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Richard Smart
For Richard Smart's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMUNITY / ZEIT GIST: UPDATE
Feb 22, 2011
Navy removes captain over sex abuse furor
The United States Navy has taken action against staff involved in the case of former Lt. Cmdr. Anthony L. Velasquez, a doctor accused of sexually abusing a number of women while based in Japan and Kuwait between 2007 and 2009.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Feb 8, 2011
Tokyo: What do you make of the decision to publish the book by Tatsuya Ichihashi, prime suspect in Lindsay Ann Hawker's murder, about his years on the run?
Sri Wahyuni
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jan 4, 2011
Tokyo and Yamagata: What are your resolutions for the new year?
Kazue Kawaguchi
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Dec 28, 2010
Tokyo: What's your idea of the perfect Christmas?
Mayumi Kaneko, 34Business controller (Japanese)Hanging out with good people here in Tokyo makes for the best time for me. I don't feel Christmas is so important but I would still like to get a present from Santa.
CULTURE / Music
Dec 24, 2010
Counting out 2010 with the best beats across the country
Over drinks with a former Tokyo-based promoter recently, our conversation turned to the state of the city's nightclub scene. In Europe, nightclubs can usually guarantee a certain number of patrons to show up on any given night, which is great for DJs who are scouted to perform at those clubs. In Japan, however, venues can't make the same guarantee and drawing a crowd becomes the responsibility of event promoters and even the DJs themselves. It's hard work but this New Year's it seems to be paying off — the most promising parties are set to take place in some unlikely venues.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 30, 2010
Justice not served in navy abuse case
This summer, a U.S. Navy doctor, Lt. Cmdr. Anthony L. Velasquez, 48, walked free after serving seven days in the brig at the Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture. He had admitted to two counts each of wrongful sexual contact and conduct unbecoming an officer. He had, however, gotten off lightly, with a two-year prison sentence, $28,000 fine and forfeiture of all pay and allowances suspended for a year in a deal struck with naval authorities. Twenty-nine further charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.
CULTURE / Music
Nov 26, 2010
The 'weird' world of techno's Ishino
"Salarymen are fantastic," says DJ and producer Takkyu Ishino. "If there weren't so many of them doing their thing, then people like me would not be able to exist. If more people acted like me (outside the norm), then I wouldn't have had the life that I've had."
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE ZEIT GIST
Nov 2, 2010
Small schools offer hope amid eikaiwa slump
The collapse of the Geos eikaiwa (English conversation school) chain earlier this year came as a cruel blow to an industry still struggling to restore its credibility years after Nova's high-profile implosion.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 22, 2010
Brian Eno "Small Craft on a Milk Sea"
Few artists can claim to have had as much impact on popular music as Brian Eno. His solo pieces and work as a record producer have influenced the way pop, punk, rock and dance music are made and listened to. Eno's newest album, "Small Craft on a Milk Sea," does not disappoint.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / IN THE RECORD
Oct 15, 2010
Billion Dollar Boys Club
Billion Dollar Boys Club is the creator of 4 The Love, a Tokyo party featuring everything from house to R&B to hip-hop. The Japan Times asked him about his favorite songs.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Oct 1, 2010
Underworld
There was a point a few years ago when many of the biggest live dance-music acts of the 1990s took the same path that many rock bands go down: They started to sell tickets to their once-seminal concerts because of music from their past albums, not their current work.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Sep 14, 2010
Hiroshima: What's one thing you shouldn't miss if you visit Hiroshima?
Megu HiranoStylist26Momiji manju is not as famous as some Hiroshima dishes but I'd recommend trying it. It's really good.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Sep 10, 2010
Terry Francis
Budding DJs always harbor dreams of performing to packed stadiums or at major venues on the Spanish island of Ibiza, but maintaining a residency for 11 years and playing in front of up to 1,800 people each week is not too shabby either.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Aug 3, 2010
What were your Fuji Rock Festival favorites this year?
SATURDAY:Lloyd MarsdenMusician, 27(Australian)Broken Bells were incredible. They had an awesome vibe and the sound was mixed perfectly. I don't think I've been to a better festival.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 30, 2010
Various Artists "Bamboo Pirate presents Max Essa vs. John Daly"
Technology has done strange things to dance music. It seems anybody these days can DJ (no matter how bad) because new equipment makes it easy. All a person really has to do now is change songs.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 27, 2010
How can you beat that summer heat?
Brian GillilandTeacher, 27(American)It's all about the G-string. When you feel like your bottom is naked, that makes you feel cool.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Jul 16, 2010
Audio Tokyo
The foreign-run Eggworm has pulled off a real coup in Tokyo by organizing the first all-day/all-night dance-music festival in the capital.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jul 13, 2010
Whatever happened to the Charisma Men?
Tim StroudRecruiter, 29 (British)They still exist and can be found in ¥300 bars across the city and reading the Metropolis singles ads every Friday. Also, look out for predatory teachers in eikaiwa classrooms. I sit next to one at work, too.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / A SCORCHING SUMMER SCHEDULE
Jul 2, 2010
MOGWAI: Metamorphose
If you had told Glaswegian band Mogwai when they formed in the mid-1990s that they would end up headlining a dance music festival, they would have laughed in your face. But over the years Metamorphose has evolved from a festival representing electronic music that avoids hype (it was set up in 2000 to counter the hysteria surrounding big beat and electro) into a diverse celebration of left-of-center acts. And their powerful live show makes Mogwai the perennial "other stage" headliners at festivals worldwide. Expect rock music featuring long buildups and uplifting peaks that match anything the techno acts at the festival can produce.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Jun 22, 2010
How do you think the Japanese government could improve?
Charlotte Warren, 32Translator (British)The politicians all seem faceless and interchangeable. The project started by Junichiro Koizumi to reform the nation needs to go further. Politicians like Yuriko Koike need to take a more active role.

Longform

A statue of "Dragon Ball" character Goku stands outside the offices of Bandai Namco in Tokyo. The figure is now as recognizable as such characters as Mickey Mouse and Spider-Man.
Akira Toriyama's gift to the world