the summit got underway. That figure includes $9 billion yet to be spent from pledges made at the previous TICAD conference in 2013. “This is an investment that has faith in Africa’s future,” he said. The goal of the conference, organized jointly by the U.N., the African Union, the World Bank and Japan, is to boost trade and aid to Africa. Japan hopes that quality will trump quantity in the battle against cash-rich China for influence on the continent. While Tokyo already has a well-established presence in Africa, its financial importance to the continent has long been eclipsed by archrival China. Resource-hungry China, the world’s second-largest economy, recorded total trade with Africa of $179 billion in 2015, dwarfing Japan’s $24 billion. Some 30 African heads of state are taking part in the two-day conference. Around 70 agreements are expected to be signed. “We have a feeling in our gut that in Africa, where possibilities abound, Japan can grow vigorously,” said Abe. “The wealthiest countries today, with very few exceptions, got rich by trading with others,” Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the conference. Chad’s President Idriss Deby, who currently chairs the African Union, noted that Africa’s economy has been badly affected by falling commodity prices, several conflicts and climate change. “Our struggle for development cannot succeed without peace, stability and, above all, security,” he said. Deby called on Africa’s partners to contribute to a counter-terrorism fund recently set up by the African Union and to help speed up economic growth, poverty reduction and promote better health care. The World Bank and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria meanwhile pledged $24 billion over the next three to five years toward Africa’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/28/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-pledges-japan-will-invest-30-billion-in-africa-by-2018/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/cf1377bb800b24067c2cca3d37276ffc5d05bdf23d50a6100cca24bc15271153.json

Foreign students working part-time in izakaya (pubs) are rising rapidly in the Chubu region amid the increasing tendency of many young Japanese to avoid dr

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fnational%2Fforeign-part-timers-proliferate-chubu-scarce-japanese-flee-drunks-pubs%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-chubu-a-20160830-870x711.jpg

en

Foreign part-timers proliferate in Chubu as scarce Japanese flee drunks at pubs

www.japantimes.co.jp

Foreign students working part-time in izakaya (pubs) are rising rapidly in the Chubu region amid the increasing tendency of many young Japanese to avoid drunk customers. This is especially true in Nagoya, where many fancy commercial facilities popping up around JR Nagoya Station are attracting Japanese seeking part-time jobs. Most izakaya are struggling to find staff and say they will fail without foreign staff. “Order ready!” a Nepalese cook yells in Japanese to a Vietnamese coworker who takes the food to the tables. The two work in Amataro, an izakaya in Meitetsu Lejac, a commercial complex in the Meieki district east of JR Nagoya Station. The pub employes 28 foreign students who account for 60 percent of the part-time staff. According to Nagoya-based Atom Corp., which runs the chain, 90 percent of the applications for part-time jobs come from non-Japanese. “There used to be only two foreign part-timers, but the number has jumped drastically in the last year or two,” said Hirofumi Kokubo, an official of Atom’s sales division who managed the branch five years ago. Since many universities and vocational schools are situated in the Meieki district, there are plenty of Japanese students, but Kokubo said young Japanese now prefer to work in fancy restaurants. “People have this negative image that they have to deal with drunken people if they work in izakaya, so no one responds to our job offers even if we offer them high hourly pay,” he added. Since July, Atom has been using the branch in Meitetsu Lejac as a training base for foreign part-time workers. Four full-time employees teach them the skills needed to cook and serve before sending them off to other branches, including in Fushimi and Sakae, that are short on staff. According to DIP Corp., which runs Baitoru Tokai, a website for part-time job-seekers in the neighboring Tokai region, the number of wanted ads that said “foreign students welcome” in the four prefectures reached 17,000 in June, up 2.5 times from the previous year. The ads are mostly from restaurants, including izakaya, followed by supermarkets, fast food shops and convenience stores. “Japanese job-seekers are going for commercial facilities that have recently opened around Meieki, so a service industry that’s struggling to hire people has to rely on foreigners to offset for the labor shortage,” a DIP official overseeing the Tokai region said. Foreign students are permitted to work up to 28 hours per week, according to their visa status. According to the Aichi Labour Bureau, some 7,000 foreign students worked part-time in Aichi Prefecture last year — the third-largest number in Japan. Commenting on the labor situation, professor Yuriko Sato of Tokyo Institute of Technology’s School of Environment and Society, who is well-versed on the situation with foreign students, said proper information disclosure and administrative checks are necessary to ensure their quality of education. This section, appearing Tuesdays, features topics and issues from the Chubu region covered by the Chunichi Shimbun. The original article was published on Aug. 9.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/29/national/foreign-part-timers-proliferate-chubu-scarce-japanese-flee-drunks-pubs/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/7772d33db3005b63227c53cc618aa456917751e3686db1eb1ea9b9fed3d7eebe.json

The situation in the South China Sea is prompting the Ministry of Defense and the SDF to expand Japan's presence and strengthen partnerships in the region.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fcommentary%2Fjapan-commentary%2Fjapans-defense-diplomacy-asean-member-states%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Japan's defense diplomacy with ASEAN member-states

www.japantimes.co.jp

In recent years, Japan has been stepping up its involvement with Association of Southeast Asian Nations member-countries in the realm of security. Since the Cold War, Japan has been steadily bolstering ties with these countries in the form of bilateral defense “exchanges” primarily centered on high-level consultations and working-level talks, and multilateral security dialogues with the goals of building mutual confidence and improving transparency. More recently, however, Japan has moved to a higher degree of “cooperation” — including bilateral military exercises and agreements on defense equipment — with certain ASEAN member states. With developments such as the first-ever defense ministers’ meeting between Japan and ASEAN member countries in November 2014, the ASEAN bloc is now becoming one of Japan’s major regional partners on security issues, following the United States, Australia, South Korea and India. The distinguishing characteristics of Japanese “defense diplomacy” as applied to ASEAN can be summarized by the following three points: expansion of presence, strengthening of partnerships, and sharing of norms and general rules via such partnerships. The first point is the expansion of Japan’s presence through initiatives such as the Self-Defense Forces making port at and/or visiting ASEAN member countries, or participating in bilateral or multilateral joint military exercises. In March 2016, a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel made port in Malaysia for the first time in three years, and the following month the MSDF participated in friendly training drills with the Royal Malaysian Navy. In April 2016, the MSDF submarine Oyashio, along with MSDF destroyers Ariake and Setogiri, made port at Subic Bay in the Philippines, the first such visit in approximately 15 years. After that, Ariake and Setogiri made port at Cam Ranh Bay in southern Vietnam for the first time. During that time, the large MSDF destroyer Ise crossed the South China Sea for the first time to participate in an international fleet review and multilateral exercises held in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the SDF participated in joint military exercises together with the U.S. and Australia in February 2016, in waters between Singapore and India; and again in April 2016, in the vicinity of Indonesia. Japan is also taking steps to bolster its presence in the region through other activities as part of multilateral frameworks, for instance by dispatching a sizable contingent of SDF troops (the third largest among participating countries) to participate in joint maritime security exercises held by the expanded ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM-Plus) taking place in the waters and airspace between Brunei and Singapore. The second point is Japan’s strengthening of partnerships through capacity building assistance and cooperation with defense equipment. Japan has already resolved to donate 10 multi-purpose vessels to the Philippines using Official Development Assistance grants, and it has also been agreed — based on the “Agreement Between the Government of Japan and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines Concerning the Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology” signed in February — that Japan will lease retired MSDF TC90 trainer aircraft to the Philippine Navy. In July, Japan also provided its first-ever capacity building assistance to the Philippines in relation to diesel engine maintenance for naval vessels. With Vietnam too, in addition to the donation of six used vessels to the Vietnamese Navy, Japan is also advancing talks on the supply of newly built ships at some point in the near future. Similarly, in light of the inaugural Japan-Indonesia Foreign and Defense Ministerial Consultation (“2+2”) held in December 2015, the following March, Japan carried out a capacity building assistance program for the Indonesian Navy on the creation of nautical charts. More recently, Japan has stretched its security partnership toward “continental” ASEAN member states such as Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. In February, Japan’s Defense Ministry held its first seminar on disaster response for the Lao People’s Armed Forces; and in April and May 2016, capacity building support in relation to international aviation law and flight safety was carried out for Thai Ministry of Defense personnel. In June, a meeting was held between Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Aung San Suu Kyi, state counsellor and minister of foreign affairs for Myanmar. The two ministers agreed that the SDF would provide capacity improvement assistance in areas such as humanitarian aid and disaster relief, while bilateral educational exchange would be bolstered. According to the Defense Ministry, this was the first time Suu Kyi had held talks with the defense minister of another country. There is no doubt that the situation in the South China Sea is behind these efforts by the Defense Ministry and the SDF to expand Japan’s presence and strengthen partnerships in the region. On June 12, 2016, an arbitral tribunal at The Hague rendered the award that there is no legal basis for China’s “nine-dashed line” claims in the South China Sea. After the award was announced, the Foreign Ministry immediately announced its view that the judgment was final and legally binding on the parties to the dispute under the provisions of UNCLOS, and the parties to this case are required to comply with the award. At the Japan-United States-Australia Trilateral Strategic Dialogue held that same month, a joint statement was issued, calling on both China and the Philippines to observe and abide by the tribunal’s award. Yet strengthening defense diplomacy toward ASEAN does not mean that Japan is “taking sides” with either one of the contesting states in disputes over the South China Sea. As we have seen, while Japan is strengthening ties with some of the contesting nations in the South China Sea, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, it is also seeking to offer capacity building assistance and strengthen its partnerships with non-contesting states. Similarly, Japan’s supplying of equipment to countries in Southeast Asia is mainly for the purpose of bolstering their capacity to respond to “gray zone” situations before they escalate into (military) contingencies, such as in conducting marine surveillance and the prevention of accidental collisions; and is not designed to bolster the military capabilities of these countries per se. Indeed, the initiative can be viewed as an attempt to prevent the escalation of such situations from the gray zone to actual military conflict between the armed forces of such countries by narrowing the gap between the Chinese Coast Guard and those of other littoral states. At the same time, the expansion of Japan’s presence in the Southeast Asian region is providing greater opportunities for cooperation with China. In the ADMM-Plus joint maritime security exercises mentioned noted above, the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) agreement — signed by numerous Western Pacific nations including China — was used for the first time. Japan has also used CUES in holding bilateral maritime exercises with countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam, and in the future it is conceivable that Japan might also conduct similar kinds of exercises with the Chinese Navy. In addition to the formation of a maritime contact mechanism between the two countries, for which negotiations are currently underway, such exercises will surely prove to be instrumental in encouraging the establishment of Japan-China crisis management mechanisms. In short, the activities that Japan is conducting in this region are intended neither to increase tension in the region by unilaterally taking sides in territorial disputes, nor to assist the military expansion of countries in the region to encourage their competition against a specific country. In fact, the purpose is quite the opposite. Japan is seeking to share the norms and general rules that form the basis for order and stability in the region, such as the rule of law and ASEAN centrality, by strengthening security relationships with the whole of the ASEAN bloc. The promotion of defense diplomacy toward ASEAN member countries are an effective means of achieving higher-order political goals such as these. Tomohiko Satake is a fellow in the Defense Policy Division, Policy Studies Department at the National Institute for Defense Studies. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Institute for Defense Studies or the Defense Ministry. © 2016, The Diplomat; distributed by Tribune Content Agency

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/30/commentary/japan-commentary/japans-defense-diplomacy-asean-member-states/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/b5dc317946f4b3d594ff91b3e2cd79b03dc1ea899da9917fdb69896a21662d10.json

An endless exploration The biggest game to land this fall is "No Man's Sky." And we mean literally the biggest. This sci-fi survival adventure title featur

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fdigital%2Fgames-youve-waiting-long-time%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p20-ashcraft-ongames-c-20160828-870x489.jpg

en

Games you've been waiting a long time for

www.japantimes.co.jp

An endless exploration The biggest game to land this fall is “No Man’s Sky.” And we mean literally the biggest. This sci-fi survival adventure title features an estimated 18 quintillion planets! The massive game is procedurally generated, meaning that data algorithms randomly create the universe, its planets, the alien inhabitants and ecosystems. The result is a huge number of unique gameplaying experiences. In “No Man’s Sky,” players explore the universe, collect resources and fend off inhospitable inhabitants. There are also interstellar dogfights (again, the alien spacecraft are also procedurally generated) as players go from planet to planet. The universe is hostile, so players must be careful if they want to survive. The fact that it’s impossible to visit every single corner of “No Man’s Sky” illustrates how limitless the potential is for the future of video games. “No Man’s Sky” is priced at ¥5,900 for PlayStaion 4, with a PC version available on the entertainment platform Steam. bit.ly/recorejp Get ready for a new “Persona” If you like Japanese role-playing games, you’re going to love this fall. One of this year’s most eagerly awaited JRP sequels “Persona 5” is coming out. Set in present-day Tokyo, “Persona 5” once again mixes school drama, alternative reality and psychology. Characters assume “personas,” embodiments of their psyche that they use in combat as they set out to right society’s wrongs. As in other “Persona” games, the main character is simply the protagonist, who utilizes persona powers while leading a group of vigilantes known as the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. The team finds its way through an alternative universe known as the Palace, where they set out to steal evil from the hearts of grown-ups. Fans have been patiently waiting for “Persona 5” for a long time. It was originally slated for a 2014 winter release on the PS3; however, the game was later delayed to 2015 and announced for the PS4. It was then delayed again to this summer, and then pushed back even further to this fall. This time, though, there is a concrete release date of Sept. 15. The game’s developer Atlus always brings a sense of style, gravitas and entertaining gameplay to the “Persona” titles. Combine that with the beautiful animated cutscenes from Production I.G, and this game looks to be worth the wait. “Persona 5” is priced at ¥8,800. persona5.jp Robots and more in ‘Recore’ ‘Recore’ is a tale of East meets West: One of Japan’s most famous game creators, Keiji Inafune of “Mega Man” and “Dead Rising” fame, has teamed up with Texas-based Armature Studio, headed by former “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” developers, for this exclusive Xbox One and PC title. Joseph Staten, who previously worked on the “Halo” series and wrote “Destiny,” has penned the story for “Recore,” which is set in a apocalyptic wasteland controlled by malevolent robots. The game’s heroine Joule and her robo-dog companion Mack set out to save the human race, enlisting the help of other robots along the way. “Recore” was originally slated for this spring, but has been moved to fall. As an Xbox One console exclusive, its appeal in Japan, where the Xbox has traditionally struggled, may be limited. However, the game’s characters, both human and robot, and its action-paced gameplay should find some appeal — perhaps even enough to encourage gamers to pony up for an Xbox One. Priced at ¥5,900, “ReCore” will be released on Sept. 15 for the Xbox One. The PC version will be available on the entertainment platform Steam. bit.ly/recorejp

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/27/digital/games-youve-waiting-long-time/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/307e55fc864fca29cb964cbfe37a5e0c997083151c6e37c1009b0195d7085f58.json

Researcher Henriette Jansen was running a workshop in Southeast Asia on the best ways to survey women about domestic violence when one participant had an e

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F26%2Fasia-pacific%2Fsocial-issues-asia-pacific%2Fu-n-program-aims-collect-data-domestic-violence-asia-pacific-region%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-violess-a-20160827-870x581.jpg

en

U.N. program aims to collect data on domestic violence in Asia-Pacific region

www.japantimes.co.jp

Researcher Henriette Jansen was running a workshop in Southeast Asia on the best ways to survey women about domestic violence when one participant had an epiphany. Interviewers in the participant’s country had questioned women on their experience of domestic violence while their husbands were present, and found only 3 percent of women had ever suffered physical or sexual violence. The figure was at odds with other surveys in the region showing that between 15 and 68 percent of women had experienced violence in their lifetimes, and the World Health Organization estimate that a third of women globally had been subjected to violence. “The interviewers were not trained about ethics, safety, confidentiality, building a rapport with the women,” Jansen, an expert on violence against women at the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), said in an interview. “Only women interview women — they have to have the right attitude, not be judgmental, not react in a certain way. If you are judgmental, the respondent will shut up and not say any more.” Jansen had also heard reports of women being beaten by their husbands for taking part in similar surveys on domestic violence. To address such safety and ethics issues, UNFPA and the Australian government on Wednesday launched a program to train researchers and field workers in the Asia-Pacific region to collect and analyze data on the violence that women experience. Up until the 1990s, very little was known about what was happening to women in the home, with the exception of countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, said Ingrid FitzGerald, a gender and human rights adviser at UNFPA. “In the developing world, there was no data about violence against women,” FitzGerald said, noting that most violence against women is domestic violence. As a result, violence against women was excluded from the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — targets to address extreme poverty and inequality around the world by 2015. “Violence was not included because it couldn’t be measured in enough countries with comparable data,” FitzGerald said. “Activists felt like this is an area where we have to have data. A lot of the time between the MDGs and SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) was getting these surveys going.” There is more data available now, she said, and with the new SDG target to “eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls” by 2030 — countries will collect even more. The initiative of the UNFPA Asia-Pacific office and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aims to create a network of researchers that understands how to measure violence against women, and make the survey tools and methodology open-source. It will also help countries use the data for policy and behavior change aimed at ending violence against women. Jansen said so far 28 countries in the Asia-Pacific region have data on violence against women, and the UNFPA project will expand that to 40 by the end of 2019. Yet no matter how well trained interviewers are, the statistics still miss the most serious cases — women who have been murdered, hospitalized because of injuries, or institutionalized because they have been incapacitated, Jansen said. “We never get the women who have been locked up, who can’t open the doors, who are afraid to open the doors. You can see them during the interviews — that their husbands can come home at any moment. The interviewer says, ‘I’m sure there was something the matter, you could see she was scared,’ ” she said. “You can never force women to tell their deepest, most painful secrets. . . . You never get the truth — you always miss a portion. What you get is always an underestimate.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/26/asia-pacific/social-issues-asia-pacific/u-n-program-aims-collect-data-domestic-violence-asia-pacific-region/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/06bd7fa3c8917fcee0711fd6d53d9b61ed55a794eddcc788e273b21471274f22.json

The embrace of political strongmen reflects widespread ignorance of the nature and consequences of populist rule.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fcommentary%2Fworld-commentary%2Fsiren-song-strongmania%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

The siren song of 'strongmania'

www.japantimes.co.jp

Political strongmen are back in style. Not long ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin was one of the only leaders worthy of the label. Today, he has much more competition. The trend can be seen in traditionally autocratic regimes. Chinese President Xi Jinping is arguably the country’s most powerful leader since the death of Mao Zedong four decades ago. But something similar can be seen in countries that had been touted as model young democracies. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had long been moving toward autocracy, has concentrated power further in the wake of last month’s failed military coup. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has reversed a post-communist success story with a sharp turn toward illiberalism. Even in the Philippines, where the People Power Revolution overthrew Ferdinand Marcos in 1986, voters have just elected as their president Rodrigo Duterte, an avowed populist strongman and trigger-happy warrior against drug lords. Even the world’s most stable democracies have been infected by strongmania. In Austria, Norbert Hofer, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, is likely to be elected to the presidency in October. And in the United States, Donald Trump has capitalized on the frustration and prejudices of parts of the American electorate to gain a chance — fortunately, weakening by the day — of becoming the country’s next president. This embrace of leaders who promise that they alone can fix society’s problems and restore some idealized past reflects widespread ignorance of the nature and consequences of populist rule. In fact, history has not been kind to such rulers. Like today’s leaders, they would often ride to power on a wave of public anger against the perceived failures of democracy — failures that they had no intention of fixing. Instead, once in office, they would often pursue an entirely different agenda — one that usually made things much worse. One need look no further than Venezuela, where today’s economic meltdown can be traced back to the disastrous rule of populist par excellence Hugo Chavez. People loved Chavez’s social-welfare schemes, seemingly unconcerned that they were based on oil revenues and foreign debt. As long as the benefits flowed, Chavez was free to expropriate industries and otherwise discourage private competition. Unsurprisingly, economic diversification stalled, and when oil prices collapsed, so did the economy. This highlights a key reason why strongmen nearly always lead their countries toward catastrophe. After winning over voters with their apparent decisiveness and directness, such leaders capture enough authority to make quick decisions and demonstrate short-term results — thereby keeping voters on their side as they claim still greater authority. But decisiveness carries a high cost. With nobody checking their behavior, strongmen rarely account for long-term risks. In the end, the prosperity they promised never arrives, at least not for long. Instead, the economy usually ends up in ruins. And that’s not the worst of it. Voters surrender freedoms for that promised prosperity, as Russia under Putin illustrates. Putin promised stability and order, and consolidated his power by taking down his political opponents, liberals and oligarchs alike. Then he began methodically destroying Russia’s fragile democratic institutions, stifling the press, and curtailing civil liberties, including freedom of assembly. Less than a decade later, he had erected a personal autocratic regime on the ruins of a flawed new democracy. And, as in Venezuela, the absence of economic modernization and diversification tied the economy’s fate to the global oil market. The ability to criticize the government freely is the core difference between democracy and dictatorship. So how can anyone believe that a leader who curtails people’s right to speak out can save a flawed democracy? In fact, the combination of freedom of expression and electoral competition is the key to improving democracies, because it enables systemic failures — not to mention leaders’ missteps — to be subjected to public scrutiny. China’s autocratic government is famous for avoiding such scrutiny by suppressing freedom of information. Its many elements of internet censorship — from blocking politically sensitive Wikipedia articles to filtering certain key words out of online searches — come together to form the so-called Great Firewall of China. That firewall, together with press censorship, enables China’s leaders to conceal their failures and highlight their achievements, however dubious. Putin behaves similarly, using the press to emphasize, say, how Russia’s annexation of Crimea has reminded the country’s Western opponents of its “greatness.” Orban and Erdogan seem to be operating from the same playbook. Moreover, like China, Russia has embraced extravagant spectacles like the Olympic Games, in an effort to showcase the country’s magnificence and the beneficence of its leaders. Coverage of such events fills the media space that should be used to discuss serious governance issues. If that were not enough to convince voters of the dangers posed by populist autocrats, one might also consider the human toll of living under their rule. Perhaps the dozens of journalists who have been arrested in Turkey since the coup attempt, or the families of Putin’s many opponents who have ended up dead, could provide some insight into the cost of living in constant fear of the government. The growing popularity of strongmen in much of the world may or may not herald the dawn of a new autocratic age. Strongmen tend to self-destruct, owing to colossal mistakes that doom their grandiose ambitions. Unfortunately, they tend to leave a severely compromised democracy and a derelict economy in their wake. Ultimately, the best defense against such outcomes is to prevent populist autocrats from getting elected in the first place. Countries that have elected such leaders should stand as a warning to others tempted to go down a similar path. Minxin Pei is a professor of government at Claremont McKenna College and a non-resident senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. © Project Syndicate, 2016

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/30/commentary/world-commentary/siren-song-strongmania/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/d96b62874e008900808bbdb21aa9999d3a2c9c9a772e71e012b0aa022dfc5da2.json

Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams face challenging early tests at the U.S. Open following Friday's draws for the year's last Grand Slam starting

