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Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 27, 2012

'I'm Still Here'

You can do just about anything in Hollywood — stints in rehab, wife-beating, being arrested for lewd conduct, or drunk-driving topped off with a few anti-Semitic remarks, to name but a few — but the one thing they'll never forgive you for is spurning stardom. Woe to those such as Mickey Rourke who...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 27, 2012

'Last Night (Japan Title: Koi to Ai no Hakarikata'

You know how it goes: An attractive married couple go out to a party one night wreathed in smiles but return some hours later in stony silence. The shot of the two of them in bed, backs turned toward each other and mutual profiles radiating dissatisfaction in the dark as sirens blare from the street,...
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 27, 2012

Staten an island of strength for Jets in inaugural season

With 50 games in the books, the Chiba Jets' first chapter is nearly written.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 27, 2012

'Thermae Romae'

Reading manga can teach you a lot, be the subject wine ("Kami no Shizuku [Drops of God]"), gourmet food ("Oishinbo") or the arcane world of feudal-era concubines ("Sakuran"). But the Japanese bath? Isn't that a subject Japanese are immersed in almost from Day One? Why would they need to read about it...
Japan Times
BUSINESS / ANALYSIS
Apr 27, 2012

Solar industry beaming; wind sector deflated

The government's proposed incentives to boost renewable energies will probably see growth in the solar and geothermal power industries, but have disappointed operators in the wind energy sector, lobby groups said.
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

All designers make assumptions

Kenichi Ohmae's April 18 Focus page article, "Fukushima: Probability theory is unsafe," appears to criticize the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., but actually it is an attempt to save the nuclear industry and the governments that support it.
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

Columnist was misunderstood

It seems to me that Sarah Mulvey (April 22 letter, "Disheartening stereotyped role") has completely misjudged Thomas Dillon's When East Marries West column, his writing style and even his personality when she complains about his April 7 column titled "Texting in the proper context."
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

Figuring out why we are here

To answer Basu's April 19 letter, I was not voicing "complaints" but opening a rational debate about the nature of the Creator of this world. Basu assures us that "The Supreme Creator has created a terrible world, our earth, for specific purposes."
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

Private accounts and retirement

It was a pleasure to read Sarah Moreno's April 19 letter "'Sink or swim' ethic in America." She is 100 percent correct that the federal government abuses Social Security funds and that Americans are skeptical of government-run social welfare programs.
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

Why are nonbelievers distressed?

Regarding Scott Mintz's April 19 letter, "Catholic Church's belief crisis" (which was in response to Kevin Rafferty's April 11 article, "The pope's leadership crisis"): To begin with, in no way does the Catholic Church "demand" or "command" anyone to believe anything. Why do non-Christians like Mintz...
Reader Mail
Apr 26, 2012

Wide range of views on afterlife

Regarding Dipak Basu's April 19 letter, "Buddhist explanation for flaws": The idea that telling parents that their child is not looking down on them from heaven is "cruel" is Basu's opinion, and he is entitled to it. However, others would argue that sometimes one has to be a little cruel to be kind and...
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2012

Tsuruga plant may sit atop active fault

Reversing an earlier assessment, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency admitted an active and dangerous fault may be lurking directly beneath one of the two reactors of the Tsuruga nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture.
JAPAN
Apr 26, 2012

Creating true nuclear watchdog exacts toll in time, trust

The Diet looks like it's finally set to deliberate a long-stalled bill to create a new nuclear regulatory agency that will serve as a true atomic energy watchdog and, hopefully, rebuild the public trust lost by its predecessors.
COMMUNITY / Issues / LABOR PAINS
Apr 24, 2012

No legal cure-all for fixed-term job insecurity

We like to think that work is about more than just making money, but the reality is that most of us have to work to earn our daily bread. A steady job is crucial for our long-term well-being.
COMMENTARY
Apr 23, 2012

Filling in for the 'Angel in charge of distribution'

