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JAPAN / Q&A
Mar 27, 2009

Road-toll cuts take effect Saturday

Motorists across the nation this Saturday, if they have an Electronic Toll Collection device, will start feeling the effects of Prime Minister Taro Aso's economic stimulus measures.
JAPAN
Mar 27, 2009

When push comes to shove, can Japan shoot down missile?

First of two parts
JAPAN
Mar 25, 2009

DPJ still faces rough road ahead

His political future in the balance, Democratic Party of Japan chief Ichiro Ozawa caught a much needed break Tuesday when prosecutors chose to limit their indictment of his chief secretary to violating the Political Funds Control Law and forgoing perhaps more damaging charges related to rigging bids...
EDITORIALS
Mar 25, 2009

Dialogue about defense

Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada met with his Chinese counterpart Mr. Liang Guanglie in Beijing on March 20 and talked about bilateral issues and the security situation in Northeast Asia. They agreed on some points and disagreed on others. Despite differences on some issues, it is important...
Japan Times
Events / WHERE IT'S AT
Mar 24, 2009

Designers, artists take stage for direct route to the people

An unusual mix of designers, architects, painters, and non-artists gathered last month at SuperDeluxe, an event space in Tokyo's Nishi Azabu. They had one thing in common — something they wanted to show and talk about.
EDITORIALS
Mar 24, 2009

For the sake of consumers

The Diet has started deliberating bills to create a government organization to promote consumers' rights. It was Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, as prime minister, who first proposed establishing a Consumer Agency. Related bills submitted to the Diet have languished for 5 1/2 months. Clearly they were pushed aside...
COMMENTARY
Mar 22, 2009

Legacy of a 'disappeared' family in Argentina

Politics can have a devastating effect on a country and its people, as I discovered during a recent trip to Argentina.
Reader Mail
Mar 22, 2009

Immigration controls in Britain

Regarding the March 17 article "I am not a Pakistani child bride (but the U.K. can't tell the difference)": While I understand the author's frustration, I welcome the opportunity to clarify U.K. immigration procedures. We actively encourage visitors from Japan to enjoy and experience life in the United...
JAPAN
Mar 22, 2009

Man found hanged in detention dies

A Chinese man in his 30s died Saturday after apparently hanging himself in a detention cell at the Tokyo Regional Immigration Office in Minato Ward, an immigration official said.
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 20, 2009

Sojourner continues with charitable efforts

Grassroots efforts play a pivotal role in helping a sport grow and develop a vital presence in a society.
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 20, 2009

Bruschetta, beer — this must be northern Italy

Great news. Stefano Fastro, owner-patron- chef of one of our favorite Italian restaurants, Kagurazaka's inimitable Ristorante Stefano, has just opened a new place. Better news yet, it's not a spinoff or an attempt to duplicate his original operation. In fact, it's completely different in feel, although...
JAPAN / Q&A
Mar 20, 2009

Hand-wringing over fund scandal

The political fund scandal involving Nishimatsu Construction Co. has brought to light once again the unhealthy relationship between politics and money. This time, prosecutors went straight to the top by arresting the chief secretary of Ichiro Ozawa, president of the Democratic Party of Japan.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Mar 20, 2009

Okinawan flavors of entertainment

Manabu Oshiro, the chief of the Research and Training Section of the National Theater, Okinawa since 2006, attributes the creation of kumiodori, a form of drama unique to Okinawa, to the friendly relationship that the Ryukyu Kingdom maintained with China for over 400 years spanning the 15th to the 19th...
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Mar 20, 2009

Free of cash concerns, Estonia produces top-class animation

A collection of witty and cynical animation films from Estonia are taking center stage at Laputa Asagaya, an art-house theater in Tokyo's Suginami Ward.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Mar 20, 2009

So was Modernism Chinese?