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fmore-sports%2Ftennis%2Fdjokovic-has-wrist-injury%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-open-a-20160828-870x1211.jpg

en

Djokovic has wrist injury

www.japantimes.co.jp

Top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams face challenging early tests at the U.S. Open following Friday’s draws for the year’s last Grand Slam starting on Monday. Djokovic, who has been bothered by a wrist injury, faces towering Jerzy Janowicz of Poland in his opening match at Flushing Meadows, and is likely to meet 48th-ranked Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic in the second round. Vesely beat the Serbian world No. 1 earlier this season on clay in Monte Carlo. “I’m doing everything in my power . . . to make sure that I’m as close to 100 percent as possible,” Djokovic told reporters, saying he hurt his wrist in Rio de Janeiro a few days before the start of the Olympic tournament, where he lost in the first round. Williams, recovering from a shoulder injury that contributed to her third-round exit in Rio, drew Russian left-hander Ekaterina Makarova as her first opponent. The 34-year-old American, seeking to break her tie with Steffi Graf for most Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era with 22, has a 4-1 career record against Makarova, but lost to the Russian in the fourth round at the 2012 Australian Open. Williams is in a strong quarter that also includes fifth seed Simona Halep of Romania and 16th-seeded Australian Sam Stosur, who beat the American in the 2011 U.S. Open final. Djokovic is seeded to face either Frenchman Richard Gasquet or big-serving American John Isner in the fourth round, with France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or 2014 champion Marin Cilic, who ended Andy Murray’s win streak in the Cincinnati final, as possible quarterfinal opponents. Men’s second seed Murray, who ran off 22 wins in a row including his second Wimbledon title and successful defense of his Olympic crown, appeared to get a more favorable draw. Murray opens against Czech Lukas Rosol, has Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria or Feliciano Lopez of Spain as potential fourth-round foes with sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori possibly waiting for him in the quarters. Third seed Stan Wawrinka, who is in Murray’s half of the draw, begins against Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco, and may have to deal with a young Australian, Bernard Tomic or Nick Kyrgios, in the fourth round.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/27/more-sports/tennis/djokovic-has-wrist-injury/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/542f42234d8d1daa19ec748ddc85bc00c1d49864c5be55dcbc6c331c31edcb1d.json

Japan Post Bank plans to introduce automated teller machines that can conduct transactions in 16 different languages starting in January to meet demand fro

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fbusiness%2Fjapan-post-bank-to-introduce-16-language-atms%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/b-japanpost-a-20160828-870x580.jpg

en

Japan Post Bank to introduce 16-language ATMs

www.japantimes.co.jp

Japan Post Bank plans to introduce automated teller machines that can conduct transactions in 16 different languages starting in January to meet demand from international visitors ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Jiji Press learned Saturday. ATMs that display instructions in such a large number of languages are unprecedented in the Japanese banking industry. Seven Bank provides ATMs that can handle 12 languages, which are currently the most versatile in terms of language capability. The Japan Post Bank ATMs will offer services in Japanese, English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malay, Filipino, Indonesian, Vietnamese, German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and Arabic, according to sources. Japan Post Bank plans to start replacing about 500 ATMs installed in convenience stores belonging to FamilyMart Co., a business partner, with the 16-language ATMs in stages from next January. “Convenience stores are frequented by foreigners as well,” a Japan Post Bank official said. “So we hope to make (the convenience store ATMs) more convenient for them.” Japan Post Bank has a total of some 27,000 ATMs throughout the country. Most are located in post offices belonging to Japan Post Co., also a unit of Japan Post Holdings Co. The bank has not decided whether to replace the post office ATMs.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/27/business/japan-post-bank-to-introduce-16-language-atms/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/a5e2021babfbc91212c32fee8564e716023399a355cace3b74bb0e8df8e3ee77.json

In what would signify a major policy shift, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to abolish the decades-old spousal tax break that critics say has lon

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fbusiness%2Fldp-scrap-spousal-tax-break-bid-get-women-full-time-work%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

LDP to scrap spousal tax break in bid to get more women into full-time work

www.japantimes.co.jp

In what would signify a major policy shift, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party plans to abolish the decades-old spousal tax break that critics say has long dissuaded wives from seeking full-time work. The plan dovetails with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “womenomics” policy drive as the population ages and the nation scrambles to draw more women into the workforce. With more households now gravitating toward a dual-income life after decades of economic stagnation, “it is necessary to adjust our tax system in accordance with changing societal landscapes,” LDP Secretary-General Toshihiro Nikai told reporters Tuesday. Nikai said the LDP wants to support what he called the “groundbreaking” idea of rethinking the spousal tax deduction system. His comments came after Yoichi Miyazawa, chairman of the party’s tax system commission, told several local media outlets that the LDP was considering scrapping the spousal tax break. Miyazawa had said the plan would be to replace it with a new system that better caters to double-income households in a bid to foster the career development of women. The spousal tax break was introduced in 1961, at a time when women were still largely expected to be stay-at-home housewives after marriage, relying on husbands as the breadwinners. The current system cuts the taxable annual income of a household’s main earner by ¥380,000, but the household forfeits the benefit if the dependent spouse — often a wife — earns more than ¥1.03 million a year. Under this system, many wives feel compelled to limit their working hours to avoid letting their income exceed the ¥1.03 million threshold. Observers say this system is unfit for an age when more women are working and fewer households rely on just one breadwinner. In a 2011 labor ministry survey of part-time workers, 63 percent of married women admitted to reining in their working hours lest they earn more than ¥1.03 million annually. However, Nikai cautioned that abolishing the spousal tax deduction system altogether would also place a burden on single-income families. In an apparent bid to forestall a backlash, Miyazawa told the Nikkei financial daily that the party is considering replacing the current system with what could be translated as a “marital tax break,” in which households can qualify for a certain level of deduction regardless of whether they have a double income. The new system will scrap the ¥1.03 million threshold imposed on dependent spouses but set an upper limit on the amount of combined annual income the couple can earn, Miyazawa told the Nikkei. While reforming the spousal tax system will be a major step for the conservative LDP, Nikai nonetheless insisted that the planned reforms must not “destroy our traditional family model.” If realized, the removal of the spousal tax deduction would go a long way toward spurring more women into joining the workforce and assuaging the nation’s labor shortage, according to Shungo Koreeda, a researcher at Daiwa Institute of Research Holdings. But the effect, he said, will be “limited,” given there is another hurdle Japan needs to overcome in order to make full use of female employees in the workplace — the so-called wall of ¥1.3 million. Currently, dependent spouses don’t need to pay their own health insurance fees and pension premiums unless their annual income tops the ¥1.3 million mark. Earning more than that would force them to join social security plans at their own expense, serving as yet another disincentive for career development. “So it’s within the space of ¥1.03 million to ¥1.3 million that women are likely to be able to work more,” Koreeda said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/business/ldp-scrap-spousal-tax-break-bid-get-women-full-time-work/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/90039c2ee7deebd3de083511a24298af3069ca63037c88a8cd0072b67a3d0735.json

Over the next two years, grounds crews in St. Louis will cut down nearly one out of every five trees, altering the U.S. city's leafy landscape for at least

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fenvironment%2Fasian-beetle-damages-north-america-trees%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p21-asianbeetle-a-20160828-870x567.jpg

en

Asian beetle damages North America trees

www.japantimes.co.jp

Over the next two years, grounds crews in St. Louis will cut down nearly one out of every five trees, altering the U.S. city’s leafy landscape for at least a generation. The Midwestern metropolis made the tough decision with the knowledge that if it does not cut down the trees, most will quickly die. St. Louis is the latest victim of the Emerald Ash Borer, an Asian beetle smaller than a penny, which emigrated from China via shipping materials and is destroying millions of trees in North America. The insect targets the Ash tree — a common variety in Midwestern cities, where the tree can survive cramped sidewalks, harsh winters and road salts used to keep streets clear of ice and snow. In St. Louis, city forestry commissioner Skip Kincaid is tasked with dealing with the invasive pest and the destruction it is expected to cause in the next few years. “I’m trying as best I can to enlighten the public about how devastating it is going to be,” Kincaid said. To head off the Emerald Ash Borer’s advance, Kincaid will cut down almost all of the city’s 14,000 Ash trees — or roughly 17 percent of all trees — over the next two years. Scientists have discovered a pesticide treatment that can keep the insect from killing trees. However, Kincaid said that wasn’t an economically feasible solution, as it must be repeatedly applied every other year. The forestry expert surveyed the value of each tree, quantifying the benefits they provide in terms of property values, reducing storm water runoff, and reducing energy costs through natural cooling. Only 1,000 made the cut. The rest will be removed and replaced with a variety of species, but it will be years before they reach the size of the Ash trees. “This is something where quite honestly, we really have no other choice,” Kincaid said. Noel Schneeberger, a U.S. Forest Service expert at the forefront of the beetle battle, says once the Emerald Ash Borer infests an Ash, the chances of it surviving are basically nil. “In terms of targeting a single genus of trees, it’s pretty devastating,” Schneeberger said. Officials have tried regional quarantines to keep the bug from spreading. But barring the transportation of firewood — thought to be the primary way the bug spreads — has not worked. Scientists estimate that about 30 million trees have already succumbed to the beetle, and by the time its path of destruction concludes, hundreds of millions more will be dead, brittle, and ready to fall during a storm. What perplexed scientists at first was that the Emerald Ash Borer is a relatively benign beetle in its native East Asia — where Ash trees have evolved with the insect. It makes so little fuss in Asia that when it arrived in North America, scientists were not even able to identify the strange insect. In East Asia, the bug only seems to attack Ash trees that are already sick or dying. Healthy Ash appear to have a natural chemical resistance. However, a vast majority of Ash trees in North America do not, and the bug has been spreading unchecked since its arrival on the continent in 2002. It has reached 26 U.S. states, as far south as Texas, and north into Canada. In one experiment, scientists were able to induce North American Ash trees into producing compounds necessary to kill the beetle. The question of whether such efforts can be used en masse remain to be answered. The infestation has been particularly devastating for many cities in the Midwest, where streets can have rows of Ash trees for blocks at a time. The insect burrows into an Ash tree, creating tunnels that completely destroy the tree’s ability to move nutrients through its bark. The destruction is so thorough that the tree usually starves to death in less than five years. The U.S. Forest Service labels the beetle “the most devastating forest insect to reach North America in modern times.” Still, over the past 14 years, scientists have made progress in learning more about the beetle, the tree variety it targets, and about other previously unknown insects. Through trial and error, they discovered that a coordinated response can keep trees alive. Heavily infested trees should be removed and healthy trees treated with certain pesticides applied every two years. St. Louis is following a similar plan — focusing on the healthiest and biggest trees, and getting rid of the rest. “St. Louis has probably the approach that is used most commonly across the country,” said Richard Hauer, a professor of urban forestry at the University of Wisconsin who has been helping cities deal with the problem. In forests, it’s a different story, and scientists are trying to figure out how best to handle the Emerald Ash Borer now that it has moved in. For one, woodpeckers seem to love to eat the beetle’s larvae. They are proving a natural predator, but the plucky birds can’t do the job by themselves. Researchers found that they eat only about 16 percent of all Ash Borer larvae. In China, scientists found other natural predators previously unknown to science — small parasitic insects which are relatives of ants and wasps. Working together, the parasites can reduce the beetle’s populations dramatically — anywhere from 50 to 90 percent. Scientists have begun controlled releases of the parasitic insects in North America, and are studying whether they can create a biological balance of sorts, to reduce the Ash Borer population and keep more trees alive. However, any hope that millions of trees can be saved is a false one, as the parasite controls are in their “infancy,” Hauer said. “Give it several decades, or a century,” he said, pointing out that biological controls for previous deadly infestations have taken 50 years or more to have an effect. In cities, one of the key lessons to take away from the Ash Borer invasion, is that too much of one tree is not a good thing, Kincaid said. In St. Louis, he is planning to replace Ash with a far greater diversity of trees, so that no one insect can wreak mass havoc again. “We’re in a world now where every year, it’s a different invasive pest,” Kincaid said. “That’s why it’s critical to have this diversity of species. So if something moves in … you won’t wipe out 17 percent of your street trees.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/27/environment/asian-beetle-damages-north-america-trees/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/9c87a0fb7cdf254ea324d8ddfbe6b1f5a4ac9a9e115b84f86b2f7fe33d640880.json

Do you think the guy trying to hand me an election flyer back there knows that I can't vote (in the Tokyo gubernatorial election)?

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fcommunity%2F2016%2F08%2F06%2Fvoices%2Fpolitical-hot-potato%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Political hot potato

www.japantimes.co.jp

American man: Do you think the guy trying to hand me an election flyer back there knows that I can’t vote (in the Tokyo gubernatorial election)? — Shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Overheard by a Japan Times On Sunday reader Overheard a conversation you’d like to share? Simply fill out the online submission form at jtimes.jp/overheard. Please recount the conversation in the format above and be sure to provide a description of the participants (age, male/female, nationality if relevant, etc.), note where the conversation took place and include any other context that might be necessary.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/08/06/voices/political-hot-potato/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/7b5f13829e6a41476ac442c5c09be0a38d5b7b00463e32fef32cf37a58de8d56.json

Tourist John Gleason crept through the grass, four small children close behind, inching toward a bull elk with antlers like small trees at the edge of a me

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fworld%2Fsocial-issues-world%2Fu-s-national-parks-turn-100-rife-pesky-misbehaving-visitors-wildfires%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-parks-a-20160830-870x566.jpg

en

U.S. national parks turn 100 rife with pesky misbehaving visitors, wildfires

www.japantimes.co.jp

Tourist John Gleason crept through the grass, four small children close behind, inching toward a bull elk with antlers like small trees at the edge of a meadow in Yellowstone National Park. “They’re going to give me a heart attack,” said Gleason’s mother-in-law, Barbara Henry, as the group came within about a dozen yards of the massive animal. The elk’s ears then pricked up, and it eyed the children and Washington state man before leaping up a hillside. Other tourists — likewise ignoring rules to keep 25 yards from wildlife — picked up the pursuit, snapping pictures as they pressed forward and forced the animal into headlong retreat. Record visitor numbers at the nation’s first national park have transformed its annual summer rush into a sometimes dangerous frenzy, with selfie-taking tourists routinely breaking park rules and getting too close to Yellowstone’s storied elk herds, grizzly bears, wolves and bison. Law enforcement records obtained by The Associated Press suggest such problems are on the rise at the park, offering a stark illustration of the pressures facing some of America’s most treasured lands as the National Park Service marks its 100th anniversary. From Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains to the Grand Canyon of Arizona, major parks are grappling with illegal camping, vandalism, theft of resources, wildlife harassment and other visitor misbehavior, according to the records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In July alone, law enforcement rangers handled more than 11,000 incidents at the 10 most visited national parks. In Yellowstone, rangers are recording more wildlife violations, more people treading on sensitive thermal areas and more camping in off-limit areas. The rule-breaking puts visitors in harm’s way and can damage resources and displace wildlife, officials said. Often the incidents go unaddressed, such as when Gleason and the children approached the bull elk with no park personnel around. Gleason said he was “maybe” too close but felt comfortable in the situation as an experienced hunter who’s spent lots of time outdoors. These transgressions add to rangers’ growing workload that includes traffic violations, searches for missing hikers and pets running off-leash in parks intended to be refuges of untrammeled nature “It’s more like going to a carnival . If you look at the cumulative impacts, the trends are not good,” said Susan Clark, a Yale University professor of wildlife ecology who has been conducting research in the Yellowstone area for 48 years. “The basic question is, ‘What is the appropriate relationship with humans and nature?’ We as a society have not been clear about what that ought to be, and so it’s really, really messy and nasty.” Recent events at Yellowstone grabbed national headlines: — A Canadian tourist who put a bison calf in his SUV hoping to save it, ending with wildlife workers euthanizing the animal when they could not reunite it with its herd. — Three visitors from Asia cited on separate occasions for illegally collecting water from the park’s thermal features. — A Washington state man killed after leaving a designated boardwalk and falling into a near-boiling hot spring. The flouting of park rules stems from disbelief among visitors that they will get hurt, said Yellowstone Superintendent Dan Wenk. “I can’t tell you how many times I have to talk to people and say, ‘Step back. There’s a dangerous animal,’ and they look at me like I have three heads,” he said. Inconsistent record keeping, including a recent switch to a new criminal offenses reporting system, makes it difficult to identify trends that apply uniformly across the major parks. But the records reviewed by AP reveal the scope of visitor misbehavior is huge. In Yellowstone, administrators and outside observers including Clark say the park’s problems have become more acute. That threatens its mission to manage its lands and wildlife “unimpaired” for future generations. Beyond incidents that lead to citations are many more that result in warnings. More than 52,000 warnings were issued in 2015, up almost 20 percent from the year before. Washington state resident Lisa Morrow’s son was among the children Gleason led toward the elk. Despite safety advisories — and numerous examples of visitors getting gored by bison, mauled by bears and chased by elk — Morrow declared herself unafraid of the park’s wildlife. She said she was eager to see a grizzly up close. “I want to see one right there,” Morrow said, pointing to a spot just feet away. “I’d throw it a cookie.” The top 10 parks by visitation collectively hosted almost 44 million people last year, according to National Park Service figures. That’s a 26 percent increase from a decade earlier, or more than 9.1 million new visitors combined at Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite and the other national parks on the list. Yellowstone boasts the most large, dangerous carnivores among those parks, but each has its risks. In Rocky Mountain National Park, it’s elk that become more aggressive during mating season. In Yosemite, it’s towering waterfalls where visitors insist on swimming near the edge. In the Grand Canyon, it’s squirrels habituated to humans and sometimes quick to bite an outstretched hand. Wenk said the rise in popularity of social media complicates keeping visitors safe. “You take a picture of yourself standing 10 feet in front of a bison, and all of a sudden a few hundred people see it, and it’s reposted — at the same time we’re telling everybody wildlife is dangerous,” Wenk said. “They get incongruous messages and then it happens. They get too close, and the bison charges.” Firefighters meanwhile chopped down trees and searched for hotspots on steep hillsides Sunday as they battled a wildfire that has blocked an entrance to Yellowstone National Park. Wildfire managers said their priority is clearing a highway that leads to Yellowstone and protecting campgrounds, buildings and archaeological sites. They also are making sure there are no flare-ups or falling trees that could cause injuries or death. Strong winds blew down several trees Saturday, blocking some roadways. Travelers have been warned to be cautious on roads around the park that remain open. The fire that began last month in neighboring Grand Teton National Park is blocking Yellowstone’s south entrance, near the resort town of Jackson. Yellowstone also has entrance stations near Cody and in Montana. Joel Dugger, who is with a wildfire crew based near Redding, California, said he and six other firefighters have been working for 10 days to corral the Grand Teton fire and keep it contained. “That way we won’t have a potential re-burn through these areas that are green,” he said, pointing to nearby fir trees on a mountainside that have so far withstood intense heat and embers. Surrounded by swirling smoke from burning logs that were chopped up with chain saws and axes, Dugger said there have been long days on the fire lines, and firefighters sleep in tents at night. “We survive in the backcountry. We’re self-sufficient a week at a time,” he said. Wildfire managers are letting the fire continue to burn on Jackson Lake’s west side, where no buildings or people are threatened. Linda Burroughs, a visitor from Russell, Pennsylvania, who is traveling with a group of senior citizens, said wildfire cut short their planned two-day visit to Yellowstone National Park. They had to take a four-hour detour to get to their Jackson Lake lodge, south of the Grand Teton fire. “We see the smoke off and on,” she said, but so far, the fire isn’t threating tourists at the lodge. With the highway blocked, visitors in Grand Teton who want to go to Yellowstone have to drive into Idaho and Montana to the west entrance. Fire officials said the road might reopen as early as Tuesday. Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks and Bridger Teton National Forest all have area closures in effect, but both national parks are open to visitors. Officials in Yellowstone National Park said Sunday a 49-sq.-mile fire that started Aug. 8 has not crossed the West Entrance road, which remains open. They said if the fire flares up or smoke gets too dense, visitors in vehicles might have to be escorted through the area. Fire crews have begun working on a fuel break on the park’s western boundary to help reduce the risk of wildfire for the community of West Yellowstone, Montana, which is about 4 miles from the fire.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/29/world/social-issues-world/u-s-national-parks-turn-100-rife-pesky-misbehaving-visitors-wildfires/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/a7681598333a24e76469bf217da31029412bd635277ebda084180a42cfc05da6.json

In the Nairobi Declaration, Japanese and African leaders pledge to fight terrorism and emphasize the importance of a rule-based maritime order.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F28%2Fnational%2Fpolitics-diplomacy%2Fnairobi-declaration-japan-african-nations-vow-fight-terrorism-stress-rule-based-maritime-order%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-declaration-a-20160829-870x991.jpg

en

In Nairobi Declaration, Japan and African nations vow to fight terrorism, stress rule-based maritime order

www.japantimes.co.jp

Japanese and African leaders on Sunday pledged to fight terrorism and emphasized the importance of rule-based maritime order as they wrapped up a Japan-led international conference on the continent’s development. In the Nairobi Declaration adopted at the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the leaders also agreed to promote investment in infrastructure that leads to job creation in the fast-growing region. The sixth TICAD, convened in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, was held outside Japan for the first time, as Tokyo seeks to strengthen its economic and political presence in the continent amid China’s increasing influence. In the declaration, the leaders said they will seek to maintain maritime order based on rules, and strengthen security and safety at sea by international and regional cooperation in accordance with international law. The reference to maritime security comes as tensions remain high in the South China and East China seas amid China’s growing assertiveness. Japan has repeatedly called for the rule of law and opposed the use of force or coercion in maintaining maritime security. The declaration also reconfirmed efforts to reform the U.N. Security Council, currently comprising five permanent veto-wielding members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — and 10 elected members that serve two-year terms. Africa is vital for Japan in its bid to become a permanent member of the Security Council. There are 54 countries on the continent, making up a large voting bloc among the world body’s 193 members. As for investment in infrastructure, Japan hopes to distinguish its aid in the region from that of China through the promotion of “quality infrastructure,” Japanese officials said. In the discussions at TICAD, Abe called on his African counterparts to take measures to create a favorable business environment in terms of safety and legal matters so that Japanese investments in the region can be promoted. Abe was accompanied by around 200 officials from more than 70 Japanese companies during his trip to Nairobi, the first official visit by a Japanese prime minister in 15 years. Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of the Japan Business Federation, the country’s most influential business lobby also known as Keidanren, also took part. Noting that Africa faces challenges such as terrorism, infectious diseases and falling commodities prices, the Japanese and African leaders also vowed in the Nairobi Declaration to make efforts to create jobs for young people and women, promote structural reforms to diversify industries and enhance health care systems to improve the quality of life.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/28/national/politics-diplomacy/nairobi-declaration-japan-african-nations-vow-fight-terrorism-stress-rule-based-maritime-order/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/20043ce81ea2a46900963c20f16adfc91c8263f0b0fe6bc724926fe42243e3d3.json

Nearly a third of people have never heard of Mountain Day, the newest official public holiday. a survey shows.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F22%2Flanguage%2Flets-discuss-mountain-day%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Let's discuss Mountain Day

www.japantimes.co.jp

This week’s featured article TOMOKO OTAKE, THE JAPAN TIMES Nearly a third of people have never heard of Mountain Day, according to a new survey, as the newest official public holiday is set to be celebrated for the first time on Thursday. In 2014, the Diet established Aug. 11 as Mountain Day to be observed from this year, raising the annual tally of official public holidays in Japan to 16. The legislation to create the new holiday was submitted by a group of lawmakers and enacted with support from both the ruling camp and the opposition. The revised Law on National Holidays says that Mountain Day is designed to provide “opportunities to become familiar with mountains and be thankful for blessings from mountains.” But in a recent online survey of 500 people, just 68 percent said they had heard of the new holiday. The company compared the recognition of Mountain Day with Marine Day, which is observed on the third Monday of July. The results showed that 90.2 percent of those polled were aware of Marine Day, which debuted in 1996. Japan is blessed with an abundance of mountainous regions, and mountain trekking or hiking is a popular activity, especially among seniors. But 59.4 percent of the people surveyed said they “want to rest at home” on Mountain Day. Only 12 percent said they want to go traveling, and an even smaller 9.6 percent said they want to go to the mountains. Lawmakers picked Aug. 11 as the best date for Mountain Day since many municipal governments had voluntarily set the date as a day to observe their mountains. Some had chosen the date because eight, written in kanji, resembles the shape of a mountain, observers say, adding that the number 11 also looks like two standing trees. In recent decades the number of holidays has steadily grown in Japan, which is notorious for its long working hours. But as many Japanese don’t take long vacations, they most often register those holidays as extra days off to be tacked onto their weekends. First published in The Japan Times on Aug. 10. Warm up One-minute chat about holidays. Game Collect words related to mountains, e.g., tent, climbing, spring water. New words 1) tally: a current score or amount; e.g., “He wants to extend his record tally to three gold medals.” 2) abundance: great amount; e.g., “Japan is a nice place with an abundance of nature.” 3) notorious: well-known for some bad quality, infamous; e.g. “He was a notorious gambler.” Guess the headline A third of Japan unaware of M _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Day as h _ _ _ _ _ _ makes its debut Questions 1) What is the idea behind this new national holiday? 2) According to the survey, what percentage of people plan to get into the spirit of the new holiday? 3) Why was Aug. 11 chosen as the date for the holiday? Let’s discuss the article 1) What did you do for Mountain Day this year? 2) Do you think the government needs to create more holidays in Japan? 3) What national holiday would you create if you could? Reference 海の日なる新しい祝日が10年前に制定されだいぶ馴染みも出てきた今年、次は山の日なる祝日が制定されました。お盆の時期とも近く連休を取得 された方、日帰りで山やお出かけを楽しまれた方、お家にいらっしゃった方もいると思いますがどのような山の日を過ごされたでしょうか。初めての山の日を迎えた今年、その経済効果は一定の成果を見せ来年以降も期待 されています。 祝日が増えていくことに賛否の声はあるようですが、”特別な日”が年々 増えていっていることは事実のようです。皆さんは祝日が増えることに賛成でしょうか。どんなことを祝う日があればいいと思うか、皆さんで話し合って みましょう。

