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JAPAN
Jul 18, 2007

Comics defying taboos, ditching slapstick for political satire

listens to ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Yasuhide Nakayama during a taping of Ota's weekly "news" show at NTV in Tokyo in May. AP PHOTO
Japan Times
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 17, 2007

Hinomaru, 'Kimigayo' express conflicts both past and future

To some they are symbols of national pride, to others icons of a militaristic past. "Kimigayo," the national anthem, and the Hinomaru, the national flag, have been perpetual sources of controversy because of their contentious historical backgrounds. Following are some basic questions and answers about...
BUSINESS
Jul 13, 2007

Small-caps seen staging comeback in wake of Livedoor affair

Shares of Japan's smallest listed companies, Asia's worst performers last year, are staging a comeback as tougher accounting standards revive confidence in earnings reports and consumer spending rebounds.
Reader Mail
Jul 11, 2007

No sweat in being averse to hugs

Regarding Mark Schreiber's July 1 translation ("Will 'free hugs' take hold in Japan?") of a Weekly Playboy article: I accept that the Japanese are not likely to hug each other in public, but neither is it common practice in Australia. The concept of "personal space" is very prevalent, and one does...
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 10, 2007

Chongryun never gets out from under a cloud

Chongryun has recently come under the spotlight in connection with an aborted sale of its Tokyo headquarters — North Korea's de facto embassy in Japan — to an investment advisory firm led by former Public Security and Intelligence Agency chief Shigetake Ogata.
JAPAN / EXPLAINER
Jul 3, 2007

How Japanese tax-payers' money is lost in bid-rigging

Every few years, politicians, bureaucrats and construction company bigwigs get embroiled in bid-rigging scandals — and the public's faith in government sinks deeper.
Japan Times
JAPAN
Jun 29, 2007

The Dutch trick: flextime and shorter workweek

AMSTERDAM — Trying to figure out a Dutch work schedule is a little like solving a Sudoku puzzle: You bog down in numbers.
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Jun 10, 2007

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door — but no answer

Two deaths made headlines on May 28. Izumi Sakai, the lead singer of the pop group ZARD, was found at the bottom of an outdoor staircase at Keio University Hospital, where she was undergoing treatment for cancer. Her management quickly released a statement to pre-empt media speculation that the death...
JAPAN
Jun 7, 2007

JCP: GSDF unit illegally monitored dispatch foes

The Ground Self-Defense Force's information security unit conducted detailed surveillance on journalists and citizen and religious groups opposing the GSDF's operation in Iraq, the Japanese Communist Party alleged Wednesday when revealing what it claims are GSDF internal documents.
Japan Times
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / CLOSE-UP
Jun 3, 2007

Thinking beyond the brain

Kenichiro Mogi would be the ideal person to find sitting next to you at a dinner party, or one bleary post-sake morning over breakfast in a Japanese mountain inn.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 27, 2007

Eerie family drama, comedian interview special and conversations with Mr. Fish

The title of this week's two-part "NHK Special" is "Nippon Kazoku no Shozo (Portraits of Japanese Families)" (NHK-G), though the families that are portrayed are quite out of the ordinary.
Japan Times
LIFE / Lifestyle / ON THE BOOK TRAIL
May 1, 2007

"Endymion Spring," "The Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth"

"Endymion Spring," Matthew Skelton, Puffin Books; 2007; 439 pp.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / CHANNEL SURF
Apr 15, 2007

Fortune-teller forecasts pop singer, conversations with the dead and psychic powers

It's a great week for fortunetelling fans, especially those who like a little abuse with their forecasts. Superstar spiritualist Kazuko Hosoki will be the center of attention on three different shows this week on three different TV networks.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / MLB'S EFFECT ON JAPAN
Apr 12, 2007

Foreign managers change face of Japanese game

This is the second installment in a four-part series.
EDITORIALS
Apr 4, 2007

Conrad Black's diversions

The trial of Mr. Conrad Black -- Lord Black of Crossharbour -- began last week in Chicago. While the proceedings will offer considerable insight into the lives of the rich and famous, it will also provide a vivid reminder of the need for effective corporate oversight and the vital role played by boards...
JAPAN / Media / MEDIA MIX
Apr 1, 2007

From comedian to politician: an easy step for Miyazaki's governor

Since last September when Shinzo Abe became prime minister, no event has had as powerful an impact on Japan's political landscape as the January election of Hideo Higashikokubaru to the governorship of Miyazaki Prefecture. Many see the former comedian's victory as a harbinger of what to expect not only...
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Apr 1, 2007

Comedy interview variety show, Japan history cultural special, 'King Lear' modeled business drama

Life is a journey filled with questions, some of which the new variety show, "Megami no Hatena, (The Goddess of What is That)" (Nihon TV, Tuesday, 11:55 p.m.) will attempt to answer. These are not mind-twisting queries about the meaning of life or natural phenomena, but rather the kind of things that...
BASKETBALL
Mar 21, 2007

Oita's Ellis earns weekly accolade

Oita HeatDevils center Andy Ellis, the team's go-to player all season, carried his club over the weekend as it beat the Tokyo Apache 114-78 on Saturday and 85-83 on Sunday. He is the Circle K Sunkus Player of the Week, the bj-league announced on Tuesday.
JAPAN
Mar 17, 2007

Scandal has fans wondering if sumo is on the take

In Japan, Asashoryu is a household name.

Longform

Japan's growing ranks of centenarians are redefining what it means to live in a super-aging society.
What comes after 100?