For several years now, New York poet Jack Agueros has been living with Alzheimer's. Slowly but unrelentingly, the disease is erasing his memories. As his daughter Natalia told The New York Times, "There is nothing sadder than a poet without words." The following is a homage to a great poet.
Reader Mail
Apr 22, 2012

Let's identify those most in need

Regarding the April 17 editorial "Mr. Noda's taxing problem": These days Japanese social security systems are much talked about and it is said that they are poised at the crossroads. Not only pension and health insurance systems but also the fundamental welfare system has serious institutional problems...
Reader Mail
Apr 22, 2012

Up, up and away like a buffoon

Regarding the April 18 front-page Kyodo article "Ishihara seeking to buy Senkaku Islands" (from the landowner): Whose tax money would Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara spend to do this? And would he do this without a referendum?
Reader Mail
Apr 22, 2012

Fitting analogy for health debate

Yoshi Tsurumi's April 16 article, "Supreme Court is destroying U.S. democracy," shows the writer's lack of understanding of the American system. No one is saying health care isn't a mess, but the protest is against President Barack Obama's plan that, in effect, makes it a crime, punishable by a fine,...
Reader Mail
Apr 22, 2012

Keep the wrecking ball at bay

I like Tokyo Tower. I will get used to the Tokyo Sky Tree (public opening due May 22), but for now I feel more for the familiar graceful lines and the more humane proportions of the older tower. It is an architectural icon, and an icon of the Tokyo skyline. The Sky Tree profile will quickly become equally...
Reader Mail
Apr 22, 2012

Different take on 'mass suicide'

Regarding Eric Johnston's April 19 article, "Doubt in Kansai grows over plant restarts, blackout predictions": Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Yoshito Sengoku is quoted as telling an audience in Nagoya that shutting down all of Japan's nuclear power plants would be akin to "mass suicide."
JAPAN / Media / BIG IN JAPAN
Apr 22, 2012

The weeklies need to expand their worldview

Japan cuts the world down to size. Thumb through the popular weekly news magazines to get the idea. The weeklies pride themselves on broader, bolder, feistier coverage than the daily press typically musters. All the same, theirs is a small, shrunken world. It consists of four countries: Japan, the United...
Japan Times
ENVIRONMENT / OUR PLANET EARTH
Apr 22, 2012

It takes a forest, a field and a stream to raise a child

In 1996, back when the present U.S. Secretary of State was the first lady, Hillary Rodham-Clinton published a book titled "It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us," which popularized an old African proverb — "It takes a village to raise a child."
Japan Times
JAPAN
Apr 21, 2012

Youth, politicos find common ground: beer

Just as in many other countries, Japan's young voters view politicians as untrustworthy, while lawmakers consider youths completely apathetic and out of touch with the real world — especially when it comes to politics.
BUSINESS
Apr 20, 2012

Trade deficit grows to record ¥4.41 trillion

Japan logged a record ¥4.41 trillion trade deficit in fiscal 2011 as the March 11 disasters, the strong yen, reliance on foreign energy and Europe's debt crisis all rattled the economy throughout the year, the Finance Ministry said Thursday.
Japan Times
BASKETBALL / BJ-LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Apr 20, 2012

Geary displays coaching acumen for first-year club

Building a successful basketball team from scratch requires patience, enthusiasm, hard work and first-rate instincts.
Japan Times
Events / Events Outside Tokyo
Apr 20, 2012

Party in the park celebrates Earth Day

Earth Day celebrations have been held in different forms since 1970, but since April 22, 1990, the day has been an international affair.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Apr 20, 2012

Actress Mizukawa tackles 'violent, turbulent' character

Despite being holed up in a Tokyo hotel room for a press junket, 28-year-old actress Asami Mizukawa is surprisingly upbeat. However, she gives an unusual response when asked about the new TV mini-series she is starring in.

Longform

Ichiro Suzuki, one of the most iconic players in NPB and MLB history, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame with 99.7% of the vote.
With Hall of Fame induction, Ichiro makes himself heard loud and clear