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COMMENTARY / World
Mar 23, 2013

In Europe, pieces are in place for a 'lost decade'

Although investors seem to think that Europe's leaders will do just enough to save their monetary union, the EU is likely to look back on a 'lost decade.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Markets
Mar 20, 2013

Kuroda's team best for market: ex-banker

Incoming Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda and his two deputies are the "right people" to lead the Bank of Japan because of their ability to convey the central bank's intentions to investors, a former BOJ official said.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Mar 17, 2013

South Korea faces Japan-like obstacles to growth

Even as leading South Korean firms outperform many of their Japanese rivals in the global market, the nation's economy faces mounting challenges, including slowing growth, an aging population and widening rich-poor gap — problems that the country shares with Japan, researchers from South Korean think...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 17, 2013

The rising of a nation

This superb book charts the improbable rise of South Korea from the devastation of war and impoverishment to rapid development and prosperity, and from brutal dictatorship to the most vibrant democracy in Asia. It is 'impossible' in terms of its economic and political achievements, 'the most unlikely and impressive story of national building of the last century,' Daniel Tudor writes.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Mar 11, 2013

How Great Recession turned middle-class jobs into low-wage jobs

The U.S. job market is slowly improving, and most economists expect that gradual recovery to continue this year. Yet one of the most disturbing trends of the Great Recession is still very far from being reversed. America's middle-class jobs have been decimated since 2007, replaced largely by low-wage...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Mar 6, 2013

BofA surge affirms Buffett bet as Moynihan's gaffes fade

Brian Moynihan was impatient. It was August 2011, and the Bank of America Corp. chief executive officer was reviewing plans to impose a $5 monthly fee on debit-card users.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Feb 25, 2013

NYC condo prices go through the roof

Michael Stern was prepared for a gradual real estate rebound after buying a New York office tower in December 2009, with plans to convert it to condominiums following a housing plunge that sent prices down 31 percent.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Feb 23, 2013

Economic woes provide opening for White House

Japan's economic troubles may be pushing the country toward free-trade negotiations with the United States, a goal long-sought by officials in Washington who see it as a potential boon.
Japan Times
LIFE / WEEK 3
Feb 17, 2013

Tracing time's passing through faces of Tokyo

Petri Artturi Asikainen would regularly accost strangers in Tokyo, on the streets, in parks or bars and on trains. With a high-end Nikon D3 digital SLR in his hands, the lanky and bespectacled Finn would ask — somewhat timidly summoning one of the few Japanese phrases he had memorized: "Can I take...
BUSINESS / Companies
Feb 8, 2013

Kansai biz forum hails LDP, frets over nuke plants

At their annual gathering that wrapped up Friday, Kansai's corporate leaders warmly welcomed the Liberal Democratic Party's return to power, vowing to would do whatever they can to assist the new government in enacting a wide range of economic, financial, social and diplomatic initiatives.
CULTURE / Music
Feb 7, 2013

Dirty Beaches draws from Serbian film on new album

Alex Zhang Hungtai is constantly in motion. The Taiwanese-born artist, who performs under the name Dirty Beaches, has said in interviews the idea of "home" doesn't mean much to him. He's lived in Taipei, Honolulu, Shanghai and Montreal, and is an avid traveler on top of that. This feeling of always being...
COMMENTARY / Japan
Feb 5, 2013

Learning from Japan's struggle

Americans could learn from a new prime minister's efforts to revive the flagging economy of Japan, once viewed as the next economic superpower.
ENVIRONMENT
Feb 4, 2013

Composting food waste growing trend in America

Roy Derrick maneuvered his forklift with a pallet of neatly boxed expired produce and flowers and dropped it into an industrial compactor at Safeway's cavernous return center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. As the compactor hummed, compressed food and floral scraps spilled through a chute into a 12-meter...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Jan 19, 2013

Share house lovers; "Tonbi"; CM of the week: Open House

A "share house" is a relatively new concept in Japan: unrelated people sharing a rented residence. The new drama series, "Shea Hausu no Koibito" ("Share House Lovers"; Nippon TV, Wed., 10 p.m.) puts the inevitable romantic spin on it.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Jan 19, 2013

So many small things Japan should be proud of

The new Tokyo Skytree has enjoyed immense popularity and is being credited for giving Japanese people hope for the future. Yes, having with the tallest tower (634 meters) and the second tallest structure in the world, we are all filled with a renewed sense of confirmation that — taller is better!
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / JAPAN LITE
Dec 29, 2012

How can Japan help save the world? Be more Taiwanese

Japan had Taiwan under its rule from 1895 until 1945. Despite the history of colonial rule, Taiwanese today have largely favorable views of the Japanese. Japan is the third most popular destination for the Taiwanese, after South Korea and China.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 16, 2012

An aging country learning to adapt

Occasionally in this space I refer to a financial writer called "Gucci-san" who contributes a weekly column to Aera. Apparently, he works for an investment consulting firm that does a lot of work in mergers and acquisitions. In a recent piece he said that some of his clients are involved in importing...
Japan Times
WORLD / Politics
Dec 12, 2012

Israel Iron Dome could spur or hinder progress toward peace

Yakov Stern was born nearly 60 years ago in the young state of Israel, and in one way or another, he has been fighting for its survival ever since.
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Dec 9, 2012

New breed of 'criminal elements' emerging from the shadows

Don't look now, but some new bad guys have come to town. Referred to as han-gure, they've actually been around for a while already, flying under the radar of the mainstream media.
JAPAN
Dec 9, 2012

Okinawa takes base row into its own hands

If the Liberal Democratic Party emerges victorious in next Sunday's Lower House election, one of the main tasks looming for the new government will be repairing diplomacy.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 6, 2012

Deflation beatable in months: Abe adviser

Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa's former professor said the next central bank chief could end decades of deflation in just months by going beyond the current head's "very weak" efforts.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Japan Pulse
Dec 5, 2012

2012: The year in buildings

Shoppers and architecture buffs alike found plenty of new places to enjoy in Tokyo in 2012.
WORLD / Politics
Nov 29, 2012

Egypt protests highlight growing political divide

Egyptian opposition forces rallied across the country Tuesday and into early Wednesday in the biggest show of dissent against the country's first democratically elected leader since he precipitated a political crisis last week with an apparent bid to assume near-absolute power.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Voices / VIEWS FROM THE STREET
Nov 13, 2012

Kamakura, Kanagawa: What is your ideal pet?

Longform

Dangami House is a 180-year-old former samurai residence of the Kato clan, who ruled over Ozu, Ehime Prefecture, until the Meiji Restoration.
A house, a legacy and the quiet work of restoration in rural Japan