A In his lifetime, artist Ding Yanyong was called both the "Oriental Matisse" and the "Modern Bada Shanren," after the Chinese individualist painter born Zhu Da (1629-1705). The combination of the epithets obviously reflects Ding's (1902-78) ability to straddle the East and West, but given a little historical...
MULTIMEDIA
Mar 20, 2009

So was Modernism Chinese?

A In his lifetime, artist Ding Yanyong was called both the "Oriental Matisse" and the "Modern Bada Shanren," after the Chinese individualist painter born Zhu Da (1629-1705). The combination of the epithets obviously reflects Ding's (1902-78) ability to straddle the East and West, but given a little historical...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Mar 20, 2009

Brusca: Bruschetta, beer — this must be northern Italy

Great news. Stefano Fastro, owner-patron- chef of one of our favorite Italian restaurants, Kagurazaka's inimitable Ristorante Stefano, has just opened a new place. Better news yet, it's not a spinoff or an attempt to duplicate his original operation. In fact, it's completely different in feel, although...
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC
Mar 19, 2009

South Koreans gaining ground rapidly on baseball rivals

SAN DIEGO — South Korean fans shouted "This is Korea" as a part of a cheer during their team's game against Japan at the World Baseball Classic.
JAPAN
Mar 18, 2009

Embassy warns of Roppongi drink-lacing

The U.S. Embassy informed Americans in Japan on Tuesday that it has recommended that its employees avoid frequenting bars and clubs in Tokyo's Roppongi entertainment district because of a significant increase in drink-spiking incidents.
EDITORIALS
Mar 18, 2009

A test for Northern Ireland

Terrorists murdered three people in Northern Ireland last week. A decade ago that news would have been commonplace. Today, however, it is a stunning development for a people who have grown accustomed to peace and reconciliation. The remaining elements of a terror movement are trying to fan the flames...
LIFE / Language / BILINGUAL
Mar 18, 2009

Calligraphy still holds the key to mastering kanji

I recently encountered a new term that's a real mouthful: IT依存性漢字健忘症 (IT izonsei kanji kenbōshō, kanji amnesia due to dependence on information technology). The word acknowledges that the proliferation of word processors has weakened people's ability to recall both individual kanji...
COMMENTARY
Mar 17, 2009

Golan Heights, Shebaa Farms could unlock peace process for Israel, Syria and Lebanon

NEW YORK — Any rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians beyond a temporary ceasefire seems rather improbable at the moment. However, the Golan Heights' and Shebaa Farms' territories contested between Israel, Syria and Lebanon could spearhead a peace process in the Middle East now actively...
COMMUNITY / Voices / HOTLINE TO NAGATACHO
Mar 17, 2009

I am not a Pakistani child bride (but the U.K. can't tell the difference)

A quondam lover of EnglandOsaka
CULTURE / Books
Mar 15, 2009

Invoking 17th-century demons and desires

On the opening day of Shin-Yoshiwara — Edo's new pleasure quarters — Matsunaga Seiichiro, a 26-year-old swordsman stands on the Asakusa Nihon Embankment and looks across at the city. He then descends into streets filled with music, danger, alcohol and prostitutes, and thus begins his journey to manhood...
JAPAN
Mar 14, 2009

10-year overstayer is granted new visa

MAEBASHI, Gunma Pref. (Kyodo) The Justice Ministry granted a one-year residence status Thursday to an Iranian female college student who had illegally stayed in Japan for more than 10 years, ministry officials said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Mar 13, 2009

AA=

While most young acts tend to start off in smaller venues and work their way up, AA= opted to do the opposite. The new solo project from Takeshi Ueda, bassist with apparently now-defunct tech-metal heroes The Mad Capsule Markets, played their first-ever concerts to thousands at the massive Intex Osaka...
EDITORIALS
Mar 13, 2009

Mr. Bashir is indicted

It is unlikely that last week's decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Mr. Omar al-Bashir, the president of Sudan, on charges of war crimes has cost Mr. Bashir much sleep. The ICC cannot enforce the writ on its own, and Mr. Bashir has allies and friends around the world.

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’