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Japan Times
OLYMPICS
Aug 2, 2012

Phelps most decorated Olympian in history

The first truly transcendent sports moment of the London Olympics took place around 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art
Aug 2, 2012

Architect Andrew Burns and artist Brook Andrew introduce Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale's new Australia House

"Surely, post 3/11, post Global Financial Crisis, we need to make buildings and spaces that are simple and allow us to remember essential things," says Andrew Burns, the architect behind the new Australia House in Urada, Tokamachi City.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Aug 2, 2012

Nippon Yusen slashes spending as rates slump

Nippon Yusen K.K. will slash spending on new vessels by at least ¥260 billion as rates to transport commodities slump due to the swelling global fleet.
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Aug 1, 2012

Hirai's impact on swimmers profound

Valentine's Day is not associated with a passion for one's job, but rather, you know, a different kind of affection.
COMMENTARY
Aug 1, 2012

Disease hindering the development of Africa

The high cost of treating certain diseases, most notably HIV/AIDS, when coupled with the indirect costs from lost worker productivity, is having a serious negative impact on African economies. More effort must go toward primary care, especially in rural areas, accompanied by activities to promote health,...
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2012

Hiroshima to grade states on disarmament

As the 67th anniversary of Hiroshima's atomic bombing approaches, the prefecture is trying a new tactic to achieve the goal of global nuclear disarmament.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Aug 1, 2012

China flexing more muscle in Pacific: report

This year's defense white paper underscores China's rapid military buildup and constant muscle-flexing in the Pacific Ocean as a shared concern of the international community.
Japan Times
LIFE / Digital / TECH_JAPAN
Aug 1, 2012

Get your sick days ready for 'Dragon Quest X'

For many gamers, "Dragon Quest" is shorthand for Japanese role-playing games. The series is iconic. It's loved by players young and old.
COMMUNITY / Voices / HAVE YOUR SAY
Jul 31, 2012

Gawking children are tolerable, but adults have no excuse

Belated readers' responses to "Parents, please keep your kids away from me at feeding time" by Christy Bridgeman (Hotline to Nagatacho, May 22) and J. Bradley Bulsterbaum's letter on the subject, "Cut gaijin-gawking children some slack — it's how they learn" (Have Your Say, June 26):
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / HOOP SCOOP
Jul 30, 2012

Tunisian hoop team eyes upset in London

Here's something I do know: Adel Tlatli is a name unknown to most people following the Olympics.
COMMENTARY
Jul 30, 2012

China's gunboat diplomacy

There is a saying in international diplomacy: Watch what countries do, rather than what they say.
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

Osprey safety issue a canard

Concerning the July 24 front-page article "Ospreys reach Iwakuni; protest held": I think those opposed to the Osprey's deployment are being foolish and disingenuous. I feel for Okinawans, who carry the heaviest burden among Japan's prefectures in hosting U.S. military facilities. But right now, that's...
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

The will to take on bullying

Jason Pierre's July 26 letter, "Adults accountable for bullying," appears to be criticism of bureaucracy and a call for lawful action. I agree that setting up a ministry task force won't change anything; it will once again take the problem away from the people.
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

History of obeying authorities

I read Timothy Bedwell's July 19 letter, "As weak as his predecessors," with great interest because it describes very well the characteristics of Japan's prime ministers, most of whom have been very obedient to the U.S. administration. The Noda government doesn't seem to have the strength or the will...
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

It is democracy, Japanese-style

In his July 19 letter, "As weak as his predecessors," Timothy Bedwell expresses his desire to see U.S. forces exit Japan. I wholeheartedly agree, as the current Japan-U.S. defense pact is quite one-sided regarding who defends whom. In addition, so many overseas bases and commitments are a waste of valuable...
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

Ridding the world of dictators

In his response to Roger Pulvers' July 22 Counterpoint article "Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto: 'What Japan needs now is dictatorship," Ian Gould writes that "Dictators exist only to climb to the top of the rest of humanity" ("Mayor's kind needs pruning," July 26 letter). But I am confident that, for the...
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jul 29, 2012

