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Shelly Banjo
For Shelly Banjo's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / FOCUS
Aug 5, 2020
TikTok’s price is a giant question mark in an already complex deal
Analysts and bankers have pegged the value of the video-sharing app's U.S. business at anywhere from $20 billion to $50 billion.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies / ANALYSIS
Aug 4, 2020
Microsoft’s long history in China complicates potential TikTok deal
Hawks in the Trump administration oppose any purchase of the social-media service by the tech giant, citing its contributions to 'the Great Firewall of China.'
Reader Mail
Dec 11, 2008
What is LDP official trying to do?
What is LDP official trying to do?
Reader Mail
Nov 9, 2008
African-Japanese prime minister?
As you know, people in the Fukui Prefecture city of "Obama" are delighted at the prospect of an American president with the same name and are already using this happy coincidence to promote local attractions.
Reader Mail
Sep 25, 2008
Support your local farmer
The Sept. 20 article "Tainted rice scandal swallows Ota" highlights a few things: • Either regulations cost too much to implement, or company officials really don't care about humanity. • Government food safety and inspection officials are getting paid to do nothing. With Japan's bureaucracy, taxpayers should wonder what they are really paying for. • Buying from your local farmer should be your first option before going foreign, if you can help it. • Do those who kill themselves after unethical and immoral behavior deserve our sympathy (I feel for the families)?
Reader Mail
Sep 4, 2008
Ethanol companies take unfair hit
Recent articles and related correspondence regarding biofuels show a lot of ignorance about this topic. First of all, when ethanol is manufactured, it is virtually only the corn syrup that is pressed out and used as fuel. The remainder, containing proteins and carbohydrates, is used for cattle feed. Second, Brazil has been producing ethanol from sugar cane successfully for many years without affecting the price of sugar. Recent price rises have much more to do with the increase in the price of oil.
Reader Mail
Apr 13, 2008
Respect citizens, not symbols
The attitude of Wilson Hartz toward the teachers who were punished for refusing to stand for "Kimigayo" is disturbing. I fail to see how simply excusing the dissenting teachers from public functions would do anything to settle the matter one way or the other, as their absence would still have to be explained.

Longform

High-end tourism is becoming more about the kinds of experiences that Japan's lesser-known places can provide.
Can Japan lure the jet-set class off the beaten path?