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/22/language/lets-discuss-mountain-day/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/a952319f556e07096bf88f80306923204810ffbb9706950a3d6bb5d6b4f47a14.json

President Barack Obama missed a golden opportunity when he refused to prove U.S. support for Iran's pro-democracy movement in 2009.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fcommentary%2Fworld-commentary%2Fobama-let-irans-green-movement-fail%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Why Obama let Iran's 'Green Movement' fail

www.japantimes.co.jp

One of the great hypotheticals of Barack Obama’s presidency involves the Iranian uprising that began on June 12, 2009, after Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was announced the winner of contested presidential elections. What if the president had done more to help the protesters when the regime appeared to be teetering? It’s well-known he was slow to react. Obama publicly downplayed the prospect of real change at first, saying the candidates whom hundreds of thousands of Iranians were risking their lives to support did not represent fundamental change. When he finally did speak out, he couldn’t bring himself to say the election was stolen: “The world is watching and inspired by their participation, regardless of what the ultimate outcome of the election was.” But Obama wasn’t just reluctant to show solidarity in 2009, he feared the demonstrations would sabotage his secret outreach to Iran. In his new book, “The Iran Wars,” Wall Street Journal reporter Jay Solomon uncovers new details on how far Obama went to avoid helping Iran’s “Green Movement.” Behind the scenes, Obama overruled advisers who wanted to do what America had done at similar transitions from dictatorship to democracy, and signal America’s support. Solomon reports that Obama ordered the CIA to sever contacts it had with the movement’s supporters. “The agency has contingency plans for supporting democratic uprisings anywhere in the world. This includes providing dissidents with communications, money and in extreme cases even arms,” Solomon writes. “But in this case the White House ordered it to stand down.” At the time, Solomon reports, Obama’s aides received mixed messages. Members of the Iranian diaspora wanted him to support the uprisings. Dissident Iranians from inside the country said such support would be the kiss of death. In the end, Obama did nothing, and Iran’s supreme leader blamed him anyway for fomenting the revolt. It’s worth contrasting Obama’s response with how the U.S. has reacted to other democratic uprisings. The State Department, for example, ran a program in 2000 through the U.S. Embassy in Hungary to train Serbian activists in nonviolent resistance against their dictator, Slobodan Milosevic. Milosevic, too, accused his opposition of being pawns of the U.S. But in the end his people forced the dictator from power. Similarly, when Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze met with popular protests in 2003 after rigged elections, George W. Bush dispatched James Baker to urge him to step down peacefully, which he did. Even the Obama administration provided diplomatic and moral support for popular uprisings in Egypt in 2011 and Ukraine in 2014. Iran though was different. Obama from the beginning tried to turn the country’s ruling clerics from foes to friends. It was an obsession. And even though the president would impose severe sanctions on the country’s economy at the end of his first term and beginning of his second, from the start Obama made it clear the U.S. did not seek regime change for Iran. It’s debatable whether the U.S. ever did support such a policy. But it’s striking the lengths to which Obama went to make good on his word. As Solomon reports, Obama ended U.S. programs to document Iranian human rights abuses. He wrote personal letters to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assuring him the U.S. was not trying to overthrow him. Obama repeatedly stressed his respect for the regime in his statements marking Iran’s annual Nowruz celebration. His quest to engage the mullahs seems to have influenced Obama’s decision-making on other issues, too. When he walked away from his red line against Syria’s use of chemical weapons in 2013, Solomon reports, both U.S. and Iranian officials had told him that nuclear negotiations would be halted if he intervened against Bashar Assad. Obama eventually did get a nuclear deal with Iran. Solomon’s book shines in reporting the details of the diplomacy that led to the 2015 accord. American diplomats held two sets of negotiations with Iran — one public channel with the British, Chinese, European Union, French, Germans, Russians and the United Nations — and another, bilateral track established through the Sultanate of Oman. In 2013, U.S. officials shuttled on public buses between two hotels in Geneva to conduct the two tracks before telling their negotiating partners about the formerly secret channel to Iran. Eventually, the Iranians wore down the U.S. delegation. At the beginning of the talks in 2013, the U.S. position was for Iran to dismantle much of its nuclear infrastructure. By the end of the talks in 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry and his team “agreed that Iran would then be allowed to build an industrial-scale nuclear program, with hundreds of thousands of machines, after a 10-year period of restraint.” Other U.S. red lines were demolished, too. The final deal would allow the U.N. ban on Iranian missile development to phase out after eight years, and the arms embargo against Iran to expire after five. Iran would not have to acknowledge that it had tried to develop a nuclear weapon, even though samples the Iranians collected at its Parchin facility found evidence of man-made uranium. In one particularly revealing passage, Solomon captures the thinking of Kerry, who engaged in detailed negotiations over the deal in the final months of the talks. “So many wars have been fought over misunderstandings, misinterpretations, lack of effective diplomacy,” Kerry told Solomon in a 2016 interview. “War is the failure of diplomacy.” Kerry’s diplomacy succeeded. But the Middle East got war nonetheless. “The Revolutionary Guard continues to develop increasingly sophisticated weapons systems, including ballistic missiles inscribed with threats against Israel on their nose cones,” Solomon writes in the book’s concluding chapter. “Khamenei and other revolutionary leaders, meanwhile, fine-tune their rhetorical attacks against the United States, seeming to need the American threat to justify their existence.” There was a chance for a better outcome. There is no guarantee that an Obama intervention would have been able to topple Khamenei back in 2009, when his people flooded the streets to protest an election the American president wouldn’t say was stolen. But it was worth a try. Imagine if that uprising had succeeded. Perhaps then a nuclear deal could have brought about a real peace. Instead, Obama spent his presidency misunderstanding Iran’s dictator, assuring the supreme leader America wouldn’t aid his citizens when they tried to change the regime that oppresses them to this day. Eli Lake is a Bloomberg columnist who writes about politics and foreign affairs.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/29/commentary/world-commentary/obama-let-irans-green-movement-fail/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/9088b5a7a27d48c0d32cb4ae795b680cfd2ce32e7fda90cfa3e9fdb369202bc1.json

The midday sky swirls with typhoon clouds as I set off to explore a little shopping area known as Tabata Ginza in Tokyo's Kita Ward. I'm thrilled to be in

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Ftravel%2Fvintage-ventures-tabata-ginza%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p16-bss-tabata-ginza-a-20160828-870x580.jpg

en

Vintage ventures in Tabata Ginza

www.japantimes.co.jp

The midday sky swirls with typhoon clouds as I set off to explore a little shopping area known as Tabata Ginza in Tokyo’s Kita Ward. I’m thrilled to be in the charismatic company of a third-generation rakugoka (traditional storyteller) who lives nearby. I met Mikio Katsura, 32, by chance in Tabata last month, and he has kindly agreed to give me an insider’s tour of the area. Katsura and I meet up at the western edge of the shopping area, a 15-minute walk southwest of Tabata Station. At first, we seem to just follow our noses toward a delicious fragrance issuing from bread shop Kawamura. Plump brown-crusted loaves cool on outdoor racks, advertising their sweetness in the breeze. If there are people tending the bakery, though, I can’t see them. Gazing at Kawamura’s sign, done in magic marker on Styrofoam under an awning of candy-corn colors, I begin to glean the area’s unpretentious vibe. Katsura nips down a thin alleyway and points out an old home painted hippy-style with fish and blue waves on the exteriors. Maruike House, as the 60-year-old abode is known, is “maybe open,” Katsura says, laughing. The door to the first floor entrance is, at any rate, propped ajar by a dehydrated plant in a pot. Creeping inside, we find a darkened corridor of six dorm-like rooms, all closed. A row of green metal mailboxes suggests the existence of ateliers and tiny shops, most with late afternoon or weekend visiting hours. Nothing stirs now, though; it’s too early. Undaunted, Katsura climbs the outer stairs to the second floor, and I follow. There, inside shop Kimono Mamesaku, owner Yukiko Takahashi, 42, seems as thrilled to see us as we are her. Mamesaku only opened last month, but Takahashi is convinced her passion for making kimono an everyday wardrobe choice will catch on. “Kimono should be hanging in your closet, alongside other clothes, as a regular option,” she says, “not just for formal events.” Aside from teaching people how to don the national garb, Takahashi also sews her own kimono from French and Lithuanian linen cloth, and handcrafts charming ceramic obidome (obi cord ornaments). When she learns that Katsura is a rakugo performer, she questions why he is not wearing kimono. To this he responds by dashing off, promising to return shortly. Meanwhile, I head back down to the first floor, because Takuya Hamada, 37, has arrived to man his shop, Pack Record. His shop stock features “vintage” books and records from the 1990s, many of which appear to have estivated here for far longer. Why this odd period fascination, I ask. “This is the music I listened to,” Hamada explains, brandishing his favorite album, The Kingtones’ “Independence Day.” Hamada admits his shop is partially personal effects storage, but since his weekday job involves dealing in antiques, he might be on to something. I take his handmade name card, which is his shop info and a tiny caricature of an animal face penned on a ping-pong ball. Outside Maruike House, I hear wooden geta gradually clopping closer. Katsura has returned, looking like an utterly different man in kimono. Takahashi comes down to the alley to admire his transformation, and another young woman, Mieko Kuchiba, 31, joins us, too. Kuchiba, it turns out, runs a tiny coffee shop cum gallery called Maruchan, on Maruike’s second floor. I ask her what the cafe hours are, and she responds, “When I have free time.” Since timing is everything, Katsura, Takahashi and I grab the chance to get seats at Maruchan. Kuchiba’s coffee starts with beans painstakingly hand-roasted through a wire basket, then finely ground, and finally filtered through a coffee “sock.” In addition to the coffee, something of a party mood is brewing, so Kuchiba decides to call the building’s owner to come join us. Her name? “We all just call her ‘Madame,'” Kuchiba says, straight-faced. Landlord Madame Haga arrives shortly, an elegant, slightly self-effacing woman who chats amiably with her younger crowd of artistic tenants and seems delighted to meet Katsura. We settle into the cafe’s sofas, sip coffee and discuss the advantages of having lots of artists together under one roof. Like members of a venerable Parisian salon, we pass an hour being entertained by snippets from Katsura’s rakugo stories, laughing and admiring the talent his 13 years of study have yielded. When Madame must move on, Katsura and I head back out to the main street of Tabata Ginza. The sky has deepened into late summer blue, framed almost all the way down to the horizon by small shops. In preparation for the evening, a man turns skewers of yakitori at a tiny stall, another tends bobbing bits of delicious-looking oden (ingredients stewed in soy-flavored broth) and yet another does a brisk business in various okazu (cooked side dishes). Men glide by on bikes, moms let their kids roam free, the elderly park their shopping carts to chat with each other and cars theoretically could pass through, but they don’t. Markedly different from the city’s other ginza areas — the glitzy one in Chuo Ward, and the touristy crowded one in Yanaka — Tabata Ginza is like a 1960s Tokyo time capsule. I glimpse a courtyard shaded by a tall tree behind a traditional rice shop and tug Katsura along with me to explore. Sumiko Kawano of Kawano Kometen rice shop understands my interest. “We used to have three enormous persimmon trees out back here and a pond with carp,” she says, “but our house was one of the oldest buildings in Tabata Ginza, so it became embarrassing. We rebuilt half, but you can clearly see the half that remains is of rare quality. It’s made of cypress, and is very beautifully constructed.” It pleases me to hear her appreciate the beauty of old Japanese architecture, but Kawano and I both know it’s praise too little and too late for much of Tokyo. Katsura, oozing charisma and charm, falls deeply into conversation with Kawano, who gradually comprehends his imminent celebrity status. They have relatives who know each other, and as they chat about that, I duck out to see a bit more of the street. I pass a few shuttered businesses, a brand new dental clinic, and K-Sense, a craft beads shop that is so fluorescently lit and well-organized that it appears beamed in from another planet. More in the retro style of Tabata Ginza is Ajinomise Sakaeya, a corner store lit by bare bulbs, specializing in nukazuke (vegetables pickled in rice bran) and other preserved foods. Ryuichi and Michiko Shindo (82 and 76, respectively) are the current owners of Ajinomise Sakaeya, a storefront that dates back to 1934. “It was all machiya and geisha around here back in those days,” Michiko says, “but pretty much everything burned down in the war. Still, we rebuilt, in the same place. We are not giving up.” As Michiko says this, I notice her pinky finger seeks out Ryuichi’s, until they touch. This subtle gesture of solidarity, while perhaps unconscious, somehow suggests the source of their resilience. Rejoining Katsura, I walk through a cool summer evening breeze, and nearly pass by a tiny Italian restaurant, Puccii. But, because the night is young, and I have a master storyteller with me, I suggest we grab dinner. The tiny 16-seat Puccii, it turns out, boasts a 2014 Michelin Bib Gourmand ranking. Inside, chef Shigeo Ishida, 50, recommends we choose between his creative pastas, such as an intriguing pistachio carbonara or chilled pasta with shrimp, but then again, his classic Napoli pizzas can be nicely paired with fine wines. The place accepts only cash, but that simply seems fitting in the vintage veneer of Tabata Ginza. Tabata Station is a 15-minute train ride from Tokyo Station on the Yamanote Line.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/27/travel/vintage-ventures-tabata-ginza/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/9d732aa975e43f6c65b449d53c1c23759a51cc64c3fa03f5867ccf4e6697322f.json

Brown rice is a culinary staple that does a body good. It was a belief in this "vital food," especially among Rastafarians, that gave the eight-piece Brown

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fculture%2F2016%2F08%2F26%2Fmusic%2Fbrown-rice-family-brings-reggae-ska-infused-sounds-windblow-festival%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/c2-field-windblow-a-20160826-870x696.jpg

en

Brown Rice Family brings reggae, ska-infused sounds to Windblow festival

www.japantimes.co.jp

Brown rice is a culinary staple that does a body good. It was a belief in this “vital food,” especially among Rastafarians, that gave the eight-piece Brown Rice Family its name. In fact, when asked how his group tries to psyche up a crowd, percussionist Yuichi Iida simply says, “It’s Brown Rice: high-fiber music.” Brown Rice Family takes pride in getting its audience moving, whether its at a show in Tokyo or on the beaches of Kanagawa Prefecture. This weekend, though, it will take its Latin, dancehall and ska-infused sound to the Windblow Festival at Sagara Seaside Park in Shizuoka. “We try to involve the crowds,” Iida says. “We have dancers who go into the audience, and we also pull people from the crowd and dance with them on stage.” Originally a drummer in his hometown of Shizuoka, it was a desire to study dance that drew Iida to New York in 1999. He couldn’t escape his roots, however, recalling the time he was captivated by a Caribbean street drummer. “I watched the performance for one hour. I was like, ‘Wow, I want to be like him when I am older,’ ” he says. “A month later, I was in his drum group.” Brown Rice Family formed as a duo in 2006 and later recruited Haitian percussionist Okai Fleurimont, Nigerian bassist Oladotun Amu, Japanese guitarist Kazuya “Caz” Ishijima, South African saxophonist “Soils” Tshepo Puoane, U.S. saxophonist Isaiah Richardson Jr. and Jamaican vocalist Lenworth “Sticky Rice” Maxwell. The band has since expanded to nine members (including Japan’s Ui “Tama” Tamaki and, most recently, Jamaican Corey Chinel Miller), coming from six different countries with differing musical backgrounds. “(The Japanese music influence) is naturally in my djembe percussion phrasing,” Iida says. “I grew up in Japan playing traditional drums since I was 6. It is in my blood, the phrase and the spirit is already in my playing.” Brown Rice Family’s most recent album, last year’s “Havana to Kingston,” focuses on melding Cuban and Jamaican folk rhythms. The record includes “Latin Goes Ska,” a 1964 instrumental tune by The Skatalites, and “Zimbabwe,” which is Brown Rice Family’s take on Buena Vista Social Club’s “El Cuarto de Tula.” However, the group adds its own original lyrics to the tunes, which don’t shy away from political themes. The track “Gun Town” is a commentary on vocalist Sticky Rice’s hometown in Jamaica. “Most of our songs are trying to share the message and values of what we are doing through music,” Iida says, “like respecting difference, instead of hating it.” A couple of members of the Brown Rice Family won’t be at the upcoming Windblow music festival, but the rest are planning to collaborate with Japanese reggae artists Papa U-Gee and Leyona. In any case, Iida is ecstatic at the idea of bringing the group to his hometown, and he’s confident that one group of people will show up. “I always wanted to bring Brown Rice Family to Shizuoka, but it is in the countryside so we never really had a chance,” he says. “(Sagara Seaside Park) is right next to the beach, so surfers come in to check the festival, and they love reggae.” Brown Rice Family plays the first day of the Windblow Festival, which takes place Aug. 27 and 28 at Sagara Seaside Park in Makinohara, Shizuoka Prefecture. The band’s set starts around 2:20 p.m. on the Regular Stage. For more information, visit www.windblow.jp/2016 or www.brownricefamily.com.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/08/26/music/brown-rice-family-brings-reggae-ska-infused-sounds-windblow-festival/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/2d32a268bbbd769bcce2bf351f8fac37073400403c549c2d21db81b79c9cb811.json

An ancient bell in the city of Osaka is under threat because the real estate firm that owns the land where it stands wants to sell. The bell is located in

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fnational%2Fcherished-osaka-bell-threat-land-owner-wants-sell%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-bell-a-20160830-870x1224.jpg

en

Cherished Osaka bell under threat as land owner wants to sell

www.japantimes.co.jp

An ancient bell in the city of Osaka is under threat because the real estate firm that owns the land where it stands wants to sell. The bell is located in the Tsuriganecho district in Chuo Ward, nestled among eateries and apartment buildings. Residents are fond of it as a landmark and local timekeeper, as it chimes automatically at 8 a.m., noon and sunset every day. The bell is thought to have been cast in the Edo Period (1603-1868). It is now the property of the prefectural government. The bell has been moved several times in its lifetime. At first it stood a little to the east of its current position. It arrived at the present spot on June 10, 1985, after serving a stint on the rooftop of the Osaka Prefectural Government building. Local residents mark that day every year. “It’s popular with kids. We hand out things like mochi (rice cake),” said Toshihiko Yamada, 70, who heads a group of volunteers that look after the bell. Disaster struck last December when the group received a letter from the real estate company saying it can no longer afford to pay the property tax on the land. It summoned the volunteers for talks, saying they have three options: buy the land, pay rent or lose the bell. “We are just a group of volunteers. There is no way we can afford to purchase the land,” Yamada said, adding that one option may be to launch a donation drive. The volunteers say the land was initially owned by a major life insurance company. In the 1980s, they reached a deal with the insurance company to use the land for free. They say the real estate company inherited that obligation. The volunteers and the real estate company are currently in mediation talks at the Osaka Summary Court. The Osaka Prefectural Government, the bell’s owner, is taking part in the talks but is reluctant to purchase the land. “It’s best to keep it in the neighborhood. We’d like to find a solution that can satisfy both sides,” a prefectural official said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/29/national/cherished-osaka-bell-threat-land-owner-wants-sell/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/2d490d43813d65be6f53beca177d8d7b3c70c037740564b9279875d64d0d0457.json

The Meteorological Agency warns of heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas as a strong typhoon bears down on the Tohoku region.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fnational%2Fjapan-braces-for-powerful-typhoon-lionrock%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-typhoon-g-20160830-870x1076.jpg

en

Japan braces for powerful Typhoon Lionrock

www.japantimes.co.jp

The Meteorological Agency on Monday warned of heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas as Typhoon Lionrock swirled off Japan’s eastern coast. The storm was forecast to strike eastern or northern Honshu, possibly including the Tokyo region, early Tuesday. As of 3 p.m. Monday, the typhoon was moving over the Pacific Ocean about 330 km east-southeast of Hachijo Island in the Izu chain at a speed of around 25 kph, the Meteorological Agency said. It was packing winds of up to 216 kph with an atmospheric pressure of 950 hectopascals near its center. The season’s 10th typhoon was expected to gain strength before making landfall in the Tohoku region, the agency said. The board of education in Miyagi Prefecture said all prefecture-run high schools, junior high schools and special schools would be closed Tuesday. Tohoku could see up to 500 mm of rain over the 24 hours to noon Wednesday, more than the entire monthly average for August, the weather agency said. Officials added that landslides are possible. While winds of up to 180 kph were projected for Tohoku, gusts of 126 kph were expected in Hokkaido and Kanto on Tuesday. Hokkaido and Kanto could see up to 150 mm of rain by Tuesday morning, it said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/29/national/japan-braces-for-powerful-typhoon-lionrock/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/e33ed8e6b77af5f48ae265a56ba20d5824c8a788a5756dd1354e826f7f3df1be.json

If passed, legislation that criminalizes the acts of plotting and preparing to commit crimes will lead to greater government surveillance.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F31%2Feditorials%2Fnew-name-old-conspiracy-bill%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