When being first class only gets you a seat in economy

Thanks to international media coverage, everybody in the world is now convinced that the Japan Olympic Committee is sexist. When two of Japan's national soccer teams recently flew to Europe prior to participating in the Olympics, the women's squad was placed in the premium economy section (¥470,000)...
Japan Times
LIFE
Jul 29, 2012

'Taisho Democracy' pays the ultimate price

Party politics seems as natural to many of us today as government itself, but imagine how it looked to the uninitiated 150 years ago.
Reader Mail
Jul 29, 2012

Testament to a hero's grace

Regarding the July 25 front-page Kyodo article "Mariners deal Ichiro to Yankees": A player of firsts in a sport of records, Ichiro Suzuki elicits exaltation. It's a testament to this man's grace that he, in a matter of hours, took the field that had been his home for 11 years (Seattle Mariners' stadium)...
CULTURE / Books
Jul 29, 2012

The story of a U.S. Marine who convinced his enemies to live

ONE MARINE'S WAR: A Combat Interpreter's Quest for Humanity in the Pacific, by Gerald A. Meehl. Naval Institute Press, 2012, 246 pp., $34.95 (hardcover) Of war memoirs there is no end, though soldiers of any given war eventually fade away. Also, their memories of a conflict may remain vivid decades later,...
COMMENTARY
Jul 28, 2012

China deepening aid and trade ties with Africa

Having overtaken the United States as Africa's biggest trading partner two years ago, China is continuing to cement its relationship with the continent, with President Hu Jintao pledging $20 billion in loans over the next three years at a meeting in Beijing attended by leaders from 50 African countries....
Japan Times
SUMO
Jul 28, 2012

Harumafuji's third yusho marred by an ill-mannered yokozuna

Five, 10, 20 years from now, whenever we look back at the career of the current yokozuna Hakuho, it will be hard to avoid a particular black mark against the name of one of the sport's most successful of grand champions.
COMMENTARY
Jul 28, 2012

Myanmar's budding miracle

More than three months ago, on April 21, amid great fanfare, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda at a Japan-Mekong summit pledged $7.4 billion in development aid to five Southeast Asian nations in an effort to promote cooperation with countries in the Mekong region. The prime minister also said Japan...
Japan Times
LIFE / Food & Drink / EVERYMAN EATS
Jul 27, 2012

How cheap cuisine can save your town

Shigeru Tamura looks remarkably trim for someone whose hobby is eating fried noodles. Over a lunch at a yakisoba restaurant on the backstreets of Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, the 49-year-old author and law professor admits he dines out as often as twice a day. Then he pushes aside his plate of noodles and pulls...
COMMENTARY
Jul 27, 2012

Syria's Palestinian refugees strive in vain for neutrality

"Flames are quickly approaching Yarmouk (as) someone is trying to drag the Palestinians into the fire," Palestinian observer Rashad Abu Shawar was quoted as saying in the Israeli Jerusalem Post, July 20.
SPORTS / ODDS AND EVENS
Jul 27, 2012

London will launch dreams for millions

You can't put a price tag on dreams. And that alone has created worldwide fascination for the Olympics for decades now.
Reader Mail
Jul 26, 2012

Resentment of the Celtic people

In his July 19 letter, "BBC's Olympics commentary," Barry Andrew Ward claims that "a word of explanation is owed to foreign observers" of this year's London Olympics vis-a-vis the commentary style of the U.K. broadcaster, BBC. Far from being "owed," such an explanation is not even really necessary.
Reader Mail
Jul 26, 2012

Adults accountable for bullying

The July 24 Kyodo article "Ministry to establish team to battle bullying" once again highlights our failure to act in due time and respond to the small acts. We once again chose to wait for the extreme to happen before taking serious action to curb or prevent such situations. We are always reactive,...

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’