Topic: Tokyo
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Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria’s stockpile
Word from the White House that Syria probably resorted to small-scale use of chemical weapons against rebel forces in the country's civil war draws new attention to the internationally-banned nerve agent sarin.Perhaps the best-known recent use of sarin previously was in the 1995 Tokyo subway attack, in which at least 13 people died. But sarin’s legacy is about to get an update and henceforth seems likely to be associated with Syria and its besieged president, Bashar al-Assad.
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3 novels with unforgettable main characters
These protagonists will still be on your mind long after you've reached the last page.
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Man Asian Literary Prize: the nominees for 2012
Check out the five nominees on the short list for the 2012 Man Asian Literary Prize.
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4 mysteries with great locations, finely detailed plots
From 18th-century Sweden to contemporary Japan, these thrillers take readers around the globe.
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9 chats with top true-crime authors
In 2012, writers pondered murder and mayhem across the globe and across centuries.
All Content
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As world dials back death penalty, Japan heads in opposite direction
Two gangsters were hanged in Japan last week. More executions are likely under new Prime Minister Abe, who has expressed strong support for the death penalty – and says the public backs him.
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Japan and Russia want to finally end World War II, agree it is 'abnormal' not to
Today's summit between Shinzo Abe and Vladimir Putin comes at an opportune moment but may founder on the old problem of the Kuril Islands, which Japan still wants back.
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Cover Story
Boston bombing reveals a new American maturity toward insecurityThe post-9/11 'new normal' has evolved: The tactical and emotional responses to the Boston Marathon bombings show what experts call a national maturity toward terrorism that echoes longer experience with such crises in England, Spain, Russia, Japan, and Israel.
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Chemical weapons 101: Six facts about sarin and Syria’s stockpile
Word from the White House that Syria probably resorted to small-scale use of chemical weapons against rebel forces in the country's civil war draws new attention to the internationally-banned nerve agent sarin.Perhaps the best-known recent use of sarin previously was in the 1995 Tokyo subway attack, in which at least 13 people died. But sarin’s legacy is about to get an update and henceforth seems likely to be associated with Syria and its besieged president, Bashar al-Assad.
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Stir It Up! Cookbook review: How to Boil an Egg (+video)
At first glance, 'How to Boil an Egg' by Rose Carrarini seems simple, but the cookbook is packed with sophisticated and unusual recipes. It's also beautifully illustrated by award-winning botanical artist Fiona Strickland.
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Is Japan's Shinzo Abe finally acting on his true nationalist colors?
Japan's prime minister appears to be stepping up his campaign to reinterpret Japan's wartime history, aggravating China and South Korea at a time when the region should be uniting to deal with North Korea.
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US military chief in Beijing warns of North Korea 'miscalculation'
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey is in China looking for help on North Korea. Though Beijing indicated it was 'working on' it, there are a number of reasons why China might be reluctant to push the North too hard.
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Global News Blog China sends largest fleet yet to disputed islands
China sent a fleet of patrol ships today to the sea area it disputes with Japan, following a controversial visit by Japanese officials to a war shrine. The latest moves are seen as a setback for a diplomatic resolution.
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Terrorism & Security Israel charges Syria with lethal chemical weapons use
The Israeli military says its evidence shows that the Syrian regime used sarin gas during a March clash with rebels, reversing earlier reports that no such weapons had been used.
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Japan will join Asia-Pacific free trade talks
Member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership will allow Japan to join talks on a US-led Asia Pacific free trade agreement. The pact would cover nearly 40 percent of global economic output.
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3 novels with unforgettable main characters
These protagonists will still be on your mind long after you've reached the last page.
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New N. Korea threats against South, U.S.
N. Korea issued new threats after protesters in Seoul burned effigies of the North's leaders. N. Korea threatened retaliatory measures against S. Korea and "unspecified military countermeasures" unless the U.S. stops conducting military drills nearby.
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The Monitor's View: Alternative currencies like bitcoin are a mirror of their users
The e-currency bitcoin spiked and then fell last week, sowing doubts about alternative currencies, whether on the Internet or in local communities. Such experiments need a firm basis of trust.
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Decoder Wire North Korea nuclear talks: Did John Kerry soften conditions? (+video)
North Korea nuclear talks are possible if the North gives up its nuclear program, Secretary of State John Kerry said this weekend. That's not new, but Kerry's tone has worried some analysts.
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North Korea crisis: Can John Kerry persuade China to lean harder on Kim?
Secretary of State John Kerry meets with Chinese officials in Beijing Saturday, with tensions spiraling ever higher in the region as North Korea threatens to carry out a ballistic missile test.
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Chapter & Verse Haruki Murakami's new novel becomes an instant bestseller in Japan
"Murakami mania" has gripped Japan since the release of Haruki Murakami's new novel, 'Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage' at midnight on Friday. No English translation is yet planned.
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Kim Jong-un's goal? Status as the unequivocal god-king of the North.
Kim Jong-un is showing he is firmly in charge of North Korea, capable of challenging the mighty United States and a worthy successor to the Kim dynasty. That might be a good thing.
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The Monitor's View: A path to peace in land, resource disputes
A Taiwan-Japan agreement on fisheries near the Senkaku islands sets a model for China in avoiding dangerous moves on island claims.
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What hope for diplomacy to defuse North Korea crisis?
Any diplomatic resolution to the North Korea crisis depends upon China's priorities and Kim Jong-un himself. Here's why both are difficult to gauge as Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to travel to the region.
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Amid crisis, influential South Korean politician wants to deploy US nukes
A member of the South Korean National Assembly called for US tactical nuclear weapons on the peninsula. He also suggested that Seoul consider developing its own deterrent.
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North Korean missiles: Could US shoot them down? (+video)
The Pentagon has been deploying more missile-defense ground batteries and ships to East Asia. Here's a rundown of the three-tiered system that the US could use to counter North Korean missiles.
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Stay or go? Embassies in North Korea weigh warning.
North Korea is warning that it can no longer guarantee diplomats' safety in Pyongyang as international tensions mount.
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Stocks rise; Best Buy jumps 16 percent
Stocks ended higher on Wall Street Thursday, regaining half of its plunge the day before, as buyers returned to the market. Among stocks making big moves, electronics retailer Best Buy jumped $3.48, or 16 percent, to $25.13.
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Decoder Wire Caroline Kennedy: Good or bad choice for US ambassador to Japan? (+video)
Caroline Kennedy has largely shunned public political life, spending much of her time working at nonprofit organizations. Is it a good idea to send someone with little diplomatic experience as envoy to an important US ally?
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Could China and Japan see a spring thaw in relations?
Diplomatic visits between Japan and China had been largely suspended since last September, when a territorial dispute brought the two Northeast Asian powers to the edge of a confrontation.
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