A new name for old conspiracy bill

www.japantimes.co.jp

The government’s past three attempts to make it punishable for people to conspire to commit a crime — even if they don’t act on the plan — has been so unpopular and widely criticized that the bills submitted to the Diet in 2003, 2004 and 2005 were scrapped without even a vote. The Abe administration’s latest attempt to revive the controversial scheme — in an amendment to the law against organized crime — seeks to win public support by characterizing it as anti-terrorism legislation, ostensibly narrowing the scope of its targets and adding more conditions to establishing a criminal case. It is important to bolster measures to forestall acts of terrorism. Whether the planned legislation is the correct way to do so is a question that should be answered when it is submitted to the Diet for deliberation. Ordinary citizens and lawmakers alike should also be aware that the very nature of criminalizing the acts of plotting and preparing for crimes will result in greater surveillance of people’s activities by investigative authorities. The government and the ruling coalition say the lack of such legislation keeps Japan out of sync with much of the rest of the world, pointing out that it is among only about a dozen countries that have yet to ratify a 2000 United Nations treaty aimed at fighting global organized crime because it lacks such a domestic law. Opponents say there’s no need for such blanket legislation since the Penal Code already provides for the punishment of people who prepare to commit a range of serious crimes such as murder and that these provisions should enable the nation to join the U.N. convention. A new version of the legislation reportedly prepared by the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for deliberation in the Diet this fall states it will target “organized crime groups” — an apparent response to criticism that “groups” identified as targets in the previous bills are so broadly defined that even businesses, citizens’ groups and labor unions could be targeted. The planned bill will punish people when they not only plot and agree to commit crimes but actually prepare to carry out the acts, for example, by raising funds or procuring the necessary equipment — after the previous versions raised concern, rather sarcastically, that people might be prosecuted for discussing and concurring to kill somebody they don’t like while drinking at a bar. Critics of the plan charge that the legislation’s targets will remain vague as long as it’s the investigation authorities that determine what constitutes “organized crime groups,” and that the act of “preparing” for a crime would be subject to broad interpretation and could be applied to a wide range of activities. Such features, they say, would allow investigators to expand the law’s reach at their discretion. Preparing to carry out grave crimes such as murder would be punishable by up to five years in prison. People could be punished by up to two years in jail for planning other types of crimes covered in the legislation, while plotting and preparing for petty offenses will not be punishable. Under the Penal Code, people are in principle prosecuted for the act — or attempted act — of committing a crime. But people can be punished for preparing to commit certain serious crimes such as murder, kidnap for random, burglary, arson and counterfeiting. There are no legal provisions for penalizing the act of conspiring to commit a crime, aside from rare exceptions such as plotting an insurgency. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations has long criticized the government’s attempts to create a provision against conspiring to commit more than 600 types of crimes, saying it would shake the foundation of the nation’s penal law system. Now the bill prepared by the Abe administration states that “preparing for terrorism and other organized crimes” will be penalized, although the broad range of crimes to be targeted, including such offenses as theft and fraud, will be unchanged from previous bills. Lawmakers in Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party began calling for the legislation after 130 people were killed in multiple terrorist attacks in Paris last November. Officials are said to have readied the latest version of the legislation as early as last fall. The fact that the Abe administration waited so long to prepare it for deliberation in the Diet appears to reflect ongoing concerns over the legislation and the administration’s desire not to have a Diet debate on the bill affect popular support for the ruling coalition in the Upper House election in July. The world has since been swept by a wave of terrorist attacks, including an incident in Dhaka in July that left 20 hostages, including seven Japanese, dead. With the ruling alliance having secured sweeping victories in the July election, it would not be surprising if the administration thinks that the legislation dressed up as an anti-terrorism measure would finally win public support, especially as there is a strong case for beefing up security against the threat of terrorism as Japan prepares to host the 2020 Summer Olympic Games. If the administration submits the legislation in the Diet session this fall, its merits and potential problems should be scrutinized. One thing that seems certain is that the legislation will inevitably require the investigative authorities to step up their public surveillance activities. The police and prosecutors were recently given more surveillance tools when the enactment of relevant laws for reform of the criminal justice system in May enabled them to use wiretapping in a wider range of criminal investigations. The legislation, if enacted, will likely prompt investigators to use such tools more often. Lawmakers involved in discussing the bill must be cognizant of the possible consequences.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/31/editorials/new-name-old-conspiracy-bill/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/dea1eeeccab1ba3fa983c0d42163b5caec0bfee50245bae1f7b9eaff2e29b023.json

The transport ministry says mileage figures for eight Mitsubishi Motors Corp. models affected by a fuel-efficiency scandal were up to 8.8 percent poorer th

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F31%2Fbusiness%2Fcorporate-business%2Fministry-confirms-discrepancy-mitsubishi-car-fuel-figures%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/b-mmc-a-20160831-870x587.jpg

en

Fuel data 8.8% worse for eight models than Mitsubishi Motors claimed: ministry

www.japantimes.co.jp

The transport ministry says mileage figures for eight Mitsubishi Motors Corp. models affected by a fuel-efficiency scandal were up to 8.8 percent poorer than their catalog data. The ministry said Tuesday it has called on the automaker to report the correct data to the government and suspend sales of the eight models, which include the RVR and Pajero sport utility vehicles and the Mirage subcompact, until it states the proper figures in its catalog. The ministry’s order comes four months after Japan’s sixth-biggest automaker by volume admitted it manipulated data to make four of its minicar models, including two supplied to Nissan Motor Co., look more efficient than they actually were. Since then, the scandal has widened to include other vehicles amid revelations the company used testing methods that did not comply with Japanese regulations to obtain data needed to calculate fuel economy. Mitsubishi Motors said it plans to suspend sales of the eight models for around two weeks and pay up to ¥100,000 to each owner, targeting 76,474 units. The struggling carmaker already incurred a loss in the April-June quarter as it booked hefty costs to deal with the fuel economy scandal, logging a group net loss of ¥129.72 billion, compared with a net profit of ¥23.99 billion a year earlier. With Mitsubishi Motors admitting it falsified testing data in the nine models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism conducted an independent investigation to gauge the gap between actual figures and those in the catalog. According to the ministry, Mitsubishi Motors used data from road tests in a manner that allowed it to make the nine vehicles appear more fuel efficient. Apologizing for the latest finding, Mitsubishi Motors Chairman Osamu Masuko said at a news conference Tuesday that the company “should have used neutral data.” The automaker’s falsification could affect tax cuts for eco-friendly cars, which Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s government has carried out to prop up the economy. Mitsubishi Motors plans to compensate users of the affected vehicles if they receive less in tax benefits than they expected, company officials said. The transport ministry, meanwhile, said the fuel economy in 26 vehicle models being sold by Suzuki Motor Corp., which was also calculated based on improper data, was better than their catalog figures.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/31/business/corporate-business/ministry-confirms-discrepancy-mitsubishi-car-fuel-figures/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/80055577902135311d8a5dfa5990797f70a258c9043fa087a8fd18f3091a6eb0.json

Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa will represent Japan at the World Cup of Golf as the PGA Tour on Friday announced the final field for the Nov. 23-27 even

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fmore-sports%2Fgolf%2Fmatsuyama-ishikawa-to-team-up-in-world-cup-of-golf%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-WC-golf-a-20160828-870x810.jpg

en

Matsuyama, Ishikawa to team up in World Cup of Golf

www.japantimes.co.jp

Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa will represent Japan at the World Cup of Golf as the PGA Tour on Friday announced the final field for the Nov. 23-27 event at Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia. Matsuyama had already secured his place in the tournament but chose former teen phenom Ishikawa as his teammate. The 2016 tournament, featuring 28 two-man teams, will return to a 72-hole, stroke play, two-man team event format. The first and third days of competition will be the foursomes (alternate shot) format and the second and final days are fourball (best ball) play. Australia’s world No. 1 Jason Day will partner seventh-ranked Adam Scott, while Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker will team up for the United States. The announcement came on the same day that Matsuyama missed the cut at the Barclays, the first of four U.S. PGA Tour Playoff events. Matsuyama made two birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey in a round of 75 at the par-71 Bethpage State Park, closing at 4-over 146 to miss the cut by one shot. “All my shortcomings were exposed,” Matsuyama said. “I missed short putts and could not play good shots after that to aid my recovery.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/27/more-sports/golf/matsuyama-ishikawa-to-team-up-in-world-cup-of-golf/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/21272bc58c162f636ade99250855f080e98881e8ae7bd77508b2953009c012a2.json

The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, sayi

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fworld%2Fu-s-russia-fail-close-deal-ending-violence-syria%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-usrussyr-a-20160828-870x593.jpg

en

U.S. and Russia fail to close deal on ending violence in Syria

www.japantimes.co.jp

The United States and Russia failed on Friday to reach a breakthrough deal on military cooperation and a nationwide cessation of hostilities in Syria, saying they still have issues to resolve before an agreement could be announced. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, addressing a joint news conference after more than nine hours of off-and-on talks in Geneva, said teams from both sides would try to finalize details in coming days in the Swiss city. Kerry said the talks with Lavrov had “achieved clarity on the path forward” but together they offered few details on how they planned to renew a February cessation of hostilities and improve humanitarian assistance. “We don’t want to have a deal for the sake of the deal,” Kerry said. “We want to have something done that is effective and that works for the people of Syria, that makes the region more stable and secure, and that brings us to the table here in Geneva to find a political solution.” The talks have been complicated since initial meetings in July by new government attacks on opposition groups, and a significant offensive in the southern part of the divided city of Aleppo led by opposition fighters intermingled with Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, the al-Qaida-linked group formerly known as the Nusra Front, which is also seeking to topple Russian-backed President Bashar Assad. In the days ahead, the technical teams, which include U.S. and Russian military and intelligence experts, will try to figure out ways to separate the opposition groups, backed by the United States and Gulf Arab countries, from the jihadis. It was unclear after Friday’s meetings whether outstanding issues could all be resolved between Moscow and Washington, which back opposing parties in the Syrian conflict. The United States has insisted that the Syrian Air Force, which has dropped barrel bombs and chlorine on residential areas, be grounded but Lavrov said Friday that was not the goal. Assad’s future is not part of the current talks. Instead, discussions are focused on finding an effective and lasting solution to end the violence, which would open negotiations on a political transition in Syria. “If the remaining details can be completed, we believe we will be able to address the two primary challenges to the cessation of hostilities — the regime violations and the increasing influence of the al-Nusra Front,” Kerry said. Kerry believes the plan is the best chance to limit fighting that is driving thousands of Syrians into exile in Europe and preventing humanitarian aid from reaching tens of thousands more. The talks came as opposition groups effectively surrendered the Damascus suburb of Daraya to the government after a grueling four-year siege. Kerry said the Syrian regime had “forced the surrender” of Daraya in contravention of the February cessation of hostilities agreement, but Lavrov said the local accord was an “example” that should be “replicated.” The Russian foreign minister said another besieged area was “interested in such an operation with mediation of the Russian Federation.” He did not name the area. Residents and insurgents in Daraya began to leave the besieged area where civilians have been trapped since 2012 and the U.N. and the International Committee of the Red Cross expressed concern for their safety.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/27/world/u-s-russia-fail-close-deal-ending-violence-syria/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/29d1e2810a56eba4524c42b0c6014a754ec9571f7195163ff78f18a81453881f.json

A week after letting a winning chance slip through its fingers, Argentina beat South Africa 26-24 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday to claim only its s

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F28%2Fmore-sports%2Frugby%2Fargentina-learns-lesson-win-south-africa%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-rugby-a-20160829-870x604.jpg

en

Argentina learns lesson in win over South Africa

www.japantimes.co.jp

A week after letting a winning chance slip through its fingers, Argentina beat South Africa 26-24 in the Rugby Championship on Saturday to claim only its second-ever victory over the Springboks. Replacement Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, the third goalkicker used by Argentina, kicked a penalty with three minutes remaining to clinch the win after South Africa snatched the lead with a Morne Steyn goal five minutes earlier. For the second week in a row, Argentina saw a 10-point second-half lead evaporate. Last weekend in Nelspruit, South Africa, the Pumas led by 10 points with nine minutes remaining only to concede two late tries and lose 30-23. This time, Argentina held its nerve after Steyn seemed to snatch another Springboks victory, reclaiming the lead to match its first victory over South Africa in Durban last year. South Africa was left to rue goalkicking lapses. Starting flyhalf Elton Jantjies and Steyn jointly missed four kicks at goal while Nicolas Sanchez, Juan Martin Hernandez, and Iglesias maintained perfect records for Argentina, sharing six goals from six attempts. A try to fullback Joquin Tuculet, converted by Sanchez, who also kicked two penalties, helped Argentina to a 13-3 lead at halftime. But the Springboks erased that lead in only four minutes after the restart with a penalty to Jantjies and a try to winger Bryan Habana, converted by Johan Goosen. Argentina began to dominate at the breakdown through the middle stages of the second half and was rewarded with a 48th minute try by flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon which was converted by Hernandez, who made the lead 23-13 with a 53rd-minute penalty. Hernandez was carried from the field after a collision with South Africa’s Oupa Mohoje, and the goalkicking duties fell to Iglesias, who showed steely nerves to slot the final goal, delighting 20,000 Argentina fans. “When we held onto the ball we performed well,” Argentina scrumhalf Martin Landajo said. “But both teams performed well at times and for that reason it was a tight match.” Until that last scoring act, South Africa lifted its performance, closing the deficit to 23-21 with a penalty by Steyn and a try from replacement Pieter-Steph du Toit. Steyn missed the conversion of that try, which would have tied the score, but nailed the 72nd-minute penalty which gave South Africa the lead for the first time in more than 40 minutes. That goal seemed to be a crushing blow to Argentina, which once again let a defensible lead slip away. But the Pumas continued to play a game of territory — both teams employed strong kicking corps — and won the chance to save the game with a late penalty. “We expected a physical match, we expected a tough game,” Springboks captain Adriaan Strauss said. “Well done to Argentina, they played a fantastic game. “We made a lot of errors, couldn’t build the phases, especially through the first half, played against ourselves, and that cost us on the day. “We need to go back and have a hard look at ourselves. We need to start finding our rhythm and start playing towards what we want to be and the team we want to be.” Argentina next plays New Zealand in Hamilton on Sept. 10, while South Africa plays Australia in Brisbane later that day.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/28/more-sports/rugby/argentina-learns-lesson-win-south-africa/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/eb067c04da3374030f4bf397e333852e396eda1fd6987f5a2cb9faeb6764332c.json

This was supposed to be the new — new! — Donald Trump, the more temperate Republican candidate who had emerged in the past two weeks seeking to broaden his

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fworld%2Fpolitics-diplomacy-world%2Fclock-ticking-toward-election-day-trump-finds-ever-deeper-hole%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-trumphole-a-20160828-870x580.jpg

en

With clock ticking down toward Election Day, Trump finds himself in an ever-deeper hole

www.japantimes.co.jp

This was supposed to be the new — new! — Donald Trump, the more temperate Republican candidate who had emerged in the past two weeks seeking to broaden his appeal to a more diverse electorate. But with the U.S. presidential election just 2½ months away, Americans seem decidedly unimpressed by this latest in a long series of tweaks, turns and transformations. The White House hopeful has been more disciplined in form, reading from prepared speeches and focusing his fire on his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, pounding away at the theme that donors to the Clinton Foundation charity were given special access to her when she was secretary of state, and also to her aides. And in terms of substance, he has polished his message, spending more time on the economy and reaching out to minority voters, particularly blacks and Hispanics. By presenting that seemingly less abrasive and more tolerant image, Trump hopes to accomplish two objectives: to gain support in minority communities where Clinton holds an overwhelming advantage, and to persuade middle-class whites offended by his more contentious rhetoric that they can safely return to the Republican fold. “He’s trying to do both; he will probably succeed at neither,” said Larry Sabato, a veteran political scientist with the University of Virginia. The wealthy New York populist has chosen a risky line of attack against Clinton, accusing her of being not just corrupt but a cynical and uncaring racist. “Democratic politicians have run nearly every inner-city in America for 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 years. Their policies have produced only more poverty, total joblessness, and failing schools,” Trump said Thursday in New Hampshire. “She doesn’t care. She’s too busy raking in cash from people and rigging the system and taking the African-American vote and the Hispanic vote and saying, ‘We’re going to do a great job.’ And right after the election, it’s ‘bye-bye, I’ll see you in four years.’ ” Whether this offensive bears fruit may not become clear for a few weeks. Polls so far show Clinton doing a bit better among minorities even than Barack Obama did in 2012, with support from more than three in four voters, according to a new Quinnipiac Poll. But it seems unlikely that minority voters will forget the xenophobic vitriol of the past year in just a few weeks. “I have not encountered a presidential candidate since George Wallace whose very name causes minorities to cringe as much,” Sabato said, referring to the late Alabama governor who once said he stood for racial segregation “forever.” “It’s just widespread — African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Asian-Americans, Muslim Americans — and that’s 30 percent of the electorate in November. He will be lucky — and I mean lucky — to get 15 percent” of the minority vote. As for white voters, Trump is doing less well than his Republican predecessor of 2012, the patrician (and far more conventional) Mitt Romney. To be sure, 58 percent of whites without a college degree support Trump, won over by his brash, populist message. That voter bloc, disillusioned, marginalized by globalization and contemptuous of the nation’s elites, represented about 45 percent of the overall electorate in 2012, according to The New York Times. But this advantage among “blue collar” whites is not enough to make up for Trump’s popularity deficit among better-educated whites. Clinton’s star has risen spectacularly this summer among whites with college degrees. According to the latest ABC/Washington Post poll, 50 percent of them now support the Democratic candidate, up from 42 percent in early July. In short, support from the less-educated whites of the “Rust Belt” states hit so hard by factory closings and job outsourcing will not be enough to help Trump overcome Clinton’s big edge among minorities and educated whites. “This whole week has been about trying to pick up a few additional minority supporters,” Sabato said. “I believe he will fail. And it’s been about trying to reassure more moderate white Republicans that he is not a racist.” But while “many of these same moderate white Republicans believe in civility, he’s the least civil candidate in modern times.” Clinton, meantime, has done her utmost to remove any doubts about who she says the “real” Donald Trump is: a populist who has awakened America’s far right and aroused the worst nationalist elements of the conservative movement. Thus the Republican candidate finds himself torn between being the old thundering Trump who managed to galvanize large numbers of conservatives, and the “new” Trump, whose sincerity seems suspect to moderate Americans. The events of the past week illustrate his strategic dilemma. In the space of 48 hours, Trump promised a “softening” of his plan to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants, and then, faced by the angry outcry his attempt at moderation had unleashed on the right, said what he meant was a “hardening.” “How can you call a campaign coherent that can’t even explain what its central issue is?” Sabato said. “He can’t even describe what his position is on immigration.” Trump will probably have to clarify exactly where he stands on immigration in coming days — just the latest course correction from a candidate who sometimes seems to have no clear course.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/27/world/politics-diplomacy-world/clock-ticking-toward-election-day-trump-finds-ever-deeper-hole/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/263d97f3e85a20df43a47bdc86ccba46a2ae789b84eb8bef005b3b061b9286fc.json

Thousands of hectares of mangroves in Australia's remote north have died, scientists said, with climate change the likely cause. Some 7,000 hectares, or 9

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F20%2Fenvironment%2Faustralian-mangrove-die-off-blamed-climate-change%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Australian mangrove die-off blamed on climate change

www.japantimes.co.jp

Thousands of hectares of mangroves in Australia’s remote north have died, scientists said, with climate change the likely cause. Some 7,000 hectares, or 9 percent of the mangroves in the Gulf of Carpentaria, perished in just one month according to researchers from Australia’s James Cook University, the first time such an event has been recorded. The so-called dieback — where mangroves are either dead or defoliated — was confirmed by aerial and satellite surveys and was likely to have been the result of an extended drought period, said Norm Duke, a mangrove ecologist from James Cook University. “This is what climate change looks like. You see things push the maximums or minimums … what we are looking at here is an unusually long dry season,” Duke said. “The reason that there’s dieback now is because of this drought. Droughts are normal, but not so severe, and that’s the difference.” Local rangers told scientists they were seeing creatures like shellfish, which need the shade of the trees, dying and that turtles and dugongs that are dependent on the ecosystem could “be starving in a few months,” he added. Duke said researchers believe the event took place in the semi-arid region in late November or early December last year. “The dieback occurred synchronously across 700 kilometers in one month,” Duke said.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/20/environment/australian-mangrove-die-off-blamed-climate-change/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/cbc54073932e9ac1491d5fed25ff0732dd8e8167af6639e39ba8dc3e83fd67ca.json

Wearing the official Japanese Olympic team uniform, a pinstriped sports coat and gray pants, and with silver medals hanging from their necks, the Japanese

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fmore-sports%2Ftrack-field%2Fsilver-winning-4x100-relay-team-looks-future-confidence%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-track-a-20160830-870x550.jpg

en

Silver-winning 4x100 relay team looks to future with confidence

www.japantimes.co.jp

Wearing the official Japanese Olympic team uniform, a pinstriped sports coat and gray pants, and with silver medals hanging from their necks, the Japanese 4×100-meter relay team gave an impromptu demonstration of their baton-passing skills for a curious crowd of onlookers. They swung their arms as if they were actually running and passed the baton between them as if it was second nature. Just as they did in Rio. The Japanese team of Ryota Yamagata, Shota Iizuka, Yoshihide Kiryu and Aska Cambridge captured one of the most unexpected silver medals of the entire Rio Olympics when it finished in an Asian-record 36.60 seconds to place behind Usain Bolt and Jamaica in the 4×100 relay final in Rio de Janeiro. They recounted some of their experiences on Monday, answering questions in the order in which they ran the race (Yamagata, Iizuka, Kiryu and Cambridge), at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan. “I believe the result was able to give more confidence to sprinters in Japan,” Cambridge said. “Of course the baton is part of this as well, but the individual achievements of all of the members is something that also contributed to this race. The fact we were able to achieve second place next to Jamaica, and although the United States was disqualified, being able to come ahead of them, America is known as being a strong team as well, really shows that Japan can compete on this world stage.” The second-place finish was historic for Japanese track and field. The country’s only other medal in the event came during the 2008 Beijing Games when Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira and Nobuharu Asahara earned bronze behind the Jamaicans, with Bolt running the third leg, and Trinidad and Tobago. The 2016 quartet did that group one better and Japan will be hoping to take the next step during the 2020 Games in Tokyo. The Japanese may have surprised some with their speed, but it was their flawless exchange of the baton which really turned heads. The exchange is an often-overlooked and under-practiced element of the relay despite the trouble it has caused many teams over the years. The Japanese runners left no stone unturned during their preparation for Rio and it showed on the track. “From the time we started working together toward the relay, we had great teamwork,” Kiryu said. “We didn’t even have any baton misses during practices. I have heard teams from other countries perhaps did not put so much practice into the exchange. However our team has been practicing the baton pass since winter and I believe this was a great factor in the success we were able to achieve.” They laid the foundation for their historic run with an Asian-record time of 37.68 seconds in their semifinal heat. In the final, Yamagata got Japan off to a solid start in the first leg while running the same leg as former 100-meter world record-holder Asafa Powell. “As the first runner, my goal was to achieve a good start and pass this on to the second runner,” Yamagata said. Iizuka and Kiryu held serve in the second and third legs to get the baton to Cambridge, who started basically neck-and-neck with Bolt. “When I saw Cambridge taking the baton right next to Jamaica’s Bolt, I can’t even express the emotion I felt,” Iizuka said. “I was so excited.” For a few seconds, before Bolt fully unfurled his 195-cm frame and hit a gear most humans simply don’t have, Cambridge, a 23-year-old of Jamaican and Japanese descent, was next to him, running stride for stride with the fastest man in the history of the world. “To be honest, I don’t remember exactly what I was thinking at the time,” Cambridge said. “But when I got the baton, I really thought, ‘oh, we can actually win this.’ “ Pleased with their performance in Rio, the four runners are hoping to improve both their individual results and also grab gold in the relay in four years’ time. “I believe our result was able to show that Japanese have the capacity for this type of running,” Iizuka said. “So I hope that we can carry this over to Tokyo.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/29/more-sports/track-field/silver-winning-4x100-relay-team-looks-future-confidence/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/d742c37208575722d64a21a3f1943ab669af39a87711e1133423e5644e9ece27.json

Two photographers walk the nation’s legendary pilgrimage route, capturing the eerie solitude of a spiritual path that still dwarfs humans

