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Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

Remember the Syrian conflict?

I wonder why the Group of Seven nations have concerned themselves only with Ukraine's problems recently without any mention of Syria. If they talk about world peace, how can they leave out Syria?
Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

Rebirth of a devastated area

The other day I had the opportunity to visit the vicinity of Sendai Airport, an area devastated by the 3/11 earthquake and tsunami. Two things that came to my attention immediately were the Hill and the new cemetery.
Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

Recent death sentences in Egypt

Regarding the March 27 AP article, "Anti-Islamist fervor prompts harsh Egypt court sentences": Commenting on reactions from foreign quarters to a Minya criminal court decision referring death sentences against 529 defendants, implicated in acts of sabotage, to the Mufti of the Republic for his opinion,...
Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

Most restaurants still don't get it

Regarding the March 31 article "Airports eager to cater to Muslims' needs": It is good to see that Japan is catering to Muslims at airports and a few other places. But as a regular visitor to Japan, I am astounded that Japan is doing nothing for the millions of global tourists who are used to enjoying...
Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

The death rattle of colonialism

In his March 27 letter, "Fascism worse than imperialism," Jim Makin claims that I contended in my March 20 letter, "Worst lay ahead for Asia," that "white" imperialism was worse than the Japanese variety. While the worst did lay ahead for much of Asia under the tenure of the white imperial powers after...
Reader Mail
Apr 2, 2014

Right response to soccer banner

Kudos to the Urawa Reds soccer team for taking action against the "Japanese Only" banner displayed at the team's first game played at home this season.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage
Apr 2, 2014

Opening-night thrills with the NNTB

Although ballet-goers in Japan tend to prefer narrative works, the trio of edgy and abstract pieces from the 20th century to the present showcased last week by the New National Theatre Ballet (NNTB) may well have some revising their preferences.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Apr 1, 2014

Brutal crackdown on China chemical plant protests stokes anger

Protests against a proposed chemical plant in southern China spread to the provincial capital of Guangzhou on Tuesday, even as authorities signaled they may back down on their construction plans in an attempt to head off more unrest.
JAPAN
Apr 1, 2014

Georgian envoy eager to enhance cultural exchanges

Levan Tsintsadze, Georgia's ambassador to Japan since December, said his mission is to promote active cooperation in science and culture between his country and Japan.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 1, 2014

The bitcoin rhapsody to continue

Attempts to save on remittance fees by using bitcoins could lead to an addiction, which in turn risks the loss of one's savings.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 1, 2014

Calculating a nation's well-being instead of GDP

As leaders in Germany, France, the U.K. and U.S. call for a new, more comprehensive policy target to replace gross national product, a group of economists see promise in the measurement of 'wellbeing' or life satisfaction.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 1, 2014

Saxophonist Maceo Parker brings a funk legacy to Tokyo, Osaka on Japan visit

Maceo Parker will be carrying a heavy load of history on his shoulders when he visits Japan for a string of gigs this month, but you wouldn't know it from his carefree attitude.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 1, 2014

'Scent alerts' for train stations set to cue JR's distracted commuters

When all 30 stations on Tokyo's Yamanote Line have unique 'scent alerts' functioning much like the current platform melodies, your nose will tell you where to get off.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / HIT AND RUN
Mar 31, 2014

Eagles would be wise to bring Matsui along slowly

Yuki Matsui is going to make his debut for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles during the team's first home series of the season this week, and he'd pretty much have to toss a shutout to match the hype.
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 31, 2014

Manufacturing slumps as tax hike looms large

Japan's industrial production fell in February, undercutting economists' forecasts, as the first sales tax hike since 1997 risks stalling the economic recovery.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Issues / THE FOREIGN ELEMENT
Mar 31, 2014

The Fukushima disaster: Three years on, who's fooling whom?

Japan's new Basic Energy Plan sees nuclear power as an important base load energy source. But whatever 'base load' means politically, the public is lulled — fooled — into a sense that, despite Fukushima, nuclear will remain a logistically viable long-term option.
JAPAN
Mar 30, 2014

Airports eager to cater to Muslims' needs

Motivated by a surge in Islamic visitors, Japan's major airports are falling over themselves to capitalize on the trend by installing prayer rooms and offering halal meals.
EDITORIALS
Mar 30, 2014

Sleepy driving can kill

All drivers should make sure they are well rested before they take the wheel and not hesitate to take a break if they feel sleepy.
Figure Skating
Mar 29, 2014

Mao struggles, still claims third world title

Mao Asada captured her third world title with a satisfactory free skate on Saturday night at Saitama Super Arena.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / FOCUS
Mar 29, 2014

North Korea realty market soars

One of the world's fastest developing property markets is also in one of its least likely places: North Korea.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Mar 29, 2014

Rivalries hamper hunt for jet

The search for Flight MH370, the Malaysia Airlines plane that vanished over the South China Sea on March 8, has involved more than two dozen countries and 60 aircraft and ships, but it has also been bedeviled by regional rivalries.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel
Mar 29, 2014

Under the beat of the Taiko in Kyoto

Kyoto's long history has ensured that it has seen its fair share of giants. Yet few of these legends have marked the city's physical appearance to the extent of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, despite the man's reputedly smallish stature.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books / ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES
Mar 29, 2014

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World

Haruki Murakami can be difficult to pigeonhole at the best of times but nothing can quite prepare the uninitiated for the ethereal themes that bubble beneath the surface of "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World."
Japan Times
WORLD / Science & Health
Mar 29, 2014

If you want to fake pain, don't do it around this computer

In the ever-expanding contest between artificial intelligence and the ordinary human mind, you can chalk up another one for the computer.
COMMUNITY / Voices / OVERHEARD
Mar 29, 2014

Chewing the fat

Have you ever seen a belly-dancing performance?
Japan Times
JAPAN / Politics
Mar 28, 2014

Inose admits using Tokushukai cash for election; prosecutors file charges

In a sudden reversal, former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose admitted Friday that the ¥50 million loan he received from the Tokushukai hospital group was intended to get him through the 2012 gubernatorial election.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 28, 2014

Suicide kills more Americans than gun violence

Being poor doesn't bum people out. Being poorer than other people — people whose relative wealth you personally witness — does.

Longform

Koichi Tagawa’s diary entry from Aug. 9, 1945, describes the day of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
The horrors of Nagasaki, in first person