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F20%2Ftravel%2Fkumano-kodo-trek-japans-sacred-heart%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p16-escape-mod-a-20160821-870x581.jpg

en

Kumano Kodo: a trek to Japan's sacred heart

www.japantimes.co.jp

Steps on the Dainichigoe path between Hongu Taisha and Yunomine Onsen | DAN RUBIN The 1,000-year-old Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route is located in Wakayama Prefecture. It takes roughly eight days to travel more than 100 kilometers — approximately 148,000 steps — from Takijiri on the Nakahechi route to Mount Koya (Koya-san) along the Kohechi route. There are numerous inns accommodating pilgrims along the way, offering complicated breakfasts to get the ball rolling each morning, and satiating dinners at the end of each day. Photographers Craig Mod and Dan Rubin completed the Kumano Kodo route in April 2016 and are now in the process of publishing a book of photographs on their experiences. We asked them to give us a few thoughts on their trek. How did the walk begin? Mod: I began walking old Japanese paths with walking scholar John McBride three years ago. Dan and I had been trying to plan an adventure for years. Our schedules finally collided. A shack, rice paddies and a recently blossomed cherry tree just outside of Miura Guchi | CRAIG MOD Was what you wanted to capture different from what you actually captured? Mod: We went in with few expectations, nor knowing exactly how photogenic the walk would be. In a way, all the images were surprises, and every image was different than what we expected. Rubin: As this was my first visit to Japan, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect — the only stories I’d heard from friends (aside from Craig) were of the cities, so to experience the country in this way first allowed me to be completely open and just take it all in. Why did you want to do the pilgrimage? Mist covers the trail between Totsukawa Onsen and Miura Guchi. | DAN RUBIN Mod: Pilgrimage walks have become sneaky ways for me to invite writers, artists and photographers from around the world to hang out in Japan. Dan and I have been trying to find a good excuse to make a book for years. This seemed like a great one. Rubin: I’ve enjoyed walks and hikes since I was very young — through Florida swamps with my parents, overnight treks while in Boy Scouts or just wandering to clear my head. Having grown up at sea level (near Miami), the idea of hiking through mountains was extra-exciting. Why are walks and going on pilgrimages important to you? Stone steps and cedar trees near Hongu Taisha | CRAIG MOD Mod: They’ve helped solidify my reason for living in Japan. I’ve been here for nearly 15 years; I speak the language. These pilgrimages are direct historical lines back 1,000 years. It’s a privilege and honor to be able to walk them. It’s also a privilege to connect with all those we met along the way, to hear their stories and share our own. Rubin: I’m one of those people who needs to move in order for my brain to properly function — a kinetic thinker, of sorts. Movement of any sort — running, swimming, walking — has always held an important place in my life. After this experience, I’ll definitely take more long walks with good companions. Cedar trees between Hongu Taisha and Totsukawa Onsen | DAN RUBIN What memories have lingered of the walk since you have left? Mod: An old monk was walking his dog a few kilometers away from Koya-san. He helped us find a path we’d missed. I’d like to take his dog for a walk some day. Rubin: The older couple who hosted us one night, squeezing three grown men into the tiny Yunomine Onsen; light rain drifting through the dense forests; ancient trees towering over the cemetery at Koya-san. It’s difficult to choose one, but if I must: Waking up just before sunrise the morning after the first day to a valley filled with mist, the layers of mountains quietly receding into the distance. Craig Mod is a writer and designer (craigmod.com); Dan Rubin is a photographer and art director (instagram.com/danrubin). Their new photo book, “Koya Bound,” is coming this September.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/20/travel/kumano-kodo-trek-japans-sacred-heart/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/602157f87997b41fcc97ae4277d62078e39e0016aacd43a364ae279e7a93118f.json

The Hiroshima Carp, it seems, have arrived. After a long stretch of bad years and recent seasons of being a few pieces short of a whole, the Carp are final

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fbaseball%2Fjapanese-baseball%2Ffinally-carp-looking-like-real-deal%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-jason-a-20160830-870x556.jpg

en

Finally, Carp looking like real deal

www.japantimes.co.jp

The Hiroshima Carp, it seems, have arrived. After a long stretch of bad years and recent seasons of being a few pieces short of a whole, the Carp are finally in the thick of a pennant race again. The team has the best record in NPB at 73-44-2 and enters this week with an 11-game lead over the second-place Yomiuri Giants in the Central League. The Carp’s magic number to clinch the pennant, which would be their first since 1991, is currently at 13. Hiroshima hasn’t had a season like this in a while. A glut of B-class finishes ended in 2013, when the club finished third despite going 69-72-3 for its first A-Class season since 1997. The next year saw the Carp finish third again at 74-68-2, their first winning season since 1996. Even after the departure of manager Kenjiro Nomura that offseason, the improving Carp were the trendy pick to capture the CL flag in 2015. The team wilted under the spotlight, finishing in fourth place. This year, the Carp have put it all together. Even without former ace Kenta Maeda, who jetted off to southern California to pitch for the Dodgers, they’ve become the team many expected to see a year earlier. More importantly the team’s rise, as slow as it was, seems mostly genuine. Hiroshima has both the offense and pitching to compete with any team in Japan. Interestingly enough, that’s a big departure from the 1991 squad that will be referenced more and more as the team moves closer to the pennant. That squad, led by Koji Yamamoto, was mostly dependent on a pitching staff that featured MVP Shinji Sasaoka and a pair of future Hall of Famers in Manabu Kitabeppu and closer Yutaka Ono. The Carp pitchers posted the lowest ERA in the CL that season. Conversely, the offense was fourth in average and fifth in runs scored. This year’s team won’t hurt for offense. The Carp are flexible offensively, able to outslug opponents or consign them to death by a thousand cuts. The Carp lead NPB in team average (.274), runs scored (591) home runs (128) and stolen bases (103). Players such as Kosuke Tanaka, Ryosuke Kikuchi and Yoshihiro Maru are adept at getting on base and mashers like Takahiro Arai, Seiya Suzuki and Brad Eldred have made opposing pitchers pay. Hiroshima also has pitching, namely a three-headed monster in starters Kris Johnson, Hiroki Kuroda and Yusuke Nomura. They can also turn to reliever Jay Jackson, who has a 1.70 ERA and 29 holds in 57 appearances and a solid closer in Shota Nakazaki. The Carp still have a long way to go this season, but the way they’re playing suggests they won’t be easily knocked off the path to the pennant. They’re 14-4 since Aug. 7 and currently riding a wave of good vibrations. The last time the Carp hosted postseason baseball was in 1991 at old Hiroshima Stadium, when the team beat the Seibu Lions in Game 5 of the Japan Series. If they can remain on course over the next few weeks, the Climax Series will come to Hiroshima’s Mazda Stadium for the first time and the Carp will truly have claimed a seat at the big-boy table. The last 25 years have been rough, but the current crop of players are poised to write their own history as the Carp close in on the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/29/baseball/japanese-baseball/finally-carp-looking-like-real-deal/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/756107168d3c9a4aff04cae6532aace036c3854608e23157ee0b6031242179a6.json

Actress Atsuko Takahata delivered a groveling apology Friday for the actions of her adult son, Yuta, who was arrested Tuesday over a sexual assault. It was

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F26%2Fnational%2Fjapans-apology-culture-takahata-mother-says-sorry-adult-sons-alleged-sexual-assault%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-takahata-b-20160827-870x1079.jpg

en

Apology culture in Japan: Takahata's mother says sorry for adult son's alleged sexual assault

www.japantimes.co.jp

Actress Atsuko Takahata delivered a groveling apology Friday for the actions of her adult son, Yuta, who was arrested Tuesday over a sexual assault. It was a time-honored piece of choreography: a parent apologizing, and the 300 or so reporters and photographers present knowing just what to expect. The actress said that, as a mother, it is her who is partially responsible for her son’s actions. The 22-year-old actor allegedly dragged a hotel worker into his room in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, and assaulted her. Some say it is uniquely Japanese for family members to make such apologies. American TV commentator Dave Spector said such a scene would be unthinkable in the U.S. “A recent example is Michael Douglas’ son, who was in prison for seven years for drug dealing. But it has no effect whatsoever on the father,” Spector said. As for Japan, Spector believes celebrities in particular face heavy expectations for a perp walk. “There is certain amount of responsibility felt by the Japanese when their offspring do something bad, no matter how old they are,” he said. In June, actress Reiko Takashima faced reporters on behalf of her husband, Noboru Takachi, when he was arrested on a drugs charge. Her apology? She bore responsibility for “being his wife.” Similarly in 1998, when 18-year-old actor Yuya Takahashi was held over a drug offense, his mother, actress Yoshiko Mita, convened a news conference and voluntarily stayed off TV for 10 months. Advertisers dropped her from seven commercials. Spector said Mita’s career suffered heavily because the news conference was seen as taking place too late. He credited Atsuko Takahata with responding swiftly, potentially limiting the damage to her career. She has, however, already suffered fallout, with cosmetics manufacturer Kao dropping a TV commercial she stars in. But she is still listed as appearing in an upcoming play, “Yukimaroge,” which begins a nationwide tour from late September. Takayuki Asami, a lawyer who specializes in crisis management, said Atsuko Takahata’s agency did well to arrange a prompt public apology. “Parents make apologies on behalf of their children partially to protect their own image, to underscore that they did nothing wrong,” Asami said. “It’s good that the agency is protecting the career of their talent.” The news conference was organized jointly by Seinenza Theater Company, Atsuko Takahata’s agency, and stage promoter Toho Co. Her son is represented by Ishii-Mitsuzo Office. The agency’s president, Kumiko Ishii, has so far released only a short written statement that was sent to media by fax. Contacted by The Japan Times, an official said no news conference is scheduled at the moment.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/26/national/japans-apology-culture-takahata-mother-says-sorry-adult-sons-alleged-sexual-assault/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/94f5f13563eee8482ffb001d378709c7f8393aa5ea9b0ed6157f021d14d10b96.json

A 'no first use' nuclear policy lowers nuclear temptations, deepens strategic stability and reduces nuclear threats.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F22%2Fcommentary%2Fjapan-commentary%2Fno-first-use-policy-safer%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

A 'no first use' policy' is safer

www.japantimes.co.jp

As reported in this paper on Aug. 17, there is strong opposition in Japanese government circles as well as among some nuclear policy experts to the possible declaration of a “no first use” policy by the U.S. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is said to have conveyed personally to Adm. Harry Harris, the head of U.S. Pacific Command, that deterrence against countries such as North Korea will be jeopardized and the risks of conflict would rise. If these reports are true, Abe needs new advisers. North Korea can be razed and turned into a car park with massive U.S. conventional strikes — there is no need to use nukes. A “pure” no first use policy limits the use of nuclear weapons to retaliation after nuclear attacks. A qualified no first use policy permits nuclear retaliation against attack by any weapon of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological), but not conventional weapons. Successive official documents have explained the role of U.S. nuclear weapons is to deter a wide range of threats on the U.S. and its allies, with WMD or large-scale conventional forces. The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review did acknowledge that the role of U.S. nuclear weapons in deterring non-nuclear attacks was continuing to diminish as the ability to deal with them using increasingly accurate and powerful conventional munitions increases. Now there is a buzz in Washington policy circles and the arms control community that in the endgame of his presidency, Barack Obama may, as commander-in-chief, unilaterally declare, perhaps during his final address to the U.N. General Assembly next month, either a pure or a qualified no first use U.S. nuclear policy. Contrary to Tokyo’s officialdom, such a policy change would make Japan, the region and the world safer. The balance of risks and gains decisively favors a no first use policy. A continuation of the status quo rests on underestimating the dangers of first-use policies while exaggerating the risks of no first use. The U.S. is in a league of its own, and will remain so for decades to come, in the massive superiority of conventional forces. This has bred cockiness to the extent of promoting what Obama calls the Washington playbook of militarized responses to any foreign policy crisis, even those where U.S. vital interests are not engaged. The comforting security blanket of first use of nuclear weapons by the U.S. to defend an ally under attack by conventional weapons is bereft of any operational meaning. Allies who fear attacks by China or Russia and insist on first use policy as insurance are asking the U.S. to cross the nuclear threshold against an enemy with a guaranteed capacity to survive an initial nuclear strike and hit back at the U.S. with nuclear weapons. Any use of nuclear weapons in such circumstances would open the gates to hell whose all-consuming flames would know no geographical borders. The logic of survival dictates that a nuclear war resulting from a first use of nuclear weapons would be infinitely worse than defeat in a conventional war, even for a weaker state in a conflict dyad like, say, Pakistan vis-a-vis India. Fear of a rapid nuclear escalation makes the threat of first use against nuclear rivals is not credible and a non-credible threat has little deterrent value. No sensible policymaker in Beijing or Tokyo wants a war. But incidents in the maritime flashpoints have given cause for alarm that the two could find themselves locked in an escalation spiral beyond their control. A similar spiral has once again become imaginable also in Europe since the 2014 Ukraine crisis. Government leaders in Beijing (as in Tokyo) will scramble desperately to contain the spiraling crisis because they fear the military and economic costs of a China-Japan war. No Chinese military planner or national security decision-maker is likely to contemplate a U.S. nuclear first strike as having anything other than zero prospect. At present Russia and the U.S. hold about 1,800 nuclear warheads in a state of high operational alert, ready to launch on warning of an incoming enemy attack. In an escalating crisis directly between China and the U.S., Beijing policymakers confront two additional complications compared to China-Japan. First, they worry that growing U.S. military capability is making some Americans believe they can decapitate China’s retaliatory nuclear capability by a surprise attack, and are considering putting some of China’s own nuclear warheads on high alert to strengthen U.S. belief in China’s retaliatory second-strike capability. This would almost certainly lead to an abandonment of China’s no first use policy. Second, with U.S. first use policy, Beijing might give in earlier to the temptation to strike first in order to preempt a U.S. attack. Conversely, with a no first use policy, Washington could consider de-alerting all nuclear weapons, withdrawing those stationed in Europe and eliminating land-based strategic missiles. It could also lead a push with China and India to negotiate a global convention on no first use. With a declaratory U.S. policy backed by follow-up operational measures, others would be a little bit more confident about not being subjected to a disarming first strike. I am not aware of any other weapon, known to be extremely destructive, that has been held in the arsenals of several countries without use for seven decades, despite many wars in which some of the countries with the powerful weapons were defeated by others without them. One of the biggest reasons for nuclear non-use is the moral cost of crossing the nuclear threshold against non-nuclear threats. Developments in conventional munitions technology and miniaturization of nuclear weapons have begun to blur the boundary between the two. In addition, irresponsible reminders by Russian leaders since the Ukraine crisis of their nuclear arsenal have sought to legitimize the role of nuclear weapons. Against this worrying backdrop, if the U.S. joins China and India in declaring a no first use policy, the conventional-nuclear psychological firewall will be reinforced and the norm of non-use of nuclear weapons will be strengthened. Certainty is rarely obtainable in strategic calculations. Instead we are talking about balance of probabilities and how to recompute them to accentuate the positives and mute the risks. A no first use policy no more guarantees non use than a first use policy guarantees use. But a no first use nuclear policy does lower nuclear temptations, deepens strategic stability and reduces nuclear threats by comparison to first use. Few real risks, some significant strategic benefits: a small step forward for Obama, a giant leap for humanity. A no first use nuclear policy should be a no brainer. Ramesh Thakur, a professor in the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, is co-convenor of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/22/commentary/japan-commentary/no-first-use-policy-safer/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/2b61514938d2dbb09a03bbdf70a6f677a1fccd3a5c9cce83499c316c753d1c84.json

Mourners in Italy prayed, hugged, wept and even applauded as coffins carrying victims of the country's devastating earthquake passed by at a state funeral

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F28%2Fworld%2Fitaly-buries-quake-dead%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-quake-funerals-a-20160829-870x580.jpg

en

Italy buries quake dead

www.japantimes.co.jp

Mourners in Italy prayed, hugged, wept and even applauded as coffins carrying victims of the country’s devastating earthquake passed by at a state funeral Saturday, grieving as one nation after three desperate days of trying to save as many people as possible. In the central town of Ascoli Piceno, they gathered to bid farewell to 35 of the 291 people confirmed dead so far after the quake that struck a swath of countryside early Wednesday at the foothills of the central Apennine mountains. The caskets of 35 people had been brought to a community gym — one of the few structures in the area still intact and large enough to hold hundreds of mourners. The local bishop, Giovanni D’Ercole, celebrated Mass beneath a crucifix he had retrieved from one of the damaged churches in the picturesque area of medieval stone towns and hamlets. Emotions that had been dammed up for days broke in a crescendo of grief. One young man wept over a little girl’s white coffin. Another woman gently stroked another small casket. Many mourners were recovering from injuries themselves, some wrapped in bandages. Everywhere people knelt at coffins, tears running down their cheeks, their arms around loved ones. “It is a great tragedy. There are no words to describe it,” said Gina Razzetti, a resident at the funeral. “Each one of us has our pain inside. We are thinking about the families who lost relatives, who lost their homes, who lost everything.” As all of Italy observed a day of national mourning, with flags at half-staff, Bishop D’Ercole urged residents to rebuild their communities. “Don’t be afraid to cry out your suffering — I have seen a lot of this — but please do not lose courage,” D’Ercole said in his homily. “Only together can we rebuild our houses and our churches. Together, above all, we will be able to restore life to our communities.” President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Matteo Renzi joined grieving family members, stopping to speak to some of them. When the caskets were brought out of the gym, the mourners applauded, a traditional Italian way of honoring people who die in tragedy. The bishop recalled the heartbreaking story of 9-year-old Giulia Rinaldo, whose embrace apparently allowed her younger sister Giorgia to survive. He said 15 hours after the quake struck Wednesday, he returned to the church in Pescara del Tronto to recover its crucifix. Close by, firefighters were using their hands to dig out the two sisters. “The older one, Giulia, was sprawled over the smaller one, Giorgia. Giulia, dead, Giorgia, alive. They were in an embrace,” D’Ercole said. Giulia was among those buried Saturday, while her younger sister had her fourth birthday at a hospital, trying to recover from the traumatizing ordeal. “The melancholy grabs on to your heart. You feel a sense of weakness, of depression,” said Fiore Ciotto, a resident of Ascoli Piceno who attended the funeral. “An event like this weakens you physically and mentally.” Across the area, a cool retreat for those seeking to escape Italy’s hot summers, many of the dead were children and elderly people, some of them visiting grandparents before school resumed. The magnitude 6.2 quake struck at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday and was felt across a broad swath of central Italy, killing at least 291 people and injuring nearly 400. Nobody has been found alive in the ruins since Wednesday, and hopes have nearly vanished of finding any more survivors. Before Saturday’s mass funeral, the president visited Amatrice, which bore the brunt of destruction with 230 fatalities and a town turned to rubble and dust. Eleven others died in nearby Accumoli and 50 more in Arquata del Tronto, 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Amatrice. Mattarella arrived by helicopter and was shown the extent of the damage in Amatrice by its mayor, Sergio Pirozzi. The president thanked rescue workers who have been working around the clock, some barely taking breaks for sleeping. Saturday’s funeral involved most of the dead from Arquata del Tronto. As deep as their anguish was, Saturday’s mourners at least had coffins with bodies to honor and bury. Many of the dead from Amatrice are now in a refrigerated morgue in an airport hangar in Rieti, the provincial capital that is 65 kilometers (40 miles) away, awaiting identification. On Tuesday, a memorial service — without the bodies — will be held for the dead of Amatrice on that battered town’s outskirts. Hundreds of people have been left homeless by the quake, with many spending their nights in tent cities and a gym in Amatrice, where volunteers are working to provide basic amenities. With families unable to remain in the houses in Amatrice that were damaged but still standing, two persons were detained Saturday for suspected looting, the mayor said. Overnight, residents were rattled yet again by a series of aftershocks. The strongest, at 4:50 a.m., had a magnitude of 4.2, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, while the Italian geophysics institute measured it at 4. The Italian institute says the earthquake caused the ground below Accumoli to sink 20 centimeters (8 inches), according to satellite images.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/28/world/italy-buries-quake-dead/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/1bb44a30a18ea3998d0f769cfadac8e76e2fe9ca9e8c50cdb6f64e723ec8f09a.json

Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach built on commanding first-leg advantages to cruise through the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday, while

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F25%2Fsoccer%2Fman-city-cruises-champions-league-harts-farewell%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-soccer-a-20160826-870x580.jpg

en

Man City cruises into Champions League in Hart's farewell

www.japantimes.co.jp

Manchester City and Borussia Moenchengladbach built on commanding first-leg advantages to cruise through the Champions League playoffs on Wednesday, while Russian side Rostov thrashed Ajax 4-1 to reach the group stage for the first time. City will play a sixth straight season in Europe’s elite competition after beating Steaua Bucharest 1-0 thanks to Fabian Delph’s 56th-minute goal and completing a 6-0 win on aggregate. Goalkeeper Joe Hart made what could be his last start for City after losing his regular place under new coach Pep Guardiola. “We have a top manager that the club has wanted a long, long time, and he’s going to have his opinion on things,” said Hart, who was given a rousing reception by City fans and appeared emotional during and at the end of the match. “It’s a place I love to be,” he added, “but situations occur in football. We’re men, we get on with it.” Raffael and Thorgan Hazard scored hat tricks as Moenchengladbach routed Young Boys 6-1 for a 9-2 win on aggregate, sealing an immediate return to the group stage for the German side. Both Germany and England will have a full quota of four teams in Thursday’s draw. City, a semifinalist last season, will be one of the second seeds. Rostov advanced 5-2 on aggregate over Ajax — a four-time European champion — in its first season trying to qualify for the Champions League. FC Copenhagen is back in the group stage for the second time in four years, after scoring an 86th-minute equalizer to draw 1-1 with APOEL and progress 2-1 on aggregate. Dinamo Zagreb was the last team to go through, beating Salzburg 2-1 after extra time to advance 3-2 on aggregate. The Croatian team equalized in the 87th minute through Junior Fernandes to take the match to extra time before El Arabi Hilal Soudani grabbed the winner in the 95th minute. City did the damage with a 5-0 win in Romania last week, allowing Guardiola to rest most of his first-choice players including Sergio Aguero — the scorer of a first-leg hat trick. In an exercise in damage limitation, Steaua played with 10 men behind the ball and limited City to half chances until Jesus Navas cross for Delph to head home. City lost striker Kelechi Iheanacho to injury in the second half, but the game was overshadowed by Hart’s appearance in goal and emotional scenes after the final whistle when he grabbed the badge on his jersey and saluted the crowd. Hart bit his lip at one stage in the second half when City fans chanted his name. City is close to purchasing goalkeeper Claudio Bravo from Barcelona, which likely would spell the end of Hart’s decade-long career at Etihad Stadium. Guardiola doesn’t think Hart is good enough with his feet, has told the England international he can leave. “I know he is a legend for this club,” Guardiola said. “But I am here to take decisions. I make a lot of mistakes — my decisions as a coach are sometimes good, sometimes bad, but I take decisions.” Hart gave little away about his future, saying: “Outside of the charade and all the rubbish that’s talked, we are dealing it like men inside, and we are going to come up with a solution.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/25/soccer/man-city-cruises-champions-league-harts-farewell/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/66b1ea86b7faa79b67deb935bb6de51dd443f8d696d3c3a985ce308b53c9eb08.json

As everyone in Japan now knows, there are millions of vacant houses and apartments throughout the country, many of which are on sale for a song. The money

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fcommunity%2F2016%2F08%2F06%2Fhow-tos%2Fresort-condos-option-home-buyers%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p20-brasor-hometruths-a-20160807-870x629.jpg

en

Resort condos: an option for home buyers

www.japantimes.co.jp

As everyone in Japan now knows, there are millions of vacant houses and apartments throughout the country, many of which are on sale for a song. The money and effort needed to renovate these properties, however, often isn’t worth it given how inexpensive new houses can be. That, of course, is the main reason why there are so many vacant homes in the first place. With the Airbnb boom, people may think they can buy some of these cheap residences, fix them up and make a killing by renting them out to tourists. However, 75 percent of the Airbnb listings in Japan are in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, cities where property remains expensive, and 70 percent of all listings are apartments and condos. There is one area of potential: resort condos, one of the most depressed real estate markets in Japan. During the bubble years, tens of thousands of units were built in onsen (hot-spring) resorts and ski areas, and they sold very well. Eventually, though, the ski boom ended, and after the bubble burst and the economy contracted, most owners realized they couldn’t afford a second home. Even when they could, they found they didn’t have the time to use these vacation homes effectively. The major housing portal sites in Japan list thousands of used resort condominiums, with prices going as low as ¥100,000. In order to put that sort of number in perspective it’s helpful to first look at cheap non-resort condos in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Most of these are former kōdan, or condos that were built in the 1970s and ’80s by the Japanese housing authority, which eventually morphed into the semi-public housing corporation UR. Despite their unappealing outward appearance, these condos are good value due to the durability of construction and quality of landscaping. In fact, in recent years younger buyers have shown an interest in old kōdan, partly out of an interest in the retro, but also because the buildings are relatively easy and cheap to remodel. Two home-furnishing companies — Mujirushi (Muji) and Ikeya — are even working with UR to renovate old kōdan with their products, though this is only for rental units. On the Home’s portal site (www.homes.co.jp/mansion/chuko), we found a 56-square-meter apartment for ¥3.5 million in Shiroi, about 40 minutes from Tokyo in Chiba Prefecture. At 36 years old, it qualified as superannuated by Japanese housing standards, but in our experience, kōdan tend to be well kept by the companies who manage them. The monthly management fee (kanrihi) was advertised at ¥5,000 and the monthly repair fee (shuzenhi) at ¥12,000. The reason for the low management fee is that residents in old kōdan are expected to pitch in with cleaning and light maintenance. The apartment was also only an eight-minute walk from the nearest station. The main drawback was that it was on the fifth floor of a five-story building with no elevator. In Sayama, Saitama Prefecture, properties tend to be more expensive than in Chiba, but we found a 42-year-old, 48-square-meter kōdan for ¥1.5 million. The price was low because it came with a kokuchi (notification). Kokuchi usually indicate that someone died there or that there was once a fire. The management and rental fees of the kodan were ¥4,000 and ¥9,000, respectively. The main drawback was that you needed to take a 10-minute bus ride to the nearest station. Resort condos are even cheaper than these nonresort examples. The best place to search for vacation properties is at bessou.suumo.jp, since it deals exclusively with second homes. The main areas for second homes around Tokyo are Karuizawa in Gunma Prefecture, the Fuji Five Lakes region in Yamanashi Prefecture and the Izu Peninsula. The former two areas don’t have many condos, but Izu has hundreds of vacant ones thanks to a late ’80s resort housing boom that was partly sparked by TV dramas set in the area. When these units were new, they sold for between ¥40 million to ¥50 million each. In Atami, Shizuoka Prefecture, the most famous seaside community on the peninsula, we found 113 condos for sale on one portal site. The cheapest was going for ¥300,000: 40 years old, 40 square meters, eight minutes by bus from Atami Station. It sounds like a steal until you read the fine print: ¥43,000 a month for management, ¥15,000 a month for repairs. The management fees are the main stumbling block for sales of resort condos, because such buildings usually require more maintenance, especially if they have large communal onsen baths and other vacation-type amenities. They also tend to have live-in superintendents who must be paid full-time salaries. We found a better bargain in Usami, along the Ito Line: ¥550,000, 38 years old, 37 square meters, 20 minutes by bus from the station, and with a management fee of only ¥13,500 a month. You could even get natural spring water pumped into your unit, but you would have to pay ¥1 million for the rights. During our online search, we found a condo in Naeba ski resort, Niigata Prefecture, listed for ¥100,000. It was 27 square meters, 26 years old and had a ¥12,400 monthly management fee. However, there were no photos of the unit, so we assumed it was probably in even worse repair than it sounded. In the same building, another unit of 36 square meters was selling for ¥300,000, with a ¥17,500 monthly management fee. The ads don’t always reveal a prime caveat. Years after they realized they couldn’t afford them, the owners of some of these condos have not only been unable to sell their properties, but they also have not kept up with the management fees and property taxes. This means anyone who buys such a unit will also have to cover a backlog of payments that could run into millions or even tens of millions of yen. Low sale prices can therefore be deceptive. Naeba is famous for this problem because of oversupply. Other ski resorts in Nagano Prefecture and Hokkaido have had better luck selling or renting condos to non-Japanese, mostly Australians, who only come for the season. One region that offers a sensible balance is Onjuku, on the Kujukuri shore of Chiba Prefecture. A haven for surfers, Onjuku has a lot of resort condos. We found one — 47 square meters, 37 years old, renovated with new water heater — five minutes from the main train station and going for ¥1.1 million, with a management fee of ¥12,710. Several years ago, we were thinking of living in Onjuku, and the real estate agent showed us some condos on the beach, confessing that he moved to the area because of the surfing — selling real estate was what he did in his spare time. Some people, it seems, do prefer resort life all year round. Philip Brasor and Masako Tsubuku blog about Japanese housing at www.catforehead.wordpress.com.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2016/08/06/how-tos/resort-condos-option-home-buyers/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/4e7a66e81c858f58aeea0cc2edaa48055d5ef895675ae40ca4ae8932e588811a.json

The 2012 draft constitution remains a heavy burden on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's pursuit of revising the nation's supreme law while he's in office.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F24%2Fcommentary%2Fjapan-commentary%2Fldps-draft-constitution%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

The LDP's draft constitution

www.japantimes.co.jp

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s draft constitutional amendment has become so ill-reputed that it is now being treated as a “historic document.” Still, the 2012 draft remains a heavy burden on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s pursuit of revising the nation’s supreme statute while he’s in office. The LDP’s inability to effectively shelve the draft as invalid continues to keep its coalition partner Komeito as well as opposition parties on guard over the issue. The draft amendment was essentially penned by Yosuke Isozaki, deputy head of the LDP’s Constitutional Reform Promotion Headquarters, while the LDP was out of power and before Abe returned to the party’s helm in September 2012. The problem with the document was that it did not receive full scrutiny of Abe, who, in his pursuit of constitutional revision, entrusted Isozaki to work out its details. Meanwhile, Sadakazu Tanigaki, the LDP president at the time the draft was unveiled, was also indifferent to the text. What particularly raises alarm among constitutional scholars and opposition parties about the LDP draft is its provision that would enable the state to restrict certain human rights in times of emergency. It also calls for deleting Article 97, which upholds the inviolability of the fundamental human rights, on grounds that the Western concept of God-given human rights does not sit well with Japanese traditions — yet another indication of the draft’s precarious sensitivity toward human rights issues. The LDP draft would also amend Article 13, which states “All of the people shall be respected as individuals,” to read “… as humans” instead. This has incurred an outcry from opponents of constitutional revisions that the LDP draft would deny individualism and usher in totalitarianism. These are examples of the criticism that the LDP draft would backpedal on the Constitution’s call on those in power to act with restraint — which make it difficult for Komeito to endorse the draft. Following the July 10 Upper House election, proponents of constitutional revision now hold a two-third majority in both chambers of the Diet — enough to initiate an amendment for approval in a national referendum. But a major contributor to the ruling coalition’s big wins was the power of Soka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist organization and the organized supporter of Komeito. Soka Gakkai’s solid voting machine flexed its muscles in the campaign to secure seats for all seven Komeito candidates running in constituency races across the country. Many of the group’s members are believed unhappy with the way the Komeito leaders followed Abe’s policies on sensitive issues like reinterpreting the Constitution to allow Japan to engage in collective self-defense and enactment of the security legislation. The energy they spent on the campaign was a reflection of their hope that Komeito would not need to meekly follow the LDP once the party has a greater say within the ruling coalition. The Komeito leadership can hardly ignore such expectations among Soka Gakkai members. As such, the 2012 LDP draft revision is an easy target of criticism for Komeito. There’s also the benefit that since the draft was revealed before Abe’s return to the LDP leadership, criticizing the document won’t lead to directly criticizing Abe. The opposition Democratic Party, which pledged during the campaign not to permit any constitutional amendment under Abe’s watch, is urging the LDP to withdraw the draft as a condition for starting deliberations at the commissions on the Constitution in both chambers of the Diet. Under these circumstances, it may seem reasonable for the LDP to effectively invalidate the draft amendment — both as a means of narrowing the gap with Komeito and of opening the way for the DP, which includes some conservative members ready to weigh constitutional amendments, to join the Diet discussions. Blocking such an opportunity are diehards within the LDP — led by Isozaki. Well versed in legal matters, the internal affairs ministry bureaucrat-turned Upper House member has long supported Abe. He played a leading role in the Abe administration’s reinterpretation of the Constitution and in preparing the security legislation. Isozaki has dismissed calls for revising the text of the LDP draft amendment by insisting that the draft, compiled while the party was out of power, has become a “historic document” and, therefore, cannot be altered. That same phrase was used previously when, in the LDP’s brief fall from power in 1993, its liberal-leaning members led by deputy chief Masaharu Gotoda compiled a new party platform and called the old platform a “historic document” to placate the right-wing members who insisted that the old platform remains valid. Isozaki’s statement appears to reflect his wish to keep the 2012 draft valid to prepare for the time when the LDP will talk with other parties to create a new draft amendment. Abe himself does not seem to think that the 2012 draft would be endorsed as it is. Nor does he appear ready to scrap it altogether because he says discussions on constitutional revision should be pursued with other parties on the basis of the LDP proposal. Because of the seemingly nationalistic nature of the LDP draft, it has been rumored that the Japan Conference (Nippon Kaigi), a right-wing group reputedly influencing the Abe administration from behind the scenes, was involved in writing the text. No evidence has turned up to substantiate the speculation, however. Some lawmakers close to Abe and associated with the Japan Conference were in fact among members of the LDP panel that prepared the text. Article 24 of the LDP draft states, “A family shall be respected as a natural and basic unit of society and families shall help each other.” This is said to reflect the family values entertained by Abe and the Japan Conference, but there is no trace of Isozaki having been instructed by either of them to write the provision. Isozaki is believed to have written the section with the help of some Diet staff members. Abe sees some value in the draft because he can deflect the criticism against his pursuit of constitutional amendment as yet another of his administration’s right-leaning policies, by emphasizing that the draft was created when the more liberal Tanigaki was LDP president. Abe mostly relies on Isozaki for interpretation of the draft — and does not appear to have digested its details in full. Tanigaki himself has been slow in coping with criticisms against the draft, even though he knew its contents can be a potential minefield. Perhaps he feels guilty that he authorized the text as party chief too easily. There were three provisions that the party’s constitution panel specifically asked Tanigaki to peruse: to specify the Emperor as the head of state, to position the Self-Defense Forces as the national defense force, and to give official status to the Hinomaru and “Kimigayo” as the national flag and anthem. Some expected Tanigaki to raise objections, but he did not. This indicates that he was not all that much interested in the party’s draft amendment. Isozaki claims that the 2012 draft is a result of more than 70 meetings held by members of the panel and subpanel, along with three sessions of the party’s decision-making General Council. In fact, only a handful of LDP lawmakers were seriously involved in these discussions. If the LDP remains incapable of scrapping such a half-hearted draft amendment — and as a result doing nothing to dispel the impression that its nationalistic characters lie at the heart of Abe’s call for revising the Constitution, that would only show that his administration has no effective strategy on amending the Constitution and that no constructive debate on that subject can be hoped for. This is an abridged translation of an article from the August issue of Sentaku, a monthly magazine covering political, social and economic scenes. English articles of the magazine can be read at www.sentaku-en.com .

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/24/commentary/japan-commentary/ldps-draft-constitution/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/cb19419955d5a6edf5941848c5d51c2a7af80fad54564e4666b80936bc6fdff7.json

Powerful Typhoon Lionrock is on course to hit the Tohoku region Tuesday afternoon, with the weather agency warning against heavy rain, strong winds and rou

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fnational%2Fstrong-typhoon-lionrock-looks-set-lash-tohoku%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-lionrock-a-20160831-870x579.jpg

en

Strong Typhoon Lionrock looks set to lash Tohoku

www.japantimes.co.jp

Powerful Typhoon Lionrock is on course to hit the Tohoku region Tuesday afternoon, with the weather agency warning against heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas. If the typhoon lands on the Pacific side of the Tohoku region, that would mark the first time since the Meteorological Agency began to compile typhoon statics in 1951. As of 5 a.m., the season’s 10th typhoon was moving north over the Pacific Ocean about 350 km southeast of Choshi, Chiba Prefecture, at a speed of around 20 kph, the agency said. It is packing winds of up to 180 kph with an atmospheric pressure of 965 hectopascals near its center, the agency said. The typhoon is forecast to change course to the west as it moves up the Pacific, and gain strength before making landfall in the Tohoku region in the afternoon, it said. Tohoku could see up to 500 mm of rain over the 24 hours to Wednesday evening. The amount translates into more than the entire monthly average for August in the region, the weather agency said. The atmospheric conditions are unstable in the Tokai and Kanto regions, and some areas were seeing heavy rain Tuesday morning. In Saitama Prefecture, landslide warnings have been issued for some areas. Airlines have already decided to cancel Tuesday’s flights to and from Tohoku and Hokkaido. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines said they will cancel a total of 91 flights, according to a report by NHK. Depending on the course of the typhoon, flights to and from Haneda airport in Tokyo may also be affected, according to the report. Meanwhile, East Japan Railway Co. said bullet trains to and from the Tohoku region will operate normally, although officials said the approaching typhoon may lead to some delays in train runs.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/national/strong-typhoon-lionrock-looks-set-lash-tohoku/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/0cd737d7e5bb880e78f0b3e9fdb3c52ce0b185c821ec01a572615b840bc4b948.json

The newly elected governor of Kagoshima Prefecture requests Kyushu Electric Power Co. temporarily suspend the operations of two reactors at its Sendai nuclear plant.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F26%2Fnational%2Fanti-nuclear-kagoshima-governor-asks-kyushu-electric-halt-sendai-reactors%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Anti-nuclear Kagoshima governor asks Kyushu Electric to halt Sendai reactors

www.japantimes.co.jp

The newly elected governor of Kagoshima Prefecture requested Friday that Kyushu Electric Power Co. temporarily suspend the operations of two reactors at its contentious Sendai nuclear plant. Gov. Satoshi Mitazono, elected on an anti-nuclear platform last month, asked the utility to halt the plant’s Nos. 1 and 2 reactors — two of only three currently operating in the country — during a meeting with Kyushu Electric President Michiaki Uriu at a prefectural government office earlier in the day. A former TV commentator, Mitazono has said he will urge the utility to re-examine safety measures for the two-reactors at the Satsumasendai complex. The governor said concerns among local residents have surged over the potential for a catastrophic accident after a series of massive earthquakes rocked nearby prefectures in April. Kyushu Electric is expected to respond to the request by early next month. Governors have no legal power to suspend operations at nuclear plants. Regardless of the request, the two reactors at the seaside plant are scheduled to be taken offline for regular safety and maintenance checks on Oct. 6 and Dec. 16, respectively. Before the governor’s move, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference in Tokyo that there is no change in the government’s policy that nuclear reactors be reactivated only if they clear post-Fukushima safety standards, while also obtaining the “understanding” of locals. The top government spokesman said that while he did not know the specifics of the governor’s request, the central government intends to deal with the matter “appropriately” by keeping open lines of communication with the prefectural government.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/26/national/anti-nuclear-kagoshima-governor-asks-kyushu-electric-halt-sendai-reactors/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/e94d1e32f26493173de5fb462f49cf522edd4e4f7afe62a2f8ec5b11f140d2f1.json

New hotel offers relaxed stay in Ginza An opening accommodation plan is on offer until Sept. 30 at The Keikyu EX Inn that began operation Thursday in Higas

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F25%2Ftravel%2Fnew-hotel-offers-relaxed-stay-ginza-british-fair-honors-queens-birthday-seeing-summer-off-style%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p2-ws-hotels-a-20160826-870x1160.jpg

en

New hotel offers relaxed stay in Ginza

www.japantimes.co.jp

New hotel offers relaxed stay in Ginza An opening accommodation plan is on offer until Sept. 30 at The Keikyu EX Inn that began operation Thursday in Higashi-Ginza. The hotel is located conveniently for both business and leisure as it is only about 30 minutes by train from Tokyo Disney Resorts and Tokyo Big Sight and even closer to Roppongi Hills, Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo Dome. The Kabukiza theater and Tsukiji Honganji are within walking distance. The comfortable mattresses and pillows in the rooms are a joint production with Simmons Co., Ltd. The rooms are chicly decorated and smartly equipped, promising visitors a relaxing and calming stay. Guests who book the plan can choose from either an amenity set for men (DHC’s shampoo, treatment, facial cleanser, bath salts, and Schick razor); a Laura Ashley set for women (body soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion); and Kose’s “Sekkisei” skin care set for women (facial soap, toner and milky lotion). The price per room is from ¥18,000 for one person, and from ¥20,000 for two people (service charge included, tax excluded). The Keikyu EX Inn Higashi-Ginza is three minutes from Higashi-Ginza Station (Hibiya and Toei Asakusa lines). For more information and reservations, call 03-5565-3910, or access www.higashiginza.keikyu-exinn.co.jp ‘British Fair’ honors queen’s birthday A British Fair will be held from Sep. 1 to 30 at four locations (bars, lounges and the hotel shop) throughout the Imperial Hotel Tokyo in honor of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday. The Imperial Hotel prepared dishes for the Queen when the Queen and Prince Philip visited Japan in 1975. During her visit, she ate gratin of prawn and sole, a plate that was later named for her. The “Queen Elizabeth II” (¥4,800) is available at the La Brasserie restaurant, and guests who order the dish will receive a glass of champagne or wine during the fair. The “Afternoon Tea With Butler” is one of the events prepared for the celebration. The plan is limited to three pairs or 10 people (reservations required) and guests can enjoy a traditional British afternoon tea served by resident butlers. It is priced from ¥8,000 (tax and service charge included) and is available in the Imperial Lounge Aqua from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. every Tuesday, from Sept. 6 to 27. In the Rendez-Vous Lounge and Bar on the first floor, a powerful and entertaining “Imperial Jazz Big Band Night” offers 40-minute music sessions at 6:00 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. every third Tuesday until March, 2017. The theme of the live performance changes every month and includes movie score tributes and sets from such acts as the Beatles. Last, but not least, the Gargantua delicatessen has prepared British offerings that are available through Oct. 31, including beef sirloin stewed with black beer, cordial jelly, maids of honor tarts, which are a British traditional confectionery dating to the 16th century, and more. The Imperial Hotel Tokyo is three minutes from Hibiya and Uchisaiwaicho stations, or five minutes from Ginza and Yurakucho stations. For more information, call 03-3504-1111, or visit www.imperialhotel.co.jp/e/tokyo/index.html Seeing summer off in style A summer plan for families, where guests can enjoy the sea, pool and fireworks, is offered at Gyoukeikan in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture until Sep. 30. The plan offers a great opportunity to make good memories at the end of summer with a swim in an outdoor pool (available until Aug. 31), a set of fireworks provided to each room and a relaxing bath in a hot spring. Guests are sure to enjoy stunning views, as all rooms face the sea. The plan includes two meals: A kaiseki ryori (traditional multicourse cuisine) dinner served in the room, featuring an abundance of seafood, and a Japanese-style breakfast. The plan is priced from ¥12,420 for adults, ¥6,480 for elementary school children and ¥4,320 (with meals and futon) for children under 6 years old (all prices include tax and service charge). Gyoukeikan is seven minutes from Inubo Station on Choshi Dentetsu. A free shuttle bus is available from the station to the hotel. For more information or reservations, call 0479-22-3600, or visit www.gyoukeikan.com

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/25/travel/new-hotel-offers-relaxed-stay-ginza-british-fair-honors-queens-birthday-seeing-summer-off-style/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/a1d19c0683a1c8692fe7999a7347e82caf263d4facf0d1e0359b5c4ea04ebfbc.json

Home-security AI cats; talking walls equipped with motion sensors; communal-living apartment blocks that promote harmonious relations; and outdoor living-r

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Flife%2F2016%2F08%2F20%2Fstyle%2Fjapans-architects-building-better-future%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p20-yamada-housevision-a-20160821.jpg

en

Japan's architects are building a better future

www.japantimes.co.jp

Home-security AI cats; talking walls equipped with motion sensors; communal-living apartment blocks that promote harmonious relations; and outdoor living-room spaces powered by solar energy siphoned off hybrid cars — these previews of our future, currently on display at “House Vision 2,” sound like science fiction, but their realization is probably closer than you think. A showcase of future homes designed by some of Japan’s most renowned architects, in collaboration with electronics, building supplies and other housing-related companies, “House Vision 2” is the second exhibition of its kind in Japan. Conceived by Kenya Hara — the art director of Muji and founder of the Hara Design Institute — the inaugural “House Vision” in 2013 involved seven full-scale buildings built on-site at a dedicated exhibition space. This year, it has brought together even more participants to create 12 installations, with Kengo Kuma, Jun Igarashi, Taiji Fujimori, Sou Fujimoto and Shigeru Ban among the list of leading architects. The result is visually impressive, but at the event’s core is an engaging commentary on the social responsibility of architecture. Its buildings — whether they are strikingly minimalist and equipped with subtle high-tech conveniences, or coalescent with nature through open-plan spaces built in untreated lumber — have all been designed to offer solutions to contemporary social issues. These include Japan’s rural decline, the energy crisis and a particular focus on social disconnect between not just individuals but also generations Here are a few of the show’s standouts. Yoshiko-Sugi Cedar House by Airbnb and Go Hasegawa | MIO YAMADA (right) Yoshiko-Sugi Cedar House The concept of Airbnb already brings people together, but Go Hasegawa takes this a step further by creating Airbnb lodging that also serves as a community center. The first floor — featuring a long deck and an open-planned common room complete with a communal table, kitchenette and tableware — is designed for free public use, while Airbnb guests stay overnight in an expansive loft area. Since the loft can only be accessed by a central plank staircase, guests will find themselves mingling with different visitors on a regular basis. Originally built in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, and then dismantled to be shown at “House Vision 2,” the building and all its furnishings were constructed by local craftspeople, who used Yoshino sugi (Japanese cedar) for the exteriors and local hinoki (cypress) for the interiors. Already fully functional, it will be returned to Yoshino when the exhibition ends to be registered as an Airbnb. Hiragana-no Spiral House by Panasonic and Yuko Nagayama | HOUSE VISION 2 Hiragana-no Spiral House While Hasegawa takes an analog approach to community ties, Yuko Nagayama’s collaboration with Panasonic looks to internet connectivity as a tool for bringing people together in a minimalist environment. Their conceptual Hiragana-no Spiral House visualizes a future in which IoT is so embedded in our lives that experiences and tasks will be possible without leaving home. A circular construction of a single wall that spirals inward to create the shape of the hiragana letter “no,” the building contains nothing more than a small kitchen area and a central bathroom with an elevated bed space above it. The wall, which doubles as a giant, curved interactive screen, allows residents to not only monitor home security and communicate via social network systems but also watch live entertainment broadcasts and use other services, such as augmented reality shopping apps. Some of the ideas seem a little far-fetched — like a mysterious set-up that somehow magically removes the pain out of laundry — but others, such as a roof-top “weathercat” that monitors the outside environment and nearby activity, and an animated pet cat that alerts residents of visitors, seem perfectly feasible in the near future. Rental Space Tower by Daito Trust Construction and Sou Fujimoto. | HOUSE VISION 2 Rental Space Tower Apartment living has also been re-assessed. Sou Fujimoto and Daito Trust Construction, a lease management and trust business, have conceived a community-focused structure that addresses Japan’s aging population and the decline of traditional family ties. The tower block limits personal space to maximize all potential shared spaces, such as the kitchen, bathroom, garden and lounge areas. At just 7-16 square meters, the bedrooms are, in fact, the smallest rooms — simply a place to sleep with a compact storage unit and en-suite toilet. This may sound a lot like a commune — and yes, one of the goals is to get different generations to interact with each other — but Fujimoto’s vision also emphasizes the fact that shared areas and furnishings can lessen the overall cost for individuals while allowing for much higher-end facilities. The bathroom, for example, has a large luxury tub, the kitchen is equipped with the latest mod cons and there is even room for a home theater and a library. All of these spaces are divided into blocks, which are stacked together to create a mini neighborhood that includes nooks for small gardens, alcoves in corridors to relax in and guest rooms for visitors. Inside-out / Furniture-room by Toto, YKK AP, Jun Igarashi and Taiji Fujimori | HOUSE VISION 2 “House Vision 2” has many other surprising living ideas, not least Jun Igarashi and Taiji Fujimori’s Inside-out / Furniture-room, where windows from a central living space look into other rooms, rather than outside. But while it’s easy to be distracted by visual spectacle, modest installations such as Shigeru Ban and Lixil’s Open House with Condensed Core also showcase innovative architectural materials and inventions. Ban’s beamless structure is supported by lightweight but sturdy PHP panels — honeycomb cardboard sandwiched between plywood — and houses Lixil’s Life Core, which combines all the essential living needs — the toilet, bathroom and kitchen — into an independent and mobile unit. Open House with Condensed Core by Lixil and Shigeru Ban | HOUSE VISION 2 It’s no accident that the Open House with Condensed Core, which is also covered in a tarpaulin-like fabric instead of a tiled roof, is reminiscent of Ban’s efforts to provide inexpensive temporary housing in disaster areas. After the devastation of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, many architects questioned the role of modern architecture as they worked on solutions to aid Japan’s continuing reconstruction efforts. Judging by the innovative ideas presented at “House Vision 2,” which continues that shift in architectural practices, Japan may still be recovering from a large-scale disaster, but the future looks quite bright. “House Vision 2” runs until Aug. 28; open daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m. ¥1,800 (¥1,500 in advance). For more information, visit house-vision.jp.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2016/08/20/style/japans-architects-building-better-future/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/da6a353d081768e73a69ecb282960ef40b599cfe0081145849fdd1eb4686a0f2.json

China's transformation into a consumer society is good news for the future of the global economy.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F31%2Fcommentary%2Fworld-commentary%2Fmaking-chinese-consumer-society%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

The making of a Chinese consumer society

www.japantimes.co.jp

China’s transformation from a manufacturing-driven and export-led economy to one underpinned by services and domestic consumption is firmly underway. And that’s good news not just for China, but also for the future of the global economy. The 2016-2017 edition of the Blue Book of China’s Commercial Sector by Fung Business Intelligence and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences maps the change. China’s retail markets reached 30 trillion yuan ($4.6 trillion) in 2015, after more than a decade of double-digit growth. Household consumption has begun to climb, even as the pace of investment has fallen and now exceeds 60 percent of GDP. Though the consumption growth rate has slowed to 10.7 percent, the Blue Book projects that China’s domestic market may reach 50 trillion yuan by 2020. A key driver of this transformation has been internet technology. Building on heavy investments in public infrastructure, such as ports, airports, roads, rail and telecommunications, the internet is now expanding rapidly the range of choices available to Chinese consumers, while lowering costs and accelerating delivery. As a result, China’s online retail sales have surged in recent years, from 6.3 percent of total retail sales in 2012 to 12.9 percent by 2015. By 2020, 40 percent of all retail transactions in China may be conducted online. Online sales via mobile phones have jumped from only 1.5 percent in 2011 to 55.5 percent in 2015, and may reach 73.8 percent by 2018. China has now overtaken the United States to build the world’s largest online retail market. With a growth rate of some 33 percent, it is also the fastest-growing such market. And despite growth in internet use — the number of connected Chinese has risen from 253 million in 2008 to 688 million last year — there is plenty of room for further expansion. This progress reflects innovations that enable broad-based consumption without the construction and maintenance of expensive brick-and-mortar outlets. In fact, growth in mobile sales has been driven by lower-income consumers, particularly in rural areas, where more than 81 percent of internet use occurs via mobile devices. One key innovation has been multi-sided platforms like Alibaba, which, by providing access to production, logistics, distribution and payments, challenge traditional business models — and with considerable success. In the second quarter of 2016, Alibaba announced that its revenue from China’s retail market had increased by 49 percent year on year; another online platform, Tencent, reported a 52 percent increase. By connecting small and medium-size enterprises (which account for 80 percent of employment in China) with the consumer base, such platforms erode some of the competitive advantage of large state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Indeed, while the returns from China’s internet retailing revolution have been highly concentrated, for once this concentration has not been in the state sector. In online retailing via mobile devices, Alibaba held an 84.2 percent share of the market last year, with the next largest online retailer, JD.com, capturing just 5.7 percent. In the business-to-consumer market, Alibaba’s Tmall claimed a 58 percent market share in the third quarter of 2015, with JD.com taking just 22.9 percent. In third-party online payment services, Alipay held 47.5 percent of the market, while Tenpay captured 20 percent and UnionPay, the only service developed by the banking community, had 10.9 percent. As a result, SOEs, which have long specialized in single markets or products, have now begun to recognize that they need to re-tool to compete both in China and in global markets. Given that SOE reform has long been on China’s agenda, this extra impetus may prove beneficial. But the challenge of determining how to create a level playing field for healthy competition and improve capital allocation in the internet age remains. It is not just China’s large companies that need to rethink their business models. As China’s e-commerce platforms become increasingly global, they may erode the dominance of giant multinationals in international trade. Already in 2015, China’s cross-border e-commerce amounted to an estimated 5.2 trillion yuan, or 17.6 percent of the country’s total trade; it may reach 8 trillion yuan, or 23 percent of total trade, by next year. This growth is great news for China; indeed, at a time of slowing performance in many traditional sectors, online retailing could be an economic lifesaver. But it also represents a major challenge for Beijing, which has long relied on top-down decision-making. China’s e-commerce revolution enables the country’s consumers to decide where to put their money. They can choose not only what kinds of goods and services they deem worthwhile, but also where to live and receive an education. As a result, they have become a key driver behind the transformation of the housing market, supply chains, finance and even monetary policy. The task for China’s leaders is to respond more effectively to their citizens’ needs and desires, including by accelerating progress on economic reform. Specifically, they must phase out obsolete supply chains saddled with overcapacity, bad debts and falling employment, while taxing the winners in the e-commerce game. These imperatives are challenging traditional approaches to monetary, fiscal, industrial, environmental and social policy, while testing the capacity of the bureaucracy and political system. China’s transformation into a consumer society will have profound implications for domestic and global suppliers and distributors of goods and services. At first, it might hurt some of China’s trading partners, particularly emerging economies that have long depended on Chinese demand for their commodity exports. The decline in Chinese imports has already contributed to a decline in commodity prices. Moreover, foreign importers may find that Chinese-manufactured consumer goods now cater more to local tastes and preferences. Whatever challenges emerge, the fact is that a prosperous China, underpinned by local consumers, will contribute to — and shape — a prosperous global economy. We can thank e-commerce for that. Andrew Sheng is a distinguished fellow of the Asia Global Institute at the University of Hong Kong and a member of the UNEP Advisory Council on Sustainable Finance. Xiao Geng, director of the IFF Institute, is a professor at the University of Hong Kong and a fellow at its Asia Global Institute. © Project Syndicate, 2016

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/31/commentary/world-commentary/making-chinese-consumer-society/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/b3c2a55f04ea388878fdb88aef1e8ac5b2502c934b2736ae7d4ebd8f9254c0ed.json

Naomi Osaka won her U.S. Open debut on Monday, when the 18-year-old defeated 28th seed Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in the first round. While Osaka

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fmore-sports%2Ftennis%2Fosaka-wins-u-s-open-debut-olympic-champ-puig-falls%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-tennis-a-20160831-870x573.jpg

en

Osaka wins in U.S. Open debut; Olympic champ Puig falls

www.japantimes.co.jp

Naomi Osaka won her U.S. Open debut on Monday, when the 18-year-old defeated 28th seed Coco Vandeweghe of the United States in the first round. While Osaka was able to come back from a set down to complete a 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-4 victory, 30th seed Misaki Doi lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, to Germany’s Carina Witthoeft. In the men’s draw, Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka fell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to South African 23rd seed Kevin Anderson. Men’s top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame a sore right arm to emerge with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory over Jerzy Janowicz of Poland, there were plenty of signs of trouble, starting with a visit from a trainer who massaged Djokovic’s bothersome arm after only five games. Asked about his health during an on-court interview, Djokovic deflected the question, saying, “I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now. I’m through. I’m taking it day by day.” When the subject arose at his news conference, Djokovic again avoided addressing the topic, saying the trainer’s visit “was just prevention; it’s all good.” Also Monday, Rafael Nadal won 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Denis Istomin in his first Grand Slam match in three months, the result of an injured wrist. With the mercury touching 35 C, Osaka, who was born in Osaka and raised in the United States, fought back after dropping the first set tiebreak and settled down, while Vandeweghe threw her chances away with unforced errors. “I had moments in the tiebreaker and hit some very bad shots,” Osaka told reporters. “(After the first set) I looked relaxed and I started singing Beyonce in my head.” Although the 180-cm Osaka tends to overpower opponents with her serve, Vandeweghe was able to at least stay in the match for a while with her service game. “I didn’t want to overpower her,” Osaka said. “Because what if she defends and then she hits more rallies? I don’t want that. I thought that it was basically a serve competition. She had a really good serve. Either that or I had a bad service return.” Osaka brought it all out in the third set, however, when at three games apiece, she was losing her service game 40-0. “I pictured Serena (Williams) serving,” said Osaka. Women’s Rio Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig, seeded 32nd, was upset by 61st-ranked Zheng Saisai of China, 6-4, 6-2. “These are new waters for me, new territory,” Puig said. “I’m going to have to start getting used to it.” She upset Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza and a third major champ, Petra Kvitova, on her stunning run to gold in Rio. Less than a week ago, Puig was in Puerto Rico, riding in a parade with other Olympians through streets packed with admirers — her victory a joyous respite from the island’s economic crisis. Then it was back to the grind of tennis. When she took the court Monday, with plenty of Puerto Rican fans cheering her on, she knew she wouldn’t be viewed as the player who has never made it past the fourth round at a major or the second round at the U.S. Open. “A lot of pressure, a lot of expectation,” Puig said. “Once it starts becoming a little bit more of a habit,” she added, “then I’ll feel comfortable.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/30/more-sports/tennis/osaka-wins-u-s-open-debut-olympic-champ-puig-falls/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/f7d655ea98da79719f8a54d50fae676029cebdf806e581ed38f844014053746a.json

The age of excessive high-tech is a good time to be filthy rich, especially if you happen to be an entitled scoundrel whose level of wealth-fueled egomania

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fculture%2F2016%2F08%2F31%2Ffilms%2Ffilm-reviews%2Fselfless-losing-oneself-narrative%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p11-shoji-selfless-a-20160901-870x550.jpg

en

'Self/Less': Losing oneself in the narrative

www.japantimes.co.jp

The age of excessive high-tech is a good time to be filthy rich, especially if you happen to be an entitled scoundrel whose level of wealth-fueled egomania makes Scrooge look like a benevolent fuddy-duddy. In “Self/Less,” Ben Kingsley as New York real estate mogul Damian is that scoundrel, and he pushes all the buttons that you would expect a mean SOB sitting on a mountain of cash to push. No one loves Damian. Damian loves no one. His only family is an estranged daughter (Michelle Dockery) who wants nothing to do with him. He spends time relaxing (sort of, because Damian has too much cash to feel really comfortable) in an extraordinary glittering gold penthouse apartment — alone. One of the salient features of “Self/Less” is that Damian’s home actually belongs to Donald Trump (it’s in the credits) who apparently gave his OK for it to be used in a movie about an arrogant, self-obsessed guy who made his bajillions from NY real estate. Talk about a sense of self-irony. Trump must have the hide of a bullet-proof rhino or is completely delusional. Being rich does not, however, mean being immortal and Damian learns he not only has cancer, but also has just a few months to live. Bummer. But wait — money can fix that. Damian contacts cool scientist Albright (Matthew Goode), who informs him that for an exorbitant fee — one that could probably feed the world’s poor for the next century — Damian’s mind can exit his sinking ship and inhabit a new “empty vessel.” That “vessel” turns out to be a young guy’s healthy body. Albright calls the process “shedding,” and it was invented, Damian is told, by the older, brilliant scientist Dr. Jensen (Thomas Francis Murphy), who inexplicably disappeared a while ago. Self/Less ( Self Less / Kakusei Shita Kioku ) Rating 2.5 out of 5 Run Time 117 mins Language English Opens NOW SHOWING Damian signs the paperwork, slides into an MRI-like apparatus and emerges with a toned, new body and the face of Ryan Reynolds. What happens next is a predictable series of millionaire cliches. Damian (now Reynolds) lets rip and enjoys himself: cruisers, vacations and a stream of young women, all dying to tear off their clothes and dive into his bed. It’s all great, until he is troubled by hallucinations of what have the familiarity of memories but are of experiences he knows he never had. These visions show a young woman, a little girl and a house. Disturbed and a little jaded by his new lifestyle, Damian decides to track down the source of these episodes and winds up stumbling on a few unsavory revelations. Albright isn’t the sincere man of science Damian pegged him to be, but is a body-snatching conman with zero regard for humanity; Jensen, he learns, was pretty reprehensible too, having ditched a wife with Alzheimer’s before going AWOL. To Damian’s horror, he realizes his new body was not an “empty” vessel, but belonged to a real-life family man named Mark. Mark and his wife Madeline (Natalie Martinez) were a typically happy family until their little girl became ill and the couple couldn’t afford the medical bills. Opportunistic Albright stepped in and offered Mark a deal: turn over his healthy body to science and in return he would receive a hefty lump sum, enough to save his daughter and even pay for her college tuition fees later. Since none of this comes as a surprise (the plot twists are about as obvious as a delay alert in a stormy airport), Damian’s reaction to all this is bewildering. The ultimately selfish ice-cold man is suddenly willing to risk life and limb to protect Madeline and the daughter from Albright’s evil henchmen. The discrepancy is jarring, as is the accompanying sudden swerve onto action-movie turf. The story never manages to convince us that Damian may be at times changing because of some residual sense of Mark, and it never defines the moment when Damian decides to become a decent human being. If only changing the mindset of the top one percent were that simple.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/08/31/films/film-reviews/selfless-losing-oneself-narrative/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/6c5837ec3a1f9516d7868743dfd50d9323cbcb0de4eed09b79f1c1a34c7b957e.json

In what would be a significant change in policy, the government is considering prioritizing economic assistance to Russia even if there is no progress in t

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fnational%2Fpolitics-diplomacy%2Fabe-may-prioritize-economic-cooperation-hopes-solving-island-dispute-russia%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Abe may prioritize economic cooperation in hopes of solving island dispute with Russia

www.japantimes.co.jp

In what would be a significant change in policy, the government is considering prioritizing economic assistance to Russia even if there is no progress in the long-standing territorial dispute, according to sources. Japan has maintained that it would only give economic assistance to Russia if there was progress in the row over the Russian-controlled islands off Hokkaido. Ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin early next month in Vladivostok, Japan is considering giving priority to economic cooperation with the aim of building bilateral trust, judging that such an approach will eventually help in resolving the territorial dispute, the sources said. In the talks with Putin, Abe is expected to commit Japanese support for the development of the Russian Far East, a region important to the Russian leader. The meeting is set to be held on the sidelines of the Eastern Economic Forum this Friday and Saturday. “Seeing that our previous policy did not bring about progress in territorial negotiations, we need to change our way of thinking,” a government source said. Part of the economic assistance package to Russia, the eight-point cooperation plan that Abe presented to Putin at their meeting in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May, will be implemented as early as this year, the sources said. In Sochi, Abe said he agreed with Putin to take a “new approach” in resolving the long-standing dispute over the islands. Abe did not unveil the specifics of the “new approach,” but Japan’s plan to move forward the eight-point plan could be part of the new path. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a press conference on Monday that details of the plan are expected to be discussed at the Abe-Putin meeting in Vladivostok. Under the eight-point plan focusing on the development of the Russian Far East, Japan may offer Russia technological assistance to boost production of oil and natural gas and construct a medical center featuring Japan’s state-of-art technology. But even if Japan goes ahead with economic assistance, there is no guarantee that Russia will become conciliatory over the territorial issue, which has prevented the two countries from signing a post-World War II peace treaty, other government sources and political observers said. Japan and Russia remain apart in their views in the spat over the Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan and the Habomai islet group, with Tokyo maintaining the stance that ownership of the isles must be resolved before concluding a postwar peace treaty. For its part, Moscow says territorial and peace treaty issues are not directly connected and that it took the islets legitimately at the end of World War II.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/national/politics-diplomacy/abe-may-prioritize-economic-cooperation-hopes-solving-island-dispute-russia/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/d85db690f9702219f6ac45061c56ba3c4b839bd1ebd20d3b712423dc764805a6.json

Tenbai No, a group that is against ticket resales, took out full-page ads in this morning's Asahi and Yomiuri newspapers. The black-and-white ads featured

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fculture%2F2016%2F08%2F23%2Fmusic%2Fmusic-industry-makes-united-declaration-ticket-scalping%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/c-jarnes-tickets-a-20160823-870x579.jpg

en

Music industry makes united declaration against ticket scalping

www.japantimes.co.jp

Tenbai No, a group that is against ticket resales, took out full-page ads in this morning’s Asahi and Yomiuri newspapers. The black-and-white ads featured the words “Hantai shimasu” (“to be opposed to”) in large type and a statement that read: “We are against the high-priced reselling of tickets, which is depriving music of its future.” Tenbai No (which translates as “Resale No”) wants to draw attention to concert ticket scalpers and Japan’s booming online resale market, which has seen instances of ticket prices being pushed up to more than 10 times their original price. As of now, 116 Japanese acts have signed on in support of the movement, including Glay, Babymetal and Southern All-Stars. The design of the ad itself looks like it could be promoting the country’s most star-filled music festival, especially with a shot of Rising Sun Rock Festival illustrating the background. However, it’s not just musicians that are joining the ranks; 24 festivals and four music-related associations are also on board. On the Tenbai No website, which launched at 4 a.m. on Tuesday, the president of the Federation of Music Producers Japan (FMPJ), Mitsunori Kadoike, writes: “Artists and concert staff work hard every day to present great performances to as many music fans as possible. High-priced reselling of tickets is a problem that can destroy the positive relationship that exists between artists and music fans.” This is the first time such a large-scale concerted effort has been made regarding ticket resales. However, some big names in the music world have already implemented anti-scalping measures. Facial scanning systems were used by J-pop act Arashi earlier in the year to prevent single buyers from purchasing multiple tickets. Idol unit Momoiro Clover Z and J-rock heavyweights B’z and Mr. Children have used such technology since 2014.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/08/23/music/music-industry-makes-united-declaration-ticket-scalping/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/12ed228664f254f947d21704042f022e93a74773a07a76b7f0a0de354e90adbe.json

In a country with beauty ideals that pre-makeover Barbie would struggle to meet, South Korean plus-size model Vivian Gee-yang Kim is facing down online tro

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F30%2Fasia-pacific%2Fsocial-issues-asia-pacific%2Fmodel-takes-plus-size-challenge-counter-south-koreas-beauty-norm%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/f-skplusbeaut-a-20160831-870x562.jpg

en

Model takes on plus-size challenge to counter South Korea's beauty 'norm'

www.japantimes.co.jp

In a country with beauty ideals that pre-makeover Barbie would struggle to meet, South Korean plus-size model Vivian Gee-yang Kim is facing down online trolls in her defiant campaign to persuade curvy women they have nothing to be ashamed of. Kim has modelled for U.S. firms, but at 165 centimeters (5.4 ft) tall and weighing 70 kilograms, she was described as “too skinny” for some full-figure fashion show work in America. But in her looks-obsessed homeland, she is constantly mocked and ridiculed on social networks as “flat-out fat” or “disgusting.” “In South Korea, the ideal weight for women is 50 kilograms, and many women who weigh more than that think they are fat,” the 30-year-old said. “That is a ridiculous, impossible standard that cripples many South Korean women’s self-esteem. And that has to change,” she said after a recent photo shoot. Kim, who is a U.S. size 10, runs an online clothing shop and publishes a fashion magazine specifically for plus-size women in South Korea — a first in a country where beauty is defined by rail-thin teenage K-pop stars and TV actresses whose diets are strictly controlled by their management. The pressure to conform is such that many turn to the country’s $4.6-billion plastic surgery industry that offers everything from a nose-job to radical double-jaw surgery. In a 2013 study by Samyook University in Seoul that surveyed 154 female university students in the normal weight range — a body mass index between 18-23 — almost 95 percent said they were unhappy with their bodies. More than 60 percent felt they needed to lose weight. The sort of weight-loss advert that was banned earlier this year in Britain for its image of a bikini-clad woman and the slogan “Are You Beach Body Ready?” would barely raise an eyebrow in South Korea. Similar products are promoted on posters pasted on subway walls and women’s toilet stalls, showing models mocking “lazy girls” or asking questions like: “How long are you going to roll around like that?” It is precisely this type of widespread, casual body-shaming that Kim is seeking to tackle head-on. “People hate it when a ‘fat girl’ like me parades her body without looking ashamed … they say I should not be seen in public or on the media,” Kim said. Her public stance has triggered an online backlash that has included death threats and vicious abuse that, in some cases, she has responded to with lawsuits. “Despite all this, I love my job,” she said. “I wanted to send this message to girls like me out there that they are not alone and they are beautiful no matter what.” After a failed bid to compete in a local modelling TV reality show, she left for the United States in 2010, where she eventually worked a number of full-figured shows. On her return, she searched for similar opportunities in the South Korean fashion scene — only to realize that there were none. According to Lee Chung Chung, a prominent Seoul fashion designer, using models of varying sizes in magazines or fashion catalogues is still a foreign concept in South Korea. “The beauty ideal among many of our customers is being thin … and we have to cater to that demand to sustain sales,” Lee said. Gong Ji-woo, head of Seoul-based New Face Model agency, said demand for plus-size models was “nonexistent” — with the exception of some TV shopping channels where they are shown eating food products or trying exercise machines. “I do feel the need for more development in plus-size model runways and programs,” Gong said. “But in order for this to happen, Korean clothing companies and the fashion industry must change to accept them … rather than for a one time event or our amusement,” he added. Shut out of the mainstream, Kim set up — and models for — her own quarterly magazine which offers fashion and styling tips for plus-size women and well as advice on how to deal with bullying. “I hear heartbreaking stories from so-called ‘fat girls’ all the time — being constantly abused and mocked by their own families, bosses, friends and strangers on the street or on the internet,” she said. “Honestly, some of them are not even that fat. But here, the standard of ‘thin’ is just way too cutthroat and only women as slim as K-pop band members can satisfy that norm,” she added. Among her many fans and clients is Baek Soo-jung, 31, who said Kim had created a sorely-needed safe refuge. Also a U.S. size 10, Baek said she had been mocked by her own mother, who once refused to take the same bus with her because of the shame of being called “mom” in public by a chubby daughter. Baek said Kim’s store was the first to produce pretty, well-fitting clothes, instead of the “dull, baggy, ill-fitting sacks local brands call plus-size clothes.” “Regardless of my size, I am a human and a woman who wants to feel pretty and to love myself … and Kim is the person who started this conversation in this country,” the 31-year-old said. “She took a big, brave step for all women like me.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/30/asia-pacific/social-issues-asia-pacific/model-takes-plus-size-challenge-counter-south-koreas-beauty-norm/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/1f5d7c98eba8b50fcd25078aa3beda5d47fba23d625cae6d269e83a8431258de.json

Israel Dagg scored two tries as the All Blacks beat Australia 29-9 in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, which also ensured they retained the Bled

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F27%2Fmore-sports%2Frugby%2Fall-blacks-whip-australia-in-rugby-championship-clash%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-all-blacks-a-20160828-870x588.jpg

en

All Blacks whip Australia in Rugby Championship clash

www.japantimes.co.jp

Israel Dagg scored two tries as the All Blacks beat Australia 29-9 in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday, which also ensured they retained the Bledisloe Cup for another year. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett also showcased his growing stature as the starting flyhalf with nine points from the boot and his all-around play drove his side around the field in a match that failed to reach the same heights as last week’s opener. Wallabies flyhalf Bernard Foley slotted two penalties, while debutant Reece Hodge landed a monster penalty in the first half for the visitors, who rarely threatened on attack and lost their sixth successive match. The All Blacks have held the Bledisloe Cup, the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy since 2003 and only had to draw in Wellington to ensure it stayed locked in New Zealand Rugby’s trophy cabinet for another season. New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said retaining the Bledisloe Cup was “an accomplishment we set out to do right from the start and to be able to do that was very pleasing. “They threw everything at us as we knew they would and there was a bit of niggle. We just had to make sure we didn’t get caught up in it and kept our frustration tolerance high.” Hansen’s side had hammered the Wallabies 42-8 last week in Sydney with a game of high pace and superb execution, and the Wallabies had promised they would perform better than they had at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium. The only thing they did do better, however, was slow the pace of the All Blacks’ game with negative tactics, while they also antagonized the home team with several off-the-ball incidents. The tactics worked to an extent, the All Blacks only led 15-9 at halftime courtesy of Dagg’s tries and a conversion and penalty to Barrett, while Foley and Hodge kicked penalties for the visitors. The negative mindset, however, did result in main protagonist Adam Coleman receiving a yellow card for a dangerous charge on All Blacks fullback Ben Smith late in the first half. The All Blacks did not score again while Coleman was off the field as the Wallabies slowed the pace even further, with the game at times descending into squabbles. Julian Savea then gave his side some breathing space just after Coleman returned when Barrett’s blistering pace again exploited space in the Wallabies defense before Same Cane grabbed his side’s fourth try about 15 minutes later. Australia’s many problems started at the set piece and it now faces a decision over whether it can continue with hooker and captain Stephen Moore, whose lineout throwing is a weakness. Problems throughout the backline will be more difficult to address. “Our effort was better this week than last week so I’m proud of that,” Moore said. “Well done to New Zealand. They played well across the two games so they deserve it. “We’re going through a difficult period so we have to stick tight and we have done that this week and we’ll continue to do that.” Both sides now have a week off in the Rugby Championship before the All Blacks face Argentina in Hamilton on Sept. 10, while the Wallabies play South Africa in Brisbane. The final match of the Bledisloe Cup, which is now a dead rubber, is in Auckland on Oct. 22.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/27/more-sports/rugby/all-blacks-whip-australia-in-rugby-championship-clash/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/dfb4fa3d21d5e81ad13128e426a42076e31fed4d381a1abd3af22edff6fbe5a5.json

Since studying visual arts and sculpture before taking up ballet at the age of 20 in 1973, Saburo Teshigawara has become a world-renowned choreographer and

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fculture%2F2016%2F08%2F23%2Fstage%2Fdance-icon-saburo-teshigawaras-magic-flute-brings-abstract-notes-mozarts-final-gem%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/p7-magic-flute-a-20160824-870x580.jpg

en

Dance icon Saburo Teshigawara's 'Magic Flute' brings abstract notes to Mozart's final gem

www.japantimes.co.jp

Since studying visual arts and sculpture before taking up ballet at the age of 20 in 1973, Saburo Teshigawara has become a world-renowned choreographer and dancer whose unique style and aesthetic sense has even drawn him commissions from the Paris Opera Ballet, Frankfurt Ballet and Nederlands Dans Theater. Now, after working along the way with videomakers, “noise artists” and performance art in search of what he’s called “a new form of beauty,” the Tokyo native is tackling “The Magic Flute” — Austrian composer-supreme Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s two-act opera from 1791. Although the work with its German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder was created as a Singspiel, a form that includes both singing and spoken dialogue, audiences can savor Teshigawara’s original take on Mozart’s final gem next month when it has its world premiere at the Aichi Triennale 2016 arts festival. Recently though, just before plunging into a full rehearsal, Teshigawara — who, besides working with Karas (Crow), the company he formed in 1985, is also an acclaimed graphic artist and film director — welcomed this writer to his studio base in a backstreet of the lively, western Tokyo town of Ogikubo. Asked why he’d chosen to stage this famed work he’s also choreographed — as well as designing the sets, lighting and costumes — here now with an all-Japanese cast, he first credited the depth and breadth of “The Magic Flute” itself. In this story, the Queen of the Night (played by Yui Takahashi) gives Prince Tamino (Jun Suzuki) and a birdcatcher named Papageno (Masamitsu Miyamoto) a magic flute and bells and commands them to rescue her daughter Pamina (Mari Moriya) from a priest named Sarastro (Hidekazu Tsumaya) who’s enslaved her. However, when they get to the priest’s shrine they find he is actually looking after Pamina to protect her from her evil mother, and though the prince and princess fall madly in love he won’t let her leave until Tamino and Papageno pass three tests. Despite the queen’s efforts to destroy the shrine to stop them succeeding — before she’s struck by a thunderbolt and sent to hell — the pair magically overcome the challenges and everyone lives happily ever after when romance also blossoms for Papageno and Papagena (Sonoka Daigo), who have met along the way. Yet after explaining how Mozart and Schikaneder were members of the same Masonic lodge — and that the story features symbols and language drawn straight from Freemasonry — Teshigawara insisted: “I don’t want to do this opera just following other European directors and imitating their style with Japanese performers as if I’m pretending to understand their cultural background. That would be farcical. “Instead, I want to extract universal issues concerning love, mystery, social compulsion and status from this Germanic story so it is relevant for audiences in Japan. I believe I can do this by directing it in abstract ways and concentrating on the music.” In practice, Teshigawara said he’s told the 17 opera singers he’s enlisted to perform in the original German under the baton of Italian conductor Gaetano d’Espinosa to forget about speaking and acting. Similarly, he’s told the 16 dancers he’s brought in from the Tokyo Ballet to just dance and forget about speaking — while leaving his longtime dance and artistic partner Rihoko Sato to narrate the story, written by Teshigawara in a poetic style, as she moves with her consummate grace around the stage as she’s previously done in some Karas dance pieces. That three-way split, he said, is crucial to “avoiding the disorder of having the vocalists singing in German and speaking in Japanese as is normal in Japanese versions of ‘The Magic Flute.’ “I actually divided the roles just between singers and dancers in my opera ‘Solaris’ based on the Polish writer Stanislaw Lem’s iconic sci-fi novel that premiered in March 2015 at the Theatre des Champs Elysees in Paris,” the director said. “Although the singers complained at first, I told them I believed singing was already tough enough physically and I wanted them to concentrate 100 percent on that. I was satisfied with the result — and the critics agreed with me.” Then, returning to the opera’s storyline, the director added that, “despite its idealistic, happy ending, I feel a darkness in it that may reflect the composer’s true despair at the state of humanity. “In that sense, I think ‘The Magic Flute’ — whose premiere Mozart conducted before returning to his sickbed and dying two months later, aged 35 — draws on his dream state and hence contains lots of contradictions, including that almost sarcastically happy ending perhaps included to give people hope. Art often works like that. “So rather than using a realistic set and gorgeous medieval costumes and strictly following the original, to bring out this work’s inherent contradictions and its darkness, I have opted for an abstract production.” Hence audiences will see the singers clad in arresting “architectural” costumes, with diaphanous dancers moving imaginatively around on a set featuring suspended metallic rings of various sizes swinging and glinting — rings that Teshigawara said, “refer to a perfect world, as symbols of termination and also recalling the universe in ways that disturb people’s inner balance. “I would like to create such ambivalence between beautiful circles and imbalance to represent the contradictions of our world,” he continued. “Furthermore, I would like to examine how people can cooperate and realize harmony in today’s uncertain world in which we live.” In pursuit of that same goal, the director added, “It’s very important to be making the work harmoniously together with all the cast and crew. “If I refer to the creation process as blowing up a balloon, it won’t inflate if there are any small holes. So everyone involved has had to contribute their imagination equally and not just leave it to me. By respecting each person’s talent and gathering those powers, we have been able to create our entirely new ‘Magic Flute.’ ” For globe-trotting Teshigawara, this will be his fifth operatic work following “Solaris” and three others staged before that — “Turandot” in Edinburgh and Japan in 2009, “Daido and Aeneas” in Venice in 2010 and “Acis and Galatea” in Aix-en-Provence in 2011. To him, though, this impressive achievement isn’t about kudos, but art. As he declared before leaving for that rehearsal, “If the director grabs the living, present-day reality from Western operas, new Japanese adaptations can resonate powerfully with Western audiences and be a mind-blowing experience for traditional opera fans there. “And I’m sure this ‘Magic Flute’ will be that.” To judge for yourself if he’s pulled it off, simply head to Nagoya next month. “Aichi Triennale 2016” is running through Oct. 23 at venues around Nagoya, Toyohashi and Okazaki cities. “The Magic Flute” is being staged at 3 p.m. on Sept. 17 and 19 at Aichi Prefecture Arts Theater in Nagoya. For details, call 052-971-6111 or visit aichitriennale.jp. For more about Karas, visit www.st-karas.com.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2016/08/23/stage/dance-icon-saburo-teshigawaras-magic-flute-brings-abstract-notes-mozarts-final-gem/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/ec0b67d1c286a508c30802c4dfa5859a7b39c3d6e3ca68b08b3d3df7a7c54a6c.json

Pre-kindergarten education and educators should taken more seriously because they provide children with invaluable skills that last a lifetime.

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fopinion%2F2016%2F08%2F23%2Fcommentary%2Fjapan-commentary%2Fprofessionalize-pre-kindergarten-education%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/themes/jt_theme/library/img/logo-japan-times_square.png

en

Professionalize pre-kindergarten education

www.japantimes.co.jp

Despite the importance of pre-kindergarten education, Japan and the United States stand alone among industrialized nations in failing to provide the necessary funding and support to make this first step in formal schooling a success. As a result, toddlers in both countries continue to be shortchanged in reaching their full potential. In many respects, however, Japan treats nursery school even worse than the U.S. The low pay and maze of government regulations have led 760,000 qualified teachers to date to leave the field completely. At present, there are five openings for each applicant. With average salaries of ¥216,000 a month, including overtime, the situation is only going to get worse. Enough skilled and experienced teachers at this level can never be recruited and retained until they are treated as true professionals. Too often, they are seen as glorified babysitters, which is insulting given what is expected of them in teaching traditional Japanese values. That’s why nursery schools in Japan need to provide evidence that they satisfy professional standards before receiving a license to operate. Doing so would place a floor — but not a ceiling — on the qualifications of those interested in teaching the youngest children. Although the U.S. is a step ahead of Japan in educating the youngest children, it still qualifies as one of the worst countries in the developed world. Local, state and federal governments invest a pittance in the first five years of a child’s life, placing it 35th, according to the OECD. A new study by the Center for the Study of Child Care Employment at the University of California, Berkeley found that the earliest educators are among the lowest paid workers in the country, even when their education and certifications are comparable to kindergarten teachers. Their median wage was $9.77 an hour in 2015 compared with $13.74 an hour for pre-kindergarten teachers who take over when children turn 3. The disparity is even greater when compared with kindergarten teachers who earned a median wage of $24.83 an hour. Unless the U.S. begins to make preschool education a priority, it’s unlikely that the percentage of preschool children will increase above the current level. For children from low-income homes in particular, that would be a major blow. They enter kindergarten already three months behind children from higher-income homes, and never catch up. But simply throwing more money at the problem in Japan and the U.S. is not enough. Smaller classes, a challenging curriculum, and higher qualifications for teachers are indispensable for pre-kindergarten success. Moreover, pre-kindergarten teachers need the same stable career path provided to their kindergarten through 12th-grade counterparts. The model is New York City, home of the nation’s largest school district. Free, full-day pre-kindergarten education is available to all children. Teachers also must have at least a bachelor’s degree. Affluent parents who routinely spend $15,000 a year or more for pre-kindergarten education support this program, while low-income parents call it indispensable. Pre-kindergarten education, if done properly, can inculcate values like patience, manners, and perseverance that last a lifetime. It’s impossible to put a price on their worth. That’s a lesson Japan and the U.S. need to bear in mind. Walt Gardner writes the Reality Check blog for Education Week in the U.S. He taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District for 28 years.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/23/commentary/japan-commentary/professionalize-pre-kindergarten-education/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/f15761ae7a35f6de1988b344841a469ed628965a231baca5a88ecaeb2ce00ffe.json

The Osaka Evessa enter a new era with two new big men patrolling the middle. Former NBA center/power forward Josh Harrellson has been signed to play for th

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F25%2Fbasketball%2Fb-league%2Fosaka-brings-harrellson-help-man-middle%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-ed-a-20160826-870x1059.jpg

en

Osaka brings in Harrellson to help man the middle

www.japantimes.co.jp

The Osaka Evessa enter a new era with two new big men patrolling the middle. Former NBA center/power forward Josh Harrellson has been signed to play for the Kansai club for the upcoming campaign, the three-time bj-league champion announced on Monday. Earlier this month, Osaka also secured the services of 210-cm Xavier Gibson, whose all-around skills made a profound impact for the Shinshu Brave Warriors last season, averaging 22.1 points (seventh-best total in the now-disbanded bj-league) and 2.5 blocks (No. 1 in the 24-team circuit). Forward Mike Bell, Gibson’s Shinshu teammate last season, called the Florida State alum the “best player” in the bj-league last season during an interview with The Japan Times. Now, Gibson, 27, will have the opportunity to showcase his skills against many different foes (17 additional teams in the first division) before a largely different audience in the new league. He is somewhat familiar with the former NBL teams, however, having spent the 2014-15 season with Toyota Alvark, who are now called Alvark Tokyo. Before playing for Toyota, he was a key figure on Shinshu’s 2013-14 playoff team. For Harrellson, this season represents a chance to become a go-to star in Japan. The 208-cm, 125-kg Harrellson spent time with the New York Knicks, Miami Heat and Detroit Pistons during the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons, respectively. He appeared in 75 regular-season games during those three seasons, including 37 (four starts) with the Knicks and 32 with the Pistons. He averaged 4.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 14.6 minutes a game for New York. His playing time decreased with both Miami and Detroit. The 27-year-old Harrellson, a University of Kentucky alum who wrapped up his collegiate career playing for coach John Calipari, was the 45th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The New Orleans Hornets selected him in the second round. As a senior, Harrellson helped the Wildcats advance to the NCAA Final Four, including a 17-point, 10-rebound, three-block effort against Ohio State in a Sweet 16 contest. During his pro career, the St. Charles, Missouri, native has also had stints with Brujos de Guayama (Puerto Rico), Guangzhou Free Man and Chongqing Flying Dragons (China) and, most recently, VEF Riga (Latvia). Before joining VEF Riga, he saw time with the Phoenix Suns during the 2015 NBA Summer League and with the Washington Wizards that preseason before being released as the team trimmed its roster for the regular season. Osaka bench boss Dai Oketani, who guided the Ryukyu Golden Kings to a pair of bj-league titles, is entering his second season at the helm. Rosters taking shape: There have been a slew of signings in recent weeks as teams begin to assemble their rosters for the B. League’s first season. Some of the notable acquisitions are reported below. The San-en NeoPhoenix, formerly known as the Hamamatsu Higashimikawa Phoenix, have reunited with star forward Olu Ashaolu, who helped them capture the 2014-15 bj-league title. The frontcourt standout played for the rival Evessa last season. The NeoPhoenix have also signed Robert Dozier, a well-traveled post player who was a second-round draft pick of the Heat in 2009. Since then, the University of Memphis product has played in Greece, France, Spain and for the Alaska Aces in the Philippines this past season. Meanwhile, the Bambitious Nara, who’ll compete in the 18-team second division, added Nigerian forward Andy Ogide to their roster. After a college career at Mississippi and Colorado State, Ogide, now 28, has suited up for teams in Spain, Russia, Puerto Rico and Israel. He also competed for Nigeria at the 2016 Rio Olympics, appearing in five games and averaging 13.4 minutes, 4.4 points and 1.2 rebounds. “Thanks for having me. I can’t wait to play my hardest for you all,” Ogide said in a statement posted on the Bambitious website. Nara also finalized a contract with ex-University of West Virginia forward John Flowers, who was a rookie pro during the 2011-12 season when he played for the Saitama Broncos. Flowers returns to Japan after stops in France and Germany in recent seasons. Staying put: Veteran swingman Billy Knight, a UCLA alum, will remain with the Yamagata Wyverns for a second season as the second-division club makes the transition to the new league. Knight, now 37, helped the Phoenix win the 2009-10 bj-league crown. . . . Dependable scorer Josh Peppers will give the Rizing Zephyr Fukuoka a familiar option as the team adjusts to the new third division and its new foes after competing in the now-disbanded bj-league. The University of Central Florida product has worked out a deal to return to the team. Retooling their frontcourt: The Niigata Albirex BB have signed big men Clint Chapman and Stephan Van Treese, the team recently announced. The 209-cm Chapman, a University of Texas alum, averaged 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in 55 games for the NBL’s Chiba Jets last season. Van Treese, a University of Louisville product, returns to the Albirex for a second stint (he played for the club in 2014-15) after helping the Fukushima Firebonds advance to the bj-league playoffs last season. Van Treese averaged 14.0 points, 11.3 boards and 1.2 blocks in 52 regular-season games with the Firebonds. Change of scenery: Former Fukushima guard Masaya Karimata, a vital playmaker and scorer for the team’s first two seasons of existence, has moved on to SeaHorses Mikawa, who were formerly called the Aisin SeaHorses. Before a breakthrough season with the Firebonds in 2014-15 season, when he earned the Most Improved Player award (15.1 points, 4.4 assists), the 28-year-old Karimata had stints with the Jets and Golden Kings. George Washington vs. Ryukyu: In the final game of the George Washington University men’s basketball team’s recent four-game tour of Japan, the Colonials defeated the Ryukyu Golden Kings 82-58 on Sunday afternoon in Okinawa City. Yuta Watanabe and Matt Hart paced GW with 15 points apiece. For the Golden Kings, Shuhei Kitagawa canned four 3-pointers in an 18-point effort and Shota Tsuyama had 10 points, while Ryuichi Kishimoto poured in nine. Ryukyu mainstay Anthony McHenry added eight points, six rebounds and three assists. Before that, George Washington defeated the Japan men’s national team 81-66 on Aug. 13 in Osaka, 77-71 on Aug. 16 in Tokyo and 75-47 on Aug. 19 in Hamamatsu. Watanabe, who’s entering his junior season at the school, contributed 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in the four-game overseas tour. Feedback: edward.odeven@japantimes.co.jp

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/25/basketball/b-league/osaka-brings-harrellson-help-man-middle/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/275b1842187c7ef403306ba4bc390fd77aff584fc3a6c56de0fbf888ccdb20a8.json

Police on Friday referred to prosecutors a case on four police officers alleged to have secretly installed surveillance cameras on the premises of a buildi

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fnews%2F2016%2F08%2F26%2Fnational%2Fcase-surveillance-cameras-installed-cops-oita-prefecture-political-office-referred-prosecutors-office%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/n-policecam-a-20160827-870x594.jpg

en

Case of surveillance cameras installed by cops at Oita Prefecture political office referred to prosecutor's office

www.japantimes.co.jp

Police on Friday referred to prosecutors a case on four police officers alleged to have secretly installed surveillance cameras on the premises of a building used by opposition supporters in Kyushu. The officers from the Oita Prefectural Police, including the head of an investigative division for election-related crimes at a police station, could be prosecuted for illegally entering a building. The incident occurred just before official campaigning began for the July 10 House of Councilors’ election. Police said the cameras were installed on the premises in the hot-spring resort town of Beppu, in Oita Prefecture, to monitor certain civil servants who were banned from being involved in election campaigning. They admitted that the method used for the investigation was “inappropriate.” “There was an illegal act of trespassing (to install the cameras),” said Haruhiko Eguma, a police inspector, at a news conference. Given that the cameras had recorded an unspecified number of people entering and leaving the building, he said, “It was neither necessary nor reasonable to videotape other peoples’ premises, and privacy was violated.” The police officers from the Beppu Police Station — two who installed the devices and two of their superiors — are alleged to have trespassed in the building without permission a total of seven times between June 18 to 21 to install two cameras in the grounds. The building is home to a support group for the Social Democratic Party, a small opposition party, and a regional body linked to the Oita chapter of the Japanese Trade Union Confederation, known as Rengo. Opposition party supporters used the building as a base for Upper House election campaigning, which officially began on June 22. The cameras were in place until June 24, when union members noticed them and alerted the police. The cameras were set up at two different locations, one covering the building’s entrance and another monitoring the parking lot, according to union members. One of the senior officers had proposed installing the cameras, according to the police. The other superior, the criminal investigation division head, was supposed to report the plan to the prefectural police headquarters but failed to do so. The four admitted to the allegations, saying they acted in a foolhardy manner. The police reprimanded them Friday with pay cuts or other punishments. Despite the purported benefits of using surveillance cameras to investigate certain crimes, the latest case has drawn criticism not only from legal experts but also from investigative authorities for possibly undermining the freedom of election campaigning. Noting that there was an election office inside the building and access by all people to the building had been videotaped, Hisashi Sonoda, a professor at Konan Law School, said such an activity “could restrict the freedom of election activities and ultimately democracy.” A senior police official said videotaping visitors to an election campaign office was unheard of. “The police may say they did it for investigative purposes, but it can’t help but be perceived as surveillance.”

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2016/08/26/national/case-surveillance-cameras-installed-cops-oita-prefecture-political-office-referred-prosecutors-office/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/d63dd1e1d2666ab26e419e74c7064b255209ad40e1dbde2f657392ba3ee481e0.json

No Manning. No Brady, for the first four games. No clear-cut favorite in the AFC. With the regular season about to kick off, it's anybody's guess who'll be

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.japantimes.co.jp%2Fsports%2F2016%2F08%2F29%2Fmore-sports%2Ffootball%2Ftop-teams-problems-leave-afc-race-open%2F.json

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/sp-nfl-a-20160830-870x580.jpg

en

Top teams' problems leave AFC race open

www.japantimes.co.jp

No Manning. No Brady, for the first four games. No clear-cut favorite in the AFC. With the regular season about to kick off, it’s anybody’s guess who’ll be the conference’s representative at the Super Bowl in Houston in February. The defending champion Denver Broncos will try to become the first team to repeat since New England in 2004-05. But they won’t have the retired Peyton Manning leading the way. Or even Brock Osweiler, who bolted from the Broncos and headed to Houston. Instead, Gary Kubiak and the Broncos have been trying to sort out a quarterback mix that includes veteran Mark Sanchez, 2015 seventh-rounder Trevor Siemian and rookie Paxton Lynch, the team’s first-rounder this year. “You want to see the other guy succeed, you want to see the team succeed,” Sanchez said. “So, whatever it takes to win, that’s what we’ll try to do.” While their quarterback situation might be a big question mark, the Broncos know they’ve got one of the league’s best defenses back, especially with the return of Super Bowl MVP Von Miller. “If we’re like last year, our team didn’t worry about the other side of the ball,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “They worried about how well they played. That’s what we want to do. We have to outplay the other team’s defense. If they hold our team to not much, then we hold them to less. That’s the way we play the game.” New England knows who its quarterback will be at the start of the season. Jimmy Garoppolo steps in for the suspended Tom Brady, who’ll have to sit four games as a result of his role in the “Deflategate” scandal. That might make the Patriots’ stranglehold on the AFC East appear looser after winning the division the last seven years. Well, not so fast on writing off Bill Belichick’s bunch. “Belichick is Belichick,” Buffalo safety Corey Graham said. “He’s one of the best, so when it’s all said and done, you know he’s going to get those guys prepared and make sure they’re ready to go.” Pittsburgh might have as good a chance to win the AFC crown as anyone, especially if Ben Roethlisberger remains healthy. The Steelers went 10-6 and won a playoff game last season despite a down year for their playmaking quarterback because of injuries. Wide receiver Antonio Brown, among the most dynamic offensive player in the league, broke his own franchise records by catching 136 passes for 1,834 yards. Running back Le’Veon Bell is back from torn knee ligaments and should provide a boost, but will be suspended the first three games of the regular season for missing multiple drug tests. The Steelers will also have to contend with AFC North rivals Cincinnati, which has made the postseason five straight years. Quarterback Andy Dalton is recovered from a broken thumb that kept him out of the Bengals’ first-round playoff loss to the Steelers. He was having a breakout season when he got hurt last December, setting a team record with a passer rating of 106.3. But Marvin Lewis’ offense will have a different look this season with coordinator Hue Jackson leaving to become Cleveland’s head coach and wide receivers Marvin Jones (Lions) and Mohamed Sanu (Falcons) signing elsewhere as free agents. The AFC South could be a toss-up, with Andrew Luck back from an inconsistent and injury-plagued season for Indianapolis. Houston has a new quarterback in Osweiler and running back in Lamar Miller, but star defensive end J.J. Watt is still recovering from back surgery. Jacksonville is coming off a 5-11 year, but showed promise with quarterback Blake Bortles’ breakthrough season with receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, who combined for 24 touchdown catches.

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/08/29/more-sports/football/top-teams-problems-leave-afc-race-open/

en

www.japantimes.co.jp/30cc244387f293b6d3a69c359ccfe23e97e53000b58c9e4f1e5a6e279078f348.json